The Great Vs. Resolution #27: X-Statix

Brutal Honesty: I haven’t really put much thought into this post. I mostly just want to get my second Resolution post for the week down so I don’t fall behind. I hope nobody hates me for it.

Because I’m being fast this week, I chose a team with a really obvious theme that everybody already knows well. X-Statix are the original loner team and were one of my favorites back when I was limited to MOR-MAV on Marvel Trading Card Game for the DS. Sure, loner has been done better since then but they’re still the original and worth glancing at.

I Walk Alone

X-Statix

Golden Age

Characters;
4x Phat-William Reilly

4x Vivisector-Myles Alfred

4x Orphan-Guy Smith
1x Plazm-Protoplasmic Protagonist

3x U-Go-Girl-Tragic Teleporter
2x The Spike-Angry Young Mutant

2x Battering Ram-Short-Lived Strongman
1x Vivisector-Lunatic Lycanthrope
1x Henrietta Hunter-X-Celebrity

2x Zeitgeist-Axel Cluney

2x Anarchist-Man of the People

1x Galactus-Devourer Of Worlds

Plot Twists
4x Dead Weight
4x Spin Doctoring
4x Mobilize
3x Mutant of the Year
3x Star of the Show
3x Call in a Favor

Locations
3x X-Statix Café
3x X-Statix HQ
2x Kang Kross-roads
2x The Hill
2x Shaw Industries

Yes, I broke the “all one affiliation” rule by including Galactus. Sue me. Statix need a good finisher.

Everyone should know how this deck works. You go loner on turn 4 or so with Orphan and, if you’re lucky, you’ll have a row of stat enhancing locations. If your entire row is green, your single character could be a full +5/+5 over their normal stats. 12/11 3-drop? Sounds good to me. 17/17 6-drop that can free stun people off init? Even better.

Downside is not only are the Statix easily overwhelmed once the opponent gets a good board, they also have a ton of stuff they want in the row. Four stat-enhancing locations, a KO location, and two ongoings. Plus you’ve got your search and Spin Doctors that don’t exactly want to be played from the hand since they have a discard cost.

I like Statix because they’re the original but, really, loner has been done better. B.P.R.D. and Hellfire let you keep guys hidden and still have bonuses, Warbound lets you remove guys for incredible effects, and Defenders are semi-loner in so much as you generally only attack with one guy. All of them have done what Statix do but on another level. However, with the possibility of seeing more Statix in Marvel Evolutions, I still enjoy revisiting the team in GA every once in awhile.

X-Statix (Golden) Ratings:

Deck Strength: 6 (While the characters can get incredibly big and Zeitgeist along with Spin Doctoring are amazing effects, the deck generally just gets overwhelmed after awhile.)

Deck Theme: 9 (I love loner and the theme fits with the way the Statix are constantly dying. However, other teams have done loner better so I’m docking them a point.)

Ease of Use: 6 (When do you put down an ongoing and when do you put down a location? At what point do you KO your characters? Do you Spin Doctor on offense or defense? Tricky stuff.)

Fun Factor: 7 (They’re a fun deck but other loner teams are more fun to me.)

Overall: 7 (I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the Statix. For me, they’re the original stat boosting loner team. However, Vs. System has left them behind.)

Vs. System Affiliation Leaderboard
1. Warbound (Modern)
2. Marvel Defenders/The Hulk (Modern)
3. Team Superman (Modern Age)
4. Fantastic Four (Modern)
5. Anti-Matter (Golden)
6. Morlocks (Silver)
7. Squadron Supreme (Golden)
8. Arkham Inmates (Modern)
9. Secret Six (Silver)
10. Revenge Squad (Modern)
11. Secret Society (Modern)
11. Teen Titans (Modern)
12. Outsiders (Modern)
13. X-Statix (Golden)
14. Hellfire Club (Silver)
15. Inhumans (Silver)
16. Shi’ar (Modern: MWS Gem)
17. Kree (Silver)
18. Future Foes (Silver)
19. Manhunters (Golden)
20. Sinister Syndicate (Modern)
21. League of Assassins (Modern)
22. Sentinels (Golden)
23. Doom (Modern)
24. Skrull (Silver)
25. New Gods (Golden)
26. Emerald Enemies (Golden)

And there’s my phone-in for the week. I promise I won’t be this lazy again any time soon. Next post will likely be up on Monday/Tuesday unless I get swamped with schoolwork or something. I hope to get some more playtesting in first but that’s another matter of time. ‘Till next time…