<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Captain America, Super-Soldier" href="#" target="_blank">Captain America, Super-Soldier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by Anna Podedworna</span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Like in the comics and movies, there are two warring creature types in <em>Marvel Super Heroes</em>. One side represents the selfless saviors with superhuman strengths. The other represents the maniacal machinations of the malevolent. Each was formally introduced in the <em>Spider-Man</em> set, and each received significant enough support in <em>Marvel Super Heroes</em> to emerge as a supported type. We’re going to focus on the headliners, the characters most people come to see.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Have you guessed it? It’s <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/heroes">Heroes</a>!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In most media, Heroes are the “good guys”. They represent the positive qualities the author values and epitomize teamwork, selflessness, and protection. Oftentimes, they work within the confines of the law, even alongside the criminal justice system. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These qualities have firmly placed Heroic characters in white as a base color, although some are more concerned with investigation and understanding or defending natural laws instead of manmade ones, which bleed into blue or green, respectively, or let their passions and emotions direct them, going into red.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hulk, Gamma Goliath"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm, Force of Nature"></div></div>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hero History</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Technically, the earliest creature in <em>Magic</em> to be considered a Hero was <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Changeling Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Changeling Hero</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, although it’s a hero because of changeling and its name, and it didn’t have the Hero type printed on it. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Benalish Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Benalish Hero</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was the first card to have the word “Hero” on its typeline, but it’s been errata'd to be a Soldier. <em>Theros</em> was the first set that printed a deck that claimed to have Heroes in it, in the “Heroes vs. Monsters” Dual Deck. Despite featuring a mechanic called “heroic”, however, <em>Theros</em> did not introduce the type.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Heroes were formally introduced to <em>Magic</em> in the <em>Spider-Man</em> set. In that set, however, they were mostly used in name only. <em>Marvel Super Heroes</em> brought cards that care about the Hero type. There were also some cute callbacks to the heroic mechanic, but this deck will be about Heroes working together, not Heroes showboating with the focus on themselves being targeted.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But how do we win a game with a defensive creature type? And what kind of commander could bring this motley crew together?</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Captain America, Super-Soldier"></div></div>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">What Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Captain America, Super-Soldier" href="#" target="_blank">Captain America, Super-Soldier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Do?</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While I’m not too familiar with the Avengers, I am aware that Captain America is considered the first one and the generally accepted leader of the group. He’s the one that yells “AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!”, so he’s the one that will assemble our new group.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our fearless leader protects himself with first strike and a shield counter, the latter of which prevents an instance of damage or destruction. As long as Cap has his shield, we and all of our Heroes have hexproof. All of these defensive abilities work together to ensure that our team stays together through thick and thin.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Somewhat paradoxically, these protective abilities enable our Heroes to leap into the fray of battle, confident that they will be safe. Cap entering with a shield counter means that we can send him into dangerous battlefields with the knowledge that, even if he should meet an untimely end, a three-mana commander is easy to re-cast, and he’ll enter with a brand-new shield.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But what would a Hero deck look like? And how do we simulate teamwork?</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Key Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Captain America, Super-Soldier" href="#" target="_blank">Captain America, Super-Soldier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Heroes have a variety of abilities that give them incredible strength in battle. The Heroes we are going to focus on represent one of two categories, which are common to team battle games: DPS (damage per second) Heroes, who are our frontline forces, and Back Row (support) Heroes, who provide buffs to our team but don’t necessarily engage in combat themselves.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spider-UK"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Falcon, Joaquin Torres"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spider-UK" href="#" target="_blank">Spider-UK</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Falcon, Joaquin Torres" href="#" target="_blank">Falcon, Joaquin Torres</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> make an intriguingly good team. Spidey uses web-slinging to reset ETBs (enters-the-battlefield effects) like our commanders and draws us a card and gains us a couple life if multiple creatures have entered this turn. Falcon, meanwhile, is a flying, lifelinking beater that grows and scries when it and two other creatures attack.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Winter Soldier, Reborn Avenger"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Agent Phil Coulson"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cap’s friend Bucky comes back as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Winter Soldier, Reborn Avenger" href="#" target="_blank">Winter Soldier, Reborn Avenger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who, in turn, brings a Hero with lesser power back with him, giving it a +1/+1 counter for being Heroic (kind of). These counter synergies are furthered with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Agent Phil Coulson" href="#" target="_blank">Agent Phil Coulson</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, the guy the movie's Avengers were avenging, although he didn’t really die and went on to head the S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series…I think. I’m sure it all makes sense and is super cool. In <em>Magic</em>, Phil is a vigilant <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grizzly Bears" href="#" target="_blank">Grizzly Bears</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> who’s basically <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Steel Overseer" href="#" target="_blank">Steel Overseer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for Heroes, which is incredible at facilitating the deck’s strategies.