Introduction #
There’s something undeniably thrilling about going toe-to-toe with Marvel’s most notorious villains in Marvel Champions: The Card Game (LCG). As a solo board gamer, this LCG is one of my absolute favorites because it offers a nearly endless supply of content and replayability. Whether you’re looking to take down Ultron with mano a mano or build complex strategies involving multiple heroes, Marvel Champions has you covered.
If you’ve just cracked open the box, chances are you’ve played a few games one-handed solo, with a single hero. Some would call this “true solo,” but it’s far from the only way to enjoy the game. There’s another popular method: two-handed solo, where you control two heroes at once. Both styles have their merits and challenges, so let’s dive in and explore the positives and negatives of each. In the end, I’ll share which method I prefer and why.
Pros and Cons Summary:
- One-handed solo’s difficulty can be swingy.
- One-handed solo deck-building results in generalist, all-arounder heroes. Two-handed heroes can be more specialized.
- Two-handed solo’s gameplay is more complex as you’re managing two heroes, but more exciting when you pull off multi-hero combos.
- One-handed solo plays faster so you can play more of your Marvel Champions content.
Difficulty #
When it comes to difficulty, you will notice a difference between true solo and two-handed solo. True solo can be SWINGY. Imagine you’re Spider-Man, swinging through the city, feeling like you’ve got everything under control. The web-slinging is smooth, the thugs are easily handled, and you’re making great time. But then, out of nowhere, a sudden gust of wind throws you off course, and you’re dodging falling debris while trying to keep up with the Green Goblin, who’s now hurling pumpkin bombs your way.
In one-handed solo, the difficulty can be just as unpredictable. You might start out feeling confident, with your hero in control and the villain on the ropes. But all it takes is one unlucky encounter card or a series of villainous attacks to flip the script.This swinginess means that even when you think you’re on top of things, a single bad card draw or a villain phase can turn the tide against you in an instant. This is most apparent when making one of the most difficult decisions in the game: choosing between healing up or attacking and thwarting. This decision becomes even more critical in one-handed solo due to its swinginess and it can often bring about your downfall. Fortunately, true solo plays quickly so you can just reset and you don’t feel like you’ve wasted too much time.
On the flip side, two-handed solo gives you a broader range of tools, but while you have more options, you’re also managing two decks, two sets of hit points, and twice the threat. This added complexity and overhead can make the game more difficult and more of a brain-burner.
Deck-Building #
Deck-building is where the game really shines, and this is where the one-handed versus two-handed debate gets interesting. When playing one-handed, you have to craft a deck that can do it all–tank hits, dish out damage, and handle whatever the encounter deck throws at you. This leads to a lot of generalist deck-building because you don’t have the luxury of a partner to back you up. On the other hand, a true solo player can get lots of games in the same amount of time as a two-handed solo player so you have more chances to deck-build and try different heroes and decks.
In contrast, two-handed solo allows for much more specialized deck-building. Each deck can focus on doing what it does best, whether that’s crowd control, dealing massive damage, or shrugging off hits for the team. You can include more niche cards that might not see play in a true solo deck because they’re too situational. The flexibility here is immense, but so is the potential for decision paralysis. With great deck-building power comes great responsibility–and a lot of time spent shuffling through your collection. Deck-building variablity can come from pairing two different heroes/decks before having to opt for building a new deck from scratch.
Gameplay #
When it comes to gameplay, two-handed solo offers the kind of intricate synergies that can make Marvel Champions feel like a well-oiled machine. There’s a deep satisfaction in seeing how two heroes can work together, especially when you pull off a combo that wouldn’t be possible in a one-handed game. It can feel like an MCU battle sequence with heroes weaving, passing, and alley-ooping between each other. It’s these moments of synergy that can make two-handed solo feel like a more complete experience.
However, this comes at a cost: time. A one-handed game is quick and often wraps up in 30-45 minutes. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a fast-paced challenge that doesn’t require too much mental juggling. The shorter games allow you to reset and enjoy more of the near endless content that Marvel Champions LCG has to offer. Two-handed, on the other hand, can easily double the duration. There’s more to think about, more to plan, and more cards to manage. For some, this is the sweet spot–getting lost in the complexity and strategy. For others, it can feel like too much of a good thing, dragging out what should be a thrilling showdown into a slog.
Opinion: So, How Do I Play? #
After plenty of games played both one-handed and two-handed, I have to say that my preference leans towards two-handed solo. Yes, it takes more time, and yes, it’s more complex, but that’s exactly what I love about it. I enjoy the challenge of coordinating two heroes, the thrill of executing perfectly timed combos, and the satisfaction of building decks that complement each other. I feel like I have way more emergent stories to tell from my two-handed confrontations.
That said, one-handed solo has its place. It’s great when I’m in the mood for a quick game or when I want to test a new deck idea without the added complexity of another hero.
So, which should you choose? If you like the thrill of hero team-ups and perfectly timed combos and don’t mind a longer, more involved game, two-handed solo might be your jam. If you prefer a faster, more straightforward experience, one-handed solo will keep you on your toes. Either way, Marvel Champions LCG delivers an epic solo gaming experience that’s hard to beat.