Charlotte Ashley is one of Toronto’s best Sealed Pack players, with multiple PCQ wins under her belt in the format. Both players were undefeated going into this match, and both had played one another before in previous events. 

Ashley began the banter. “You know, last time I played you I had this little moment of inspiration where I was like, ‘maybe I’ll go second! That’ll be fun!’ I lost brutally and I was like, ‘what was I thinking!?’” She laughed, won the roll, and opted to go first.

Both players mulliganed and Ashley opened up with Beast, Furry Blue Scientist on turn 1, swinging directly. Next turn Spears brought out Wasp, while Ashley recruited Melissa Gold ◊ Screaming Mimi. Wasp swung on Beast, Stormfront-1 flipped, and Mimi reinforced. Endurance totals were 48 to 49 in Ashley’s favor.

She recruited Captain America, Steve Rogers, but Spears grinned. He discarded Thor, God of Thunder for Avengers Assemble! and used it to fetch Black Panther! He revealed three reservist characters in his resource row to give him three counters and passed.

Captain America attacked Wasp, and Mimi and Beast attacked directly. Black Panther then attacked Beast, and the endurance totals dropped to 46–41 with Ashley still holding the lead. But, armed with his massive 7 ATK/6 DEF Black Panther, Spears was gearing up for a killer turn 4.

He recruited Mr. Hyde, Engine of Destruction from his resource row and sent Wasp to flit about behind him. Ashley had a problem—a distinct lack of a character to recruit. She formed into an L protecting Cap’ with Beast, and Wasp quickly wiped out the fuzzy blue cuddlemuffin.

Mr. Hyde attacked Captain America, and Ashley powered him up to go for the stun back. She got it, but it wasn’t mitigating the huge loss of board presence she was taking. Black Panther then attacked Screaming Mimi: Ashley blurted an expletive, realizing she could have burned with Mimi earlier in the turn.

Thunderball came to her aid next, but Spears recruited Amenhotep. “That’s my favorite character ever,” remarked Ashley. “Not busted or nothing. Nope!” she smiled. Spears chose an L-formation, protecting Hyde with Amenhotep, while Ashley left Captain America behind Thunderball. She flipped Pym Laboratories, sent Thunderball into Black Panther, and then tried to figure out what to do with Captain America. “I hate that guy,” she stated, pointing to Amenhotep with eyes narrowed. She took some time to consider her next move, as Amonhotep’s flight was giving her issues.

“Ehh . . . I’ll take the 6 then. Captain America attacks Wasp.” Spears flipped Two Worlds in response, reinforced with Hyde, and then sent Amenhotep into Captain America, Steve Rogers. He lost Wasp, recovered Black Panther, and play moved to turn 6 with Ashley at 18 to Spears’s 24.

“Oh . . . I have to laugh, otherwise I’d cry,” said Ashley in jest.

Spears recruited Nighthawk, gave Mr. Hyde the keys to the Thunder Jet, and pushed everything he controlled to the front. Ashley recruited Wonder Man, formed into an L—protecting Captain America with Thunderball—and passed.

Behavior Modification Device teamed up Avengers and Squadron Supreme to round out Spears’s team-up options. “Do I want to be greedy?” he asked rhetorically.

“I think so,” replied Ashley. “If I have a say, that is.”

“I think I’m gonna have to team attack Wonder Man,” mused Spears. He then re-counted Mr. Hyde’s ATK—a perfect 12 due to the equip, his own effect, and Nighthawk. He sent Hyde into Wonder Man alone, gave him a Repulsor Ray, and got the double stun. Amenhotep smoked Piledriver and recovered via his own effect, and Nighthawk swung for game on Captain America!

Dave Spears moves on with an undefeated record!