Updated 12-23-16

Even the Odds is a powerful and versatile card that and sees play in many decks. However due to the card's wording and how it interacts with other cards, it can be very confusing at first glance. We will take a look at what it does and doesn't do.

The Basics

First we will start with the basics. It is a plot twist that can only be played in combat. It can be played on any players turn due to the symbol. It also has the Guardians of the Galaxy team stamp in the upper right hand corner so you must have a face up Guardians of the Galaxy character in order to be able to play it but that Guardians of the Galaxy character is not required to be in that specific combat. You must also have priority and be able to play Even the Odds which will be disussed in another article.

Part One

So beyond those basics it has 2 main effects which we will go over now. Each effect is sentence on the card. Here is the first sentence:

Remove all +1/+1 counters from an enemy character in the combat.

This does exactly what it says it does. The enemy character has to be in that combat and it does not do anything to -1/-1 counters.

Part Two

Let's move on to the second and more confusing part. This is the part that is tricky to understand especially because of the wording. Here is the second sentence:

That character's current ATK and DEF become the same as its base ATK and DEF this combat.

What exactly is a characters base ATK and DEF?

A characters base ATK and DEF is what is printed on the card with no other modifiers/abilities added in unless it specifically states that it modifies the base ATK and DEF like Deathlok does. This uses the current cards base ATK/DEF so a Level 2 Main Character does not revert to the Level 1 Main Characters base ATK/DEF.

Well how long does the changing of the ATK and DEF last?

The card says this combat. Each attack is a new combat so after this specific combat resolves it will return back to normal if it is still in play.

How does this interact with other plot twists, super powers or keyword abilities that change the ATK/DEF already affecting the card?

The ATK/DEF changes regardless of what had been previously played. The other effects such as giving the character flight, range or ferocious for example still remain as only the ATK/DEF are affected.

The often not understood part of this interaction is keyword abilities. Abilities already affecting the card will no longer affect the card. This means Groot SC will become a 0/0 and no longer get the bonuses from I am Groot after Even the Odds is played on him, which will stun Groot SC. This makes him a very sad Groot.

Another example of this interaction is on the Nighthawk SC. Nighthawk SC has the ability "Night Shift" which will not affect Nighthawk SC after Even the Odds has been played until combat is over, so he will be only a base 3/3 until then.

Another complicated example people don't understand is equipment. Equipment gives the equipped character the abilities so Even the Odds would remove those stat increases until the end of combat including such as the +5/+5 from Power Loader.

What happens for any plot twists, super powers, or keyword abilities that change the ATK/DEF after Even the Odds has been previously played?

Those cards/abilities will affect the character normally. Even the Odds only sets the current ATK/DEF so anything after that would affect it normally.