Dustin Pidgeon qualified in a local-level PCQ. From Brunswick, New Jersey, he was running a nearly all-concealed deck that was giving incredible results to those who were playing it. Vincent Greco was playing yet another of the day’s surprisingly successful decks, Wild Pack swarm.
Both players sat and stared at the PC tablet score-entry device sitting on the feature-match table. Linked via network to the LCD screens hanging high above the feature-match area, the machine was prodded idly by Pidgeon.
“I don’t think I want to use this.”
“High roll doesn’t use the thingy!” cried Greco, rolling a perfect 20.
“Crap!” exclaimed Pidgeon, resignedly accepting the stylus and returning to his exploratory prodding of the tablet.
Greco began the game by recruiting his first Wild Pack, which quickly got to accost its first victim, Dagger, Child of Light. Dagger would stick around for a while, as she was Pidgeon’s only character for turn 2, while Greco recruited another Wild Pack and Mary Jane Watson—a foreboding hint of what was to come. Dagger attacked Mary Jane for the double stun, and then Greco attacked directly with both Wild Packs.
On the next turn, Greco recruited Silver Sable and a third Wild Pack before passing play to Pidgeon. Greco was making interesting formation decisions, again placing Mary Jane in the front row and hiding Sable behind her this time. Pidgeon recruited Death-Stalker. Two Wild Packs quickly jumped Dagger, and she ran back to the hand. Death-Stalker emerged From the Shadows, and all three Wild Packs pounced on him. Greco got to draw a card for MJ’s effect as a Wild Pack went down. Sable and MJ then team attacked Pidgeon directly. At the end of the turn, Greco was leading in endurance, 47 to 38.
Pidgeon had the initiative for turn 4, so he recruited Elektra, Elektra Natchios and Dagger. Greco recruited Spider-Man, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and a fourth Wild Pack, giving MJ, Silver Sable, and Spidey each a Wild Pack to hide behind. Dagger took a shot at a Wild Pack.
“Effects?”
“Nope,” replied Pidgeon, who immediately showed signs of disbelief about what he just did—Dagger was stunned, but Wild Pack was not. Death-Stalker attacked the Wild Pack shielding Spider-Man, and then Elektra leaped at Spidey for the double stun. Nothing attacked from Greco’s side, but before the recovery phase, Pidgeon Quick Killed Spider-Man. Greco drew two cards in response via ESU Science Lab, but he couldn’t stop the Kill. He’d lost Spidey, while Pidgeon lost Dagger.
Greco played Twist of Fate, taking a copy of Scarlet Spider, Ben Reilly. He then recruited Spider-Man, Alien Symbiote, while Pidgeon recruited Elektra, Agent of the Hand and KO’d his previous Elektra. Spider-Man smashed face on Death-Stalker, putting Pidgeon at 27 to his 42 endurance. Greco then attacked with everything into Pidgeon for an additional 15 endurance loss.
“I’ll take it,” said Pidgeon, a little disgusted with being utterly helpless against such big hitters like Mary Jane. Elektra then moved into catfight mode and took off after MJ in revenge. Greco powered MJ up, however, preventing all breakthrough.
Pidgeon set a sixth resource. “I have to Wild Ride.” He wasn’t happy, and he was less happy when he found out that all he had to recruit was Daredevil, Matt Murdock. He had nothing to fill the final resource point, so he passed. Without skipping a beat, Greco played a resource, recruited Scarlet Spider, Ben Reilly, formed up, and passed. Two Wild Packs protected Silver Sable and Mary Jane, while Spider-Man and Scarlet Spider protected two more Wild Packs. Daredevil flew into the back-row Wild Pack behind Scarlet Spider thanks to 3 endurance from Pidgeon, but MJ prevented the breakthrough. At that point, Pidgeon needed to see the card for a moment—this deck was really taking everyone by surprise. Elektra then hurled herself at Scarlet Spider with the help of No Fear, and a power-up again killed the breakthrough. Pidgeon laughed a moment and then scooped.
Vincent Greco wins the match.