Marvel United: X-Men

2021

Dive into the world of Marvel with the United: X-Men board game. Play as iconic heroes, strategize, combine your unique superpowers, and save the day!

40
minutes

1 - 5
player(s)

14+

Medium Light

About the game

Marvel United: X-Men is a thrilling and action-packed board game that immerses you in the vibrant, dynamic universe of the X-Men comics. As one of the legendary mutant heroes or heroines, you will defend the world from notorious villains and face epic challenges.

In this game, you are placed in the heart of classic X-Men settings, with each game scenario taking place in a unique location, from the X-Mansion to the Savage Land. The game’s captivating artwork and detailed miniature figures bring the comic book world to life, making you feel as though you’re stepping right into the pages of your favorite X-Men series.

Game components Unboxing the fun!

Marvel United: X-Men board game includes several components that each contribute to the gameplay experience. These elements interact with each other to bring the Marvel Universe to life.

1. Hero Miniatures:
Marvel United: X-Men contains 8 hero miniatures. These beautifully crafted figures represent each player on the game board. Players’ actions and movements during the game are represented by these miniatures.

2. Villain Miniatures:
There are 5 villain miniatures in the game. These figures represent the antagonists that heroes must defeat. Each villain has unique abilities that can affect the game in different ways.

3. Location Cards:
These cards represent the different locations within the game. Players move their hero miniatures from one location to another by playing these cards. Each location has different effects that can aid or hinder players.

4. Mission Cards:
Mission cards provide objectives that players must complete to win the game. Missions are unique to each villain and provide a narrative for the heroes’ actions.

5. Hero Cards:
Each hero has a deck of action cards that dictates what actions they can take during their turn. Actions include moving, attacking, or using special abilities. The strategic use of these cards is key to defeating the villains.

6. Villain Cards:
These cards represent the villain’s actions during their turn. Villain cards can disrupt players’ plans, damage heroes, or advance the villain’s scheme.

7. Threat Cards:
Threat cards introduce challenges that heroes must overcome. They represent additional objectives that if left unresolved, can lead to the villain’s victory.

8. Challenge Cards:
Challenge cards provide additional hurdles for the heroes. When drawn, they introduce unexpected events or obstacles that heroes must deal with.

9. Civilian Tokens:
These tokens represent innocent bystanders that heroes can rescue during the game. Rescuing civilians can provide additional benefits to the heroes.

10. Damage Tokens:
Damage tokens are used to track the amount of damage a hero or villain has taken. If a hero takes too much damage, they are knocked out and if a villain takes too much damage, they are defeated.

11. X Tokens:
These tokens represent the X-Men’s signature ability to work together as a team. They can be used to activate powerful effects and turn the tide of the game.

Game setup Lay it out, line it up, let’s go

Marvel United: X-Men is a fast-paced cooperative board game where players take on the roles of iconic Marvel heroes and work together to thwart the plans of infamous villains. Follow these steps to set up the game:

Step 1: Choose Your Heroes and Villain

First, players must select which heroes they will play as. Each player chooses one hero card, along with its corresponding deck of 12 hero cards. The group also selects a villain to face off against, taking the villain card and its associated villain deck.

Step 2: Set Up the Board

Arrange the six location cards in a circle in the middle of the play area. Place the villain card on the side of the play area, and put the villain figure on the starting location card as indicated on the villain card.

Step 3: Prepare the Hero Decks

Each player shuffles their hero deck and draws three cards to form their starting hand. Place the remaining cards as a deck next to your hero card.

Step 4: Prepare the Villain Deck

Shuffle the villain deck and draw the top 8 cards. Then, insert the 2 Masterplan cards into this deck and shuffle it again. Place it next to the villain card, leaving space for a discard pile.

Step 5: Set Up Threat Cards

Draw the top three threat cards and place them on the three locations indicated by the villain card, adding any minions or tokens as instructed.

Step 6: Prepare the Mission Track

Set the mission track next to the play area and place the mission marker on the starting position. This track will be used to keep track of the villain’s progress throughout the game.

Step 7: Set Initial Resources

Each player starts the game with 3 action tokens. These tokens are used to perform actions on their turn. Place any remaining tokens in a supply next to the play area.

Step 8: Determine Starting Player

Determine the starting player randomly. This player takes the first turn when the game begins.

Once these steps are complete, you are ready to start playing Marvel United: X-Men. Remember, cooperation is key to overcoming the villain and saving the day!

