High Voltage Returns 03/21!

High Voltage is back today at 3:00 PM EST! Play games with a ton of extra energy and earn rewards including the brand new series 4 card The First Ghost Rider. Here is everything you need to know to feel prepared!

The First Ghost Rider

On Reveal: Discard the lowest-Power character from your hand. Remove that card's Power from this.

How it Works

There isn't any snapping, games only last three turns, and you will draw two cards each turn. So, on the first turn you'll have four cards (two from the start of the game and two from your first draw). Each turn you'll get between 2-5 energy. Here is the turn by turn energy breakdown:

• Turn One: 2-5 energy
• Turn Two: 4-10 energy
• Turn Three: 6-15 energy

High Voltage Staples

Here are the cards you can expect to see often, the crème de la crème of the format. Be prepared to face multiple of these in every match.

Ebony Maw

You can't play this after turn 3. Ongoing: You can't play cards here.

Iron Patriot

On Reveal: Add a random -Cost or more card to your hand. If you’re winning here after next turn, give it Cost.

Juggernaut

On Reveal: Move away all enemy cards played here this turn. (including unrevealed cards)

Negasonic Teenage Warhead

After an enemy character is played here, destroy it. (once per game)

Baron Zemo

On Reveal: Recruit a card that costs the least from your opponent's deck to your side of this location.

Wiccan

On Reveal: If you've spent all your Energy on previous turns, +2 Max Energy.

Gwenpool

On Reveal: Pick a random character in your hand 3 times. Give +2 Power each time.

Galacta

Each turn, the first card you play at another location reveals with +2 Power.

Wong

Ongoing: Your On Reveal abilities here repeat.

Arnim Zola

On Reveal: Destroy one of your other cards here to copy it at the other locations.

The newcomer here is Iron Patriot. He will leave a major mark on this third iteration of High Voltage. As you can see from the list above, 4-Cost cards are especially powerful. Running Wiccan and hitting four energy on the first turn can start you off with a major adventure. Combo oriented cards like Wong and Arnim Zola are especially attractive to a lot of players in this mode, so be prepared for them. Juggernaut might just end up being the most important card in this version of High Voltage.

Tech Cards

High Voltage is a format of explosive combos, so being able to interact in order to prevent your opponent's combos is essential. Here are the tech cards you're likely to see often in High Voltage:

Red Guardian

On Reveal: Afflict the lowest-Power enemy card here with -2 Power and remove its text.

Cosmo

Ongoing: On Reveal abilities won't happen here.

Shang-Chi

On Reveal: Destroy an enemy card here that has 10 or more Power.

There will be a constant jockeying of position between Cosmo, Shang Chi and Juggernaut. Managing priority will be crucial in this mode and there are several ways to prey on opponents who aren't as adept at it with these tech cards and cards like Juggernaut and Negasonic Teenage Warhead from the category above. I tried to talk myself into adding Elektra to this list, but couldn't quite do it!

Intriguing High Voltage Options:

Here are some additional cards that are either extremely powerful or fun in this mode.

Sunspot

End of Turn: Gain +1 Power for each unspent Energy.

Loki

On Reveal: Replace your deck with your opponent's starting deck. Give those cards -1 Cost.

Hydra Bob

End of Turn: This moves if a player Snapped.

Bruce Banner

End of Turn: If you have unspent Energy, 33% chance to HULK OUT!

Mirage

On Reveal: Copy the character that costs the least from your opponent's hand into your hand. Give it +2 Power.

Morph

On Reveal: Become a copy of a card in your opponent's hand.

Moon Knight

On Reveal: Discard an even-costed card from each player's hand.

Copycat

When you draw this, copy the text from the bottom card of your opponent's deck.

Super-Skrull

Ongoing: Has the Ongoing effects of all enemy cards.

Sera

Ongoing: Cards in your hand cost 1 less. (minimum 1)

Legion

On Reveal: Replace each other location with this one.

Black Bolt

On Reveal: Discard the card that costs the least from your opponent's hand.

Cannonball

On Reveal: Move the highest-Power enemy card here away. If you can't, destroy it with a Rock.

Black Panther

On Reveal: Double this card's Power.

Agamotto

Game Start: Shuffle 4 Ancient Arcana into your deck.

Gorr the God Butcher

Ongoing: +2 Power for EACH On Reveal card in play.

Ultron

On Reveal: Deploy four 2-Power Drones to each other location.

Odin

On Reveal: Repeat the On Reveal abilities of your other cards here.

The Living Tribunal

Ongoing: Split your total Power evenly among all locations.

She-Hulk

Costs 1 less for each unspent Energy last turn.

Magneto

On Reveal: Move all enemy 3 and 4-Cost cards to this location.

Agatha Harkness

Game Start: Draw Agatha. She controls your cards on even turns.

High Voltage Decks

Here are some proven-concept High Voltage decks that will give you an edge over the competition.

Sco’s High Voltage Deck

HV v.3 Ongo

HV v3 Zany

HV v3 FunMoto

HV v3 Flict

HV v3 AgaPilot

Budget HV v3 Animalés

Final Thoughts

Winning is de-emphasized in High Voltage, so feel free to experiment, have fun, and chase missions. The key to getting the series 4 card is to make sure you're completing most of your missions each reset, though you can afford to let a few hang between resets so don't stress too much about completing each and every one as fast as you can. Last time High Voltage was around, I made the conscious decision to really try to win as much as I could and try to conquer the format. While I knew winning a little more wouldn't affect my rewards, it really helped me get into the mode and enjoy it more the second time around. Different approaches will work for different people. Find what works for you, whether that's taking it “seriously,” aiming for bizarre combos, or maximizing mission efficiency, it's important to frame the mode in the way that works best for you personally to get the most enjoyment out of it.