Welcome to the Inaugural Edition of Risky Riddles. These Vs. System brain-stretchers are designed to give maximum personal puzzle pleasure while educating the entire community. I will be your humble host on these journeys into the crazy card combinations and outrageous ability interactions that make our game such an exhilarating intellectual exercise. Here we go!

When the Modern Age format announcement was made, I immediately realized that Longshot would not be legal for PC Amsterdam. So, I quickly turned to my second favorite character card, Mysterio. How do I love Mysterio? Let me count the ways . . .

1. The lack of facial features. Since I am a huge fan of abstract art, the fishbowl is great. Not being able to read a villain’s expressions is so broken.
2. Mysterio forces his enemies to hallucinate. He has no superpowers; he just creates illusions with his cool toys.
3. Evasion. The ability to stun oneself is sorely underrated. The Modern Age format will showcase how strong it really is.
4. Alternate recruitment is similar to free food. You just can’t beat it.
5. Swarms love smoke and mirrors. Having four copies of Mysterio by turn 5 after having recruited eight or more characters on turns 1 through 4? Seems like my kind of party.
6. Green and Purple. No explanation necessary.

The Marvel Modern Age will surely allow the evil illusionist to drop some mad tricks in the new environment, and Risky Riddles seeks to shake out some outrageous fifth turn fishbowl wins. I will now present your mission, should you choose to accept it.

For Risky Riddles #1, Marvel Modern Age is the format. You may only use cards from Web of Spider-Man and Marvel Knights. You must recruit Mysterio with boost on turns 4 and 5. You must win the game on turn 5, but you must first use the evasion on all four copies of Mysterio. This can occur on turn 4 if it needs to, but all four copies must use evasion at least once. You must use Team Spirit to recover all four copies of Mysterio before you put the opponent below 0 endurance. Your opponent will recruit and attack traditionally with a curve of “crash dummy characters.” These imaginary characters have no abilities. They are members of the Crash Dummy team, and their statistics will follow the curve like so:

Crash Dummy 1

2 ATK/2 DEF

Crash Dummy 2

3 ATK/3 DEF

Crash Dummy 3

5 ATK/5 DEF

Crash Dummy 4

7 ATK/7 DEF

Crash Dummy 5

9 ATK/9 DEF

Your opponent will use no plot twists or location effects. The five resources in your opponent’s row are blank. You may choose the odd or even initiative, but your opponent will attack in a logical fashion whenever possible. Your opponent will also recover characters logically—largest characters first.

Let’s review the assignment:

1. Over the course of turns 4 and 5, get four copies of Mysterio into play. You can recruit and play any other Modern Age cards you wish, as long as they are legal plays.
2. Use evasion at least once on all four copies of Mysterio. The evasion on the first two copies can occur on turn 4.
3. Recover all four copies of Mysterio before the end of turn 5 using Team Spirit.
4. Win the game on turn 5.
5. Create a decklist to go with your solution and give it a catchy title.
6. Have fun and have style.

All entries should be sent to me at fullbodytransplant@hotmail.com. All entries must be received before 9 PM EST, March 9, 2005. Winners will be judged on completion of requirements, most endurance loss caused, and creativity in combos. You must follow all rules of the game.

The winner will receive a box of Marvel Knights. Second place will receive half a box of Marvel Knights, and third place will get eight packs.

So there you have it. The first Risky Riddle promises to pull some rabbits out of some hats. Who knows . . . we might even stumble upon a tier one trick that blows the chains off the new Modern Age format! So break out those magic wands and light some candles before someone else makes you disappear. Poof!