As the players shuffled up, Richardard seemed to have a problem with his deck. He wasn’t sure that it was thirty-one cards. After some discussion with the judges and confirmation that his deck matched his decklist, Richardard won the die roll and chose the odd initiatives. Both players mulliganed their opening hands, and after four fresh cards each, the game was on.
Turn 1 starts with Richard playing a resource and nothing else. Nick recruits Gypsy, Cynthia Reynolds to his concealed area and attacks directly for 1 endurance.
Turn 2: Nick lays a resource and recruits Bluejay to his visible area. Richard again has only a resource and takes another 5 direct endurance loss.
Turn 3: Richard finally has a recruit in the form of Lex Luthor, Nefarious Philanthropist into his front row. Nick recruits Shayera Thal ◊ Hawkwoman, Thanagarian Enforcer and places her in front of his Bluejay.
Richard sends Lex Luthor into Hawkwoman, and after the attack is legal, Nick responds with Shake it Off to power-up. Richard has an All Too Easy to counter for +4 ATK / -4 DEF and both characters stun. Nick takes an extra 4 endurance. With Richard’s board now clear, Bluejay and Gypsy swing directly for another 5 direct endurance loss to Richard, leaving the score at 44–40 in Nick’s favor at the end of the turn.
Turn 4: Nick is on the initiative and recruits Plastic Man, Eel O’Brian with the comment, “I’ll play this crapper.” He then added a Justice League Signal Device to his Hawkwoman. Richard had Despero, Master of the Third Eye and used his ability to name Hawkwoman.
The Signal Device reveals Ice, Tora Olafsdotter for Nick at the start of combat and he draws two extra cards from Richard’s Lex Luthor. Nick then sends Hawkwoman into Richard’s Lex Luthor, and both stun for 3 damage each. Nick then comments, “What I wouldn’t give for a Team-Up,” and passes his attack step. Richard sends Despero into Plastic Man for what seems like an easy stun, but Nick responds with Counterstrike and both characters stun. Plastic Man gets a counter. At recovery, Nick keeps Hawkwoman over Plastic Man, and Richard keeps Despero over Lex Luthor. The turn ends with the score at 35–33 in Nick’s favor.
Turn 5: Richard recruits Scarecrow, Psycho Psychologist in front of Despero. During his recruit step, Nick plays Membership Drive and then brings Dinah Laurel Lance ◊ Black Canary, Blonde Bombshell to the field with a counter from the Membership Drive. At formation, Nick transfers the Signal Device to Dinah Laurel Lance and reveals a plot twist that goes to the bottom of the deck at the start of combat.
On attack, Richard uses Slaughter Swamp to return Plastic Man from the KO pile to Nick’s hand and pays 3 to burn for 7 endurance with Scarecrow. Richard’s Despero then attacks Nick’s Hawkwoman, and Nick responds with Reform the League, discarding the Plastic Man that was returned to his hand. He then returns Gypsy to his hand for an additional power-up. Richard uses S.T.A.R. Labs Orbital Platform to give Despero +1 DEF to prevent the stun back.
On attack, Nick sends Dinah Laurel Lance into Richard’s Scarecrow with a natural power-up, and the turn ends at an even 24–24 with both players keeping their previous boards.
Turn 6: Nick has Hal Jordan, Hard-Traveling Hero and moves the Signal Device to Bluejay. Richard recruits Gorilla Grodd, which prompts a sigh from Nick. Richard forms up with Scarecrow and Despero both adjacent to Gorilla Grodd.
At combat, the Signal Device reveals Chomin, Qwardian Spy who goes to the bottom of the deck, and then Hal Jordan’s ability moves Despero to the other side of Gorilla Grodd. Richard uses Slaughter Swamp to again return Plastic Man to Nick’s hand and then Richard pays 3 to burn with Scarecrow. Nick takes 7 damage after some thought. Richard KO’s Despero to steal Hawkwoman with Gorilla Grodd when Nick declares Black Canary into him. “Man!” cries Nick.
Nick then sends Black Canary into Scarecrow, and Richard responds by exhausting him for Criminal Mastermind before he stuns. Blue Jay then attacks into Hawkwoman for the mutual stun. Finally, Nick’s Hal Jordan attacks into Gorilla Grodd with the assistance of a power-up from Reform the League and a Rallying Cry! After this brutal turn, the score stands at 15–4 in Nick’s favor.
Turn 7: Both players forget to draw an extra card from Criminal Mastermind, which is not discovered until Richard had already recruited, so a judge is called. After some deliberation, each player draws a card and play continues.
Richard recruits Rama Khan, Elemental Magician in front of Gorilla Grodd, and both move to the front row. Nick teams up with World’s Greatest Heroes to draw a card, finding his 7 drop Aquaman, King of the Seven Seas. At combat, the JL Signal Device sends Bizarro Ray to the bottom of the deck, and then Nick retrieves Shake it Off from his KO’d pile with Aquaman’s ability. Richard sends Rama Khan into Aquaman, exhausting S.T.A.R. Labs for his ability to power-up. Nick responds with the Shake it Off he retrieved, then powers-up with Reform the League. In response, Richard negates and steals the power-up with Wheel of Misfortune. Nick then uses Magnificent Seven from hand to power-up again, and then a Counterstrike. This prevents his own character from stunning while stunning Rama Khan. Richard has nothing to counter with and can only respond by extending the hand.
Nick Little Wins!