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But where does teamwork come in?</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Heroic Teamwork"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Clever Concealment"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Teamwork is an additional cost introduced in the <em>Marvel Super Heroes</em> set, albeit one that didn’t get a lot of support. In fact, only three cards were printed with it, albeit at common rarity. The additional cost comes in the form of tapping creatures with a certain amount of power, which is really similar to convoke, another ability that involves tapping creatures, this time to reduce the cost of a spell.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Creatures working together? Sounds like teamwork to me!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heroic Teamwork" href="#" target="_blank">Heroic Teamwork</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pumps two creatures at instant speed, drawing a card if teamwork was done. Heroes are known for the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clever Concealment" href="#" target="_blank">Clever Concealment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> of their identities, for their and their family’s protection. Concealment in <em>Magic</em> phases out any number of permanents we control, doing a fantastic job of protecting our Heroes by working together, even if we don’t have mana up.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Battle Cry"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rally the Troops"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But how do we balance needing to attack to win with needing to tap creatures for teamwork and convoke? We could use vigilance, and some of our creatures do have or grant that. But it’s far more tactical to untap our creatures at instant speed. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Battle Cry" href="#" target="_blank">Battle Cry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rally the Troops" href="#" target="_blank">Rally the Troops</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> both do this, allowing us to get the jump on opponents and dominate combat.</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Clive&#039;s Hideaway"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Minas Tirith"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clive&#039;s Hideaway" href="#" target="_blank">Clive&#039;s Hideaway</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Minas Tirith" href="#" target="_blank">Minas Tirith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> care about legendary creatures, which rewards our deck’s construction. For reference, our Heroes are all legendary, which helps to give the deck a feeling of assembling a new Avengers team. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clive&#039;s Hideaway" href="#" target="_blank">Clive&#039;s Hideaway</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is, as the name suggests, a hideaway land, letting us cast a free spell if we have enough legends. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Minas Tirith" href="#" target="_blank">Minas Tirith</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> enters untapped if we have a legend, and then draws us cards the same way <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Windbrisk Heights" href="#" target="_blank">Windbrisk Heights</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> operates.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But how do we close the game out?</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">How Does This <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Captain America, Super-Soldier" href="#" target="_blank">Captain America, Super-Soldier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Commander Deck Win?</span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Captain America, Wings of Freedom"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doctor Spectrum"></div></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our primary means of winning is combat, especially involving Heroes with evasion. Many Heroes fly, and even those who don’t can benefit from layers of counters from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Agent Phil Coulson" href="#" target="_blank">Agent Phil Coulson</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doctor Spectrum" href="#" target="_blank">Doctor Spectrum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Captain America, Wings of Freedom" href="#" target="_blank">Captain America, Wings of Freedom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another way of buffing our team, giving them power equal to his toughness. Note that this has to do with the current toughness, not the printed one, so our buffs stack and we can literally win games with Steve Rogers’s butt implants.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Captain America, Super Soldier" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="&nbsp;
[Commander]
*1 Captain America, Super-Soldier
[/Commander]
&nbsp;
[Creatures]
*1 Agent Phil Coulson
*1 Amazing Spider-Girl
*1 Anti-Venom, Horrifying Healer
*1 Black Panther, Most Dangerous
*1 Black Widow, Intel Expert
*1 Bucky Barnes, Eager Ally
*1 Captain America, Skybound
*1 Captain America, Steve Rogers
*1 Captain America, Unbowed
*1 Captain America, Wings of Freedom
*1 Captain Mar-Vell, Space-Born
*1 Captain Marvel, Earth&#039;s Protector
*1 Captain Marvel, Shooting Star
*1 Doctor Spectrum
*1 Falcon and Redwing
*1 Falcon, Joaquin Torres
*1 Hawkeye, Clint Barton
*1 Hercules, Olympian Hero
*1 Hyperion, Supreme Hero
*1 Invisible Woman, Sue Storm
*1 Luke Cage, Power Man
*1 Matt Murdock, Justice Seeker
*1 Night Nurse, Healer of Heroes
*1 Nighthawk, Dark Defender
*1 Patriot, Shield Wielder
*1 Photon, Lady of Light
*1 Quake, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.
*1 Silver Sable, Mercenary Leader
*1 Spectacular Spider-Man
*1 Spider-Man, Peter Parker
*1 Spider-Man, Web-Slinger
*1 Spider-UK
*1 Starling, Aerial Ally
*1 The Falcon, Sam Wilson
*1 The Sentry, Golden Guardian
*1 White Widow, Free Agent
*1 Winter Soldier, Bucky Barnes
*1 Winter Soldier, Reborn Avenger
*1 Zarda, the Power Princess
[/Creatures]
&nbsp;
[Sorceries]
*1 Everything Comes to Dust
*1 Murdock&#039;s Crusade
*1 Return to the Ranks
*1 Triplicate Spirits
*1 Winnowing
[/Sorceries]
&nbsp;
[Instants]
*1 Aerial Boost
*1 Appeal to Eirdu
*1 Battle Cry
*1 Chant of Vitu-Ghazi
*1 Clever Concealment
*1 Cut Short
*1 Devouring Light
*1 Ephemeral Shields
*1 Helicarrier Strike
*1 Heroic Teamwork
*1 Protective Response
*1 Rally the Troops
*1 Roar of the Kha
*1 Rustler Rampage
*1 To Arms!
[/Instants]
&nbsp;
[Lands]
*1 Clive&#039;s Hideaway
*1 Emeria, the Sky Ruin
*1 Karn&#039;s Bastion
*1 Minas Tirith
*1 Nesting Grounds
*30 Plains
*1 Sejiri Steppe
*1 Three Tree City
*1 War Room
*1 Windbrisk Heights
*1 Witch&#039;s Clinic
[/Lands]
&nbsp;"></span></div></span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Conclusion</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Heroes are some of the more iconic creatures to come out of the <em>Marvel</em> crossover, but there are other ways of building them, including the heroic mechanic, equipment like job-select in <em>Final Fantasy</em>, and activated abilities like power-up.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But how would you build Heroes? And who would lead your super squad?</span></p>


https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/card-gdXAp-art_crop.webp

hero typal

Building Hero Typal with Captain America, Super-Soldier