SUMMARY OF NOTABLE CHANGES

• All: Added, expanded, and revised many • Page 20: Under “Modes of Play, • Page 40–44: Expanded “Appendix IV:
definitions. changed Rookie Mode to Skirmish Mode. FAQ”.
• Page 2–3: Moved the “Index” section to Revised Expert Mode and Heroic Mode. • Page 44–45: Expanded “Appendix V:
the front of the document. Clarified Campaign Mode. Errata”.
• Page 11: Revised “Defend/Defense” to • Page 34: Expanded the definition of
function similarly to its original iteration. “You/Your”.

Notable changes since the previous version are marked in red.

Rules Reference
Version 1.4
 INDEX Cost Arrow Icon (→).........................10
Counter............................................10
Guard...............................................15
Hand Size.........................................15
Ability................................................ 4
Crisis Icon ()..................................10 Hazard Icon ()................................15
Acceleration Icon ()........................ 5
Damage............................................10 Heal..................................................15
Acceleration Token........................... 5
Dash (Value).....................................11 Hero, Hero Form..............................15
Action................................................ 5
Deal, Deal an Encounter Card.........11 Heroic Mode....................................15
Activation.......................................... 5
Deck.................................................11 Hinder X...........................................15
Active Player..................................... 5
Deck Customization.........................11 Hit Points..........................................15
“Additional”...................................... 6
DEF...................................................11 Icons.................................................16
“After”............................................... 6
Defeat...............................................11 Identity.............................................16
All-Purpose Counter......................... 6
Defend, Defense..............................11 Identity-Specific Card......................16
Ally.................................................... 6
Delayed Effect.................................11 In Play and Out of Play...............16, 17
Ally Limit........................................... 6
Discard.............................................12 In Player Order.................................17
“Already”.......................................... 6
Discard Pile......................................12 Incite X.............................................17
Alteration Effect................................ 6
Draw, Drawing Cards.......................12 Indirect Damage..............................17
Alter-Ego, Alter-Ego Form................ 6
“Each Time”.....................................12 Infinite Hit Points..............................17
Amplify Icon ()................................ 6
Effect................................................12 Initiating Abilities.............................17
“And”................................................ 7
Empty Deck......................................12 “Instead”..........................................17
Arrow Icon (→).................................. 7
Encounter Card................................12 Interrupt...........................................18
Aspect Card...................................... 7
Encounter Deck...............................12 Keywords.........................................18
ATK.................................................... 7
Encounter Discard Pile.....................12 Lasting Effects.................................18
Attachment....................................... 7
Encounter Set...................................12 Leaves Play.......................................19
Attach To........................................... 7
End of Player Phase.........................13 Limit..................................................19
Attack (Enemy Activation)................ 7
Enemy..............................................13 Look, Looked-At..............................19
Attack (Player Action)....................... 8
Enemy Activation.............................13 Main Scheme, Main Scheme Deck..19
Base Value......................................... 8
Enemy Attacks.................................13 Max...................................................19
Basic Card......................................... 8
Enemy Schemes...............................13 Maximum Hit Points.........................19
Basic Power....................................... 8
Energy Resource ()........................13 May...................................................19
Boost, Boost Icon ()....................... 8
Engage.............................................13 Mental Resource ()........................19
Campaign Mode............................... 8
Enters Play........................................13 Minion........................................19, 20
Campaign-Specific Card.................. 9
Environment.....................................13 Modes of Play................................. 20
Cancel............................................... 9
Event................................................13 Modifiers......................................... 20
Cannot............................................... 9
Excess Damage................................13 Modular Encounter Set....................21
Card Ability....................................... 9
Exhausted........................................14 Move................................................21
Card Types........................................ 9
Expert Mode....................................14 Nemesis Encounter Set...................21
Character.......................................... 9
Expert Set........................................14 Non-Numerical Variable..................21
Choose.............................................. 9
First Player........................................14 Obligation........................................21
Classifications................................... 9
Forced..............................................14 Overkill............................................ 22
Confuse, Confused..........................10
Form, Change Form.........................14 Ownership and Control.................. 22
Consequential Damage ()............10
Friendly............................................14 Patrol............................................... 22
Constant Ability...............................10
Gains................................................15 Per Player Icon ()........................... 22
Control.............................................10
Generate..........................................15 Peril................................................. 22
Copy.................................................10
Gets..................................................15 Permanent....................................... 22
Cost..................................................10

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2
Piercing........................................... 22 Setup................................................28 When Defeated Abilities................ 33
Physical Resource ()..................... 22 Shuffle..............................................28 When Revealed Abilities................. 33
Play, Put Into Play...................... 22, 23 Side Scheme....................................28 Wild Resource ()........................... 33
Play Area......................................... 23 Simultaneous Resolution.................28 Winning the Game.......................... 33
Play Restrictions and Permissions.. 23 Skirmish Mode.................................28 “Would”.......................................... 33
Player............................................... 23 Special..............................................28 “X” (Value)....................................... 33
Player Card...................................... 23 Stalwart............................................28 You, Your......................................... 34
Player Deck..................................... 23 Standard Mode................................28 Appendix I: Deck Customization.... 35
Player Discard Pile...........................24 Standard Set....................................28 Appendix II: Setup.......................... 35
Player Elimination.............................24 Star Icon ().............................. 28, 29 Appendix III: Card Anatomy..... 36–39
Player Phase.....................................24 Status Cards.................................... 29 Appendix IV: FAQ..................... 40–44
Player Turn.......................................24 Stun, Stunned.................................. 29 Appendix V: Errata................... 44–45
Player’s Play Area.............................24 Subtitle............................................ 29
Playing Cards...................................24 Support........................................... 29
Prevent............................................ 25 Surge............................................... 29
Printed............................................. 25 Sustained Damage......................... 30
Qualifiers......................................... 25 Table Talk........................................ 30
Quickstrike...................................... 25 Target.............................................. 30
Ranged............................................ 25 Target Threat.................................. 30
Ready.............................................. 25 Team-Up.......................................... 30
REC.................................................. 25 Text Box.......................................... 30
Recover........................................... 25 Then................................................ 30
Referential Ability........................... 25 Threat.............................................. 30
Remaining Hit Points....................... 25 THW................................................ 30
Reminder Text................................. 25 Thwart............................................. 30
Removed from the Game............... 25 Tough.............................................. 30
Replacement Effect.........................26 Toughness........................................31
Resource..........................................26 Traits.................................................31
Resource Ability...............................26 Treachery.........................................31
Resource Cards................................26 Triggered Ability..............................31
Response..........................................26 Triggering Condition.......................31
Restricted.........................................26 Undefended.....................................31
Retaliate X........................................26 Unique Icon ().................................31
Reveal...............................................27 Upgrade.....................................31, 32
Rookie Mode....................................27 Uses (X “Type”)............................... 32
Round Structure...............................27 Victory Display................................ 32
Running Out of Cards......................27 Victory X.......................................... 32
Scenario-Specific Card....................27 Villain, Villain Deck.......................... 32
SCH..................................................27 Villain Defeat................................... 32
Scheme (Card Type).........................27 Villain Phase.................................... 32
Scheme (Enemy Activation).............27 Villain’s Play Area............................ 33
Search..............................................27 Villainous......................................... 33
Set Aside, Set-Aside........................28 When Completed Abilities............. 33

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3
 OVERVIEW GLOSSARY
This document is intended as the definitive source for rules
information, but does not teach players how to play the ABILIT Y
game. Players should first read the Learn to Play book in An ability is game text on a card that explains what the
its entirety and use this Rules Reference as needed while card does (or can do). Several examples can be seen in
playing the game. Appendix III of this Rules Reference.
The majority of this book consists of a glossary, which • Card abilities only interact with cards that are in play,
provides an alphabetical listing of terms and situations that unless the ability specifically refers to an out-of-play
might be encountered during a game. This section should area or element.
be the first destination for players with rules questions.
• Card abilities on hero, alter-ego, ally, upgrade, and
The three appendices at the end of the book contain deck support cards may only be used if the card is in play,
customization rules, setup rules, and a card anatomy. unless the ability specifically refers to being used
from an out-of-play state. Event cards implicitly
THE GOLDEN RULES interact with the game from an out-of-play area, as
per the rules of the event card type.
If the text of this Rules Reference directly contradicts
the text of the Learn to Play book, the text of the Rules • An ability can only be initiated if its effect could
Reference takes precedence. change the game. Assess this without accounting for
the consequences of the cost payment or interaction
If the text of a card directly contradicts the text of either the
with other abilities.
Rules Reference or the Learn to Play book, the text of the
card takes precedence. • When an ability has more than one sentence of text,
read the entirety of the ability to check for alteration
THE GRIM RULE effects that may change the way the ability resolves.
Then, resolve the ability one sentence at a time.
If players are unable to find the answer to a rules or timing
conflict in this Rules Reference, resolve the conflict in the • An ability prefaced by a bold timing trigger followed
manner that the players perceive as the worst possible by a colon is referred to as a triggered ability. An
resolution at that moment with regards to winning the ability without a bold timing trigger is referred to as a
scenario, and continue with the game. constant ability. (See below.)
• Player card abilities cannot resolve during game
COMPONENT LIMITATIONS setup, unless prefaced by a “Setup” timing trigger.

There is no limit to the number of threat tokens, damage • The resolution of the following ability types is
tokens, acceleration tokens, status cards, or all-purpose mandatory: constant abilities, “Setup” abilities,
counters that can be in the game at a given time. “When Revealed” abilities, “When Defeated”
abilities, “Forced Interrupt” abilities, “Forced
If players run out of the provided tokens, counters, or status Response” abilities, “Boost” abilities, and keywords.
cards, other tokens, counters, or coins may be used. If one of these ability types uses the word “may”, the
part of the ability following “may” is optional.
ROUND OVERVIEW • The resolution of the following ability types is
The following is an overview of a game round, and the optional: “Action”, “Interrupt”, “Response”,
glossary entries that cover each part of the game round. “Resource”. The player who controls the card that has
an optional ability determines whether or not to use
1. Player phase begins. See: Player Phase
that ability at the appropriate time.
2. Each player takes a turn. See: Player Turn
Constant Abilities — A constant ability is any non-keyword
3. Player phase ends. See: End of Player Phase ability whose text contains no bold timing trigger defining
its ability type. A constant ability becomes active as soon as
4. Villain phase begins. See: Villain Phase
its card enters play and remains active while the card is in
5. Place threat on main scheme. See: Main Scheme play.
6. Villain and minions activate. See: Activation, Attack • Some constant abilities continuously seek a specific
(Enemy Activation), Scheme (Enemy Activation) condition (denoted by words such as “during”, “if”,
7. Deal encounter cards. See: Deal or “while”). The effects of such abilities are active
anytime the specific condition is met.
8. Reveal and resolve encounter cards. See: Reveal
• If multiple instances of the same constant ability
9. Pass the first player token. See: First Player are in play, each instance affects the game
10. End the round. Proceed to step one of the next game independently.
round.

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4
Triggered Abilities — A triggered ability is indicated by a Acceleration tokens enter play through one of two effects:
bold timing trigger followed by a colon and the rest of the
• If the encounter deck is empty, place one acceleration
ability text.
token next to the main scheme.
• A triggered ability on a player card can only be
• Card effects may instruct the players to add an
initiated if its effect could change the game on its
acceleration token to play.
own. This potential is assessed without taking into
account the consequences of the cost payment or Acceleration tokens cannot be removed from play. Unlike
future responses to the effect. other tokens, when a main scheme card leaves play, the
acceleration token does not get discarded.
• Unless prefaced by the word “Forced”, all interrupt
and response abilities are optional. See also: Component Limitations, Encounter Deck, Main
Scheme, Villain Phase
• “Forced” abilities, “When Revealed” abilities,
“When Defeated” abilities, and “When Completed”
abilities are triggered by the game at the ability’s ACTION
appropriate timing point. “Action” is a type of triggered ability. Players are permitted
• If the bold timing trigger of an ability contains the to trigger action abilities during their turn, or by request
word “Hero” or “Alter-Ego,” the ability can only during other players’ turns.
be used if the player triggering the ability is in the See also: Ability, Player Turn, Triggered Ability
specified form.
• If quotation marks are used around a timing trigger ACTIVATION
and colon, the quoted text is not itself a timing
trigger, but is instead referring to other abilities with There are two types of enemy activations: an attack
that trigger. activation and a scheme activation. Whenever an enemy
attacks or schemes, it is considered to have activated.
Some abilities have timing priority over other abilities. In
order, the timing priority of abilities is: • During step two of the villain phase, the villain
activates once per player, in player order. If the
1. Constant abilities. identity of the player resolving the activation is in
2. “Forced Interrupt” abilities. hero form, the villain initiates an attack against that
player’s identity. If the identity of the player resolving
3. “Interrupt” abilities. the activation is in alter-ego form, the villain initiates
4. “Forced Response” abilities. a scheme.
5. “Response” abilities. • During step two of the villain phase, each minion
engaged with a player activates against that player.
See also: Action, Alteration Effect, “And”, Cancel, Delayed
If the identity of the engaged player is in hero form,
Effect, Forced, In Play and Out of Play, Initiating Abilities,
the minion initiates an attack against that player’s
Interrupt, Lasting Effects, Qualifiers, Replacement Effects,
identity. If the identity of the engaged player is in
Resource Ability, Response, Simultaneous Resolution,
alter-ego form, the minion initiates a scheme.
Special, Then, When Defeated Abilities, When Revealed
Abilities • Each time the villain activates, give the villain
one boost card from the encounter deck for that
ACCELER ATION ICON () activation.
• Some card abilities can also cause enemies to attack
An acceleration icon represents additional forces that are
or scheme. These are also considered activations.
advancing the villain’s nefarious plans.
• If multiple enemies activate against you simultaneously,
During step one of the villain phase, place X additional
resolve the villain’s activation first (if any) in the order of
threat on the main scheme, where X is the number of
your choice, followed by minion activations in the order
acceleration icons in play.
of your choice.
• An acceleration icon can be removed from play by
• If an activating minion leaves play, that minion’s
defeating the encounter card it is printed on.
activation ends immediately and no further steps of
See also: Icons, Main Scheme, Threat, Villain Phase that activation resolve.
See also: Boost, Attack (Enemy Activation), Scheme (Enemy
ACCELER ATION TOKEN Activation), Minion, Villain, Villain Phase
Acceleration tokens are functionally
equivalent to acceleration icons. They are ACTIVE PL AYER
placed next to the main scheme as a reminder
The player taking their turn during the player phase is the
to add X additional threat to the main scheme
active player.
during step one of the villain phase, where X
is the number of acceleration tokens in play. See also: Player, Player Turn

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5
 “ADDITIONAL” A player may play or put into play allies beyond their ally
limit. However, if a player ever controls a number of allies
See: Alteration Effect
greater than their ally limit in play, they must immediately
choose and discard from play ally cards they control until
“AF TER” they have a number of allies in play equal to their ally limit.
The word “after” refers to a game occurrence that just This occurs before abilities that resolve upon entering play.
concluded. Many response abilities use the term “after” to See also: Ally, Choose, Discard, Enters Play
specify the time at which they can be used.
See also: Ability, Response “ALRE ADY ”
See: Alteration Effect
ALL-PURPOSE COUNTER
All-purpose counters can be used to track ALTER ATION EFFECT
a variety of different game states and
An alteration effect modifies the resolution of an ability that
statuses. They have no inherent rules.
precedes it. The types of alteration effects are “additional,”
Card abilities can create and define a number of different “already,” and “each time” effects.
counter types, such as “arrow counters” or “web counters.”
Additional — The word “additional” denotes a modifier to
If a counter is called for, an all-purpose counter is used to
an ability or game state. The additional modifier is resolved
track its presence in the game.
simultaneously with any ability it is modifying and under the
See also: Component Limitations, Uses (X “Type”) same conditions as that ability. (For example, Repulsor Blast
reads: “Hero Action (attack): Deal 1 damage to an enemy
ALLY and discard the top 5 cards of your deck. For each printed
 resource discarded this way, deal 2 additional damage to
Ally is a player card type that represents an identity’s that enemy.”)
friends, supporters, or companions.
Already — The word “already” denotes the resolution of an
• If an ally enters play, it remains in play until a card alternate ability if a specific condition is met. The “already”
ability or game effect causes it to leave play. If an effect checks if this condition is met before the preceding
ally’s remaining hit points are reduced to zero, it is ability attempts to resolve. If so, the “already” effect
defeated and discarded from play. resolves instead. (For example, I’m Tough reads: “When
• During a player’s turn, they may use any number of Revealed: Give Rhino a tough status card. If Rhino already
allies they control to attack or thwart. An ally must has a tough status card, this card gains surge.”)
exhaust to attack or thwart. Each Time — The phrase “each time” denotes a temporary
• After an ally is used to attack or thwart, deal interruption to a resolving ability. When a condition is met
consequential damage to that ally equal to the that is specified by the “each time” effect, the resolution
number of consequential damage icons () beneath of the preceding ability halts, the “each time” effect
the ally’s ATK or THW field. (If an ally attempts resolves in its entirety, then the preceding ability continues
to attack or thwart while stunned or confused, resolving. (For example, “You Dare Oppose Me?“ reads:
respectively, that ally will not take consequential “When Revealed: Discard the top 5 cards of the encounter
damage.) deck. Each time a card belonging to the Kree Fanatic set is
discarded this way, deal that card to yourself as a facedown
• If a player is attacked, any player may exhaust an ally
encounter card.”)
they control to defend against the attack. If an ally
defends against an attack, all damage from the attack See also: Ability, Replacement Effect, Triggered Ability
is dealt to the ally.
• Attacks, thwarts, defenses, action abilities, and ALTER-EGO, ALTER-EGO FORM
triggered abilities that resolve from allies in play See: Form, Identity
under a player’s control are not considered to be
performed by that player’s identity.
AMPLIF Y ICON ()
See also: Ally Limit, Consequential Damage, Hit Points
The amplify icon represents various forces that are
empowering or bolstering the villain.
ALLY LIMIT
When a boost card is turned faceup during an enemy
Each player is permitted to control a maximum of three activation, add one additional boost icon to that card for
allies in play at any given time. This is referred to as the each amplify icon in play.
“ally limit.”
See also: Activation, Boost, Enemy, Icons

