This matchup is a local grudge match. Rob Nieves is a Kings Games player who came up with one of the original versions of Rigged Elections, while Felix Dykhne is the manager of Neutral Ground. For those not from the area, these shops are the two biggest in the city, and there’s a friendly rivalry between them. Rob won the coin flip and selected the even initiatives. Felix mulliganed his opener, and after a bit of thought, Rob followed suit.

Neither player had a 1-drop. Rob missed on turn 2 as well, but Felix had Destroyer, Soulless Juggernaut. In recovery, Rob played Kindred Spirits from his resource row, fetching Stardust and Galactus, The Maker. On turn 3, Felix led off with Frankie Raye ◊ Nova, Soul Searcher in front of Destroyer. Rob recruited Jolen in his hidden area. In combat, Felix drew a card with Frankie and then attacked directly for 8. In recovery, Jolen picked up a cosmic counter.

Turn 4 was Rob’s initiative. He recruited his Stardust and passed. Felix had Morg, Slayer behind Frankie. At the beginning of combat, Felix drew. Jolen took down Destroyer and Stardust ran over Frankie Raye. Felix reinforced with Morg. In recovery, Morg picked up a cosmic counter. Felix led, 45-38.

On turn 5, Felix recruited Black Bolt, King of the Inhumans behind Frankie Raye. Morg was set in the support row. Rob recruited Shatterax with a Soul Gem in front of Stardust. In combat, Felix went into the tank. He eventually decided to send Morg into Shatterax. Rob flipped Extended Family, teaming-up Heralds of Galactus and Inhumans. He used Stardust to power Shatterax twice. But Felix had Relentless Onslaught to force the mutual stun. Both characters and the Soul Gem were bounced. Felix declared Black Bolt into Stardust, and the characters traded stuns. Frankie attacked directly. In recovery, Rob exhausted Jolen to flip The Kyln, targeting Black Bolt. The score was 40-23 in Felix’s favor.

Rob had a Soul Gem–equipped The Fallen One in front of Stardust for turn 6, while Felix had Destroyer, Harbinger of Devastation behind Frankie Raye. In combat, The Fallen One took down Frankie Raye, hitting Felix for 10 and removing the 3-drop from play. Rob sent Stardust and Jolen in a team attack into Destroyer, and Felix powered-up. Rob had a power-up of his own, but Felix teamed-up with For the Glory of Doom! and played Power Struggle. The attack was brickwalled. In recovery, after giving Destroyer a cosmic counter, Felix had the opportunity to recover Black Bolt. Felix still led, 30-20.

For the seventh turn, Felix recruited Silver Surfer, Harbinger of Oblivion, as well as a Power Gem for Black Bolt. He set up with his still-exhausted Destroyer protecting Black Bolt, and passed. Rob under-dropped with Shatterax from his resource row, and followed it up with Black Bolt, Illuminati. He chose to replace a Captain America, Skrull Impostor in his resource row with the top card of his deck. He set up with The Fallen One protecting Stardust and Shatterax protecting Black Bolt. In combat, Silver Surfer went after Stardust, and Rob reinforced. Black Bolt attacked Black Bolt with Sworn Enemies, and that was the game.