Every player would get a random leadership and affiliation assigned and we only included leaders that are either considered bad or aren't played a lot. We ended up with 18 players (the biggest league yet! 🙂) and these were the 29 options:
Hulkbuster Avengers
Corvus Glaive Black Order
Sin Cabal
Klaw Criminal Syndicate
Daredevil Defenders
Baron Helmut Zemo Hydra
Maximus the Mad Inhumans
Steve Rogers Invaders (SHIELD)
Doc Ock Spider-Foes
Killmonger Usurper Wakanda
Weapon X
Crimson Dynamo Winter Guard
Thanos Black Order
Magneto Brotherhood
Magik New Mutants
Invincible Iron Man SHIELD
Amazing Spider-Man Web Warriors
Cable X-Force
Thor, Prince of Asgard Asgard
Mystique Brotherhood
Red Skull 1 Cabal
Medusa Inhumans
Sentinel Prime Sentinels
Storm X-Men
Cyclops X-Men
Emma Frost Hellfire Club
MODOK2 Criminal Syndicate
Elsa Bloodstone Midnight Sons
We had one big initial simultaneous roll to assign the leaderships to the players. Anyone not happy could request a reroll. The reroll included every leadership left over and all the ones wanting a reroll, including the one you put back in the pot yourself.
As cunning readers will have concluded my roll fell on Baron Strucker Hydra. I had pretty mixed feelings on that. I do enjoy his leadership a lot and I think it can be a very fun one but I did play 10 games with Hydra in 2024 and was hoping for something completely new to hunt another badge. Thus I was considering the reroll quite hard but ultimately decided that fate had given me the Baron and I would stick with him.
Something I immediately decided was to not include either of Zemo 1 or Red Skull, Master of Hydra even though those are probably Hydras strongest models. But as I said before I had a Hydra stint before and those two were the staples back then and the entire seasons spirit is to try weird and whacky stuff before the giant update in June.
So here's my initial draft. Further down will be some on the fringe models that could go in at some point during the 10 weeks/ 5 rounds (two weeks per round to make scheduling easier is the standard we do here in our meta) league. Because while affiliation and leader are set we do allow changes to the roster itself during the duration of the league. As you'll see I went all in on the leadership instead of the probably more successful "Wydra" build where you flood the board with cheap characters and your cheap Hydra core.
Characters (10)
* Baron Strucker (3)
Well that shouldn't be a surprise as he's the leader I rolled. He brings Incinerate and Poison for the leadership.
Abomination (5)
Honestly the main reason I did not go for the reroll. Abomb wasn't even in the game when I last played Hydra and he's quickly become one of my favorite 5 threats to play. More Poison and loads of synergy with it. There's going to have to be a very specific reason in the match up for me to not play him.
Baron Helmut Zemo (4)
As I forbade myself Zemo 1 I turned to his 4 threat version. I'm not convinced he's right here and his spot isn't especially secure. His Glue Gun can apply Slow and sometimes Stun or even Stagger. But I'm not sure you'll actually want to use it often.
Taskmaster (3)
One of my favorite bad guys in the comics and a lock for the roster. He can apply Bleed with his Sword even though he'll probably mostly be throwing Shields. He's very tanky and the leadership can support that so there's that.
Arnim Zola (3)
Another affiliated model which is far from being a lock. He has a multitude of conditions to apply and has displacement on his Spender. He also looks cool so that certainly was a reason as well.
Iron Lad (3)
The main reason Iron Lad is here is: I want to try him out. But he does have some synergy with the leadership and game plan. He is tanky and can apply Slow and Stun with his builder. He can also push on his Gainer and displacement is going to be an important part of my strategy.
Bishop (4)
He could of course be Beta Ray Bill but firstly have I played Bill more than any other character in the game and secondly is guaranteed Incinerate on his Builder (if used within Range 3) has great synergy with the leadership. And his main reason to be here of course is his Superpower size 4 character (and terrain) throw.
Silk (4)
I had a "short"list of about fifteen 4 threats for this spot but ultimately ended up with Silk for the Slow Beam. And she has some displacement and Slow synergy as well. Silk Sense should also be able to keep her on her feet.
