High Noon

It's finally time.

Let's not be chauvinist here, ladies can go too.

So it isn't life or death like Thunderdome, but that's as good a mental image as any! I won't lie as I am feeling some pressure here. If I lose, I'm the guy that bragged up his skills to the wrong hombre before getting publicly stomped. If "Dave" loses, well it costs him nothing. Maybe it all adds to the fun though.

As mentioned last week, I got to pick, build and tweak any toolbox I wanted, while he promised he would run a build at best, identical to, or at worst improved upon a major event winning deck from VS System's 10K's or PC.
The catch? My toolbox was stuck practicing for them ALL. Every major winner, and notable finisher forced me to at least gave it some planning... leaving me trying to guess. Will he bring something off-beat that I consider over-all weaker to catch me unprepared? Or will he just smash a turn 3 rush in my face and see if I can stop it?

We decided on a best of 3 following the council banned list for both of us. As the man facing the unknown, I got to choose initiatives for game 1. So right off the bat i had a 50-50 shot at picking favorably or... not so much. Here's how it all went down.

*********************

After much internal debate I eventually settled on the Ultimates toolbox I posted. I debated the additions of force field projections before remembering they do nothing against wolverine direct, at least against rush I could stick a large-bottomed invisible woman in the way while still having pseudo-fast tech access to meltdowns if I faced a rush. If he came at me with control or toolbox at least it would be down to who had the most answers.

Regardless here is the list I ran:

The Heroic White Light of Ultimate-ness!

Locations:
    4 [MUL] The Triskelion, Ultimates {MUL}

Characters:
    4 [MUL] Wasp, Ultimates {MUL}

    3 [MUL] Invisible Woman, Ultimates {MUL}
    3 [MUL] Clint Barton <> Hawkeye, Ultimates {MUL}
    1 [MEV] Caliban - Pestilence {MEV}

    3 [MUL] Mr. Fantastic, Ultimates {MUL}
    2 [MUL] Nick Fury, Ultimates {MUL}
    1 [MUN] Blade, Independent Contractor {MUN}

    4 [MUL] Hank Pym <> Giant Man, Ultimates {MUL}
    1 [MUN] Lady Deathstrike, Opportunistic Killer {MUN}


    3 [MUL] Iron Man, Ultimates {MUL}
    1 [MUL] Sub-Mariner, Ultimates {MUL}

    2 [MVL] Dr. Strange, Ally of The Four {MVL}


    1 [MUL] Thor, Ultimates {MUL}

Plot Twists:
    4 [MUL] Liberation Day, Ultimates {MUL}
    2 [MCG] Pathetic Attempt {MCG}
    2 [MVL] Only Human {MVL}
    2 [MMK] Meltdown {MMK}
    3 [MOR] Cosmic Radiation {MOR}
    1 [MSM] Unmasked {MSM}
    4 [DCR] Forbidden Loyalties - Team-Up {DCR}
    4 [MXM] Enemy Of My Enemy {MXM}


Equipment:
    2 [MEX] Ultimate Nullifier, One-Way Trip {MEX}
    2 [MEQ] War Machine Armor, Unique {MEQ}
    1 [MMK] War Wagon {MMK}


 After our games, I got his decklist. I'm posting it here though so you can all back-seat-drive while you read.

Evil Bad-Guy Spider-Control

Locations:
    3 [MTU] Empire State University {MTU}
    1 [MHG] Soul World {MHG}
    1 [DJL] Slaughter Swamp {DJL}
    1 [MOR] Avalon Space Station {MOR}

Characters:
    4 [MTU] Aunt May, Golden Oldie {MTU}
    4 [MEV] Spider-Man <> The Spider - Earth-15 {MEV}

    4 [MSM] Black Cat-Master Thief {MSM}

    4 [MUL] Spider-Man, Ultimates {MUL}

    1 [MAA] Spider-Man, Zombie {MAA}

    1 [MUN] Spider-Man, Secret Avenger {MUN}

    1 [DCL] Lex Luthor, Metropolis Mogul {DCL}

    4 [MSM] Scarlet Spider-Ben Reilly {MSM}
    1 [MCG] Human Torch, Herald {MCG}

    1 [MTU] Spider-Man, Stark's Protege {MTU}
    1 [DCL] Koriand'r <> Starfire, X'Hal's Fury {DCL}

