Sealed Pack & Silver Age Interview

The interesting thing about Dave Redfern isn't X wins under his belt, or Y finals to his name — it's his lack of both that is fascinating. Practically top of the Oceanic tables, this world-regarded player is still yet to prove himself in a professional context. Missing out on $10K wins is one thing, but it's a whole other kettle of fish when you actually know what you're doing. Is it the money at stake? Who knows . . . Regardless, it simply has to be Dave's time to shine, if only for inevitability.

Who is your favorite comic character?

It's always been Aquaman. I think because as a kid I had a staple diet of the old Superfriends cartoon, and he was always the fish out of water (ed: Badum-ching!) that I kind of related to.

What card do you most want to crack in sealed today?

Kate Spencer, Manhunter.

Is there any card you can build a deck around in Crisis Sealed Pack? (eg in

X-Men: BBB, Sinister Citadel etc)

Not really. I would have said Dr. Fate's Tower, but it works with a very

small group of cards that are highly picked, and is therefore a much

higher risk strategy than BBB and Citadel were. I think I'd pass a tower

and then pick any artifacts that came my way.

What do you think is the best archetype / overall strategy in Crisis Sealed Pack?

Curve with a bias toward lower drops.

Higher than average 1's, 2's and 3's; less 5's, 6's and 7's. There are some really good off-curve options, and I think it improves your deck’s flexibility and play to have them sitting there, rather than being dedicated to off-curve or curve. Generally 6-7 1's and 2's, 5-6 3's, 3-4 4's, 2 5's, 2 6's, 0-1 7 rather than the 0-5-4-4-3-2-2 standard curve.

What's the most underrated card in Sealed Pack?

Join Us or Die — it needs the right guys to work with, but when it

Works . . .

With some of the vengeance guys, this can be quite a trick. Particularly good with Dr. Polaris or Mr. Freeze on defense (exhaust an extra guy, or with Mr. Freeze stun him with Join Us or Die after they've ensured the stun and stop the attacker from readying after voiding the combat). Can be a Grand Gesture with Black Adam, Teth-Adam around also. Even just stopping the combat after a few pumps have been blown (granted, in this set most of them last for the turn, but you may catch a Rann/Brother Eye activation) at the cost of a few endurance and stunning your guy can be good. It takes planning but it's a great trick that's very hard to play around.

Who is going to win today?

Someone nobody backed — I think it's pretty open.

What's the most busted card in Vs. System at the moment?

What's the best deck in Silver Age?

I've got a soft spot for Good Guys. It may not be the best, but at least it's honest.

Are you excited about Heralds of Galactus?

Not really. I enjoy the DC sets a lot more because I know all of the characters. I'm hoping it will have a different feel from the last few Marvel sets and maybe be one turn slower on average, with some good defense tricks. I'm really hanging out for Legion, though (the new set AFTER Heralds). Make it good TBS...