Unleash The Phoenix!

Gameplay Videos

• Shadow of the Past first turn! Phoenix vs Ebony Maw and Dark Phoenix
• Phoenix vs Magog and Dark Phoenix

Unleash The Phoenix

This deck embraces the Phoenix Force. Instead of trying to keep your power counters and avoid becoming unleashed, use them as fast as you can and one-shot the villain! Every turn remove as many counters from Phoenix Force as possible. Then, once you're unleashed, the game will be over in 1-2 turns.

Restrained

While you are restrained, your event cards will be significantly weaker, but you will also have 3 THW. This is enough to keep the game under control. The best strategy is to use this period to play allies. Strong allies like Wolverine, Colossus, and Nick Fury can dish out some damage and protect your HP. Psylocke and Professor X are especially good because they can be paid for using The Power of the Mind. Whenever you get the chance, chip away at the villain with Psi-Bow Attack and Psychic Assault. They provide damage and utility. Psychic Assault even allows you to flip to alter-ego and utilize the larger hand size with the confuse status card.

Unleashed

At this point, the villain will be low health or already on the second stage. Your 3 THW will become 3 ATK, and this is the time to go all out. Your hero events will have insane value! Telekinetic Attack will do 9 damage with overkill, not to mention Psimitar will trigger to deal an extra 2. So with just 1 event and your basic attack, you can deal 14 damage! That's most of a villain's HP! Psychic Blast can clear a whole board of minions, and Telepathic Trickery can remove 4 thwart while stunning and confusing the villain! The game is basically a wrap.

Dark Phoenix

It's true that her nemesis minion is perhaps the strongest in the whole game. She is steady, tough, and villainous with 12 HP. On top of that, her side scheme is an alternate loss condition. The games where this nemesis set comes out are my favorite! Many people avoid going unleashed to decrease the odds of Dark Phoenix coming into play, but I don't think that's worth it. With this deck, you can dish out enough damage that even if Dark Phoenix is on the table, you can one-shot the villain before Dark Phoenix one-shots you. If you're playing the other aspects, you won't have the same damage output, meaning the game will go longer (more chance for Dark Phoenix to come out), and if Dark Phoenix does come out, you won't be able to one-shot her or the villain! Plus, where is the fun in staying restrained and not getting the bonus effects on your cards!

Strategy Summary

1. Play allies to preserve HP and deal with the board state.
2. Use your THW to keep the side schemes and main scheme in check.
3. Use your Power Counters as fast as possible.
4. Use Psi-Bow Attack and Psychic Assault whenever you can afford it.
5. Unleash.
6. End the game.