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Thor

The Avengers faction assembles six mighty heroes whose different skills can handle any situation. Each has a signature action that can be used at any time, but is stronger when used with its hero. Though their numbers are few, they have several ways to cycle through their deck and recycle discarded cards to get what they need when they need it.

- Smash Up: Marvel rulebook

The Avengers are one of the 8 factions from the Smash Up: Marvel set.

They feature a team of six unique characters of power 5, each associated with a unique action that has a regular effect and an additional or alternative effect when the corresponding character is in play.

Their complexity rating is: Low.

Other factions from the same set: Hydra, Kree, Masters of Evil, S.H.I.E.L.D., Sinister Six, Spider-Verse, Ultimates.

Cards[]

Avengers

The Avengers have only 6 characters and 14 actions compared to the usual 10 and 10. Every character is power 5, which makes the total character base power (not counting any abilities) still equal to the usual 30. However, the average power per character is much higher: 5 compared to the usual 3.

Among their actions, there are:

  • 2 character modifiers: Cap’s Shield, Mjonir,
  • 1 base modifier: J.A.R.V.I.S.,
  • 11 standard actions (4 that affect one or more characters, in bold): Avengers Assemble (2x), Hawkeye’s Arrows, Hulk Smash, Modular Tech, Repulsor Boots, Strategize (2x), Tactical Advantage, Thunder and Lightning, Widow’s Bite,
  • 4 actions that directly increase a character's power: Cap’s Shield, Mjolnir, Tactical Advantage, Widow’s Bite.

Characters[]

1x Black Widow - power 5 - You may destroy a character here of power 5 or less. FAQ

1x Captain America - power 5 - Talent: Give each of your other characters currently here +1 power until the end of the turn. FAQ

1x Hawkeye - power 5 - Draw three cards. Discard two cards. FAQ

1x Hulk - power 5 - Talent: This character gains +2 power until the end of the turn. FAQ

1x Iron Man - power 5 - Talent: Move this character and up to one other of your characters here to another base. FAQ

1x Thor - power 5 - Search your deck and/or discard pile for Mjolnir, reveal it, and draw it. Shuffle your deck if you searched it. Talent: Move Mjolnir from one character to another. FAQ

Actions[]

2x Avengers Assemble - Shuffle up to two characters from your discard pile into your deck. FAQ

1x Cap’s Shield - Character modifier. Ongoing: Your characters here are not affected by other players’ actions. If this card is on Captain America, they also have +1 power each. FAQ

1x Hawkeye’s Arrows - Reveal cards from your deck until you reveal two actions. Draw the actions and shuffle the rest into your deck. If Hawkeye is in play, you may play the drawn cards as extra actions. FAQ

1x Hulk Smash - Choose a base. Destroy any number of base modifiers on it. If Hulk is there, you may destroy the base and all its modifiers, and replace it with the top card of the base deck; all characters remain on the new base. FAQ

1x J.A.R.V.I.S. - Base modifier. Talent: Draw a card. Discard a card. FAQ

1x Mjolnir - Character modifier. Ongoing: If this card is on Thor, it has +2 power. Otherwise, it has -2 power. FAQ

1x Modular Tech - Move one of your modifiers from one character to another character, or from one base to another base. Play an extra action. FAQ

1x Repulsor Boots - Move one of your characters to another base. Special: You may play this before a base scores to move Iron Man. FAQ

2x Strategize - Look at the top four cards of your deck. Place two of them on the top of the deck and the rest on the bottom, in any order. FAQ

1x Tactical Advantage - Choose a character to gain +3 power until the end of the turn. FAQ

1x Thunder and Lightning - Destroy a character of power 3 or less. FAQ

1x Widow’s Bite - Special: Play before a base scores. Other players’ characters currently there each get -1 power until the end of the turn. If Black Widow is there, she gains +2 power until the end of the turn. FAQ

Avengers logo

Bases[]

Clarifications[]

Here are the official clarifications as they appear in the Smash Up: Marvel rulebook:

Captain America, Widow’s Bite: They only affect characters in play when the ability is resolved, not those played afterward, but their effects continue even if they leave play before the end of the turn. The word “currently” helps make this clearer, but is not present in similar cards in other Smash Up sets.

Hawkeye’s Arrows: If your deck is empty before you reveal any cards, shuffle your discard pile to make a new deck. If your deck runs out before you find the appropriate card(s), stop revealing and continue with the rest of the instructions.

Hulk Smash: If you destroy the base, all base modifiers there are discarded because their base left play. This card keeps the characters in play onto the new base but they are not replayed; characters keep any modifiers they have. Destroying a base doesn't score it.

Repulsor Boots: If you use its Special ability, you do not use its On-play ability.

Repulsor Boots: When using its Special ability, you can move Iron Man to or from any base, not necessarily the scoring base.

Mechanics[]

Avengers have the unusual cast of only 6 unique characters, each with a printed power of 5, similar to the Princesses. But among their 14 actions, they have 6 peculiar ones that have a "normal" ability and an "upgraded" ability that can only be accessed when the corresponding Avenger character is in play, such as Hulk Smash, which normally allows you to destroy base modifiers but can alternatively destroy a whole base if Hulk is in play.