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6
“AND” • An attached card exhausts and readies independently
of the game element it is attached to.
The word “and” indicates that two or more effects within
an ability resolve simultaneously. • The “attach to” phrase is checked for legality when
the card would be attached to a game element, but it
• Individual effects connected by “and” are not
is not checked again after it is attached. If the initial
dependent on each other. As long as at least one of
“attach to” check does not pass, the card is not able
the effects can change the game state, resolve as
to be attached, so it remains in its prior state or game
much of the ability as possible.
area. If such a card cannot remain in its prior state or
• Each effect connected by “and” can be canceled or game area, discard it.
prevented independently.
See also: Ability, Cancel, Prevent AT TACK (ENEMY ACTIVATION)
An attack is a type of enemy activation. When an enemy
ARROW ICON (→) attacks, it targets a specific player, then resolves that attack
See: Cost Arrow Icon against that player. To resolve an enemy attack, follow these
steps:

A SPECT C ARD 1. If a villain, or a minion with the villainous keyword, is

attacking, give it one facedown boost card from the
Cards in the “aspect” classification are any cards that encounter deck. (If a minion without the villainous
belong to the Aggression, Justice, Leadership, and/or keyword is attacking, skip this step.)
Protection aspects.
2. If a player wishes to defend, that player exhausts a hero
• When building a player deck, a player must choose or ally as the defender. If a player other than the target
one of the four aspects (Aggression, Justice, player defends, the defending player becomes the
Leadership, or Protection) to use for customization. target player for this attack.
The remainder of their deck (the portion not
allocated to their identity-specific cards) can then 3. Flip each of the attacking enemy’s boost cards faceup
be customized with cards that belong to the chosen one at a time. (If a minion without the villainous
aspect. keyword is attacking, skip this step.) Then, in order:

• A card’s aspect is designated by the aspect’s name • Resolve any “Boost” abilities, indicated by the star
printed at the bottom of the card in its deckbuilding icon in the boost field.
classification area. • Increase the attacking enemy’s ATK value by one for
See also: Basic Card, Classifications, Identity-Specific Card, each boost icon on the card.
Appendix I: Deck Customization • Discard each boost card after it is resolved.
4. Deal damage from the attack equal to the attacking
ATK enemy’s modified ATK value, based on the following:
See: Attack (Player Action), Basic Power • If a hero makes a basic defense against the attack,
the amount of damage dealt is reduced by that hero’s
AT TACHMENT DEF value, and the remaining damage from the attack
is dealt to that hero.
Attachment is an encounter card type.
• If an ally defends against the attack, all damage from
When an attachment enters play, it attaches to another card
the attack is dealt to the ally. (If the ally is defeated by
or game element.
the attack, additional damage does not carry over to
• If an attachment attaches to the villain, it may modify the identity.)
the villain’s ATK and/or SCH values, as indicated by
• If no character defends against the attack, the
the values in the associated fields on the attachment
attack is considered undefended. All damage from
card.
the attack is dealt to the target player’s identity (even
See also: Attach To, Encounter Card, Enters Play if that identity is in alter-ego form).
See also: Activation, Ally, Boost, Damage, Defend, Enemy,
AT TACH TO Identity, Minion, Target, Villain, Villainous
If a card uses the phrase “attach to”, it must be attached to
(placed beneath and slightly overlapped by) the specified
game element as it enters play.
• Once a card is attached, it remains in play until either
the element it is attached to leaves play (in which
case the attached card is discarded) or an ability or
game effect causes the attached card to leave play.

Rules Reference
7
 enhanCed ivoRy hoRn
ATTACHMENT
AT TACK (PL AYER ACTION) • Thwart power (THW) can be used by a character
to perform a basic thwart and remove threat from
Some game effects and card abilities reference an attack.
a scheme. Generally, heroes and allies have thwart
There are a few different ways an attack can occur:
power.
• A hero can use their basic attack power to attack an
• Defense power (DEF) can be used by a character to
enemy. A hero must exhaust to use this power. This
deals damage equal to the hero’s ATK value to the WEAPON.
perform a basic defense and prevent damage from an
attack. Generally, only heroes have defense power.
enemy. Attach to Rhino.
• Recovery power (REC) can be used by a character
• An ally can use its basic attack power to attack an
enemy. This deals damage equal to the ally’s ATK Hero Action:
to perform Spend
a basic recovery and heal
damage from
value to the enemy. resources
power.
→ discard this card.
themself. Generally, only alter-egos have recovery

• If a triggered ability is labeled as an attack—such

• Scheme power (SCH) can be used by a character to
as “Hero Action (attack)”—resolving that ability is
perform a basic scheme and place threat on the main
considered to attack the specified target. Unless
scheme. Generally, villains and minions have scheme
specified by the ability’s text, a hero does not exhaust
power.
when using such an ability.
See also: Ally, Attack (Enemy Activation), Attack (Player
• Hero and ally attacks can target any enemy, unless a
Action), Defense, Identity, Minion, Recover, Scheme (Enemy

+1
card ability (such as guard) is preventing that enemy
Activation), Thwart
from being attacked.
• Enemies can attack during step two of the villain AT K
phase.
BOOST, BOOST ICON ()
• Card abilities can cause the villain and/or minions ENCOUNTER
RHINO GROUP
Each
to (8/21)
time (XX/XX)
the villain attacks or schemes,  
the villain is given one facedown card
attack at other times if the ability explicitly instructs © MARVEL © 2019 FFG 100
from the encounter deck, as a boost card.
the villain or minion to “attack.”
During the activation (and after any Boost I cons
See also: Ally, Basic Power, Damage, Defend, Enemy,
defenders are declared if the villain is
Identity, Minion, Target, Villain
attacking), all boost cards on the villain
are turned face up one at a time. Add the number of boost
BA SE VALUE icons on the card to the villain’s ATK value (if it is attacking)
A defined value before modifiers are applied. In most cases, or SCH value (if it is scheming) for that activation. Boost
it is also the printed value. icons are located at the bottom-right of the card.

See also: Modifiers, Printed If the boost field has a star icon, it indicates that the card
has a “Boost” ability. Refer to the card’s text box and
resolve the “Boost” ability when the card is turned face up.
BA SIC C ARD The “Boost” ability is located beneath the divider line in the
Cards in the “Basic” classification are cards that are not text box.
associated with a specific identity or aspect. • A star icon is not itself considered a boost icon, and
• When building a deck, a player may customize the does not contribute to the villain’s ATK or SCH value.
remainder of their deck (the portion not allocated to • Only the ability text beneath the divider line is active
their identity-specific cards) using basic cards. on a card that is resolving as a boost card.
• A card is designated as basic if it has the word • If additional boost cards are resolved for an
“Basic” printed at the bottom of the card in its activation, the boost icons are cumulative, and all
deckbuilding classification area. “Boost” abilities on those cards resolve.
• Basic cards are not aspect cards. • After applying a boost card to an activation, discard it.
See also: Aspect Card, Classifications, Identity-Specific See also: Attack (Enemy Activation), Scheme (Enemy
Card, Appendix I: Deck Customization Activation), Star Icon

BA SIC POWER C AMPAIGN MODE

A basic power is a statistic that allows a character to See: Modes of Play
perform a certain game function. There are five different
basic powers:
• Attack power (ATK) can be used by a character to
perform a basic attack and deal damage to another
character. Generally, heroes, allies, villains, and
minions have attack power.

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8
C AMPAIGN-SPECIFIC C ARD CHAR ACTER
Cards in the “campaign-specific” classification are cards Identities (heroes and alter-egos), allies, villains, and minions
that belong to a campaign’s set of accompanying cards. are all characters.
• Campaign-specific cards can only be used during a See also: Ally, Identity, Minion, Villain
campaign from the same product (determined by that
product’s set icon). CHOOSE
• A campaign’s rules determine how players utilize The word “choose” indicates that a player must select a
campaign-specific cards within that campaign. game element that meets the specific requirements of an
• A campaign-specific card is designated by the word ability.
“Campaign” printed at the bottom of the card in its • The player resolving the ability that uses the word
encounter set name area. “choose” is the player who makes the choice
See also: Campaign, Classification specified by the card.
• If a player card ability requires the choosing of a
C ANCEL target, and there is no valid target, the ability cannot
be initiated.
Some card abilities can cancel card or game effects.
• If multiple targets are required to be chosen by the
• Cancel abilities interrupt the initiation of effects and
same player, simultaneously choose as many as are
prevent them from initiating.
available, to a maximum of the specified number.
• Anytime the effects of an ability are canceled, the
• An effect that can choose “any number” of targets
ability (apart from its effects) is still regarded as
does not successfully resolve (and cannot change the
initiated, and any costs are still paid. Only the effects
game state) if zero of those targets are chosen.
are prevented from initiating, and do not resolve.
• A card is not an eligible target for an ability if the
• If the effects of an event card are canceled, the card
resolution of that ability’s effect could not change the
is still considered played, and it is discarded.
card’s state.
• If the effects of a treachery card are canceled, the
See also: Ability, Player, Target
card is still regarded as revealed, and it is still placed
in the encounter discard pile.
See also: Ability
CL A SSIFIC ATIONS
A card’s classification is the group that a card belongs to as
C ANNOT determined by its specific attributes.
• Cards in the “identity-specific” classification are cards
The word “cannot” is absolute and cannot be
that belong to an identity’s set of accompanying
countermanded by other abilities or effects.
cards. (See: Identity-Specific Card)

C ARD ABILIT Y • Cards in the “aspect” classification are cards that

belong to the Aggression, Justice, Leadership, and/or
See: Ability Protection aspects. (See: Aspect Card)
• Cards in the “Basic” classification are not associated
C ARD T YPES with a specific identity or aspect. (See: Basic Card)
A card’s card type denotes various rules and game functions • Cards in the “scenario-specific” classification are
associated with that card. cards that belong to a scenario’s set of accompanying
• Ally, event, identity, resource, support, and upgrade cards. (See: Scenario-Specific Card)
cards are types of player cards. • Cards in the “modular encounter set” or “modular
• Attachment, environment, main scheme, minion, set” classification are cards that belong to a modular
obligation, side scheme, treachery, and villain cards set of encounter cards. (See: Modular Encounter Set)
are types of encounter cards. • Cards in the “campaign-specific” classification are
• If an ability causes a card to change its card type, cards that can only be used during a campaign from
it loses all other card types it might possess and the same product. (See: Campaign-Specific Card)
functions as would any card of the new card type. • Cards in the “Standard” classification are cards that
See also: Ally, Attachment, Encounter Card, Environment, are added to most scenarios. (See: Modes of Play,
Event, Identity, Main Scheme, Minion, Obligation, Player Standard Set)
Card, Resource Cards, Side Scheme, Support, Treachery, • Cards in the “Expert” classification are cards that are
Upgrade, Villain, Appendix III: Card Anatomy added to scenarios when playing expert mode. (See:
Expert Set, Modes of Play)

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9
 CONFUSE, CONFUSED • An ability’s cost cannot be paid if the resolution of
that ability’s effect could not change the game state.
Confuse is a status that prevents a character from adding or
removing threat with its next scheme or thwart, respectively. • While a player is paying a cost, that player must pay
costs with cards and/or game elements they control.
• If an ability “confuses” a character, give that character
a confused status card. • If a cost requires a game element that is not in
play, the player paying the cost may only use game
• If a character has an ability stating that it “cannot be
elements that are in their own out-of-play areas.
confused,” confused status cards cannot be placed
on that character. • Some card ability may reference an “additional cost.”
A player must pay all additional costs simultaneously
See also: Ally, Identity, Minion, Status Cards, Villain
with the cost that is being added to, even if multiple
cards or abilities are adding separate additional
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGE () costs. A player cannot pay the original cost or any of
After an ally attacks, it takes consequential damage equal to the additional costs individually; if they cannot pay
the number of consequential damage icons () beneath its for all of the costs at once, then they do not pay any
ATK field. of the costs and the effect associated with the costs
does not occur.
After an ally thwarts, it takes consequential damage equal
to the number of consequential damage icons () beneath See also: Ability, Cost Arrow Icon, Initiating Abilities,
its THW field. Keywords

• Consequential damage is dealt to an ally after

resolving abilities that are triggered by the ally COST ARROW ICON (→)
attacking or thwarting. A cost arrow icon (→) in ability text distinguishes a cost from
See also: Ally, Attack (Player Action), Basic Power, Damage, an effect, in a “pay cost → resolve effect” format. Non-
Icons, Thwart bolded text before the cost arrow icon must be paid and/or
resolved in full before the text after the cost arrow icon can
be resolved.
CONSTANT ABILIT Y
See also: Cost, Icon
See: Ability

COUNTER
CONTROL
See: All-Purpose Counter
See: Ownership and Control

CRISIS ICON ()

COPY
While at least one crisis icon is in play, threat cannot be
A copy of a card is defined by title. A second copy of a card removed from the main scheme by any player.
is any other card that shares the same title and subtitle (if
any), regardless of card’s type, text, artwork, or any other See also: Main Scheme, Threat
differing characteristics between the cards.
See also: Card Types, Subtitle DAMAGE
Damage reduces a character’s hit points.
COST If a character has zero or fewer remaining
hit points, it is defeated.
A card’s resource cost is the numerical value that must be
paid to play the card. Some abilities have a cost described • Damage on an identity or villain is tracked by a hit
in the ability text that must be paid to use the ability. point dial. If such a character is damaged, reduce its
dial by the amount of damage that it took.
• A cost arrow icon (→) in ability text distinguishes a
cost from an effect, in a “pay cost → resolve effect” • Damage on an ally or minion is tracked by damage
format. tokens. If such a character is damaged, place the
specified value of damage tokens on the character.
• While paying a cost, a player is permitted to generate
resources beyond the specified cost. See also: Component Limitations, Defeat, Hit Points, Indirect
Damage, Move, Prevent
• When generating resources to pay a cost, a player
is permitted to generate resources beyond the
specified cost. However, any resources that are
generated beyond the required cost are lost after
paying the cost.
• If multiple costs for a single card or ability require
payment, those costs must be paid simultaneously.

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10
DA SH (VALUE) DEFEND, DEFENSE
If a character’s power (ATK, DEF, REC, SCH, and THW) has During an enemy attack, a player may defend against that
a dash (–) as the value, the character cannot exhaust to use attack using cards they control.
that power. If a game step or card ability references a power
• Only one player at a time can defend against an
with the value of dash (–), that value is treated as 0.
enemy attack. Once a player defends, no other player
See also: Basic Power, Non-Numerical Variable can defend against that same attack.
• A hero can use their basic defense power to defend
DE AL , DE AL AN ENCOUNTER C ARD against an enemy attack. A hero must exhaust to
During step three of the villain phase, each player is dealt use this power. The amount of damage dealt by the
one facedown encounter card. attack is reduced by the hero’s DEF value, and any
remaining damage is dealt to that hero. Once a hero
If a card ability instructs a player to be dealt an encounter defends against an attack, no other friendly character
card, the player takes the top card of the encounter deck can defend against that attack.
and places it facedown in front of them. This card is not
revealed at this time. This card is added to the queue of • An ally can exhaust to defend against an enemy
cards that player resolves during the villain phase. attack. Damage from the attack is dealt to that ally.
Once an ally defends against an attack, no other
• If a player is dealt an encounter card during step friendly character can defend against that attack.
three or four of the villain phase, the extra encounter
card is added to the queue of cards that are being • When a player resolves a triggered ability labeled as
dealt and revealed in those same steps. a defense—such as “Hero Interrupt (defense)”—that
player’s identity becomes the defender and is
See also: Ability, Encounter Card, Encounter Deck, Player, considered to have defended the attack (they do not
Villain Phase reduce the damage dealt by their DEF value). Unless
specified by the ability’s text, a hero does not exhaust
DECK when using such an ability. The defending player
may resolve any number of defense abilities during
There are four main types of decks that appear in a game: an enemy attack (as long as the triggering conditions
the player deck, the encounter deck, the villain deck, and of those abilities are met). Once a player resolves
the main scheme deck. Certain identities or scenarios may a defense ability during an enemy attack, no other
add other decks to the game. player can resolve defense abilities for that same
• The order of cards within a deck cannot be altered attack.
unless a player is instructed to do so by a game step, • If a player defends against an enemy attack that
game function, or card ability. targets a different player (either by defending with
See also: Encounter Deck, Main Scheme Deck, Player Deck, a character they control or by resolving a defense
Villain Deck ability), the defending player becomes the new target
of that attack.
DECK CUSTOMIZ ATION • If no character is used to defend against an enemy
attack, that attack is considered undefended.
See: Appendix I: Deck Customization
Additionally, if a defending ally is defeated before
damage from the attack is dealt (such as through
DEF a “Boost” ability), the attack is considered
See: Basic Power, Defense undefended.
See also: Ability, Ally, Attack (Enemy Activation), Damage,
DEFE AT Friendly, Identity, Player
If a character has zero or fewer remaining hit points, or if a
side scheme has no threat on it, it is defeated. DEL AYED EFFECT
• If an ally, minion, or side scheme is defeated, it is Some abilities contain delayed effects. Such abilities specify
discarded. a future timing point, or indicate a future condition that may
arise, and dictate an effect that is to happen at that time.
• If an identity or stage of the villain is defeated, it is
removed from the game. • Delayed effects resolve automatically and
immediately after their specified timing point or
See also: Ally, Hit Points, Minion, Player, Player Elimination, future condition occurs or becomes true, and before
Removed from the Game, Side Scheme, Villain, Villain responses to that point or condition may be used.
Defeat
• When a delayed effect resolves, it is not treated as a
new triggered ability, even if the delayed effect was
originally created by a triggered ability.
See also: Ability, Triggered Ability

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11
 DISC ARD EMPT Y DECK
Discarding is the act of attempting to move a card from See: Encounter Deck, Player Deck
a non-discard-pile play area to a discard pile.
• If a player card is discarded, it is placed faceup on top ENCOUNTER C ARD
of the owning player’s discard pile. There are eight encounter card types: attachment cards,
• If an encounter card is discarded, it is placed faceup environment cards, minion cards, main scheme cards,
on top of the encounter discard pile. obligation cards, side scheme cards, treachery cards, and
villain cards.
• If multiple cards are discarded simultaneously from
a player’s hand or from play, place those cards in the • Encounter cards belong to various classifications, such
appropriate discard pile in any order. as scenario-specific encounter cards or modular set
encounter cards.
• If multiple cards are discarded simultaneously from
a deck, place those cards in the appropriate discard • Most encounter cards have an orange card back.
pile one at a time (without changing the order). See also: Attachment, Classifications, Environment, Main
See also: Discard Pile, Encounter Card, In Play and Out of Scheme, Minion, Obligation, Side Scheme, Treachery,
Play, Ownership and Control, Player Card, Shuffle Villain, Appendix I: Deck Construction

DISC ARD PILE ENCOUNTER DECK

A discard pile is an out-of-play area that contains cards that The encounter deck contains the encounter cards
have been discarded throughout the game. (attachments, environments, minions, side schemes, and
treacheries) that players can face during a scenario.
• Each player has their own discard pile, and the
encounter deck has its own discard pile. • The order of cards within the encounter deck cannot
be changed unless a player is instructed to do so by a
• Each discard pile is open information, and may be
game step, game function, or card ability.
looked at by any player at any time.
If the encounter deck is empty, the encounter discard pile is
• The order of cards in a discard pile may not be
immediately shuffled to create a new encounter deck. When
changed unless a player is instructed to do so by a
this occurs, place an acceleration token next to the main
card ability.
scheme deck.
• Any ability that would shuffle a discard pile of zero
• If a card ability discards a specified number of
cards back into a deck does not shuffle the deck.
cards from the encounter deck or until a card with
See also: Discard, In Play and Out of Play, Ownership and specific criteria is discarded, discard cards from the
Control, Player, Shuffle encounter deck until the discard condition is met or
the encounter deck is empty. If the encounter deck is
DR AW, DR AWING C ARDS emptied this way, that card ability is considered to be
fulfilled. Do not continue the discard effect with the
If a player is instructed to draw one or more cards, those newly shuffled encounter deck.
cards are drawn from the top of their deck.
• If there are no cards in both the encounter deck and
If a player draws two or more cards as the result of a the encounter discard pile simultaneously (such as
single game step or card ability, those cards are drawn all cards from the encounter deck being in play),
simultaneously. an infinite loop occurs with an infinite number of
Drawn cards are added to a player’s hand. acceleration tokens being placed next to the main
scheme deck. If this happens, the players lose.
Each player’s hand size is checked at the end of the player
phase. If a player has more cards in their hand than their See also: Acceleration Token, Attachment, Discard, Discard
hand size value at this time, they must choose and discard Pile, Environment, Minion, Side Scheme, Treachery
cards from hand until they are at their hand size.
See also: Discard, In Play and Out of Play, Ownership and ENCOUNTER DISC ARD PILE
Control, Player, Player Deck, Player Phase See: Discard Pile

“E ACH TIME” ENCOUNTER SET

See: Alteration Effect An encounter set is a grouping of encounter cards.
• There are four types of encounter sets: scenario-
EFFECT specific encounter sets, modular encounter sets, the
See: Ability, Cost Standard set, and the Expert set.

