The Iliad dream team

The Iliad is a powerful ship, and Maria has assembled a dream team to pilot it. Together, is they any villain that this S.H.I.E.L.D. trio can't face (and defeat)?

The Iliad has three strong effects (although I rarely use the healing option); therefore, the goal is to keep it in play for the entire game and to use it multiple times per turn. Its versatility is great! In two‑player games, I’ve run this deck as the primary disruptor with great success.

To keep The Iliad stocked with counters, your primary cards are S.H.I.E.L.D. Director and Nick Fury. Making Nick a Sidekick allows you to keep him in play the entire game, acting as a second copy of S.H.I.E.L.D. Director. Since Nick Fury is usually in play by turn 2-3, Super Spies is a good card to include for more counters.

To get multiple activations on The Iliad, you will rely on Agent 13 and Command Team. Once Nick Fury, Agent 13, and S.H.I.E.L.D. Director are in play, you can activate the Iliad twice per round, every round. Each copy of Command Team grants you an additional activation, as well as Side-by-Side.

Once this combo is set up, you can generally expect the game to tilt in your favour as you push for the win.

After several games, the deck plays in a fairly predictable way. Here’s the sequence I use.

Opening Hand - Mulligan aggressively for double-resource cards and The Iliad. Discard anything that isn't any of these cards. The only exception is S.H.I.E.L.D. Director; if you have a double resource in your hand, then you can keep S.H.I.E.L.D. Director to be played next turn.

Turn 1 - goal: play The Iliad
Use AE ability to tutor The Iliad. If you have it in your hand, use your ability to tutor any other support card to be used as a resource. Play The Iliad, and use it. End your turn in AE.

Turn 2 & 3 - goal: play Nick Fury and attach Sidekick
If you don't have Nick Fury in your hand, here are two paths:

• play Suit Up to grab Nick and Sidekick, or
• use your AE ability again to tutor The Circe and play it. This sets you up for when you draw into either ally, you'll be able to play them for free.

Turn 3 through 5 - goal: play Agent 13 and S.H.I.E.L.D. Director
Once Nick Fury is in play, use Suit Up to grab Agent 13 and Reinforced Suit. The suit gives Agent 13 two additional activations.

Once this combo is set up, play the cards as they are drawn. Here are some cards that I tend to prioritize playing:

• Side-by-Side - I usually choose the +1 THW and ATK option and I thwart with Nick and Maria. Add copies of Side-by-Side back into your deck via Leadership Training.
• Super Spies - adds 3 counters to The Iliad.
• Command Team - grants additional activations of the Iiad.
• The Pericles - use your AE ability to tutor The Pericles and play it. If the villain doesn't have steady/stalwart, I'll often give them a status and give an ally a Tough. If the villain has steady/stalwart, then I'll give a hero and an ally each a Tough. The Pericles essentially counters two activations from the villain. It's a powerful card! Consider The Pericles as a suitable target to be given additional counters.
• Inspired - you can attach it to either ally. I prefer attaching it to Nick Fury since he's guaranteed to stay in play due to Sidekick.
• The Hard Call - Once both allies are in play, you don't need The Circe in play anymore. Blow it up to clear the board of minions.
• Field Agent - useful to keep your allies in play while you set up to equip them with Sidekick (for Nick Fury) and Reinforced Suit (for Agent 13). Then, any leftover counters can be moved onto your preferred S.H.I.E.L.D. supports.

Remember: Reinforcements can place counters on supports that don't have charges, like Helicarrier. You can then use your hero ability to move the counters onto your preferred S.H.I.E.L.D. supports - likely The Iliad or Pericles.

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