    1 [MUN] The Beyonder, Inhuman {MUN}

Plot Twists:
    4 [MTU] Indebted {MTU}
    4 [MUN] Messiah Complex {MUN}
    4 [MSM] Bad Press {MSM}
    4 [DCL] Straight to the Grave {DCL}
    4 [MEV] No More Mr. Nice Guy {MEV}
    3 [MUN] Death Of The Dream {MUN}
    2 [MXM] Enemy Of My Enemy {MXM}
    2 [MCG] Omnipotence {MCG}

Please keep in mind, as I played these matches, I didn't have the decklist like you guys do, and while he may have suspected, he didn't know mine either. ALSO. he didn't track his draws as we played. sorry guys i only have my own perspective for you. Regardless, enjoy!

*********************

- "Dave"
VS
- Aaron

GAME 1

Being paranoid against rush, I opted for odd initiatives to start.

        TURN 1 (Aaron Initiative)

I Mulligan. "Dave" Keeps
My opening hand: Forbidden Loyalties, PA, Invisible woman and enemy of my enemy.

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)
I draw another EomE and a Cosmic radiation.

    BUILD PHASE
I set Forbidden Loyalties and pass.

"Dave" sets and shifts Spiderman <> The spider. Well. shitballs. Maybe its some rush variant?

    COMBAT PHASE

Both pass.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    "Dave" -> 50    Aaron -> 50



        TURN 2 ("Dave" Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)
I draw Wasp and Triskelion.

    BUILD PHASE
He sets a card. and after a prolonged moment of tortuous silence, passes. Nope this is spider stall.

I set Triskelion, and recruit wasp. No need to flip triskelion yet. I dont want to bait resource hate before I'm ready. I immediately activate her (removing Only human, caliban, lib day, unmasked, and EomE) I am happy to not draw those right now.

    COMBAT PHASE

Both pass.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    "Dave" -> 47    Aaron -> 50



        TURN 3 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)
I draw Dr. Strange and a PA.

    BUILD PHASE
I set an EomE, and play the one in my hand,(discarding Invisible Woman)  flipping Triskelion as I do to make sure I continue stocking my RFP zone. I then grab SHAFT, er... Nick Fury and recruit him.

"Dave" sets a resource and recruits Spider-man, ultimates entering with his 2 web counters. He flips Empire State U, and exhausts his spidey to dig a bit.

    COMBAT PHASE

I activate Wasp to burn for 3 (removing Wasp, Hank, lib day, clint, and triskelion) and then declare Nick fury into his exhausted spider-man, he debates the obvious power-up for a bit and then passes. for a mutual stun.

    RECOVERY PHASE
 I recover Nick Fury.
"Dave" recovers Spider-man.

    "Dave" -> 41    Aaron -> 47


        TURN 4 ("Dave" Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)I draw a meltdown and a very convenient Hank Pym.

    BUILD PHASE

Dave sets and flips Slaughter Swamp and plays Straight to the Grave sending Aunt May to his KO pile, activating slaughter swamp (discarding Black Cat, master thief to put aunt may into his hand before recruiting her. He places a Spider-man, secret avenger into his hand from her effect. Then he reveals Scarlet  Spider to skirt uniqueness and recruits a second Spider-man, ultimates, (netting 4 web counters on it for a total of 6 in play) forming defensively around a support rowed aunt may. He exhausts aunt may to Empire state U netting a card and passes.

I set PA and recruit Hank Pym, protecting Nick Fury and pass.

    COMBAT PHASE
 At the start of combat Hank triggers (removing Ultimate Nullifier) for no gain.

"Dave exhausts both ultimate spider-men to a boosted Messiah Complex replacing his own Empire State U and using the non-targetted effect to replace my triskelion. I chain to it, Flipping up my EomE discarding Dr. Strange, and chaining my Trisk,(removing meltdown, pathetic attempt and cosmic radiation) Enemy resolves and I fetch Iron Man, ultimates. Trisk then resolves, grabbing one of my removed triskelions and place it into my hand. and DotD resolves, replacing my trisk into my other Meltdown. He then spends 4 web counters to exhaust Hank I decide to sit on the PA. Hank exhausts and "Dave" passes.

