Apocalypse, the ancient and powerful mutant, makes his grand entrance into Marvel: Crisis Protocol, bringing with him a new level of strategic depth and thematic richness to the game. Known as En Sabah Nur, Apocalypse is an immortal mutant driven by the belief that only the strong should survive. His ability to regenerate between ages allows him to awaken periodically, searching for more power to fuel his conquest.
During one such awakening, Apocalypse discovered a Celestial ship, using its advanced technology to augment his innate mutant power of atomic-level body manipulation. This transformation not only enhances his physical capabilities but also allows him to impose his philosophy of survival on the world, creating a formidable presence on the battlefield.
Apocalypse’s Abilities and Resilience
Apocalypse’s abilities reflect his formidable nature and strategic mindset. His primary attack, Biomorphic Arsenal, showcases his ability to form weapons from his own body, allowing him to exploit the weaknesses of his enemies. This is complemented by the Cower Before Me trigger, which plays into his special condition-focused game plan.
Unique Superpowers
- You Will be Remade Through Me allows Apocalypse to replace duplicate conditions on enemy characters with other conditions, providing a powerful tool for battlefield control.
- En Sabah Nur’s Judgment adds 2 dice for each special condition affecting the target, making it a devastating finisher against weakened foes.
Apocalypse’s durability is represented through abilities like Only the Strong Remain, which enables him to heal from weak attacks. An attack that deals only 1 damage actually benefits him, particularly if it inflicts a condition he’s immune to. On his injured side, he becomes immune to all special conditions, making him increasingly difficult to take down as the battle progresses.
The Power of the Horsemen
Apocalypse’s influence extends beyond his personal abilities, affecting his entire team. His leadership ability, Apocalypse’s Horsemen, transforms his followers into the legendary Horsemen of Apocalypse. Each character in the Servants of the Apocalypse affiliation can be assigned one of two different Horsemen Cards when the leadership is chosen. For instance, Wolverine can be assigned either the Death or War Horsemen Cards.
- War is built for brawling, generating Evolution tokens from both dealing and suffering damage, and grants the Fury superpower.
- Famine, on the other hand, focuses on denying fights to the enemy, generating Evolution tokens by avoiding conflict.
- Pestilence excels in both brawls and controlling enemies through special conditions, while Death is designed for decisive strikes, waiting for the perfect moment to attack.
This dynamic creates a complex interplay where players must strategize to ensure that each Horseman thrives in their respective roles, adding layers of depth to roster building and gameplay.
Celestial Technology and Strategic Complexity
Apocalypse augments the power of his squad with Celestial Technology, a long-range ability that empowers his allies and can dramatically change the course of a game. When using his leadership ability, Apocalypse gains access to Master of the Horsemen, unlocking a new level of power that includes:
- A toolbox of active superpowers from the assigned Horsemen cards
- The ability for Apocalypse and his Horsemen to use Evolution tokens for rerolls and extra power
Building a Servants of the Apocalypse roster requires strategic foresight. Players must consider which Horsemen Cards to use for each game and which characters should be assigned to specific roles. This complexity rewards players who invest time in understanding the intricacies of the affiliation, as they must create situations where each Horseman can thrive, even when their playstyles may conflict.
Hobby Opportunities and Character Transformations
In addition to the gameplay, the Servants of the Apocalypse affiliation offers exciting possibilities for hobbyists. The transformations of characters into their Horsemen forms provide inspiration for dramatic character models. For example, the change from Angel to Archangel illustrates the drastic augmentations that can occur, while the depictions of Wolverine and Gambit on the Death Horsemen card showcase other potential transformations.
Players can also create unique paint schemes inspired by the transformations of Apocalypse’s Horsemen, allowing for a personalized touch to their gaming experience.
Ultimate Encounter: Rejuvenation Chamber
Beyond standard gameplay, Apocalypse introduces a new Ultimate Encounter scenario, where crisis teams attempt to sabotage his Rejuvenation Chamber before he can awaken to his full power. In this scenario, Apocalypse’s Horsemen defend the Celestial technology and accelerate his evolution. Depending on how much power he has gained, Apocalypse can use one or four different cards during the encounter, removing affiliation restrictions for Horsemen and allowing creative team compositions.
To enhance this experience, players can incorporate terrain from the CP185 Dark Future Terrain Pack and CP110 Shrine to En Sabah Nur, along with One-Shot cards that can be used in standard games, enriching the gameplay experience.
As Apocalypse prepares to shake the foundations of Marvel: Crisis Protocol, players can look forward to a new era of strategic depth, thematic richness, and epic battles. The arrival of this immortal conqueror promises to revolutionize the game, challenging players to adapt their tactics and embrace the philosophy that only the strong will survive on the tabletop battlefield. Pre-order the new packs to lead your forces into battle and experience the power of Apocalypse firsthand! This version maintains the original content while ensuring a smooth flow and logical organization.
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