Angry is as Angry Does
By Brian Weeks

This weeks preview card from the Invasion of Naboo expansion is a good addition to one of the most under-developed characters in the Star Wars TCG, Darth Maul.

Darth Maul (I), has Hidden Cost 3, an ability WOTC first tested on Darth Maul (F), from The Phantom Menace expansion. Darth Maul (F) text reads "Pay 2 -> Deploy Maul to the Character arena. Play this ability only if Maul has at least 5 build counters on it. At the end of the Character battle step, retreat Maul." Just an interesting fact to share. At first glance, at 6/50/5/5 Hidden Cost 3 and "Pay 3 Force -> Evade 1", it doesn't appear to be that great of a unit. But it's his other ability that makes Darth Maul (I) shine.

His third ability reads "When you deploy Maul, you may put 1 damage counter on Maul. If you do, put 1 damage counter on each of your opponent's units in the Character arena." While that ability may sound self-destructive at first, the chance to put 1 damage counter on each of your opponents units could be devastating. Especially with some of the other damage counter placing Dark Side units, such as Darth Sidious (E) or Darth Vader (S). And you could also play Painful Reckoning, Lack of Vision or Mustafar Battlegrounds to add some additional damage.

There's alot of options for this new Darth Maul card. I didn't touch the prospects you gain by stacking him. The Invasion of Naboo expansion will have two more Darth Maul units to introduce you to. Until then, Keep The Game Alive!

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About the Author
Brian Weeks (aka Skywlkr) has been playing the Star Wars TCG since its introduction at Celebration 2 in 2002. After playing the demo game and introducing it to RedneckJedi and Darthwalls, Team 'Dude Where's My Card' was created. He competed in three qualifiers, yet the closest he ever ranked was eighth. As a member on Rebelbasers, SWDuelist and a writer for the now defunct Diehard Online, he has tried to promote the game through information and interaction.

He is married, has a five year old son, is an architect, has been the Treasurer and Newsletter Editor for eight years for JediOKC (an Oklahoma City based Star Wars Fan Club), was the IDC Card Development Chairperson for Fall of the Republic and is now the IDC Public Affairs Chairperson through all five expansions. Despite all that, he still has time to introduce the game to new players…KEEP THE GAME ALIVE!