The GOODS: Summer of Love 2 - Week 1

With 32 teams battling it out in a double elimination event, there is clearly some comprehensive reading that's going to be involved for those serious to get their playset of Super Skrulls. As usual, this article brings you "The Goods" on all your upcoming matchups. After week 1 is fully completed, these posts will also be your source for SPREAD PICK information. which is, basically, a prediction of an end-game value rather than simply selecting a winner.

For example if "WEE" is favored to win over "Gods Matter" you may see a listing similar to:
[Favored: WEE +12] (or something similar) in the match-up heading. this means that if you select WEE to win, they MUST win by at least 12 endurance. If the match-up is expected to be a close one however, you'll see NO LINE. and essentially only be tasked to select the winner.

As the weeks go on, we will add other new ways to score points, such as calling who wins initiative or calling a best of three complete result! The harder the guess, the wilder the point value!

With all that said, lets get to the breakdowns. Please keep in mind the original deck-builder will be piloting if possible, the below match-ups only list the BACKUP pilots should they not be able to get their game in. Any games played for round 1 must be reported to Aaron Mead no later than 10pm EST on thursday, July 9th. This allows for our team to cover the unreported matches in a timely manner without delaying each round.

SUMMER OF LOVE 2: ROUND 1

1- Defenders, Attack! (Lee) -VS- Gamma Robuts (Josh)

At first glance, we see what is essentially a Doom VS Curve rerun, but with a limited number of Mystical Paralysis, and the fact The Defenders players can make any given hulk untargetable... this one might not go so well for Doom and his sentinel pals. If he gets to turn 8 however, all bets are off as gamma bomb is the great equalizer.

Favored to Win: Defenders, Attack!

2- SkrullF*cked (Aaron) -VS- The Cliffs of INSANITY! (JS)

CoA has some pretty unique tricks to turn this fight on its head, however access to fast removal and some pretty large characters leaves Skrulls with a distinct advantage. If Elektra KOs anything I'd call this one over. CoA needs Skrulls to wiff Mutopia for a real shot.

Favored to Win: SkrullF*cked

3- The MorMans are Coming! (Steph) -VS- Secretly Wolverine (Wesley Nichols)

Featuring arguably the greatest deck name ever, MorMans look like a really smooth reliable list with some heavy swings and great defense. Problem is, round 1 they are dealing with a wolverine direct variant with just as many defensive tools, and a master-man. If Viper and Wolvie get on-line things could turn south for the Morlocks, But i expect this one will go to initiative.

Favored to Win: Secretly Wolverine

4- BroStat-X (Lee) -VS- Exhaust Squad (Mark)

Exhaust Squad wants to get early control and keep it. Hitting the  Haywire and T-Spheres early will go far towards this, If they can set the table, Exhaust Squad can have a solid shot. However this is the full TNNB engine, One of the most consistent engines, well, EVER.Complimented by bonus burn through Doop And some legitimately really great support.

Favored to Win: BroStat-X

5- Dark Magic (Aaron) -VS- Evil Secrets (Steph)

Dark Magic has a slew of sift and KO control, however its the swarm aspect of Evil Secrets that has my attention. I'm not convinced Dark Magic has the ability to Stay in this if Secrets has a strong initiative turn 4 or earlier.

Favored to Win: Evil Secrets

6- The Swingers' Club (Josh) -VS HellKnights (Lee)

This is a tough one: If Hellknights manage to stall at 4, TSC could see hard days ahead.Then again, Our resident Swingers may not really have a problem with a clutch underdrop. Less reliant on equipment, solid statlines, I'll put the edge on the Swingers. But a key Ka-Boom! or missed drop could change everything.

Favored to Win: The Swingers' Club

7- Mind Games (Steph) -VS- Unjust Fear (JS)

Wind Games is a remarkably fun list. However the innate control coming from the Fearsome 5 may shut down Mind Ga\mes' late game options with some Dr. Light abuse. I don't see this going well for Mind Games. outside of some pretty spectacularly bad draws for Fear and some really CLUTCH lifegain tricks from Mind Games. If Mindgames can get to 8 it may wrestle back control with a solid Phoenix Force play.

Favored to Win: Unjust Fear

8- Devourer of Speed (Aaron)  -VS- Hulk Smash You... Yesterday (Josh)

Null Time Zone will be super annoying in this match-up as Devourer of Speed is always doing public searches to stack the top of its deck. This will allow for some pretty clutch lockdown turns as Hulk smashes the speed force to bits.

Favored to Win: Hulk Smash You... Yesterday

9- Gods Matter (Mark) -VS- Rita Repulsa (JS)

Gods Matter brings Speed, and evil infinite mass-punches of it.Rita makes monsters grow, and Super effectively. I am simply unconvinced it will be relevant by turn 4.

Favored to Win: Gods Matter

10- IMMORTALS (Mark) -VS- Sub-Mariner, SHIELD of Atlantis (Aaron)

An epic battle of two locals piloting their own submissions! Immortals looks to gain board presence and become unnaturally large beaters, SMSA looks to run a popular Ultimates Win condition on turn 6 or 7.

Favored to Win: IMMORTALS

11- Demons United (Steph) -VS- Outsider Protocol (Mark)

This is precisely the kind of matchup an even initiative Demons United deck wants to see. A nice rush. With lots of little bodies to KO. Odd initiatives will make this a bit harder But knowing a merlyn underdrop exists may very well prevent an Ahmed dropping at all, and that could hurt. Lots of room for outplay here.

Favored to Win: Demons United

12- Foul-Mouthed Dark God (JS) -VS- Kill you to Death! (Lee)

Am angry god Vs angry golden-age powered Superboy may hinge on how many Mystical Paralysis Angry God can rip. Kill You to Death's offensive initiatives may prove to be too much, thanks to rain of acorns, But the dark god has enough tricks to be the favorite.

Favored to Win: Foul-Mouthed Dark God

13- Crapple Jacks (Aaron) -VS- Super Legionnaires (Josh)

Super Legionnaires  wants odds so badly it hurts. To the extent that missing it may compromise the entire tempo the deck hopes to achieve. On evens however a turn 6 double underdropped Supes Red, could shift things in SL's favor. Crapple Jacks, however doesn't care who has the initiative, and plans to cough up a swarm all the same.

Favored to Win: Crapple Jacks (in a nail-biter!)

14- Young Avengers Flight (Boris Karetny) -VS- Intergalactic Carpool (Aaron)

YAF needs to push tempo and control faster than the carpool can stabilize with its formidable equipment spam. However a potent turn 5 for carpool  may turn the tides no matter how hard the Young avengers flight can push. And cover fire is a monster.

Favored to Win: Intergalactic Carpool

15- Tam'Ar Empire (Walter Alvarado) -VS- Dead Guys (Nick Fletcher)

Dead guys looks good, but the lack of pumps may cost it the game if enough Shi'ar Soldiers come to this party. The consistent early game may give Dead Guys the edge here.

Favored to Win: Dead Guys

16- BKKO (Lee) -VS- WEE (Aaron)

Battle of the Acronyms! Can being gigantic be enough to stop the KO potential of BKKO? Can WEE steal control with a strong turn 4 Sable? Only Time will tell, but in the meantime, the edge goes to the better early game consistency of Marvel Knights

Favored to Win: BKKO

That's your weekly breakdown guys! Think I'm on point for round 1? Let me know by posting a reply here or by posting up in the

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