Semifinals Match report and betting pool update!

The semifinals proved to feature some really fun and exiting plays, but in the end, there could only be 2 winners:

Match 4AC

Burial Grounds entered this round, far and away the underdog favorite. It even seemed to have an early advantage until Steph chained a double Liberation Day to a Triskelion activation to ensure she'd be using those Trisks for the next few turns. On a defensive turn 6, Dr. light stopped a potentially fatal amount of attack pumps before Thor coupled with some favorable trades, sealed the game.

Secret Six Burial Grounds -> -18    Ultimate Fear -> 22

Match 4AD

 With its remarkable access to KO effects Thunderworld was easily favored to take the win, however with a fortunate coin toss, Horse managed to secure odd initiatives and proceeded to... curve out. Dealing some heavy damage with its direct attacks throught the early game, Thunderworld was forced to rely on some... unique interactions to stay above 0 endurance but in the end, Horse managed to pull out the win.

...and the Horse you Rode in on -> 10    Thunderworld -> -8 

With that, here are our updated betting pool leaders:

JSeb De L'aigle

-26pts

Luca Invernizz

-23pts

Joseph Clark

-22pts

Robert Snyder

-20pts

Vern Le

-18pts

Hesed Ramos

-16pts

John Viola

-15pts
Brian Foley

-15pts

Peter Hoettels

-13pts
Daniel Lanier

-13pts

Luke Johnson

-12pts

David Clement

- 9pts

Joseph Sanchez

- 6pts

DJ Foley

- 5pts

Glen D Preston

- 3pts

Jerry Donahue

- 1pts
John Hornung

- 1pts

So the finals will be:

 Ultimate Fear   VS  ...and the Horse you rode in on

The finals will be a best of 3 event. Naturally this opens some new variables for the betting options which will be explained later as we get closer to  playing the games out. (we intend to record them with subtitled play-by-plays)

SEMFINALS - Match 4AC - Secret Six Burial Grounds VS Ultimate Fear

Secret Six Burial Grounds
- Mark
VS
Ultimate Fear
- Steph



Steph wins the flip and elects to take odd initiatives.

mark Keeps. Steph mulligans.

        TURN 1 (Steph Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Steph sets a resource and passes her build.

Mark sets a resource and recruits Dr. Polaris in the hidden area.

    COMBAT PHASE

Steph has no characters and passes combat.

Mark swings direct for 1.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 50    Ultimate Fear -> 49



        TURN 2 (Mark Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Mark sets a resource and recruits Chemo in the hidden area.

Steph sets a resource and recruits Wasp. activating her effect to burn Mark for 3 (Removing 2x Clint Barton, quicksilver, Dr. Sivana and Liberation Day)

    COMBAT PHASE

Mark swings direct with chemo and polaris for 2.

Steph passes.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 47    Ultimate Fear -> 47



        TURN 3 (Steph Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Steph sets a resource and recruits Dr. Sivana in the visible area.

Mark sets a resource and flips up Master Plan from his row, discarding Deadshot for Master Plan's effect before electing to recruit poison Ivy from his hand rather than recruit from his KO pile. he then exhausts Ivy to place Deadshot into his hidden area.

    COMBAT PHASE

Steph swings Dr Sivana into Poison ivy, passing Once legal. Mark responds powering up Ivy. Steph responds flipping up triskelion, and chaining the Underworld star (Discarding Shimmer) mark immediately activates Chemo's effect, KOing it to replace Triskelion. Steph responds playing Liberation day from her Row (Removing from play Clint Barton) and then chains another another Liberation day from her hand (Removing Thor) before finally chaining Triskelion's effect (Removing Cover Fire). The substantial chain resolves:
Triskelion grabs Clint Barton, Lib day grabs a Triskelion (It has the version Ultimates!) the other Lib day, grabs another Triskelion, placing it into her hand. Chemo's effect resolves, replacing Triskelion, and finally Underworld Star resolves, placing Dr. Sivana into her hand. where she powers up her attacker.
Mark has no follow-up and Ivy stuns.

Steph plays Clint from her hand, removing it from play and exhausting Wasp to remove Ivy from play. Mark passes.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 44    Ultimate Fear -> 49



        TURN 4 (Mark Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Mark sets a resource and flips Hidden HQ, activating it (Sending Ragdoll to the KO pile) before playing his recently set Forced Conscription from his row (Sending Slaughter Swamp, Dr. Sivana and straight to the grave, returning Poison Ivy to his hand and recruiting her in teh visible front row.

Steph sets a resource, reservist recruiting Blade from her row into the hidden area protecting Wasp replacing the resource with one from her hand.

    COMBAT PHASE

Ivy puts Chemo into the hidden front row.

Mark attacks with Deadshot into Dr. Sivana, playing path of destruction from his hand. Steph passes and the both stun. Then he sends Polaris and Chemo direct for 2, before attacking direct with Ivy for 4.

Steph responds sending Blade into Chemo for an easy stun. playing Clint barton's effect from the hand, to remove Chemo from the game.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Mark recovers Deadshot.
Steph recovers Dr. Sivana

    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 38    Ultimate Fear -> 40



        TURN 5 (Steph Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
Steph chains Wasp's burn effect to the draw,(removing iron Man, Lady Deathstrike, The Underworld Star, Forbidden Loyalties and Quicksliver) then chaining Triskelion (Removing Blade from play) placing Forbidden Loyalties into her hand.

Mark responds with HIdden HQ before the draw. (Sending Hidden HQ to the Ko pile)
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Steph sets and flips Forbidden Loyalties (Opting not to discard) teaming up S.H.I.E.L.D. and Fearsome Five. recruiting Shimmer protecting Dr. Sivana, and Nick Fury adjacent to Sivana inteh support row.

Mark sets a resource, flipping up Straight to the Grave (sending Black Manta and Path of Destruction to his KO pile.) And then plays a second one from his hand (Sending Chemo and Path of Destruction to the KO pile.) before discarding Chemo to Master Plan's effect, recruiting Black Manta from the KO pile. Forming it behind Poison Ivy.

    COMBAT PHASE

Ivy places Chemo into play in the hidden area.

Steph activates Shimmer, exhausting all five of mark's characters, he KO's Chemo spitefully replacing Triskelion. and declares Nick Fury into Poison Ivy. Once legal, using his effect (removing Forbidden Loyalties, 2x wasp, sleeper cells, and iron Man) to be unstunnable this attack. Stunning Ivy easily. Then Blade and Sivana Team attack Black Manta. Mark uses Black Manta's effect to place a Path of Destruction into his hand before stunning back Blade.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Steph recovers Blade.
Mark recovers Black Manta, KOing Poison Ivy.

    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 23    Ultimate Fear -> 37



        TURN 6 (Mark Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
Mark chains Hidden HQ to the draw (sending Dr. Polaris to the KO pile)
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Mark sets a resource and recruits Poison Ivy protecting Black Manta, he discards Deadshot to Master Plan's effect, recruiting Chemo into his hidden front row protecting Deadshot.

Steph sets a resource, playing The Underworld Star from her row. (Discarding Bullseye) She then flips and chains Triskelion's effect (removing 0 cards) to place Sleeper Cells into her hand before resolving her search placing Dr. Light into her hand and recruiting him protecting Nick Fury.

    COMBAT PHASE

Poison Ivy places Chemo into Mark's hidden front row protecting Dr. Polaris.

Mark declares Dr. Polaris into Dr. Sivana. once legal, playing path of destruction from his resource row, chaining Chemo's effect KOing chemo to replace it for a +8ATK pump. Steph reinforces with Nick Fury and allows the mutual stun. Next Deadshot declares into Dr. Light. Once Legal, mark plays his final Path of destruction from his row, chaining Chemo #2 to replace it for a +10ATK pump. Steph thinks for a while before finally activating Dr. Light, targetting Black Manta. Black Manta responds, to fetch a path of destruction, and Steph plays Sleeper Cells exhausting Blade, Wasp and Shimmer to ready Dr. Light, activating him a second time to stun Deadshot out of the attack. Mark then sends Poison Ivy into Shimmer playing Path for +8.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Mark recovers Black Manta, KOing Deadshot and Dr. Polaris.
Steph recovers Shimmer, KOing Dr. Sivana.

    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 14    Ultimate Fear -> 22



        TURN 7 (Steph Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
Steph chains Triskelion to the draw (Removing 0 cards) to place Thor into her hand.
Mark chains Hidden HQ to the draw. (sending Deadshot to the KO pile)
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Steph sets a resource and recruits Thor Behind Shimmer and passes.

Mark sets a resource and recruits Ragdoll and Catman. Exhausting Ivy to place deadshot into play from his effect.

    COMBAT PHASE

Ivy places Chemo into play in the hidden front row.

Steph activates Shimmer, exhausting Mark's Board and activates Thor, with 22 cards left in her deck and 20 cards removed from the game, Mark selects the RFP pile and burns for 20. Dr. Light activates to stun Black Manta. Nick Fury attacks Poison Ivy, Once legal, using his effect to be unstunnable. (Removing Iron Man, Wasp, Forbidden Loyalties, Lady Deathstrike and Dr. Light) stunning Ivy. Wasp then activates for 3 burn. (Removing The Underworld Star, Life Model decoy, Psimon, Bullseye, and Shimmer)

It's all over!

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> -18    Ultimate Fear -> 22


        Ultimate Fear advances to the finals!


        POSTGAME THOUGHTS

Mark Thoughts:
"Being stuck playing evens, all I could hope for was Starving her from Triskelions, and hoping to see her missing Dr. Light on 6. It didn't happen though, and what could have been 28 ATK worth of Path of Destructions became 8. Funny story though, missing my teamups really didn't affect anything I wanted to do this game! Haha! Using the Liberation days to load up on Triskelion's was a pretty shnazzy way to play around Chemo."

