Charging Legion (4-Pack Challenge)

4-Pack Challenge (up to 4 packs outside of the Core Set): Doctor Strange, Mutant Genesis, NeXt Evolution, Age of Apocalypse, Core Set

Introductory note regarding this series of decks: This challenge was inspired by watching a series of videos by the content creator The Masked Hero (https://www.youtube.com/@TheMaskedHero) and his series of New Player Hero discussions, including this one on Magik: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wtq7VTth3gY&list=PLwhbWXghLMf1F_F18Vikxo9EiVPLyq4AL&index=17.

This series of deck builds were not sponsored by The Masked Hero; the topics of this series of videos just provided me with the challenge of building these decks for a newer player with the limit of using the Core Set and up to four other packs. :-)

VILLAINS TESTED AGAINST (in standard and expert): Klaw; Rhino (with The Doomsday Chair encounter set, which includes M.O.D.O.K.); Mutant Genesis villains (Sabretooth, Project Wide Awake, Master Mold, Mansion Attack, and Magneto).

Fourteen victories with just 2 losses: once against Rhino in Standard and once against Magneto in Expert. What can I say, facing M.O.D.O.K. three times in one game, as well as an attachment-laden Rhino, can be overwhelming. Against Magneto, I lost when he attacked three times on his first turn (helped by one attack with an ally), and even though I had Wolverine out to block that third attack, that was it for me in the first round - my fastest loss ever. :-0

STRATEGY 1: Voltron's Happen

This deck need not rely on a Voltron build (for those who don't know, a Voltron build is the buildup of a very strong ally); however, one of two possible Voltron targets often present themselves conveniently in this deck: Wolverine and Legion. Both of these allies can be enhanced by Attack Training or Sidearm. Due to Magik's always-faceup card on her deck, one always knows and/or can manipulate which card is on top of her deck when attacking or thwarting with Legion, while judicious use of Wolverine's attacks and thwarts, combined with a periodic use of First Aid, can keep him in the playing area for as long as necessary. When a Voltron "happens," it's very powerful, and one should often take advantage of it.

STRATEGY 2: Manipulate the Deck for the Given Threat

Limbo is the grease that allows one to slide the right card at the right time into the top of the deck to perform the attack or thwart needed and to add a Confuse or Stun when possible with Exorcism or Soul Strike, respectively. Additional manipulation of the top card is accomplished with Scrying and Stepping Disc, while Spiritual Meditation and Basic Spell allow for even more flexibility in handling the specific threat to your hero's existence.

STRATEGY 3: Set up and Charge!

Once a decent amount of one's kit is set up, it's time to go after the villain aggressively, which can happen with a number of combinations, including the allies previously mentioned, as well as with Soul Strike, and Full-Body Charge. One does not have to get every upgrade and/or support into play. Once #limbo is in place, it often only takes a couple of others, depending on the villain one faces.

RECOMMENDATION: Use "Tools" as Reminders

It can be easy to forget some of the various moving parts at hand for Magik, and I recommend using a variety of tools to help. This can be as simple as finding little items around your home or cutting pieces of paper and writing notes on them. A great tool that's on the cheaper side is buying two sets of +/+ and -/- dice. The following is not a paid link -- it's just to give you an idea of what I mean from what I purchased: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08PT98W6W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. One can of course also purchase from companies like Buy the Same Token or Etsy.

For Magik, I place one of the -1/-1 dice to remind me of the discount when playing a card from the top of the deck each phase. I also use other dice from this collection for any additional attack, thwart, or defense bonuses a character has. I use little reminders for pretty much everything in this game. It definitely enhances my enjoyment of the more complicated characters like Magik.