Doctor Icelove

Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is a 1964 film that satirizes the Cold (ha!) War, where an unhinged U.S. Air Force officer orders a preemptive nuclear strike on the Soviet Union. The film then follows a cast of characters either trying hard to prevent the bombers from delivering their payload, and others trying to ensure its delivery.

The original title of the deck, Dr. Icelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and love Climate Change, was too long. Apparently there are character limits in deck titles!

This deck has been tested a lot! Thanks to Caldias and Andyr for helping test. It has been run through Thanos (expert), Mister Sinister (expert), Ronan (expert), Dark Beast (expert), Ultron (expert), Stryfe (expert), and Kang (expert). It has managed a range of scenarios and come out looking as good as the freshest yellow snow.

"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!" - President Merkin Muffley

Since his release, I have had a rocky relationship with Iceman. Pre-release excitement (ordering the strike) gave way to initial disappointment (the reality of nuclear winter); as exciting as the promise of victory was, the cost to get there was too high. I wrote him off and moved on.

But I could get the idea of him out of my head. He had taken up residence in the underground nuclear bunker that is my brain, and eventually I would return to him.

And so this is the deck that is the culmination of that journey, and it feels like the final scene of the film, where our expectations are tossed on their head by a character in a wheelchair: the titular Dr. Strangelove, played by Professor X in our version. I have finally learned to accept and embrace Iceman for what he is, and stop worrying over what I wanted him to be. (And also, separately, to learn to lean into alter-ego abilities. But that’s a separate discussion…IYKYK.)

This metaphor has likely been stretched as far as it can go for a 60-year old film. So let’s talk about the deck.

NOTE: This deck has primarily been tested and built with true solo in mind. It is certainly viable in multiplayer, but I’d make some changes as needed, depending on the other players at the table.

"Shoot, a fella’ could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.” - Major T. J. "King" Kong

The key to the deck is to prioritize his supports/upgrades that will help you pay for cards. Early on, I would say: Cryokinetic Perception > The X-Jet > Team-Building Exercise > Sense of Justice, and then all the rest.

1. Cryokinetic Perception is essentially a version of the Avengers Mansion, allowing us to get an extra card in hand almost every turn, and it can also ready Iceman. This is what I am usually trying to find in my mulligan. (In fact, it's so important, Superpower Training is in this deck to make sure we find it--however, Superpower Training can also find: Frozen Solid, Power Belt, and Ice Slide.)
2. X-Jet is a great resource generator, but Forge can help us get it later, so don't be afraid to spend it early if it's too much of a tempo hit to start.
3. Team-Building Exercise helps pay for both Ice cards and X-Men cards (not just allies), meaning it is more valuable than Power Belt.
4. Sense of Justice pays for all of our thwart events, including Impede, For Justice!, Clear the Area, Chill Out!; given the lack of threat control Iceman has generally, and his weak economy, this is an important card for this build.

In summary:

We've got thwart. Depending on the scenario, don't be afraid to use One Way or Another to get some card draw going if the board is relatively quiet.

We've got card draw. One War or Another, Clear the Area, Cryokinetic Perception, and Skilled Investigator.

We've got readies. Justice Served, Cryokinetic Perception, Professor X, and Utopia triggering off of Triage, Blindfold, Forge, and 2x Snow Clone.

If you read this far, and you like this deck, you sound like the kind of person who would enjoy other things I do, including the Winning Hand YouTube channel and audio podcast.

Drop a like if you enjoyed it, and leave a comment and let me know if you played it!

Andy N played the deck and showed it off here: https://youtu.be/fmM9tuIxGeU?si=P0Lw1JyAdECHw4sB