As a secondary mechanics and in order to support their main mechanics, they also have several cards that allow them to recur their characters from your discard pile and cycle through your deck to get to the right cards, increasing the chance that you'll be able to combine the Avenger characters with their unique actions.

External Strategy Guides[]

FAQ[]

Questions on Black Widow[]

Q: I play Black Widow on a base, which brings the total power there above the breakpoint, but I use its ability to destroy a character there, bringing the total power below the breakpoint. Does the base still score?

A: No. You only check if a base scores during phase 3 of a player's turn.

Rule: Outside the Score Bases phase, it doesn't matter how much power each player has on each base, they will only score if they meet the requirement during the Score Bases phase, and the Score Bases phase only.

Q: The character I want to destroy has a printed power of 5 but has +1 or more power from another card (e.g. Cover the Exits, Righteous Fury). Can I do it?

A: No, the character's power is actually more than 5, so you cannot even target it with Black Widow's ability.

Rule: In play, a minion's power includes all modifications.

Q: A character is protected from being destroyed. (e.g. Indestructible Form, Spider-Man 2099) But this card allows me to destroy them, so surely I can do it, right?

A: No, the cards that say you can't do something beat the cards that say you can do it.

Rule: "Can't" trumps "can".

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q: It destroys "a character". So it only works on "character" cards and not at all on "minion" cards, correct?

A: Wrong, it works on both "character" and "minion" cards. "Character" and "minion" are two synonymous terms.

Rule: The word “character” is an exact synonym for “minion” in the other sets.


Questions on Captain America[]

Q: I suppose that Cap’s Shield doesn't give +1 power to Captain America himself, right? Captain America's own talent doesn't grant it +1 power, so Cap’s Shield shouldn't give it +1 power either.

A: Yes, Captain America's talent doesn't give it +1 power, but Cap’s Shield does give it +1 power since the protection applies to all your characters on that base (including Captain America) and all those get +1 power.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.

Rule: If there are no limits, there are no limits.

Q: I use Captain America's talent. Captain America is then removed from play or has its ability cancelled. Do my characters lose their boost?

A: No. Even if Captain America is no longer in play or loses its ability, the +1 power persists until the end of the turn.

Rule: Cancelling (or losing) an effect does not necessarily undo what it did.

Rule: Removing a card from play does not necessarily undo what it did.

Rule: An effect “until Y” lasts until Y even if the card that caused it leaves play or moves away, or even if any precondition stops being true.

Q: After using Captain America's talent, I move it to another base. Do my characters on the former base lose their boost and do my characters on the new base get it instead?

A: No. The power boost was given to the characters when you used the talent and it sticks with them until the end of the turn.

Rule: Abilities that say “Do X until Z” (e.g. “Each of your minions gains +1 power until the end of the turn”) only affect the cards currently in play, not those played after that ability triggers.

Rule: An effect “until Y” lasts until Y even if the card that caused it leaves play or moves away, or even if any precondition stops being true.

Q: After using Captain America's talent, I move one of my other characters from there to another base. Does the character lose its power boost?

A: No, it keeps it even if it's moved to another base. The power boost was given to that character when you used the talent and it sticks with it until the end of the turn.

Rule: An effect “until Y” lasts until Y even if the card that caused it leaves play or moves away, or even if any precondition stops being true.

Q: After using Captain America's talent, I play or move one of my characters to Captain America's base. Does the character get a power boost?

A: No. The power boost was given to the characters present on Captain America's base at the time you used its talent. Any other character won't be able to get it.

Rule: Abilities that say “Do X until Z” (e.g. “Each of your minions gains +1 power until the end of the turn”) only affect the cards currently in play, not those played after that ability triggers.

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q: It gives +1 power to "my other characters". So it only works on "character" cards and not at all on "minion" cards, correct?

A: Wrong, it works on both "character" and "minion" cards. "Character" and "minion" are two synonymous terms.

Rule: The word “character” is an exact synonym for “minion” in the other sets.

Q: It gives +1 power to "each of my other characters". Does it also give +1 power to minions there that I own but don't control? I don't control them but I "own" them, so they are "my" minions, right?

A: No. "Your characters" are minions you control, whether or not you own them. A minion you own but don't control isn't yours.

Rule: "Your minion" means "a minion that you control".


Questions on Hawkeye[]

Q: Do I discard two cards among the three cards I drew?

A: You draw three cards and add them to your hand, then discard two cards among all the cards in your hand.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.

Rule: If there are no limits, there are no limits.

Q: After drawing the three cards, I have more than 10 cards in hand, do I immediately discard down to 10 before discarding two? Or do I discard the two, and then if I still have more than ten cards, I immediately discard down to 10?

