Both of these players have had their fair share of success on the Pro Circuit. Joe is a native Floridian who drove here for the weekend. Craig, the more successful of the two players, also hails from Florida—he’s a Massachusetts native and member of team YMG who relocated here in June. Craig took the odd initiatives, and both players kept their openers.
Neither player had a play on the first turn. Joe had Element Lad from his resource row on turn 2, while Craig recruited Parademon Elite. The characters traded stuns in combat. On turn 3, Craig under-dropped with Saturn Queen in his concealed area. Joe had Dark Firestorm in his concealed area. Craig used the Queen’s backup on Element Lad, and in combat, the 2-drops again traded stuns. Joe discarded a card to allow his Lad to ready and smashed back with Dark Firestorm. Joe led the endurance race, 45-41.
On turn 4, Joe recruited Glorith. Craig had Darkseid, Apokoliptian Oppressor next to Parademon Elite in his resource row. In combat, Joe used Glorith’s ability, and Craig discarded a now-useless Time Trapper to prevent the endurance gain. In combat, Joey sent Element Lad into Parademon Elite, and Craig reinforced. Both characters stunned. Glorith went after Darkseid, and Joe played Five Against One, allowing Craig to draw a card. Darkseid stunned. Dark Firestorm attacked directly for another 5, and in recovery, Dark Circle Rising gained 2 for Joe. Parademon Elite was lost, and Joe still led, 45-29.
Both players had Computo, Rogue Program for turn 5. Joe set up with the 5-drop protecting Element Lad and Glorith alone in the front row. Craig sent 5-drop into 5-drop, and Joe teamed-up Future Foes and Legionaires with Joining the Darkseid to reinforce. This drew Craig a card, and he played Lost in Translation to halt reinforcement. Saturn Queen traded stuns with Element Lad, and Darkseid went after Glorith. Joe used her ability, and Craig discarded a card. Craig played Furious Assault to stun Glorith. In recovery, Saturn Queen, Element Lad, and Glorith were lost. Joe still led, 32-22.
Joe had the initiative on turn 6, and he recruited Ol-Vir in the support row. Craig had Mordru, The Merciless behind Computo. In combat, Joe used Ol-Vir’s ability, and Craig chose to discard. Joe sent Ol-Vir into Computo, and Craig teamed-up with Past, Present, and Future to reinforce. Joe’s Computo went after Darkseid, and Craig contemplated the merits of further reinforcement. He decided that it was worth it. Neither player had further attacks, and Darkseid was KO’d in recovery. Joe’s lead had widened to 32-13.
To kick off turn 7, Craig substituted in a Dark Champion. Next on the menu was Superboy, Yellow Sun Armor. Joe had a Superboy of his own, then recruited Beast Boy ◊ Animal Man. Joe set up with Beast Boy protecting Ol-Vir, and passed. In combat, Joe used Ol-Vir’s ability, and Craig chose to discard. In combat, Craig played Legion of the Damned. He sent Computo into Beast Boy, and both characters were stunned and KO’d. Craig drew a card and Joe discarded a card in the process. Next, Superboy went after Ol-Vir. Joe flipped Generation Next and attempted to reinforce, but Craig had a devastating Five Against One. Ol-Vir was stunned and KO’d. Neither player had further effects in combat, so that was the turn. Joe’s lead had shrunk to 11-8.
On turn 8, Joe under-dropped with Mordru. Craig terraformed United Planets HQ before recruiting Koriand’r ◊ Starfire, Tamaranian Princess. He set up with Dark Champion flanked by his other characters in the support row. In combat, Joe went into the tank. Mordru attacked Koriand’r with High Society. Craig didn’t have anything to stop the attack, and that more or less sealed up the game.