Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game – Marvel Studios, Phase 1 (2018) Board Game

Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game – Marvel Studios, Phase 1, released in 2018, is a card game that allows players to build their own deck of heroes and fight against villains in the Marvel universe. Designed by Upper Deck Entertainment, this game is based on the popular Marvel Studios movies from Phase 1, including Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, and The Avengers.

Game Components of Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game – Marvel Studios, Phase 1

Cards: Nearly 600 cards, including Hero cards, Villain cards, Mastermind cards, Scheme Twists, and Master Strikes.

Hero Deck: Contains cards representing various Marvel heroes, with each hero having 14 cards (2 common, 1 uncommon, 1 rare).

Villain Deck: Includes cards for villains, henchmen, captured bystanders, Scheme Twists, and Master Strikes.

Game Board: A full-color game board.

Rule Book: A detailed color rule book.

Player Decks: Each player starts with a deck of 12 cards: 8 S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents and 4 S.H.I.E.L.D. Troopers.

How To Setup Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game – Marvel Studios, Phase 1

To set up the game, players first choose a Scheme, which details the Mastermind’s plan and the specific villains involved. They then select the Mastermind and the corresponding villain groups and henchmen. The Hero Deck is assembled with five to six different heroes, depending on the player count. Each player begins with a starter deck of S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents and Troopers. The Villain Deck is prepared by adding the chosen villains, henchmen, bystanders, Scheme Twists, and Master Strikes according to the selected Scheme.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Cooperative Play: Players work together to defeat the Mastermind and thwart the Scheme.

Deck Building: Players recruit Hero cards to build their deck, using Recruit points to add new heroes and Attack points to defeat villains.

Villain Invasion: At the start of each turn, the top card of the Villain Deck is revealed, introducing new villains or events.

Rescue Bystanders: Players can rescue bystanders, which are worth victory points.

Defeat Mastermind: Players must defeat the Mastermind’s four tactics (or five in some modes) to win the game.

Scheme Completion: If the Scheme is completed by the villains, the players lose.

Player Experience

Players engage in a dynamic and fast-paced game where they balance recruiting powerful heroes, defeating villains, and rescuing bystanders. The game requires strategic planning and teamwork, especially in cooperative mode. Each game offers high replayability due to the variety of Schemes, Masterminds, and heroes available.

Pros

High Replayability: Multiple Schemes, Masterminds, and heroes ensure diverse gameplay experiences.

Engaging Teamwork: Requires coordination and strategy among players.

Comic Lore Integration: Features characters and storylines from the Marvel Comics universe.

Addictive Fun: Combines deck-building strategy with Marvel-themed excitement.

Beautiful Artwork: Includes excellent comic-style artwork.

Cons

Complex Rules: Can be challenging for new players to learn and interpret.

Setup Time: Setting up and putting away the game can take 15-25 minutes.

Storage Issues: The box can be difficult to organize, especially with expansions.

Lengthy Games: Games can last 45-60+ minutes.

Personal Thoughts on Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game – Marvel Studios, Phase 1

This game is ideal for fans of Marvel and deck-building games. It offers a rich and engaging experience, especially for those who enjoy strategic teamwork and comic book lore. While it may have a steep learning curve and require significant setup time, the game’s depth and replayability make it well worth the investment. It is particularly suited for players who enjoy complex strategies and the thrill of battling against formidable villains in a cooperative environment.

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