Winning Hand - A Marvel Champions Podcast

In this episode of All Hands on Decks, Boomguy and Andyr discuss their experiences at the recent Marvel Champions con, focusing on the evolving trends in deck building, the impact of new cards, and the dynamics of multiplayer gameplay. They explore the noticeable decline in player side schemes, the underrepresentation of certain heroes like Nick Fury and Maria Hill, and the importance of damage output in multiplayer settings. The conversation also touches on the absence of team up cards and how players are adapting their strategies to enhance deck consistency and effectiveness. In this episode, the hosts delve into various Marvel Champions decks showcased at a recent convention, highlighting innovative strategies and community engagement. They discuss the clever use of Enhanced Awareness in resource management, the effectiveness of the Nightcrawler Injustice deck, and the unique playstyle of the Wildcard Iron Man deck. The conversation also explores a Colossus defense deck that emphasizes protection and the excitement of discovering new archetypes like alter ego only decks. The hosts celebrate the creativity of the community and encourage players to share their unique deck builds. Here are the decks we discussed: Phoenix Leadership (SDx) https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/49481/phoenix-soul-queens-are-here-to-slay-your-side-schemes-1.0 Nick Aggression (LazyTitan) https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/49689/overkill-em-1.0 Scarlet Witch Basic (Astrodar) https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/49375/witch-doctor-1.0 Nova Leadership (TheDailyStrugle) https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/48382/sam-s-lan-party-1.0 Justice Ms. Marvel - Spike https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/48069/3-4-player-burst-thwart-unthreatened-team-is-a-happy-team-1.0 Justice Tony Stark - Johnny https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/49445/tony-stark-director-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-1.0 Colossus Protection - Johnny https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/49334/nyet-1.0 Gambit Protection - Timmy https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/49305/fortune-favors-the-shy-coh25-3.0 Ghost-Spider Leadership - Johnny https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/44333/started-my-own-band-with-a-few-old-friends-you-want-in-1.0   Chapters 00:00 Post-Con Reflections and Deck Trends 02:53 Player Side Schemes: A Shift in Strategy 05:49 The Role of Allies: Nick Fury and Maria Hill 08:56 Deck Consistency and Gameplay Dynamics 11:46 The Evolution of Deck Building: Beyond Aspects 14:49 Team Up Cards: Missed Opportunities 17:45 Support Decks and Command Team Strategies 20:49 Voltron Strategies and Standout Decks 28:20 Deck Consistency and Trends 30:14 The Importance of Damage in Multiplayer 35:53 Underrepresented Heroes at the Con 39:01 Innovative Deck Strategies 48:22 The Alter Ego Iron Man Deck 55:33 Colossus: A Defense Deck for the Table 59:48 Deck Building Insights 01:00:15 Exploring Other Players' Decks 01:01:11 The Basic Witch Deck Breakdown 01:04:04 Overkillem: A Damage-Focused Deck 01:08:23 The Shy Deck: A New Legend Emerges 01:13:42 Nova Leadership: Ally Heavy Strategy 01:18:32 Ms. Marvel Justice: Thwarting Everything

In this episode we wrap up all the goodness that was the Con of Heroes 2025 and we say good-bye to Leethus, who is leaving us for less-green pastures.    As always, you can get in touch by email: winninghandpodcast@gmail.com

"Google it yourself." - Josseroo In this episode of the Winning Hand podcast, host BoomGuy and Jossaroo dive deep into the Marvel Champions card game, focusing on Adam Warlock. We discuss his background, do some lore and trivia, and then dive into the art, theme, power, and fun like always! The conversation also highlights the importance of building around specific cards and the fun aspects of deck building.  Here is a link to Josseroo's podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Myl3bGjwYzLzF3nUeg7Xd Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Winning Hand Podcast 01:53 Content Creator Spotlight: MC Deck Discussions 04:02 Trivia Time: Adam Warlock's Origins 06:52 Exploring Adam Warlock's Abilities 07:56 Card of the Day: Adam Warlock 15:58 Thematic Consistency in Adam Warlock's Design 21:40 Evaluating Adam Warlock's Strength as an Ally 25:20 Return on Investment in Card Mechanics 27:35 Building Around Adam Warlock 30:45 The Aerial Trait and Its Implications 32:37 Rules and Interactions with Adam Warlock 36:41 Deck Building Strategies and Personal Experiences 46:32 Final Thoughts on Adam Warlock 56:48 Outro

