Hello and welcome back!
As we are getting near the end of 2024, I wanted to do something special to wrap up the year. So I reached out to some of the most experienced X-Men players out there to do a retrospective on the X-Men in 2024. In this series, I'll be asking open questions about characters, Team Tactics Cards the state of the game and what's coming on the horizon. In today's article, I have the pleasure of hosting Wout!
Section 1: New Leadership
In 2024, the Uncanny X-Men recieved, with the release of Charles Xavier, a brand new leader to supplement Storm and Cyclops. What are your thoughts on this new leadership and how it fits in the overall affiliation?
The optimal use of this new leadership seems to rely heavily on certain splash models that align well with its mechanic. These models, while excellent choices to maximize the benefits of the new leadership, don't necessarily mesh as well with Storm's style of play. Storm's leadership thrives in a wide strategy, spreading out across the board to control objectives and capitalize on her team's mobility. In contrast, the splash models suited to the new leadership might lean toward a narrower or more centralized approach, which can create challenges when pairing with Storm-led teams.
Section 2: Character reviews & team tactic cards
X-Men received a lot of new characters and team tactic cards in 2024. What are your impression of them, what they bring to X-Men and their place overall in the affiliation?
Professor X
I feel positive about Professor X's leadership—it’s fantastic, and the reroll mechanic is a great tool that adds a lot to the team. However, I’m not as enthusiastic about the model itself; his attacks feel pretty middle-of-the-road. He definitely brings a very different playstyle compared to Storm, which is refreshing, but combining their strengths in a roster is quite challenging due to their differing strategic focuses.
Bishop
To be honest, I’ve never thoroughly tried the Bishop model yet. From what I can tell, he seems to really benefit from a leadership that can funnel him power since his throw, which is his biggest draw, costs 3 power. I think I need to reevaluate him and get more games in with him to see what he brings to the table. That said, he’s not my first pick at the moment, as I feel there are certain splash options that fit his role a bit better in most rosters.
Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler is absolutely phenomenal—easily the strongest model we’ve gotten this year! His mobility is simply unparalleled, letting him control the board and respond to threats like no one else. On top of that, he excels at playing the crisis game, making him an invaluable asset in almost any situation. And let’s not forget, he can even dish out some respectable damage when needed. He’s a true all-rounder, and I can confidently say I will never leave home without him in my roster. An absolute must-have!
Iceman
I’ll admit, I was very cold on Iceman at first, but I’ve definitely warmed up to him now! He really shines in a wide Storm roster, where his ability to force difficult decisions on your opponent is invaluable. Ideally, you don’t want him holding an extract—this way, when opponents decide to attack him, they’re not targeting your key carriers. His true strength is in positioning: being where opponents feel they have to deal with him, and then rotating to another key area of the board to keep the pressure on. He’s a deceptively impactful piece in the right setup!
Shadowcat
Shadowcat is an absolute gem! Being the first affiliated long mover for the Uncanny X-Men gives her a special place in my heart right off the bat. She’s a perfect fit for my wide Storm roster, especially in crises like Cubes or Spider-Infected. Her synergy with To Me, My X-Men is incredible—she can hop forward, grab a far cube or spider without priority, and still set up a favorable 2-3 split. Her mobility and utility are game-changers for the team, and I can’t imagine running certain scenarios without her.
Angel
I’ll be honest, I haven’t tried Angel at all yet. On paper, he seems like an interesting piece, but it feels like he’s missing a distinct role that makes him an obvious fit in most teams. After WTC, I’ve been exploring a bit of everything else, so I haven’t prioritized giving him a shot. That said, I’m hopeful that when I dive back into X-Men, I’ll find the time to test him out and see if there’s a niche he can fill. He’s definitely on my “to try” list, but for now, he’s more of a curiosity than a staple in my rosters.
Cerebro
Cerebro is one of those cards that always seems to make it into my 10 but never actually gets chosen in my 5. It feels like a niche option that might shine in very specific matchups or against certain teams, like the Web Warriors 4, but it hasn’t proven to be indispensable yet. For now, it feels more like a situational tool rather than a core part of my strategy. Unless something shifts in the meta or my roster construction, I don’t see this changing anytime soon. Honestly, it’s one of those cards that will likely be the first to go if a stronger option comes along.
Mind Wipe
Mind Wipe is just too conditional for my taste. The card’s effectiveness hinges on dealing damage, which can be inconsistent at best. The real kicker is that Professor X himself makes the attack, meaning he can’t reroll his own dice—this limitation makes an already situational card feel even weaker. As it stands, it’s not in my 10 for my mono Xavier roster, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. While the concept is thematic, the execution just doesn’t feel impactful enough to justify its inclusion.
Xavier's Dream
Xavier’s Dream is everything we could have dreamed of and more—truly the best card we’ve gotten, and an absolute auto-include in all my rosters! We dreamed big, and we got everything we could have hoped for. This card shines brightest in wide squads, where its impact is amplified even further, making it a perfect fit for those who love playing flexible, objective-focused teams. Honestly, it’s affiliation-defining and should be a staple in every X-Men roster. If you’re not playing Xavier’s Dream, you’re missing out on one of the most powerful tools the affiliation has to offer!
Section 3: Current place in the meta
How impactful have you found the new leadership to be for the affiliation?
As mentioned before, Xavier’s leadership is definitely strong, offering a lot of utility and strategic depth. However, it feels held back by Xavier himself being a somewhat middle-of-the-road character, particularly as a 4-threat. His abilities don’t always justify the investment compared to what other leaders or characters can bring to the table. In my personal opinion, Storm remains the stronger and more competitive choice. Xavier’s more focused playstyle makes it difficult to effectively combine the two in a single ten-man roster. Overall, I’d rate Xavier as a solid leader, but he falls short of Storm’s consistency and versatility.
How have you found the new models impact your list building and how you approach the affiliation?
The release of Xavier’s Dream and Nightcrawler has been nothing short of game-changing—they’re so impactful that they make it into every roster I currently build. Nightcrawler’s unparalleled mobility and tactical versatility are a perfect fit for the X-Men’s playstyle, and Xavier’s Dream is simply a must-have, providing incredible value in nearly every game. Iceman has also been a pleasant surprise. He slots beautifully into my wide rosters, adding a layer of control and disruption that complements the X-Men’s strategy. These releases feel like they were tailor-made for the affiliation, fitting seamlessly into the existing playstyle of prioritizing pay-to-flip secure crises while minimizing heavy conflict. The ability to rotate across the board and play a mobile, objective-focused game feels stronger than ever with these additions. They’ve truly elevated the team’s potential!
What would you say is the biggest gain X-Men made this year and why?
Ah, the sweet agony of choice! It’s hard to deny that Xavier’s Dream has been the most impactful release of the year—it’s simply a game-changer for the Uncanny X-Men. That said, Nightcrawler is certainly not far behind. His unparalleled mobility and versatility have added an entirely new dimension to the team. Together, these releases have truly defined the X-Men’s playstyle this year, cementing their identity as a flexible, crisis-focused affiliation that thrives on strategic movement and precise plays. It’s been an incredible year for X-Men players!
What would you say is X-Men's biggest loss this year and why?
The banning of X-Ceptional Healing was a significant loss for X-Men players. While the decision was justified to maintain game balance, the era of having a nearly indestructible Logan was truly memorable.
I would like to thank Wout for taking the time to answer my questions and give feedback on what's been a pretty busy year for the Uncanny X-Men. I'd also like to thank you for taking the time to read this article and as always, don't forget to have fun!
Comments
Post a Comment