I send Nick Fury into the spider-man with 2 counters on it, not concerning myself with preventing the stunback, He thinks, decides better of it and passes for a mutual stun. I then activate wasp burning for 3 more (removing Iron man, forbidden loyalties, war wagon, blade, and war machine armor)


    RECOVERY PHASE
I recover Nick. He recovers Spidey.


    "Dave" -> 35    Aaron -> 44


        TURN 5 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)I draw Wasp and Lib Day

    BUILD PHASE
I set Triskelion, and recruit Iron Man, ultimates, forming him behind Hank Pym, then flip up Trisk and play the Lib day from my hand (removing wasp) and chaining triskelion's activation (removing nothing, my hand is empty) Liberation day nets me a Thor, ultimates while Triskelion grabs me that War machine Armor. I get the feeling that PA is going to be big this turn. I equip war machine armor onto Iron man and pass build.

He goes into the tank. Fair, considering I'm pretty much telegraphing this turn.

He sets and flips Bad Press not doing much on turn 5, and reveals scarlet spider, before recruiting Spider-man, secret avenger  He uses Ultimate spidey's effect to exhaust Iron man, (1 web counter left) I negate with the rowed PA. Then he activates secret avenger's effect targetting Iron man. (discarding Koriand'r <> Starfire, the good one.). It goes through. No armor shenanigans this turn.

    COMBAT PHASE
Hank Pym triggers (removing Wasp) gaining a +1/+1 counter. "dave" curses and flips up an Empire State U he could have used last turn. (i wondered why he blew his other one up) he exhausts  aunt may and gets his card.

I send Hank and Nick into the 5 drop spidey, I opt against nick's effect and the two 5 drops stun. Hank then swings into the ultimate spidey with the web counter, stunning it and dealing 3 break. With 23 cards RFP's and 25 in my deck I lay off  wasp and pass, not wanting to cripple any potential Thor effect damage on 7.

With only a ready 3 drop he passes as well.

    RECOVERY PHASE
I recover Iron Man.
"Dave" recovers 5 drop spidey. and KOs the stunned 3 drop ultimate. (web counters 0)


    "Dave" -> 24    Aaron -> 39


        TURN 6 ("Dave" Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
I chain Triskelion to the draw (removing Thor) to grab Dr. Strange. 

(Both Players draw 2 cards)
I draw a triskelion and a cosmic radiation.

    BUILD PHASE
"Dave" sets and flips up No More Mr. Nice Guy, with the shifted spidey his spider-men almost jump up a drop. He plays straight to the grave, sending Human Torch, herald to the KO pile before activating slaughter swamp (discarding another SttG) to place Human Torch into his hand, and recruits it behind the 5 drop Secret Avenger. He then activates Empire state U exhausting aunt may (how is she still alive?!?) for his free card.

I set Triskelion, and recruit Dr. Strange, forming him behind Hank Pym, and Iron man, Behind Nick Fury before passing.

    COMBAT PHASE
At the start of combat, Hank triggers, (removing another Hank) and gets his second counter, becoming a 9/9. Dr. strange triggers for no effect.

"Dave" laughs as he realizes war machine armor doesn't target, and mentions he probably should have gotten something else instead. he then sends human torch into Iron Man. I opt not to reinforce and take 4 breakthrough for 9 total endurance loss. Then the 11/12 secret avenger swings into Hank. i don't reinforce and take a total of 6. Then his 6/7 ultimate spider swings into Nick fury. another stun. I lose a total of 5. he then passes.

I just went from 39 to 19 endurance. time to pay him back.
Dr. strange into Aunt May. we both pass, he takes 12. With Human Torch up my Wasp cant hurt him so I pass.

    RECOVERY PHASE
I recover Hank, koing Nick and Iron man.
"Dave" opts to let Aunt May KO. Yikes. That's cold man.

    "Dave" -> 12    Aaron -> 19


        TURN 7 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
 I decide against chaining trisk to the draw, that cosmic radiation is nice in my hand.

