Hello Vs. System 2PCG Players!
As we prepare for the World Championship tomorrow at Gen Con, the developers thought you may have questions about some of the Keywords and specific card interactions, in addition to what is already in the Glossary in the Rule Book.
We have complied a list of some keywords and cards that may need a bit of explanation, and you’ll find that below.
Keywords
Berserker
When does he get the +1/+1 counter?
Right after you exhaust him to start the attack.
What if the attack gets canceled immediately (like by Ant-Man)?
He still gets the +1/+1 counter.
Dodge
What happens if there’s a Ranged attack, but I play Uncanny Defense to switch defenders and the new defender has Dodge?
The attack continues normally. Dodge only prevents enemies from starting a Ranged attack. Once the attack is in progress, if a character with Dodge becomes the defender the attack will continue.
Fearless
If I pump a Fearless character’s ATK what happens?
Fearless doesn’t check until the combat resolves. So let’s say you gave Daredevil +2 ATK for a total of 5 ATK. If he’s attacking a Main Character, he’ll strike for 10 ATK when the combat resolves.
Ferocious
How does a Ferocious attacker work in a Team Attack?
When the combat resolves, if the Ferocious attacker(s) has enough ATK to stun the defender, no other characters will strike.
If the Ferocious attacker(s) don’t have enough ATK to stun the defender, the non-Ferocious characters will then strike. Note: Any Ferocious attackers will add their ATK to the non-Ferocious attackers’ ATK to see if the defender gets stunned.
Example: Let’s say Black Panther (3/2 Ferocious) and Nick Fury (1/5) team attack Major Victory (2/4). When the combat resolves, Black Panther strikes first, but his 3 ATK isn’t enough to stun Major Victory. However that 3 ATK will get added to Nick Fury’s ATK when Nick Fury strikes in a moment.
After Black Panther strikes, then Nick Fury and Major Victory strike. So the attackers have 4 total ATK (enough to stun Major Victory) and Major Victory has 2 ATK which is enough to stun Black Panther.
What if it’s a team attack, and the attacker and defender both have Ferocious?
This time let’s say Black Panther (3/2 Ferocious) and Nick Fury (1/5) team attack Sabretooth (4/4).
When the combat resolves, Black Panther and Sabretooth each strike. Black Panther doesn’t have enough ATK to stun Sabretooth, but Sabretooth does have enough to stun Black Panther. Black Panther gets stunned, however his 3 ATK will still be added to Nick Fury’s when Nick Fury strikes, which will be enough to stun Sabretooth.
Freeze
Can I Freeze a stunned character?
Yes. When that character recovers on its next turn, it won’t ready.
Can I Freeze a character that’s already frozen?
Yes, but it won’t do anything.
I Am Groot
If Groot gets Nullified, what happens?
He gets stunned.
Inventive
Do I get to look at my face-down locations to choose which one to turn face up?
Yes. You can look at your face-down cards at any time during the game.
Leader
If I’m team attacking with a Leader, can I choose to have the defender strike back against an attacker it won’t stun?
Yes.
If I’m team attacking with a Leader, can I choose to have the defender strike back against a character it’s not allowed to strike back against? (Like a back row defender trying to strike back against Namor?)
Yes. And then it will fail to strike.
If I’m team attacking with a Leader and the defender has Monstrous, what happens?
Monstrous wins. The defender strikes back against all attackers. It’s abominable.
Lethal
Does Lethal trigger in a team attack if the Lethal attacker didn’t have enough ATK to stun the defender on its own?
Yes. As long as the Lethal character was part of the attack, she gets “credit” for stunning the defender.
Mercenary
Let’s say the Mercenary has the X-Men team affiliation. Can he team attack with an Avengers Main Character and other X-Men Supporting Characters at the same time?
No, because the Avengers Main Character and the X-Men Supporting Characters don’t share a Team Affiliation.
Can he team attack with an Avengers Main Character and some Avengers Supporting Characters?
No, because he and the Avengers Supporting Characters don’t share a Team Affiliation.
Mind Games
Can you choose to use this power on yourself?
Yes.
Monstrous
Do I have to have him strike back against each attacker? (Maybe there’s one I don’t want to stun.)
Yes, it’s not optional.
What happens if my opponent has a Leader in a team attack against my Monstrous defender?
Monstrous wins. Your defender will strike back against each attacker. It’s still abominable.
Mutant Power Duplication
How does this power work?
No matter where she is (your hand, your KO pile, or in play), this card has all the powers of each face-up X-Men supporting character on your side. This includes appears powers (like Iceman and Emma Frost), Flight, Range, and even Deadpool’s “Can’t Keep a Bad Man Down” power. I know, it’s awesome.
Nullify
What happens if a character with Nullify loses its powers?
