When do the Shadows of the Past cards get shuffled into the encounter deck?

Question

Accepted Answer

"Shadow of the Past" is simply part of the Standard Encounter Set, shuffled into the encounter deck during setup like any other encounter card — there's no special separate timing for it. During setup, players "Create and Shuffle Encounter Deck," which combines the villain's fixed encounter set, the Standard encounter set, and any modular sets (plus obligations) into a single deck [p.6 — Select Villain]. "Shadow of the Past" appears as one of the cards listed in the Standard encounter set for each core set scenario (Rhino, Klaw, and Ultron) [p.23 — Core Scenarios]. Since the Standard encounter set is used in every scenario, this card is shuffled into the encounter deck at setup along with all the other Standard, fixed, and modular encounter cards, rather than being added later during play [p.19 — Standard Encounter Set And Expert Encounter Set]. There is no unique rule in the rulebook singling out "Shadow of the Past" for special shuffle timing — it is treated the same as any other treachery/encounter card once it is in the deck, and it is drawn and resolved normally during Step Four (Reveal Encounter Cards) of the villain phase [p.16 — Step Three Deal Encounter Cards]. Watch out: Don't confuse this with obligations or nemesis sets, which do have special shuffle-in or setaside rules — obligations are shuffled into the encounter deck at setup too, but nemesis cards are set aside and only enter play when called for by another card [p.17 — Obligations].

When do the Shadows of the Past cards get shuffled into the encounter deck?

Quick answer

Details