Unmatched
Black Panther
Overview
Black Panther is a hero created for Marvel Comics in 1966, first appearing in Fantastic Four #52. Black Panther is the first African protagonist in mainstream American comics, and predates the founding of the Black Panther political party in 1966. Since his debut he has featured in many solo and ensemble comic books, animated TV series, and live-action films. His live-action debut was in the 2016 film Captain America: Civil War where he was portrayed by Chadwick Boseman. Shortly thereafter he starred in his own feature film aptly titled Black Panther and made appearances in the hit ensemble films Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
TāChalla, the Black Panther, is the King of the African nation of Wakanda. He is known for his skill as a hunter, tracker, strategist, and politician, and he is considered one of the smartest people on Earth. His suit is made of vibranium, a rare metal only found in Wakanda, which makes it capable of absorbing all vibrations and kinetic energy directed at it and redirecting it at his opponent. In Unmatched, Black Panther uses his vibranium suit to turn his opponentās cards against them.
Black Panther is included in Unmatched: For King and Country
Hero Stats
Health:Ā 14 /Ā Attack:Ā Melee /Ā Movement:Ā 2
Special Ability: Vibranium Suit
Whenever you BOOST, draw 1 card. Cards stored in your Vibranium Suit can only be used to BOOST.
Sidekick: Shuri
Health: 8 / Attack: Ranged / x1
Strategies and Tips
Black Panther is built entirely around the BOOST mechanic, making him possibly the most aggressive hero in Unmatched. He has a unique ability that allows him to take cards away from his opponent and add them to his vibranium suit, which he can then use to boost his movement, or in specific circumstances his attack and defense. The key to victory is aggression. If you cannot reach your opponent, boost your maneuver with a card from your hand or your vibranium suit to reach them. Thanks to Black Pantherās special ability, you get to draw a card each time you boost so you will not be risking your hand. If you allow the game to go on for too long, you risk losing from exhaustion.
Primary Strengths
High movement potential
Uses the opponent’s deck against them (Very powerful against Houdini)
Heroes that rely on retrieving cards from their discard pile (e.g. Achilles, Daredevil, Elektra)
Primary Weaknesses
Slow early game
Reaches fatigue quickly
Tip #1: Vibranium Suit
Black Pantherās vibranium suit is a tool to be used strategically. There are three cards in his deck that allow you to take cards directly from your opponentās deck to store in your vibranium suit:
Analyze and Adjust is an attack that both Black Panther and Shuri can use. It has a value of 3 and lets you reveal the top card of your opponentās deck after combat and store it in your vibranium suit.
Ancestral Insight is a Black Panther only versatile card with a value of 4 that, after combat, lets you reveal the top card of your opponentās deck after combat and store it in your vibranium suit. When used defensively you have a higher chance of winning combat with a draw and you ensure your opponent doesnāt cancel the effect. Additionally, it punishes your opponent for attacking you which will have them thinking twice before re-engaging.Ā
Tactical Remote Scanning is a Shuri only scheme that lets you reveal the top 2 cards of your opponentās deck and store them in your vibranium suit.Ā
Between these three cards, you have eight opportunities to take a card directly out of your opponentās deck. Ten cards total. While the cards are in your vibranium suit they are neither in your opponentās deck or their discard pile, meaning they have no opportunity to use them. This could have serious ramifications against specific heroes. If you end up adding an important card to your vibranium suit, you may want to keep it there instead of boosting with it depending on whether or not your opponent has the opportunity to return it to their hand from their discard pile.
Tip #2: Boosting
The true power of Black Panther bares its claws in the form of his boosting capabilities. He has four cards that can be boosted:
Vibranium Shockwave is a Black Panther only attack with a value of 2 that lets you boost its value during combat.
Microweave Mesh is a Black Panther only defense with a value of 2 that lets you boost its value during combat. Boosting on defense is great since you get to see your opponent’s card and can boost just enough to hopefully mitigate the damage.
Wakanda Forever! is a Black Panther only versatile with a value of 3 that lets you boost this card up to two times during combat. The beauty is his special ability activates each time you boost, meaning if you boost twice, you can draw two cards. This is a good card to block with in a pinch, but we find it much more valuable when used for attacking.Ā
Anti-Metal Claws is a Black Panther only versatile with a value of 1 that lets you add the boost value of the opposing fighterās card to this cardās value during combat. Then, you can choose to boost this card. Like the previously mentioned card, this can be a good defensive option, but we recommend saving this for attack. This can be used to bait out high value defense cards, or if they defend with a low then you can boost and hit them for a good amount of damage.
With the potential of gaining 10 additional cards to boost from your opponentās deck, there is rarely an instance where we recommend not boosting; however, it is important to remember your limitations. Every time you boost you will be drawing a card. This means Black Panther will reach exhaustion quickly. If you play too defensively you will likely find yourself losing from exhaustion. You must play aggressively to defeat your opponent quickly. Boost your maneuver when necessary to reach your opponent and boost your attack at every opportunity.
Side note: If an opponent has cards with boost effects, like Houdini, then Black Panther gets to use those effects when boosting with them.
Tip #3: Shuri
Shuri can apply some support for Black Panther. There are two exclusive cards for her in the deck:
Nanotriage Processor is a versatile card with a value of 2 that lets Shuri recover 1 health after combat. Additionally, if Black Panther is in the same zone, he also recovers one health. This card is best used to attack as your opponent is much less likely to try and cancel the effects on Shuri.
Tactical Remote Scanning was mentioned in Tip #1 and is the best thing Shuri brings to table. You want to keep her alive for as long as possible until you can use the two that are in the deck.Ā
There is the possibility of your opponent focusing on Shuri at the start of the game to take her out quickly. With her low health and low defensive options, there may not be much you can do about it. Try to use her scheme as soon as you can, but if she dies before you can use them then the boost values will still come in handy.Ā
Final Thoughts
Black Panther is an incredibly explosive hero with solid defensive options, high maneuverability, and strategic gameplay elements. He struggles in the early game until he builds a higher hand and adds cards to his vibranium suit, and he also struggles late game with how fast he will be going through his deck. His strengths matched with his weaknesses make him a balanced character that is sure to resonate with players of all skill levels.