In this episode of the Winning Hand podcast, we discuss the decks we are bringing to the upcoming Con of Heroes, recommend a content creator, and talk about our thoughts on how much of the collection most people own. We also, of course, discuss Daring Escape, before discussing Leethus' own daring escape in his penultimate episode as a co-host.  Here is the content creator of the day: https://www.youtube.com/@longshipgaming7384 Here are the decks we are planning to bring to the con: Groot Camp: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/49143/groot-camp-con-of-heroes-2025-1.0 The Indomitable Iceman: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/48991/the-indomitable-iceman-con-of-heroes-2025-1.0 Fist Bump: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/49064/fist-bump-con-of-heroes-2025-1.0 Spaceman: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/48809/spaceman-con-of-heroes-2025-1.0 Basic B!tch: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/48363/basic-b-tch-1.0 Overkill 'em: https://marvelcdb.com/deck/view/930716 90 Degrees of Righteousness: https://marvelcdb.com/deck/view/592428?deck_name=90%20degrees%20of%20righteousness High School Crush: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/49288/ms-marvel-high-school-crush-1.0 (The Villain is a) Cornered Animal: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/49253/x-23-the-villain-is-a-cornered-animal-1.0 Big Hero Moment: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/49255/star-lord-big-hero-moment-1.0 Nibelung Valesti: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/45910/valkyrie-nibelung-valesti-1.0 Chapters 00:00 Introduction  02:32 Marvel Champions Overview and Episode Highlights 05:38 Audience Question: Collecting Habits in LCGs 08:37 Player Engagement and Content Acquisition 11:52 Living Through the Game vs. Joining Later 13:16 Deck Building and Collection Management 20:03 Content Creator Recommendation and Con of Heroes Decks 23:30 Deck Strategies and Themes 31:38 Deck Lineup for Con of Heroes 35:21 Hero Selection and Personal Preferences 44:57 Con of Heroes Info 47:24 Introduction to Daring Escape 50:29 Art and Flavor Text Analysis 53:11 Thematic Exploration of Star-Lord 58:47 Card Power and Gameplay Dynamics 01:05:50 Understanding Daring Escape's Role 01:09:53 The Fun Factor of Daring Escape 01:12:46 Star-Lord's Gambler Mentality 01:18:17 Final Thoughts on Daring Escape 01:21:46 Farewell to Lethus 01:25:53 Outro

In this episode, Boomguy and Andyr discuss the intricacies of building multiplayer decks for Marvel Champions. They explore various deck types, including leadership and aggression decks, and emphasize the importance of supporting other players at the table. The conversation highlights strategies for enhancing multiplayer experiences, the significance of unique cards, and the overall joy of cooperative play. The hosts encourage listeners to embrace the multiplayer aspect of the game and share their insights on deck building for larger player counts. Deck 1: The Highstorm: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/44731/the-highstorm-1.0 Deck 2: Bridge Four: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/44732/bridge-four-1.0 The Alter-Ego Chronicle Deck write-up: https://alteregochronicle.wixsite.com/alter-ego-chronicle/post/the-stormlight-decks-highstorm-and-bridge-four Deck 3: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/44943/uncanny-x-men-roster-2024-gambit-multiplayer-deck-1.0 Deck 4: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/44941/uncanny-x-men-roster-2024-jubilee-multiplayer-deck-1.0 Deck 5: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/44944/uncanny-x-men-roster-2024-nightcrawler-multiplayer-deck-2.0 Deck 6: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/44945/uncanny-x-men-roster-2024-wolverine-multiplayer-deck-1.0 Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Multiplayer Decks 02:42 Exploring Leadership Decks 09:25 Diving into Aggression Decks 16:39 What Makes a Good Multiplayer Deck? 25:51 Key Cards for Multiplayer Success 30:46 Multiplayer Mindset 35:35 Deck Building for Multiplayer 38:00 Exploring New Decks 49:59 Wolverine and Team Dynamics 57:00 The Joy of Multiplayer Gameplay