Steph Thoughts:
"Normally I have fun playing this deck, but this game made my head hurt. I felt like the entire game was a chain and keeping that straight can be rough."

SEMIFINALS - Match 4AD - ...and the horse you rode in on VS Thunderworld

...and the Horse you Rode in on
- Josh
VS
Thunderworld
- Lee


Josh wins the flip and selects Odd initiatives.

Both players Mulligan.

        TURN 1 (Josh Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Josh sets a resource, revealing War Skrull, KOing it and placing an Act of Defiance face down in his row. He then recruits Hope in the front row.

Lee sets a resource and passes.

    COMBAT PHASE

Hope swings direct for 2.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    ...and the Horse you Rode in on -> 50    Thunderworld -> 48



        TURN 2 (Lee Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Lee sets a resource and flips up The Dark Dimension (Sending The Dwarf, Radioactive Man and Queen Lilith to the KO pile, returning Queen Lilith to his hand. He then recruits The Dwarf in the hidden area and Discards a second Dwarf to fetch Ritual Sacrifice, and place it into his hand before passing his build.

Josh sets a resource and recruits War Skrull into his front row, flipping up Act of defiance to team up Skrull and Revenge Squad. then flipping another to team up skrull and Underworld.

    COMBAT PHASE

Lee sends The Dwarf into Hope for a mutual stun.
Josh sends Warskrull direct for 3.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Josh recovers Hope.

    ...and the Horse you Rode in on -> 49    Thunderworld -> 46



        TURN 3 (Josh Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Josh sets a resource and recruits Professor Emil Hamiltion <> Ruin in the front row

Lee sets a resource and recruits Lilith in the hidden front row adjacent to The Dwarf.

    COMBAT PHASE

Josh attacks direct with everything.

Lee sends Queen Lilith into Warskrull. Once legal, looking at the top 3 cards, placing one on top of his deck and then sending Blackheart and Queen Lilith to the KO pile. warskrull stuns. Then He sends The Dwarf into Hope for a mutual stun.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Josh recovers Warskrull, KOing Hope.
Lee recovers The Dwarf.

    ...and the Horse you Rode in on -> 43    Thunderworld -> 36



        TURN 4 (Lee Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Lee sets a resource and recruits Blackheart in the hidden area protected by Queen Lilith.

Josh sets a resource and recruits Maxima, protected by War Skrull, leaving Ruin in the unprotected front row.

    COMBAT PHASE

Lee activates Blackheart, (Moving Queen Lilith, Rad man, and a Dwarf to the bottom of his deck) to KO Ruin. Lilith attacks Warskrull. Once legal, using her effect to look at the top 3, place a card on top of his deck and send Strange Love and Green Goblin to the KO pile, stunning warskrull before passing.

Josh swings direct with Maxima, once legal, playing Mob mentality on her from the row for 12 direct. (1 resource still face down)

    RECOVERY PHASE

Josh recovers War Skrull.

    ...and the Horse you Rode in on -> 38    Thunderworld -> 24



        TURN 5 (Josh Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Josh sets a resource, revealing War Skrull, KOing it and placing an Act of Defiance face down in his row. Flipping it up and teaming up Skrull and Hellfire CLub (From Blackheart). He then recruits Paibok forming warskrull in front of it, with Maxima unprotected in the support row.

Lee sets a resource and recruits Green Goblin in the hidden area and recruiting Lady Deathstrike visible. He then flips up Ritual Sacrifice, teaming up Underworld and Thunderbolts before flipping up Dark Dimension (Sending Death's Embrace, Shathra and Ritual Sacrifice to the KO pile.) Opting to return The Dwarf to his hand, immediately discardingit to place Ritual Sacrifice into hishand from his deck.

    COMBAT PHASE

Josh swings War Skrull into Lady Deathstrike. Lee activates Blackheart, (moving Shathra, Blackheart, and Green Goblin to the bottom of his deck) KOing WarSkrull.
Undanted, Josh sends Maxima into Lady Deathstrike, with +4 ATk from his face up ongoings and an extra +2 ATK from Paibok, Lee decides to stem the damage, powering up Lady Deathstrike before passing on the mutual stun. Josh then swings Paibok direct for 9.

Already in the red zone, Lee uses Ritual Sacrifice's effect (Moving Lady Deathstrike to the bottom of his deck) to gain 1 endurance. With no way to stun Paibox with 7 total attack on the field, Lee flips up two New Identity, having each one target Blackheart.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Blackheart gains two +1/+1 counters from the new Identities.

Josh recovers Maxima.
Lee recovers Lady Deathstrike.

    ...and the Horse you Rode in on -> 34    Thunderworld -> 7



        TURN 6 (Lee Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Lee sets a resource and recruits Madelyne Pryor in the hidden area.

Josh sets a resource and plays Mobilize from his hand (Discarding Black Bolt) to search for Super Skrull, noble sacrifice and recruits it protecting paibok. he then forms Maxima in the front row.

    COMBAT PHASE

Lee surveys the field. Some heavy atk values there for sure. he opts to team swing Blackheart and The Dwarf into Super Skrull (invulnerable from his cosmic effect.) Super Skrull exchanges stuns with Blackheart. Then Madelyn Pryor attacks Paibok, Paibok exhausts to play Death of Superman from Josh's row to KO Blackheart before allowing the one-sided stun. Lee then activates Lady Deathstrike, returning her to his hand to ready the Goblyn queen. He then sends Queen Lilith into Maxima. Once legal she checks the top three cards, places one on the top of Lee's deck and sends The Dwarf and Rad Man to the KO pile. He activates Green Goblin, stunning it to place a +1/+1 counter on Lilith and powers her up for 7 Atk onto the 7 DEF Maxima...

Josh powers Maxima up. Uh-Oh.

Lee sighs, and plays Death's Embrace from his hand, (Discarding Speedball is Dead) and chains Ritual Sacrifice (placing a Queen Lilith to the bottom of his deck) and resolves the search, sending a Lilith to the KO pile and placing one into his hand, then after resolving the search, gaining 1 endurance. and powering up Lilith. Landing the clutch mutual stun.
Finally, Madelyne Pryor swings direct for 12 and detonates her cosmic counter. Moving her visible and KOing all stunned characters in play. Leaving only Her and The dwarf in play, wiping Josh's field.

Lee then flips up a second Ritual Sacrifice, (sending Shathra to the bottom of his deck) to gain one endurance with a laugh.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    ...and the Horse you Rode in on -> 10    Thunderworld -> 1



        TURN 7 (Josh Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Josh sets a resource, flipping up Executive Privelege, and using its effect (Discarding Hope) to reveal Brainiac 13 and Mob Mentality. placing them both into his hand. He then recruits Brainiac, Terra-Man, and Captain America, forming them all into his front row.

Lee sets a resource and recruits Lady Deathstrike and Rad Man, forming Rad Man, protected by Deathstrike, and leaving Madelyne inthe unprotected support row.

At the end of the build phase, Josh flips up Battle for Metropolis (7 face-up ongoings) and activates Brainiac's backup effect targeting Madelyne. Making her a 12/6.

    COMBAT PHASE

Josh sends Captain America into Madelyne for the stun. Lee opts to not reinforce with Rad man and takes 9. Then Josh sends Terra-man into Rad Man, playing Mob Mentality from his hand for a 16 ATK 2 drop. Lee plays Strange Love from his hand, (Discarding Noble Kale) to recover Madelyne, then activates Lady Deathstrike's effect returning her to Lee's hand to ready Madelyne and reinforce Radioactive Man. Stopping 13 Breakthrough. He then flips a third Ritual sacrifice and activates all 3 (Sending Kale, Lilith and Blackheart) to gain 3 endurance But it isn't enough.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    ...and the Horse you Rode in on -> 10    Thunderworld -> -8


        Horse advances to the finals!


        POSTGAME THOUGHTS

Lee Thoughts:
"The thing about having a 4 drop KOing 3 drops and under is that you are also sacrificing the 4 drop attack. I wasnt expecting to face a solid curve, that Super Skrull on 6 suprised the hell out of me. While I felt like a good turn 7 Shuma Gorath or defensive blackheart could have saved me, being forced into the search to stay alive on 6 was a hard pill to swallow. Considering Shadowpact seems to enjoy the brink of endurance more, I have to say, Underworld can do it pretty good too!"

Josh Thoughts:
"All game long, I was sitting on that damn Cap, thinking I'd never have a shot to play it. Glad I didn't ditch him for that turn 6 mobilize!"

Semifinals Match Breakdowns!

Welcome to the Semifinals Match previews! 

Firstly, today we feature a real David and Goliath match-up where on one side, we have a deck toting the largest winning average of the event matches so far, squaring off against the "Better Lucky than Good" titan-slaying Secret Society Hybrid.

Where do we even begin? Lets start!

Match 4AC:
Secret Six Burial Grounds VS  Ultimate Fear

The Favorite:
Averaging 35½ MORE points per game than its opponent, Ultimate Fear has a-lot going for it here. To secure the win, it's going to have to really put a focus into stopping Poison Ivy by getting her off the field with Clint Barton's effect. But even without Clint, playing Blade on 3 will put pressure into the underdog's hidden area in a way it hasn't been exposed to before, while even something as simple as securing odd initiatives can stretch the game to a favorable defensive turn 6 with Dr. Light hopefully securing one or two key stuns before the game can be closed out.

