Un'Phased' by the Villain Schemes

Scenario tested: Dark Beast (Standart-III/Expert)

Modular Set: Dystopian Nightmare

Deck Concept

The main focus of this deck is to use Shadowcat's Selective Intangibility together with One Way or Another to generate draw power and keep the main scheme under control.

This deck was played in true solo and while I think it would work great in multiplayer, I would make a few adjustments (listed below).

This deck is great (I think!), but I’d be lying if I said Dark Beast didn’t hand me my butt several times... Kitty must definitely perform better in multiplayer or with a Protection build (first time playing her).

Core Strategy

The core strategy for this deck is as follows:

1. Set up your draw engine. Try to find One Way or Another and standard draw/resource cards early. One Way or Another gives you much-needed draw power, and since you can safely stay in Phased form while thwarting, use it freely. Target side schemes with Crisis icons (since Selective Intangibility ignores them while Phased, which you will be most of the time) so you don’t accelerate the game with Acceleration or Hazard icons. When things start to pile up, clear those side schemes and trigger Skilled Investigator to have an extra draw.

2. Play allies to stabilize. Nick Fury and Professor X are perfect for defending and helping you set up. If you can’t find them, rely on Quick Shift to defend and try to manage your transitions so you can go back to Phased form for more thwarting.

3. Finish with damage once stabilized. Once the board is under control, start dishing out damage. Use Shadowcat Surprise, Phase Strike and Brains Over Brawn. If you’ve played Specialized Training (+1THW) and Heroic Intuition, Brains Over Brawn can deal 4 damage while allowing you to switch between Phased and Mass form!

Card Highlights

One Way or Another - Almost mandatory. It’s basically a free 3-card draw if you fetch a side scheme with Crisis. Shadowcat handles it like a pro.

Skilled Investigator and Intangible Interference - Great for cleaning up those side schemes from One Way or Another or other problematic ones that might appear.

Deft Focus - Essential, since nearly all of Shadowcat’s cards have the Superpower trait.

Ready to Rumble - Good value, as switching between Solid and Phased counts as changing forms.

Optional Cards and Adjustments

Brains Over Brawn - Great synergy with form-changing and thwarting, but a bit costly. Turn the Tide could be a cheaper alternative, though it’s more situational since it requires you to fully clear a scheme, which is something you may not always want/be able to do.

Allies (for multiplayer) - You can cut down on allies since teammates can cover defense and when you need to go to alter-ego. Consider adding another copy of One Way or Another or Brains Over Brawn.You could also lean harder into thwarting with cards like Even the Odds.

The Raft - Can be removed in scenarios with few minions, but it was clutch in this one.

Spycraft and Agent Coulson - Included primarily to help deal with Permanently Phased, which, until now, is the most difficult obligation I had to deal with. If you don't have allies or are in Hero form. Good luck having to go to alter-ego and let the villain scheme. In multiplayer, you can safely cut them since others can cover for you.

Blindfold and Gambit - Included for similar reasons: managing the encounter deck and mitigating nasty surprises like Permanently Phased or other treacheries.

Game Feel and Resilience

Dark Beast is a brutal matchup in true solo. Constant minions (often 5–7 HP), his buffs, and environments make the fight tough to stabilize. After several iterations, I finally managed to beat him twice with this build.

That said, I suspect Shadowcat performs more consistently with a Protection deck. Still, in multiplayer or on Standard difficulty, this version can pull off some very cool combos and is genuinely fun (and strong!) to play.

Final Considerations

Swift Retribution and Followed could be strong alternatives for extra damage in scenarios where villain scheming isn’t as punishing. They might outperform Brains Over Brawn in the right setup.

I also used Lay Down the Law with Sense of Justice in some tries. Pretty good but since we already have so much thwart, wasn't really needed in true solo. In multiplayer it's a must since you can play Lay Down the Law when going from Phased to Solid and vice-versa.

Summary

Strengths:

1. Great synergy.

2. Strong control over side schemes and the encounter deck.

3. Very fun to pilot.

Weaknesses:

1. Shadowcat’s low health and a nasty obligation (consider Endurance).

2. Low damage output and expensive attack events (especially in true solo).

3. Some cards are situational, making Shadowcat a bit unreliable at times.