Game flow Round and round we go

Marvel United: X-Men is a cooperative board game where players take on the roles of iconic Marvel characters to battle against some of the most dangerous villains in the Marvel Universe. The game is played in rounds, with each round having several phases.

The structure of a round in ‘Marvel United: X-Men’ is as follows:

Heroes’ Phase: The Heroes’ Phase is where players take their turns. On a player’s turn, they play a card from their hand, carry out the actions on the card, and then draw back up to the hand limit of three cards. The actions that can be taken include moving to another location, fighting villains, or rescuing civilians.
Villain Phase: After every third hero’s turn, it’s the villain’s turn. The villain’s Masterplan card is drawn and resolved, potentially causing havoc in the city or attacking heroes.

Players continue to alternate between the Heroes’ and Villain Phases until either the heroes have completed their mission or the villain has completed their Masterplan. Each mission has different victory conditions that the heroes must achieve to win the game.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the actions players can perform in each phase:

Heroes’ Phase:

Play a Card: The player chooses one card from their hand and places it on their Hero Storyline. This card will determine the actions that the hero can perform on their turn.
Perform Actions: The player performs the actions on their played card in any order they wish. These actions can include moving, fighting, or rescuing civilians.
Draw a Card: At the end of their turn, the player draws a card from their Hero Deck to refill their hand to three cards.

Villain Phase:

Draw Masterplan Card: The villain draws the top card from their Masterplan Deck and places it on their Villain Storyline.
Resolve Masterplan Card: The effects of the Masterplan Card are resolved, which may include moving the villain, attacking heroes, or triggering other nefarious effects.

Throughout the game, players will need to strategically play their cards and use their actions to prevent the villain from wreaking havoc and to achieve their mission’s victory conditions. Teamwork and careful planning are essential to win the game.

Players'turn One turn to rule them all

Marvel United: X-Men is a cooperative board game where players work together to defeat iconic villains from the Marvel Universe. During a player’s turn, they can take a variety of actions, each with its own strategic implications.

Action Selection

The player starts their turn by selecting an action card from their hand and placing it on the storyline. This card determines the actions they can perform this turn.

The available actions include:

Movement: The player can move their character to a different location on the board.
Attack: The player can attack a villain or henchman in the same location as their character.
Heroic Action: The player can resolve a mission, save civilians, or clear threats in their current location.
Wild Action: The player can perform any one of the above actions.

Action Execution

After selecting their actions, the player executes them in any order. They can even choose not to perform an action. The strategic implications of action order can be significant. For example, a player might want to move before attacking to reach a villain in a different location.

Strategic Choices

One of the key strategic choices in Marvel United: X-Men is which actions to select. This depends on the current game situation, the player’s character abilities, and the team’s overall strategy. For example, a player might choose to focus on attacking if their character is strong in combat, or they might focus on heroic actions if their location is full of threats.

Another important choice is when to use team-up cards. These powerful cards allow players to combine their abilities for a powerful effect, but they are limited in number, so timing is crucial.

End of Turn

At the end of their turn, the player draws back up to three cards, then the next player takes their turn. If the player’s deck is empty, they simply continue playing with the cards remaining in their hand.

These are the basic turn structures in Marvel United: X-Men. Mastering the strategic choices and understanding the implications of each action is key to victory in this cooperative game.

Scoring Did you outsmart your rivals?

Marvel United: X-Men is a cooperative strategy game where players work together as Marvel’s X-Men to defeat villains. The game does not use a conventional point scoring system, as players are not competing against each other to accumulate points. Instead, the goal is to defeat the supervillain and achieve mission objectives together.

In terms of individual achievement, players can measure their contribution by the number of threat cards they have neutralized, the number of mission objectives they have accomplished, or the amount of damage they have dealt to the villain. However, these do not translate into a traditional point system as the focus of the game is on team cooperation.

At the end of the game, the players either win collectively by defeating the supervillain and achieving all the mission objectives, or lose if the villain completes their evil plot or if all the heroes are knocked out.

As for tie-breaking rules, since the game is cooperative, there generally isn’t a need for such rules. The game’s focus is on teamwork and achieving common goals, rather than individual competition. However, in the event that players wish to introduce a competitive edge to the game, they could agree on specific metrics to measure individual contribution (e.g., number of threats neutralized, damage dealt, etc.). In the case of a tie on these agreed metrics, players could use the number of remaining life points as a tie-breaker.

