I've heard this a few different ways and I've never used it yet so I want to make sure I'm understanding this right. If I have 2 figures and a Duo with each of them, the 2 singles have to be a higher point value than the Duo, so I can have 2 figures each 100 points merge into a 150 point Duo... right?
And alternatively, if I start with a Duo, I can split it into 2 singles if the two singles are less than the total of the Duo, so I can have 2 figures of 50 each merge into a Duo of 150... right?

It seems a bit counter-intuitive that they are opposites, but I want to make sure. And yes, I know that once a merge or split has been done that they can do the opposite because of that, I just want to make sure I'm interpreting the qualifications right. Thanks!

You are partially correct.

Let's presume the following, that the figures you have meet the qualifications of merge and split.

Starting with 2 figures. In order to merge the figures have to either equal or exceed the cost of the duo. (e.g. BMFF003 Nightwing (100pts) can merge with SOG047Batman (90 pts) to be replaced with SOG103 Batman and Nightwing (176 points)

If you start with a duo figure, the figures you split to must equal or be less than the cost of the duo figure. (i.e. BCTV016 Dynamic Duo (150 points) can split to BCTV 001 Batman (100 pts) and BCTV003 Robin (50 pts) or to BCTV's Bruce Wayne and Dick Greyson, or even Batman and Dick Greyson)

There can be many combinations when starting with a Duo and splitting as long as the cost of the 2 figures is less than or equal to the cost of the Duo.

References:

Your second example should probably be - have 2 figures of 50 each split from a Duo of 150...

(unless those two 50 point character had previously been split from the duo, then they could merge back into the 150 point duo.)

Basically when using split or merge, what you end up with can't be worth more points than what you started with, unless you're going back to what you already had.

This is correct. uhchewie's answer is pretty good but leaves out the part that you can split into higher point pieces if you merged from those same higher point pieces. Basically merging doesn't force you to take a point cut if you split.

So lets say you start with cwKang@151 and ggDr.Doom@169, then you merge into cwDoomandKang@300. If you go to split them you can split into any qualifying lower point combo but you could still split back into the higher point pieces if that is what the duo came from.

Here is a drity question.....

If I'm using the DR. Manhattan colossal at 1800 points, and also have the 46 point Silk Specter who has taken no damage.... If Dr. M takes a lot of damage, can I merge into the Silk Specter and Dr. Manhattan duo who will be top dial, then split again into the 2 individuals top dial?

Obviously not in the same turn but, I don't see what would prevent this.

And you're right, it's dirty. Go cleanse thyself so I can high 5 thee.

Thats just wrong.


I'm gonna play this tonight against my sons.


Then I will never use it again.

Ever.


Maybe.

Because if you must cheese someone to madness, it should be family.

Okay, this confuses me a bit more... I think I said it just like uhchewie did. I'm only asking about the initial split/merge as I already know they can go back, but let's clarify my second example to make sure I'm understanding:

FigA is 50 points.
FigB is 50 points.
DuoAB is 150 points.

In this example, if the game started with FigA and FigB on the team, they could merge into DuoAB because the point value of the singles are less than the duo, right?
If the game started with DuoAB, they could NOT split into FigA and FigB because the point value of the singles is less than the duo, right?

And yes. I've heard of this strategy with Cyclops & Phoenix duo and using any Cyclops with any high powered Phoenix... but that is dirty, wrong, and disgusting... and totally legal.

You got that entirely backwards, I'm afraid.

It really is very simple when you think about it like this: Splitting a duo or merging two figures into a duo can NEVER give you more points that you started the game with. That's really all there is to it

Honestly it is pretty spelled out in the powers quoted above in post #2 and I'm pretty sure post #4 explains more than adequately.

DOH! You're right... I was trying to rush that post out before my break ended. LOL!! Let me try correcting that to match my first post and my original understanding of it.:


Cyclops 100 pts
Phoenix 200 pts
These two can join into the Duo Cyclops & Phoenix (100-some points) because they are more points, but you can't start with the Duo and split into these.

Nightwing 72 pts
Batgirl 42 pts
These two can NOT join to be the Duo Nightwing & Batgirl (176 pts) because they are less points, but you can start with the Duo and split between them because they are less points.

Now that I took the time to read what I wrote a bit better () do I understand this right?
And I re-read my first post... I see the word I forgot to put in there (that they can go FROM the Duo instead into the Duo). Okay, yeah, I got it right from the start, I just didn't read what I wrote well enough... that the result of a split/merge can be lower points, but not more points. LOL!