The Mutant Genesis

This is a set of eight hero decks from Mutant Genesis / Wave 6. These eight decks only require one Core Set, the Mutant Genesis Expansion box, and the six Wave 6 Hero packs. All eight can be built at once, and can be mixed and matched for multi-player games.

I learned a very valuable lesson from Sentinels of the Multiverse. Well, two lessons, if you include that I absolutely love superhero-themed, card-based, cooperative games that can also be played solo. The main lesson was this: Do not try to haul the entire collection to game night. More relevant to Marvel Champions - Never do deck building at game night.

Marvel Champions had just hooked me; I enjoyed playing it two-handed solo and wanted to try it out with my weekly gaming group. With these lessons in mind, I approached deckbuilding a little differently with Mutant Genesis and the accompanying wave of mutants. Armed with only a Core Set, Mutant Genesis, and the Wave 6 Hero packs, I constructed a series of grab-and-play decks that could be used interchangeably for 2-4 players (Probably solo, too, but I never tested them). These decks were tested against the Mutant Genesis Campaign, and all of the decks were successful in their pairings.

Shadowcat, Tiny, but Fierce

This Shadowcat deck sticks with its precon-suggested Aggression aspect. It focuses on combat tempo, sustained and burst damage, and survivability by focusing on efficient use of her Mass Forms, Solid & Phased. This Shadowcat deck is a hard-hitting aggression deck that deals a lot of damage, while leaving Shadowcat largely untouched.

The Mass Form Card

The key to Shadowcat's ability to damage enemies and remain largely untouched is a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of her Mass Form card. There are a few key concepts that must be internalized to take advantage of this powerful upgrade fully:

• When in Phased Mass Form, the flip ability is a Forced Response, meaning you MUST flip to Solid Mass Form.

• When in Solid Mass Form, the flip ability is a Response, meaning you MAY flip to Phased Mass Form.

• Attack & Defend are not limited to Basic Attacks and Defenses, but also apply to Events that are labeled Attack and/or Defend

• Cards like Toe to Toe have the opportunity to switch your mass form multiple times, once for the potential defense in response to the enemy attack, and once for the attack that deals 5 damage.

• It is key for Shadowcat's survivability to end the turn in Phased Mass Form. Remember, you don't have to change form every time you use an attack ability.

• Exhausting Solid Mass Form for the Resource ability does not prevent you from changing forms. Switching Mass Forms does not ready Solid Mass Form, and does not allow you extra uses of the Resource ability.

• You have to be Defending to take advantage of Shadowcat's Phased Mass Form's damage reduction. Undefended enemy attacks in Phased Mass form will deal damage.

Now that that is out of the way, let's get to the good stuff.

Strike Hard, Strike Fast, No Mercy

This Shadowcat deck is pure Aggression. Build out a stable of hard-hitting allies such as Colossus, Wolverine, and Tigra and start smashing. Buff one or more with Attack Training and a Combat Training for yourself. Then Team Strike.

Team Strike is the All-Star in this deck, because it does several essential things:

• Big Damage - a fully developed Team Strike can do 13 damage for 2 ER, potentially even more if the other players at the table are playing X-Men
• Efficient damage distribution - you can assign all of the damage any way you need to.
• No Consequential damage - you get to attack with all of your allies and keep them healthy.
• Provides a respite for Wolverine - It will help him stay on the board longer, allowing him to do even more damage.

Take advantage of the Phased Mass Form to play Toe to Toe without downside. Shadowcat Surprise and Ready to Rumble provide you with extra readies to keep the attacks going. You'll want to play Phase Strike either in Solid, to take advantage of the resource Solid provides, or pay the extra resource in Phased to remove one of those pesky Villain Attachments (there are a lot in the Mutant Genesis scenarios!)

Shadowcat's kit cards, like Acute Control and Intangible Interference, are situational but have the opportunity to make her actions while Phased more efficient. Quick Shift is helpful to make sure you're in the correct phase when you're attacked, or it can reward you if you're already in the proper phase. Kitty's Room can provide chip healing or a bonus draw, for those times when you have to flip down to avoid taking damage.

The Mutant Genesis Deck Lists

• Colossus, the Immovable Object
• Shadowcat, Tiny, but Fierce
• Cyclops, the Commander
• Phoenix, the Bright Light
• Wolverine, Feral Rage
• Storm, Natural Leader
• Gambit, Ace in the Hole
• Rogue, Steel-Fisted Magnolia