"How they chose this as the art is inexplicable to me; it looks like it's a card from East Germany." -Boomguy In this episode of the Winning Hand Podcast, the hosts discuss various aspects of the Marvel Champions game, including the upcoming Con of Heroes, content creator recommendations, and their favorite hero and aspect pairings for the event. They delve into specific heroes like Drax, Iceman, X23, Captain America, and Nick Fury, sharing insights on deck strategies and personal experiences. The episode concludes with a discussion on the Danger Room card and its lore within the Marvel universe. In this episode, the hosts engage in a lively discussion about the art and mechanics of the Danger Room card from the X-Men card game. They critique the artwork, explore the thematic elements of X-Men mechanics, and evaluate the power and strategy involved in using Danger Room effectively.  Here is the deck Leethus mentioned: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/45910/valkyrie-nibelung-valesti-1.0 Here is the featured content creator: https://www.youtube.com/@MaNemJeff87 Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Winning Hand Podcast 02:48 Content Creator Spotlight: My Name Jeff 06:46 Star-Lord Protection 10:50 Drax Protection 14:41 Iceman Leadership, Protection, and 'Pool? 17:17 X23 and Valkyrie: Powerful Hero Insights 20:21 Captain America: Versatile Strategies 23:22 Nick Fury: The New Spy on the Block 25:20 Vision - Aggression, Protection, and Sidekick? 27:47 Musical Inspirations in Deck Names 29:06 Exploring the Danger Room Card 30:27 The Evolution of the Danger Room 42:11 Thematic Elements of X-Men Support 48:23 Exploring X-Men Cards and Their Themes 54:57 The Experience of Living Card Games 01:00:06 Power and Strategy of Danger Room 01:10:06 Final Thoughts on Danger Room and X-Men Cards 01:18:03 Outro

"Every good thing comes at a cost." - KennedyHawk In this episode of the Winning Hand Podcast, Boomguy and KennedyHawk discuss the upcoming Con of Heroes, focusing on the custom content and card spoilers for Marvel Champions. We delve into the new Symbiote Standard Set, its mechanics, and the exciting new keywords introduced. We also highlight the artistic design of the cards, the logistics for attendees, and essential packing lists for a successful con experience.  See here for more reveals from the MCM team. Click here for the print and play files for the con (and previous cons!).  Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Con and Custom Content 03:06 Exploring the New Standard Set 06:08 Symbiote Suits: Mechanics and Strategies 09:06 Art and Design of the Custom Cards 12:07 Flipping Mechanics: Allies to Minions 14:54 New Keywords and Their Impact 18:09 Conclusion and Future Insights 22:15 Balancing Encounter Mechanics 23:49 Introducing New Nemesis Mechanics 27:15 Exploring Symbiote Attachments 28:54 Understanding Suit Malfunction 31:59 Logistics for Con of Heroes 34:21 Packing Essentials for Attendees 36:46 Custom Cards and Trading at the Con 40:52 Outro

