Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game

Upper Deck Entertainment · Board game · 2012
1–5 · best 3 Solo 30–60 min Weight 2.4/5
rating Ludopedia
7.5 rating BGG
How to Play Buy · from US$ 43.49
rating Ludopedia
7.5 rating BGG
Our Verdict

If you're a Marvel fan looking for a dynamic deck-building experience, Legendary offers endless hero combinations and villainous schemes to conquer. It's a thrilling race to build your ultimate team and save the day!

Highlights
  • Iconic Marvel heroes and villains
  • High replayability with varied scenarios
  • Satisfying deck-building progression
  • Cooperative or competitive play options
Keep in mind
  • Can feel a bit random
  • Setup time can be lengthy
RECOMMENDED
Learn How to Play Step by Step Check out our complete step-by-step rules guide.
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About the game
Get ready to assemble your favorite heroes and battle Marvel's most iconic villains in Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game! In this deck-building game, you and your friends take on the role of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, recruiting powerful heroes to form an invincible team. Each game, the scenario changes: you choose a Mastermind (like Magneto or Loki) and a nefarious scheme they're trying to execute. From there, the adrenaline only builds!

Initially, your deck is modest, but each turn you have the chance to recruit new heroes – Spider-Man, Hulk, Wolverine, Captain America, and many others are waiting to join your cause. With these new allies, you strengthen both your recruiting power and your combat ability. It's a race against time: while you build your dream deck, minor villains and henchmen appear on the "Street," threatening the city. If the street fills up too much, the earliest villains escape, causing even greater problems for the heroes.

But the real challenge is the Mastermind. They have their own special attacks, and with each "Master Strike" revealed in the villain deck, they perform a bonus action that can turn the game upside down. Defeating villains and the Mastermind themselves earns victory points, and whoever has the most at the end wins the game. However, if the Mastermind manages to complete their evil scheme – whether by too many villains escaping or inflicting too many wounds on the heroes – all players lose. It's a semi-cooperative game where you work together, but only one can be the greatest hero!
Expansions
Rules videos

In English

Rules manual
Rules manual — Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game English · PDF
Download PDF
BEST PLAYER COUNT
1 REC
2 REC
3 BEST
4 REC
5 OK
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Game details

Families

Comic Books: Marvel Universe Game: Legendary (Upper Deck Entertainment) Mechanism: Pure Deckbuilding Misc: Watch It Played How To Videos Players: Games with Solitaire Rules Theme: Superheroes
Publisher Upper Deck Entertainment
Designer Devin Low
Artist Bien Flores, Julius Abrea, Katrina Mae Hao, Ray Anthony Height, Tony Kordos, Will Conrad
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players can play Legendary?
Legendary can be played by 1 to 5 players. The solo experience is quite robust, but the game truly shines with group interaction and semi-cooperation.
What is the average game duration?
A game of Legendary typically lasts between 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the number of players and familiarity with the rules. It's a great length for a fun and action-packed gaming session!
What is the complexity level of Legendary?
The game has a BGG weight of 2.434/5, placing it in the medium complexity category. It's easy to learn the basic rules, but offers strategic depth for those who want to optimize their deck and hero interactions.
Do I need to know the Marvel universe to play?
It's not a requirement! While Marvel fans will love seeing their favorite characters in action, the game is fully functional and fun even for those not deeply familiar with the comic book universe. The mechanics are what truly matter here.
Does the game involve a lot of luck?
Like any deck-builder, there's an element of luck in drawing cards and revealing villains. However, the strategy of building an efficient deck and knowing when to focus on recruiting or combat minimizes the impact of luck, rewarding good decision-making.
Is Legendary a cooperative game?
It's a semi-cooperative game. All players work together to defeat the Mastermind and thwart their scheme, but in the end, only one player will be the winner with the most victory points. It's an interesting dynamic that generates both collaboration and a touch of friendly competition.