Affiliation Overview: Dark Dimension (updated)

 

Why should you play the affiliation 

You want to play the only MCU villain that is neither instantly killed in his first appearance nor actually beaten at all? Dormmamu is your only option for this! 

On the table Dark Dimension is super flexible and everyone you take is just better at their job while you always also have a big centerpiece model on the board. It also offers great hobby 

How to start the affiliation 

You buy Dormammu. Done. He’s the only affiliated model. Owning a core set is definitely a good idea here to be able to play as quickly as possible but otherwise you can really take Dark Dimension wherever you want it to.

What leaderships are available and what is the typical game plan? 

Flames of the Faltine is a very cool leadership making anyone in your squad just better at their job. It also is the first of the “anyone is affiliated” leaderships. Here Dormammu will simply take over as the leader if he’s in your squad regardless of which other affiliation requirements you would’ve met.

In terms of archetype you can really build to your own liking. Having an 8 threat leader without much scenario play kind of counts out a pure type 1 plan but with enough scenario characters in the squad whose abilities the leadership make easier and faster to use a type 2 is absolutely feasible. Going full type 4 is also an option where you just take the killiest models you can find to join Dorm in crushing your opponents.

Type 1: Pure Scenario team, as many VPs on the table as possible and try to win by scoring out as early as possible and with as little engagement
Type 2: Midrange Scenario team. Similar to Type 1 but can fight and chase if necessary
Type 3: Midrange Attrition team. Wants to be the beatdown but can shift to scenario play if the other side is clearly the beatdown.
Type 4: Pure Attrition team. Wants to murder you as quick as possible. Tabling is a possible and achievable goal here, but not the only way to win (they mostly score their points and deny yours by virtue of your models being dazed or KO'ed)

Who could be added to the affiliation in the future, especially as leaders? 

Doyle Dormammu would be cute though he doesn’t have much to do with the Dark Dimension if we’re honest. Clea Strange would probably be the most reasonable pick for a new leader. She’d have to have another “anyone is affiliated” leadership here though as Dormammu specifically can’t ever not be the leader. So realistically there’s probably never going to be another member for the affiliation

Rating every affiliated TTC and Character 

Team Tactics (2)
Dark Empowerment

A. Handing someone else the power for dealing damage is a strong effect especially in an affiliation already based around additional power like DD.

Dark Restoration

B. The effect is obviously great but the cost for Dorm is also very high.

Characters (1)

Dormammu (8)

B-. Dormammu isn’t bad. But his 8 threat would suggest him being able to do a bit more than he can actually achieve. His attacks are great and his reactive push with Hex is fantastic but no displacement on his own turns is rough for such an expensive model.

Popular Splash Characters for the affiliation 

Everyone you want. It is pretty common to include a character or two that can move Dorm like Lockjaw, Medusa or the Howling Commandos. 

Example Roster 

Characters (10)

Dormammu (8)
Ancient One (4)
Scarlet Spider (4)
Medusa (4)
Nightcrawler (4)
Ghost-Spider (3)
Nick Fury & The Howling Commandos (3)
Okoye (2)
Baron Mordo (3)
Spectacular Spider-Man (3)

Team Tactics (10)
Brace for Impact (R)
Dark Empowerment
Dark Restoration
Indomitable (R)
Grievous Wounds
Joint Effort
Recalibration Matrix
Go Get ‘em Tiger
Heavy Firepower
Warpath

Secure Crisis
Gamma Wave Sweeps Across Midwest (E, 15)
Mayor Fisk Vows To Find Missing Witnesses (H, 16)
Intrusions Open Across City As Seals Collapse (C, 19)

Extract Crisis
Mutant Extremists Target U.S. Senators! (L, 19)
Alien Ship Crashes In Downtown! (C, 17)
Deadly Legacy Virus Cured? (C, 19)

This is a rather untypical Dark Dimension list as it focuses more on displacement and having the leadership fuel the abilities of the characters than all out damage output. It's definitely fun to play but not super competitive I'm afraid. 

That's it for today. Next Up: Defenders

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Thank you for reading and Cheers from Germany 🍻