A: You strictly follow the card's instructions (draw three cards and discard two cards) and you don't discard any other card until your upcoming Draw 2 Cards phase. At that point, you will indeed need to draw two cards and discard down to 10 if you have more than 10. That's the only moment where you must discard down to 10. At any other time, you keep your hand of cards.

Rule: You wait until your Draw 2 Cards phase to discard down to 10; if your hand is bigger than 10 at other times of the game, that’s okay.

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q:

A:

Rule:


Questions on Hulk[]

Q: Since it has a talent, which can be activated once a turn, we concluded that the Avenger player can activate that talent to make Hulk a 7 power card each of their turns. We worried though that perhaps the intent was to have Hulk only be power 7 during the turn it was played. Are we playing correctly to activate the talent each turn if desired and make Hulk a 7 power repeatedly?

A: Yes, you played it correctly. A talent can be activated on each of the controller's turn.

Rule: Each talent can be activated once on each of your turns.

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q:

A:

Rule:


Questions on Iron Man[]

Q: Do Iron Man and the moved character all go to the same base?

A: Yes. The card text says to move those characters to "another base", i.e. one other base.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q: It moves on "one other of my characters". So it only works on "character" cards and not at all on "minion" cards, correct?

A: Wrong, it works on both "character" and "minion" cards. "Character" and "minion" are two synonymous terms.

Rule: The word “character” is an exact synonym for “minion” in the other sets.

Q: It tells me to move "another one of my characters". Can I move a minion I own that I don't control? I don't control it but I "own" it, so it's "my" minion, right?

A: No. "Your characters" are minions you control, whether or not you own them. A minion you own but don't control isn't yours.

Rule: "Your minion" means "a minion that you control".

Q: Can you move it and another minion from stasis to a base?

A: No, while in stasis, the only abilities that can do anything are the ones that explicitly state that they do something there.

Rule: Abilities of cards in stasis do not work unless they refer to stasis.


Questions on Thor[]

Q: After playing this card and drawing Mjolnir, I (somehow) have ten cards in hand. Do I immediately discard down to 10?

A: You don't discard any card until your next Draw 2 Cards phase (so not any Draw 2 Cards phase!). At that point, you will indeed need to draw two cards and discard down to 10 if you have more than 10. That's the only moment where you must discard down to 10. At any other time, you keep your hand of cards.

Rule: You wait until your Draw 2 Cards phase to discard down to 10; if your hand is bigger than 10 at other times of the game, that’s okay.

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q: It moves Mjolnir from "one character" to "another character". So it only works on "character" cards and not at all on "minion" cards, correct?

A: Wrong, it works on both "character" and "minion" cards. "Character" and "minion" are two synonymous terms.

Rule: The word “character” is an exact synonym for “minion” in the other sets.

Q: Can you move/transfer Mjolnir to a minion in stasis?

A: No, cards in stasis cannot be affected or chosen by cards that do not explicitly state they work on cards in stasis.

Rule: Cards in stasis may not be affected by, or chosen as the target of, any ability that does not refer to stasis.


Questions on Avengers Assemble[]

Q: Do I choose which characters to shuffle or are they picked randomly?

A: You choose which characters to shuffle.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.

Q: It doesn't say to reveal the characters you shuffle into your deck, so I don't have to reveal them if I don't want to, right?

A: No. Discard piles are "public knowledge", so you can check which cards are in any player's discard pile at any time. If you take a card out of the discard pile, players are supposed to know what card was taken out. So, you should reveal them.

Rule: If you take a card out of the discard pile, show it to everyone.

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q: It retrieves "characters". So it only works on "character" cards and not at all on "minion" cards, correct?

A: Wrong, it works on both "character" and "minion" cards. "Character" and "minion" are two synonymous terms.

Rule: The word “character” is an exact synonym for “minion” in the other sets.

Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?

A: It doesn't interact with them at all, because it doesn't affect any minions in play and so its effect can't be copied.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.


Questions on Cap’s Shield[]

Q: It just says "Character modifier." Does it mean that I can play this on another player's character? If so, are that player's characters protected and whose actions are those characters protected from?

A: Yes, you can play it on another player's character. Because you're the one who played it, you're the action's controller, so the action only addresses you and the ability must be interpreted from your point of view. So "your characters" actually means yours and "other players" means "your opponents". In summary, that other player's character is in no way protected, but your characters are, even if Cap’s Shield is not on one of your characters.

Rule: "A minion" means "any minion in play".

Rule: If there are no limits, there are no limits.

Rule: If you play an action on another player's minion, you're still the action's controller.

Rule: "Other players" on a minion, action or titan means everyone except the controller of the card.

Q: I suppose that this doesn't give +1 power to Captain America himself, right? Captain America's own talent doesn't grant it +1 power, so Cap’s Shield shouldn't give it +1 power either.

A: Yes, Captain America's talent doesn't give it +1 power, but Cap’s Shield does give it +1 power since the protection applies to all your characters on that base (including Captain America) and all those get +1 power.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q: It's a "character" modifier and it only protects and boosts "my characters". So it can only be attached to a "character" card and not at all to a "minion" card and it only works on my "character" cards and not at all on my "minion" cards, correct?