The Underdog :
It really seems, that the more difficult the match-up, the better Burial Grounds seems to do, be it luck, planning, piloting, or divine providence, it always seems to manage to push back just a little harder than its opponent. So what does it have to do to help its chances at making the finals?
-Firstly, Dr. Polaris needs to come out by mid-game. As the only character in the deck with flight he is going to be crucial to Burial Grounds' ability to ignore formations and get to that protected Iron Man.
-Chemo needs to snipe Triskelion. Ultimate Fear secures its late game with Triskelion activations to fish what it wants. Who knows? he might get lucky and bury a clutch drop.
-Lastly, it is going to need luck. Both builds enjoy loading up the hidden area and while Burial Grounds can whip out a repeatable +10 ATK Pump, Ultimate Fear can dig for a substantial DEF pump in cover fire as well.

While much of this game may be dictated largely to initiative results, down is not out in either of these builds. Watch for some clutch plays on turn 5-6 regardless of who's initiative it is.


However the decks aren't the ONLY thing affecting the game outcome! For this round Pilots were asked to choose the deck they wished to play. (with the exception of Aaron and JS who will pilot the final 2 decks in a best of three showdown) For this round, Mark really wanted to pilot Burial Grounds, while Steph had so much fun with Ultimate Fear last round, she wanted to run it again!

Here are your lines for this match!

Secret Six Burial Grounds
Pilot - Mark
VS
Ultimate Fear (Favored to Win by 35½)
Pilot - Steph

Match 4AD:
...and the Horse you Rode in on  VS Thunderworld

With the unexpected defeat of HULK LOVE MAGIC, Thunderworld is striding into the finals as heavy favorites over the deck affectionately referred to as "Horse" for short. Lets take a closer look at:

The Favorite:
 Thunderworlds heavy attrition towards  all characters with a cost of 3 or less leaves it in an extremely favorable position in this matchup. The key will be in Thunderworld's ability to keep its KO pile fueled for Blackheart to keep on ruining Horse's day. If benefitting from a turn 5 initiative Thanos may become the final nail in the coffin for the underdropping competitor.

The Underdog:
Being forced to climb such a steep hill to remain effective, Horse does have an out, in that it has the ability to curve to 6, and that Thunderworld has no resource manipulation it can bring to bear. it absolutely NEEDS odd initiatives while curving out, specifically hitting Lex to finally lockdown Blackheart and Bullseye, and taking full advantage of Brainiac on 6 to KO problematic characters.

Lee had first pick when it came to the 4 available decks and he picked Thunderworld. That is saying quite a bit considering his lackluster win ratios. He certainly wants to prove himself and hammer home a win!

Once again Josh finds himself piloting Horse, and it is just as well as once more, he is playing the underdog. Does he have what it takes?

Here are your Lines for this match!

...and the Horse you Rode in on
Pilot - Josh
VS
Thunderworld (Favored to win by 8½)
Pilot - Lee

Round 3 Report!

WELL HOLY JUMPIN SNOTBALLS!

What a week this was!

This week was full of upsets and solid play from some our underdog builds! So lets get into it shall we?

Match 3Y

Admiral Wolverine Lightning-bolt was a nearly unanimous favorite to take down our favorite little underdog contender in the top 8, but alas! Even the Admiral gets a bad draw. And Secret 6 and friends were ready to step up in a BIG way mustering themselves a HUGE upset win and moving on to the top 4! Absolutely INSANE work for the little deck that could! Is there a ceiling to this deck's good fortune?

Admiral Wolverine Lightning-bolt  -9   - Secret Six Burial Grounds  6

Match 3Z

With easy access to Batman's disruption it certainly seemed like League of Doom had all the right tools to take care of Ultimate Fear, but a timely Clint Barton seemed to turn the game around enabling Shimmer's stall tactics. Thor managed to activate 4 times in a row on turn 7 for 84 endurance loss, sealing the deal for the win.

League of Doom  -75   - Ultimate Fear  -23

Match 3AA

Prey on the weak went all-in on turn 5 hoping to  close the deal on a solid counter-swing on turn 6, but even the infamous triple Savage Land activation wasn't enough to mitigate a fantastic turn 6 play by Josh as the Horse managed to advance again.

Prey on the Weak   -40   - ...and the Horse you Rode in on  -28

Match 3AB

 With only 4 games this week, you would think that there would only be ONE underdog blowout. But nobody could have predicted the fall of the Hulk from this little contest! An 8 drop Hulk unable to detonate stood idly by as Noble Kale swung direct twice for the win!

 Thunderworld  -4   - HULK LOVE MAGIC  -27

Stay tuned for match breakdowns of our top 4 decks, Listed Faves to win, and thoughts regarding key cards and strategies of what each build needs to do to pull out the win and get to the finals!

Match 3Y - Admiral Wolverine Lightning-bolt VS Secret Six Burial Grounds

Admiral Wolverine Lightning-bolt
- JS
VS
Secret Six Burial Grounds
- Aaron


Aaron wins the flip and selects odd initiatives

JS Mulligans. Aaron Keeps.

        TURN 1 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Aaron sets a resource and recruits Chemo hidden.

JS sets a resource and recruits Anti-Green Lantern hidden.

    COMBAT PHASE

Aaron swings for 1.

JS swings for 4

    RECOVERY PHASE

AGL KO's from its effect.

    Admiral Wolverine Lightning-bolt -> 49    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 46



        TURN 2 (JS Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

JS sets a resource and recruits two AGL's.

Aaron sets a resource and recruits Dr. Sivana in the hidden front row.

    COMBAT PHASE

JS attacks with everything direct for 8.

Aaron attacks with Chemo and activates Sivana drawing a card, (Discarding Poison Ivy, Intoxicating)

    RECOVERY PHASE

JS sighs as both his AGL's KO.

    Admiral Wolverine Lightning-bolt -> 48    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 38



        TURN 3 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Aaron activates Sivana, drawing a card (Discarding Deadshot) then sets a resource, recruiting Poison Ivy and immediately exhausting her to place Deadshot into the hidden area Behid Chemo from his effect. Aaron then flips up A Day Unlike Any Other, teaming up Secret Six and Secret Society.

JS sets a resource, thinks for some time and ultimately decides to flip up two Negative Zone, seat of annihilation, (Discarding two AGLs) He then recruits Xallarap hidden.

    COMBAT PHASE

Aaron declares a direct attack with Chemo, playing a path of destruction from his hand for 3 direct. Then Goes direct with Deadshot, playing Path of destruction from the row and chaining Chemo's effect to KO it for a total of 9 direct. Aaron then flips the replaced resource, activating Hidden HQ (Sending Black Manta to the KO pile.

JS responds with Xallarap swinging over Poison Ivy for 8.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Xallarap KOs to his effect
Both of JS' negative ZOne's each trigger a draw.

Aaron recovers Poison Ivy

    Admiral Wolverine Lightning-bolt -> 36    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 30



        TURN 4 (JS Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

JS sets a resource and recruits Xallarap.

Aaron sets a resource and activates Dr. Sivana drawing a card (Discarding Ragdoll) he then activates Hidden HQ (Sending Poison Ivy to the KO pile) before playing Forced COnscription from his hand (Sending Chemo, Catman, and Dr. Sivana to the KO pile) and returning Catman to his hand.
Aaron then recruits Catman and Dr. Polaris in the hidden area with catman protecting Polaris.

    COMBAT PHASE

Poison Ivy places Chemo into the hidden area.

JS swings Xallarap into Ivy, playing thunderous Onslaught from his row to move the 9/9 attacker into the visible support row and grant it +2ATK. before playing Megablast from the row, another from his hand, followed with a flying Kick. for huge damage.

Aaron is forced to ponder... Attack and stun it while sending the rest through? or pass and watch it KO? Aaron eventually opts for board control and passes combat

    RECOVERY PHASE

Xallarap KOs to his effect.
Both of JS' negative ZOne's each trigger a draw.

Aaron Recovers Poison Ivy.

    Admiral Wolverine Lightning-bolt -> 36    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 9



        TURN 5 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
Aaron chains HIdden HQ to his draw. (Sending A Day Unlike any Other to the KO pile)
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Aaron sets a resource and recruits Black Manta behind Poison Ivy.

JS sets a resource and recruits Slipstream in the hidden area and an AGL hidden as well, lamenting his lack of Chomins this game.

before moving to combat, Aaron activates Dr. Sivana, Drawing a card.(Discarding a slaughter Swamp) and then plays Straight to the Grave. (Sending Dr. Polaris and Path of Destruction to the KO pile)

    COMBAT PHASE

Poison Ivy places a second Dr. Polaris into the hidden area.

Aaron team attacks Chemo, Polaris, Polaris, Deadshot Catman, and Ivy direct for 14. then KOs both his Dr. Polaris to exhaust JS' two hidden characters.
He then attacks direct with Black Manta, playing Path of Destruction from his row, chaining Chemo's effect to replace it. granting a +10 ATK pump and once resolving the pump, pays Black Manta's effect to place another Path of destruction into his hand playing it for an additional +8 ATK before finally playing an acceptable Loss from his row, KOing Deadshot for an additional +4 ATK.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Admiral Wolverine Lightning-bolt -> -9    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 6


        UNBELIEVABLE! Secret Six Burial Grounds advances to the top 4!


        POSTGAME THOUGHTS

JS Thoughts:
"When I saw him sitting on the first Polaris, I realized there was a very real chance he'd double up POlarises and nerf my attacks on his next initiative, so I blew everything I had at the time, into the Xallarap Attack. Even with the extra draw from Negative Zone, Slipstream just arrived too late as I only had the two characters to recruit. he ended up managing a 45 damage turn and putting me on my ass. Mind you, Chomin taking a day off really hurt too."

