Can you get back up? (Solo Play, Expert Mode)

"Above all, no matter how many times you get hit, can you get back up?" - Gwen Stacy (Into the Spiderverse)

Nungunz here with another core set deck and focusing on Spider-Man, this time with a new aspect!

First off! Spider-Man with Protection is fantastic....in multiplayer. In solo play using expert Nemesis, this identity and aspect combination is really tough to play. Spider-man does make it easier with the card draw and already high defense, but this is still a struggle.

Strategy: You will managing Threat primarily by staying in Hero form and taking a beating either by the hero or by the allies. And you need to get back up quickly or the Nemesis will run away with the threat. Other than that, you have your Spider-Tracers, Nick Fury, and (limited use) Black Widow.

You will be very good at clearing minions and wailing on the nemesis with events and you will really need to dig through the deck as fast as possible to cycle the thwart cards.

Klaw especially can be pretty bad for this deck. You need to get rid of The Immortal Klaw on turn 1. If you don't have a spider tracer/can't kill the first minion or have Black Widow you toss your entire hand in the discard for the mulligan....it is that hard to deal with.

Rhino is somewhat tricky because you cannot let him Thwart and you need to prevent ALL Treachery cards that let him scheme. Otherwise, just wail on him and his limited minions until he's down.

Ultron is a chore, especially without AoEs, but you can typically burst for enough damage to clear his stages at the right time while managing threat and side schemes. The last phase of the main scheme is just awful, though, do your best to avoid that side at all costs.

Card Choices: Outside of the mandatory, you have a single copy of Armored Vest and three copies of indomitable. You can only use one armored vest and Spider-man already has a high defense so only one copy is ever needed and for the most part it only matters on phase II of the nemesis and it is cheap to play. Indomitable is a three-of because you will actually be able to use your attacks to chip away at the Nemesis after tanking damage...even thwarting for 1 can be big considering the massive lack of ability to thwart. Also helps avoid the obligation considering the frequent defends.

For allies all of the available are great picks. Mocking Bird stems the tide so you don't have to defend. Nick Fury is one of the few ways to either burst away minions, dig for that desperate spider-tracer, or chump a minion when you don't have a haymaker. Black widow is usually pay 3 to thwart 4....which in this deck is the next best thing besides the Spider-tracer. Luke Cage is a constant 2 damage a turn and can defend in a pinch if you need to. You will be using allies to thwart for 1 more often than you like, even Luke Cage and Black Cat if you absolutely have to manage the threat.

For supports, two Avengers Mansions because this deck doesn't struggle for resources, it struggles for cards and you want to see it early, but you also can't afford three copies. Two med team is good and either helps Spider-man keep trucking or keeps Nick Cage on the board the whole game. Three copies maaaaaay be worth it, but it is an expensive ask. As a note, Aunt May does not see much use in solo play protection. She is great, but you may only use her once or twice a game.

For Events, three counter punch because chipping away at the nemesis or even defending then smacking around a Master of Evil or other higher damage minion you absolutely have to defend is great. Only two Get Behind Me....it is a great card....but you also have Enhanced Spider senses and there are a surprising amount of non-Treachery cards out there.

Three Haymaker because you often need ways to clear medium toughness minions off the board to trigger Spider-Tracer or just keep whittling away the nemesis.

For resources, all three of the limit ones as you do have some pricier events. The two Power of Protection are honestly pretty terrible, but there really isn't much better choice. Emergency won't work because you are almost always in hero form. Another Get Behind Me or Med Team doesn't do much. Helicarrier really isn't needed. First Aid is flat out worse that Med Team, and the less said about Tenacity, the better. It can help with Med Team or Luke cage, but honestly, I usually use it for the wild symbols to clear attachments off of the nemesis. Once more options are available, these are good cards to cut.

So there you have it, probably the hardest aspect to use in single player and on expert mode. Peter Parker/Spider-Man is probably one of the identities that can pull it off....but it is not easy.