Atomic Mass Games has released the up coming changes to the Challenger Event Crisis Card List for Marvel: Crisis Protocol.
Let me just start off by saying that if you’re just playing MCP normally then these changes have no impact on your current lists/games. When the War of Kings Crisis Cards enter the rotation, you can just add them to your pool. That’s not just me saying that either. AMG basically says the exact same thing:
“Each of these Crisis Cards also offers another option for normal play. With more than 15 of each Secure and Extract Cards, there are more than 200 combinations. That variety helps each game feel unique and memorable.”
Challenger Event Format
However, if you’re going to play in a Challenger Event using that format, you need to be aware that changes are coming. Before we get into the changes we need to talk about what the Challenger Event format and what it entails.
From AMG’s Organized Play Page:
“Challenger Events use Swiss Rounds for pairing and are played until a winner is determined. This kit will provide resources for Event Organizers and players alike to understand the structure of these organized events, as well as the latest legal set symbols for relevant Timelines.”
The Challenger Events are the official rules for competitive/tournament play for Marvel: Crisis Protocol. These events are the ones hosted by AMG at larger conventions and you’ll probably find stores running tournaments for MCP using these rules as well. As such, AMG treats this format with a bit more care in terms of balance. There’s additional restrictions for list building with certain cards (Team Tactics and others) outright banned or restricted.
“Unlike normal play, games played using the Challenger format impose additional restrictions on the Crisis Cards available for play. In a competitive event like Challenger where players play rounds until a winner is determined, players are incentivized to take a set of Crisis Cards that play similar to each other in their Roster so that the rest of their Roster can be optimized around those play styles. The restrictions on which Crisis Cards can be taken are there to break up this optimization and encourage more varied play styles. “
I understand the concept of what Atomic Mass Games is doing here. They want to help shape the competitive scene and steer away from “optimized” lists and encourage varied play styles. Is that best done with the Crisis Card selection? I think that’s worth consideration but I don’t know one way or the other.
The Crisis Card List
What I do know is that AMG released the approved Crisis Cards that will used in these events. So with that said, here’s the list:
- Alien Ship Crashes in Downtown!
- Cosmic Invasion! Black Order Descends on Earth
- Deadline to Destruction
- Deadly Legacy Virus Cured?
- Deadly Meteors Mutate Civilians
- Fear Grips World As “Worthy” Terrorize Cities
- Guardians Save Shi’ar Empress in Style
- Infinity Formula Goes Missing!
- Inhumans Deploy Advanced Weaponry
- Intrusions Open Across City as Seals Collapse
- Mayor Fisk Vows to Find Missing Witnesses
- M’Kraan Crystal Gets Heroes Home
- Mutant Extremists Target U.S. Senators!
- Mutant Madman Turns City Into Lethal Amusement Park
- Riots Spark Over Extremis 3.0
- Scientific Samples Found in Discovered Universe
- Skrulls Infiltrate World Leadership
- Spider-Infected Invade Manhattan
- Struggle for the Cube Continues
- Super-Powered Scoundrels Form Sinister Syndicate!
- Terrigen Canisters Fuel Doomsday Device
- The Montesi Formula Found
- Unexpected Guests Crash Royal Wedding
- Wedding Party Targeted in Terrible Attack!
Not All Crisis Cards Created Equal?
Again, you’ll be able to find the updated list from the MCP Organized Play page. As of writing, the links haven’t been updated to include the new list of restricted cards. I’m guessing that’s because the War of Kings hasn’t technically been released yet. We’ve got an unboxing of that if you’re interested in it. The War of Kings pack is due out on March 14, 2025. So I’m thinking that AMG put this list out there a month early so folks could prepare and be aware of the upcoming changes.
If you’re curious about the “why” certain cards were removed, their transmission article covers that. The short answer is that the cards that they removed leaned too hard into an particular playstyle — either too “all out attack” or too “movement shenanigans” playstyles.
Agree or disagree, the fact is that the restricted list for Crisis Cards is changing for Standard Timeline Challenger Events. So if you’re going to play in one in the near future, please keep that in mind!
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Writer, Editor, Texas Native, and now Tex-Pat, Adam covers all things Tabletop Gaming. Which includes Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar, D&D, Board Games and everything else that involves dice, boards, cards and a table.
A hobbyist, player, and collector of miniatures and games, Adam’s current obsession are his Death and Chaos Armies for Age of Sigmar, his Blood Angels and Tyranids for 40k, an expanding collection of Marvel: Crisis Protocol minis, and his ever growing Arkham Horror: The Card Game Collection.
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