Overall, Marvel United: X-Men is more about the journey and the cooperative gameplay than a point-based scoring system. The win is a collective achievement, and the real reward is the fun and satisfaction of working together to defeat the villain and save the day.

Particular Cases and Exceptions Wait… is that legal?

Marvel United: X-Men is a cooperative board game that lets players team up as iconic Marvel characters to prevent the master plan of a powerful villain from coming to fruition. While the game is fairly straightforward, there are some special rules, exceptions, and important rule clarifications that players need to be aware of:

1. Heroic Actions: These are the actions that heroes can take on their turn. They include Move, Fight, and Heroic Action. The ‘Heroic Action’ is a special action that can be used to resolve crises, rescue civilians, or secure threats. It’s crucial to note that these actions can only be performed during a player’s turn, and not during the villain’s turn.

2. Wild Actions: The wild action symbol can be used as any other action symbol. It’s important to remember that it cannot be used as a double action symbol, nor can it be used to replace the symbol on a challenge card.

3. Villainous Plot Cards: These are special cards that the villain will use to try to win the game. Some of these cards have effects that can only be countered by a specific hero, so it’s crucial to choose your team wisely.

4. Special Abilities: Each hero has a unique special ability that can be used once per game. This ability is represented by a star symbol on the hero’s card. It’s important to note that this ability can only be used once, and it cannot be used on the same turn that the hero is knocked out.

5. Teamwork: In Marvel United: X-Men, heroes can work together to defeat the villain. This is known as ‘teamwork’. When a hero uses a teamwork action, they can give another hero on their location an action card from their hand. This can be a powerful way to coordinate actions and defeat the villain more quickly.

6. Knocked Out Heroes: If a hero’s health is reduced to zero, they are knocked out and their turn is immediately over. However, a knocked out hero is not out of the game. They can be revived by another hero using a heroic action at their location. It’s crucial to remember that a knocked out hero cannot take any actions or use their special ability until they are revived.

7. Villain’s Master Plan: The villain’s Master Plan is a deck of cards that dictate the villain’s actions each turn. When the villain’s turn begins, the top card of the Master Plan deck is revealed and its effects are resolved. If the Master Plan deck is empty, the villain will not take any actions on their turn. However, if the Master Plan deck is empty and the villain’s health is also zero, then the heroes win the game.

Understanding these special rules and exceptions can greatly enhance your gameplay experience in Marvel United: X-Men. Happy gaming!

Tips and tricks Play smarter, not harder!

Advanced Strategies for Marvel United: X-Men

Understanding the game mechanics and each character’s special abilities is key to formulating advanced strategies. Here are some tips:

Use your heroes’ abilities wisely: Each hero has unique abilities. Understanding and utilizing these special abilities at the right time can turn the tide of the game.
Plan your moves: With the game’s turn-based mechanics, it’s essential to plan your moves ahead of time and consider the potential actions of your opponents.
Coordinate with team members: In co-op mode, coordination and communication with team members can help create powerful combos and take down villains more efficiently.

Beginner Tips for Marvel United: X-Men

If you’re new to the game, these tips can help you get started:

Understand the rules: Before playing, make sure you understand the basic rules and gameplay mechanics. This will significantly improve your enjoyment of the game.
Start with simpler characters: Some characters are easier to play than others. Starting with these can help you grasp the game’s fundamentals before moving on to more complex characters.
Use threat cards wisely: Threat cards can be powerful tools, but they can also be a double-edged sword. Use them sparingly and strategically.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Marvel United: X-Men

Avoiding these common mistakes can help improve your gameplay:

Ignoring team dynamics: While it might be tempting to focus solely on your character, remember that Marvel United: X-Men is a cooperative game. Ignoring team dynamics and strategies can lead to your team’s downfall.
Wasting resources: Resources are limited. Wasting them on unnecessary actions can leave you unprepared for future challenges.
Misunderstanding abilities: Misunderstanding a character’s abilities can lead to poor strategy and wasted turns. Make sure you fully understand what each ability does before using it.

Ways to Optimize Gameplay in Marvel United: X-Men

Optimizing your gameplay can lead to more victories and more fun. Here are some ways to do that:

Think ahead: Always think a few moves ahead. Anticipating your opponents’ moves and planning your strategy accordingly can give you a significant advantage.
Master the game mechanics: Understanding the game’s mechanics will allow you to better strategize and make the most of each turn.
Communicate with your team: Good communication is crucial in a cooperative game like Marvel United: X-Men. Discussing strategies and coordinating actions can drastically improve your game.