Introduction

Step into the shoes of Scott Summers and take command of the X-Men with precision and strategy. This deck is all about leading your mutant allies to victory, utilizing Cyclops' ability to direct their actions effectively while keeping the pressure on the villain. With a combination of powerful allies, clever tactics, and well-timed upgrades, Cyclops stands as the ultimate X-Men leader, orchestrating every move on the battlefield.

Core Strategy

The core strategy of this deck revolves around using Cyclops' leadership abilities to maximize the potential of your X-Men allies. The key card, "To Me, My X-Men!", allows you to consistently bring out your most powerful allies and take advantage of their unique abilities. Combine this with Rapid Response to keep your allies on the field, even after they’ve been defeated, and Uncanny X-Men to reduce their cost and make them even more effective in combat or thwarting. Cyclops' ability to attach Exploit Weakness and Priority Target makes sure that no villain or minion stands a chance against your team.

The Mulligan

In your opening hand, you'll want to look for cards that set up your ally engine and enhance Cyclops’ leadership abilities. Key cards to prioritize are:

• "To Me, My X-Men!" for early ally recruitment, getting your board established quickly.
• Uncanny X-Mento reduce the cost of your X-Men allies, making it easier to play them early and often.
• Team Training to increase the hit points of your allies, ensuring they can stay in play longer and contribute more to your overall strategy.

If you have an ally like Phoenix or Professor X in your starting hand, it’s often worth keeping them, as they can provide powerful effects when played early in the game.

Early Game

In the early game, focus on building up your board state and establishing control over the field. Play:

• Pixie or Mirage as your first allies, using their abilities to gain an early advantage or mitigate the villain's threats.
• Tactical Brilliance to remove threat from the main scheme while recycling your "To Me, My X-Men!" event, allowing you to consistently bring out more allies.
• Team Training and Utopia to strengthen your allies and take advantage of the extra activations they can perform when new allies enter play.

During this phase, it’s crucial to get as many allies on the board as possible, setting up for more powerful plays in the mid-game.

Mid Game

As you move into the mid-game, Cyclops should be fully established as the leader of your X-Men team. Focus on maximizing the efficiency of your allies and applying pressure on the villain. Use:

• Rapid Response to put key allies like Phoenix back in play after they’ve been defeated, allowing you to use their powerful abilities multiple times.
• Exploit Weakness and Priority Target to focus your attacks on key targets, making your allies' attacks even more potent.
• Blindfold and Polaris to manage the villain's schemes and set up future turns by manipulating the encounter deck.

Keep recycling "To Me, My X-Men!" and Tactical Brilliance to maintain a strong flow of allies and keep the villain under pressure.

Late Game

In the late game, it’s time to bring the fight to a decisive end. Use:

• Full Blast with Ruby Quartz Visor to unleash Cyclops' full potential, dealing massive damage to the villain and possibly ending the game in one blow.
• Call for Backup to bring in a crucial ally like Sunfire or Professor X for a final push, taking advantage of their powerful effects to control the battlefield.
• Danger Room Training to ensure your allies are at their best, boosting their stats and making their attacks and thwarting even more effective.

With your allies fully buffed and Cyclops directing every move, you should be able to outmaneuver and overpower the villain, securing victory for the X-Men.

Conclusion

This deck showcases Cyclops at his best: a master strategist and fearless leader. By carefully managing your allies and taking full advantage of Cyclops’ leadership abilities, you can control the battlefield and deliver powerful attacks when it matters most. Whether you're thwarting schemes or taking down the villain, this deck ensures that Cyclops and his X-Men are always ready to face any challenge.