Stephen won the die roll and selected the even initiatives. Both players mulliganed their openers. Kim led off with a first turn Galan. “That guy’s really good against my deck,” said Stephen as he played Ahura. There were no attacks, and Kim gained 2 endurance in recovery. For turn 2, Stephen recruited Black Bolt, Illuminati in his visible area. He chose to replace a Bron Char in his resource row. Kim recruited Franklin Richards, Creator of Counter-Earth in her concealed area. Stephen attacked Galan with Black Bolt and some help from Battleworld, then attacked directly with Ahura. Kim had no attacks back, and Franklin got a cosmic counter in recovery.

Kim led off turn 3 with Crystal, Elementelle behind Galan, KO’ing For the Glory of Doom for a copy of The Herald Ordeal. Stephen recruited Tonaja in the hidden area. For the first attack of the turn, Kim sent Crystal into Black Bolt. Stephen activated Battleworld for the stunback, and Kim flipped her resource row—The Herald Ordeal, Himalayan Enclave, and It’s Slobberin’ Time! Franklin attacked directly, and Galan was activated for 2 endurance. Stephen took Galan down with Tonaja, and passed. In recovery, Tonaja got a cosmic counter. Kim led, 49-40.

On turn 4, Stephen recruited Thing, Rockhead in front of Black Bolt. He also had Valeria Von Doom in his support row, discarding Mar-Vell ◊ Captain Marvel, Soldier of the Empire. Kim was forced to under-drop, recruiting San in her hidden area and searching up Battleworld. Before combat, Stephen flipped Pressed into Service, teaming-up Inhumans and Doom. He drew with Valeria and discarded Lieutenant Kona Lor. In combat, Black Bolt took down Galan. When Stephen proposed Thing into Crystal, Kim used Himalayan Enclave to move her to the hidden area. Stephen declared a direct attack for 16, and then passed to Kim, who took down Valeria with San. In recovery, Thing got a cosmic counter. Stephen now led, 38-34.

Kim had the initiative on turn 5 and recruited Paibok behind Galan. Stephen recruited Dr. Minerva in front of Black Bolt, missing completely, and followed her up with Nahrees in the support row of his hidden area. Thing was set protecting Valeria. In combat, Kim’s first attack sent Crystal into Dr. Minerva. The 2-drop was stunned. Next, San attacked Black Bolt. Again, the 2-drop stunned. Paibok traded with Thing, and Ahura’s ability moved Thing’s cosmic counter onto Nahrees. Franklin Richards attacked Valeria with Battleworld, and Stephen lost yet another character. Kim passed, and Stephen paid 2 to Nahrees so that Paibok wouldn’t ready. Tonaja mowed down Galan, but not before Stephen gained 2 endurance. Nahrees and Ahura attacked with Battleworld, and that was the turn. In recovery, only Thing and Paibok were left in the visible area. Stephen led, 23-16.

Stephen neglected to play a sixth resource and recruited Shatterax behind Thing. Kim recruited Dinu next to Paibok and moved Thing to the hidden area. Stephen sent Shatterax into Dinu and played Conquered Planet for +2 ATK. Kim took 7. Next, Nahrees attacked Paibok for 9. Both characters stunned, and Stephen moved Paibok’s counter to Thing. Stephen declared a team attack with all of his characters. Kim used Himalayan Enclave to move San over, and Stephen attacked with Thing. He played Doom Needs Only Doom, but Kim used Franklin Richards to move himself over and reinforce. Stephen still had more than enough ATK to bring Kim below 0, though, and that was the ballgame.