The One-Eyed Man is King

Here it is... FINALLY the collection of cards that makes Cyclops feel not just like an ally printer but the leader, tactician, and combat specialist he's meant to be.

The key to this latest iteration being elevated to the next level is in the addition of two new cards from Wonder Man:

Cameo and Coordinated Effort.

These two new cards combined with a strategic combo of X-Men allies, supports, and upgrades brings this set together and makes it fun af to load the board with cards then start blastin'.

Let's start with Cameo

When it comes to who to grab I usually choose Colossus. His Interrupt is excellent for getting you out of a jam and he has the X-Men trait so he synergises with Utopia and Uncanny X-Men but you could look to include anyone you want. I reckon stick with an ally with the X-Men trait for the same reasons above but you do you, Boo.

So, here's a thing... Cameo is a setup meaning you gotta do what it says AFTER you mulligan. This is important because most of the time, you mulligan to get the best six cards in hand. BUT Cameo requires you to discard two cards once you've shuffled in your chosen identity-specific ally so make sure you keep two cards in your opening hand you're happy to discard AFTER mulligans. If this is making you sad remember that Tactical Brilliance can pull Tactics back to hand from the discard, Pixie can pull allies back to hand, Phoenix can pull Cyclops cards back to hand... Hell, even Beast can pull resources back so don't be spooked by the Cameo discard. In fact, use it to your advantage.

NOW! After you've Cameo'd you wanna use Scott's Constant Training to grab our other new addition... Coordinated Effort

"But WHY, Sim?" Gimmie a sec, kid! Let me explain.

Coordinated Effort is a Tactic Upgrade that you can attach to "any encounter card in play". You know who is classified as an "encounter card"? THE VILLAIN! That's who! Meaning that right from turn one, you are guaranteed to have an upgrade attached to the villain for the rest of the game allowing you to use Cyclops' Optic Blast against the villain right from the rip.

Out-friggin'-standing.

No more trying to find Field Commander to remove the Temporary keyword to keep the attachment on the blah blah blah. NOPE! Search for Coordinated Effort, attach it for free, and focus on building your board knowing you can deal consistent damage to the villain as you go.

You could use Constant Training to grab Rapid Response too if you want but... you wouldn't be as cool as me.

Next, you want Uncanny X-Men and Utopia out as early as possible. To find them you've got Build Support for putting either one into play, and Forge who can bring Utopia or The X-Jet to hand which aint bad either.

Honorary X-Men should get stuck to Cyclops ASAP so that you can get that sweet +1 HP and also be able to ready up even when you're chilling by the pool as Scott. Your X-Men allies can handle things for a sec. Even legends need some R&R.

Being able to ready up Scott is important for using Meditation. It goes a little something like this... Play Meditation (exhausting Scott) to get an ally out -> Ally going out procs Utopia which readies Scott. Then imagine if you had another Meditation! Or needed to recover! Or then wanted to flip up and Full Blast a fool in the face because you're no longer exhausted!

Which brings me to the homies: One thing I want to stress about this deck is that the allies in it are the allies I've found to produce the best overall combo of abilities for an array of situations while also remaining affordable and powerful. However, if you want to chop and change them depending on the enemy go right ahead! I aint your daddy! (unless you're a 13 year old from rural Taranaki in New Zealand who never met his father in which case... I could be. Tell your mum I say hi.)

Scott can get Rapid Response to hand by using Constant Training which can be hella good for re-upping expensive yet useful allies like Psylocke or Beast.

Then, once all this is going don't be afraid to use Strength In Numbers for churn. Smash through that deck, baby! Grab them cards! This will help you find and pay for Ruby Quartz Visor if you're struggling to find the damn thing... For a guy who will literally pulverise anything in view without them, he sure does seem to misplace his Visor a lot. He needs some method of securing his visor to himself... Can you imagine Cyclops with an adorable little glasses chain attached to his Visor like your Nan used to have attached to her reading glasses so she wouldn't lose them when she took them off in a hurry because you fell off the couch trying to entertain yourself by jumping between furniture in the early 90's? Goooooood times...

Next you want to attach Cyclops Tactic Upgrades strategically for card draw, lowering enemy ATK or my personal fav, stick them with Exploit Weakness then plink at them with a basic ATK, Optic Blast, Ricochet Beam, then each ally to create HUGE damage numbers. (Just be mindful of retaliate or you'll get ouchies and I will not be held responsible for ouchies.)

Oh, yeah, and I guess you can get Avengers Mansion out for an extra card if you want...

Well, I reckon that's about it. The rest is up to you. Now go forth! Lead strategically with strength and empathy! Stand up for what's right and for those who cannot stand up for themselves! Oh, and play Marvel Champions too.