Pauper Set Review: Marvel Super Heroes

Marvel Super Heroes has arrived and will be, as of now, the most impactful set of the year for Pauper. Yes, much of this impact comes from the new combo of Seeker of Skybreak with Hawkeye's Bow, which has sparked several calls on social media for the Pauper Format Panel to resort to a preventive ban of the card, but it is not the only new addition.

The partnership includes two distinct sets: Marvel Super Heroes (MSH) and Marvel Super Commander (MSC), which also includes the JumpStart contents. Within these, there are several cards worth evaluating for their viability in the Metagame.

Fall to Earth is a versatile removal spell that can also fetch basic lands. It is also a target for Mystical Teachings and has a relatively low cost by Tron's standards. It could be worth a one‑of.

Spending one mana and tapping a creature you just cast to handle a Myr Enforcer might be worth some testing, although Helicarrier Strike seems very conditional and reliant on attacking creatures to work.

Infinity Formula could see play. Gaining two life each turn is a small headache for Red Aggro decks, and moving a creature out of Galvanic Blast range is a bonus.

Speaking of holding off Red Aggro, Mandroid Squadron is a new variant of Lone Missionary / Arashin Cleric that interacts with Affinity and can also be reused with Glint Hawk.

Panther Pounce is the "card that does too much to go unmentioned" from this set. It deserves testing in Heroic.

The difference between Thraben Charm and other removal spells that depend on creatures is that Charm always has a use, even on an empty board. Ultimate Alliance costs less, but it is too linear to deserve slots.

Gaining an eternal blocker and four life for one mana against Red Rally? It could be worthwhile! Wall Off is not a card for Aggro, but I can imagine some more flexible white archetypes running it.

¿Por qué lloras, Savannah Lions?

A Witching Well that draws instead of scrying for one more mana. Worth an honorable mention.

Planar Incision never saw much play, and Spaceshift is the same card. Unfortunately, Marvel Super Heroes was not generous to blue.

More tools for Mono Black Aristocrats. The token created by Agents of HYDRA has the advantage of Menace, but it is likely that the ability will not make much difference in the medium term unless we enchant it with Sadistic Glee.

Exiling Sneaky Snacker and gaining three life with a single card might be worth the three mana and two power invested in Cruel Alliance. The sorcery speed, however, does not help.

A sorcery‑speed Cast Down that triggers Madness might be worth some testing in the Sideboard of Rakdos variants of the archetype. It could replace Dark Withering.

Voltaic Whip is a decent card advantage engine for Pauper. It deserves an honorable mention, but its cost is too high for the standards of Affinity or other Midrange decks that could run it today.

¿Por qué lloras, Jackal Pup?

The best card of the set, capable of breaking Pauper in a combo with Seeker of Skybreak. Despite the risks, it is worth keeping Hawkeye's Bow in the format for a while to have some substantial change in the Metagame and see how other decks can adapt and what new ideas might emerge from it.

The teamwork cost on HULK SMASH! is high, but it answers, in a single slot, Hawkeye's Bow and Seeker of Skybreak at instant speed. Worth keeping an eye on.

Both HYDRA Assault Robot and Machinesmith Automaton benefit from the popularity of artifact‑based decks in Pauper. Assault Robot is a Reckless Fireweaver that counts for Affinity and Metalcraft, while turning Automaton into a 4/4 or larger with Trample is not difficult.

I would start testing them in Rakdos Affinity lists, but it would not be surprising to see new variants of Pactdoll Terror lists running them.

Demand Answers copies 5‑8. The original card saw play in some Boros Synthesizer variants and makes it easier to access the combo with Ichor Wellspring in non‑black decks. It could have a significant impact on the Metagame.

One of the most powerful Regrowth effects ever printed at common rarity. Call Damage Control creates a two‑for‑one for two mana.

Although it is unlikely that a deck like Affinity will run it, it can return two Refurbished Familiar or other artifact creatures for that cost, and it can also recur the Seeker of Skybreak and Hawkeye's Bow combo with a single card. It has plenty of potential.

A 2/2 for two mana with Reach that also answers artifacts or enchantments when sacrificed has plenty of Sideboard potential, but was it really necessary for Guerrilla Gorilla to have so many restrictions when Cathar Commando exists in the same format?

That's all for today!

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment!

Thanks for reading!