A: Wrong, it can be played on a "character" or "minion" card and it works on both your "characters" and "minions". "Character" and "minion" are two synonymous terms.

Rule: The word “character” is an exact synonym for “minion” in the other sets.

Q: Can you play it on a minion in stasis?

A: No, cards in stasis cannot be affected by cards that do not explicitly state they work on cards in stasis.

Rule: Cards in stasis may not be affected by, or chosen as the target of, any ability that does not refer to stasis.

Q: If a card refers to an action "that can be played on a minion" (e.g. Señor Muchoslam vs the Monsters, Tattoo Artist, Baboom), this one doesn't say "play on a minion" so it cannot be targeted, correct?

A: Wrong, "Character modifier" and "Play on a minion" are two synonymous phrases.

Rule: A card that says “Base/Character modifier” is the same as one that says “Play on a base/minion” in the other sets.

Q: It protects "my characters" and can give them +1 power. Does it also apply minions I own that I don't control? I don't control them but I "own" them, so they are "my" minions, right?

A: No. "Your characters" are minions you control, whether or not you own them. A minion you own but don't control isn't yours.

Rule: "Your minion" means "a minion that you control".

Q: An opponent plays Bear Hug (or Unfathomable Goals, Griefer), forcing me to destroy one of my minions. Can I choose one of my minions on the same base as Cap’s Shield? If so, does Cap’s Shield protect it?

A: First of all, you can indeed choose any of your minions, but you must choose one if you have any in play. Secondly, since the cause of the affect is "another player's card", then yes, Cap’s Shield protects your minion from destruction.

Rule: The card you target may be immune to the effects of the ability you are performing, but it is still a valid target.

Q: How does this interact with the Grimms’ Blessing?

A: It doesn't. If you mean playing Cap’s Shield on Grimms’ Blessing, that can't happen because Grimms’ Blessing isn't a minion so Cap’s Shield cannot be played on it. If you mean protecting and/or boosting the power of Grimms’ Blessing, that can't happen either because Cap’s Shield only protects/boosts your minions and Grimms’ Blessing isn't one.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.

Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?

A: - If you're asking about when Cap’s Shield is played, it doesn't interact with them at all, because it says "Character modifier", which means that it is not a standard action.
- If you're asking about when you copy an effect onto an opponent's minion with Cap’s Shield protecting it, then the minion isn't affected.
- If you're asking about when an opponent's minion with Cap’s Shield protecting it is directly affected by your standard action and you want to copy that, then it's not possible because the minion isn't affected by your action and because no minion was affected, you can't copy the effect.
- If you're asking about when an opponent's minion with Cap’s Shield protecting it is directly affected by that player's standard action and you want to copy that, then you can indeed copy it the same way.

Rule: Definition of "standard".

Rule: "Can't" trumps "can".

Rule: Check Diva, Dancing King, We Are Family's clarification.


Questions on Hawkeye’s Arrows[]

Q: If Hawkeye is in play, do I have to play the drawn actions immediately or can I play them as extra actions later in the turn?

A: If you want to play any of them or both as extra actions, it must be done immediately. If you don't do it immediately, those extra action plays are lost and you'll have to spend another action play to play any of them.

Rule: Extra cards that refer to a specific card must be played immediately or not at all.

Q: After playing this card, I have more than 10 cards in hand, do I immediately discard down to 10?

A: You don't discard any card until your next Draw 2 Cards phase (so not any Draw 2 Cards phase!). At that point, you will indeed need to draw two cards and discard down to 10 if you have more than 10. That's the only moment where you must discard down to 10. At any other time, you keep your hand of cards.

Rule: You wait until your Draw 2 Cards phase to discard down to 10; if your hand is bigger than 10 at other times of the game, that’s okay.

Q: If I go through all my deck and revealed either no action, or only one action, what happens? Do I shuffle my discard pile to make a new deck and continue revealing from there?

A: You stop revealing immediately, put whichever action you managed to reveal into your hand (if any) and shuffle all those revealed cards to reconstitute your deck.

Rule: When revealing cards from a deck until you find a particular kind of card(s), if you run out of cards, you stop revealing.

Q: With Hawkeye in play, I reveal a first action, can I play it before I continue revealing for the second action?

A: No, you must resolve cards in their written order. Playing the actions happens after you've found both actions (if any, see above) and reconstituted your deck. So you cannot play the first action you find before you've finished doing what happens before.

Rule: Multiple parts of a card’s ability must be done in their stated order.

Q: With Hawkeye in play, I reveal two actions, one of which is Proven Methods. Can I play Proven Methods as an extra action to put back Hawkeye’s Arrows on top of my deck?

A: No, because Hawkeye’s Arrows isn't in your discard pile at this point. If you decide to play the actions you revealed as Hawkeye’s Arrows's extra actions, those must be played immediately since they are specific cards, and therefore they must be played before Hawkeye’s Arrows is discarded.

Rule: Extra cards that refer to a specific card must be played immediately or not at all.