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12
See also: Classifications, Expert Set, Modular Encounter • While a minion is engaged with a player, card abilities
Set, Scenario-Specific Card, Standard Set cannot cause the minion to engage with the same
player again (as the two are already engaged).
END OF PL AYER PHA SE See also: Ability, Defeat, Minion, Player, Player’s Play Area
To end the player phase, perform the following steps:
1. In player order, each player may discard any number of
ENTERS PL AY
cards from their hand, and must discard down to their The phrase “enters play” refers to any time when a card
hand size if they have more cards than their hand size. transitions from an out-of-play area into play. Playing a card,
putting a card into play by using a card ability, or revealing
2. Each player simultaneously draws up to their hand size.
a card from the encounter deck are all different means by
3. Each player simultaneously readies all of their cards. which a card may enter play.
See also: Discard, Draw, Hand Size, Player, Player Phase, See also: In Play and Out of Play, Leaves Play, Play, Put Into
Player Turn, Ready Play, Reveal

ENEMY ENVIRONMENT
An enemy is a minion or villain. Environment is an encounter card type that creates an
When used as a descriptor, “enemy” refers to game overarching rule or set of rules for the scenario.
elements that belong to the scenario: “enemy cards”, An environment card enters play in the villain’s play area,
“enemy abilities” etc. and is active so long as it remains in play.
See also: Minion, Villain • If an environment enters play, it remains in play until a
card ability or game effect causes it to leave play.
ENEMY ACTIVATION See also: Card Types, Encounter Card, Enters Play, Leaves
See: Activation, Attack (Enemy Activation), Scheme (Enemy Play, Villain
Activation)
E VENT
ENEMY AT TACKS Event is a player card type that is generally played for an
See: Activation, Attack (Enemy Activation) instantaneous effect.
Each time a player plays an event card, its costs are paid,
ENEMY SCHEMES its effects resolve (or are canceled), and the card is placed
in its owner’s discard pile after those effects resolve (or are
See: Activation, Scheme (Enemy Activation) canceled).
• If the effects of an event are canceled, the card is still
ENERGY RESOURCE () considered to have been played, and its costs remain
An energy resource () is one of the four types of resources. paid. Only the effects are canceled.
• Energy resources can be spent to pay the resource • Playing an event card from hand is always optional for
cost of cards and abilities. a player, unless the event uses the word “must” in its
play instructions.
• Some card abilities specifically require energy
resources to be spent in order to resolve their effects. • An event card cannot be played unless the resolution
of its effect (ignoring costs) could change the game.
See also: Ability, Cost, Icons, Mental Resource, Physical
Resource, Resource, Wild Resource • Event cards are considered to be an extension of an
identity. Attacks, thwarts, defenses, action abilities,
ENGAGE and triggered abilities that resolve from a player
playing an event are also considered to be performed
After a minion enters play in a player’s play area, it engages by that player’s identity.
that player.
See also: Card Types, Discard, Identity, Player, Player Card,
Unless otherwise specified by the minion or by the effect Ownership and Control
that put the minion into play, the minion engages the player
who is resolving the current encounter card.
E XCESS DAMAGE
• An engaged minion remains engaged with the same
Excess damage is any amount of damage that is dealt to
player until it is defeated, removed from play, or a
a character beyond that character’s remaining hit points.
card ability causes it to engage another player.
See also: Ally, Damage, Hit Points, Identity, Minion,
• If a card ability instructs a player to engage a minion,
Remaining Hit Points, Villain
that minion is also considered to have engaged that
player.

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13
 E XHAUSTED • The first player has the first opportunity to use
an interrupt at each appropriate game moment.
If a card is exhausted, it is rotated 90 degrees.
Interrupt opportunities then proceed among the
• An exhausted card cannot be exhausted again until it remaining players in player order.
is ready. Cards are typically readied by a game step
• The first player has the first opportunity to use
or card ability.
a response at each appropriate game moment.
• A card ability on an exhausted card is active and Response opportunities then proceed among the
can still interact with the game state. However, if an remaining players in player order.
exhausted card must exhaust to pay the cost of using
See also: In Player Order, Player, Player Elimination, Player
its ability, that ability cannot be used until the card
Phase
is ready.
See also: Ready
FORCED
E XPERT MODE Forced is a bold trigger word. If the word “Forced”
precedes a triggered ability, the ability’s initiation is
See: Modes of Play mandatory.
• For any given triggering condition, forced interrupts
E XPERT SET take priority and initiate before non-forced interrupts,
The expert set is an encounter set that is added to scenarios and forced responses take priority and initiate before
during expert mode. non-forced responses.

• The expert set is not a modular encounter set and • If two or more forced abilities would initiate at the
cannot be selected (by the players or randomly) when same moment, the first player determines the order in
a scenario requires players to choose a modular which the abilities initiate, regardless of who controls
encounter set to include in that scenario. the cards bearing those abilities.

• Cards in the “Expert” classification are any cards that • Each forced ability must resolve as completely
have the word “Expert” printed by the bottom of the as possible before the next forced ability being
card in its encounter set name area. triggered by the same triggering condition may
initiate.
See also: Classifications, Modes of Play, Modular Encounter
Set, Appendix I: Deck Customization See also: Triggered Ability

FIRST PL AYER FORM, CHANGE FORM

A first player is determined by the players at the beginning A player can be in either hero or alter-ego form at a given
of the game. time. This is indicated by the player’s identity card.

The first player token is used to indicate which player is • Once each round, during their turn, each player is
the first player. At the end of the round (during step five of permitted to change form by flipping their identity
the villain phase) the first player token passes to the next card.
clockwise player, who becomes first player for the next • When a player changes form, only the form changes.
round. The character retains their sustained damage, status
If the first player is eliminated, the first player token cards, lasting effects, attachments, tokens, and
immediately passes clockwise to the next player. current state (ready or exhausted).

The players as a group are encouraged to work together, • If a card ability causes a player to change forms,
but the first player decides the following: it does not count against the one voluntary form
change the player is permitted during their turn that
• If an encounter card targets a specific player or card, round.
and there are multiple eligible targets, the first player
selects among the eligible options. • While a player is in hero form, card abilities that
interact with their alter-ego do not interact with
• If an encounter card requires a card ability to be their identity.
resolved, a game function to be performed, or a
choice to be made but does not specify which player • While a player is in alter-ego form, card abilities
should act, the first player does so. that interact with their hero do not interact with
their identity.
• If two or more effects would resolve simultaneously,
the first player decides the order in which to resolve See also: Identity
them.
The first player has timing priority in the following situations: FRIENDLY
Friendly is a blanket term that refers to cards the players
control.

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14
GAINS HERO, HERO FORM
If a card gains a characteristic (such as a trait, keyword, or See: Form, Identity
ability text), the card functions as if it possesses the gained
characteristic. Gained characteristics are not considered to HEROIC MODE
be printed on the card.
See: Modes of Play
See also: Keywords, Printed, Trait

GENER ATE HINDER X

When a card with the hinder X keyword is revealed, place
See: Resource
X threat on that card. (X is the value next to the hinder
GETS keyword.)
See also: Keywords, Reminder Text, Reveal, Threat
If a card ability causes a character to “get” a statistic (such
as +1 ATK or 4 hit points), the ability modifies the character’s
statistic while it is active. HIT POINTS
• If such an ability expires or otherwise becomes Each character (identity, ally, minion, and villain) has a
inactive, the modified statistic reverts to the value it hit point value. Hit points represent the durability of that
would have without the modifier. character.
• If such an ability causes a character to get hit points, When damage is dealt to a character, it reduces the
it modifies the character’s remaining hit points character’s remaining hit points (the amount of damage that
while the ability remains active, and also modifies character can take before reaching zero hit points).
the character’s maximum hit points while the ability • An identity’s or villain’s hit point dial represents
remains active. their remaining hit points. If an identity or villain
See also: Ally, Hit Points, Identity, Minion, Villain is damaged, apply the damage by reducing that
character’s hit point dial by the specified amount.
GUARD • If a player’s hit point dial is reduced to zero, that
player is defeated and eliminated from the game.
While a minion with the guard keyword is engaged with a
player, that player cannot use cards they control to attack a • If a villain’s hit point dial is reduced to zero, that stage
villain without this keyword. of the villain is defeated.
See also: Attack (Player Action), Engage, Keywords, Minion, • If an ally or minion is damaged, track the damage by
Reminder Text, Villain placing damage tokens on that character. Damage
tokens on an ally or minion reduce that character’s
HAND SIZE remaining hit points by the total value of the tokens.
An ally or minion with zero or fewer remaining hit
Each player checks their hand size at the end of the player points is defeated and placed in the appropriate
phase, either discarding down to or drawing up to the discard pile.
number of cards indicated by their hand size value.
Some characters may have an infinite number of hit points.
See also: End of Player Phase A character with infinite hit points cannot be defeated by
taking damage, as the amount of damage that character
HA Z ARD ICON () takes will never cause its remaining hit points to reach zero.
However, damage may still be dealt to a character with
During step three of the villain phase, for each hazard infinite hit points through attacks and card abilities.
icon on cards in play, deal an additional encounter card.
Additional cards are dealt in player order (first additional See also: Ally, Damage, Defeat, Gets, Heal, Identity,
card to the first player, the second to the second player, Maximum Hit Points, Minion, Player Elimination, Remaining
etc.). Hit Points, Sustained Damage, Villain, Villain Defeat

See also: Deal, Deal an Encounter Card, In Player Order,

Villain Phase

HE AL
If an ability heals a character, damage the character has
sustained can be removed from the character.
• A heal effect can only bring a character to its
maximum hit points, unless the effect explicitly states
it can bring the character above its maximum.
See also: Ally, Gets, Hit Points, Identity, Minion, Villain

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15
 ICONS • If a card refers to a hero or alter-ego by title, it refers
only to the identity with that title, and not to the
Icons are game elements that represent various functions
other side of the card.
within the game.
• Identity cards cannot be discarded from play.
• Energy Icon (): An energy icon is a resource icon
that generates one energy resource when spent. • The faceup side of an identity card is considered to
(See: Energy Resource) be in play. The facedown side of an identity card is
considered to be out of play.
• Mental Icon (): A mental icon is a resource icon that
generates one mental resource when spent. (See: See also: Form, In Play and Out of Play, Player, Player Card
Mental Resource)
• Physical Icon (): A physical icon is a resource icon IDENTIT Y-SPECIFIC C ARD
that generates one physical resource when spent. Cards in the “identity-specific” classification (also
(See: Physical Resource) sometimes called “hero-specific”) are cards that belong to
• Wild Icon (): A wild icon is a resource icon that an identity’s set of accompanying cards.
can generate one energy, mental, physical, or wild • A player’s deck must include each identity-specific
resource when spent. (See: Wild Resource) card associated with their chosen identity card. The
• Acceleration Icon (): An acceleration icon places exact quantity of each card in that identity-specific set
additional threat on the main scheme during the must be included in the deck.
villain phase. (See: Acceleration Icon) • Identity-specific cards (along with obligation cards
• Amplify Icon (): An amplify icon increases the and nemesis encounter set cards) may only be used
number of boost icons on boost cards during enemy alongside an identity if those cards share a set icon
activations by one. (See: Amplify Icon) with that identity.
• Crisis Icon (): A crisis icon prevents players from • An identity-specific card is designated by the
removing threat from the main scheme. (See: Crisis identity’s name with which it is associated printed
Icon) at the bottom of the card in its deckbuilding
classification area.
• Hazard Icon (): A hazard icon increases the number
of encounter cards that are dealt to players during the See also: Aspect Card, Basic Card, Classifications, Identity,
villain phase. (See: Hazard Icon) Nemesis Encounter Set, Appendix I: Deck Customization
• Boost Icon (): A boost icon increases the activating
enemy’s ATK or SCH value during enemy activations. IN PL AY AND OUT OF PL AY
(See: Boost) A card is considered to either be in play or out of play
• Star Icon (): A star icon is used in conjunction with depending on its state within the game.
a card’s stat or boost field to indicate that there is a If a card is in play, its text is active and it can affect the
mandatory ability in the text box that corresponds to game.
that field. (See: Star Icon)
• For player cards, the faceup side of a player’s identity
• Consequential Damage Icon (): A consequential card is in play. The faceup ally cards, support cards,
damage icon is used in conjunction with an ally’s and upgrade cards that have entered play (played,
ATK field or THW field. After an ally attacks or put into play, etc.) are in play.
thwarts, it takes one consequential damage for
each consequential damage icon in that field. (See: • For encounter cards, the faceup side of the top card
Consequential Damage) of the villain deck and the faceup side of the top
card of the main scheme deck are in play. The faceup
• Per Player Icon (): A per player icon next to a value attachment cards, environment cards, minion cards,
multiplies that value by the number of players who obligation cards, and side scheme cards that have
started the scenario. (See: Per Player Icon) entered play (revealed, put into play, etc.) are in play.
• Unique Icon (): A unique icon in a card’s title • A card enters play when it moves from an out-of-play
indicates the card is unique. (See: Unique Icon) area to a play area.
• Card abilities only interact with, and can only
IDENTIT Y target, cards that are in play (unless the ability text
Identity is a player card type that represents which character specifically refers to an out-of-play area).
a player is playing in the game. • Card abilities on all card types, except event
A player’s identity card is a double-sided card that cards and treachery cards, can only be initiated or
represents their hero on one side and their alter-ego on the affect the game while they are in play unless they
other. The side that is face up indicates the form (hero or specifically refer to being used from an out-of-play
alter-ego) that player is currently in. area.
• Each player begins the game in alter-ego form.

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16
 • If a card is double-sided (having game text on each • If an enemy’s attack deals indirect damage, the
side of the card), the faceup side of the card is in play. indirect damage is dealt during step four of the
enemy activation (after player’s have the opportunity
If a card is out of play, its text is inactive and cannot affect
to defend against the attack).
the game.
For example, if you take 5 indirect damage, but you control
• Event cards and treachery cards implicitly resolve
an ally with 4 hit points remaining, you may assign 4 of
from an out-of-play area, by virtue of the rules
that indirect damage to the ally, then assign the remaining
pertaining to those card types.
1 indirect damage to your identity.
• Cards in a player’s hand, deck, and discard pile are
See also: Ally, Attack (Enemy Activation), Damage, Defeat,
out of play.
Player
• Cards in the encounter deck, encounter discard pile,
unrevealed cards in the villain deck, unrevealed cards
in the main scheme deck, and facedown encounter
INFINITE HIT POINTS
cards dealt to a player are out of play. See: Hit Points
• Any cards that have been removed from the game or
that have been set aside are out of play. INITIATING ABILITIES
• A card leaves play when it moves from a play area to When a player wishes to play a card or initiate a triggered
an out-of-play area. ability, that player first declares their intent. Then, the player
checks the following conditions in order:
• If a card is double-sided (having game text on each
side of the card), the facedown side is out of play. 1. Check play restrictions: can the card be played, or the
ability initiated, at this time? (This includes verifying
See also: Ability, Enters Play, Leaves Play, Play, Play
that the resolution of the effect could change the
Restrictions and Permissions, Put Into Play, Set Aside,
game.)
Target, Victory Display
2. Determine the cost (or costs) to play the card or initiate
IN PL AYER ORDER the ability, taking modifiers into account.
If both conditions are met, follow these steps in order:
If players are instructed to perform a sequence “in player
order,” the first player performs their part of the sequence 3. Apply any modifiers to the cost(s).
first, followed by the other players in clockwise order. 4. Pay the cost(s). If this step is reached and the cost(s)
• If a sequence performed in player order does not cannot be paid, abort this process without paying any
conclude after each player has performed their part costs.
of the sequence once, the sequence of opportunities 5. Make all “choose” decisions required to resolve the
continues in a clockwise manner until it is complete. card.
• The phrase “next player” always refers to the next 6. The card commences being played, or the effects of
(clockwise) player in player order. the ability attempt to initiate.
See also: First Player, Player, Player Phase, Player Turn 7. The card is played or the ability (if not canceled in step
six) resolves. The card enters play or, if it is an event
INCITE X card, its effects resolve and it is then placed in its
owner’s discard pile.
When a card with the incite X keyword is revealed, place X
threat on the main scheme. (X is the value next to the incite • If any of the above steps would make the triggering
keyword.) condition of an interrupt ability true, that ability may
be initiated just before that triggering condition
See also: Keywords, Main Scheme, Reminder Text, Reveal,
becomes true.
Threat
• If any of the above steps would make the triggering
INDIRECT DAMAGE condition of a response ability true, that ability
may be initiated immediately after that triggering
Some card abilities may deal “indirect damage.” condition becomes true.
• Indirect damage dealt to a player can be divided as • If the ability being initiated is on a card that is in play,
that player chooses among characters under their the sequence does not stop from completing if that
control. card leaves play during this sequence unless the card
• Indirect damage dealt to a group of players (or leaving play prevents a required cost from being
among players) can be divided as the group chooses paid.
among friendly characters in play. See also: Ability, Cost, Play Restrictions and Permissions
• While assigning indirect damage, a character cannot
be assigned more indirect damage than would cause “INSTE AD”
it to be defeated. This is assessed without accounting
See: Replacement Effect
for interactions with other abilities.