She-Hulk (6)
Automatic Slow on the builder, automatic Slow (or Stagger) and Stun on her Spender and she'll really like the added health the Leadership should be able to give her.
Avalanche (3)
(I just ordered his pack and will then have every character in the game 😬, so no picture yet)
Stun on both of his attacks and push per superpower. He currently beat out loads of competition.
Team Tactics (10)
Brace for Impact (R)
I've very much gone full circle with Brace. After kicking it out of all my rosters directly after the collision changes I've come back to having it in most. It's mostly there to deny the auto damage.
Fall Back (R)
My favourite restricted for wider and scoring focused teams.
Gamma Burst
With some poison in the roster the card becomes more interesting and I think does have some play especially on the two secures with only two points of interest.
I Am A Baron, After All
I have a Zemo in the roster so I have the card. Simply as that.
Inevitable Betrayal
Not sure if any of my few affiliated models will ever the able to afford the card but I will definitely give it a try anyway.
World Domination
Hard to pull off but not impossible. Will only be played on Fisk and Wedding Party.
Warpath
No character has any special synergy with the card but it's just generally useful to counter act enemy displacement.
Scientific Method
Probably not really worth it but Zola is on the roster and I wanted the card to be here with him.
Survival
Helps the wider team not get steam rolled hopefully. Could be Instant Recovery instead but with only Strucker himself having Healing Factor I decided against it.
Sleeper Agent
Back in the day I played it with Bill, Angela or Hulk to throw stuff that couldn't be braced (or played Indomitable against) and while that's far less potent nowadays I will try it with She-Hulk (who at least has a chance to keep it even when attacking).
Secure Crisis
Infinity Formula Goes Missing! (B, 17)
I like the two lanes fight and can use my displacement well here.
Super-Powered Scoundrels Form Sinister Syndicate (F, 20)
Many VPs on the board and even more survivability for me.
Mayor Fisk Vows To Find Missing Witnesses (H, 16)
Here for World Domination and because I can shove the Stun to you potentially.
Wedding Party Targeted in Terrible Attack! (R, 20)
Only here for World Domination.
Lockdown! Security Systems Stymie Breakout (S, 18)
World Domination again. Not sure if this will end up being too slow for me.
Extract Crisis
Scientific Samples Found in Discovered Universe (D, 17)
Abomb can pick one up from deployment.
Jailbreak Leads to Mass Mutant Escape! (T, 20)
Could come out quickly as it's a relic from when I had Bob in my initial draft. Strucker, Taskmaster and maybe Zola don't mind guarding the Respawn points too much either though.
Fear Grips World As “Worthy“ Terrorize Cities (D, 18)
Abomb can not only grab one from deployment, he can actually grab one from the sides as well (terrain permitting).
Unexpected Guests Crash Royal Wedding (N, 17)
Being able to bunker up a bit might be worthwhile.
Struggle For The Cube Continues (F, 17)
Stackable and I should be somewhat able to counter act the damage per the leadership.
Who did not make it into the roster?
Affiliated:
Characters (12)
Baron Zemo (3)
I'm obviously actively hurting my chances to win any games in this season by omitting original Zemo but there's no chance I'll cave in that regard.
Bob, Agent of Hydra (2)
Bob was initially in as I do believe he's just a good affiliated 2 threat but he doesn't really further the game plan and in the breakdowns I didn't feel like I needed him. He would allow to play Abomb and She-Hulk at every threat level though.
Crossbones (3)
He was already (and rightly so) a much maligned model but the priority changes have absolutely killed Small Base Short Movers and he has absolutely no redeeming qualities to counter act that.
Crossbones, Merciless Merc (3)
Very much the same as his OG version, CB2, whom I did like quite a lot (you can see mine showing up with Enchantress fighting Cap on Longshanks quite often), is killed by the priority changes.
* M.O.D.O.K. Scientist Supreme (4)
I think he's too slow and only throwing Short is super sad as well. He has decent attacks and can redirect attacks so stays on his fart chair quite a long time usually. Would bring access to a cool team up card with Abomb.