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q: If I reveal a card I don't own, what happens?

A: There are two different paths for the revealed card:
- If it's an action, it goes to its owner's hand, that's because the other players can see who owns the card and the card changes location. And if you aren't the owner and Hawkeye is in play, you won't be able to play that action because it's not in your hand.
- If it's a minion, it's shuffled into its owner's deck, that's because the other players can see who owns the card and the card changes location.

Rule: When a card that others can see goes to the hand, deck or discard pile, it goes to the one belonging to the card’s owner.

Q: If Hawkeye is in stasis, does it change anything to how Hawkeye’s Arrows work?

A: Yes, since being in stasis counts as being in play, the condition "If Hawkeye is in play" is met. Therefore, you can play the drawn actions as extra actions.

Rule: Cards in stasis are considered in play, but they are not on any base.

Q: How does this interact with the Grimms’ Blessing?

A: Since Grimms’ Blessing will be treated as having the name "Hawkeye", you'll be able to play the drawn cards as extra actions as if the real Hawkeye is in play.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.

Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?

A: It doesn't interact with them at all, because it doesn't affect any minions in play and so its effect can't be copied.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.


Questions on Hulk Smash[]

Q: If Hulk is on the base and I choose to destroy the base, I also have to destroy "all its modifiers", but that includes character modifiers as well?

A: No, character modifiers are not considered either on a base, nor modifiers of a base. Only base modifiers are considered as such.

Rule: Only "play on a base" actions are played on a base.

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q: If the base is destroyed, "all characters" remain. So it only saves "character" cards and not at all "minion" cards, correct?

A: Wrong, both "character" and "minion" cards go on the new base. "Character" and "minion" are two synonymous terms.

Rule: The word “character” is an exact synonym for “minion” in the other sets.

Q: This can only target "base modifiers" so I cannot use it and target actions that say "Play on a base", correct?

A: Wrong, "Base modifier" and "Play on a base" are two synonymous phrases.

Rule: A card that says “Base/Character modifier” is the same as one that says “Play on a base/minion” in the other sets.

Q: I have a Steam Queen in play. Another player plays Hulk Smash and targets a base where they have Hulk and where I have actions attached to the base. What happens if the base is destroyed?

A: The player who played Hulk Smash will try to destroy your actions, but it will fail. However, the base will be destroyed, and according to the rulebook, "when a card leaves play, discard attachments." The base being a card and your actions there being attachments of the base, they are discarded and Steam Queen can't prevent that. Makes you wonder why Hulk Smash even tried to destroy them in the first place, right? Note that there's a possibility that some cards react to those destructions (e.g. The Mean Streets).

Rule: "Can't" trumps "can".

Rule: When a card leaves play, discard its attachments.

Q: What does Hulk Smash do to monsters?

A: Nothing, they go on the new base, exactly as stated on its ability.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.

Rule: If there are no limits, there are no limits.

Q: How does this interact with the Grimms’ Blessing?

A: Since Grimms’ Blessing will be treated as having the name "Hulk", you'll be able to destroy Grimms’ Blessing's base if you want to, as if the real Hulk is there. Although, if you do that, you'll have to remove Grimms’ Blessing from play because Hulk Smash forces you to destroy it, and even if Grimms’ Blessing is somehow indestructible, it wouldn't remain in play because its base leaves play.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.

Rule: When a card leaves play, discard its attachments.

Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?

A: It doesn't interact with them at all, because it doesn't affect any minions in play and so its effect can't be copied.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.


Questions on J.A.R.V.I.S.[]

Q: An opponent plays this card on a base, so on my turn, I can now use its talent, right?

A: No. Your opponent played the action, so they control it, and therefore only they can use its talent.

Rule: A play-on-base action doesn't give an ability to the base that any player can use.

Rule: A card's talent can only be used by that card's controller.

Q: I have 10 cards in hand. If I use this talent, I draw a card and therefore have more than 10 cards in hand, do I immediately discard down to 10 before discarding one card?

A: You strictly follow the card's instructions (draw one card and discard one card) and you don't discard any other card until your upcoming Draw 2 Cards phase. At that point, you will indeed need to draw two cards and discard down to 10 if you have more than 10. That's the only moment where you must discard down to 10. At any other time, you keep your hand of cards.

Rule: You wait until your Draw 2 Cards phase to discard down to 10; if your hand is bigger than 10 at other times of the game, that’s okay.

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q: If a card refers to an action "that can be played on a base" (e.g. Mechanic, Flank Attack), this one doesn't say "play on a base" so it cannot be targeted, correct?

A: Wrong, "Base modifier" and "Play on a base" are two synonymous phrases.

Rule: A card that says “Base/Character modifier” is the same as one that says “Play on a base/minion” in the other sets.

Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?

A: It doesn't interact with them at all, because it says "Base modifier", which means that it is not a standard action.

Rule: Definition of "standard".


Questions on Mjolnir[]

Q: It doesn't say that the character has a minimum power of 0. So the character's power can go negative with this card, right?