When a Nullify power gets temporarily turned off (i.e. by an enemy with Nullify), it stops nullifying the character it chose. But if it gets its power back it’ll go back to nullifying the chosen character.
Can I Nullify a Main Character?
Yes.
If I Nullify a Main Character, does it lose its Level Up Powers too?
No. Level Up Powers are not Keyword or Super Powers.
Rebirth
Can I use a Rebirth power on the same turn I played a resource normally?
Yes. It’s essentially an extra resource.
If a character with Rebirth gets KO’d by the Uniqueness rules (i.e. I play a second copy of Mantis) can I still use her Rebirth power?
Yes.
Shrink
When can I cancel the combat?
Right after your character with Shrink is attacked, you must decide whether or not to cancel the combat. If you choose not to cancel it, the combat proceeds normally with the attacking player having the first opportunity to play a Plot Twist, use a Super Power, etc.
Swarm
Why does it say “This power can’t be turned off.”?
Normally when a character gets stunned (or Nullified) it loses it temporarily loses its powers. However, the Swarm power can never be lost. (Otherwise, the uniqueness rules would KO so many Ultrons!)
Toss
Does the “tossed” character have to be the next one to attack?
No, you can still attack in any order. Just imagine that while the fighting is going on, the tossed character is sailing through the air. Whee!
Main Characters
Captain America
Does his “Avengers Assemble” power work even if he’s not one of the team attackers?
Yes.
If Cap team attacks with one other character, but in the middle of combat the other character gets stunned by a Plot Twist or Super Power, but Cap still stuns the defender, will he get an XP?
No. Once the other character gets stunned mid-combat, it stops being a team attack and becomes a solo attack so Cap won’t get the XP. For Cap to get the XP it must be a team attack at the beginning and end of the combat.
Deadpool
If I’m playing with 3 or 4 players, do ALL enemy characters have to be stunned for Deadpool to gain an XP?
No. At the end of your turn, if any enemy player has no face-up characters, Deadpool will gain 1 XP. (If two or more players have all stunned characters, Deadpool still only gains 1 XP.)
What’s going on with his “Oh, there’s someone! Hi there!” power?
If all of an enemy player’s characters are stunned, Deadpool can attack that player. If the attack stuns the player, that player is KO’d and is out of the game. (The same way as if his Main Character has been KO’d.)
That’s weird.
Yes it is.
What does “the player counts as a supporting character” mean?
It means that if Deadpool is attacking you, you can play Plot Twists that would help a supporting character to increase your stats or otherwise survive the combat.
What if an effect puts a +1/+1 or -1/-1 counter on me while I’m defending against Deadpool?
It goes on you. If this puts you to 0 DEF, you’ll get stunned (and KO’d). If it makes your stats better, that could help you survive this attack and will stick around to help you if he attacks you again on a later turn.
But where do I put the counter?
I’m not going to tell you how to live your life.
What if I get KO’d?
You’re out of the game, the same way as if your Main Character got KO’d. (You do not actually lose consciousness.)
After Deadpool uses his “Oh, there’s Someone! Hi there!” power, can he team attack a player?
No, the other characters don’t know what a player is.
Gamora
Does her Deadliest Woman in the Universe power work if a Main Character attacked her (and she stunned it)?
Yes.
Does Godslayer Blade work on Main Characters?
Yes.
Green Goblin
How does his Sadistic Choice power work?
First, you choose which character you want to stun. Then your opponent may discard a random card from their hand. If they can’t or choose not to, then that character gets stunned.
Groot
Why are so many of his powers called “I am Groot”?
I am Groot.
What happens when his “We Are Groot” power makes him become Level 1?
You switch his Level 2 version with his Level 1 version the same way you switched him from Level 1 to Level 2.
Can he gain XP and level up again?
Yes.
Iron Man
For his Armor Mk 3 power, can Iron Man be the one who powered-up?
Yes. It can be Iron Man or another character on your side.
Hulk
For his Banner’s Influence power, can I just remove some +1/+1 counters?
No, you must remove them all.
Loki
How does his God of Mischief power work?
During combat when you activate that power, you immediately choose and play a Combat Plot Twist from your KO pile, as though you played it from hand. Then when it resolves, shuffle it into your deck.
Magneto
If I go first, will his Mutant Master power trigger on the very first turn of the game?
Yes.
Professor X
If I stun an enemy without attacking (like with Gambit’s “Kinetic Card Throw”), will I still get the XP from A Dream of Peace?
Yes. (Clever!)
Can I steal a Main Character with Mental Domination?
Yes.
How does that work?
You control that character for the whole turn as though it were your own. If it gets stunned, it takes a wound as normal. If that wound would KO it, it gets KO’d as normal and that player is out of the game. It can even gain XP and level up, but we would recommend against doing that for your opponent.
