Introduction

This deck is designed to explore the raw economics of Hulking's very strong kit. It is primarily designed for 2-4 players.

Hulkling economics

Changing shape effectively costs 4 ER (because every shape is a double resource), but gives us some benefits. Is it worth the cost?

Chosen Shape readies Hulking, effectively generating up to 3 damage, 3 thwart, or 4 healing (if we can flip down). That's about 1.5-2 ER value that we can consistently put to use.

We can also immediately generate another 2 damage, 2 thwart, 2 healing, or 1 card by playing an event (triggering the new upgrade's response), but we already could have done that in the previous form. Therefore we need to play an event, transform, then play a second event to realize this as added value (although the value of being able to switch to a more needed form can be the difference between winning and losing).

If the stars align, we're basically right on the money in terms of expected value for 3 ER: 5 damage, 5 thwart, or 6 healing. But we paid 4 ER, so that's not amazing. And if the stars don't align, woof.

Alternatively, we can just pick the form of our choice, build accordingly, and have access to a ton of double resources.

Taking shape

Every turn we start or end in Alter-Ego we can draw a Shape, giving us on-demand access to a double resource. That's a lot of money. However, we'll need a way to safely access it and meaningfully spend it.

We do have 2 copies of Impersonation, which allows us to flip down and flip back up on the same turn. Absolutely fantastic, but we only have two.

We could try to rely on Winged Shape to keep the main scheme in check, but that's not going to keep up with constant flipping. Justice is generally the go-to aspect for flipping down safely and gives us access to a range of wonderful staples.

In terms of spending, we need events for hero form (to trigger our shape's response) and anything other than hero events for when we flip down. Oh, and we really like things that cost at least 2.

Strategy

Start in Hulk Shape or Winged Shape according to the needs of the table and scenario.

Allies

• Agent Coulson grabs Counterintelligence so we can flip down safely.
• Hope Summers can grab Shapeshifter, which can grab a double resource, effectively making Hope a 2/2/3 for 3 ER. Alternatively, we can replace Shapeshifter with Shapeshifter Strike or Impersonation, both of which are incredibly powerful.
• Manifold can grab Superpower Training, which can grab Alien Physiology.
• Nick and Professor X are here for raw value.
• Yellow Jacket is a new toy that happens to have a ton of great targets in this deck.

Events

• Assess the Situation is a neat tech card for Hulkling. Specifically, it can trigger our Shape's response before playing Shapeshifter Strike.
• Face the Past is amazing since we're planning to be in Hulk Shape. Between the shape's response and our ATK we can just take out the nemesis immediately, so it's effectively 2 ER to draw 3 cards (if we value the shape response at 1 ER).
• Impede is a decent option. It's effectively 2 ER for 3 thwart (which is more efficient than staples like For Justice!) with an option to pay 3 ER for another 3 thwart if we're desperate.
• One Way or Another can help us build out faster.

Player Side Schemes

• Show of Empathy effectively converts thwarting into damage and summoning, which can be extremely efficient.
• Superpower Training builds Physiology, which is basically a double Quincarrier. Insane.

Resources

• We could honestly skip the basic doubles if we wanted to, but we have plenty of targets to justify them.

Supports

• Avengers Mansion helps draw cards to spend all our money on.
• Helicarrier lets us smooth out our money and share the extra with our team.

Upgrades

• Chance Encounter can grab whichever busted ally we prefer. Wiccan is a powerful option.
• Counterintelligence helps us flip down safely.
• Deft Focus pays for all of our signature events.
• Overwatch frequently represents 3 or 4 thwart for 1 ER.
• Skilled Investigator is a staple.
• Under Surveillance helps us flip down safely and is a card I'm growing to appreciate even in multiplayer.

Sideboard

• Cut Professor X if playing against Steady/Stalwart.
• Add Infiltration against minions that can be defeated efficiently with Hulk Shape (5 HP or less).
• Add The Raft against nasty minions or minions with high THW.
• Add Mockingbird for more stun.
• Add Spider-Man (Miles Morales) for more damage.
• Cut or Increase One Way or Another depending on player count and scenario.
• Increase event/upgrade counts as needed to hit 40.

Special mentions

• Lockjaw is a decent resource dump once we get everything online, but he's pretty inefficient when it matters most.
• Eros is a lovely chump blocker, but other allies provide more utility.
• Upside the Head can confuse the villain without blocking us from building out. It goes nicely with Hulk Shape. However, we don't generally want to be spending our basic attack on the villain.
• Yaw and Roll is similar to Impede in terms of efficiency, but it is way more conditional.