A: No. Those other cards only reminded you of the general rule that "character power is never reduced below zero". Even if the card doesn't remind you of it, it's still one of the rules of Smash Up that you must keep in mind.

Rule: Minion power is never reduced below zero.

Q: What is the "it" this card refers to if it's not on Thor? Thor or the character this modifier is attached to?

A: The character it's currently attached to.

Rule: N/A

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q: It's a "character" modifier. So it can only be attached to a "character" card and not at all to a "minion" card, correct?

A: Wrong, it can be played on a "character" or "minion" card. "Character" and "minion" are two synonymous terms.

Rule: The word “character” is an exact synonym for “minion” in the other sets.

Q: Can you play it on a minion in stasis?

A: No, cards in stasis cannot be affected by cards that do not explicitly state they work on cards in stasis.

Rule: Cards in stasis may not be affected by, or chosen as the target of, any ability that does not refer to stasis.

Q: If a card refers to an action "that can be played on a minion" (e.g. Señor Muchoslam vs the Monsters, Tattoo Artist, Baboom), this one doesn't say "play on a minion" so it cannot be targeted, correct?

A: Wrong, "Character modifier" and "Play on a minion" are two synonymous phrases.

Rule: A card that says “Base/Character modifier” is the same as one that says “Play on a base/minion” in the other sets.

Q: How does this interact with the Grimms’ Blessing?

A: It doesn't because Grimms’ Blessing isn't a minion and so Mjolnir cannot be played on it, nor moved/transferred to it with Thor for example.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.

Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?

A: It doesn't interact with them at all, because it says "Character modifier", which means that it is not a standard action.

Rule: Definition of "standard".


Questions on Modular Tech[]

Q: If I move Aid from Allies, do I draw a card? I'm replaying it on another base after all.

A: No, you actually aren't replaying the action, you are simply relocating it to another base. Moving a card isn't playing it.

Rule: Specific words are not synonymous no matter how similar they seem.

Rule: An on-play ability happens when you play its card.

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q: It moves a modifier from "one character" to "another character". So it only works on "character" cards and not at all on "minion" cards, correct?

A: Wrong, it works on both "character" and "minion" cards. "Character" and "minion" are two synonymous terms.

Rule: The word “character” is an exact synonym for “minion” in the other sets.

Q: Can you move an action to a minion in stasis?

A: No, cards in stasis cannot be affected or chosen by cards that do not explicitly state they work on cards in stasis.

Rule: Cards in stasis may not be affected by, or chosen as the target of, any ability that does not refer to stasis.

Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?

A: It doesn't interact with them at all, because it doesn't affect any minions in play and so its effect can't be copied.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.


Questions on Repulsor Boots[]

Q: When can I play Repulsor Boots as a Special?

A: On any player's turn, when a base has been chosen to score and before its victory points are awarded. To be more precise, it can only be played during phase 3 and only during the "before scoring" step.

Rule: "Before a base scores" means during the before-scoring step of any turn, the base being the one chosen to score.

Q: If I use this before a base scores, must the move be made to the scoring base? from the scoring base?

A: When used as a Special, the scoring base doesn't matter. You can move Iron Man to or from the scoring base, or you can even move Iron Man between two bases that are not the scoring base.

Rule: If there are no limits, there are no limits.

Q: Does moving one of my characters from or away from a scoring base change anything at all? Don't we only get VPs based on the power we had at the start of scoring?

A: Actually, the amount of VPs each player gets is determined by the power each player currently has when you are handing out VPs, so any before-scoring abilities (including this one) that affect how much power you have on the base will affect the amount of VPs you'll eventually get.

Rule: VPs are awarded according to the current power totals.

Q: Before a base scores, I play this card and move Iron Man from that base, reducing the total power below the breakpoint. This ends the scoring, right?

A: You're mistaken here. Once a base has been chosen to score, you keep scoring it even if the total power on it drops below its breakpoint because of before-scoring abilities. (Only a couple of things can really prevent a base from scoring, but this isn't one of them.)

Rule: The chosen base is scored regardless of how much power is still left on it after the before-scoring step.

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q: It moves "one of my characters". So it only works on "character" cards and not at all on "minion" cards, correct?

A: Wrong, it works on both "character" and "minion" cards. "Character" and "minion" are two synonymous terms.

Rule: The word “character” is an exact synonym for “minion” in the other sets.

Q: It tells me to move "one of my characters". Can I move a character I own that I don't control? I don't control it but I "own" it, so it's "my" character, right?

A: No. "Your characters" are characters you control, whether or not you own them. A character you own but don't control isn't yours.

Rule: "Your minion" means "a minion that you control".

Q: Can you move a minion from stasis to a base?

A: No, cards in stasis cannot be affected by cards that do not explicitly state they work on cards in stasis.

Rule: Cards in stasis may not be affected by, or chosen as the target of, any ability that does not refer to stasis.

Q: Can I play it from stasis before a base scores?

A: No, while in stasis, the only abilities that can do anything are the ones that explicitly state that they do something there.

