Winning Hand - A Marvel Champions Podcast

E85.5 - Year in Review: 2025

In this episode of the Winning Hand podcast, hosts Boomguy and LazyTitan review the year 2025 in Marvel Champions, discussing the highlights, new content, and overall experiences. They rate the year, reflect on the new conventions, and explore the impact of mod sets and design changes. The conversation also delves into the heroes and villains released, as well as their favorite mod sets and artwork from the year, emphasizing the community's growth and the evolving landscape of the game. The conversation culminates in a celebration of their top heroes, with a particular focus on Nick Fury, Silk, and Shuri, highlighting their unique gameplay mechanics and thematic elements.
Decks of the Year
Boomguy:
1. Suicide Mission Leader
2. Tony Stark, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.
3. "Nyet." 
LazyTitan:
1. OVERKILL EM 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO
2. Wow! We solved minion collecting! YIPPEEEE!
3. This Deck is Bad. 
Chapters
00:00 2025 Year in Review Overview02:40 Content Highlights and Ratings06:03 General Themes of 202512:02 Caleb Grace's Departure and Design Impact15:10 Transition to Eclectic Hero Waves20:05 Mod Sets and the Thunderbolts23:54 New PvP Mode Insights25:12 Embracing Change: Opinions on PvP in Marvel Champions27:30 Exploring New Releases: Villains and Heroes of the Year31:55 Diving into Mod Sets: A Year of Variety39:24 Heroes of the Year: Favorites and Disappointments45:05 Celebrating Art: The Best Card Designs of the Year55:34 Art Appreciation in Gaming57:19 Favorite Nemesis Minions01:00:53 Obligations and Their Impact01:04:44 Team Up Cards: Synergy in Action01:12:21 Favorite Aspect Cards of the Year01:24:11 Leadership Cards Overview01:30:10 Protection Cards and Strategies01:33:32 Favorite Scenarios of the Year01:37:46 Deck Building Highlights01:50:04 Favorite Heroes of the Year

E85 - Plot Convenience, with The Brandt!

In this episode of the Winning Hand Podcast, hosts Boomguy, LazyTitan, and The Brandt from  ⁨@StepintoThePortal⁩  go through a few listener emails, discuss multiplayer etiquette and our recent gameplay experiences, and then break down the card of the day, Plot Convenience. They discuss deck-building strategies, share their own decks, and emphasize the importance of having fun above all else.
Information on the Assemble Con with Brandt: https://ti.to/the-portal/assemble-cosmic-encounters
Boomguy's Deck: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/57495/tiny-dancer-episode-85-1.0
The Brandt's Deck: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/57263/hulk-splash-1.0
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Winning Hand Podcast02:51 Meet the Hosts and Special Guest06:05 Listener Emails: Card Changes Discussion11:54 Multiplayer Etiquette Tips14:52 What We've Been Playing Recently22:38 Card of the Day: Plot Convenience26:40 Art and Theme Integration29:56 Card Mechanics and Power37:11 Fun Factor and Deck Building40:05 Final Thoughts and Ratings43:35 Deck Showcase: Hulk Splash!47:53 Deck Showcase: Tiny Dancer52:11 Outro

E84 - Shield Block (and we rank all hero defense events!)

"This card is the GOAT." - LazyTitan
In this episode of the Winning Hand podcast, Boomguy and LazyTitan delve into the world of defense events, focusing on Shield Block as the card of the day. In this episode, the hosts discuss the Captain America classic before they methodically rank and discuss various defensive events in Marvel Champions, exploring the strengths and weaknesses of each card. They delve into the mechanics of cards like Gamora's Cross Counter, Bishop's Energy Conversion, and Shadow Cat's Quick Shift, while also addressing the limitations of others like Falcon's Up Up and Away. The conversation highlights the strategic importance of defensive events in gameplay and offers insights into how different heroes utilize these cards effectively.
List of Hero defense events (as of Nov 2025)
Link to final rankings
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Winning Hand Podcast03:09 Listener Engagement and Community Feedback05:58 Deck Building and Recent Gameplay Experiences08:44 Exploring Dr. Strange and His Mechanics11:42 Navigating Community Perceptions of Powerful Heroes14:27 Card of the Day: Shield Block28:37 Exploring Card Mechanics and Strategies32:15 Art and Thematic Elements in Gameplay33:03 Core Set Character Selection and Speculation38:41 Evaluating the Power of Shield Block43:21 Fun Factor of Shield Block and Gameplay Dynamics45:46 Final Ratings and Thoughts on Shield Block48:48 Defense Event Tier List Discussion55:15 Evaluating Defensive Events57:44 The Impact of Card Mechanics01:00:21 Analyzing Character-Specific Strategies01:03:45 Comparing Defense Events Across Heroes01:07:40 Mid-Conversation Reflections01:10:07 Assessing Vision's Defensive Capabilities01:12:17 Gambit's Unique Defense Mechanic01:13:20 Drax's Damage Prevention Strategy01:16:01 Psylocke's Complex Defense Event01:18:01 Spectrum's Pulsar Shield Analysis01:19:17 Shadow Cat: The Greatest Defense Event01:22:55 Shield Block: A Controversial Defense Card01:26:02 Shield Maiden: A Limited Defense Option01:27:46 Tally Ho: Nightcrawler's Unique Defense01:29:45 Up, Up and Away: A Disqualified Defense Event01:33:28 Wiggle Room: Ms. Marvel's Versatile Defense01:39:56 Final Thoughts: Ranking the Defense Events01:43:48 Outro