(Both Players draw 2 cards)I draw Mr. fantastic and Liberation day.

    BUILD PHASE
I set the Cosmic Radiation (banking my 7 resources), and activate Liberation day, chaining my Triskelion (removing 0) and then flip my second triskelion, (KOing the first one to uniqueness) and activate that one as well (removing 0) Triskelion2 resolves, grabbing war machine armor, Triskelion 1 resolves, Grabbing me that Thor, and Lib day resolves netting me a Clint Barton. I recruit Thor, Flip up my Forbidden Loyalties, placing a +1/+1 counter on Dr. Strange, and teaming up SHIELD and Fan 4. I then recruit War Machine Armor on Dr/ Strange, and pass.

"Dave" Sets a resource, activates Slaughter Swamp, (discarding scarlet spider) to grab Koriand'r and recruits her, forming her behind the spiderman, ultimates, adjacent to human torch. and goes into the tank before deciding that Thor was too scary, He then boosts a messiah complex from his hand, exhausting his front line (spidey3 and spidey 5) targetting Scarlet Spider to gain 6 endurance and then discards it to Secret Avenger's effect.

    COMBAT PHASE
St the start of combat hank's effect resolves first, (removing dr. strange), however I chain to Dr. Strange's effect, activating War Machine Armor. The non-targetting effect replaces 6 resources, burns for 6 and forces "Dave to stun a character with a cost of 6 or less. He chains a second rowed messiah complex, exhausting the remainder of his board to grab Scarlet Spider again and gain 6 more endurance before replacing everything except Slaughter Swamp and stunning his 3 drop. Dr. Strange's effect resolves, readying dr. strange, and he activates again. "Dave" replaces the same resources and stuns his 5 drop this time. I then play the cosmic radiation.
"So you had it no matter who I negated then."
"yeah, I think so."
Human Torch stuns dave loses another 6 and replaces more resources.

Thor swings for the mutual stun into Koriand'r dealing 1 breakthrough for 8. Hank goes direct for 9 and wasp burns for her 3, sealing game 1.

    RECOVERY PHASE

Aaron Wins!

    "Dave" -> -16    Aaron -> 12

THOUGHTS:

"Dave" -  At first I thought I made a horrible mistake ignoring Dr. Strange, but when he played the cosmic radiation the math actually ends decidedly in Thor's favor. (Something like negative 30 to maybe negative... 4 or something like that) The difference is I would have had most of my field intact, but they would have mostly been exhausted from at least one boosted Messiah Complex.  
I  Hope you enjoyed that, Aaron, It is never happening again.

Aaron - When he picked Thor to negate it was the right call. Barring him flipping up an omni on 7 I was confident it would go my way. Now I am a bit concerned as he knows what's coming and how it's going to come. Should be interesting!

********************

 GAME 2

He opted for evens in game 2 putting me on odds again. (My deck really wants evens if it isn't rush)

We both keep.

        TURN 1 (Aaron Initiative)

I start with hank pym, invisible woman, mr. fantastic and an EomE in my hand.

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)
 I draw wasp and sub-mariner

    BUILD PHASE
I set EomE and recruit wasp hidden.

"Dave" sets a resource and removes Spiderman <> The Spider from play shifted.

    COMBAT PHASE
Wasp swings for 1.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    "Dave" -> 49    Aaron -> 50



        TURN 2 ("Dave" Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)
 I draw Iron Man and Liberation Day

    BUILD PHASE
He sets a card  and shifts another of the 1 drop spiders, rhinks for a bit and passes.

I set Lib Day and recruit Invisible Woman.

    COMBAT PHASE
He is forced to pass combat with nothing.

I swing with wasp and invisible woman for 2. 


    RECOVERY PHASE

    "Dave" -> 47    Aaron -> 50



        TURN 3 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)
 I draw triskelion and Wasp

    BUILD PHASE
I set triskelion, and recruit Mr. Fantastic, protecting Invisible woman.

