The new Phoenix model brings support and firepower along with a little mayhem, in the latest rules preview for Marvel Crisis Protocol.
You’d think by now we’d all have learned not to mess with cosmic firebirds, but Marvel Crisis Protocol said “hold my expansion pack” and gave us Phoenix Unleashed. And let me tell you, she’s not here for hugs and team-building exercises.
This isn’t your average Jean Grey — it’s the version with a capital F in “Flame On.”
Art of Not Getting Burned
If you’re planning to add MCP Phoenix to your roster, there are two sides to her coin: the steady, support-savvy Phoenix, and the fiery, table-wrecking Phoenix Unleashed.
Understanding when to lean into each is where the fun — and the strategy — lives.
Phoenix: Support With a Side of Firepower
Let’s start with regular Phoenix. She’s no glass cannon. With 7 stamina and chunky defenses (that 5 Mystic stat doesn’t lie), she’s surprisingly tanky for someone who spends most of her time floating. The key here is tempo. Use her to control the pace: heal teammates, block displacement with Burning Resolve, and casually throw Size 5 characters (like the Hulk or Apocalypse) like it’s just another Tuesday.
Her Firestorm attack does more than sound cool — it slaps entire squads, drops Incinerate, and magically heals your own people.
This is one of those miniature wargaming strategy tools that doesn’t just punish your opponent; it buys you breathing room.
Phoenix Unleashed: Destruction Mode Activated
But then the match heats up — when Phoenix herself gets Dazed — or suddenly you’re sitting on three Phoenix tokens. That’s your signal. Say goodbye to support mode, because the next round, Phoenix Unleashed, clocks in.
She’s slower. She’s angrier. She’s a floating apocalypse.
This is where things get spicy. The new version has 10 stamina and attacks that turn the battlefield into a hazard zone. Phoenix Blast lets you nuke terrain and spawn Flame Pillars, which aren’t just decorative — they extend your range and apply Incinerate like it’s going out of style.
Pro tip: don’t waste those Pillars. They’re your line of sight cheat code. Use them smartly before they fizzle.
Token Management: The Real Endgame
Now, you will gain Phoenix tokens as bodies hit the floor — friend or foe. The trick is managing them. Stack too many and boom: Untamed Cosmic Entity kicks in, nuking the table and KO-ing Phoenix Unleashed in a blaze of literal glory.
Do this too early and you’re down your six-threat bomb with no payoff.
The White-Hot Room tactic card gives her one encore, but don’t bet the whole game on it. Use it to swing a tight match, not to fix a bad plan.
Final Thoughts: Burn Smart, Not Fast
In short: control with Phoenix, destroy with Phoenix Unleashed, and know when to let her burn. That’s the MCP Phoenix playbook, and now you can go make your opponents sweat.