Aaron Thoughts:
I was pretty confident I was going to lose... right up until I activated that last Sivana giving me the Straight to the Grave for both the Polaris I needed AND the last Path. SUPER CLUTCH! I can't believe the guts on this little deck! This was Rocky VS Apollo!"

Match 3Z - League of Doom VS Ultimate Fear

League of Doom
- Mark
VS
Ultimate Fear
- Steph



Mark wins the flip and elects to take evens

Steph Mulligans. Mark keeps

        TURN 1 (Steph Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Steph sets a resource and recruits Wasp inthe hidden area.

Mark sets a resource and passes.

    COMBAT PHASE

Steph activates Wasp's effect to burn Mark for 3. (Removing Cover Fire, Iron Man, Quicksilver, Clint Barton and Nick Fury)

    RECOVERY PHASE

    League of Doom -> 47    Ultimate Fear -> 50



        TURN 2 (Mark Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Mark sets a resource and recruits Gypsy, looking at the top 3 cards of his deck before placing one on top and the rest on the bottom.

Stephj sets a resource and recruits Clint Barton in the hidden support row adjacent to wasp.

    COMBAT PHASE

Mark sends Gypsy direct.

Steph sends Clint Direct and activates Wasp to burn for 3, (Removing Forbidden Loyalties, Sleeper Cells, Bullseye, Liberation Day and Wasp)

    RECOVERY PHASE

    League of Doom -> 40    Ultimate Fear -> 48



        TURN 3 (Steph Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Steph sets a resource and recruits Blade, independant contractor in her hidden area, protecting Wasp.

Mark sets a resource and recruits Batman, founding Member in the hidden area protected by Gypsy.

    COMBAT PHASE

Steph sends Blade into GYpsy, once legal, using his effect to move her into the visible area stunning her. Steph continues with Clint attacking Direct before activating Wasp for yet another 3 burn. (Removing Iron Man, Shimmer, Dr. Light, Wasp, and The Triskelion)

Mark swings with Batman direct for 5.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Mark Recovers Gypsy.

    League of Doom -> 29    Ultimate Fear -> 43



        TURN 4 (Mark Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Mark sets a resource, playing Enemy of my Enemy from the row, (Discarding Dr. Doom) to search for Aquaman, placing it into his hand before recruiting Dr. Doom diabolic genius behind Gypsy and flupping the EomE face down from his effect. Mark then flips up For the Glory of Doom! to team-up JLA and Doom.

Steph sets a resource and recruits Iron Man in the visible support row.

    COMBAT PHASE

Mark plays Reign of Terror, thinking a LONG while... before settling on targetting Blade, returning it to Steph's hand. Then declaring Doom into Iron man. Once legal flipping up Doomstadt to avoid the stunback. before sending Batman and Gypsy direct.

Steph activates Wasp to force 3 more endurance loss. (Removing The Underworld Star, 2x Dr. Sivana, Sleeper Cells, and Clint Barton)

    RECOVERY PHASE

Steph recovers Iron Man.

    League of Doom -> 26    Ultimate Fear -> 32



        TURN 5 (Steph Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Steph sets a resource and recruits Shimmer protecting Iron Man, and Blade protecting Wasp in the hidden area.

Mark sets a resource and recruits Superman, metropolis marvel in the support row unprotected adjacent to Dr. Doom.

    COMBAT PHASE

Steph flips up Triskelion and plays forbidden Loyalties from the row, (Discarding Iron Man) to place a +1/+1 counter on Iron Man and teaming up S.H.I.E.L.D. and Fearsome Five.
She then activates Shimmer's effect (now able to exhaust 5 characters) to which Mark responds with a Batman Activation (Discarding Batman) to replace the team-up. And Steph chains a second rowed Forbidden Loyalties, re-teaming up and placing a +1/+1 counter on iron man (Discarding Nick Fury)
Mark, not liking the 9/9 Iron man chains a mystical Paralysis played from his hand, to exhaust Iron Man and shimmer finally resolves, exhausting his board.
She then sends Blade into Batman. Once legal Moving him into the Visible area in a mutual stun. before exhausting wasp, removing Clint Barton from the game to remove Batman and passing.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Steph recovers Blade.

    League of Doom -> 23    Ultimate Fear -> 29



        TURN 6 (Mark Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
Steph chains The Underworld Star from her row to the draw phase, (Discarding Lady Deathstrike) and chains Triskelion (removing 0 cards from play). Trisk resolves, placing Sleeper Cells into her hand before resolving The Underworld Star grabbing Dr. Light.
( Then Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Mark sets a resource and recruits Aquaman (placing Mystical Paralysis and Batman into his hand from the KO pile.)

Steph sets a resource and recruits Dr. Light, forming him in the support row adjacent to Iron Man. And activates Dr. Light's effect targetting Superman, Stunning him before playing Sleeper Cells from her row (exhausting  Shimmer, Wasp, and Hawkeye) to ready Dr. Light, immediately activating to stun Dr. Doom. Doom responds with a Mystical Paralysis exhausting Iron Man.

    COMBAT PHASE

Without flight, Mark can't attack without triggering Iron Man's effect first and checks Steph's RFG pile. not seeing any Press the attacks and worrying about a timely reinforcement effect, he ultimately sends Gypsy into Shimmer for the easy stun (triggering Iron Man's effect) before sending Aquaman into Iron man himself for another uncontested stun. Steph counterswings her last ready character, Blade into Gypsy. Mark responds and KO's Gypsy to For the Glory of Doom!'s effect to burn for 2. Blade readies, but Steph passes.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Shimmer auto-recovers and gains a +1/+1 counter from Iron Man's effect.

Mark recovers Superman, KOing Dr. Doom.
Steph recovers Iron Man.

    League of Doom -> 14    Ultimate Fear -> 17



        TURN 7 (Steph Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
Steph chains Triskelion to the draw phase, (removing 0 cards from play) and places Lady Deathstrike into her hand.
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Steph sets a resource and substitutes Lady Deathstrike into play, replacing Iron man before playing Liberation day, removing Wasp from the game to search for Thor. recruiting him in the support row, and activating him immediately. With 21 cards left inher deck and 24 in her RFG pile, Mark elects to take deck damage and eats 21 endurance loss. She then actiates Lady deathstrike, returning her to her hand to ready Thor, activating him again for another 21. She then substitutes Lady Deathstrike removing Dr. Light from the game, and activates her effect again, readying Thor, and burning for another 21 endurance loss.
"Sorry Mark. Rules are rules."
She then flips up a second triskelion, activating it (removing Lady Deathstrike from play) to get Sleeper Cells and plays it. Exhausting Blade, wasp and Clint to ready Thor, burning for another 21.

"Holy shit."Mark sets a resource and plays Enemy of my Enemy (discarding batman) to search out Dreadnought Tank, recruiting it.

    COMBAT PHASE

Dreadnought Tank triggers (Thanks Doomstadt!) returning Shimmer and Wasp to Stephs hand before she has the opportunity to use Shimmer's effect.

With her board exhausted, Steph passed combat.

Mark swings with Superman into Thor and plays Savage Beatdown from his row for a mutual stun before sending the Dreadnought Tank and Aquaman direct, playing another beatdown from the row on Aquaman and playing Mightiest Heroes from his row as well, (Discarding Wonderwoman) to put an aquaman into his hand for a power up for a total of 31 direct.

But alas, the damage was done.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    League of Doom -> -75    Ultimate Fear -> -23


        Ultimate Fear advances to the top 4!


        POSTGAME THOUGHTS:

Mark Thoughts:
"84 burn from Thor on turn 7? Not even caring about teamups? That's just silly!"

Steph Thoughts:
"I was so petrified of Batman I didnt bother flipping up any team-ups or triskelions until I had my second team-up on turn 5. I'm sorry Mark, I really wanted to stop but Aaron Insisted I activate any other options I had. So blame him! I'll make you some cookies later! Thanks for being a good sport!"

Match 3AA - Prey on the Weak VS ...and the Horse you rode in on

Prey on the Weak
- Lee
VS
...and the Horse you Rode in on
- Josh



Lee wins the flip and elcts to take odd initiatives

Lee Keeps. Josh Mulligans.

        TURN 1 (Lee Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Lee sets a resource and recruits Lady Blackhawk in the hidden area searching for Gypsy, placing it on the top of his deck.

Josh sets a resource, revealing War Skrull, KOing it to place Act of Defiance in the row.

    COMBAT PHASE

Lee attacks direct with Lady Blackhawk.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Prey on the Weak  -> 50    ...and the Horse you Rode in on -> 48



        TURN 2 (Josh Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Josh sets a resource and recruits Brainiac 13 in the hidden area.

Lee sets a resource and recruits gypsy protecting lady Blackhawk inthe hidden area, using her effect to look at the top 3 cards placing 1 card onthe top of his deck and the rest on the bottom of the deck.

    COMBAT PHASE

Josh attacks for 2.

Lee attacks for 4.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Prey on the Weak  -> 48    ...and the Horse you Rode in on -> 44



        TURN 3 (Lee Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Josh sets a resource and reveals War Skrull, KOing it and searching out Act of Defiance and setting it in his row. He then recruits Black Bolt in the hidden area, Protecting Brainiac 13, then flips up Act of Defiance to team up Revenge Squad and Skrull. Josh then flips up another one teaming up  Skrull and Birds of Prey. He finally recruits Terra-Man in the visible front row. and flips up Blinding Light.

Lee sets a resource and recruits Mammomax in the visible front row flipping up Planet X to team-up Birds of Prey and Brotherhood.

