Nice review! I've been focusing on playing her with Cyclops, two-handed. In that case, mental paralysis has a niche use, a very niche use on turns when she wasn't flipping down and when Cyclops had no kill power left. The upgrade can temporarily hold a minion at bay and then allow him to shoot it the next turn. One thing that I've liked about mental blast is that it is damage that is not an attack. I'm glad you find her fun.
Would you recommend Phoenix for a newer player? She's the hero I'm most interested in buying but I've heard that her Nemesis may make her a bit too hard for newer players.
I think she is fine for newer players. Her Nemesis is rough (almost a game over situation) but I think after a few plays you will get the hang of it...
As a 4-player gamer, I can confirm Dark Phoenix/Consume the World is scarier. The one game "Shadows of the Past" brought Dark Phoenix out, the encounter deck was running out. "Fiery Rage" may not be much singularly, but the next Villain phase all three of them hit causing her to scheme multiple times and "Consume the World". 😂She's scary (as she should be) I actually think it's great design as her treacheries try to activate her and advance her agenda. If it was just a matter of balancing her restraint counters it would be fine, but the fact that "Shadows of the Past" can just bring her out arbitrarily makes her a liability in 4-player, especially since you're seeing more encounter cards with more chances for "Shadows of the Past". Personally, I don't think her advantages outweigh this risk, and once we get some other X-men heroes I doubt she'll see much play at my house. Which is a shame since, as your video points out, she's generally a good hero. Thanks again for the great content.
She's definitely better in agression. My current build with her focuses on getting allys out and flipping down regularly with confusev untill she's built up. Then go ham, and end the game in a turn or two at most. She's definitely a lot of fun. But she feels like she's missing somthing. I just can't say what.
I definitely agree that her precon was bad. She felt so clunky and quite bad. I think you're right that you don't play to flip back and forth- with an attack of 3 while unleashed, I'd rather attack the villain than flip down and recover. No need to flip if you can just end the game. I wanted to try her in aggression for the reasons you said, but you beat me to it. I feel like Phoenix/aggression and Colossus/justice will be a fun team as I take down Mutant Genesis finally
I’ve now played all four heroes with their pre-cons and I agree, them decks is all trash. Phoenix surprised me with those counters. At no point did I think I was being forced into unleashed and, hey, extra resources. Who doesn’t like that? Easily the hero I had the most fun with. Those pre-cons tho; Nevermore. Nobody is getting back to the table until I’ve done a whole passel of deck building. Until then, I rank them Colossus/Phoenix (tie), Shadowcat, Cyclops.
Do you like Phoenix? Do you not like her? Why?
Great video! I was having problems wrapping my mind around how to play her correctly.
Love this format. I can actually read the cards on my phone. Now if my FLGS would just get the pack in stock …
Nice review! I've been focusing on playing her with Cyclops, two-handed. In that case, mental paralysis has a niche use, a very niche use on turns when she wasn't flipping down and when Cyclops had no kill power left. The upgrade can temporarily hold a minion at bay and then allow him to shoot it the next turn. One thing that I've liked about mental blast is that it is damage that is not an attack. I'm glad you find her fun.
man i'm quite enyoing your reviews, are to the point! Short but concise, covering all that is needed to make the decision of buying.
Great review, Jason. Sounds like we had drastically different experiences with her which is awesome and highlights her duality.
Haha I still have to watch your video. I’m so far behind but excited to hear your thoughts as always
Psychic Blast is not an attack, so a minion with guard won’t stop it.
Would you recommend Phoenix for a newer player? She's the hero I'm most interested in buying but I've heard that her Nemesis may make her a bit too hard for newer players.
I think she is fine for newer players. Her Nemesis is rough (almost a game over situation) but I think after a few plays you will get the hang of it...
As a 4-player gamer, I can confirm Dark Phoenix/Consume the World is scarier. The one game "Shadows of the Past" brought Dark Phoenix out, the encounter deck was running out. "Fiery Rage" may not be much singularly, but the next Villain phase all three of them hit causing her to scheme multiple times and "Consume the World". 😂She's scary (as she should be) I actually think it's great design as her treacheries try to activate her and advance her agenda. If it was just a matter of balancing her restraint counters it would be fine, but the fact that "Shadows of the Past" can just bring her out arbitrarily makes her a liability in 4-player, especially since you're seeing more encounter cards with more chances for "Shadows of the Past". Personally, I don't think her advantages outweigh this risk, and once we get some other X-men heroes I doubt she'll see much play at my house. Which is a shame since, as your video points out, she's generally a good hero. Thanks again for the great content.
She's definitely better in agression. My current build with her focuses on getting allys out and flipping down regularly with confusev untill she's built up. Then go ham, and end the game in a turn or two at most.
She's definitely a lot of fun. But she feels like she's missing somthing. I just can't say what.
I definitely agree that her precon was bad. She felt so clunky and quite bad. I think you're right that you don't play to flip back and forth- with an attack of 3 while unleashed, I'd rather attack the villain than flip down and recover. No need to flip if you can just end the game. I wanted to try her in aggression for the reasons you said, but you beat me to it. I feel like Phoenix/aggression and Colossus/justice will be a fun team as I take down Mutant Genesis finally
I’ve now played all four heroes with their pre-cons and I agree, them decks is all trash.
Phoenix surprised me with those counters. At no point did I think I was being forced into unleashed and, hey, extra resources. Who doesn’t like that? Easily the hero I had the most fun with. Those pre-cons tho; Nevermore. Nobody is getting back to the table until I’ve done a whole passel of deck building. Until then, I rank them Colossus/Phoenix (tie), Shadowcat, Cyclops.