Rules Reference
17
 INTERRUPT • Restricted: A player cannot control more than two
restricted cards at a given time. (See: Restricted)
An interrupt ability is a type of triggered ability, indicated
by the bold “Interrupt” timing trigger. Interrupt abilities • Retaliate X: After a character with retaliate X is
may be executed anytime the specified triggering condition attacked, deal X damage to the attacker. (See:
occurs, as described in the interrupt’s ability text. The Retaliate X)
interrupt ability interrupts the resolution of the specified
• Setup: Cards with setup start the game in play. (See:
triggering condition, and resolves immediately before that
Setup)
triggering condition resolves.
• Stalwart: Characters with Stalwart cannot be stunned
• Multiple interrupts may be triggered by the same
or confused. (See: Stalwart)
triggering condition.
• Surge: After a player reveals a card with surge, that
• An interrupt ability is executed when its triggering
player reveals an additional encounter card. (See:
condition becomes imminent, but before that
Surge)
triggering condition resolves. Opportunities to
interrupt occur in player order until all players have • Team-Up: Cards with team-up cannot be played
passed consecutively. unless both characters listed by the keyword are in
play. (See: Team-Up)
• Once all players have consecutively passed on the
opportunity to interrupt an imminent triggering • Toughness: When a character with toughness enters
condition, further interrupts to that specific triggering play, place a tough status card on it. (See: Tough/
condition cannot be used. Toughness)
• If an interrupt changes (via a replacement effect) or • Uses (X “type”): When a card with uses enters
cancels an imminent triggering condition, further play, place X all-purpose counters from the token
interrupts to the original triggering condition cannot pool on that card. After the last all-purpose counter
be triggered. is removed from a card with uses (and the effect
resolves), discard that card. (See: Uses (X “type”))
See also: Cancel, Replacement Effects, Triggered Ability
• Victory X: When a card with victory X is defeated,
add it to the victory display. (See: Victory X)
KE Y WORDS
• Villainous: When a minion with villainous activates,
A keyword is an attribute that conveys specific rules to its
give it a boost card. (See: Villainous)
card. The following keywords are used in the game:
• Guard: While a minion with guard is engaged with
a player, that player cannot attack the villain. (See:
L A STING EFFECTS
Guard) Some card abilities create effects or conditions that affect
the game for a specified duration (such as “until the end of
• Hinder X: When a player reveals a card with hinder X,
the phase” or “until the end of this attack”). Such effects are
that player places X threat on that card. (See: Hinder
known as lasting effects.
X)
For the specified duration of a lasting effect, treat the effect
• Incite X: When a player reveals a card with incite X,
as if it was a constant ability.
that player places X threat on the main scheme. (See:
Incite X) • A lasting effect persists beyond the resolution of the
ability that created it, for the duration specified by
• Overkill: Excess damage from attacks with overkill
the effect. The effect continues to affect the game for
are dealt to the identity or villain. (See: Overkill)
the specified duration whether or not the card that
• Patrol: While a minion with patrol is engaged with a created the lasting effect is in play.
player, that player cannot thwart the main scheme.
• If a card enters play (or changes status to meet the
(See: Patrol)
criteria of a specified set of affected cards) after the
• Peril: While a player is resolving a card with peril, creation of a lasting effect, it is still affected by that
other players cannot help that player. (See: Peril) lasting effect.
• Permanent: Cards with permanent cannot leave play. • A lasting effect expires as soon as the timing point
(See: Permanent) specified by its duration is reached. This means that
an “until the end of the round” lasting effect expires
• Piercing: Attacks with piercing discard tough status
just before an “at the end of the round” ability or
cards from the target before damage is dealt. (See:
delayed effect may initiate.
Piercing)
• A lasting effect that expires at the end of a specified
• Quickstrike: After this enemy engages a player, it
time period can only be initiated during that time
immediately attacks that player if they are in hero
period.
form. (See: Quickstrike)
See also: Ability, Enters Play
• Ranged: Attacks with ranged ignore retaliate. (See:
Ranged)

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18
LE AVES PL AY MA X
The phrase “leaves play” refers to any time when a card “Max X per [period]” imposes a maximum across all copies
transitions from an in-play area to an out-of-play area. of a card (by title) for all players. Generally, this phrase
Defeating a character, discarding a card from play, placing imposes a maximum number of times that copies of that
a card in the victory display, or removing a card from the card can be played during the designated time period.
game are all different means by which a card can leave play.
If a maximum appears as part of an ability, it imposes a
• When a card leaves play, there is no memory of its maximum number of times that the ability can be initiated
previous state and it is considered to be a new copy from all copies (by title) of cards bearing that ability
of the card. (including itself) during the designated period.
See also: Defeat, Discard, Discard Pile, Enters Play, In Play • If an effect with a maximum is canceled, the card is
and Out of Play, Remove from the Game, Victory Display still counted toward the maximum.
“Max X per deck” is restricts the number of copies of that
LIMIT card that may be included in each player deck.
“Limit X per [period]” is a limit that appears on some player “Max 1 per player” is player specific, and restricts the
cards. These limits are card-specific. Each copy of an ability number of copies of that card that each player may control
with such a limit may be used X times per the specified in play at a given time.
period, per instance of that ability.
See also: Appendix I: Deck Customization
• If an effect with a limit is canceled, the card is
still considered to have been played or the ability
MA XIMUM HIT POINTS
initiated, and it counts toward the limit.
A character’s maximum hit points is their base hit points
See also: Player Card
plus or minus all “gets” hit point modifiers that are active on
that character.
LOOK, LOOKED-AT See also: Ally, Base Value, Gets, Hit Points, Identity, Minion,
If an ability instructs a player to look at cards that are Modifiers, Villain
otherwise hidden from the players, only the player who is
resolving the ability can look at those cards. However, that
MAY
player is permitted to convey any amount of information
related to those cards to other players. The word “may” indicates that a specified player has
the option to resolve the text that follows. If no player is
specified, the option is granted to the controller of the card
MAIN SCHEME, MAIN SCHEME DECK with the ability in question.
Main scheme is an encounter card type. The main scheme
See also: Player
represents the villain’s primary objective.
If the amount of threat on a main scheme is equal to or
MENTAL RESOURCE ()
greater than its target threat value, the main scheme
deck advances. Remove that scheme from the game, and A mental resource () is one of the four types of resources.
advance to the next stage of the main scheme deck. • Mental resources can be spent to pay the resource
If the villain completes the final stage of the main cost of cards and abilities.
scheme deck, the villain wins the game. • Some card abilities specifically require mental
• During step one of the villain phase, place the amount resources to be spent in order to resolve their effects.
of threat indicated in the main scheme’s acceleration See also: Ability, Cost, Energy Resource, Icons, Physical
field (bottom-right corner) on that scheme. This value Resource, Resource, Wild Resource
is modified by all active acceleration tokens and icons.
• When the main scheme deck advances, excess threat MINION
from the previous stage does not carry over to the
new stage. Minion is an encounter card type. Minions represent
supporters of the villain and/or enemies of the heroes.
• When the main scheme deck advances, acceleration
tokens on it carry over to the new stage. If a minion enters play, it engages the player who is
revealing the card from the encounter deck or resolving
• Main scheme cards cannot be discarded from play. the ability that put the minion into play, unless an ability
See also: Acceleration, Acceleration Token, Card Types, specifies otherwise.
Encounter Card, Remove from the Game, Target Threat, • If a minion enters play, it remains in play until a card
Threat, Villain, Villain Phase ability or game effect causes it to leave play.
• If a minion has zero or fewer remaining hit points, it is
defeated and discarded.

Rules Reference
19
 • Minions engaged with a player activate (one minion Campaign Mode — Campaign mode allows players to
at a time and in an order of the engaged player’s modify standard mode through interconnected scenarios
choosing) during step two of the villain phase, after that are played one after another. No two campaigns
the villain activates. If the engaged player is in hero are exactly alike, and the rules for each are found in the
form, these minions attack. If the engaged player is in campaign’s associated rulebook.
alter-ego form, these minions scheme.
• Expert campaign mode is a modification of campaign
• If a minion engages a player during an enemy mode for advanced players who seek a greater
activation in which all minions engaged with that challenge. The rules for each expert campaign mode
player are instructed to activate (such as through a are found in the campaign’s associated rulebook.
“Boost” ability during step two of the villain phase),
• Each campaign comes with its own campaign log.
the newly-engaged minion will also activate.
The campaign log is a record of what effects or cards
See also: Card Types, Encounter Card, Engage, Enters Play, persist between games in a campaign.
Form, Hit Points, Identity, Leaves Play, Player, Player’s Play
• If a card is removed from a campaign, that card can
Area, Villain, Villain Phase
no longer be used during the rest of the campaign,
even if players retry the scenario wherein that card
MODES OF PL AY was removed.
Before starting a game of Marvel Champions, players can • During campaign mode or expert campaign mode,
customize their experience by choosing from or combining players can choose which other mode(s) they wish to
different modes of play. The modes of play are: play for each individual scenario. The difficulty of the
Standard Mode — Standard Mode is the basic mode of campaign mode does not require players to play any
play for all scenarios. other specific game mode.

• To play in Standard Mode, follow the content and • Campaign mode (and expert campaign mode) can
setup instructions for the chosen scenario. also be combined with expert mode, heroic mode,
and/or skirmish mode.
Expert Mode — Expert Mode is a modification of standard
mode for advanced players who seek a greater challenge. See also: Campaign-Specific Card, Expert Set, Standard
Set
• To play a standard game modified by expert mode,
follow the content and setup instructions for the
chosen scenario, using the listed expert mode
MODIFIERS
villain stages, and add the Expert encounter set to The game constantly checks and (if necessary) updates the
encounter deck. count of any variable quantity that is being modified.
• Expert mode can also be combined with heroic Any time a new modifier is applied or removed, the entire
mode, skirmish mode, and/or campaign mode. quantity is recalculated from the start, considering the
unmodified base value and all active modifiers.
Heroic Mode — Heroic mode is a modification of standard
mode that allows players to scale the difficulty of the game. • The calculation of a value treats all modifiers as being
applied simultaneously. However, while performing
• To play a standard game modified by heroic mode,
the calculation, all additive and subtractive modifiers
before the game begins, the player group chooses a
are calculated before doubling and/or halving
heroic level number (such as heroic level 1 or 4). Then,
modifiers are calculated.
for the remainder of that game, during step three of
each villain phase, deal X additional encounter cards • If a value is “set” to a specific number, the set
to each player, where X is equal to the chosen heroic modifier overrides all non-set modifiers. If multiple
level number. set modifiers are in conflict, the most recently
resolved set modifier takes precedence.
• Heroic mode can also be combined with expert
mode, skirmish mode, and/or campaign mode. • After all active modifiers have been taken into
account, if a value is below zero, it is treated as zero:
Skirmish Mode — Skirmish mode (also sometimes called
a card cannot have “negative” icons, attributes, traits,
Rookie Mode) is a modification of standard mode that
cost, or keywords.
allows players to shorten the length of the game.
• Fractional values are rounded up after all modifiers
• To play a standard game modified by skirmish mode,
have been applied.
before the game begins, the player group chooses
any one version of the villain. During step eight of See also: Base Value, Printed
game setup (Select Villain), put only the chosen
version of the villain into play and remove each other
version in the villain deck from the game.
• Skirmish mode can also be combined with expert
mode, heroic mode, and/or campaign mode.

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20
MODUL AR ENCOUNTER SET NON-NUMERIC AL VARIABLE
Cards belonging to a “modular encounter set” (or If a non-numerical variable (such as a letter or other symbol)
sometimes “modular set”) are a classification of encounter is used in place of a numerical value, treat that variable
card that can be added to and/or removed from nearly as being equal to 0 for the purpose of game steps, game
any scenario. functions, and card abilities.
• During game setup, many scenarios will instruct the If a non-numerical variable is defined to have a numerical
players on how many modular encounter sets must be value (such as a card ability assigning a value to ‘X’), treat
included in that scenario. Depending on the scenario, that variable as the defined value.
some modular encounter sets are required, while
• For costs involving the letter X, the value of X is
others can be chosen by the players.
defined by card ability or player choice, after which
• If a modular encounter set is added to a scenario, it the amount paid may be modified by effects without
is done so as an entire set. Unless specific scenario changing the value of X.
rules state otherwise, individual cards from a modular
See also: Base Value, Dash, Printed, Star Icon
encounter set cannot be included in a scenario
without the rest of that set.
OBLIGATION
• A modular encounter set card is designated by
the modular encounter set’s name with which it is Obligation is an encounter card type that represents a
associated printed at the bottom of the card in its commitment or obstacle that an identities alter-ego might
encounter set name area. have to face or overcome.

See also: Classifications, Appendix I: Deck Customization • Each identity is associated with one or more
obligation cards. If an identity is being played, all
of that identity’s associated obligation cards are
MOVE shuffled into the encounter deck during setup.
Some abilities allow players to move game elements, such
• Identity-specific obligation cards are part of their
as cards, damage, or threat.
associated identity’s identity-specific set.
• When an element moves, it cannot move to its same
• Identity-specific obligation cards can only be used
(current) placement.
alongside an identity if those cards share a set icon
• If there is no valid source or destination for a move, with that identity.
the move cannot be made.
If an obligation card is revealed from the encounter deck
• It is possible for damage to move between dials and and that obligation instructs that it must be given to a
cards (and vice versa). specific player (such as “Give to the Peter Parker player”),
place that obligation into the player’s play area who controls
• If damage is moved from a dial to a card, increase the
the associated identity. That player must decide how to
hit points tracked by the dial by the specified amount
resolve the obligation.
(no higher than the card’s maximum hit points), and
place the same amount of damage on the card. • If the identity associated with a revealed obligation
card has been eliminated, ignore the card’s ability,
• If damage is moved from a card to a dial, remove
remove it from the game, and reveal an additional
damage from the card and reduce the dial by the
encounter card.
same amount.
If a player reveals an obligation card from the encounter
• If damage is moved to a character, the moved
deck and that obligation does not instruct that it must be
damage is considered to be dealt to that character.
given to a specific player, the player places that obligation
• If threat is moved to a scheme, the moved threat is into their play area. That player must decide how to resolve
considered to be placed to that scheme. the obligation.
• Only the player with the obligation in their play-area
NEMESIS ENCOUNTER SET can trigger abilities or pay costs on that obligation.
Each identity in the game comes with an associated nemesis See also: Card Types, Encounter Card, Encounter Deck,
encounter set. At the start of the game, each player sets Enters Play, Form, Identity, Leaves Play, Player, Player
aside the cards from their associated nemesis set, out of Elimination, Remove from the Game
play. Cards drawn from the encounter deck may instruct the
player on how to bring their nemesis set into play.
• A nemesis encounter set is a subset of an identity-
specific set.
• A nemesis set cards may only be used alongside
an identity if those cards share a set icon with that
identity.
See also: Identity, Identity-Specific Card, In Play and Out of
Play, Player

21
 OVERKILL PATROL
If an ally is dealt any amount of excess damage by an attack While a minion with the patrol keyword is engaged with a
with the overkill keyword, simultaneously deal damage player, that player cannot use cards they control to thwart
equal to the excess amount to the identity of the player who the main scheme.
controls the ally.
See also: Engage, Keywords, Main Scheme, Minion,
If a minion is dealt any amount of excess damage by an Reminder Text, Thwart
attack with the overkill keyword, simultaneously deal
damage equal to the excess amount to the villain. PER PL AYER ICON ()
• Damage dealt by overkill to an identity or villain does The  icon next to a value multiplies that value by the
not constitute an attack against that character. number of players who started the scenario.
• If a card ability counts excess damage dealt, that • If a player is eliminated, this value does not change.
ability counts the same value of excess damage that
is calculated when resolving the overkill keyword. See also: Icons, Player Elimination
See also: Ally, Attack (Enemy Activation), Attack (Player
Action), Damage, Hit Points, Identity, Keywords, Minion, PERIL
Reminder Text, Villain While a player is resolving a card with the peril keyword,
that player cannot consult other players, and other players
OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL cannot play cards or trigger abilities.
A card’s owner is the player whose deck contained the card See also: Ability, Keywords, Player, Reminder Text, Table
at the start of the game. The scenario is considered to be Talk, Triggered Ability
the owner of the encounter deck and each encounter card.
• Cards enter play under their owner’s control. PERMANENT
Encounter cards are considered to be under the A card with the permanent keyword cannot leave play.
control of the scenario.
• If a player is eliminated from the game while a
• Control of a card remains constant unless an ability permanent card they do not own is in their play area,
explicitly causes the card to change control. place that permanent card in its owner’s discard pile.
• A player controls the cards in their own out-of-play See also: In Play and Out of Play, Keywords, Leave Play,
areas (such as the hand, the deck, and the discard Ownership and Control, Reminder Text
pile).
• If a card that has changed control leaves play, after PIERCING
the resolution of the game occurrence that makes it
An attack with the piercing keyword discards any tough
leave play, the card is physically placed in its owner’s
status cards from the target of the attack before dealing
equivalent out-of-play area (hand, deck, or discard
damage.
pile, or removed from the game if that player is no
longer in the game). Other card abilities cannot See also: Attack (Enemy Activation), Attack (Player Action),
interact with this secondary physical placement. Damage, Keywords, Reminder Text, Status Cards, Target,
Tough
• If a character changes control while it is in play, it
remains in the same state (i.e., readied or exhausted,
damaged or not, etc.) and is moved to its new PHYSIC AL RESOURCE ()
controller’s play area. A physical resource () is one of the four types of resources.
• Upgrades or attachments on a card that changes • Physical resources can be spent to pay the resource
control also change control to the same new cost of cards and abilities.
controller.
• Some card abilities specifically require physical
• Unless a duration is specified, a control change resources to be spent in order to resolve their effects.
persists as long as the card remains in play.
See also: Ability, Cost, Energy Resource, Icons, Mental
• If a game step or card ability references a card that Resource, Resource, Wild Resource
“you control” or a “player controls,” that game step
or card ability only refers to cards in play currently
under that player’s control. PL AY, PUT INTO PL AY
See also: Encounter Card, Encounter Deck, In Play and Out Playing a card involves paying the card’s cost and placing
of Play, Player, Player Card, Player Deck, Player’s Play Area, the card in the play area. This causes the card to enter play
Villain’s Play Area (or, in the case of an event card, to resolve its ability and be
placed in the discard pile). Cards are played from a player’s
hand.

