Gates opened with Archangel, Angel, who attacked directly for a quick 2 damage. On turn 2, Leader recruited Melissa Gold ◊ Songbird, Sonic Carapace, and Gates fired back with Beetle, Armorsmith. Melissa attacked Archangel, Gates didn’t reinforce, and Beetle and Melissa traded off. Gates lost Beetle, and it was 42 to 46.

Gates played Enemy of My Enemy from his resource row to trade Poison Ivy, Deadly Rose for Cardiac and recruited Cardiac behind Archangel. Leader recruited Sage, who protected Melissa Gold, and Gates flipped and ditched X-Corp: Amsterdam to fetch UN Building. Gates tried to flip it, but Leader pointed out that UN Building can’t team up just two teams. It went back face down, and Gates flipped another X-Corp: Amsterdam.

Cardiac activated to shock Songbird, but Leader flipped Die for Darkseid! and KO’d her. Sage popped a Flying Kick on Cardiac to dish out some heavy damage, and play progressed to turn 4.

Before laying a resource, Leader discarded Iron Fist, Danny Rand to search his deck for Golden Archer. He built a resource, recruited Black Panther, King of Wakanda, and used his effect to grab Flamethrower from his deck. Ape X was then recruited, getting Sage an Image Inducer. Leader recruited Dr. Light, Master of Holograms and activated him to bring Beetle, Armorsmith back from the KO’d pile. He discarded Black Cat, Master Thief to search for Coach with Beetle’s effect, and recruited Coach to the hidden area with his last resource point. He set up with Dr. Light protecting Archangel and Cardiac protecting Beetle, and Leader was up for combat.

Sage attacked Cardiac, and Cardiac activated targeting Ape X for a stun, but another Die for Darkseid! (this one from Leader’s hand) KO’d the monkey. Sage took down Cardiac, but UN Building let Beetle reinforce. Black Panther attacked Archangel, and a flurry of ATK pumps flipped from Leader’s row, with an end result of 15 endurance loss. There was no way that Gates was coming back from that, and he quickly scooped after the combat phase.

David Leader smashes Brian Gates and moves on with an X-1 record!