    COMBAT PHASE

Lee sends Mammomax into Terra-Man for a mutual stun. And then sends the rest direct with a savage land activation for 7.

Josh swings direct for 5.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Lee recovers Mammomax.
Josh recovers Terra-Man.

    Prey on the Weak  -> 40    ...and the Horse you Rode in on -> 33



        TURN 4 (Josh Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Josh sets a resource and flips up Battle for Metropolis then recruits Captain America forming all his characters into the front row.

Lee sets a resource and recruits Sabretooth in the front row (Discarding Lady Blackhawk).

At the end of the build phase Josh activates brainiac's effect reducing Sabretooth's DEF by 4

    COMBAT PHASE

Josh sends Captain America into Sabretooth stunning it. (His cosmic effect preventing the stunback) and sends Terra-Man over Mammomax for another easy stun before playing Death of Superman from his hand, exhausting Black Bolt to KO Sabretooth.

Lee spends some time considering his turn and passes.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Lee recovers Mammomax.

    Prey on the Weak  -> 22    ...and the Horse you Rode in on -> 33



        TURN 5 (Lee Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Lee sets a resource and recruits Cassandra Cain in the hidden area. Mammomax exhausts from his effect.

Josh sets a resource, flipping up Battle for Metropolis and recruits Paibok in the support row, forming Captain america protected by Terra-Man. He then activates Brainiac's effect reducing Cassandra's DEF by 5.

    COMBAT PHASE

Lee sends Lady Blackhawk into Terra-Man activating Savage Land for +5/-5 in a mutual stun. before sending Cassandra into Paibok with a savage beatdown. Josh reinforces with Captain America but Lee responds with Blind-sided from his hand before they each stun. Finally Lee attacks Gypsy into Captain America, playing a Beatdown from his hand for a mutual stun.

Josh retalliates with Black Bolt attacking into Mammomax for a mutual stun.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Lee recovers Cassandra, KOing Mammomax, Lady Blackhawk, and Gypsy.
Josh recovers Paibok, KOing Captain America, Terra-Man and Black Bolt.

    Prey on the Weak  -> 8    ...and the Horse you Rode in on -> 9



        TURN 6 (Josh Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Josh sets and flips Executive Privelege, discarding Super Skrull revealing executive Privelege and Captain America placing them both in his hand.
Josh then recruits Maxima and Atomic Skull. playing Mobilize, (Discarding Captain America) to search out Mr. Mxyzptlk, recruiting him and forming.

Lee sets a resource and plays Enemy of my Enemy, (Discarding Mammomax) searching out Black Canary, recruiting her in the Hidden area.

    COMBAT PHASE

Josh swings direct with everything direct. Once legal, he then plays Mobilize from his hand, (Discarding Executive Privelege to search out Terra-Man placing it into his hand and revealing it for Atominc SKull's effect, stunning Cassandra and powering up Terra-Man for 37 direct.

Lee sends Dinah into Atomic Skull, once legal, playing savage land, savage beatdown from his hand and a second savage land before replacing Planet X for 2 more ATK and replacing into a third Savage Land! activating that as well before allowing the mutual stun.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Prey on the Weak  -> -40    ...and the Horse you Rode in on -> -28

        ...and the Horse you rode in on advances to the top 4!


        POSTGAME THOUGHTS

Lee Thoughts:
"Losing Sabretooth on an off-initiative was ball-busting. Almost as much as being stuck on turn 5 with an exhausted Mammomax! The Atomic Skull really sealed the deal."

Josh Thoughts:
"When he replaced into the third Savage Land I panicked a bit, but the combination of a-skull stunning his 5 and the savage lands ensuring a stunback kept things in my favor.

Match 3AB - Thunderworld VS HULK LOVE MAGIC

Thunderworld
- Aaron
VS
HULK LOVE MAGIC
- JS



Aaron wins the flip and opts for even initiatives

Both players keep.

        TURN 1 (JS Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

JS sets a resource and passes.

Aaron sets a resource and passes.

    COMBAT PHASE

Both players stare blankly at their hands.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Thunderworld -> 50    HULK LOVE MAGIC -> 50



        TURN 2 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Aaron sets a resource and recruits Shathra in the hidden area, drawing a card from her effect and then discards the Dwarf to search for Ritual Sacrifice and place it in his hand.

JS sets a resource and recruits Blue Devil, losing 4 endurance.

    COMBAT PHASE

Aaron has Shathra attack Blue devil for a mutual stun.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Aaron recovers Shathra.
JS recovers Blue Devil.

    Thunderworld -> 48    HULK LOVE MAGIC -> 43



        TURN 3 (JS Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

JS sets a resource and recruits Archangel before flipping up Forbidden Loyalties, (Discarding The Phantom Stranger) placing a +1/+1 counter on Blue Devil and teaming up Warbound and Shadowpact.

Aaron sets a resource and recruits Lilith protecting Shathra inthe hidden area. He then substitutes Bullseye into play (removing Shathra from the game) and discard The Dwarf from his hand to fetch Ritual Sacrifice placing it in his hand and flips up another one from his row, teaming up Underworld and Thunderbolts.

    COMBAT PHASE

JS swings direct with archangel and Blue Devil.

Aaron declares an attack into Archangel with Lilith, triggering her effect (sending Thanos and Strange Love to the KO pile) before playing Speedball is dead, stunning Lilith, passing his combat.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Lilith auto-recovers from Speedball is dead and gains two +1/+1 counters.

    Thunderworld -> 38    HULK LOVE MAGIC -> 43



        TURN 4 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Aaron sets a resource, playing Death's embrace from his hand (Discarding bullseye) to fetch two copies of Blackheart, (sending one to the KO pile, and the other to his hand) and recruits him in the hidden area support row.

JS sets a resource and recruits HUlk, green scar in his front row, forming to protect Blue devil.

    COMBAT PHASE

Bullseye activates, stunning Blue Devil. Queen Lilith declares an attack on Archangel, before legal, JS triggers his activated effect, hoping to return Archangel to his hand. Aaron responds with Blackheart activating to KO Archangel before he can return to JS's hand. (Moving Blackheart, Thanos and Bullseye to the bottom of his deck) Lilith instead swings into Hulk triggering her effect (Sending Shathra and The Dwarf to the KO pile) before passing for a mutual stun.

    RECOVERY PHASE

JS recovers Hulk, KOing Blue Devil (Gaining 6 endurance)
Aaron recovers Lilith.

    Thunderworld -> 35    HULK LOVE MAGIC -> 43



        TURN 5 (JS Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

JS sets a resource playing Warbound to the end from his row (Discarding Blue Devil) to search for Hulk, gladiator. Boosting him into play, KOing Hulk Scar to stun blackheart.

Aaron sets a resource and recruits Thanos in the visible support row. playing New Identity targetting Thanos.

    COMBAT PHASE

Hulk swings into Thanos for a uncontested stun.

Aaron flips up 3 additional Ritual Sacrifices from his row and activates all 4 of them to gain 4 endurance (Placing 3x The Dwarf and Shathra to the bottom of his deck) he then plays Strange Love (Discarding netherworld Gift) to recover Thanos.

    RECOVERY PHASE

New Identity places a +1/+1 counter on Thanos.

Aaron recovers Blackheart.

    Thunderworld -> 29    HULK LOVE MAGIC -> 43



        TURN 6 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Aaron sets a resource, recruiting Lady Deathstrike protecting Thanos.

JS sets a resource and boosts Hulk, the green king into play, KOing his 5 drop to place 5 +1/+1 counters on it.

    COMBAT PHASE

With so many cards in hand and face down resources Aaron plays it safe, team attacking Thanos, Lady Deathstrike and Lilith into the 18/18 Hulk. Lilith's effect triggers. (Sending Radioactive man and Death's embrace to the KO pile) Hulk stuns back Thanos. And Aaron swings direct with Blackheart and Lester for 10. and activates Ritual Sacrifice, placing Rad man on the bottom of his deck to gain 1 Endurance.

    RECOVERY PHASE

New Identity places a +1/+1 counter on Thanos.

Aaron recovers Thanos.
JS recovers Hulk.

    Thunderworld -> 25    HULK LOVE MAGIC -> 27



        TURN 7 (JS Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

JS sets a resource and recruits The Phantom Stranger protected by the Hulk.

Aaron sets a resource, underdropping AGAIN. playing Madelelyn Pryor in the hidden area and forming thanos and Lady Deathstrike in the support row.

    COMBAT PHASE

JS sends The Phantom Stranger into Thanos for an easy stun. Aaron reinforces with Lady Deathstrike. JS then declares Hulk into lady Deathstrike. Once legal, playing Flying kick and discarding Phantom Stranger from his hand for +1/+1. Realizing this attack will place him exactly at 0 endurance, Aaron activates Madelyn Pryor's effect. removing her Cosmic Counter and moving her adjacent to Lady Deathstrike to KO all stunned characters (Thanos). Once visible, reinforcing the attack.

Aaron activates Ritual Sacrifice, moving Thanos to the bottom of his deck to gain 1 endurance.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Aaron recovers Lady Deathstrike.

    Thunderworld -> 21    HULK LOVE MAGIC -> 23



        TURN 8 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Aaron sets a resource and plays Death's Embrace from the row, (Discarding Netherworld Gift). JS responds with The Conclave to negate it.
Undaunted Aaron plays a second Death's embrace, (Discarding Green Goblin) Finally searching out Noble Kale and recruiting him in his hidden area.

JS sets a resource and plays Enemy of my Enemy from the row,(Discarding Ragman) searching out Hulk, worldbreaker, recruiting it and KOing his 6 drop to uniqueness.