Rule: Abilities of cards in stasis do not work unless they refer to stasis.

Q: How does this interact with the Grimms’ Blessing?

A: Before a base scores, you can use this to move/transfer Grimms’ Blessing to another, as if it is the real Iron Man.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.

Q: Is this still a standard action if I play it through its Special ability for the Disco Dancers and Funky Town?

A: Yes. A standard action is an action that doesn't remain in play after being played. Repulsor Boots doesn't remain in play when played, whether it's played normally or as a Special, so it IS a standard action no matter what.

Rule: Definition of "standard".

Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?

A: - If Diva copies it, Diva is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is moved to the same base as the character that was directly affected by the action.
- If Dancing King copies it onto a character (it can be itself), that character is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is moved to the same base as the character that was directly affected by the action. Note that while the action is restricted to a character controlled by the action player, the effect's copy still works if applied to a character not controlled by that player.
- If We are Family copies it, the character it is on is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is moved to the same base as the character that was directly affected by the action. Note that while the action is restricted to a character controlled by the action player, the effect's copy still works if applied to a character not controlled by that player.
- With Funky Town, you can only copy it if you're the one who played the action and if it moves one of your characters away from Funky Town, but if Funky Town does copy it, the character is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is moved to the same base as the character that was directly affected by the action

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.


Questions on Strategize[]

Q: What happens if there's fewer than four cards in my deck?

A: You take what's left of your deck, then shuffle your discard pile to form a new deck and resume taking cards until you have four cards.

Rule: If you need to draw, reveal, search for or look at a card and your deck is empty, shuffle your discard pile and put it on the table face down—that’s your new deck; continue from there.

Q: What happens if there's exactly four cards in my deck?

A: You look at those four cards, rearrange them and set them down. That's your deck. You don't shuffle your discard pile to make a new deck.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.

Rule: If you need to draw, reveal, search for or look at a card and your deck is empty, shuffle your discard pile and put it on the table face down—that’s your new deck; continue from there.

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?

A: It doesn't interact with them at all, because it doesn't affect any minions in play and so its effect can't be copied.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.


Questions on Tactical Advantage[]

Q:

A:

Rule:

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q: It gives +3 power to "a character". So it only works on "character" cards and not at all on "minion" cards, correct?

A: Wrong, it works on both "character" and "minion" cards. "Character" and "minion" are two synonymous terms.

Rule: The word “character” is an exact synonym for “minion” in the other sets.

Q: Can I choose a minion in stasis?

A: No, cards in stasis cannot be chosen by cards that do not explicitly state cards in stasis can be chosen.

Rule: Cards in stasis may not be affected by, or chosen as the target of, any ability that does not refer to stasis.

Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?

A: - If Diva copies it, Diva is considered as indirectly affected by the action and gets +3 power.
- If Dancing King copies it onto a minion (it can be itself), that minion is considered as indirectly affected by the action and gets +3 power.
- If We are Family copies it, the minion it is on is considered as indirectly affected by the action and gets +3 power.
- With Funky Town, you can only copy it if you're the one who played the action and if it affects one of your minions, but if Funky Town does copy it, the minion is considered as indirectly affected by the action and gets +3 power.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.


Questions on Thunder and Lightning[]

Q: The character I want to destroy has a printed power of 3 but has +1 or more power from another card (e.g. Cover the Exits, Righteous Fury). Can I do it?

A: No, the character's power is actually more than 3, so you cannot even target it with Thunder and Lightning's ability.

Rule: In play, a minion's power includes all modifications.

Q: A character is protected from being destroyed. (e.g. Indestructible Form, Spider-Man 2099) But this card allows me to destroy them, so surely I can do it, right?

A: No, the cards that say you can't do something beat the cards that say you can do it.

Rule: "Can't" trumps "can".

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q: It destroys "a character". So it only works on "character" cards and not at all on "minion" cards, correct?

A: Wrong, it works on both "character" and "minion" cards. "Character" and "minion" are two synonymous terms.

Rule: The word “character” is an exact synonym for “minion” in the other sets.

Q: Can I destroy a minion in stasis?

A: No, cards in stasis cannot be chosen by cards that do not explicitly state cards in stasis can be chosen.

Rule: Cards in stasis may not be affected by, or chosen as the target of, any ability that does not refer to stasis.

Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?

A: - If Diva copies it (and it can copy it even if its power is more than 3), Diva is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is destroyed.
- If Dancing King copies it onto a minion (it can be itself and it can copy it even if the power of the minion that gets the copy is more than 3), that minion is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is destroyed.
- If We are Family copies it (and it can copy it even if the power of the minion it is on is more than 3), the minion it is on is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is destroyed.
- With Funky Town, you can only copy it if you're the one who played the action and if it destroys one of your minions, but if Funky Town does copy it (and it can copy it even if the power of the minion that gets the copy is more than 3), the minion is considered as indirectly affected by the action and is destroyed.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.


Questions on Widow’s Bite[]

Q: When can I play Widow’s Bite?

