Groot Learns ASL

Everyone knows Groot and Rocket are BFFs but what if it's actually Groot and Echo?

Deck concept is simple. Pump up Groot's base DEF, get Echo on the board so she can block for 6 with Groot's beefed-up stats, then have Groot clean up the villain's board with three full basic activations using a combination of The Best Offense..., C.I.T.T., and Lashing Vines. One copy of The Best Offense means, Groot gets to activate for 21 total ATK/THW spead out among up to three targets. 7 ATK/THW is enough to clear many Masterplan side schemes and eliminate most elite minions in a single activation. Three full swings is certainly enough to absolutely demolish a villain's HP.

Beyond enabling multiple player-phase activations, Echo is strong in this deck because Groot is good at bringing her to the table. Groot can use his early game growth counters to cushion his HP during villain attacks. You can use his basic defense on the villain phase and use his growth counters as "temporary HP" to absorb a Taunt during the player phase. Then you can play Ready for a Fight, flip down to get more growth counters (and an extra card draw), and repeat it all again next turn. It's a bit like flipping down to heal, but you don't need an activation or an Aunt May to do it. In the late game, Echo' defense preserves Groot's growth counters, giving more value to "I. AM. GROOT!" and "I am Groot". It's possible to hit for 31 dmg in a single turn between multiple activations and a fully-powered "I.AM.GROOT!" Fantastic damage in solo play and respectable even in bigger multiplayer settings.

Lastly, Dynamic Duo is something of a tech card. At a base level, Rocket is great at providing early game thwarting and minion control, two things Groot can have trouble with. More than that, both Rocket Raccoon and Flora and Fauna are resources. This deck is very heavy, so having a card to trade 3 ER for 2 to deal with pesky villain attachments can sometimes be worth it, even if it's resource inefficient.

That's all there is to it. I've played this game through multiple expert villains solo. Getting Echo on the board is key, but you pick up momentum very quickly once she's out. I have not tried it yet in multiplayer, but I have to imagine it's even stronger there, as long as one player can help with early game villain shenanigans.

Thanks for checking this deck out. I didn't previously enjoy Groot all that much, as I've found him to be very clunky. This deck smooths out a lot of that awkwardness and really lets his kit shine. I hope you give it a try!