    COMBAT PHASE

Aaron swings direct with Noble Kale, activates Lady Deathstrike, returning her to hishand and readying Noble Kale for a second swing direct. Aaron continues team attacking everythign else into Hulk. Hulk elects to stun back Madelyn Pryor.

JS counterswings with Phantom Stranger. Once legal, playing a flying kick for 20 direct.

Aaron sends Green Goblin to the bottom of his deck for Ritual Sacrifice's effect, gaining 1 endurance.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Thunderworld -> -4    HULK LOVE MAGIC -> -27



        Thunderworld advances to the top 4!


        POSTGAME THOUGHTS:

JS Thoughts:
"Aaron missing his 7 actually hurt me  as it gave me nothing to send my Phantom stranger into. With no way to KO it, Worldbreaker's effect was nullified even though on 8 I finally drew into my righteous anger. On the other hand if i had chosen not to play a 7 drop on 7 i was afraid he's have enough damage to get me to 0 endurance."

Aaron Thoughts:
"sitting on the deaths embrace on 7 was difficult, but i was afraid of getting conclaved. Ultimately The Madalyn was a stronger defensive play as that reinforcement kept me in the game."

Round 2 Report!

Round 2 featured some near-misses some dominating blowouts, and of course, an upset or two!

****READ THE PLAY-BY-PLAY FOR YOURSELF! ****

THE MATCH REPORTS CAN BE FOUND IN THE BLOG HISTORY TO YOUR RIGHT!

Match 2Q

  With a surprising finish in round 1, many were hopeful Hodge Podge could keep the magic alive, but it was not meant to be. In what proved tobe a surprisingly close game, the Admiral closed the doors early ending the game on turn 4.

    Admiral Wolverine Lightning bolt  9   - Hodge Podge  -2

Match 2R

  Master Man of Steel, the super-bricking, ever-growing man mountain. Vs a motley crew of s a recent pump combo (Chemo and Path of Destruction), and not a single piece of removal. I don't think a single person in our playgroup expected this upset victory, as The Burial Grounds took down Master Man the hard way.

    Master Man of Steel  -4   - Secret Six Burial Grounds  0

Match 2S

  No round is complete without its token "Bad matchup" Justice Supreme could never get online with all its characters being flung back into the hand. Mr. Foley's League of Doom wins this one handily on turn 6.

    Justice Supreme  -9   - League of Doom  12 

Match 2T

  Ultimate Fear manages to survive The Source, winning even bigger this week with a final score toting a 53 point disparity!

    Gods Gone Wild  -31   - Ultimate Fear  22

Match 2U

  Our Juvenile delinquents did an amazing job bricking Prey on the Weak's attempts but ultimately they went down to a shocking amount of Savage Land activations on turn 6.

    Juvenile Crime  -14   - Prey on the Weak  9

Match 2V

  See horse run. See horse run over all the Emerald Enemies. See horse run everywhere! No Gangreen for horsey! Go Mr. ED!

    GangGreen  -3   -  ...and the Horse you rode in on  11

Match 2W

  Doom riders seemed like a strong opponent in this one, but then the game started. Thunderworld runs away with it in a demonstrative victory.

    Thunderworld  14   -  Doom Riders  -10

Match 2X

  Talia and her squad of evil minions just couldn't deal with two timely Conclaves in the early to mid game as they fell to the infamous multi-swinging Hulk.

    Talia and the Masters of Evil  -13  -  HULK LOVE MAGIC  3

Match 2Q - Hodge Podge VS Admiral Wolverine Lightning-bolt

  Hodge Podge
- Aaron
    VS
  Admiral Wolverine Lightning bolt
- Josh



Aaron wins the flip and opts to take odd initiatives

Aaron Keeps, Josh mulligans

        TURN 1 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Aaron sets a resource and recruits Galan.

Josh sets a resource and recruits Chomin

    COMBAT PHASE

Galan activates to gain 2

Josh sends chomin into Galan for a mutual stun.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Both players recover

    Admiral Wolverine Lightning bolt -> 49   Hodge Podge -> 51



        TURN 2 (Josh Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Josh sets a resource and recruits Skreet.

Aaron sets a resource and recruits Barracuda in the hidden area.

    COMBAT PHASE

Josh declares Skreet into Galan. Galan activates to gain 2 endurance before stunning from combat. Aaron activates Barracuda to burn Josh for 3.
Josh then sends chomin in for 2 direct before using his effect on Skreet for 2 shared endurance loss. Skreet then triggers burning Aaron for 4 and moving to the hidden area.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Josh recovers Skreet.
Aaron recovers Galan.

    Admiral Wolverine Lightning bolt -> 44   Hodge Podge -> 44



        TURN 3 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Aaron sets a resource and recruits Black Manta, deepwater denizen in the hidden area behind Barracuda.

Josh sets a resource and recrutis Slipstream in the hidden area before flipping up Negative Zone, seat of annihilation (Discarding Skreet)

    COMBAT PHASE

Aaron sends barracuda and Black Manta direct for 11 before deciting to activate Galan to gain 2 endurance.

Josh attacks Skreet into Galan for an easy stun, and then swings direct with Slipstream. Once legal, playing Cosmic conflict on it to move it into the visible area with +4 ATK. once visible Josh pays 3 endurance to ready slipstream (Now a readied attacker) before playing Matter Convergence to grans +3ATK for the turn and moving Slipstream hidden again (now enjoying his passive +1 ATK) for 12 direct. he then attacks again for an additional 8 direct before finishing his combat phase with Chomin swinging for 2.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Negative Zone triggers, drawing Josh a card.

Aaron recovers Galan.

    Admiral Wolverine Lightning bolt -> 33   Hodge Podge -> 23



        TURN 4 (Josh Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Josh sets a resource and recruits an AGL behind slipstream in the hidden area before recruiting Skreet, KOing the hidden one for uniqueness.

Aaron sets a resource and flips Gang-up, teaming Heralds and Injustice Gang.
Both players draw a card.
Aaron then recruits Dr. Light, blinding light protecting Galan, activating it to allow both players play a character from their hands with a cost of 2 or less. Aaron puts a Morg into play, while Josh puts an AGL into his hidden area protecting Chomin.

    COMBAT PHASE

Josh declares skreet into Morg. Aaron responds, with Morg`s effect,(Discarding Galactus 9) returning an AGL to Josh`s hand. Aaron plays a cover fire on Morg, for +4 DEF halting the attack.
Josh then sends his remaining AGL into Galan powering it up, Galan activates and Morg reinforces. Galan stuns.
Following up he continues, sending slipstream into Dr. Light. Once legal, playing Thunderous Onslaught from his hand, to move Slipstream into the visible support row. Once visible, paying 3 endurance to ready him, making him an unstunnable, readied attacker before playing a rowed megablast on him and following up with a flying kick from his hand.
Slipstream`s 13 attack is more than enough to stun Dr. Light. he then follows up with 11 attack into Morg for a mutual stun.
Finally, Josh attacks directly with Chomin for 2.

Aaron is at 2 endurance. and has to attack through a visible Skreet. if he doesn`t he reasons Chomin will stun it anyways for the win. With that in mind, he declares Barracuda into Skreet. Once legal, playing Crime Syndicate of Amerika on it for +3/+3. Skreet stuns, moves hidden and burns Aaron for 4. Before Aaron folows up with a megablast on Black Manta and a swing direct. Once legal he plays Enemy of my Enemy, (Discarding silver Surfer) to search for a black Manta, using it to power-up the direct attack for 13.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Admiral Wolverine Lightning bolt -> 9   Hodge Podge -> -2


        Admiral Wolverine Lightning-bolt advances to the top 8!

        POSTGAME THOUGHTS:

Aaron Thoughts:
"I knew it would be an uphill battle and was happy to see Galen on 1, but in retrospect i should have mulliganed for Morg to try to get Chomin out of the way early. Even so, I am not convinced that it would have made much of a difference."

Josh Thoughts:
"It's always nice to beat Aaron. I really like Skreet and Chomin here. Skreet single-handedly turned an underdropped initiative into a win."

Match 2R - Master Man of Steel VS Secret Six Burial Grounds

  Master Man of Steel
- Lee
    VS
  Secret Six Burial Grounds
- Steph




Lee wins the flip and chooses even initiatives.

Both players keep.

        TURN 1 (Steph Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Steph sets a resource and passes her build.

Lee sets a resource and passes as well.

    COMBAT PHASE

Both players look at each other intently.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Master Man of Steel -> 50    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 50



        TURN 2 (Lee Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Lee sets a resource and recruits Kelex, discarding two armed escorts to search for City of Tomorrow, placing it into his hand.

Steph sets a resource, and recruits Dr. Sivana in the hidden area, activating his effect targetting her. Steph draws a card. (Discarding Chemo, toxic waste)

    COMBAT PHASE

Lee attacks directly with Kelex for 3.

Steph passes combat.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Master Man of Steel -> 50    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 47



        TURN 3 (Steph Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Steph sets and flips slaughter swamp, activates Dr. Sivana on herself. Drawing a card. (Discarding Deadshot, dead aim)
She then recruits Poison Ivy, intoxicting into her front row.

Lee sets a resource, and recruits Albert Malik<>Red Skull, axis of evil behind Kelex, flipping up City of Tomorrow to team-up Team Superman and Crime Lords. He opts to pay 3 endurance for his effect to thin out his deck a bit, placing a City of Tomorrow into his hand.

    COMBAT PHASE

Poison Ivy places chemo into play in the hidden front row from Stephs KO pile.

