Intiative appears to be the most important factor of the new Meta and team building. Alpha Strike has always been a priority but with teams including Vulture Prime, Hawkeye Chase, and Murder Machine chase it has increased ten fold, quite literally since both can decimate teams.
If any of those 3 get Intiative and choose the map of their choice it spells trouble. So what kinda defenses are out there? I.S.A.A.C. can make a pog that helps with perpetual barrier. Super boost your stats. Make a theme team to sway the odds you choose map and go first.
I been playing different Sam Cap/Overdrive teams so I know the danger of getting hit hard first turn.
Anyone come up with a hard deterant to one of these teams?

I would imagine themed team probability control will be big next to shut down the alpha striking. Imo

I came up with this team it only works if a team steps outta starting area to equip which smart players won't.
Sam Cap 70
Sam Cap 70
Power Woman 25
Overdrive 35
Dr. Strange SF 50
Wiz Kid 25
Groot 20
Wolverine ID 5
It doesn't need any setup. Able to make Charged Up, Get in and drive, Strange carries then Shifts, Sam calls in Wolv, Wolv attacks, then other Sam attacks. In a game with no Immunity worx great zero prep/equipping, etc. Most players are able to do that in 1 turn minimal effect to alpha characters.
Hence I came up with
Sam Cap 70
Captain Resilient 80
Octopus Arms 10
Overdrive 35
Dr. Strange SF 50
Mangog 30
Groot 20
Wolverine ID 5
Mangog brings Resilient Arms who equips. Charged up made and driver equipped. It made be important to leave arms behind and taken advantage of making charged up, getting down field, calling in Wolv, attacking with wolv, then free attacking with Cap. If your opponent attacks u near their Start u CR and Pull the Odinsword. Dr. Strange can carry 2 if you face barrier depending how it is setup or elevated.
Both of these builds are not theme.
So gonna look at a Murder Machine build.

Agree so Theme Building is huge part of META.

Even casually, I've noticed that I tend to win a lot more on games where I start, because I never want my opponent to get the first shot. If I don't go first, my games end up becoming quite stagnant as we try to outmaneuver each other first.

So was thinking bout Ultra Chase Captain Marvel with tough lower point characters? Maybe Starfire at 50 x2 or 3. Once KO'd they come back with Pulse Wave and cannot be attacked. If Vulture takes out the whole team bring everyone back then attack him before he can attack again.
If the whole team has Pulse Wave easier still. Maybe throw Hellion on for double TK. A really strong counter attack.
Shoot Cosmic theme Starfire x2, Mister Oz, Groot, and Captain Marvel with Exospex. Still room for ID or weapons, etc.

E062E The Murder Machine
50 WKMP19-105 I.S.A.A.C.
35 WKD17-006E Skeets
8 EAXS005 Goblin Glider
12 WKMP19-S001 Exospex
25 TMNT2012R Irma
25 TMNT2012R Irma
30 WKMP18-G001P Tri-Sentinel
285
So any opinions of viability of this build what can be used for final 15 points? Robot theme team. Needs PC right?
The Murder Machine
50 WKMP19-105 I.S.A.A.C.
35 WKD17-006E Skeets
8 EAXS005 Goblin Glider
12 WKMP19-S001 Exospex
25 TMNT2012R Irma
25 TMNT2012R Irma
30 AI012 Ego Anti-Body

So now this might work. Antibody can bring the Glider to Murder and he can equip first turn. Irma brings Exospex to ISAAC or Irma to equip for TK. Depends if u need pog first turn.
So on turn 2 will it work without leadership? TK Murder Machine up with Spex. Move Skeetz adjacent to him. Now he Sidestep carry Skeetz. Then Running Shot carry Skeetz.
Let's look at numbers.
So if Murder Machine sidestepped turn 1 after equipping he can be TK'd 8 by Isaac within 6 of his square, is that correct? Then move Skeets 8. Now sidestep up 2. Then Running Shot 4 with range of 7. He should be shooting into opponents starting area if I am right how TK works. You have 3 perplexes. I recommend 12 attack with 5 damage Skeetz will further boost it to 13 and 6 damage with -1 to opponent defense if he can see target. No PC but good odds you hit something and get more chances. Shoot cannot equip both turn 1 is problem. If Antibody grabs Glider and brings to Murder he equips. No way to get Exospex back and equip. Any ideas?

So is this a viable Robot build?
100 The Murder Machine
50 WKMP19-105 I.S.A.A.C.
35 WKD17-006E Skeets
8 EAXS005 Goblin Glider
12 WKMP19-S001 Exospex
25 TMNT2012R Irma
25 TMNT2012R Irma
30 AI012 Ego Anti-Body

Get +6 to Perplex with remaining 15 points what is best option? ID cards with barrier or Cyclops to shoot opponents object?
This team can get into starting area of opponent on turn 2 even against Mister Oz just not as potent since Perplex has to be used on range or movement if be is played to reach into starting area.
Any suggestions?

100 The Murder Machine
35 WKD17-006E Skeets
8 EAXS005 Goblin Glider
12 WKMP19-S001 Exospex
25 TMNT2012R Irma
25 TMNT2012R Irma
30 AI012 Ego Anti-Body
60 AI031B Terminator
Okay all eggs in 1 basket. Got leadership from Terminator but range of TK is lower. Antibody takes Glider to MM & Irma Exospex to Terminator or Irma2. Next turn Terminator or Irma2 TK MM. Irma 2 and MM can both sidestep turn 1 if no fear of a 1st turn strike and get farther reach. Otherwise just give to Terminator. His leadership can help take tokens off Murder Machine too when he attacks.

Monster team
The Murder Machine
50 RE040E Raven
75 WI040R Goblin King
8 EAXS005 Goblin Glider
50 RE040E Raven
12 WKMP19-S001 Exospex
Again putting everything into Murder Machine but at least have Goblin in back to equip Spex and make stand if he fails. Problem is only +4 so good chance you could lose against nontheme. Have 3 Perplex and 3 PC but it means Goblin cannot use Willpower but TK and Perplex. Could risk putting all 3 in damage with 3 PC depends what you need to hit. 12 and 6 is safer bet. This build is not optimal at all. Just gets you down field turn 2 to do damage if you get Intiative. A Captain Marvel team would clear house on it. Shoot Captain Marvel and a couple Starfire might be better option.

Imo, Murder Machine is much better with a Monster themed team by Captain Venom. If you are very pro Muder Machine, id try to add some Surturs and such. But then again they are all spendy figures.

I got Surtur. Vulture will pick them apart along with Captain Venom. I have Captain Venom or 3 too. Trying to come up with a build that deals with Vulture, Hawkeye, etc.
Still Shredders, Dont Die, and OMA might be problematic. Not unbeatable just got attack differently give Spex to Terminator.

Giganto and Namor seem pretty good at that at their 50 pt dial

Its not like they haven't won a ton of top level events :P F the Whales :P

Move Veronica cale forward 7....TK Barbatos forward 8 with Mister Oz, then free phase 4 forward with barbatos into some well placed heavy object hindering terrain (carrying veronica). Sidestep forward 2 with Veronica and outwit charge. Or just perplex Unseen range up 2, TK forward 8 via Mister Oz, sidestep 2 and then outwit charge on vulture. I would suggest equipping spex on Barbatos, but I assume turn two would be too late to make this all happen as Vulture can swing across the board with the right TK and perplexes.