But doesn’t that mean that player won’t have a Main Character at all for the rest of my turn?
Yes, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.
When I have to “move it back” at the end of my turn, can I put it in either their Front or Back Row?
You choose where to move it back to.
Rocket
Will his Back Against the Wall power trigger if I have no cards for a moment in the middle of resolving an effect? For example, if I use Emma Frost’s Mind Games on myself?
No. You have to have no cards after the effect has finished resolving.
Can I discard a Skill location to activate One Raccoon’s Garbage and then randomly get it back with that power?
Yes. If you’re lucky enough.
Spider-Man
Why wouldn’t I always just play Spider-Man? He’s the best!
I have no idea why. He really is the best.
Star-Lord
Does Space Cop affect Level Up powers?
Yes.
Does it affect Flight and Ranged?
Yes.
Storm
With her “Lightning Storm” power, can I put both -1/-1 counters on the same enemy character?
Yes.
Will using Deadpool’s (supporting character) power “Can’t Keep a Bad Man Down” trigger Storm’s “Children of the Atom”?
Yes.
Wolverine
If Wolverine team attacks with one other character, but in the middle of combat the other character gets stunned by a Plot Twist or Super Power, and then Wolverine stuns the defender, will Wolverine get an XP because now it ended up being a solo attack?
No, because when Wolverine first made the attack it was a Team Attack. It needs to be a solo attack at the beginning and end of the combat.
Supporting Characters
Adam Warlock
If I don’t use his Emerge power, will he recover normally during my next Recovery Phase?
Yes. But he’s huge! Spend that MIGHT and start bashing with him right away, man!
Cosmo
Can I Nullify a Main Character?
Yes.
If I Nullify a Main Character, does it lose its Level Up Powers too?
No. Level Up Powers are not Keyword or Super Powers.
Dormammu
When I use Necromancy can I put the character into my Front or Back Row? Can it attack that turn?
Either is fine. Yes, it can attack that turn.
Even the Odds
How does this card work?
You can use it to “reset” an enemy back to its base stats. You remove all +1/+1 counters from it and any modifiers that were affecting its base ATK and DEF go away.
What happens if after I play Even the Odds on a character to “reset” it, my opponent plays a Plot Twist to increase its ATK?
Even the Odds resets a character one time and then has no further effect. So the Plot Twist will work normally.
Cable
How does his Ultimate Soldier power work?
When you activate his power while he’s attacking, it means the defender will get stunned at the end of the combat even if the attackers’ ATK isn’t as much as the defender’s DEF.
What happens if I use his power but the combat gets canceled?
Cable’s power has no effect since the combat didn’t come to its natural conclusion. It doesn’t matter if the combat was canceled due to a card effect like Think Again or due to all of the attackers getting stunned.
What happens if he’s team attacking and I use his power, but then he gets stunned before the combat resolves?
His power will still trigger and stun the defender even though Cable himself got stunned before the combat resolved.
Dr. Strange
Can his Transmute power stun someone?
Yes, if they had enough +1/+1 counters, those counters will become -1/-1 counters which can stun someone.
Gambit
Can I use Kinetic Card Throw to discard a card even if there’s no enemy supporting character to stun? (For example, can I use Gambit to put Deadpool into my KO Pile even if there’s no enemies with cost 3 or less in play?)
No. There must be a face-up enemy supporting character in play.
Juggernaut
How does his Unstoppable power work?
You make a solo attack with him against a front row character, then during combat you activate his power. If he stuns the defender and survives the combat, you may then immediately make another solo attack with him against a back row character controlled by the same player. Leave Juggernaut exhausted and dive right into his second combat. You can attack a back row character this way even if there are still face up front row characters.
Mandarin
Can use all his powers in the same turn?
Yes. They all share the name Makluan Rings, but they are different powers.
Luke Cage
When I use his Impervious Skin power, what happens if he gets stunned?
Everything happens normally – he turns face down, loses all +1/+1 or -1/-1 counters, etc. – the only difference is he won’t gain a wound.
Ms. Marvel
Does she count stunned characters?
No, because stunned character lose their powers including the Ranged symbol.
Mystique
After I use her Impersonate power to copy someone’s ATK and DEF, what happens if that character’s ATK or DEF change?
Nothing. Mystique locks in whatever that character’s current ATK and DEF are as her Base ATK and DEF for the turn. If they change later it doesn’t affect her.
What happens if Mystique has any +1/+1 counters when I use Impersonate?
Apply the +1/+1s after her stats change. For example, let’s say she has two +1/+1 counters and she Impersonate’s a 4/7 character. She’ll become 4/7 with two +1/+1 counters for an end result of 6/9.