This panel discussion revolves around the preparation and experiences related to the Con of Heroes 2025. I am joined by Andy N, AndyR, Astrodar, Caldias, MrSelfDestruct, and VJakson.  We discuss their personal experiences with previous conventions, and provide insights on what to bring, including decks, scenarios and tokens. We emphasize the importance of comfort and enjoyment throughout the weekend, encouraging attendees to bring decks they are familiar with and to be prepared for a fun, social gaming experience. The panel delves into the nuances of preparing for a gaming convention, focusing on deck preparation, the importance of sleeving strategies, and the benefits of borrowing and sharing decks. We discuss the significance of unique cards in multiplayer settings and the multiverse rule, which allows for flexibility in games with so many people traveling in; we are here for a casual atmosphere, and we encourage players to be flexible with their decks and to prioritize fun over strict adherence to rules. This conversation delves into the strategies for deck building and adapting to multiplayer dynamics at conventions, emphasizing the importance of community and inclusivity. We share our experiences and surprises from attending the Con of Heroes, highlighting the welcoming atmosphere and the diversity of gameplay. They also touch on the food options available at the con and the various custom content that attendees can look forward to.  Chapters 02:59 Introduction to the Con of Heroes 06:11 Panelist Introductions and Experiences 08:57 What to Bring to the Con 12:00 Deck Selection Strategies 15:04 Playing Comfortably and Enjoying the Game 20:12 Deck Preparation and Sleeving Strategies 23:00 Borrowing and Sharing Decks at Conventions 26:00 Unique Cards and Their Importance in Multiplayer 29:03 Understanding the Multiverse Rule 34:59 Casual Atmosphere and Deck Flexibility 41:41 Deck Building Strategies for Conventions 44:09 Adapting Decks for Multiplayer Dynamics 51:48 Community and Inclusivity at the Con 58:09 Surprises and Expectations at the Con 01:08:47 Excitement for Upcoming Conventions 01:12:00 Choosing Heroes and Decks for the Con 01:19:48 Deck Strategies and Scenarios Discussion 01:25:31 Final Thoughts on Heroes and Scenarios 01:30:59 The Excitement of Deck Building 01:32:29 The Pool Deck Dilemma 01:34:58 Food and Fun at the Convention 01:39:49 Community Engagement and Custom Content 01:46:44 Final Thoughts and Farewell

On this day three years ago, Fantasy Flight launched their biggest April Fool's joke yet: https://www.fantasyflightgames.com/en/news/2022/4/1/hamming-it-up/ Was it real? Was it fake? We may never know.  Join Boomguy, LazyTitan, and Leethus as they break down their least favorite cartoon pig!  We also spotlight a content creator you should check out:  ⁨@ZiggyZ55Z⁩  He also has a new book out: https://youtu.be/wwAJThY2hFA?si=N8apcqaRqgwXormG Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Winning Hand Podcast 03:00 Content Creator Spotlight: ZiggyZ55 05:59 Recent Gameplay Experiences 08:49 Exploring the Deadpool Aspect 11:54 Iceman and Jubilee: Heroes in Focus 15:00 Thor and Groot: Recent Favorites 17:58 New Heroes: Maria Hill and Nick Fury 21:04 Card of the Day: Spider Ham 27:44 The Quirky World of Spider-Ham 29:09 Unpacking Spider-Ham's Origins 30:49 The Villains of Spider-Ham 36:39 Art and Aesthetics of Spider-Ham 39:33 Thematic Elements of Spider-Ham 43:12 Game Mechanics and Balance of Spider-Ham 46:52 Exploring Spider-Ham's Unique Mechanics 49:50 The Power of Spider-Ham: A Hero's Strength 53:20 Ranking Spider-Ham Among Heroes 59:30 Fun Factor: Playing as Spider-Ham 01:03:32 Final Thoughts and Ratings

In this episode, we discuss two new spoiler cards from Fantasy Flight Games for the upcoming Black Panther (Shuri) hero pack. You can see the original reveal article here. Join us as we break down the art, theme, power, and fun for these cards! Chapters 00:00 Introduction to New Cards 03:03 Analysis of Dora Milaje and Allies 06:06 Art and Theme Discussion 09:11 Synergy and Gameplay Mechanics 12:00 Final Thoughts on Card Package 17:48 The Power of Allies in Gameplay 20:12 Strategic Use of Leadership and Healing 22:40 Design and Flexibility of the Dora Milaje Package 24:40 Overall Impressions and Ratings of the Package 30:14 Future Potential and Trait Development 32:28 Outro