A: On any player's turn, when a base has been chosen to score and before its victory points are awarded. To be more precise, it can only be played during phase 3 and only during the "before scoring" step.

Rule: "Before a base scores" means during the before-scoring step of any turn, the base being the one chosen to score.

Q: If Black Widow is on the scoring base, she gets +2 power, but do the other players' characters also get -1 power?

A: Yes, you do both effects.

Rule: Effects are resolved entirely.

Q: Does reducing characters' power before their base scores change anything at all? Don't we only get VPs based on the power we had at the start of scoring?

A: Actually, the amount of VPs each player gets is determined by the power each player currently has when you are handing out VPs, so any before-scoring abilities (including this one) that affect how much power you have on the base will affect the amount of VPs you'll eventually get.

Rule: VPs are awarded according to the current power totals.

Q: Before a base scores, I play this card, reducing the total power below the breakpoint. This ends the scoring, right?

A: You're mistaken here. Once a base has been chosen to score, you keep scoring it even if the total power on it drops below its breakpoint because of before-scoring abilities. (Only a couple of things can really prevent a base from scoring, but this isn't one of them.)

Rule: The chosen base is scored regardless of how much power is still left on it after the before-scoring step.

With AEG's Smash Up sets[]

Q: It gives -1 power to "other players' characters". So it only works on "character" cards and not at all on "minion" cards, correct?

A: Wrong, it works on both "character" and "minion" cards. "Character" and "minion" are two synonymous terms.

Rule: The word “character” is an exact synonym for “minion” in the other sets.

Q: Can I play it from stasis before a base scores?

A: No, while in stasis, the only abilities that can do anything are the ones that explicitly state that they do something there.

Rule: Abilities of cards in stasis do not work unless they refer to stasis.

Q: How does this interact with the Grimms’ Blessing?

A: As odd as it may seem, it works and Widow’s Bite increases its "power" by 2, as if it is the real Black Widow, which results in increasing your total power on its base by 2.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.

Rule: Check Grimm’s Blessing's clarification.

Q: How does this interact with the Disco Dancers' mechanic and Funky Town's ability?

A: First of all, Widow’s Bite affects minions twice, first by nerfing their power, though only other players' minions, and then by boosting Black Widow's power, if it's there. When you use any of the effect-copying cards, each one may only copy one of the two effects, either the nerf or the boost, not both. Of course, if you have several effect-copying cards that are triggered, you may have each one copy a different effect.
If you choose to copy the nerf:
- Diva can't copy it because it would already be directly affected by it.
- If Dancing King copies it onto a minion (it can be itself), that minion is considered as indirectly affected by the action and gets -1 power.
- If We are Family copies it, the minion it is on is considered as indirectly affected by the action and gets -1 power.
- It is impossible for Funky Town to copy that action's effect because you can only directly affect opponents' minions, which won't trigger Funky Town.
If you choose to copy the boost:
- If Diva copies it (even though it's not Black Widow), Diva is considered as indirectly affected by the action and gets +2 power.
- If Dancing King copies it onto a minion (even though it's not Black Widow and it can be itself), that minion is considered as indirectly affected by the action and gets +2 power.
- If We are Family copies it (even though it's not on Black Widow), the minion it is on is considered as indirectly affected by the action and gets +2 power.
- With Funky Town, you can only copy it if you're the one who played the action and if it affects one of your minions, but if Funky Town does copy it, the minion (even though it's not Black Widow) is considered as indirectly affected by the action and gets +2 power.

Rule: Do exactly what the card says.

Trivia[]

  • The font used for the Avengers cards is DINPro-BlackItalic.
  • Stark’s Lab has the same ability as Crystal Fortress, but with a different breakpoint and VP spread.

In other languages[]

Language Name
Chinese 復仇者聯盟
French Avengers


Smash Up: Marvel
Factions: Avengers  •  Hydra  •  Kree  •  Masters of Evil  •  S.H.I.E.L.D.  •  Sinister Six  •  Spider-Verse  •  Ultimates
Sets
Main: Core Set  •  Awesome Level 9000  •  The Obligatory Cthulhu Set  •  Science Fiction Double Feature  •  Monster Smash  •  Pretty Pretty Smash Up  •  Smash Up: Munchkin  •  It’s Your Fault!  •  Cease and Desist  •  What Were We Thinking?  •  Big in Japan  •  That ’70s Expansion  •  Oops, You Did It Again  •  World Tour: International Incident  •  World Tour: Culture Shock  •  Smash Up: Marvel  •  Smash Up: Disney Edition  •  10th Anniversary  •  Excellent Movies, Dudes!
Big Boxes: The Big Geeky Box  •  The Bigger Geekier Box
Event Kits: All Stars Event Kit  •  TITANS Event Kit
Booster Packs: Smash Up All Stars  •  Smash Up Sheep Promo  •  Smash Up Penguins  •  Smash Up TITANS  •  Dead Reckoning Promo  •  Smash Up Goblins  •  Smash Up Knights of the Round Table  •  Smash Up Teens
Cancelled: World Tour Event Kit

References[]

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