Defiance

Much like the same I said from my Preemptive Strike review, but the same principle applies:

The rules change to Defense makes this card much stronger than it looks. It can make you a Defending character long after the basic defense window is passed, but the real power of this card lies in its power to save a Tough card. Effectively, you make a basic defense when attacked by the Villain. This lowers the Villain's attack by your defense. Defiance takes out the Villan's boost card. What does this mean? It means if the Villain's attack is equal to or lower than your defense, its attack is zero. With no boost cards, it will deal no damage. Which means any existing Tough cards you have on you are saved for another attack! I find this card is great in Protection cards that run Tough, like Doctor Strange or Colossus!

I also run this with Tony, using Energy Barriers to deflect the Villain's base damage.

Soulfire · 30
Two Against the World

One of the better Team-Up cards. Not only do both of these men have an additional version of their matching Ally to increase targeting chances, but the effect itself is very solid. As another reviewer pointed out it does not check hand or discard pile, though both men have means to get around this through Rhodey's alter-ego action and Stark Tower. Furthermore, the power itself is ideal for both heroes - they are extremely reliant on their upgrades. A well timed Arc Reactor drop or Shoulder Cannon can change the game. Remember you are not putting the card into your hand, but directly into play. This means that at a 3 cost, this is straight up paying for the Arc Reactor entirely! Throw in a double Ready action, and this is easily in the top 5 best Team Up cards alongside Beauty And The Thief and Shadow And Steel.

Soulfire · 30
War Machine

This version of War Machine is ironically better than Tony's actual Identity-Specific version. Another Thwart, another Hit Point, and frankly better game text. Taking two damage to deal 1 to the board is pretty bad unless you are getting swarmed with Ultron drones. This version of Rhodey not only ignores Retaliate but comes into play with a preloaded Tough, which is GREAT to absorb the next attack coming at you. This version also has SHIELD, adding another layer of usefulness.

I'm running this in my Iron Man deck now as an additional version of Rhodey to play Two Against The World, but also because he's a damn fine blocker that can soak two hits with a Thwart or Attack in the middle. As a Basic card, he's also Aspect agnostic, so you can run him in any build.

Soulfire · 30
You unfortunately cannot play two War Machines in an Iron Man deck, but I agree about this being a great basic ally — Stretch22 · 455
You can put two War Machines in an Iron Man deck because his Identity Specific is also War Machine. — Soulfire · 30
RR 1.5, under Unique Icon "A player cannot include more than one copy of each unique card (by title) in their deck." An exception is made for allies with the same title and different subtitles, but both War Machines have the subtitle "James Rhodes". Notably, the deckbuilder in marvelcdb doesn't stop you from doing this — Stretch22 · 455
Preemptive Strike

The rules change to Defense makes this card much stronger than it looks. It can make you a Defending character long after the basic defense window is passed, but the real power of this card lies in its power to save a Tough card. Effectively, you make a basic defense when attacked by the Villain. This lowers the Villain's attack by your defense. Preemptive Strike takes out the Villan's boost card. What does this mean? It means if the Villain's attack is equal to or lower than your defense, its attack is zero. With no boost cards, it will deal no damage. Which means any existing Tough cards you have on you are saved for another attack! I find this card is great in Protection cards that run Tough, like Doctor Strange or Colossus!

Soulfire · 30
Bombs Away

The great thing about this card is that it is a Hero Action and NOT an Attack Action. Vision with Solar Gem (i.e. becoming Aerial, required to play this card) in play really likes this card, because he can stay Intangible.

t0biwan · 2