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22
Some abilities cause cards to be put into play. This bypasses PL AYER
the need to pay the card’s cost as well as any restrictions or
A player is a person who is playing in a game of Marvel
prohibitions regarding playing that card. A card that is put
Champions.
into play enters play in its controller’s play area.
• Each player in the game has their own personal play
• When an event card is played, place it on the table,
area containing their identity card, their identity’s hit
resolve its ability, and place the card in its owner’s
point dial, their hand of cards, their deck that they draw
discard pile.
from, their discard pile that they place their discarded
• A card that is put into play is not considered to have cards into, any allies, upgrades, or supports that they
been played. may have in play, and any attachments, minions, or
obligations that they may have in their play area.
• When a card is put into play, its resource cost is
ignored. • During each player phase of each round, each player
takes their own personal turn where they can play
• Unless otherwise stated by the “put into play” effect,
cards, perform actions with cards they control, and
cards that are put into play must do so in a play area
use various abilities.
or state that matches the rules of playing the card.
• Each player owns the cards that were contained
See also: Enters Play, In Play and Out of Play, Leaves Play,
within their deck (including their identity card) at the
Play Restrictions and Permissions
start of the game.

PL AY ARE A • Some game steps, game functions, or card abilities

may refer to the “first player”. The first player is the
There are two types of play areas: a player’s play area and player who has the first player token.
the villain’s play area.
See also: Discard, Discard Pile, First Player, Identity, In
• A player’s play area contains that player’s identity, Play and Out of Play, Player Deck, Player Elimination, Player
deck, hand, discard pile, any cards in play under Phase, Player Turn, Player’s Play Area
their control, and any faceup or facedown encounter
cards in their play area (such as engaged minions or
encounter cards that have been dealt to them).
PL AYER C ARD
There are six player card types: ally cards, event cards,
• The villain’s play area contains the villain deck, main
identity cards, resource cards, support cards, and upgrade
scheme deck, encounter deck, encounter discard
cards.
pile, and any encounter cards in play that have not
entered a player’s play area (such as side schemes or • Player cards may belong to various classifications, such
environments). as identity-specific player cards or aspect player cards.
• A card cannot be in more than one play area at a • Most player cards have a blue card back.
time.
See also: Ally, Classifications, Event, Identity, Resource
See also: In Play and Out of Play, Player’s Play Area, Villain’s Cards, Support, Upgrade, Appendix I: Deck Construction
Play Area
PL AYER DECK
PL AY RESTRICTIONS AND A player’s deck contains the player cards (allies, events,
PERMISSIONS resources, supports, and upgrades) owned by the player
who started the game with that deck.
Many cards and abilities contain specific instructions
pertaining to when or how they may or may not be used, • The order of cards within a player’s deck cannot be
or to specific conditions that must be true in order to use changed unless a player is instructed to do so by a
them. game step, game function, or card ability.
• In order to use an ability or play a card, all of its play If a player deck empties, the player shuffles their discard
restrictions must be observed. pile to make a new deck. That player immediately deals
themself one facedown encounter card from the top of the
• A permission is an optional play restriction, which
encounter deck.
allows a player to play a card or use an ability outside
the timing or specifications provided by the game • If the player’s deck empties and reshuffles while the
rules. For example, a permission might allow an ally player was drawing cards, the player continues to draw
card to be played from a player’s discard pile. cards up to the specified number.
See also: Ability, Play, Player • If the player’s deck empties while the player was
discarding cards from their deck, no further cards are
discarded from the newly shuffled deck.
See also: Discard, Discard Pile, Draw, Encounter Deck,
Shuffle

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23
 PL AYER DISC ARD PILE • Use an ally card they control in play to attack an
enemy or thwart a scheme.
See: Discard Pile
• Trigger an “Action” card ability on a card in play they
PL AYER ELIMINATION control, on an encounter card in play, or by playing
an event card with such a timing trigger from their
A player is eliminated from the game if their identity hand. If the action ability is preceded by “Hero” or
is defeated. This usually occurs when the character’s “Alter-Ego”, the player must be in the specified form
remaining hit points are reduced to zero. in order to trigger the ability.
When a player is eliminated, perform the following in order: • Ask another player to trigger an “Action” ability on
1. If there are minions engaged with the eliminated player, a card in play they control or on an event card they
each of those minions engages the next clockwise might have in hand. The other player then decides
player, retaining any attachments, damage, counters, whether or not to trigger the ability. (Another player
and status cards on them. may offer to use an action during the active player’s
turn, as well.)
2. If there are cards in the eliminated player’s play area
that are not owned by that player, place each of those See also: Ally, Basic Power, Encounter Card, Event, Form,
cards in its owner’s discard pile (even if that card has the Ownership and Control, Play, Player, Player Phase, Support,
permanent keyword). Triggered Ability, Upgrade

3. Remove the eliminated player’s play area and each other

game element within (hand, deck, discard pile, cards in PL AYER’S PL AY ARE A
play, hit point dial, etc.) from the game. A player’s play area (also sometimes referred to as a
When a player is eliminated, the remaining players continue “player’s game area”) is the area of play where a player’s
to play the game. Eliminated players are considered to win identity card, deck, hand, discard pile, and hit point dial are
or lose along with the rest of the group, depending on how located. Each player in the game has their own play area.
they finish. • Ally cards, support cards, and upgrade cards are
• If all players are eliminated, the game ends and the placed in a player’s play area when they enter play.
players lose. • Attachment cards attached to cards in the villain’s
If a player is eliminated partway through the resolution of an play area are not in the player’s play area.
ability, resolve the entire ability. • Minion cards engaged with a player are in that
See also: Ability, Deal, Engage, Hit Points, Identity, Minion, player’s play area and not in the villain’s play area.
Player, Player Cards, Player Deck, Player’s Play Area, • Obligation cards given to a play are in that player’s
Winning the Game play area and not in the villain’s play area.
• While card abilities can affect cards across play areas,
PL AYER PHA SE unless a game rule or card ability states otherwise,
During the player phase, each player (in player order) takes cards cannot be played into another player’s play
one turn. area.

After each player has taken a turn, the players discard • If a player is eliminated from the game (through their
down or draw up to their hand size and ready all cards they identity being defeated, or otherwise), their play area
control. is removed from the game.

See also: End of Player Phase, In Player Order, Player, See also: Ally, Discard Pile, Identity, In Play and Out of
Player Turn Play, Minion, Obligation, Player Deck, Player Elimination,
Support, Upgrade
PL AYER TURN
PL AYING C ARDS
During their turn, a player may perform the following
options, in any order. Each option, except “change form,” See: Initiating Abilities
may be performed as many times as the player is able, so
long as they are able to pay the required costs.
• Change form from hero to alter-ego, or from alter-
ego to hero. This option may only be performed
once each turn.
• Play an ally, upgrade, or support card from hand.
• Use their alter-ego’s basic recovery (if in alter-ego
form) or their hero’s basic attack or thwart power (if in
hero form).

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24
PRE VENT REFERENTIAL ABILIT Y
Some card abilities prevent damage or threat. Some abilities refer to specific cards by name. These are
called referential abilities.
• When damage is prevented, reduce the amount of
damage being dealt before it is applied to the target. • If an ability references the name of the card that
the ability is on, that ability is self-referential. A
• When threat is prevented, reduce the amount of
self-referential ability refers only to the card on which
threat being assigned before it is placed on the
it is located and not to other copies of that card or
scheme.
different cards with the same title.
See also: Ability, Damage, Scheme (Card Type), Target,
• If an ability on an identity-specific card references
Threat
the name of the identity to which it belongs, it is
referencing only that identity and not other cards that
PRINTED may share a name with that identity.
The word “printed” refers to the text, characteristic, or value • If a non-self-referential, non-identity-specific card
that is physically printed on the card. references a card and there are multiple cards in
See also: Base Value, Modifiers play with that name, the player resolving that ability
may choose which card with that name becomes the
target of that ability.
QUALIFIERS
See also: Ability, Character, Classifications, Identity,
If ability text includes a qualifier followed by multiple terms, Identity-Specific Card
the qualifier applies to each item in the list, if applicable.
For example, in the phrase “each ready character and
attachment” the word “ready” applies to both “character” REMAINING HIT POINTS
and “attachment.” A character’s remaining hit points is the amount of damage
that character can take before reaching zero hit points.
QUICKSTRIKE • An identity’s or villain’s hit point dial represents their
After a minion with the quickstrike keyword engages a remaining hit points.
player whose identity is in hero form, that minion attacks • To calculate remaining hit points for an ally or minion,
that player. start with the character’s maximum hit points (as
See also: Attack (Enemy Activation), Engage, Form, indicated by its printed value modified by any card
Keywords, Minion, Player, Reminder Text abilities or game effects), and subtract their sustained
damage (the number of damage counters on them).
R ANGED See also: Hit Points, Hit Point Dial, Identity, Sustained
Damage, Villain
An attack with the ranged keyword ignores the retaliate
keyword.
REMINDER TE X T
See also: Attack (Enemy Activation), Attack (Player Action),
Keywords, Reminder Text, Retaliate X Some card abilities may include reminder text. Reminder
text is italicized and in parentheses (like this). Reminder text
has no effect on the game and is only intended to remind a
RE ADY player of a specific game function or rule.
Cards enter play in a ready state, positioned so that their
controller can read their text from left to right. REMOVED FROM THE GAME
• If a player is instructed to ready an exhausted card, A card that has been removed from the game is set aside
the card is returned to its ready state. and does not interact with the game in any manner for the
See also: Enters Play, Exhausted duration of its removal. If there is no specified duration, a
card that has been removed from the game is considered
REC removed until the end of the game.
• “Removed from the game” is an out-of-play state.
See: Basic Power, Recover
See also: In Play and Out of Play, Leaves Play
RECOVER
Recover is a basic power a player can use in alter-ego form.
To recover, the player exhausts their alter-ego and heals a
number of hit points equal to their REC value.
See also: Basic Power, Form, Heal, Hit Points, Identity

Rules Reference
25
 REPL ACEMENT EFFECT These cards generally provide more (or more efficient)
resources than other card types when they are discarded
A replacement effect is an effect that replaces the handling
from a player’s hand to generate resources.
of one resolution with a different means of handling that
resolution. Most replacement effects are interrupt abilities • Some resource cards have card text that is active
in the format of “when [triggering condition] would happen, while using the card to generate resources.
do [replacement effect] instead.” After all responses to the
• Resource cards are considered to be an extension of an
original triggering condition have resolved and it is time
identity. If a player spends a resource, that resource is
to resolve the triggering condition itself, the replacement
also considered to be spent by that player’s identity.
effect resolves instead.
See also: Card Types, Energy Resource, Enters Play, Icons,
• If multiple replacement effects are initiated against
Identity, Leaves Play, Mental Resource, Physical Resource,
the same triggering condition, the most recent
Player, Player Card, Resource, Wild Resource
replacement effect is the one that is used for the
resolution of the triggering condition.
RESPONSE
See also: Ability, Alteration Effect, Triggered Ability
A response ability is a type of triggered ability, indicated by
the bold “Response” timing trigger. Response abilities may
RESOURCE be executed after the specified triggering condition occurs,
Resources are used to pay the cost to play cards and to pay as described in the response’s ability text.
certain ability costs.
• Multiple responses may be executed from the same
• A player can generate resources to pay a cost by triggering condition.
discarding cards from their hand to generate the
• A response opportunity occurs immediately
resource or resources indicated at the bottom-left
after its triggering condition has been resolved.
corner of the card, or by using card abilities that
Opportunities to respond occur in player order until
generate resources.
all players have passed consecutively.
• There are four types of resources in the game:
• Once the opportunity to respond to a triggering
energy, mental, and physical, and wild. Wild resources
condition has been passed consecutively by all
can be used as their type or any of the other types.
players, further responses to that specific triggering
• To pay the cost of playing a card, a number of condition cannot be used.
resources equal to (or greater than) the card’s cost
See also: Ability, Triggered Ability
must be generated. For most cards, any type (or mix
of types) of resources can be used to pay this cost.
RESTRICTED
• If an ability has a resource cost, a number of
resources equal to or greater than this cost must be A player cannot have more than two cards with the
generated. Many abilities require specific resource restricted keyword in play under their control at the same
types, and the specified types in the specified time. If a player ever controls more than two restricted cards
quantities must be generated in order to pay the cost in play, they must immediately choose and discard from play
of the ability. restricted cards they control until they have only two in play.
• Excess resources generated toward any cost are lost, See also: Choose, Discard, Keywords, Ownership and
and do not carry over to future costs. Control, Player, Reminder Text
See also: Cost, Energy Resource, Icons, Mental Resource,
Physical Resource, Wild Resource RETALIATE X
After a character with the retaliate X keyword is attacked,
RESOURCE ABILIT Y deal X damage to the attacker. (X is the value next to the
retaliate keyword.)
A resource ability is a type of triggered ability, indicated by
the bold “Resource” timing trigger. • The character with retaliate X must survive the attack
to deal this damage.
• A resource ability can be triggered anytime the player
who controls the ability is generating resources to See also: Ally, Attack (Enemy Activation), Attack (Player
pay a cost. Action), Damage, Identity, Keywords, Minion, Reminder
Text, Villain
See also: Cost, Resource, Triggered Ability

RESOURCE C ARDS
Resource cards are a player card type. Their primary
function is to be discarded from a player’s hand to generate
resources.

Rules Reference
26
RE VE AL SCH
During step four of the villain phase, each player (in player See: Basic Power, Scheme (Enemy Activation)
order) reveals and resolves all facedown encounter cards
that have been dealt to them, one card at a time. SCHEME (C ARD T YPE)
To reveal an encounter card, a player flips the card faceup The word “scheme” denotes two different card types: main
and resolves the card, including any keywords and “When schemes and side schemes.
Revealed” effects. Resolve revealed encounter cards based
on their card type, as follows. If the revealed card is: • If a card ability places threat on or removes threat
from “a scheme,” the player resolving that ability
• an attachment, it enters play attached to the element chooses which scheme—main scheme or side
specified by its text. schemes—that ability affects.
• a minion, it enters play engaged with the player See also: Main Scheme, Side Scheme
revealing the card.
• a treachery, its effects resolve and it is discarded. SCHEME (ENEMY ACTIVATION)
• an environment, it enters play next to the villain. A scheme is a type of enemy activation. If an enemy is
• a side scheme, it enters play next to the main scheme. instructed to scheme, follow these steps:
• an obligation, it is given to the player specified by 1. If a villain, or a minion with the villainous keyword, is
the card, and that player resolves its text. scheming, give it one facedown boost card from the
encounter deck. (If a minion without the villainous
If a player is instructed by card text to reveal an encounter
keyword is scheming, skip this step.)
card from the encounter deck or any other game area, this
same resolution procedure applies. 2. Flip each of the scheming enemy’s boost cards faceup
one at a time. (If a minion without the villainous
See also: Attachment, Deal, Encounter Card, Enters Play,
keyword is scheming, skip this step.) Then, in order:
Environment, In Player Order, Minion, Obligation, Player,
Side Scheme, Treachery, Villain Phase • Resolve any “Boost” abilities, indicated by the star
icon in the boost field.
ROOKIE MODE • Increase the scheming enemy’s SCH value by one for
each boost icon on the card.
See: Modes of Play
• Discard each boost card after it is resolved.
ROUND STRUCTURE 3. Place threat on the main scheme equal to the scheming
enemy’s modified SCH value.
See: Overview - Round Overview, End of the Player Phase,
Player Phase, Player Turn, Villain Phase See also: Activation, Boost, Minion, Villain, Villain Phase,
Villainous
RUNNING OUT OF C ARDS
See: Encounter Deck, Player Deck
SE ARCH
When a player is instructed to search for a card, the player is
SCENARIO-SPECIFIC C ARD permitted to look at each of the cards in the searched area.

Cards in the “scenario-specific” classification are cards that If the player finds a card that satisfies the criteria of the
belong to a scenario’s set of accompanying cards. search, the player adds that card to the game area indicated
by the instructions on the search effect.
• A scenario must include each scenario-specific card
associated with that scenario. The exact quantity of • If a player finds multiple cards that satisfy the criteria
each card in that set is determined by the scenario. of a search, the player chooses among those options.