E83 - Ice Blast, feat. bananners!

In this episode of the Winning Hand Podcast, Boomguy and LazyTitan are joined by returning guest Bananners as they continue the month-long dive deep into Iceman and his cards. The hosts highlight a content creator, Crash Space, who specializes in solo gameplay (linked below). They discuss listener feedback, community events, and Falcon (yikes!) before transitioning to a detailed analysis of the card of the day, Ice Blast. They explore various strategies for deck building, emphasizing the importance of frostbite and synergy among cards. The conversation highlights the evolution of Iceman's popularity and effectiveness, culminating in final thoughts on his role as a hero in the game.
Link to Crash Space: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSNGgjqAbwcgCXKE4IZMrBw
Boomguy's deck: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/56644/let-s-kick-some-ice-episode-83-1.0
Bannaners' deck: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/56645/so-anyway-i-started-blasting-1.0
 

E82 - Frozen Solid, feat. Villain Theory!

In this episode of the Winning Hand podcast, the hosts dive deep into the 3-cost upgrade, Frozen Solid. They engage in a pop quiz with guest Villain Theory, revisit favorite heroes, and discuss listener emails about deck building strategies. The conversation also explores the new Wonder Man character and recent gameplay experiences with various heroes. The episode concludes with an in-depth discussion of the card of the day, Frozen Solid, highlighting its mechanics and potential strategies. The conversation also touches on deck-building strategies and personal experiences with Iceman.
VillainTheory's deck: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/56446/niceman-multiplayer-minion-slayer-1.0
Boomguy's deck: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/45086/doctor-icelove-3.0
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Winning Hand Podcast02:22 Deep Dive into Iceman and Frozen Solid05:13 Pop Quiz with Villain Theory08:10 Revisiting Villain Theory's Favorite Heroes10:46 Listener Email Discussion on Wonder Man13:44 Recent Gameplay Experiences16:34 Exploring X23 and Sidekick Decks27:46 Exploring Hero Mechanics: X23 and Drax29:23 Deck Strategies: Silk and Shuri34:01 Card of the Day: Frozen Solid42:21 Power Dynamics: Evaluating Frozen Solid45:50 Exploring Frozen Solid's Mechanics47:04 Defensive Strategies with Iceman49:21 The Value of Frostbites50:25 Comparing Cards: Frozen Solid vs. Ice Wall51:58 Ranking Iceman's Cards54:23 Final Thoughts on Frozen Solid58:47 Fun Factor of Frozen Solid01:04:06 Comparing Frozen Solid to Webbed Up01:07:37 Final Ratings and Thoughts on Iceman01:12:34 Deck Strategies and Experiences01:29:34 Outro
 

E81 - Cryokinetic Perception, with Charr!

In this episode of the Winning Hand Podcast, the hosts dive deep into the character Iceman from Marvel Champions, exploring his abilities, gameplay strategies, and the thematic elements of his card, Cryokinetic Perception. They are joined by Charr to discuss their personal experiences with the game and analyze the art and design of the card, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses. The conversation also touches on the broader Marvel Champions community and the importance of supporting smaller content creators. The episode concludes with a discussion of two unique Iceman decks, highlighting their different approaches to gameplay and defense.
Boomguy's deck: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/48991/the-indomitable-iceman-1.0
Charr's deck: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/56192/ready-set-freeze-the-redux-1.0https://marvelcdb.com/deck/view/1031202
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Winning Hand Podcast01:19 Deep Dive into Iceman05:44 Meet Charred Gambit09:28 Charred Gambit's Content Creation Journey12:08 Recent Gameplay Experiences18:47 Card of the Day: Cryokinetic Perception20:19 Iceman's Art and Design25:33 Thematic Elements of Iceman's Card29:43 Card Mechanics and Gameplay Strategy34:19 Deck Building Around Iceman's Card38:09 Evaluating Card Strength and Fun Factor40:59 Diving into Ice Slide Mechanics43:48 Understanding Defensive Strategies in Gameplay48:14 Final Thoughts on Cryokinetic Perception52:56 Deck Strategies: Indomitable Iceman57:40 Deck Strategies: Ready, Set, Freeze Redux

E80 - Iceman, with Scarlet Rhodey!

