Nightcrawler Deep Dive - Fun AND Balanced!

Nightcrawler is the latest hero announced for Marvel Champions: The Card Game! Join me as I break down his hero cards, explore what aspect cards and archetypes he'll like, and rank him based on various different categories at the end!
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Me and Nelson Blind React to Nightcrawler: • Marvel Champions Night...
(Excluding the new cards, all card images in the video are courtesy of Cerebro developer UnicornSnuggler. Huge thanks!)

[@rovingmauler7410]

I'm so excited for Nightcrawler.

[@matthewcowan1475]

Great video, as always. I'm really looking forward to him. I personally want to play him in Aggression solo. I do think one of his upgrades is going to be like cyclop's visor, where it will be a "resource generator" for his hero ability. This will let him get a bamf from his discard pile for free. I do find it strange he has so many energy resources. I wonder if it has to do with something in his kit or if it's just something to let him have synergy with Protection (hopefully it's the former).

[@VillainTheory]

Oh that's a fantastic prediction for one of his upgrades. I think you're right. If so I suspect it might come with a small bonus as well like a hp boost, stat boost or keyword. The energy resources are fascinating too. Could definitely be some synergy with an upgrade. "When you pay for Rapid Teleportation with an energy resource, draw 1 card."?

[@saintmatthew956]

My favorite way to play Hulk is in multiplayer with a Protection Perfect Defense / Defend to Attack build (let another player deal with Thwarting). He's going to love Change of Fortune. PS - I hope all these videos are re-energizing you!

[@VillainTheory]

Hulk is a fun one for Change of Fortune! Great shout. I'm doing better on the motivation front. I'll do a proper update some time but you guys are really incredible and showed me more support and kindness than I ever imagined. I'll see how things go for a bit but I'll surely do a follow-up video soon or at least a big community post.

[@QuiveringEye]

​@VillainTheory love your content :)

[@ryantrippel6456]

@@VillainTheorythanks for being such a great part of the community. Always look forward to watching your videos!

[@Anondod]

I think it's really difficult to evaluate Nightcrawler without knowing his upgrade(s). With this cheap kit it seems unlikely that he'd have a resource generator, but it's possible. Does an upgrade also interact with Bamf!? His sword (which I highly expect to see) giving retaliate makes a lot of sense, which would make him a damage powerhouse in Protection, but it could easily give him +1 ATK, maybe only against enemies with Bamf! on them, which would help with his damage output. Another thing to consider for Protection is that since he doesn't need to exhaust to defend when using Bamf!, he can make better use of some of the defense events.

[@VillainTheory]

100%, the upgrades could change everything. I think it's more likely to see card draw than an actual resource generator - but who knows! Great comment

[@Anondod]

Card draw is a possibility, though it doesn't seem super likely for someone with 6/5 handsize. More likely than a resource generator, though. :D

[@johnsulik6754]

Did they errata the rule at some point or do you not actually shuffle your deck after using the Alter-Ego ability? I feel like all similar abilities always tell you to shuffle afterwards.

[@VillainTheory]

I think they actually made that rule baseline and stopped printing it to save space on the card. So you do have to shuffle with all such abilities!

[@JJEMcManus]

The reason to buy this pack is Rogue. Everything else is just speculation. Great video, thx.

[@VillainTheory]

Honestly, true. This entire video is definitely speculation, just like all my preview stuff. But especially with no clue what his upgrades are.

[@Champion_Leon]

I honestly do not Deft Focus is being played. There is only 5 target for it using the card count you give. It’s a hero action. I doubt the upgrade and ally is superpower traded. Even then, that’s less than 10. You might run it because it’s cheap. I also think he has 4 Bamf.

[@VaultBoy13]

Everything points to only 3 Bamf! There's really not a need for more considering he can get them so easily.

[@VillainTheory]

I run it on heroes with only 5 or 6 targets quite often. It's the cheapness you reference that makes it worth while as well as the inherent strength of hero cards making them higher priority plays. If it were an Aggression attack card and Martial Prowess was the subject of debate, I would want more attacks than 5 for sure

[@DerKranich-x4f]

I love your deep dives

[@VillainTheory]

Thanks! Bamf looks like a lot of fun, first impressions are it's a great piece of design. Rogue however is probably my favourite part of the newly revealed aspect stuf! Change of Fortune is fascinating but it's not my style of play.

[@GetUpandGame]

Outstanding breakdown as always! The fact that you have him rated kind of average in many categories preliminarily makes me think he probably has at least a couple key upgrades that are going to give him some more oomph

[@VillainTheory]

I think you're absolutely right. At least one upgrade surely has to have some great synergy with Bamf!

[@DMTip]

Wow, another awesome breakdown! I love listening to your perspective. Keep up the great work!

