Winning Hand - A Marvel Champions Podcast

Episode 87 - Press the Advantage, with Board Game Lawyer!

Summary
In this episode of the Winning Hand podcast, Boomguy is joined by first-time guest Board Game Lawyer and podcast stalwart LazyTitan to discuss their recent plays, favorite heroes, and dive deep into the card of the day, Press the Advantage. The conversation covers the thematic elements of the card, its power and utility in gameplay, and strategies for deck building. The guests share their own decks and experiences, providing insights into the Marvel Champions community and the fun of the game.
Boomguy's deck: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/58443/death-tech-episode-87-1.0
Board Game Lawyer's deck: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/58410/winter-stun-confuse-draw-1.0
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Marvel Champions Podcast01:22 Meet the Board Game Lawyer01:58 Board Game Lawyer's Journey into Marvel Champions04:30 Favorite Heroes and Scenarios07:04 Recent Gameplay Experiences14:11 Card of the Day: Press the Advantage18:28 Art Analysis of Press the Advantage22:49 Thematic Discussion on Press the Advantage25:29 Evaluating Card Power and Multiplayer Dynamics29:04 Strategies for Maximizing Card Effectiveness32:44 Balancing Cost and Damage Output37:14 Final Thoughts and Ratings on Card Performance41:59 Exploring Card Dynamics and Player Perspectives48:33 Deck Building Strategies and Thematic Synergies59:55 Final Thoughts and Community Engagement

Our Favorite Heroes, Vol. 1: Drax & Vision

In this new series, LazyTitan and Boomguy talk about their favorite heroes, starting with #1 and working their way down their respective lists. Ever wondered why we love what we do?
Who's your pick between these two?

Episode 86 - Ready for a Fight, with Abis Mal!

In this episode of the Winning Hand podcast, host Boomguy welcomes first-time guest AbisMol and longtime co-host LazyTitan to discuss their experiences with Marvel Champions. They explore various aspects of the game, including favorite heroes, scenarios, and deck-building strategies. The conversation delves into recent gameplay experiences, including a challenging campaign against Mysterio, Boomguy's recent obsession with Nick Fury, and then showcases the importance of podcast reviews. The episode concludes with an in-depth discussion of the card of the day, 'Ready for a Fight,' examining its mechanics and impact on the game as a whole.
Boomguy's deck: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/57983/psy-lockdown-episode-86-1.0
AbisMol's deck: https://marvelcdb.com/decklist/view/57944/stupefy-1.0
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Winning Hand Podcast02:03 Meet Abhi Small: Content Creator and Deck Expert04:19 Deep Dive into Iceman: Strategies and Insights06:44 Exploring Favorite Heroes and Scenarios10:17 Aspect Preferences: Justice, Leadership, and More12:47 Getting into Marvel Champions: Abhi's Journey16:58 Recent Gameplay Experiences and Challenges19:11 Discussion on New Heroes: Hulkling and Tigra20:54 Sinister Motives Campaign: A Challenging Experience22:42 The Challenge of Mysterio24:44 Deck Strategies and Adjustments26:35 Nick Fury: A Favorite Hero29:16 Card of the Day: Ready for a Fight35:38 The Power of Ready for a Fight44:34 Is It Broken? A Discussion on Balance53:19 The Impact of Game Mechanics55:29 Redefining Protection in Gameplay57:32 The Fun Factor of New Cards01:03:29 Final Thoughts on 'Ready for a Fight'01:09:52 Deck Showcase: Stupify01:19:14 Deck Showcase: Sigh Lockdown

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