Priority is no longer the automatic answer this week.

Doom 2099 is still the floor I trust

I’m keeping the first recommendation straightforward: Doom 2099. I spent time trying to make the list cheekier, then came back to the simpler version because the cheekier line did not give me proper final-turn contention.

The versions that run Invisible Woman First Steps have been the most consistent in my testing, so I will probably keep Invisible Woman First Steps in this list for a while. Sandman gets the flexible slot this week because rocks are still being tested, and I expect more created and cheap cards to see play. Sandman is here this week to help combat the created and cheap cards I expect to see.

Sandman is my pick this week, but I see Sandman and Thing First Steps as a swap that depends on the week. Chamber is where I am leaning, though not by much.

Caliban has also stayed in because the case is simple: it is consistent and gives me stats. Drax remains a card I am very happy to play here. Doom 2099 is safe, and it is the deck I would reach for when I want a reliable, plug-and-play option.

Can Xolo Be Safe to Play Again?

Negative Star-Lord is dead, and Gambit took a hit.

I do think people are going to experiment with Xolo again. Whether New Gambit is enough to make Xolo safe remains unresolved.

I am experimenting most with a variation I call Soul of the Dragon. I’m returning to a more classic version that runs a lot more one-drops.

The Joe Costa variation is where I am sticking, with Maverick and Scarlet Spider as the line I felt was still best.

Some Top Infinite variations use Omega Sentinel and Prodigy for a secondary line if Xolo is not drawn. I have seen Omega Sentinel and Prodigy as options, but I would still rather keep the decision tree simple. Extra uncertainty means I am weighing secondary lines alongside matchup prioritization, and that is deeper than I want to go.

Cerebro 3 could be the high-upside challenge

Cerebro 3 is probably where I would go when I want a challenge with climbing potential. Reliable Gambit activation is the core goal of the build I am leaning into. In this build, the created cards are enough to reliably get New Gambit to proc.

I considered Gorgon and Cobra because of the rocks before deciding on US Agent. US Agent is my two-cost tech choice in this version. Doom 2099 decks and ramp cards can stack tall cards, so I want US Agent available for the lane where those bigger cards are trying to take over. I have also kept Luke Cage as a required part of the deck and cut Valkyrie, despite respecting it as a tech card in the current environment.

The important distinction is that Cerebro 3 is not a plug-and-play deck. It asks for snap equity, retreat equity, and a clear understanding of the lines in front of me. I would pay attention to Cerebro 3 this week. You will probably see it a bunch. I know I will be playing this exact build quite a bit this weekend because I think it is solid.

The Xolo question is still unresolved

The unresolved question is whether New Gambit is enough to make Xolo safe to play.

People will be testing it, so you should test it too to see how you feel playing this version.

I am approaching it with a wide, fill-the-board style build because I am ready to play against Gambit. Mysterio and Scarlet Spider add more bodies to that approach.

If, after a week, I realize Gambit is still Gambit, I may have to back out because it is still destroying small cards and creating havoc on the ladder in a very specific way.

Watch the full discussion: the original episode.