• In most scenarios, the scenario-specific cards • Cards being searched are not considered to leave the
are separated into three decks: the villain deck searched area.
(comprised of that scenario’s villain cards), the main • If any portion of a deck is searched, upon completion
scheme deck (comprised of that scenario’s main of that game step, game function, or card ability,
scheme cards), and the encounter deck (comprised of shuffle that entire deck.
that scenario’s attachment, environment, minion, side
See also: Encounter Deck, Player Deck, Shuffle
scheme, and treachery cards).
• A scenario-specific card is designated by the name of
the scenario with which it is associated printed at the
bottom of the card in its encounter set name area.
See also: Classifications, Main Scheme Deck, Villain Deck,
Appendix I: Deck Customization

Rules Reference
27
 SET A SIDE, SET-A SIDE SPECIAL
Some game steps or card abilities instruct players to A special ability is a type of triggered ability, indicated by

and have no interaction with the game until they are eleCTRiC whip aTTaCk
set aside specific cards. Set-aside cards are out of play

referenced by instructions within the scenario or by a card

the bold “Special” timing trigger. Special abilities may only
be executed through the explicit instruction of another card
ability.
ability. TREACHERY See also: Triggered Ability
See also: Ability, In Play and Out of Play, Appendix II: Setup
STALWART
SETUP A character that has the stalwart keyword cannot be
A card with the setup keyword begins the game in play. stunned or confused.
See also: Keywords, Reminder Text, Appendix II: Setup • If a character gains the stalwart keyword while they
have a stunned and/or confused status card, each
SHUFFLE stunned and/or confused status card is removed from
that character.
Shuffling is the game function of randomizing the contents
of a deck. See also: Ally, Confused, Gains, Identity, Keywords, Minion,
Reminder Text, Status Cards, Stunned, Villain
• If a player is instructed to shuffle a deck, that deck
must be randomized to the point where no player
within the game can ascertain the order of the cards
STANDARD MODE
See: Modes of Play
within that deck.
• Any time a deck is searched by a game step or card
ability, that deck is shuffled after the game step or
STANDARD SET
card ability completes its resolution. The standard set is an encounter set that is added to most
See also: Encounter Deck, Player Deck, Search Whenscenarios.
Revealed: Choose to either
deal 1 • damage tosetyour
The standard is not hero
a modularforencounter
each set
SIDE SCHEME and cannot be selected (by the players or randomly)
upgradewhenyoua scenario
control or choose and
requires players to choose a modular
Side scheme is an encounter card type that represents discard an upgrade
encounter you control.
set to include in that scenario.
additional obstacles and distractions the heroes are
• Cards in the “Standard” classification are any cards
confronted with.
 Boost: Ifhave
that thethevillain is making
word “Standard” anby the bottom
printed
If a side scheme is revealed, it enters play and is placed next of the card in its encounter set name area.
to the main scheme deck in the villain’s play area. undefended attack, choose and
See also: Classifications, Appendix I: Deck Customization
• Each side scheme enters play with an amount of discard an upgrade you control.
threat on it equal to the card’s starting threat value
(indicated at the bottom of the card).
STAR ICON ()
IRON MAN NEMESIS (3/5)
A star icon is used in conjunction with a 
• A side scheme remains in play until there is no threat © MARVEL © 2019 FFG 173
card’s stat or boost field to indicate that
on it (which causes it to be defeated and discarded),
there is a mandatory ability in the text box
or until a card ability removes it from play. (Threat can
that corresponds to that field. In and of itself, the star icon
be removed from side schemes by using the thwart
has no effect; it is merely a reminder to check the card’s text
power of heroes and allies, or by using card abilities.)
box whenever that field is used.
See also: Card Types, Defeat, Encounter Card, Enters Play,
• If a star icon is located next to an enemy’s ATK or
Leaves Play, Main Scheme Deck, Threat, Thwart, Villain’s
SCH value, the icon serves as a reminder to check
Play Area
that enemy’s text box whenever that enemy uses that
value to attack or scheme.
SIMULTANEOUS RESOLUTION • If a star icon is located in the ATK or SCH field of an
If two or more effects with the same bold timing trigger attachment, the icon serves as a reminder to check
would resolve simultaneously, the first player determines the that attachment’s text box whenever the attached
order in which the effects resolve. enemy uses the value that field is modifying to attack
See also: First Player, Triggered Ability or scheme.
• If a star icon is located next to an ally’s ATK or THW
SKIRMISH MODE value, the icon serves as a reminder to check that
ally’s text box whenever that ally uses that value to
See: Modes of Play attack or thwart.

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28
 • If a star icon is located next to a hero’s ATK, THW, • As a tough status card prevents damage fully, the
or DEF, or next to an alter-ego’s REC value, the icon character who had the tough status card is not
serves as a reminder to check that character’s text considered to have taken damage.
box whenever they use that value to attack, thwart,
See also: Ally, Attack (Enemy Activation), Attack (Player
defend, or recover.
Action), Basic Power, Confused, Damage, Form, Identity,
• If a game step or ability references a power with the Minion, Replacement Effect, Stunned, Villain
value of star (), that value is treated as 0.
• If a star icon is located in an encounter card’s boost STUN, STUNNED
field, the icon serves as a reminder to check that Stun is a status that prevents a character from dealing
card’s text box whenever that card is turned face up damage with its next attack.
as a boost card during the villain’s activation.
• If an ability “stuns” a character, give that character a
See also: Activation, Ally, Attachment, Basic Power, Boost, stunned status card.
Identity, Minion, Non-Numerical Variables, Villain
• If a character has an ability stating that it “cannot be
stunned,” stunned status cards cannot be placed on
STATUS C ARDS that character.
Status card represent different states a character may find
See also: Ally, Identity, Minion, Status Cards, Villain
themselves in during the game.
The following status cards are used in the game. When a SUBTITLE
character is given a status card, take a status card of the
specified type from the pool and place it on that character. Some ally cards have a subtitle beneath the title. A subtitle
represents an alternate alias a character sometimes uses.
• A character cannot have more than one status card of
each type at a time. See also: Unique

• Status card abilities have timing priority over all

conflicting card abilities. SUPPORT
The three status card types are: Support is a player card type that represent locations,
backline supporters or friends, and other behind-the-scenes
Confused — A confused status card prevents a character elements a hero or alter-ego might have at their disposal.
from thwarting or scheming.
• Support cards enter play in the back row of a player’s
• If a confused hero or ally attempts to thwart or use play area.
a thwart ability, discard the confused card instead.
Costs associated with the thwart attempt, including • A support card is active while it is in play, and it
exhausting the character, must still be paid. remains in play until a card ability causes it to leave
play.
• If a confused villain or minion would scheme, discard
the confused status card instead. • Attacks, thwarts, defenses, action abilities, and
triggered abilities that resolve from supports in play
• As the thwart action or scheme activation was under a player’s control are not considered to be
replaced by the removal of the confused status card, performed by that player’s identity.
that character is not considered to have thwarted or
schemed. See also: Card Types, Enters Play, In Play and Out of Play,
Leaves Play, Player Card, Player’s Play Area
Stunned — A stunned status card prevents a character
from attacking.
SURGE
• If a stunned hero or ally attempts to attack or use
an attack ability, discard the stunned card instead. After an encounter card with this keyword is revealed, the
Costs associated with the attack attempt, including player resolving the card reveals an additional encounter
exhausting the character, must still be paid. card from the top of the encounter deck.

• If a stunned villain or minion would attack, discard the • Complete the process of resolving the original card
stunned status card instead. before revealing the additional card.

• As the attack action or attack activation was replaced See also: Encounter Card, Encounter Deck, Keywords,
by the removal of the stunned status card, that Reminder Text, Reveal
character is not considered to have attacked.
Tough — A tough status card prevents a character from
taking damage.
• If a character with a tough status card would take any
amount of damage, prevent all of that damage and
discard the tough status card instead.

Rules Reference
29
 SUSTAINED DAMAGE TE X T BOX
Sustained damage refers to the difference between a The text box of a card is the area of a card that contains the
character’s maximum hit points and remaining hit points. card’s printed abilities, traits, and flavor text (if any).
• To calculate sustained damage for an identity or • If a card ability references a card’s “text box,” that
villain (using a hit point dial), start with the character’s ability only references the printed abilities within that
maximum hit points (as indicated by its printed value card’s text box.
modified by any card abilities or game effects), and
See also: Ability, Printed, Traits, Appendix III: Card
subtract their remaining hit points (as indicated by the
Anatomy
dial).
• Sustained damage on an ally or minion is equal to the THEN
total value of all damage tokens on the card.
If the effect text of an ability includes the word “then”,
See also: Ally, Damage, Hit Points, Identity, Maximum Hit the text preceding the word “then” must be fully true or
Points, Remaining Hit Points, Villain resolved before the remainder of the effect described after
the word “then” can be resolved.
TABLE TALK • If the pre-”then” text of an effect fully resolves,
Players are permitted and encouraged to talk to one the post-”then” text of the effect must also
another during play, and to work as a team to plan and attempt to resolve.
execute the best course of action. Players can discuss
• If the pre-”then” text of an effect does not fully
anything they would like, including cards in play and cards
resolve, the post-”then” text does not attempt to
in their hand. Players are not obligated to disclose the cards
resolve.
in their hand if they do not wish to do so.
• While resolving an encounter card with the peril THRE AT
keyword, players are not permitted to consult with
one another. Threat tokens are used to track the amount
of threat on scheme cards.
See also: Keywords, Peril, Player
See also: Component Limitations, Scheme
(Enemy Activation), Main Scheme, Side
TARGET Scheme, Prevent, Thwart
If a game function or card ability is directed toward a game
element (such as an attack that deals damage to an enemy), THW
that game element becomes the target of that function
or ability for the duration of that function’s or ability’s See: Basic Power, Thwart
resolution.
• The term “choose” indicates that one or more targets THWART
must be selected in order for an ability to resolve. Some game effects and card abilities reference a thwart
See also: Ability, Choose attempt. There are a few different ways this can occur:
• A hero can use their basic thwart power to thwart a
TARGET THRE AT scheme. A hero must exhaust to use this power. This
removes threat equal to the hero’s THW value from
Target threat is the amount of threat required for the main the scheme.
scheme deck to advance. It is located in the upper left
corner of the card, before the title. • An ally can use its basic thwart power to thwart a
scheme. This removes threat equal to the ally’s THW
See also: Main Scheme, Threat value from the scheme.
• If a triggered ability is labeled as a thwart—such
TE AM-UP as “Hero Action (thwart)”—resolving that ability is
The team-up keyword names two characters. In order for a considered to thwart the specified scheme. Unless
player to include a card with the team-up keyword in their specified by the ability’s text, a hero does not exhaust
deck, that player’s chosen identity must match one of the when using such an ability.
named characters. Additionally, a card with the team-up
See also: Ally, Basic Power, Consequential Damage,
keyword cannot be played unless both of the named
Exhausted, Main Scheme, Side Scheme, Threat
characters (hero or ally) are in play.
See also: Ally, Identity, In Play and Out of Play, Keywords, TOUGH
Play, Reminder Text, Appendix I: Deck Construction
Tough is a status that prevents a character from taking
damage.
See: Status Cards, Toughness

Rules Reference
30
TOUGHNESS UNDEFENDED
When a character with the toughness keyword enters play, See: Attack (Enemy Activation)
place a tough status card on it.
See also: Ally, Enters Play, Identity, Keywords, Minion, UNIQUE ICON ()
Reminder Text, Status Cards, Villain A card with a  icon before its title is unique.
• The players as a group are permitted to have only
TR AITS one copy of each unique card (by title) in play.
Many cards have one or more traits listed at the top of the
• A player cannot include more than one copy of each
text box and printed in bold italics.
unique card (by title) in their deck. The identity card is
• Traits have no inherent effects on the game. Instead, included in this evaluation.
some card abilities reference cards that possess or
In the Marvel setting, it is possible for multiple people to
lack specific traits.
bear the same title. (For example, more than one person can
• Traits are not considered to be part of a card’s bear the title of “Captain America”, but there is only one
printed text box for the purpose of card abilities. Steve Rogers.) Because of this, a comparison of alter-egos
and/or subtitles between two cards may create the following
See also: Printed, Appendix III: Card Anatomy
exceptions to the unique rules stated above:

TRE ACHERY • If two identities share the same title, but each has a
different alter-ego, they may coexist in play.
Treachery is an encounter card type that represent tactics,
tricks, disasters, and other immediate occurrences that • If two unique allies share the same title, but each
confront players during a scenario. has a different subtitle, they may coexist in a player’s
deck and in play.
• If a treachery card is revealed from the encounter
deck, the player revealing the card must resolve its • If a hero and a unique ally share the same title, but
effects. the alter-ego and the subtitle are different, they may
coexist in deckbuilding and in play.
• After resolving the effects of a treachery card (or the
effects are canceled), place the card in the encounter Additionally, some unique minions may have the same title
discard pile. as other friendly or enemy characters.

See also: Card Types, Discard, Encounter Card, Encounter • If a unique minion is revealed from the encounter
Deck, Reveal, Villain deck and attempts to enter play while another unique
character with the same title is already in play, the
player who is revealing that minion discards it, then
TRIGGERED ABILIT Y reveals a new card from the encounter deck.
See: Ability, Action, Forced, Interrupt, Resource Ability, • If a card ability attempts to put a unique minion into
Response, Simultaneous Resolution, Special, When play while another unique character with the same
Defeated Abilities, When Revealed Abilities title is already in play, that minion cannot enter play
and the “put into play” effect fails to resolve. Resolve
TRIGGERING CONDITION the remainder of the card ability as normal.
A triggering condition is a specific occurrence that takes See also: Ally, Enters Play, Identity, Minion, Player, Subtitle,
place in the game. On card abilities, the triggering Villain, Appendix I: Deck Customization
condition is the element of the ability that references
such an occurrence, indicating the timing point at which UPGR ADE
the ability may be used. The description of an ability’s
triggering condition usually follows the word “when” or Upgrade is a player card type that represents powers,
“after.” attacks, equipment, and other assets that are (in most cases)
at an identity’s immediate disposal.
• If a single game occurrence creates multiple
triggering conditions (such as a single attack causing • An upgrade is active so long as it is in play, and it
a character to both take damage and be defeated), remains in play until a card ability causes it to leave
those triggering conditions are handled with a single play.
interrupt window and a single response window. • Most upgrade cards enter play near a player’s identity
During each of these windows, abilities that refer card, and modify the player’s hero or alter-ego (or
to any of the triggering conditions created by the both).
occurrence may be used in any order.
• Some upgrades enter play and “attach to” another
See also: Interrupt, Response card. These upgrades modify the card they are
attached to, not the hero or alter-ego of the player
who played the upgrade.

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31
 • Unless attached to a different character, upgrade VILL AIN DEFE AT
cards are considered to be an extension of the
If the villain’s hit point dial is reduced to zero, the players
controlling player’s identity. Attacks, thwarts,
have defeated that stage of the villain.
defenses, action abilities, and triggered abilities that
resolve on upgrades in play under a player’s control Remove the current stage of the villain deck from the game.
are also considered to be resolved by that player’s The next sequential stage of the villain deck is revealed. Set
identity. the villain’s hit point dial as indicated by that stage.
See also: Attach To, Card Types, Enters Play, Identity, In If the final stage of the villain deck is defeated, the
Play and Out of Play, Leaves Play, Player Card, Player’s players win the game.
Play Area • Excess damage that is dealt to defeat a villain stage
does not carry over to the new stage.
USES (X “T YPE”) • Attachments, status cards, counters, and non-
When a card with this keyword enters play, place X all- damage tokens on a villain carry over to the new
purpose counters from the token pool on the card. The stage.
word following the value establishes and identifies the type See also: All-Purpose Counters, Attachment, Damage,
of uses the card holds. Defeat, Excess Damage, Hit Points, Status Cards, Villain
Each card with this keyword also has an ability that
references the type of use established by the keyword as VILL AIN PHA SE
part of the cost.
The steps of the villain phase are:
After the last all-purpose counter is removed from a card
with uses (and the effect resolves), discard that card. 1. Place the amount of threat indicated in the main
scheme’s acceleration field onto that scheme. If any
See also: All-Purpose Counter, Discard, Enters Play, acceleration icons or tokens are active, additional threat
Keywords, Leaves Play, Reminder Text equal to the number of such icons and tokens is also
placed at this time.
VICTORY DISPL AY 2. The villain activates once per player. For each
The victory display is an out-of-play game area shared by activation, any minions engaged with that player also
all players. Cards in the victory display follow the standard activate.
rules for out-of-play cards. 3. Deal one encounter card to each player. Deal one
See also: In Play and Out of Play, Player, Victory X additional card for each hazard symbol on a card in
play. These additional cards are dealt in player order.
VICTORY X 4. The first player reveals each of their encounter cards,
one card at a time, resolving each card based on its
When a card with the victory X keyword is defeated, place
card type. Each player repeats this process in player
it in the victory display instead of its owner’s discard pile.
order, until no dealt encounter cards remain.
While in the victory display, X indicates how many victory
points that card is worth. (X is the value next to the victory 5. Pass the first player token to the next clockwise player
keyword.) and end the round.
• Some scenarios or campaigns may count the number See also: Acceleration Icon, Activation, Attack (Enemy
of victory points in the victory display. Activation), Deal, Engage, First Player, Hazard Icon, In
Player Order, Main Scheme, Minion, Player, Reveal, Scheme
See also: Defeat, Discard Pile, Keywords, Reminder Text,
(Enemy Activation), Threat, Villain
Victory Display

VILL AIN, VILL AIN DECK

Villain is an encounter card type that represents the primary
enemy the players are attempting to defeat in a scenario.
The villain is represented by a sequential deck of one or
more cards. The players defeat the villain by reducing the
hit points of each stage of the villain deck to zero.
• Villain cards cannot be discarded from play.
See also: Activation, Attack (Enemy Activation), Scheme
(Enemy Activation), Villain Defeat

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32
VILL AIN’S PL AY ARE A • If an encounter card with a “When Revealed” ability
enters play during setup, resolve that ability during
The villain’s play area (also sometimes referred to as the
setup step 10.
“villain’s game area”) is the area of play where the villain
deck, the main scheme deck, the encounter deck, the • If an encounter card with a “When Revealed” ability
encounter discard pile, and the villain’s hit point dial are is put into play without being revealed, the “When
located. Revealed” ability does not trigger.
• Environment cards and side scheme cards are placed See also: Encounter Card, Main Scheme, Triggered Ability,
in the villain’s play area when they enter play. Villain, Appendix II: Setup
• Attachments cards attached to cards in the villain’s
play area are in the villain’s play area. Attachment WILD RESOURCE ()
cards attached to cards in a player’s play area are not A wild resource () is one of the four types of resources.
in the villain’s play area.
• Wild resources can be spent to pay the resource cost
• Minion cards engaged with a player are in that of cards and abilities. When a player generates a wild
player’s play area and not in the villain’s play area. resource (), they may specify which resource type
• Obligation cards given to a player are in that player’s (energy, mental, physical, or wild) it is being used as.
play area and not in the villain’s play area. • Some card abilities specifically require wild resources
See also: Attachment, Discard Pile, Encounter Deck, to be spent in order to resolve their effects.
Environment, In Play and Out of Play, Main Scheme Deck, • When resources are not being generated for a cost, a
Minion, Obligation, Villain Deck wild resource does not have any characteristic other
than “wild resource.” In such contexts, wild resources
VILL AINOUS cannot be interpreted as any of the other resource
types.
When a minion with the villainous keyword activates, give it
a facedown boost card from the top of the encounter deck. See also: Ability, Cost, Energy Resource, Icons, Mental
When you resolve that minion’s activation, turn the boost Resource, Physical Resource, Resource
card faceup, resolve any boost ability on that card, and
apply its boost icons to the minion’s stats for this activation. WINNING THE GAME
Discard the boost card after the activation.
If the players defeat the final villain stage, they win the
See also: Activation, Attack (Enemy Activation), Boost, game. If the final stage of the main scheme deck is
Discard, Keywords, Minion, Reminder Text, Scheme (Enemy completed, the villain wins the game.
Activation)
• Some scenarios may have alternate win or loss
conditions. If these conditions are met, the players
WHEN COMPLETED ABILITIES win or lose accordingly.
A when completed ability is a type of triggered ability,
indicated by the bold “When Completed” timing trigger. “WOULD”
When a main scheme is complete, all “When Completed” The word “would” is used to define the triggering condition
abilities on the card resolve. of some interrupt abilities, and establishes a higher timing
See also: Main Scheme priority for those abilities than interrupts to the same
triggering condition without the word “would.”
WHEN DEFE ATED ABILITIES • If an interrupt to a triggering condition that would
occur changes the nature of that which is about to
A when defeated ability is a type of triggered ability,
occur (such as through a replacement effect), no
indicated by the bold “When Defeated” timing trigger.
further interrupts to the original trigger may be used
When a villain stage, side scheme, main scheme stage, ally, since the resolution of that trigger is no longer valid.
or minion is defeated, all “When Defeated” abilities on the
For example, an interrupt that states “when a character
card resolve.
would be defeated” triggers before an interrupt that states
See also: Ally, Defeat, Main Scheme, Minion, Side Scheme, “when a character is defeated.”
Triggered Ability, Villain
See also: Interrupt, Replacement Effect, Triggered Ability

WHEN RE VE ALED ABILITIES “X” (VALUE)

A when revealed ability is a type of triggered ability,
See: Non-Numerical Variable
indicated by the bold “When Revealed” timing trigger.
When a player reveals a card from the encounter deck,
a new scheme stage, or a new villain stage, all “When
Revealed” abilities on the card resolve.

