She-Hulk - Beginner's guide: Core Set Only

A while ago I started this series about Core Set decks, which I never actually got to finish (life, you know...). I read that there are tons of new Marvel Champions players this Holiday season so, I wanted to round up the 5 original heroes.

If you are new to Marvel Champions, welcome! Marvel CDB is an awesome resource and I encourage you to dig for nice lists and tips. It can, however, be a challenge to keep up with all that's on the site. I already made lists for Black Panther, Captain Marvel and Spider Man using only core set cards:

https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/21259/beginner-s-guide-core-set-only-1.0

https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/23032/captain-marvel-beginner-s-guide-core-set-only-1.0

https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/23222/spider-man-beginner-s-guide-core-set-only-1.0

Now, I tackle my fourth hero: She-Hulk.

SOLO / MULTI?

I made a multiplayer aggro list, but if you intend to try solo, I'll include a solo justice at the bottom. Why multi?

Did you know that, according to the game developpers, Marvel Champions is designed and balanced for multiplayer (2 - 3 players)? That means solo play can be quite rough. Plus, if you've read a little about She-Hulk, you already know that she has bad press from a lot of players. Her playstyle presents a few challenges, and yes, some of her cards are considered sub-par and suffer from comparison with newer heroes and power creep. And so, the best way to enjoy She-Hulk with the limited options from just the core set, multiplayer seems like the best option. Just pair this list with the Captain Marvel or Black Panther one (links above), have BP take the Tactical Genius upgrade at setup, and have him or Marvel do the thwarting while, you punch, punch and punch!

You can also use this deck to introduce a friend to MC. Who doesn't like to punch hard and destroy minions and the villain?

Playing She-Hulk

IMO, She-Hulk is a very interesting hero because she has strong incentives to flip every turn and use assets from her Alter-Ego as well as her Hero side.

When you flip to Hero:

• "do you even lift" gives you a free 2 dmg, unaffected by stuns or being exhausted.
• With Combat Training, you've got 4 ATK, and can attack a second time using One-Two Punch.
• Stun the villain using Superhuman Strength when you attack.
• Dispatch the minions using Relentless Assault, which lets you remove threaths with Chase Them Down and damage the villain with overkill.
• Use Focused Rage to make up for the terrible 4 hand size.
• use Split Personality to revert to AE and draw up to 6 cards. Take the opportunity to put costly assets/allies into play.
• Everyone's She-Hulk favorite: Gamma Slam if the timing is right for incredible damage!

When flip to AE:

• you prevent one threath with "I object",
• you thwart using Superhuman Law Division, one of her top assets;
• you can also thwart with Legal Practice (even though it is incredibly costly, one of the most criticized card in the entire game, it is better to use it than to lose to the threaths, right?).
• use Emergency when the villain schemes to complement "I object" and prevent threaths.

And so, by flipping every turn, you can use the best of both worlds, replenish your hand to 6 cards is a real blessing, as is the 2 dmg from "do you even lift?".

And so, punch everything down!

Another cool combo to notice, have Hellcat thwart, return her to your hand, play her right back and have her thwart again for 4 THW per turn! Some decks use cards from expansions to use this feature to the max.

If you like this approach and want to push She-Hulk further into just punching, here are a few cards you may want too look into:

• Drop Kick, awesome if you can pay with 3 . Martial Prowess can help you get there.

• Limitless Stamina to get even more readies, Unshakable to prevent stuns.

• Hand Cannon can be pretty nice to get attack boosts and more overkill, or Skilled Strike for a 0-costed +2 atk.

• Jarnbjorn if you can feed it . Surprise Attack too.

Solo option

If you're truly into solo gaming, you can try to solo She-Hulk, but it may be more of a challenge than you think. Justice offers you more chance of pulling it off, so if you're into that (or stubborn like me!), try this for solo:

Nick Fury, Mockingbird, Daredevil, Jessica Jones

Avengers Mansion, Helicarrier,

1 x Heroic Intuition 1 x Interrogation Room

Genius, Strength, Energy, The Power of Justice x 2

3 x For Justice! 3 x Surveillance Team 3 x Emergency 3 x Great Responsibility (works only in hero form but can help against the villain getting Advance).

If you like this solo justice approach, you may consider these cards as you expand your collection ;

• Agent Coulson with Counterintelligence can make you returns to AE easier as you'll prevent more threaths. Coulson can also fetch you Spycraft to get rid of Advance.

• Same goes for "confuse" cards, such as Sonic Rifle / Concussive Blow (less effective than rifle though).

• You could try the SHIELD archetype deck (Nick Fury, Agent Coulson,Agent 13, Quake, Mockingbird, Helicarrier, Government Liaison, Homeland Intervention, Global Logistics...). Most of it can be found in the Sinister Motives campaign box (campaigns are usually a good investment, full of new player cards and more scenarios).

• Sense of Justice + Clear the Area and Multitasking for a lot of thwart!

There it is! Next and last, Iron man (to come soon I hope) .

Welcome to Marvel Champions and have fun!