* Red Skull (4)
Sizeless displacement and a Cabal leadership to make Two More Shall Rise an option. But he hands out no conditions at all.
* Red Skull, Master of Hydra (5)
Fantastic model and usually an absolute staple in any Hydra list but does not work too well under Strucker.
* Red Skull, Master of the World (4)
Has Shock on his Builder and a great kit overall. And like all Red Skulls he has a leadership that could be turned online by Two More Shall Rise. Of course Baron Helmut Zemo does have a leadership as well but playing a card to maybe get a other card later in the game seems like a waste of a TTC.
* Sin (3)
Sin is great at paying for Inevitable Betrayal and basically nothing else.
Spider-Woman (4)
Jessica would add speed, a steal and some condition game. She lost her spot to Silk but that might not stay that way permanently.
Viper (3)
Unlike basically every other person playing this game I do believe Viper is a good model. Long Move, Stealth and a range 2 place makes her a great objective runner. It's really the comparison to heavily over the curve Black Cat that makes her seem bad. Zemo and Echo being as they are also don't help Vipers case of course. Ultimately she lost her place to Zola here because she likes Red Skulls leadership much more as it automatically gives her the power for the place when she holds an Extract.
Winter Soldier, Operative (4)
Bucky 2 would bring long range fire support but not much more. Soldat Activated seems like a waste on Strucker I think.
And there's tonnes of out 3 and 4 threats that could go in. Among them:
Characters (16)
Black Widow, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (3)
Agent Widow would be a finisher in the list trying to take advantage of many special conditions I should be able to apply to enemy models. I considered Apocalypse for the same reason but landed on She-Hulk instead.
Hawkeye (3)
He can apply special conditions from a long range. I've played him a bunch already though so while probably a very good choice I'm not super interested in trying it.
Man-Thing (3)
Reactive conditions are probably super cool in Strucker and he's tanky anyway so that could make a great combination.
Omega Red (4)
Great when I want to sing like Alice Cooper the entire game. The combination with Strucker and Abomb could be spicy. Worthless against Inhumans and Sentinels of course (which both were drawn).
Warlock (3)
The fourth potential member of the all out Poison game plan. The thing is that Poison both is probably the weakest condition in the game and many many models are immune. Probably awesome in the times it works but useless in too many occasions. Warlock is a good 3 threat regardless though.
Crimson Dynamo (4)
An old staple for the list. The Shock Beam and his tankiness make him a good fit but he lost to Bishop as he has no displacement.
Electro (4)
Reactive Shock to trigger the leader in my opponents turn sounds fantastic but I'm not convinced Electro does enough outside of that.
Gorgon (3)
A fantastic character I did not have much luck in trying yet. Probably the default when I decide against keeping Iron Lad.
Crystal (3)
Is very much overshadowed by Gorgon but can fit game plan well.
Shang-Chi (4)
Automatic, damage less Stun. Also he's Shang-Chi. But that's boring.
Shocker (3)
Hands out Stun and acts as additional Shock. But I think Avalanche just fits my game plan better.
Silver Sable (4)
Helps with team mobility and can apply Root from Range 5. The denser terrain layouts help her defenses but hinder her shooting lanes.
The Wrecking Crew (4)
These guys are a tonne of fun to play and I can definitely see them slip in during the duration of the league. Stun on Hit on their Range 3 Gainer is pretty great and they do have some displacement. Their biggest weakness is staying on their feet and the leadership should be able to help with that.
Warriors Three (3)
I'm not convinced these guys are any good to be fully honest but they can apply Stun and Bleed on their Builder and Gainer respectively. And of course when timed right you can even move the Stagger they can give themselves with the Spender to an enemy character.
Carnage (4)
Automatic Bleed on his Builder means he should basically add Healing Factor 1 to his already impressive Health Pool.
Venom (4)
Automatic Bleed as well and he adds a lot of displacement but at the cost of mobility which already isn't a particular strength of the list.
That's it for today!
Cheers from Germany 🍻
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