Nick Fury
Do I have to show my opponent the card I put into my resource row?
No. When you activate his power, take the top card of your deck and place it face down. However, you may look at it, and if it’s a Location you can turn it face up.
Professor X
When I have to “move it back” at the end of my turn, can I put it in either their Front or Back Row?
You choose where to move it back to.
Red Skull
How does Dust of Death work?
It will stun one character that is melee attacking the Red Skull. If that was the only attacker in the combat, the combat will be canceled.
Ronan
Do I have to name a card that’s in play?
No, you can name any card, including Characters, Plot Twists, and Locations.
Thanos
Can he put a wound on my opponent’s main character?
Yes. In fact, he affects all stunned characters so he could put a wound on your main character too.
Plot Twists
Even the Odds
How does this work?
This Plot Twist essentially resets a character back to its normal stats. For example, let’s say it’s a 3/3 that has two +1/+1 counters and your opponent has used a Super Power to give it +3/+0 and a Plot Twist to give it +2/+2. After you play Even the Odds it will go back to being a 3/3.
But Even the Odds is a one-time effect. If your opponent then plays a new stat modification it will work normally.
Metal and Fire
If I’m playing with 3 players and the other two players have characters in combat, can I play this?
Yes. It will put a -1/-1 counter on each character in the combat.
Trickster God
How does this work?
When you play it switch the character’s current stats. Any new stat changes will work as normal off those switched stats. For example, let’s say you have a 4/7. When you play Trickster God it becomes a 7/4. Then if you give it +3 DEF it becomes a 7/7.
Uncanny Defenses
Can I switch the defender with a stunned character on my side?
No. You can only replace a defender with a face-up character. (Stunned characters can’t enter combat.)
Can I play it if I don’t have a valid character to replace the defender?
Yes, but nothing will happen.
What happens if I make a ranged attack and my opponent plays a Plot Twist to switch the defender to a character with Dodge?
Once an attack starts, it can no longer be made illegal. So that attack will continue as normal.
Combat Sequence
- Choose attacker(s) and defender.
- The attack must be legal now (e.g. if it’s a Ranged Attack all attackers must be Ranged).
- If it becomes illegal later that doesn’t matter (e.g. it’s a Ranged Attack and the defender gets switched with a character who has Dodge).
- Any “when this character attacks” or “when this character gets attacked” effects trigger now.
- Each player can play Plot Twists and activate Super Powers.
- If this causes a character to get stunned, that character is removed from the combat.
- If all attackers or defenders get removed from combat, the attack is canceled.
- A card effect might also cancel the combat.
- Combat resolves
- First all Ferocious characters strike simultaneously. This could cause characters to get stunned. Then all other non-stunned characters strike simultaneously.
- Note: If a Ferocious strike stuns the only attacker or defender, this doesn’t cancel the combat. (Effects like Cable’s Ultimate Soldier will still occur.)
- Any “when this character stuns an enemy character” or “at the end of this combat” effects trigger now.
13 Comments
Does lv 1 wolverine get experience from a solo attack if he is stunned durring that combat? If he does not how can the lv 1hulk.
Do i need a face up xmen to play uncanny defense while its in my ko pile if im using lv 1 lokis power?
Even the odds question. Does this card remove -1/-1 counters? If it doesn’t even the odds resolves is the -1/-1 counter still count towards the atk/def modifiers, or does it get removed?
Who’s resource row does a stolen Mantis end up when she is knocked out?
What if you team attack with a 3/3 and a 2/2 to a 4/4 ferocious character, does the ferocious character stun the 3/3 or 2/2 before the attack goes threw or does the team attack still go threw and stun the ferocious character.
The Ferocious character resolves first. If there is still an attacking character left the battle resolves as normal.
This really needs to be updated with the new cards that have come out.
If Singularity removes a main characters, does that MC team affiliation still apply/exist for Helmut zero to target a card? In other words, doest Helmut zero still have to obey that affiliation or can he target any character card because you don’t have an MC?
Helmut Zero can choose any character because at that time, the opponent does not control an MC.
Does Daredevil Main Character still get xp for protecting if he gets stunned? What is the sequence of events at the end of combat?
Daredevil’s card states ‘When Daredevil gets attacked, if he is protecting a character, he gains an XP.’
The moment your opponent declares an attack on Daredevil in your front row, and if you have a face up character in your back row, Daredevil gains an XP. If the result of the fight leaves Daredevil stunned he was still protecting a character at the start of the attack.
Is there somewhere an updated list, including the current Sets, around?
Can Ghost Raider MC attack characters in atlantis row?
Characters in the Atlantis row cannot be attacked if there are any face up characters in the opponent’s front or back rows.