"Dave" Sets a resource, and recruits Ultimate Spider-man, He reveals scarlet spider avoiding uniqueness and then shifts into play one of the three shifted 1 drops into his hidden area. netting 2 more web counters (4 total)

    COMBAT PHASE
I declare a team swing with invisible woman and her hubby into spider-man ultimates, hoping to draw the exhaust. He doesn't. Once legal he flips No More Mr Nice Guy becoming a 6/7. I activate Wasp (removing Lib Day, 2x triskelions, lady deathstrike and an Ultimate Nullifier). I debade cashing in both search cards to get a mutual stun, but now that 1 drop is a 4/3, my visible characters are stunning no matter what i do at this point, so I let them go. Mr. Fan stuns, and I pass.

"Dave" then swings at me with ultimate spidey into invisible woman for an easy stun before the 1 drop spider goes direct for 4. I flip up Triskelion. to start catching dead bodies and sending them to the rfp zone.

    RECOVERY PHASE
I recover mr. fantastic and invisible woman KOs.

    "Dave" -> 44    Aaron -> 39



        TURN 4 ("Dave" Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)
I draw 2x forbidden Loyalties.

    BUILD PHASE
"Dave" sets and flips Empire State U, but holds off on activating it just yet. he plays straight to the grave, sending a second, spider-man, ultimates to his ko pile before playing messiah complex from his row unboosted to put it into his hand, revealing scarlet spider for uniqueness and recruiting the 3 drop protecting his twin. THEN he shifts into play ANOTHER 1 drop spiderman. (12 web counters in play!)

I set a Forbidden Loyalties, and recruit Hank, protecting Mr. fantastic, and we pass to combat.

    COMBAT PHASE
Hank triggers, (Removing another hank) gaining a +1/+1 counter.


He sends the ultimate spidey with 2 web counters in a team attack on my hank with one of his now overstatted 1 drops, I activate wasp (removing Clint Barton, Cosmic Radiation, Ultimate Nullifier, Caliban, and Hank Pym) I then play Lib Day (Removing Wasp) To fetch my last remaining Hank. powering him up, flipping my rowed forbidden loyalties (discarding Iron Man) to place a +1/+1 counter on Hank (and teaming up Fan 4 and SHIELD) and then playing my second forbidden Loyalties,(discarding Sub-Mariner) to give hank another +1/+1 counter. Passing with an 11/11 hank.
"Dave" went into the tank before exhausting his other 1 drop for Empire State U, and discarding Spider-man, secret avenger to match Hank's defense. With no cards in my hand i activate trisk, grab a hank and power up. "Dave" responds by playing his second messiah complex fetching his secret avenger and powering up again. Dammit. I'm tapped out and his 3 drop stuns along with my hank.

Afterwards, he then sends his other Ultimate Spider-man into Mr. Fantastic. I debate his expensive effect before realizing my ideal play is chaining triskelion to the draw next turn, so anything i search will be pointless. Mr. fantastic stuns.

    RECOVERY PHASE
I recover the sizeable hank and Mr. fantastic KOs.
"Dave recovers Spider-man, ultimates.

    "Dave" -> 38    Aaron -> 31



        TURN 5 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
I chain Triskelion to the draw (removing 0) and getting Iron Man.
(Both Players draw 2 cards)
I draw  Invisible woman and Forbidden Loyalties

    BUILD PHASE
I set Forbidden Loyalties and recruit Iron Man behind Hank Pym.

He sets a resource, reveals To avoid uniqueness and recruits Spider-man, Secret Avenger (16 web counters in play) and flips up Omnipotence. I know what he's gonna call. he knows it too. Triskelion.

    COMBAT PHASE
Hank triggers (removing Iron Man) Gaining a fourth +1/+1 counter
Iron Man triggers revealing his hand (Empire State U, Black cat, Scarlet Spider) removing the Empire State U from the game.

I declare Iron Man into the protected Ultimate Spider-man. he removes 5 counters (4 from ultimate and 1 off the other ultimate to exhaust him before it is legal. Then does the same for Hank removing 4 counters from his 1 drop (still 7 web counters in play) I activate Wasp just to say i did something this turn. (removing 2x Nick Fury, Dr. Strange, Only Human, and Liberation Day)

he sends both ultimate spider-men into Hank for a mutual stun. Then secret avenger swings over Iron Man for 2 breakthrough and no stunback. The rest go direct for 14. This game is over.