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33
 YOU, YOUR Cards that are considered to be an extension of a player’s
identity are:
While resolving card abilities, if the word “you” can be
resolved as referring to the player’s identity, it must be • Events — Attacks, thwarts, defenses, action abilities,
resolved as such. This includes but is not limited to: and triggered abilities that resolve from a player
playing an event are also considered to be performed
• If a card deals damage to “you,” or “you” take damage,
by that player’s identity.
the player resolving that damage applies it to the hit
point dial of their identity. • Resources — If a player spends a resource, that
resource is also considered to be spent by that player’s
• If a card ability deals indirect damage to “you,” or
identity.
“you” take indirect damage, the player resolving that
damage can assign that damage to characters in play • Upgrades — Unless attached to a different character,
under their control. upgrade cards are considered to be an extension
of the controlling player’s identity. Attacks, thwarts,
• If a card ability exhausts “you,” the player resolving that
defenses, action abilities, and triggered abilities that
card ability exhausts their identity.
resolve on upgrades in play under a player’s control
• If a card ability places a status card on “you” (such are also considered to be resolved by that player’s
as “you are stunned”), the player resolving that card identity.
ability places that status card on their identity.
Cards that are not considered to be an extension of a
• If a card ability triggers from a game function that player’s identity are:
“you” perform (such as “after you attack and defeat
• Allies — Attacks, thwarts, defenses, action abilities,
an enemy”), the player resolving that card ability must
and triggered abilities that resolve from allies in play
resolve that card ability as if the identity they control
under a player’s control are not considered to be
performed that game function, if able. (For example,
performed by that player’s identity.
if an ability triggers “after you attack and defeat a
minion,” it triggers after the controlling player’s identity • Supports — Attacks, thwarts, defenses, action
attacks and defeats a minion but not when an ally under abilities, and triggered abilities that resolve from
that player’s control attacks and defeats a minion.) supports in play under a player’s control are not
considered to be performed by that player’s identity.
While resolving card abilities, if the word “you” cannot
be resolved as referring to the player’s identity, it must be See also: Ability, Ally, Event, Identity, Player, Player Card,
resolved as referring to the player. This includes but is not Player Deck, Player’s Play Area, Resource, Support, Upgrade
limited to:
• If a game step or card ability discards cards from
“your” hand, the player resolving that game step or
card ability discards the cards from their hand.
• If a card ability searches “your” deck, the player
resolving that ability searches for cards in their deck.
• If a game step or card ability performs a game function
against a non-identity card “you” control (such as
exhausting, discarding, setting aside, etc.), the player
resolving that game step or card ability performs that
game function against the card in their play area.
• If a card ability triggers from a game function that
“you” perform and cannot be interpreted in such a way
that would refer to the resolving player’s identity (such
as “after you discard cards from your hand”), the player
resolving that card ability must personally resolve and
perform the game function(s) of that ability.
Some player cards are considered to be an extension of a
player’s identity. When an action and/or ability is resolved
by a card type that is an extension of an identity, that
action and/or ability is considered to be performed by
that identity.

Rules Reference
34
APPENDIX I: DECK APPENDIX II:
CUSTOMIZATION SETUP
To set up a game, perform the following steps in order:
PL AYER DECKS 1. Select Identities. Each player selects one identity,
The deck customization rules for player decks are: placing their alter-ego side face up.
• A player must choose exactly one identity card. 2. Set Hit Points. Each player sets their hit point dial
• A player’s deck consists of a minimum of 40 cards equal to the starting hit points of their character, found
and a maximum of 50 cards. The identity card is not at the bottom of their identity card.
counted as part of this number. 3. Select First Player. As a group, the players select a
• A player’s deck must include each of the identity- first player and place the first player token in front of
specific cards associated with their chosen identity that player.
card. The exact quantity of each card included in that 4. Set Aside Obligations. For each identity being
identity set must be included in the deck. played, set aside their obligation card.
• A player may choose exactly one aspect (Justice, 5. Set Aside Nemesis Sets. For each identity being
Aggression, Protection, or Leadership) to use for played, set aside their nemesis and the encounter cards
customization. The remainder of their deck is then of that nemesis.
customized with cards that belong to that aspect and/
6. Shuffle Player Decks. Each player shuffles their player
or basic cards.
deck.
• No more than three copies (by title) of each non-
7. Collect Tokens and Status Cards. Collect a pool of
unique card may be included in the deck.
damage tokens, threat tokens, acceleration tokens, and
• No more than one copy (by title) of each unique card all-purpose counters within reach of each player. Place
may be included among the cards in the deck and the stacks of stunned, confused, and tough status cards
identity card. If two unique cards share the same title, near this pool.
but their subtitles/alter-egos differ, they may coexist
8. Select Villain. Select a villain and put their villain deck
in the deck.
and main scheme deck into play near the center of the
• Any “deckbuilding requirements” on the player’s play area.
identity card must be followed.
9. Set the Villain’s Hit Points. Set the villain’s hit point
dial to the value indicated by the villain card.
ENCOUNTER DECKS 10. Create the Encounter Deck. Combine the encounter
Each scenario comes with a recommended list of card sets sets listed on side 1A of the main scheme card.
that form the default encounter deck for that scenario. (For
11. Resolve Scheme Setup. Resolve any “Setup”
the core set scenarios, these lists are on page 23 of the
instructions on side 1A of the main scheme card.
Learn to Play.) This recommended list can be modified in a
Resolve any “When Revealed” abilities on encounter
few different ways:
cards that entered play during setup.
• Expert mode is an option that can be used to
12. Shuffle Encounter Deck. Shuffle the obligation
increase the difficulty of a scenario. Expert mode uses
cards set aside during setup step four into the villain’s
a different combination of villain stages and adds the
encounter deck.
expert encounter set to the encounter deck.
13. Draw Cards. Each player draws cards from their deck
• Most scenarios (including all of the scenarios in the
until they have cards equal in number to their starting
core set) include a modular encounter set within their
hand size, as listed near the bottom of their identity
recommended list. To customize a scenario for a
card.
different experience, remove the modular encounter
set from the list, and add any other modular 14. Resolve Mulligans. Each player may discard any
encounter set as desired. number of cards from hand, and then draw up to their
starting hand size. (Do not shuffle these discarded
• It is possible to add multiple modular sets to a
cards back into their decks at this time.)
scenario, but this will dilute the encounter deck if too
many are added. 15. Resolve Character Setup Abilities. Resolve any
“Setup” instructions listed on identity cards in play.
• To add an additional element of uncertainty to a
scenario, the modular set may be chosen from a The game is now ready to begin.
group of facedown sets, and shuffled directly into the
encounter deck without looking at the cards.

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35
 APPENDIX III:
CARD ANATOMY
This section presents an anatomy of each card type. Player
cards are detailed first, followed by scenario cards.
ALLY
1
4
PLAYER CARD
daredevil
MATT MURDOCK

ANATOMY KEY 9 17
ALLY

2
THW
1. Title. The name of this card. 

2. Card Type. Indicates how this card behaves or

may be used in the game.
13 2
AT K
3. Traits. Flavorful attributes that may be
10

3
6
referenced by card abilities.
DEFENDER.

4. Ability. This card’s specialized means of Response: After Daredevil thwarts,

deal 1 damage to an enemy.
interacting with the game.

3
“Sometimes, I think I accomplish more with my fists
5. Cost. The resource cost to play this card. than with my law firm.”

6. Hit Points. A value that represents this card’s

durability. JUSTICE
© MARVEL © 2019 FFG 58

7 4
7. Resources. The resources this card generates
when it is discarded from hand.
8. Deckbuilding Classification. Indicates if this card
is exclusive to a hero, belongs to an aspect, or is a
basic card.
9. THW. How effective this character is at UPGR ADE

5
opposing enemy schemes.
10. ATK. How effective this character is when it 2
2
attacks. UPGRADE

11. DEF. How effective this character is when it

defends.
coMBat training

12. REC. How effective this alter-ego is at

recovering damage.
13. Consequential Damage. The amount of damage
this ally takes after it is used for this power.
1
14. Hand Size. The number of cards this card’s SKILL.
Play under any player’s control.
controller resets their hand to each round. Max 1 per player.

15. Collector Information. Indicates this card’s Your hero gets +1 ATK.
“Tony! She did it again!” —Janet Van Dyne
product of origin and card number within that
product.
16. Unique Icon. Indicates that the card is unique. AGGRESSION
Illus. David Nakayama © MARVEL © 2019 FFG 57

17. Subtitle. Indicates an alternate identity an ally

might possess. 7
15

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36
 IDENTIT Y
16 IDENTIT Y (HERO) (ALTER-EGO)
Spider-Man peter parker
9 1 3
THW
12 REC

10 2
AT K

3
11 2 2
D EF
HERO ALTER-EGO

AVENGER. GENIUS.
Spider-Sense — Interrupt: When the Scientist — Resource: Generate a
villain initiates an attack against you,  resource. (Limit once per round.)
draw 1 card. “Right now, I'd trade the whole Spider-Man bit for a
“Just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!” rocking chair and a good book.”

HAND SIZE 5 / HIT POINTS 10 HAND SIZE 6 / HIT POINTS 10

14 6 14 6
© MARVEL © 2019 FFG 1A Illus. Gabriel Eltaeb © MARVEL © 2019 FFG 1B

5 SUPPORT

1 the triSkelion
SUPPORT

E VENT

1 wakanda forever!
EVENT

LOCATION. S.H.I.E.L.D.

3 RESOURCE
Increase your ally limit by 1. (This allows
you to control more than 3 allies.)
“Think they made it tall enough?” —She-Hulk

TACTIC.
LEADERSHIP Hero Action: Resolve the “Special”

4
© MARVEL © 2019 FFG 76 73 ability of each Black Panther upgrade
you control in any order. (Resolving
each ability is a step in this sequence.)

7 8
BL ACK PANTHER 3/15
© MARVEL © 2019 FFG 43A

7 energy

8
RESOURCE

2 Max 1 per deck.

BASIC

7 1
© MARVEL © 2019 FFG 88

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37
 SCENARIO CARD
ANATOMY KEY
1.
2.
Title. The name of this card.
Card Type. Indicates how this card behaves or
1 VILL AIN
may be used in the game.
3. Traits. Flavorful attributes that may be
Rhino I
12
6
VILL AIN
referenced by card abilities.
4. Ability. This card’s specialized means of 1
SCH
interacting with the game.
5. Hit Points. A value that represents this card’s
durability. 7 2
AT K

6. SCH. How effective this enemy is when it schemes.

7. ATK. How effective this enemy is when it attacks. BRUTE. CRIMINAL.

8. Boost Icons. Indicates how effective this card is “I’m Rhino. I knock things down. That’s what I do.
That’s who I am.”
when it is discarded as an attack boost or scheme
boost.
9. Starting Threat. The amount of threat placed on
this scheme when it enters play.
RHINO (1/21) / HIT POINTS 14
10. Acceleration. The speed at which this scheme
13 5
© MARVEL © 2019 FFG 94

advances each round.

14
11. Target Threat. The amount of threat required on
this scheme to advance to the next stage of this
scheme deck.
12. Stage Number. The stage of this villain or scheme
within the scenario. MINION
13. Encounter Set Name. Indicates which
encounter set this card belongs to.
2 ShoCkeR
MINION

14. Encounter Set Information. Indicates the

number of cards within an encounter set and this
card’s place within that set.
6 1
SCH

7
15. Collector Information. Indicates this card’s 2
AT K
product of origin and card number within
that product.
3
CRIMINAL.
When Revealed: Deal 1 damage to
5
each hero.

4 3
“I bet you’re shocked to see me.”

SIDE SCHEME

1 illegal aRmS FaCToRy

SIDE SCHEME
RHINO (12/21)
© MARVEL © 2019 FFG
 
103

Klaw is supplying villains with advanced

9 8
weaponry from a clandestine arms facility.

When Revealed: Place an

additional 1 threat here.

8
 

3 KL AW (20/21)
Illus. Andrea Di Vito/Laura Villari © MARVEL © 2019 FFG 126

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38
 AT TACHMENT TRE ACHERY
exploSion
TREACHERY

2
2 3
ATTACHMENT
aRmoRed Rhino SuiT
ARMOR.
Attach to Rhino.

1
Forced Interrupt: When any

4
amount of damage would be When Revealed: If Bomb Scare is in
dealt to Rhino, place it here play, assign X damage among heroes
instead. Then, if there is at least and allies, where X is the amount of
5 damage here, discard Armored threat on Bomb Scare. If Bomb Scare
Rhino Suit. is not in play, this card gains surge.

ENCOUNTER
RHINO GROUP (XX/XX)
(5/21) BOMB SCARE (4/6)  
© MARVEL © 2019 FFG 98 Illus. Steve Ellis © MARVEL © 2019 FFG 111

ENVIRONMENT
15 14 8
1 ulTRon dRoneS
1 MAIN SCHEME
ENVIRONMENT

11
7 The BReak-in!
MAIN SCHEME
1B
12
Rhino is trying to smash through the
facility wall and steal a shipment of
vibranium. You must stop him!

If this stage is
completed, the players

4
Each facedown Drone minion engaged lose the game.
with a player has a base SCH of 1, a
base ATK of 1, and a base hit points
of 1.
+1
Forced Response: After a facedown
Drone minion is defeated, place that
card in its owner's discard pile. RHINO (4/21) 0
Illus. Matt James © MARVEL © 2019 FFG 97B

10
ULTRON (7/25)

13
© MARVEL © 2019 FFG 140

9
OBLIGATION

1 BuSineSS pRoBlemS
OBLIGATION

© MARVEL. Fantasy Flight Supply is TM of Fantasy Flight Games. Fantasy Flight Games, the FFG
logo, Living Card Game, LCG, and the LCG logo are ® Fantasy Flight Games. Fantasy Flight Games
is located at 1995 West County Road B2, Roseville, Minnesota, 55113, USA, 651-639-1905. Actual
components may vary from those shown.

Imported and distributed in the EU by:

4
Give to the Tony Stark player. Asmodee United Kingdom Asmodee Nordics Enigma Distribution Benelux B.V.
You may flip to alter-ego form. Choose: Unit 6 Waterbrook Road Valseholmen 1 Wethouder Den Oudenstraat 8
Alton Hampshire, GU34 2UD 2650 Hvidovre, Danemark 5706 ST Helmond, Holland
• Exhaust Tony Stark → remove United Kingdom
Business Problems from the game.
• Exhaust each upgrade you control.
Discard this obligation.

13
IRON MAN  
© MARVEL © 2019 FFG 170

Rules Reference
39
 APPENDIX IV: FAQ REPULSOR BLAST (#31)
Q: Can Repulsor Blast’s first point of damage remove
a tough status card from an enemy, then its additional
GENERAL QUESTIONS damage deal damage to that enemy?
Q: In the Core Set, there are 19 Aggression, Justice, and A: No. The additional damage that Repulsor Blast deals is a
Protection aspect cards, but only 18 Leadership aspect simultaneous modification of its first point of damage. For
cards. Is this correct? instance, if a player were to discard 2 energy resources due
A: Yes. The Leadership aspect received 1 fewer card than to Repulsor Blast, they would deal a total of 5 damage to an
the other aspects because it has more unique cards to enemy all at once, as the additional 4 damage dealt by the
choose from. discard effect happens at the same time as the first point of
damage.
CORE SET
PEPPER POTTS (#33)
SPIDER-MAN (#1A) Q: Does Pepper Potts generate 2 resources if a card with
Q: When does the villain “initiate” an attack against 2 printed resources (such as Energy, Genius, or Strength)
Spider-Man? is on top of the discard pile?
A: An attack is “initiated” the moment the game determines A: Yes. Pepper Potts generates a number of resources that
an attack will be made against a character. This includes are equal in quantity and type to the resources on the top
attacks made from game steps (such as step 2 of the villain card of the discard pile.
phase) and card abilities (such as an attack initiated by the Q: Will Pepper Potts generate 2 resources if a “The
“Assault” treachery). Spider Man’s ability resolves before Power of [Aspect]” resource card (such as The Power of
any of the steps of the process detailed in the “Attack Aggression) is on top of the discard pile?
(Enemy Activation)” section are performed. A: No. Though the resources that Pepper Potts generates
are equal in quantity and type to the resources of the top
WEBBED UP (#9) card of the discard pile, Pepper Potts is the card that is
Q: How many attacks does Webbed Up prevent? generating these resources. This means that a The Power
A: Two attacks in total. Webbed Up prevents the attached of [Aspect] card never generates resources itself, having no
enemy’s very next attack by replacing that attack with the opportunity to generate additional resources for a card of
placement of a stun status card. Then, the stun status card its specified aspect.
will prevent that enemy’s following attack.
Q: Can Pepper Potts generate the resources of a card
Q: Does Webbed Up prevent Spider-Sense from that is currently being spent?
triggering? A: No. Resources are generated simultaneously, meaning
A: Yes. Webbed Up’s ability is a replacement effect the spent card will not be on top of the discard pile at the
(indicated by the word “instead”), meaning the attack never time Pepper Potts uses her ability.
initiates.
ROCKET BOOTS (#39)
JENNIFER WALTERS (#19B) Q: If Iron Man has 1 hit point remaining and his Rocket
Q: Can Jennifer Walters remove threat from a side Boots upgrade is discarded from play, is Iron Man
scheme as it enters play? defeated?
A: No. Side schemes enter play with threat already on them, A: Yes. If an ability that modifies hit points expires or
meaning threat is not “placed” at this point. otherwise becomes inactive, the modified hit points revert
Q: If threat is placed on a scheme during game setup, to the value they would be without the modifier. In this
does Jennifer Walters’s ability trigger? case, Iron Man’s hit points would revert to 0, instantly
A: No. Abilities that do not have the “Setup” timing trigger defeating him.
cannot resolve during game setup.
BLACK PANTHER (#40A)
LEGAL PRACTICE (#23) Q: If an enemy initiates an attack against Black Panther
Q: Can Legal Practice remove threat from multiple but another hero or an ally defends against that attack,
schemes simultaneously? will Black Panther’s retaliate ability trigger?
A: No. All of the threat removed by Legal Practice must be A: No. Black Panther himself must be attacked for retaliate
removed from a single scheme. to trigger.
Q: If Black Panther defends against an attack, will his
retaliate ability trigger?
A: Yes. As long as Black Panther himself is attacked, retaliate
will trigger.