Steph sends Poison Ivy into Kelex for an easy stun. Then sends Chemo into Albert with a path of destruction played from her row chaining another path of destruction played from her hand. for 7 total attack.

Lee checks his row and thinks for a bit before passing. allowing the stun.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Steph recovers Chemo.
Lee recovers Albert, KOing Kelex.

    Master Man of Steel -> 39    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 46



        TURN 4 (Lee Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE

Steph flips up and chains Hidden HQ to the draw, sending Catman to the KO pile.
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Lee sets a resource and recruits Master Man protecting Albert.

Steph activates Dr. Sivana on herself, drawing a card. (Discarding Dr. Polaris)
She then exhausts Poison Ivy to Deadshot's effect, moving him into play in the hidden area before activating Scandal's effect. removing her from play to grab an ongoing plot twist. She decided to get A Day Unlike Any Other setting it as her resource, immediately flipping it face-up to team-up Secret Six and Secret Society before recruiting Ragdoll protecting Poison Ivy.

    COMBAT PHASE

Poison Ivy moves Dr. Polaris From Stephs KO pile to her hidden area behind Dr. Sivana.

Lee attacks Poison Ivy with Master man. stunning her and then opts to activate a set tech upgrade, exhausting Albert to fetch an armed escort before passing his combat phase.
Steph passes combat as well.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Steph recovers Poison Ivy.

    Master Man of Steel -> 39    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 40



        TURN 5 (Steph Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE

Steph chains Hidden HQ to the draw, sending Deadshot to the KO pile.
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Steph activates Dr. Sivana drawing herself a card. (Discarding Chemo) Sets a resource and plays Straight to the grave from her hand sending Black Manta and a path of destruction to her KO pile. then activating slaughter swamp (Discarding Poison Ivy) to put Black Manta into her hand. recruiting him. and readying the Swamp.

Lee sets and flips Enemy of my Enemy, (Discarding Master Man) to search for Wonder Woman, deflection diva recruiting her adjacent to Master Man in the front row before recruiting Armed Escort onto Master Man and smiling evily.

    COMBAT PHASE

Poison Ivy brings a second Chemo into play from Stephs KO pile into her hidden front row. immediately KOing it to replace her face up path of destruction.

Steph declares Black Manta into Wonder Woman. Lee uses Wonder Woman;s effect, exhausting her to make Master Man the defender. His effect triggers and he nets 2 +1/+1 counters. Lee then plays Reset. (Discarding Tech Upgrade) and black Manta readies, removed from the attack. Steph then attacks Master man with Black Manta, paying 3 endurance for his effect to grab a Path of Destruction. Once legal, Master Man nets 2 more +1/+1 counters, and steph plays the path for +6ATK. Lee reinforces with Albert and they both stun.
Next, steph team attacks poison Ivy, Dr. polaris, deadshot and chemo into Wonder Woman with 9 combined attack.
Lee responds with a cover fire for +2 DEF.
Steph then powers up Poison Ivy, and then activates slaughter swamp, discarding ragdoll to grab and re-power-up with a second ivy. Wonder woman stuns Poison Ivy in the mutual. Ragdoll then swings over Albert for a stun.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Lee recovers Master man, KOing albert and wonder woman.
Steph recovers Black Manta, KOing Poison Ivy.

    Master Man of Steel -> 25    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 32



        TURN 6 (Lee Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE

Steph chains Hidden HQ to the draw, sending Dr. Polaris to the KO pile.
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Lee sets a resource and flips For the Man who has Everything from his row to search for Taskmaster, (Discarding a desperate sacrifice) recruiting it behind Master Man.

Steph sets and flips Master Plan discarding Deadshot to recruit Wonder Woman, deflection diva from Lee's KO pile. forming her in the front row adjacent to ragdoll.

    COMBAT PHASE

Lee choses not to use Taskmasters effect.

Lee attacks with Master Man into Wonder Woman, stunning her. Taskmaster then attacks Ragdoll for another easy stun. Steph reinforces with Black Manta. Lee passes combat.

Steph pays 3 endurance for Black Manta's effect. putting a straight to the grave into his hand, playing it to send a black manta and a path of destruction to the KO pile. Steph passes.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Steph recovers Wonder Woman and KOs Ragdoll.

    Master Man of Steel -> 25    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 18



        TURN 7 (Steph Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE

Steph chains Hidden HQ to the draw, sending A Day unlike Any Other to the KO pile.
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Steph activates Dr. Sivana, drawing herself a card, (Discarding Poison Ivy)
She then activates Black Manta's effect, paying 3 endurance to place Path of destruction into her hand before setting a resource.
Continuing, she plays forced conscription from her hand (Sending Dr, Sivana, slaughter swamp and Deadshot to the KO pile) bringing Black manta to her hand. She plays A Clash of Worlds from her row and calls Black Manta for non-uniqueness. and plays a second forced conscription from her hand (Sending dr. Polaris, straight to the grave and master Plan to the KO pile, netting herself a poison ivy before recruiting the non-unique Black Manta protecting the other Black Manta.

Lee sets a resource and recruits Wonder Woman in the front row, adjacent to Master Man.

    COMBAT PHASE

Steph surveys the field. Lee has two face down resources and one card in his hand. Master man is protecting Taskmaster. While Wonder Wench sits idly in the front row with her cosmic counter.If lee has the reset this will prove near impossible to try to pull out.

Steph attacks Master Man with her hidden Deadshot. Once legal, Master man's effect triggers placing 2 +1/+1 counters on him and putting him at 13/12. Steph then plays Path of destruction from the resource row, chaining Chemo's effect. Chemo replaces the Path of destruction, allowing the pump's effect to resolve counting 4 paths in her discard pile for a +10 ATK pump and crosses her fingers.
Lee passes for the mutual stun.
Steph then sends Wonder Woman into Lee's Wonder Woman but the attack is redirected into Taskmaster and his wonder woman exhausts.
Steph responds paying 3 endurance for her second Black Manta activation this turn. grabbing path of destruction and playing it for a +8 ATK pump and the mutual stun.
Steph takes note of the endurance totals... 10 to 5 in lee's favor.
She team swings with Black Manta and Dr. Polaris into wonder woman. Lee powers up wonder woman, but it isn't enough. both 5's stun.
Finally, Steph sends her second Black Manta direct for the game.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Master Man of Steel -> -4    Secret Six Burial Grounds -> 0

        Secret Six Burial Grounds advances to the top 8!


        POSTGAME THOUGHTS:

Lee Thoughts:
"In hindsight I should have waited to see some pumps before playing that reset on turn 5. But I had no way of knowing I wouldn't see another. Discarding the Desperate Sacrifice to hit my 6 was painful as well. An extremely close game!"

Steph Thoughts:
"I was SOOOO close to koing dr. polaris to exhaust something of his to hopefully prevent reinforcement until I realized my path'd Deadshot would have exactly the ATK needed to stun master man. making the exhaust un-necessary. It was a gamble that just as easily could have ended badly for me. With a deck with no KO tricks I wasn't exited about this match-up. But the turn 5 board-wipe combined with that Dr. polaris team swing on turn 7 guaranteed a crucial stun. Of course, none of this happens without him missing his 7."

Match 2S - Justice Supreme VS League of Doom

  Justice Supreme
- Mark
    VS
  League of Doom
- Aaron



Mark wins the toss and elects to take odd Initiatives.

Both players keep.

        TURN 1 (Mark Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Mark sets a resource and recruits Ape X, searching his deck for Power armor and placing it into his hand before recruiting it on Ape X.

Aaron sets a resource and passes.

    COMBAT PHASE

Mark attacks direct with Ape X for 3.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Justice Supreme -> 50    League of Doom -> 47



        TURN 2 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Aaron sets a resource and recruits Robot Sentry.

Mark sets and flips Rocket Central, missing his 2 and passing his build.

    COMBAT PHASE

Aaron attacks Ape X with Robot Sentry for a mutual stun.
Lee passes.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Aaron recovers Robot Sentry.
Mark recovers Ape X.

    Justice Supreme -> 48    League of Doom -> 45



        TURN 3 (Mark Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Mark sets a resource and recruits Lady Lark behind Ape X. recruiting a jetpack onto her.

Aaron sets a resource and recruits Batman, founding member in the hidden area. he then flips up Forbidden Loyalties, (Discarding Superman) to place a +1/+1 counter on batman and teaming up JLA and Doom.
He then activates robot Sentry to exhaust Ape X.

    COMBAT PHASE

Mark attacks Robot Sentry with Lady Lark, powering her up for an easy stun.

Aaron attacks with Batman into Ape X, stunning it.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Mark recovers Ape X
Aaron recovers Robot Sentry.

    Justice Supreme -> 42    League of Doom -> 35



        TURN 4 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE

Aaron chains Mightiest heroes to the draw, flipping it from his row to search for Dr. Doom, diabolic genius placing it on top of his deck.

(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Aaron sets a resource and recruits Dr. Doom, diabolic genius, protecting Robot Sentry. His enter-play effect flipping down Mightiest Heroes.

Mark sets a resource and reservist recruits Golden Archer, replacing the resource.

    COMBAT PHASE

Aaron Plays Reign of Terror from his hand, targetting Lady Lark. and she returns to Mark's hand. sending the jetpack to the KO pile. Then he sends Batman into Ape X for an easy stun before sending robot sentry with a Savage Beatdown played from his hand into Golden archer who activates his effect for a net total of 2 endurance loss before succumbing to a mutual stun.
Then Aaron sends Doom direct for 7.

Mark passes combat.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Mark recovers Golden Archer, KOing Ape X.
Aaron recovers Robot Sentry.

