I am looking for suggestions (both specific and broad) in building a team for my IG tournament.

My IG month 5 tournament is this Saturday. The format is the normal, 700 points, Modern Age, 400 points need to be from GG and/or IH. No other restrictions. Space Gem given to be available if wanted.

My problem is that I'm a DC guy, so I don't have much Marvel from these last two sets, other than the stuff I picked up in sealed tournaments. That includes the following pieces I'm pondering using:

IH Wolverine
IH Ghost Rider
IH Spider-man
IH She-hulk
IH Skaar
GG Adam Warlock
GG Cosmo
GG Drax
GG Martinex
GG Charlie 27
GG Xavin
GG Captain Marvel

I also have Groot, Rocket Raccoon, Star-lord, jack flag, bug, and phyla-vell in case people think a GotG theme team would actually work.

All other pieces that I have are incredibly weak pieces or just don't work in this format (ie Rick Jones, Mole Man). I have maybe 75% of modern age DC pieces, so its likely that I have a piece from DC if you suggest it. Its also possible I could get to use an uncommon or common piece from the last two sets from a friend/fellow clixer on Saturday, but I don't want to set myself up for depending on most of my team from someone else.

My thoughts, after looking at the Racetrack map, is that I'd like to have some speedsters (either HSS or high movement RS) for using along the racetrack, along with some close combat specialists/tie-up pieces to move through the middle, being blocked by hindering and blocking terrain to make it easier to base before taking damage. So, my initial inclination is to use the Fantastic Four pieces I have as a close-combat team to go through the middle, and design other pieces I have for the other ~300 points to use on the racetrack. I have liked the idea of the new Fantastic Four ATA that adds 1 to your Attack value if attacking , , or

Since this is an event where its near impossible for me to make a theme team (its possible, but the team would be baaaad/hideous), and thats what I usually do, I'm completely comfortable going out of my way to make a cutthroat team. When looking at possible teams, I'm most worried about a Galactus team with someone like SI Dr Strange or Superman as Heralds along with possible support they bring. I don't have an elsa bloodstone, and I'm pretty afraid of having to take on colossals. If I get beat by other teams because I went all in against a possible Galactus team, thats fine. I can deal with it. I just don't want to be afraid of this one thing, try to prepare for it, and still get beat badly by it.

So, suggestions are what I need, both for my 400+ points of GG and/or IH, as well as a team composition that can handle Galactus' 19-20 DV and 6 DaV.

1) Know your environment. Will there be any Galactus' or other colossals there?

2)Which Adam Warlock do you have? If it is the Rare that outwits team abilitys I think you include him period. Even if you have no Galactus' running around at your venue you will still have Power Cosmic and Mystics to contend with.

3) Movement powers I think will be key. I agree with your thought about HSS. Build on that.

4) Cosmo and Xavin will be great support clix.

1) Theres gonna be at least 1 colossal there, and the most likely one is Galactus. When GG came out, tons of players picked up super boosters and I know of several Galactus' that came out. In addition, I know of at least 1 Ziran. And this was just on one day of buying. I'm certain most players at my venue have a colossal from this set and many are probably dying to get to use them for IG month 5. So I feel like its a forgone conclusion: I'm gonna have to be fighting Galactus and other colossals.

2) Its the common Adam Warlock. I still think he's very good, but I'm not sure how his combination of speed powers are going to work out on this map. His starting Running shot gives him a really nice range, and he moves into HSS mid-dial, but I dunno how safe and useful those powers will be and on those locations of the dial. I haven't used him yet, much less in such a high point game.

3) The trouble with the HSS thing is determining which speedster pieces to use. Supes is an obvious possibility, but using figs like Barry Allen or Martian Manhunter are possibilities as well. And I'm not impressed with outwit on a HSS fig. The point of it (especially on this map) is to HSS up, hit with an attack, then fall back out of sight...thus never allowing yourself line of sight to outwit. If you have line of sight to outwit, you also have line of sight to be outwitted. It doesn't make sense to me. So I was leaning towards Barry Allen.

The main problem with Barry Allen and some other figs I was thinking about are they they count on exploit weakness to get past damage reducers...but Galactus and Ziran both are immune to EW. So if I'm going to deal with them, I either have to get enough damage to hopefully break their reducers, or go psychic blast, which counts out HSS. I honestly don't see what I can do about damaging them before dying with this strat.

4) I do love Cosmo for this map. I'm not so sure about going with both figures though. Is 2x TK really that worth it? Xavin's perplex is really only usable on your turn, so his supportive possibilities are pretty much just for offensive purposes, which limits him.

Honestly, after thinking about it more, I feel exasperated thinking about how to effectively take on Galactus. The 20 Defense/PC/immune to EW seems insurmountable, and thats not even including his damage capabilities or his Herald. The more I think about it, though, I do like the idea of close-combat oriented and staying in the middle behind rocks and in hindering. I'm finding it difficult however in figuring out which pieces are best for that while still using 400 points of the figures I listed that I have.

Anyone wanna chime in on the idea of a mostly close-combat team that hides in the middle until an opportune moment? Still could have 1-2 HSS speedsters around the outer racetrack.

honestly who ever plays galactus with the gauntlet (as they do at my venue) will be in the top running. my only advise is to run what ever stealth with psy-blast you have and try to make it a theme so you can win map. otherwise galactus will do what he does best...