X-23 is a Cosmic Meme

This deck was built to test a theory. Technically all the parts are there to make it work, but realistically this is one of those decks that might get a little clumsy to actually set up. The payoff however is X-23 attacking potentially up to 6 times in one turn for up to 12 damage each time.

The Concept

Boomguy's Rogue build (https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/52520/adam-s-x-cellent-adventure-episode-71-1.0) is a great example of making one super ally. It got me thinking, and looking at other decks people had made with that in mind. I wanted to add in Honorary Guardian to play with the additional upgrades that brings to the table. There are a handful of other fun decks out there that do that, but I wasn't satisfied with the allies being Voltroned up.

Once I realized/ understood that Children of the Atom opened the door for an X-Force character instead I decided this deck was going to be built around X-23.

Fully kitted out, X-23 has 11 attack with ranged, overkill, and piercing. She has 8 health, plus an Energy Shield to optionally prevent consequential damage if needed. And most importantly she has the ability to ready every time she kills a minion (which should be every attack against one).

Finally we play a bunch (Angela, "Come Get Me, Bub!", Looking for Trouble, and Spoiling for a Fight) of 0 cost ways to get free minions. There is also Get Rage-y for another attack boost with a ready.

On what will probably be the final turn of the game X-23 attacks the Villain. You play Get Rage-y to ready, then any card to summon a minion. Attack it. Deal a bunch of overkill then ready. Repeat as often as you can.

Order of Operations

The goal of this deck is to drop X-23, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Children of the Atom as early as possible. Once Honorary Guardian is on X-23 (as long as Pip the Troll isn't in play) any time you play any of the million upgrades on her you draw another card. This helps you set her up faster and thins your deck down to a more manageable size.

Other Considerations

All the minion fetchers are great for discarding to the Battle Mage ability while you are getting set up. Once the 2 copies of [Mystic Senses](/card/21037) are in play it's card advantage every turn.

You have minimal thwart in the deck which is why this deck pretty much requires multiplayer. On most turns Adam is going to either defend, or do some barebones thwarting.

Specific Cards

If Enraged is played early you won't be able to use X-23 as much while you are setting up, save it for later if you can. In the event that you don't think you can win the scenario in one round of the combo you can also skip playing this card entirely to allow for a second combo round.

Render Medical Aid can be used to heal damage accumulated while you are setting up, either to yourself or to X-23. If other players have player side schemes, do theirs first, and put this into play later in the game. You can potentially leave it with 1 or 2 threat to be finished at the last moment. If for some reason you can't end the game in one turn with the combo it can also be saved to get a second round of combo damage.

Med Team and Tic-Tac-Toe allow you to heal X-23 while you are getting set up so you can use her a bit early on if you need to/ want to.

Build Support can be used to fetch Children of the Atom or Guardians of the Galaxy giving you an extra chance to get either earlier. If those are already in play go for Helicarrier as the next priority.

Suit Up gets X-23 earlier and Honorary Guardian at the same time.

Get Rage-y fills a pool aspect slot, gives us +1 attack on the big turn and an extra ready.

Pinned Down lets you save a minion at 0 attack to kill when you're ready to combo off.

All of the other allies are there to keep you alive while you are getting set up. Keep in mind that Pip the Troll is not a guardian, so use him with caution as he'll turn your Guardians of the Galaxy team bonus off.

Cosmic Awareness and Karmic Blast are advantageous to use at full blast while you are getting set up IF you have a Quantum Magic in hand in case one of your key cards gets discarded.

Energy Shield turns Self-Preservation and Energy into a free (no consequential damage) attack with X-23.

Honorable Mentions

C.I.T.T. is another potential ready you could use, turning any of your 6 double resources into a ready. I'm a sucker for [Helicarrier] (/card/01092) to pay for set-up, but you could switch them if you wanted.

Get Ready and Command Team could also both potentially be useful, but the Leadership aspect cards are already at a premium.

Git Gud is a safety valve, but honestly it's there because we needed a 6th 'pool aspect card and it was the best option. You could play Healing Factor if you want help keeping yourself topped off while setting up.

Face the Past can also be used for one more free minion (plus card drawing). The toughness isn't a big deal since X-23 will have piercing at the end. To fit it in you'd need to replace one of the basic cards probably Martinex.

Call for Backup is another way to get X-23 out faster, but because the deck doesn't thwart the greatest this card is best used if you are playing with someone else who will take care of it for you. Replace Suit Up if you want to use it.

Game Time is another free ready that could be run if you can make room in the basic card allocation.

Boot Camp can replace Enraged if the consequential damage ends up being too... consequential. Sorry I couldn't resist.

Final Comments

I've played this game for about 2 years now, this is my first time posting a deck or interacting with the community at all other than lurking.

This is all theory crafting, I haven't played this deck at all. I was actually using the deck builder to see if you could squeeze all the cards in while maintaining balance between the aspects. I figured this was less effort than digging out all the cards. Once I saw the list could technically work, and because I didn't see other decks built around this particular concept I thought I'd share it and see what happened.

My guess is that if your friends are willing to help you this deck will play fine, not the greatest deck ever, but viable. Maybe a little clunky while you wait for all the parts to come together.

First Update Minutes After Publishing

Moments after publishing this I actually read the cards (novel I know) and discovered the fact that you can't have more than one training upgrade on an ally. This whole reading things has reduced X-23's max output and means she'll need slightly more healing if/ when Enraged gets used.

Change the Protective Training in the list to Pinned Down, and the Danger Room Training in the list to Suit Up (Thanks JRS2011).

Reading is hard.