not a review but a note. I was playing red skull and this was the only side scheme in play (via the main scheme causing it to be displayed after part 1 of the villain phase). Then my encounter card was masterplan, placing 4 threat on all side schemes in play or else surge. I got to put 4 threat on this side scheme and it was meaningless, because this side scheme doesn't go away at 0 threat anyway.

If masterplan had wording like "place 4 threat on all side schemes that can receive threat, or else surge" then surge would have occurred. But it didn't, so I got a nice little break :)

With the incoming characters, Echo and Daredevil, when you play protection and need extra defense this is the card. Hero's can now have an upwards of 8 to 9 base defense. It opens up expert and higher play easily.

Effective and good card for Groot. Not depending on growth counters (which is rare for his kit), got superpower and attack trait which can be discounted. Bonus defeating enemy is cool.

Overall (A-D) A- (not flashy, but effective card)

Might be a nice addition in Protection Echo decks as her alter Ego ability can tutor it when she flips and then make her tough turn 1. Not the most efficient tuck target but totally fine to just discard if not needed either waiting for the next deck pass or tutor it back in with choreography while in alter ego and then take it back when you flip up to hero form again.

Same thing can be said about the other switch form events Lay Down the Law and Surprise Attack

Protection just became playable in expert true solo, instead of being mostly random.

Hard to Ignore, Unflappable, Not Today, Desperate Defense, Never Back Down and Riposte will be a lot more effective, especially against a stage 3 villain.

This will not only be a huge boost to heroes with a basic defense of 3 (like Groot) it will also open possibilities with protection for many heroes with a basic defense of 2. Wolverine is an obvious choice, but there are others.

New possibilities for Angel too, who won’t have to rely on his Archangel persona to have a basic 3 defense.

Other multi-form heroes, like Ant-Wan, WASP and Phoenix will benefit from this. Protection is already an attractive option (contrary to most heroes, they don’t have to be in alter-ego to benefit from ‘Perseverance’ as they can always switch in an alternate hero form), but the stronger starting defense will make them a lot more effective in the villain phase.