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 potential if you want to go that far and convert all your minis to fit being his minions.
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 is pretty good, 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. And after her Update Dormammus niece Clea is probably your first choice as she not only moves her uncle but also boosts his dice.
Example Roster
Characters (10)
* Dormammu (8)
Clea (3)
Wasp (3)
Echo (3)
Gorgon (3)
Okoye (2)
Scarlet Spider (4)
* Bastion (4)
Omega Red (4)
Dracula (5)
Team Tactics (10)
Dark Empowerment
Dark Restoration
Patch Up (R)
Pym Particles
Royal Guardians
Sacrifice (R)
Warpath
Recalibration Matrix
Carbonadium Synthesizer
Survival
Secure Crisis
Lockdown! Security Systems Stymie Breakout (S, 18)
Mutant Madman Turns City Into Lethal Amusement Park (B, 18)
Super-Powered Scoundrels Form Sinister Syndicate (F, 20)
Survivors Search for Safe Shelters (Z, 20)
Wedding Party Targeted in Terrible Attack! (R, 20)
Extract Crisis
Surprise Assault! Mutant Homes Destroyed (U, 16)
Alien Ship Crashes In Downtown! (C, 17)
Sentinel Schematics Sabotaged! (AC, 17)
Evidence of Experimental Soldiers Exposed! (AB, 19)
Inhumans Deploy Advanced Weaponry (O, 18)
Since the overall article is so short we can spend a little more time with this part and look at what each of the characters does for the team and what it gains from the leadership:
Clea (3)
As mentioned above Clea is pretty much the perfect support piece for Dorm. She can teleport him up in the first round, so he doesn't have to spend movement actions to start attacking. From the second round onwards you can spend her power to give her uncle additional dice on his strong attacks or move him some more (maybe even both). I don't think your squads start without her.
Wasp (3)
The additional power from the leadership turns Wasp into a safe grab on Asset Extracts:
She can transform (which is a range 1 place) - Move Long, grab a midline Extract and move back Long again. It's probably not what your main game plan is with Dark Dimension most of the time but she can help keep the score close so your opponent doesn't run away with the score.
Echo (3)
Probably the most well rounded 3 threat in the Game nowadays. The leadership lets her charge in round 1.
Gorgon (3)
Also able to charge right away, but he can also Taunt more often with the additional power and brings a Sacrifice style TTC with him in Royal Guardians.
Okoye (2)
She can Bodyguard the big man each round without outside help with the leadership. Not an every game piece but can be helpful when you are afraid Dorm can be taken off the board by your opponent.
Scarlet Spider (4)
Round 1 Web Whip is fun. He can displace every model in the game with that.
* Bastion (4)
Another Dormammu teleport man. In the leadership he can move Dorm and then still double move and pick up an Extract or flip a Pay to Flip. His job is to not die and sometimes move the big man for the rest of the game then.
Omega Red (4)
Another character that has size unlimited Displacement available to him right away with the leadership. He has more range on that but doesn't move himself like Scarlet Spider does. So you bring the one you need for the crisis (or both)
Dracula (5)
Dracula turns into a safe grab here as he can use Wolf and still have a power to pick up. It also means he could move, move, Hypnotic Stare (once again sizeless Displacement) or Wolf, Attack, pick up and maybe Hypnotic Stare it he made two Power back with his 7 dice builder. Obviously very strong but also hard to fit into the squad with an 8 threat leader.
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Thank you for reading and Cheers from Germany 🍻
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