[@VillainTheory]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it and I'll do my best!

[@TheMaskedHero]

I wonder if his signature ally will be an Exclaibur character. I suppose that could even be KItty.

[@jaycolins2430]

A Mystique ally would be cool.

[@VillainTheory]

Oh Excalibur is an interesting thought for him. We do have the Captain Britain ally! I'm personally uncertain but excited to see whoever.

[@waytothedawn94]

I think it could be Amanda Sefton, she's his foster sister, a mage, and a minor hero in her own right

[@TheMaskedHero]

​@@waytothedawn94 That is a great pick. I could see her being more of an Annabelle Riggs or George Stacy useage, but still, great pick!

[@nocturnalduck21]

I can't wait to build a perfect defence deck for him. Already thinking of: Never back down, bait and switch, angels aerie, dauntless, unflappable, electrostatic armour. Hard to ignore. I feel NC will be in my top 3 favourite hero's

[@VillainTheory]

Very nice! You love to see it. He'll be great with it all

[@GoodOldPolly]

I am not sure I am understanding bamf. I play mostly co-op with a friend. If the villain attack my friend and I use bamf, I am calling the attack to me. Do I need to exhaust to block damage or just by using bamf I am calling attack to me and blocking it? Thanks.

[@VillainTheory]

Using Bamf declare you as the defender. When this happens to a hero from a card like that, it means your basic defense is already being used. In short, you just need to trigger Bamf!

[@shanepheeney9029]

Note: You can trigger 'Bamf' while already exhausted to 'defend' and then go funky from there...

[@VillainTheory]

Not needing to exhaust for Bamf is excellent!

[@iansmith9762]

I like this “add attachment to enemy” style play like Iceman and Cyclops. Looking forward to it playing with Nightcrawler

[@VillainTheory]

Yeah it's fun! I hope Nightcrawler adds even more aspect cards for it

[@Maxoratus]

Great video as always ! Can’t wait for this hero. I am a big fan of perfect defense and change of fortune will be great.

[@VillainTheory]

It's so interesting!

[@Raphaelus13]

Thanks for you overview. Looking forward to getting this one.

[@VillainTheory]

Thanks! Nightcrawler looks great

[@mjdblue7]

Another great video, always love a good deep dive!

[@VillainTheory]

Me too haha. Thanks!

[@mitosfive]

Finally a hero which screams "PLAY ME PROTECTION!!!" Can't wait to make a deck for it and enjoy my favourite aspect 😁

[@VillainTheory]

Heck yeah! Protection isn't my favourite but I look forward to trying it here!

[@davidduran2320]

Maybe this is what you were referencing with the classic heroes, but I feel like Cap is an obviously really good hero who perhaps doesnt have a ton of obvious aspect hooks but can be slotted into various aspect packages. With Nightcrawler's low cost curve I hope he can do the same.

[@VillainTheory]

That's a great example. I think Cap is a little more flexible than Nightcrawler but it's a similar, definitely.

[@mitch-TO]

Im excited for Nightcrawler, but I think I’m even more excited for Change of Fortune. My favorite decks are ones that let me play my turn during the villain turn, so this card is tailor made for me.

[@VillainTheory]

Nice! I'm sure you'll enjoy it lots when it's out. I'll be releasing a deeper look at the new aspect stuff in a few days most likely!

[@boardgametime3727]

Love the in depth breakdown! Thank you so much, Villain! 🔥

[@VillainTheory]

Glad you enjoyed! My pleasure!

[@jaycolins2430]

Another great breakdown, sir. I'm kinda meh on NC from this, but we'll see.

[@VillainTheory]

I think he looks good still and we haven't even seen an upgrade! A lot could change. I bet we get an upgrade to interact with Bamf specifically and maybe add even more value

[@dontberash]

Cool seeing my name up there. I guess I'm a bona fide Villain henchman now.

[@VillainTheory]

After the great villain labour reform, we can't use the word "henchman" any more. Everyone is now a "valuable agent of evil". (Thanks so much for the support, truly! I'll make the names fancier too when I have time on future videos!)

[@fallenangelyt1590]

Dude you are absolutely crushing it! I love the in depth guides, I'm very results oriented. And it's great all the information you give on heroes. As my collection grows, I will have way more options. And you're the best content creator out there! Great video, and can't wait to gather a bunch of X-Men characters. Going to get Cyclops and Storm. After I pick up Next Evolution.

[@VillainTheory]

Thanks so much Fallen! The X-Men are really fun and it sounds like you're in for a treat with those Leadership hero packs.

[@fallenangelyt1590]

@@VillainTheory After finishing X-Men 97. I've been wanting to play the X-Men, can't wait for Cyclops!