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ANCESTRAL KNOWLEDGE (#42) I SEE YOU (#30)
Q: Can Ancestral Knowledge shuffle different versions Q: If I’m in alter-ego form and I reveal “I See You”, does
of Wakanda Forever into Black Panther’s deck? Green Goblin attack me?
A: No. Cards with the same title are considered to be the A: Yes. Because the “When Revealed” ability on I See You
same card for the purpose of card abilities. does not specify hero form or alter-ego form, Green Goblin
will attack the player no matter their form.
VIBRANIUM SUIT (#49)
Q: Does moving damage discard tough status cards from
C APTAIN AMERIC A HERO PACK
the target enemy?
A: Yes. If damage is moved to a character, the moved STEVE ROGERS (#1B)
damage is considered to be dealt to that character. Q: If Captain America’s Shield is put into play as a Drone
minion during game setup for Ultron, can I retrieve it
TIGRA/GREER GRANT NELSON (#51) with Steve Rogers’s Setup ability?
Q: Does Tigra’s “Response” ability trigger before or
A: No. The Setup ability specifically searches the player’s
after she takes consequential damage?
deck and discard pile. If Captain America’s Shield is not in
A: Before. The “After Tigra attacks and defeats a minion...”
either game area, the ability fails to find it.
condition is checked immediately after Tigra defeats a
minion with her attack power, but before consequential Q: If an ally is played while I’m Captain America, then I
damage is applied to her. change form to Steve Rogers, will Steve Rogers’s “Living
Legend” ability still apply to the next ally played?
MAKE THE CALL (#71) A: No. Living Legend only applies to the very first ally
Q: When playing Make the Call, do “The Power played each round.
of [Aspect]” resource cards (such as The Power of
Leadership) generate 1 resource or 2 resources? MS. MARVEL HERO PACK
A: Make the Call’s text states “Action: Pay the printed
cost of an ally in any player’s discard pile...”, meaning the EMBIGGEN (#10)
player is paying the cost of the ally itself. If that ally’s aspect Q: If an Attack event deals multiple sources of damage
matches that of The Power of [Aspect] card, then The Power (such as the Aggression event, Melee), how does
of [Aspect] card will generate 2 resources. However, if that Embiggen work?
ally’s aspect does not match, The Power of [Aspect] card will A: Embiggen increases all instances of damage that an
only generate 1 resource. Attack event deals by 2. For example, if an event were to deal
3 damage, then deal 3 damage again, that event would now
GREEN GOBLIN SCENARIO PACK deal 5 damage, then 5 damage again.

NORMAN OSBORN (#1A) SHRINK (#11)

Q: Will a stun status card prevent Norman Osborn’s Q: When playing Emergency, can I exhaust Shrink to
attack activation? remove 2 threat from a scheme?
A: Yes. Because status cards take priority over all other A: No. Shrink increases each instance of threat removed by
abilities, a stun status card will prevent Norman Osborn’s a thwart event. Because Emergency only prevents threat
activation. and does not remove any, Shrink will have no effect.

GREEN GOBLIN (#1B) NOVA/SAM ALEXANDER (#12)

Q: While Green Goblin is attacking, if the last madness Q: If Nova’s ability defeats an attacking enemy, does
counter is removed from the State of Madness that enemy’s attack still deal damage?
environment through a “Boost” ability, what happens? A: No. Although the attack sequence has initiated, damage
A: Green Goblin immediate flips to Norman Osborn form. from that attack has not yet been calculated. If Nova defeats
Boost icons from the boost card are then added to Norman the enemy during this step, the rest of the attack sequence
Osborn’s ATK value of , which is treated as a value of 0. fails to resolve.
Norman Osborn then deals damage from the attack equal
to his modified ATK value (base of 0 ATK, plus the number MELEE (#30)
of boost icons on the boost card). In this specific situation, Q: Can Melee deal damage to the same enemy twice?
Norman Osborn’s “Forced Interrupt” does not trigger, A: No. When Melee deals damage a second time, that
as the attack is already past the point of “When Norman damage must be dealt to an enemy that is different from the
Osborn would attack...” by the time he changes to his first. Note that different stages of the villain are considered
Norman Osborn form. to be the same enemy.
Q: If I’m engaged with a minion with guard, can I target
that minion and the villain, as long as the minion would
be destroyed by the damage done by Melee?
A: Yes, as long as you defeat the minion with the first
sentence of the ability on Melee, you may deal damage to
the villain with the second sentence of the ability.

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 THOR HERO PACK IMAGES OF IKONN (#33)
Q: Can I resolve Images of Ikonn if the villain is already
JARNBJORN (#19) confused and there is no threat on a scheme?
Q: Can I trigger Jarnbjorn after I play an Attack event? A: Yes. As long as any part of the ability on Images of Ikonn
A: Yes. A hero is considered to make an attack both through can change the game state, then it will do as many effects
their basic attack power and actions with the (attack) label. as it is able. While its first effect may fail to change the
game state if the villain is already confused and there is no
BL ACK WIDOW HERO PACK threat on a scheme, its second effect can change the game
state by placing itself in the Invocation deck discard pile.
DANCE OF DEATH (#4)
Q: Dance of Death does not contain the (attack) HULK HERO PACK
label. Are each of its damage-dealing effects actually
considered attacks or is this a mistake? CRUSHING BLOW (#2)
A: The first sentence of Dance of Death’s ability defines Q: If Crushing Blow’s resource cost is reduced to 0, can
each damage-dealing effect from Dance of Death as an it be played without spend  resources?
individual attack. Resolve each as a normal attack, one at A: Yes. The “You can only spend  resources to pay for this
a time. card” ability on Crushing Blow only applies when actual
resources are being spent to pay for its resource cost. If its
Q: If Black Widow is stunned, will each attack from
resource cost is reduced to 0, no resources are required to
Dance of Death be prevented, or just the first attack?
pay for Crushing Blow, so no  resources must be spent.
A: Because Dance of Death creates three separate attacks,
a stun status card on Black Widow will only prevent the first
UNSTOPPABLE FORCE (#6)
attack. The second and third attack can be performed as
Q: If Unstoppable Force’s resource cost is reduced to 0,
normal.
will I draw 1 card from its second ability?
A: No. Because no resources were spent to pay for
ATTACROBATICS (#6)
Unstoppable Force’s resource cost, its “If you paid for this
Q: Can Attacrobatics cancel 0 boost icons?
ability using only  resources...” condition was not fulfilled,
A: No. Attacrobatics cannot be used to cancel the boost
so that effect will not resolve.
icons on a card that has none as doing as would not change
the game state.
CLASH OF TITANS (#28)
Q: If my highest-ATK character is an ally, and the attack
WIDOWS BITE (#10)
from Clash of Titans is undefended, which takes the
Q: If I have Widow’s Bite in play and I reveal a minion
damage: my identity or the ally that was attacked?
with quickstrike, which resolves first?
A: The ally will take all damage from the undefended attack.
A: Widow’s Bite resolves first. Widow’s Bite triggers after
the minion enters play, which is one step before the minion
engages a player. RISE OF RED SKULL E XPANSION
HAWKEYE’S QUIVER (#3)
DOCTOR STR ANGE HERO PACK Q: After using Hawkeye’s Quiver to search the top
5 cards of my deck, what should I do with those cards?
THE NIGHT NURSE (#19)
A: Shuffle those cards back into Hawkeye’s deck. After
Q: If the only status card on a hero is a tough status
a search ability is completed—no matter if that ability
card, is it discarded if I use The Night Nurse to heal that
searches the whole deck or only a portion of the deck—the
hero?
entire deck is shuffled.
A: Yes. The Night Nurse’s ability discards 1 status card from
that hero, no matter the type.
MARKED FOR DEATH (#28)
Q: When Marked for Death is revealed, if a copy of
UNFLAPPABLE (#20)
Mockingbird is already under a player’s control who is
Q: If while defending against an enemy attack, my
not Clint Barton, what happens?
identity takes damage from a “Boost” ability but takes
A: The Clint Barton player must search for Mockingbird in
no damage from the attacking enemy otherwise, can I
their hand, deck, discard pile, and play area, though cannot
still trigger Unflappable to draw a card?
place their Mockingbird under Marked for Death as there
A: Yes. The cost of the ability on Unflappable only requires
is already a unique character in play with the same title/
that the defending identity take no damage during step 4 of
subtitle (shuffle after searching a deck). However, when
the enemy attack.
Marked for Death is defeated, any copy of Mockingbird in
play (even one controlled by another player) is returned to
COUNTERSPELL (#30)
its owner’s hand.
Q: Counterspell says “Attach to your hero.” If I draw
Counterspell while in alter-ego form, what happens?
A: Counterspell attempts to attach to your hero but cannot.
Because it is unable to meet its condition, simply discard
it. (Do not reveal a new encounter card in its place.)

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JESSICA DREW (#31B) QUICKSILVER HERO PACK
Q: Does Jessica Drew’s Double Agent ability require her
deck to be built with two aspects? QUICKSILVER (#1A)
A: Yes. An equal number of cards from two different aspects Q: If Quicksilver attempts to make a basic attack or basic
must be included in her deck. thwart while stunned or confused, can his Super Speed
ability trigger?
FINESSE (#33) A: No. Stunned and confused status cards replace the usage
Q: Can Finesse generate a resource to pay for an aspect of the basic power with their removal. If Quicksilver makes a
card’s ability (such as Jarnbjorn)? basic attack while stunned or a basic thwart while confused,
A: Yes. As long as the resource generated by Finesse is he is not considered to have used a basic power and the
spent on an aspect card (its resource cost or a cost within condition of his Super Speed ability is not met.
that aspect card’s ability), Finesse can be used.
SC ARLET WITCH HERO PACK
THE ONCE AND FUTURE K ANG
SCENARIO PACK HEX BOLT (#4)
Q: For the second sentence of Hex Bolt, do the bulleted
DEPOWERED (#20) abilities resolve each time a card is discarded from the
Q: If Depowered is in Doctor Strange’s play area, can the encounter deck, or do the bulleted abilities resolve after
Doctor Strange player still use the Invocation deck? all 3 cards have been discarded?
A: Yes. The abilities on cards in the Invocation deck are merely A: As Hex Bolt does not contain an alteration effect, resolve
resolved, not played. the first sentence of Hex Bolt entirely, without interruption.
Then, determine and resolve the appropriate bulleted
abilities based off of what was discarded.
WA SP HERO PACK
SLIPPING SANITY (#23)
WASP (#1C) Q: Is it intentional that Scarlet Witch has two obligation
Q: While Wasp is in Giant hero form, how does her first cards?
ability interact the patrol keyword and the crisis icon? A: Yes. Scarlet Witch’s powers are chaotic, often working
A: Wasp’s first ability allows her basic thwart to in her favor, though also sometimes working against her.
simultaneously remove threat from each scheme that Wasp While she has many cards within her personal set that
chooses. Although Wasp may choose the main scheme as represent the positive facets of her powers, having multiple
a target while a card with the patrol keyword or a crisis icon obligations represents the negative facets.
is in play, no threat will be removed from the main scheme.
Due to the simultaneous nature of this ability, this applies
even if the card with the patrol keyword or crisis icon is GALA XY’S MOST WANTED EXPANSION
removed from play during her basic thwart’s resolution.
MODULAR ENCOUNTER SETS
Q: While Wasp is in Giant hero form, how does her second Q: In the Galaxy’s Most Wanted Expansion, which sets
ability interact with the guard keyword? are considered modular encounter sets?
A: Wasp’s second ability allows her basic attack to A: If an encounter set is not scenario-specific (containing
simultaneously damage each enemy that Wasp chooses. the name of that scenario in its encounter set name area)
Although Wasp may choose the villain as a target while a or campaign-specific (containing the word “Campaign”
card with the guard keyword is in play, no damage will be in its encounter set name area), then it is modular. The
dealt to the villain. Due to the simultaneous nature of this eight modular encounter sets in the Galaxy’s Most Wanted
ability, this applies even if the card with the guard keyword Expansion are: Badoon Headhunter, Band of Badoon,
is removed from play during her basic attack’s resolution. Galactic Artifacts, Kree Militants, Menagerie Medley,
Q: While Wasp is in Giant hero form, how does her second Power Stone, Space Pirates, and Ship Command.
ability interact with multiple enemies who have the
retaliate keyword? CAMPAIGN MODE
A: Wasp is considered to attack each target affected by her Q: Do I have to play in expert mode for each scenario in
divided basic attack. If Wasp’s basic attack is divided among an expert campaign?
multiple enemies with the retaliate keyword, each instance A: No. Increasing a campaign’s difficulty merely adds
of retaliate will damage Wasp (in the order of her choice). additional cards or setup instructions to each scenario in
that campaign. It does not lock players into any other mode
of play. For each scenario within a campaign, players are
encouraged to choose the other modes of play that are
right for them.

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 Q: If I play one scenario in expert mode, do I have to
play the next scenario using the same mode? APPENDIX V:
A: No. The players may, for instance, play one scenario of
the campaign using a combination of standard, heroic, ERRATA
and skirmish modes, then play the next scenario of the
campaign using simply expert mode. Players can mix and C APTAIN AMERIC A HERO PACK
match modes as they see fit between each scenario in
a campaign. HONORARY AVENGER (#25)
Should read: “Play only if your identity has the Avenger
ROCKET RACCOON (#29A) trait. Attach to a friendly character. Max 1 per character.
Q: If Rocket Raccoon uses his “Tinkering” ability but the Attached character gets +1 hit point and gains the Avenger
Tech upgrade is not placed into a discard pile (such as due trait.” (Added “Max 1 per character.”)
to Collector’s ability), will Rocket Raccoon draw 2 cards?
A: Yes. Discarding is the act of attempting to place a FOLLOWED (#32)
card into a discard pile. Even if the Tech upgrade ends up Should read: “Interrupt: When attached scheme is
in a different game area, the cost of Rocket Raccoon’s defeated, deal 4 damage to an enemy.” (Changed
“Tinkering” ability was still paid. “Response” to “Interrupt”.)

SALVAGE (#33) THOR HERO PACK

Q: If the Hulk ally (Core Set #50) discards Salvage, what
happens? LIGHTNING STRIKE (#6)
A: Hulk’s ability checks all printed resources on Salvage Should read: “Hero Action: Spend X  resources → deal
simultaneously, then resolves the appropriate effect X damage to the villain and each minion engaged with you.
based on the result. Because this check and resolution is This damage ignores tough status cards if you have the
simultaneous, the player who controls Hulk chooses the Aerial trait.” (Changed “attack” to “damage”.)
order in which the effects resolve.
LOKI (#28)
POWER STONE (#149) Should read: “Forced Interrupt: When Loki would be
Q: If an identity who controls the Power Stone is defeated, discard the top card of the encounter deck. If
defeated, what happens to the Power Stone? that card is a treachery, heal all damage from Loki instead.”
A: If a player is eliminated from the game while a (Changed “Interrupt” to “Forced Interrupt”.)
permanent card they do not own is in their play area,
place that permanent card in its owner’s discard pile. In
the case of the Power Stone, place it in the encounter THE WRECKING CREW SCENARIO PACK
discard pile.
“I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS!” (#41)
Should read: “When Revealed: The active villain heals 3 hit
points. Give that villain a tough status card.” (Changed
“gains” to “heals”.)

DOCTOR STR ANGE HERO PACK

IRON FIST (#14)
Should read: “Interrupt: When Iron Fist attacks an enemy,
remove 1 mystic counter from him → stun that enemy and
deal 1 damage to it.” (Changed “Response” to “Interrupt”.)

WARNING (#21)
Should read: “Interrupt: When a hero would take any
amount of damage, reduce that amount by 1.” (Removed
“(defense)” and the Defense trait.)

HULK HERO PACK

INNER DEMONS (#25)
Should read: “Give to the Bruce Banner player. Change
form (flip your identity). • If you are Bruce Banner, discard
2 cards from your hand. Discard this obligation. • If you are
Hulk, exhaust your hero. Discard this obligation.” (Removed
“Then:”.)

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RISE OF RED SKULL E XPANSION
AVENGERS TOWER (#21)
Should have the Avenger trait.

MARKED FOR DEATH (#28)

Should read: “When Revealed: The Clint Barton player
searches their hand, deck, discard pile, and play area for
Mockingbird and places her faceup beneath this card. When
this scheme is defeated, return Mockingbird to her owner’s
hand.” (Changed “stage” to “scheme”.)

HAIL HYDRA! (#57, #147)

Should read: “When Revealed: Each Hydra minion engaged
with a hero attacks that hero. Each player who was not
attacked this way searches the encounter deck and discard
pile for a Hydra minion and puts it into play engaged with
them. Shuffle the encounter deck if it was searched.”
(Changed the shuffle ability to only occur if the encounter
deck is searched.)

ATTACK ON MOUNT ATHENA (#61A)

Should read: “Contents: Crossbones (I) and Crossbones
(II). Crossbones, Experimental Weapons, and Standard
Encounter sets. Three modular sets (Hydra Assault, Weapon
Master, and Legions of Hydra).” (Changed “Hydra Patrol” to
“Hydra Assault”.)

GALA XY’S MOST WANTED EXPANSION

PG. 18, CAMPAIGN INSTRUCTIONS, SETUP, BULLET 1
Should read: “(Optional) Reveal the Kree Supremacy (#182A)
side scheme (use the reverse side for expert mode).”
(Added “(Optional)” before the instruction.)

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