    RECOVERY PHASE
I recover Hank, Iron Man is KOd
he recovers Ultimate spider-man

    "Dave" -> 32    Aaron -> 6



        TURN 6 ("Dave" Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)
I draw EomE and a Meltdown

    BUILD PHASE
he sets a resource, and recruits Scarlet Spider

I set Meltdown, and play the enemy of my enemy in my hand (discarding Invisible Woman) to fetch thor. Then playing the enemy of my enemy in the row, discarding thor to get Dr. Strange, recruiting it behind Hank. welp, at least I curved out.

Before combat, "Dave discards Human Torch to Secret Avenger's effect preventing hank from scoring more counters.

    COMBAT PHASE
Dr. Strange triggers, I chain wasp, then after his effect resolves ready wasp and activate again.

"Dave" sends his two goddamn 1 drops at Hank for 12 atk. the hell? Oh yeah scarlet spider buffs spider-friends attackers. well, damn.Hank goes down stunning back one. Then Spider-man swings into Dr. Strange with 13 atk for a mutual stun before sending the rest direct for... well alot.


    RECOVERY PHASE

"Dave" Wins!

    "Dave" -> 20    Aaron -> -30



THOUGHTS:

Aaron - I forgot to use invisible woman on 2 to move her hidden. Then got greedy on 3 hoping to get a team attack stun, search for clint and get and force him to remove a shift counter. After that, I could never stabilize the pace. 

"Dave" - This round was more like what i'm used to this deck doing. I wish I could have seen Aaron's face when I flipped that Omni.

*********************

GAME 3

Having lost, I opted for even initiatives this game.


        TURN 1 ("Dave" Initiative)
Dave Mulligans.
I keep. (my hand is EomE, war machine armor, wasp, triskelion)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)
 I draw Blade and triskelion

    BUILD PHASE
"Dave" sets a resource and recruits Aunt May fetching Ultimate spidey.

I set triskelion and recruit wasp, activating her for first blood (removing Only Human, Mr fantastic, Dr. Strange, EomE, and invisible woman)

    COMBAT PHASE
We both pass.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    "Dave" -> 47    Aaron -> 50



        TURN 2 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)
 I draw Ultimate Nullifier and Nick Fury

    BUILD PHASE
I set triskelion number 2 and recruit ultimate nullifier on wasp.

He shifts out the 1 drop spider.

    COMBAT PHASE
I activate wasp for 3 more (removing Wasp, Mr fan, clint, cosmic radiation and meltdown)

he passes.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    "Dave" -> 44    Aaron -> 50



        TURN 3 ("Dave" Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)
 I draw Forbidden loyalties and Pathetic Attempt

    BUILD PHASE
He sets a resource and recruits Ultimate spider-man protecting Aunt May. I chain ultimate nullifier exhaustung Wasp to negate his web counter triggered effect.

We spend about 15 minutes here as we reconfirm Spidey's enter play effect is indeed considered a triggered effect before moving on. (It is)

I set Forbidden Loyalties, and recruit Blade in the hidden area protecting Wasp.

    COMBAT PHASE
"Dave" flips No More Mr Nice Guy and goes direct for 6.

I pass.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    "Dave" -> 44    Aaron -> 44



        TURN 4 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
(Both Players draw 2 cards)
 I draw Liberation day and Unmasked

    BUILD PHASE
I set Unmasked, flip up Triskelion and play Liberation day from my hand (removing Nick Fury) to fetch Hank, recruiting him in the visible front row and deciding, f*ck it lets go for it early, equipping war machine armor on Iron man.

"Dave" sets a resource, flipping up Indebted (discarding aunt may) and after long consideration opts to grab Spider-Man Zombie, recruiting it adjacent to the support row aunt may. I decided to hold back the ultimate nullifier since his 2 web counters weren't going to do much this turn. So far he had gone 2 games with no gift-wrapped. was this build not running them?

