Marvel Champions: The Card Game · Board game rules

Can I use Basic Defense after playing defense cards?

Quick answer

Yes, you can use Basic Defense after playing defense cards, provided your hero is in hero form and not already exhausted.

Details

Basic Defense is a basic power on the hero's identity card, usable when any hero is attacked by an enemy [p.12 — Basic Defense]. To use it, the hero must be in hero form and ready (not exhausted). The player exhausts their hero to reduce incoming damage by their DEF value.

There is no rule prohibiting the use of Basic Defense after playing other defense-related cards (e.g., support or ally cards). However, if the hero is already exhausted (from prior actions like attacking or using other abilities), Basic Defense cannot be used until the hero is readied at the end of the player phase [p.9 — Ready and Exhausted].

Watch out:
If you exhaust your hero for another action (e.g., attacking or using an ally), you cannot use Basic Defense in the same turn unless you ready the hero via a card ability. Exhaustion status persists until the end of the player phase.

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