    Justice Supreme -> 24    League of Doom -> 31



        TURN 5 (Mark Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Mark sets a resource and recruits Lady Lark protecting Golden Archer then recruits Tom Thumb in the hidden area. he reveals Haywire and reservist recruits him adjacent to Golden Archer and chooses not to replace the resource.

Aaron sets a resource and recruits Superman, metropolis marvel in the support row adjacent to Robot sentry.

    COMBAT PHASE

Mark declares an attack with Lady Lark into Dr. Doom. Once legal Aaron flips up Doomstadt putting Doom at 9 DEF. Mark responds by playing crackshot from his row ensuring the mutual stun. Aaron chooses not to reinforce. Lady lark's effect triggers and mark loses 3 endurance.
Mark continues and sends Golden archer into Superman. Once legal he plays two megablasts from his hand. before playing answering the call to search for Albert Gaines and place it into his hand.
Aaron reinforces with Robot Sentry and Archer and SUpes both stun. Mark then sends Tom Thumb into Robot Sentry for an easy stun before flipping up a megablast from the row targetting Haywire and swinging for 4 direct.

Aaron Activates Batman.(Discarding Robot Sentry) replacing Rocket Central.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Mark recovers Golden Archer, KOing Lady Lark.
Aaron recovers Superman, KOing doom, and Robot Sentry.

    Justice Supreme -> 14    League of Doom -> 15



        TURN 6 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE

Aaron chains Mightiest heroes to the draw, flipping it from his row to search for Dreadnought Tank, arse4nal of doom placing it on top of his deck.

(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Aaron sets a resource, and recruits Dreadbought Tank behind Superman.

Mark sets a resource and recruits Albert Gaines in the front row protecting Golden Archer.

    COMBAT PHASE

Dreadnought Tank triggers from Doomstadt, returning Haywire and Tom Thumb to Mark's hand.

Aaron sends Superman into Golden Archer. Archer activates, burning Aaron for 3 before stunning. Then Dreadbnought Tank swings over Albert. stunning him as Batman swings direct to end the game.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Justice Supreme -> -9    League of Doom -> 12

        League of Doom advances to the top 8!

       
        POSTGAME THOUGHTS:

Mark Thoughts:
"This really was a mis-match. Alli could do was hope he missed key plays. He didn't."

Aaron Thoughts:
"It feels so wrong how badly this deck beats Squadron Supreme. I didnt even need to play my Indestructible. Everything after turn 4 felt like a win-more tradeoff as his cards kept returning to his hand, muting his no hand-theme play."

Match 2T - Gods Gone Wild VS Ultimate Fear

  Gods Gone Wild
- Josh
    VS
  Ultimate Fear 
- Lee



Josh wins the flip and opts to take odd initiatives.

Both players keep

        TURN 1 (Josh Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Josh sets a resource and passes his build.

Lee sets a resource and passes.

    COMBAT PHASE

Both players angrilly sip their grape juiceboxes.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Gods Gone Wild -> 50    Ultimate Fear -> 50



        TURN 2 (Lee Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Lee sets a resource and recruits Bullseye, lester in the hidden area.

Josh sets a resource, and recruits Chen to the hidden area.

    COMBAT PHASE

Lee attacks direct for 2.

Josh attacks direct for 3.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Gods Gone Wild -> 48    Ultimate Fear -> 47



        TURN 3 (Josh Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Josh exhausts Chen, to Powell's effect removing Powell from play, grabbing Bounty Hunt. Then setting and flipping up bounty hunt and recruiting Shiloh Norman before flipping up
Stealthcraft, teaming up Wild Pack and new Gods before recruiting a capture net on Shiloh.

Lee then sets a resource, flipping up liberation day, removing Clint Barton from play to search out the Triskelion, placing it into his hand and recruiting Dr. Sivana.

    COMBAT PHASE

Shiloh and Chen team attack Dr. Sivana. The Doc stuns back Chen in a mutual stun.

Lee passes combat.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Josh recovers Chen.
Lee recovers Dr. Sivana.

    Gods Gone Wild -> 46    Ultimate Fear -> 44



        TURN 4 (Lee Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Lee sets a resource, flipping up triskelion flipping up Forbidden Loyalties, discarding Life Model Decoy to place a +1/+1 counter on Dr. Sivana. teaming up Fearsome Five and S.H.I.E.L.D.. he then flips underworld star from his row, (Discarding Shimmer) to fetch Iron Man, mighty avenger, recruiting him behind Dr. Sivana.

Josh sets a resource, recruiting Silver Sable protected by Shiloh.

    COMBAT PHASE

Lee activates Bullseye stunning Chen.

Lee attacks Shiloh with Iron man. Josh evades Shiloh, removing iron man from the attack from his effect. lee then activates Clint Barton from his hand, exhausting Dr. Sivana to remove Shiloh from play before passing combat.

Josh sends Silver Sable into Dr. Sivana once legal, Lee plays cover fire from his hand to avoid the stun and both players pass.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Josh recovers Chen.

    Gods Gone Wild -> 41    Ultimate Fear -> 44



        TURN 5 (Josh Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Josh sets a resource and plays mobilize from his row (Discarding Chen) to grab Sandman, intruders and palce it into his hand, recruiting it protecting Silver Sable.

Lee sets a resource and recruits Life Model Decoy, copying Silver Sable. Then recruits Wasp in the hidden area in front of Bullseye. he forms the LMD to protect Iron man and moves Dr Sivana to the support row adjacent to iron man as well.

At the end of the build phase Lee activates Wasp (Removing 2x Underworld Star, forbidden loyalties, liberation day, and Blade independant contractor) to burn Josh for 3.

    COMBAT PHASE

Josh declares sandman into the LMD before it is legal, Lee activates Bullseye to stun Chen. Once legal, Lee plays a cover fire from his row for +8 DEF.
Josh decides not to use Sandman's effect (as he does not want the faux-sable to bounce it on a stunback) and the attack is bricked. Josh then sends Silver Sable into Life model Decoy, playing a Forbidden loyalties from his row (Discarding Chen) to place a +1/+1 counter on Sable.
Lee activates Triskelion (Removing Blade, independant contractor and Shimmer from play) to grab and play cover fire bricking the second attack as well.
Just to spite Lee Josh then flips up and activates The Source, replacing Lee's Forbidden Loyalties and removing all other copies in his hand deck and KO pile from play. (Removing the remaining 2 from the deck)

Lee then attacks with LMD and Iron man into Sandman. Stunning Iron man and sandman in the process, with LMD spinning it back to Josh's hand.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Lee's Iron Man auto-recovers from Sivana.
Josh recovers Chen.

    Gods Gone Wild -> 31    Ultimate Fear -> 40



        TURN 6 (Lee Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
Lee chains wasp to the draw, burning for 3.(Removing Dr. Light, Lady Deathstrike, Psymon, entangle and sleeper cells)  also chaining Triskelion, (Removing 0 cards) to place forbidden Loyalties into his hand.
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Lee sets a resource and flips Forbidden Loyalties, discarding Quicksilver to place a +1/+1 counter on Iron Man and teaming-up S.H.I.E.L.D. and Fearsome Five.
He then recruits Shimmer, protecting Dr. Sivana. and passes his build.

Josh sets a resource and re-recruits Sandman.

    COMBAT PHASE

Lee activates Shimmer, exhausting Josh's board. he activates Bullseye, Lester to stun Chen, and declares a team attack into Sandman utilizing LMD and Sivana for the stun, returning sandman to Josh's hand again. (and stunning back LMD, to trigger Iron Man's auto-recovery effect)
Josh then passes combat.

Lee passes as well.

    RECOVERY PHASE

LMD auto-recovers and gains a +1/+1 counter from Iron Man's effect.
Josh decides not to recover Chen, KOing it. growing tired of the free 2 endurance loss it provides.

    Gods Gone Wild -> 23    Ultimate Fear -> 40



        TURN 7 (Josh Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
Lee chains wasp to the draw, burning for 3.(Removing Thor, Clint Barton, Dr. Sivana, Liberation day and Bullseye)  also chaining Triskelion, (Removing 0 cards) to place Thor into his hand.
(Both Players draw 2 cards)

    BUILD PHASE

Josh sets a resource and recruits Lightray.

Lee sets a resource and recruits Thor adjacent to Iron Man in the support row. He forms Shimmer to protect him.

    COMBAT PHASE

Josh declares Lightray into Thor.
Lee responds by activating Thor... (there are presently 23 cards removed from the game and 22 remaining in Lee's deck. Josh selects the smaller total) ... and burning Josh for 22 enurance loss and exhausting Iron man to reinforce. Seeing 3 exhausted characters he activates bullseye to stun his own shimmer and chains press the attack from his row to ready Thor and burn for another 22.
Shimmer stuns.
Thor and Lightray exchange a mutual stun.
Josh then sends Sulver Sable into Dr. Sivana, FINALLY getting that stun with her and his first counter on bounty hunt.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    Gods Gone Wild -> -31    Ultimate Fear -> 22

        Ultimate Fear advances to the top 8!


        POSTGAME THOUGHTS

Josh Thoughts:
"Holy hell that Thor burn was crazy! I actually thought i was still in it, right up until we counted the two piles (Deck and RFG)."

Lee Thoughts:
"Aaron couldn't even stay in the room for this one. But i think i did pretty good. Chaining trisk to the draw like the write-up says, it seemed pretty easy to play out when you draw into 2 cover fires early. And hey, winning by 53 endurance doesn't suck either, ya know?"

Steph Thoughts:
"Aw poop. Go figure I end up playing Aaron's deck. The one deck that doesnt care about all his team-ups getting removed from the game. Curses!"