Spider-man spent a counter to attempt to exhaust wasp, I responded activating her (removing Triskelion, war wagon, forbidden Loyalties, Hank and Invisible woman)

    COMBAT PHASE
Hank triggers, (removing Sub-mariner) to gain a +1/+1 counter

I activate Hank's war machine armor. (discarding EomE and a PA) He loses 4 endurance, replaces his row (hitting a face down omni!) and stuns Aunt May. he flips up Bad Press. I then declare Blade into Ultimate Spidey, he flips up ESU exhausting the 3 drop to net a card and they both stun. Then he swings his Zombie into Hank. Hoping he was relying on powering up instead of a facedown No More Mr nice Guy, I flip up Unmasked and pass.

"The hell?"

Zombie Spider-man stuns. But the win is lessened as he plays beyonder (removing straight to the grave) to recover the 3 drop.

    RECOVERY PHASE
I recover Blade.
He recovers Zombie Spider-man and Aunt may is KO'd

    "Dave" -> 29    Aaron -> 41



        TURN 5 ("Dave" Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
I chain triskelion to the draw (removing 0) to grab myself Sub-Mariner
(Both Players draw 2 cards)
 I draw meltdown and Mr. fantastic

    BUILD PHASE
Dave sets and flips slaughter swamp, exhausts ultimate spider-man for ESU to grab his card, and plays Straight to the grave, using slaughter swamp (discarding indebted ) sending Lex returning Lex and of course, recruiting lex. Damn it. He forms lex protecting ultimate spider-man and passes to me.

I set meltdown and recruit Sub-Mariner removing his KO pile from play. he gains 6 endurance from it. I form Mariner in the front row, pay 2 and flip down Unmasked, then flip it back up.

    COMBAT PHASE
Hank triggers, (removing Invisible woman) and gains another +1/+1 counter.

"If only I didnt need that esu to get the lex search."

He declares Lex into Hank. I flip Forbidden Loyalties, (teaming Atlantis and SHIELD) and discard Mr. fantastic to place a +1/+1 counter on Hank.
I assume he goes into the tank but it is also possible he is just cursing up a storm over there. Hank bricks the swing and stuns Lex. "dave" activates zombie spider-man, KOing it and I gladly exhaust wasp.

Counterswings! I activate war machine armor burning for 4 replacing 4(he replaces bad press, straight to the grave, indebted and empire state u) stunning the 3 before sending Sub-Mariner and blade direct for 15. He flips up another bad press.

    RECOVERY PHASE
Dave recovers Lex, while Ultimate Spidey is KO'd. Zombie spidey returns into play.

    "Dave" -> 8    Aaron -> 39



        TURN 6 (Aaron Initiative)

    DRAW PHASE
I chain triskelion to the draw (removing 0) grabbing Dr. Strange.
(Both Players draw 2 cards)
 I draw Enemy and Nick fury

    BUILD PHASE
I set enemy, pay 2 to flip down Unmasked and flip it back up. and recruit Dr. Strange.

"Dave" recruits Scarlet Spider and forms it in the front row, adjacent to Lex.

    COMBAT PHASE
Hank triggers (removing another hank) scoring a 4th +1/+1 counter.
Dr. Strange triggers,for no effect

I send Hank into Lex for the stun. Sub-Mariner swings into Zombie. looking at the endurance totals he flips up No More Mr. nice Guy and soaks most of the damage ending in a mutual stun. Doc strange swings into scarlet spider for a stun, And i flip my second triskelion to grab Clint Barton, and exhaust Blade to RFP Lex, just for spite.

    RECOVERY PHASE

    "Dave" -> -9    Aaron -> 32

Aaron Wins!

THOUGHTS:

Aaron - When the web-counters got going it was absurd. seeing that early Nullifier really evened things up for me. was i ever wishing I had fit some other resource control during game 2!

"Dave" - God-damned crazy nullifier is OP. I never noticed the wording on it also covering triggered effects. That's just dumb. War machine armor wasn't that bad but having a spider-man waitin for something to negate was annoying. I was on the fence about the zombie spider-man and feel like turn 4 is where I lost step. So many things I could have done differently. We'll have another challenge sometime, I'm sure of it.

********************* 

That concludes today's ultra-long post! 

I'm looking to do some deck clinic articles in the future! So anyone unhappy with their VS System builds please look me up! No deck is too crappy!