Mike is from Long Island, and Dustin hails from New Jersey. Mike is an experienced $10K player who has had little success, and Dustin is a lapsed Pro Circuit player who’s coming back to the game after six months. Mike won the die roll and took the even initiatives.

Dustin had no 1-drop, and Mike had Spoiler, Stephanie Brown. Mike had Mr. Fantastic, Reed Richards for turn 2, while Dustin missed again. Mike attacked directly with both of his characters, and that was the turn.

On turn 3, Dustin recruited Roy Harper ◊ Arsenal, Sharpshooter. Mike dropped Leech and Invisible Woman, The Invisible Girl before activating Mr. Fantastic. The 2-drop yielded him a Utility Belt, which was recruited onto Spoiler. In combat, Roy went after Spoiler. Mike played A Child Named Valeria to stop the stun, but Dustin had both Tamaran and Titans Tower to force through breakthrough. The endurance totals were tied at 46.

For turn 4, Mike recruited Dr. Light, Master of Holograms. He played Straight to the Grave for Melissa Gold ◊ Screaming Mimi, Mimi Schwartz. Dr. Light brought her back into play, and Mike’s remaining resource point was used to burn Dustin for 6. Dustin recruited Terra, and in response to the recruit, Mike played another Child Named Valeria. In combat, Mike passed. Dustin sent Terra and Roy to do breakthrough on Spoiler in succession. Roy was again aided by both Tamaran and Tower activations. In recovery, Dustin led 40-36.

Dustin hit Garth ◊ Tempest on turn 5. Mike recruited Ted Kord ◊ Blue Beetle and Black Cat, Master Thief. He paid a resource point to burn Dustin for 8, then used Ted to search up a Flamethrower, discarding Scarlet Witch, Eldritch Enchantress. Invisible Woman picked up the Flamethrower, and Mike passed. In combat, Dustin sent Garth after Leech. Mike flipped UN Building, naming Emerald Enemies, Morlocks, and Fantastic Four. He reinforced with Dr. Light. Next, Roy Harper went after Spoiler. Dustin used Tamaran for +1 ATK and the Tower for +5 ATK before passing. Spoiler stunned and Mike took the full amount. Terra attacked Melissa Gold, and again, Mike had no choice but to take it. After these attacks were concluded, Dustin played Betrayal twice with the aid of Garth. Black Cat and Ted Kord were stunned. Mike chose not to attack, instead burning Dustin for 5 with Flamethrower. Dustin allowed it, then played Meltdown on it. In recovery, Mike recovered Spoiler. The endurance score was 24-17 in Dustin’s favor.

In the build phase on turn 6, Dustin used Terra to stun Dr. Light. Mike used Fantastic, yielding another Flamethrower. Mike recruited a fresh Fantastic and attempted to equip him with the Flamethrower. In response, Dustin recurred Meltdown to remove the Utility Belt that both players had failed to notice when Terra was activated. He stunned Fantastic with Roy in response to the Flamethrower, and the equipment went to the KO’d pile. Mike, left with only Spoiler and Invisible Woman, had no further recruits. Dustin played Dawn Granger ◊ Dove with boost, yielding Hank Hall ◊ Hawk. In combat, Hawk and Dove took down Invisible Woman with sequential attacks, and Garth took down Spoiler. Mike scooped.