[Phoenix] Soul Queens are here to slay (your side schemes)

Player Type: Spike/Timmy - Consistent/Optimized Big Thwarts
Deck Type: Burger - Aspect cards are the meat of your sandwich
Complexity: Low
Main Player Counts: 3 & 4 player(s)
Can Do: 2, 3 & 4 player(s)
Key Cards: Storm, Children of the Atom, & Uncanny X-force

Overview

The Soul Sisters are here to slay (player side schemes)! This deck was inspired by Dr00's "Jean and Ororo Skip Class to Sing Karaoke at the Moulin Roug" deck. Most of the modifications made were done to further lean into storm's ability to clear side schemes in multiplayer games using a couple newer cards.

Misc Tips and tricks

• Storm is our Soul Sister and therefore our primary upgrade/voltron target. Mulligan hard for Storm and/or Suit up. There is roughly a 60% chance that you get one of the 3 cards.
• During your mulligan, account for the fact that you spend a Power Token to generate a resource on your hero side. A strong starting hand can be Suit up and 1x double resource. You will be able to pay for Storm and one of her upgrades (Danger Room Training) once you flip to Hero form.
• Uncanny X-Force enables Storm to thwart the side schemes consequence free! You still will take consequential damage when you thwart the main scheme, but that shouldn't be an issue as you have some heals.
• Two copies of Children of Atom and Uncanny X-force was added to maximize the chance you get it within your first 3-4 turns. This allows you to throw away a copy as you hard mulligan to find Storm. Early on, Storm will take consequential damage which is absolutely fine. Her health will stabilize once you find your supports.
• Suit Up is a great way to search for Storm across your deck and discard (i.e. if she gets discarded somehow). If you already have her out, you can search for Professor X and either Inspired / Danger Room Training
• With Side Schemes, remember that you can always play above the player side scheme limit (1 for 1-2 players; 2 for 3-4 players). When there are more player side schemes in play than the limit, the first player chooses and discards player side schemes until you are at your limit (i.e. mechanically similar to ally limits)
• Once you get the ball rolling, use Professor X to ready Storm rather than confusing the villain. She thwarts more than the threat that is prevented via a confuse.
• New Recruits is one of the best Player Side Schemes to dump threat on with Storm. Just move all the threat onto this side scheme and ignore it for the rest of the game!
• Cable is your best friend, but you may not be his best friend! Storm can clear side schemes faster than Cable can (so called heroes, am I right?).
• Storm's interrupt occurs before she removes threat via her THW. It also means that if you defeat a side scheme with her interrupt she won't take any consequential damage.
• Make sure the other players know that you will be taking care most of the threat on the board. They should either prioritize damage and/or defense. You may need a little help on the Main Scheme, but there is usually buffer room.
• Once you are built out, some upgrades to consider include Telekinetic Shield and Rise from the Ashes. Both are strong cards that provide Phoenix a lot of survivability.
• Don't hesitate to flip up/down once Storm is built out. She can easily handle main scheme threat. Do remember that Jean Grey is not a X-men/X-force when she is in alter-ego. Her 3 REC is superior to her 2 DEF as she will also get a power counter.
• At two players, this deck plays slightly differently. Storm should be able to single-handedly clear side schemes so the need to dump threat onto a player side schemes is not necessary. Phoenix can be focused on going unleashed to deal damage.

Sideboard

• Honorary Avenger, Kaluu, and Sky Cycle are strong cards to consider. Ideally you can give Honorary Avenger to the avenger player and put Kaluu and Sky Cycle into your deck. Using Suit-up on Kaluu it will allow you to tutor the Sky Cycle. If you end up playing Kaluu, he will interfere with your Uncanny X-force strategy.
• I've tested this deck with Utopia and added additional allies. It did well, but I found that Utopia is a high priority support for many x-men players. You could always swap out a couple of things such as removing Game Time and adding more allies and upgrades. This deck was made with multiplayer in mind so that you could slap it on the table.
• Ask other players to slot in their player side schemes from their side board. This deck can easily handle 1-2 player side schemes each turn
• You can consider dropping 1x copy of each Children of Atom and Uncanny X-force to bring this deck down to 40
• Cell Phone should be a strong consideration for this deck. I would maybe consider dropping one of the side schemes in favor of it (e.g. Build Support)
• Once you are ready to go unleashed, remember that Storm can be used to swing for 4 damage per activation

Thanks/Acknowledgment

Thanks to D.M. Tip, Dansome, VJackson, Andyr for their feedback on this deck!