Marvel Champions Codex

RulingHall of Heroes (rules 1.7)2025-12-17

Context: I am seeking to understand how Basic Powers are used or perhaps not used when making their…

Question

Context: I am seeking to understand how Basic Powers are used or perhaps not used when making their respective ability:

Question (1): The villain attacks me and I decide to NOT basic defend and to take the attack undefended. On step 4 of the Attack (Enemy Activation) [RRG v1.6 pg 8], I decide to use Side Step which now makes me the defender via Labeled Ability [RRG v1.6 pg 15; Defend]. Am I allowed to play Stopping Hitting Yourself If so what would be the value (assuming my Hero has 2 DEF)?

Question (2): Using Question 1’s scenario. Imagine I also play Not Today on top of the Side Step. This would give me +2 DEF. Am I allowed to play Stopping Hitting Yourself? If so what is the value?

Question (3): Building upon Questions 1 and 2, if I am playing against Enemy Leader Captain America who has Cap’s Shield, if I use an attack-labeled ability. Am I considered to have “use my ATK to attack and damage”?

Answer

  1. Yes, you’d still be able to play “Stop Hitting Yourself” and deal damage based on your current DEF (2). Your hero still has a DEF value even if it wasn’t used to reduce damage dealt.
  2. Yes, similar to above, you’d still be able to deal damage based on your DEF. Not Today! gives you +2 DEF, for a total of 4.
  3. This depends on the attack-labeled ability being used. A lot of attack-labeled abilities do not use your ATK to deal damage, but some do. If the ability is phrased as a flat damage amount, e.g. “Deal # damage to an enemy”, that would not allow you to take Cap’s Shield. If an ability calls out your ATK in some way, e.g. “Deal to an enemy equal to your ATK”, that would allow you to take Cap’s Shield.
  4. If the ability is phrased as a flat damage amount, e.g. “Deal # damage to an enemy”, that would not allow you to take Cap’s Shield.
  5. If an ability calls out your ATK in some way, e.g. “Deal to an enemy equal to your ATK”, that would allow you to take Cap’s Shield.

— Alex