In this episode of the Winning Hand Podcast, we embark on a deep dive into Iceman. We explore his origins, gameplay mechanics, and the significance of his queer identity. The conversation also touches on recent gameplay experiences, character comparisons, and the broader themes of representation within the Marvel universe.
The discussion highlights the complexities of Iceman's character, the fun and frustration players experience, and the importance of thematic consistency in character design. We show off some deck lists, showcasing the diversity in gameplay styles for Iceman using three different aspects!
Boomguy's deck: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/55944/tropical-slushie-episode-80-1.0
Scarlet Rhodey's decks:
1. https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/55934/let-s-fight-hydra-1.0
2. https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/55932/queer-team-up-1.0
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Winning Hand Podcast02:36 Deep Dive into Iceman05:26 Recent Gameplay Experiences08:07 Character Comparisons and Preferences10:59 The Evolution of Captain America13:53 Scarlet Roady's Gameplay Insights16:38 Organizing Cards and Community Preferences19:43 Deck Strategies and Gameplay Mechanics22:53 Exploring Iceman's Lore and Background33:02 The Evolution of Iceman's Character43:49 Queer Identity and Representation in Comics48:10 Card Mechanics and Gameplay Discussion52:12 The Art of Iceman: A Visual Exploration58:38 Understanding Iceman's Powers and Abilities01:05:41 Thematic Representation of Frostbite Mechanic01:13:20 Fun Factor: Iceman's Gameplay Experience01:23:43 Final Thoughts on Iceman's Effectiveness01:28:53 Balancing Character Frustrations and Enjoyment01:30:25 Final Thoughts on Iceman01:31:29 Thematic Importance in Character Selection01:33:41 Deck Building Strategies and Challenges01:39:30 ScarletRhodey's Themed Decks: Trick or Treat01:47:40 Let's Fight Hydra: A Justice Deck for Iceman
 

E79.5 - MC/DC Recap

Summary
In this episode of the Winning Hand podcast, hosts Boomguy and LazyTitan discuss their experiences at the recent MCDC convention, focusing on deck building strategies, gameplay experiences, and insights into the Marvel Champions card game. They explore the importance of originality in deck building, share tips for creating effective combos, and reflect on the multiplayer scenarios and PVP tournament held at the event. The conversation emphasizes the joy of playing the game and the value of experimenting with different strategies. They share insights on deck building, highlight memorable moments from the con, and emphasize the importance of community engagement in the Marvel Champions world.
Content Creator Recommendation: https://www.youtube.com/@Str0ngstyleVersus
Decks:
Bad Mothertucker - https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/55502/bad-mothertucker-1.0
Suicide Mission Leader - https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/55121/suicide-mission-leader-1.0
Say Hello to My Little Friend - https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/55571/say-hello-to-my-little-friend-1.0
The Eightfold Path - https://marvelcdb.com/deck/view/1059978
Wow! We solved minion collecting! YIPPEEEE! - https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/55733/wow-we-solved-minion-collecting-yippeeee-1.0
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the Winning Hand Podcast00:19 Recap of MCDC Convention Experience02:36 Content Creator Spotlight: Strong Style Versus05:35 Listener Email: Deck Building Insights11:01 Deck Building Strategies and Perspectives17:00 The Importance of Consistency in Decks22:47 Iterating and Improving Decks28:16 Final Thoughts on Deck Building and Gameplay31:25 Deck Building Insights33:35 MCDC Event Overview34:54 Custom Campaign Scenarios38:22 Massive Multiplayer Loki Event42:40 PVP Tournament Experience52:20 Custom Content Day56:57 Custom Content and Community Engagement58:12 Exclusive Cards and Trading Experiences01:00:19 Event Venue and Atmosphere01:01:53 Con Highlights and Community Vibes01:03:47 Collaboration with Other Conventions01:04:53 Guest Appearances and Content Creators01:05:16 Future Plans and Excitement01:07:01 Deck Showcase: Deadpool Leadership01:14:06 Deck Showcase: War Machine Aggression01:19:36 Deck Showcase: Drax Aggression01:24:29 Deck Showcase: Tigra and Closing Thoughts