Don’t blink, or you’ll miss it! That’s right— Speed is rushing to the spotlight this week. Speed is an Ongoing card that provides +1 Power each turn you spend all of your Energy each turn. He’s the resident speedster for the Young Avengers, but let's not rush into things too quickly. Let’s take a further look into Wiccan's spiritual sibling, Speed!
At 3-Cost and 3 base Power, this leaves Speed with up to a potential +6 Power by turn 6 (for a total of 9 power) if you play on curve and don’t leave any energy per turn. This means he likely won’t be a deck-defining card, but he may find plenty of company alongside his fellow Young Avengers like Wiccan, who also benefits from total energy usage by the time you play him.
Speaking of Wiccan, we should address that family bond. Speed and Wiccan aren’t “brothers” in the traditional sense. I mean, they are brothers, but, well, it’s complicated... It’s a long story, but the short of it is that the Scarlet Witch accidentally stole some energy from Mephisto, absorbing it and turning it into a pregnancy, which became the twins. Eventually, the twins and their stolen spirit are reabsorbed into Mephisto, but the Scarlet Witch’s chaotic magic changes just enough about their souls that reabsorbing them destroys Mephisto from within. While everyone thought the twins were destroyed with him, their souls were sent back in time, and they were reborn with different parents in different states but looked nearly identical. Years later, as their powers manifested, they were reunited and discovered their (admittedly confusing) shared history and familial bond. This led them to seek a reunion with their mother, Scarlet Witch.
Diggin In
So, the apparent pairing here will be putting him together with his brother Wiccan. The pairing of their powers and abilities in the game is certainly no mistake. While I don’t believe thematically, it matches his comic abilities. It is at least nice that they work together symbiotically within the game. However, I also think there are plenty of use cases where Speed can make it out alone.
And, just like his brother, he pairs exceptionally well with both Domino and Quicksilver. Turns 1 and 2 confirm full energy usage, ensuring you always have at least 2 turns to activate his ongoing ability. As you draw more cards, you will likely pull more cards to use on the preceding turns to gain another point or two of power if you hid Speed behind something like Cosmo to keep Enchantress at bay not to disrupt your ongoing power.
He will also fit quite nicely with ongoing decks that use a turn 6 Spectrum for the final power boost. Pairing other strong ongoing cards like Omega Red to maintain the edge on the lane.
Being a 3-cost card also makes him a possible contender for Silver Surfer decks. Perhaps utilizing your energy maxing to give you that extra power boost in a lane while you build your combo pieces for a big turn 6. Adding in Wiccan, you can play two 3-cost cards on turn 5.
The issue is finding a home where he makes a difference. Most deck archetypes already have their staples, and his variable power isn’t high enough compared to other more compelling 3-cost cards. This is a very competitive cost slot in decks, and his inclusion could be a tough sell. That’s not to say he won’t have his niche. The selling point will be in the variety of options. His ability being ongoing also means he does not need to be in your hand or in play at the time of energy spent, so he might be a 3-cost combo piece you place down on turn 5 or 6—which can be powerful if you have played on a curve and consumed your energy each previous turn.
Cult_Papa’s Day One Speed Decks
Cult_Papa's Starter Speed Deck
Cult_Papa's Twin Ongoing
Cult_Papa's GwenSurfer ft: Speed
Conclusion
While it may feel like a chore trying to affix your deck with the right pieces to make full use of his ability each turn, I think he is a fun puzzle piece to make it all come together. I would like to think I’ll be surprised by his use in the meta, wherever that may be. I like his ability, and while I think it might be a little toned down, likely due to power creep fears, it’s still a compelling 3-cost to add to the roster of possibilities.
