Editing Vs. System

{{short description|System used for collectible card games}}
{{About|1=the collectible card game|2=the arcade platform based on the Nintendo Entertainment System|3=Nintendo VS. System}}
{{Infobox game
| name = Vs. System
| subtitle = 
| image = File:Vs. System card back.jpg
| image_caption=VS System cardback design
| image_size = 200
| image_alt = 
| caption = Cover of ''[[X-Men]] vs. the [[Brotherhood of Mutants|Brotherhood]]'',<br />
one of the "Vs. System" titles published
| width = 200
| label_width = 
| other_names = 
| AKA = 
| manufacturer = 
| designer = Matt Hyra, Mike Hummel, Edward Fear, Danny Mandel
| illustrator = 
| actor = 
| voice_over = 
| publisher = [[Upper Deck Company|Upper Deck]]
| date = {{Start date and age|2004|4}}
| years = 
| genre = 
| language = 
| system = 
| players = 2 {{sup|1}}
| setup_time = < 5 minutes
| playing_time = < 30 minutes
| random_chance =
| ages = 
| skills = [[Collectible card game|Card playing]]<br />[[Mathematics|Simple math]]<br />[[Deck optimization]]<br />[[Planning]]<br />[[Bluff (poker)|Deception]]
| materials = 
| media_type = 
| blank_label = 
| blank_data = 
| website = 
| footnotes = {{sup|1}} Some casual [[#Variant rules|rules]] allow more players.
}}
'''Vs. System''' (short for '''Versus System'''), also written as '''VS System''' and abbreviated as '''VS''', is a [[collectible card game]] designed by [[Upper Deck Company|Upper Deck Entertainment]] (UDE).<ref name="DUMMIES">{{cite book|title=Trading Card Games For Dummies|url=https://archive.org/details/tradingcardgames00kauf|url-access=registration|last1=Kaufeld|first1=John|last2=Smith|first2=Jeremy|publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]]|year=2006|isbn=0470044071}}</ref> In the game, players build and play a deck of Vs. System cards in an attempt to win a game against their opponent. It was first published in 2004 and is set in the [[superhero]] genre. The game was discontinued by Upper Deck Entertainment in January 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://entertainment.upperdeck.com/vs/en/news/article.aspx?aid=5166 |title= Upper Deck Entertainment - VS System - Articles|website=entertainment.upperdeck.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201051946/http://entertainment.upperdeck.com/vs/en/news/article.aspx?aid=5166 |archive-date=February 1, 2009}}</ref>

UDE announced at the 2014 Gen Con Indianapolis that they would be letting convention-goers playtest a subset of Marvel Origins reprinted as "Vs. System [[Fantasy Flight Games#Living Card Games|Living Card Game]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/UpperDeckEnt/status/499934489561141248|title=Twitter|website=mobile.twitter.com}}</ref> UDE then relaunched Vs. System at the 2015 Gen Con Indianapolis in its updated 2PCG format, switching from the traditional, partially-randomized card distribution model of most CCGs to a non-random, fixed-distribution model.

==Superheroic setting==

The sets of the Vs. System are based on the [[superhero]]ic settings of [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] and [[DC Comics]], with the exception of a smaller set called the [[Hellboy]] Essential Collection. For the most part expansion sets alternated release between Marvel-based sets and DC Comics based sets with new sets every three to six months. All sets are interchangeable and compatible with each other and share the same card back. This allows players to mix characters fighting against or with each other.

Card art, characters, and [[gameplay]] concepts are inspired by their [[comic book]] appearances with the designers using what they describe as "top-down design", meaning they make every attempt to develop a character's card mechanics in keeping with how the character is represented in comic books.<ref name="topdown">{{cite web
 |last         = Mandel
 |first        = Danny
 |title        = Design Vs. Development: Top-Down Design
 |work         = [http://www.metagame.com Metagame.com]
 |date         = 2004-05-07
 |url          = http://metagame.com/vs.aspx?tabid=46&ArticleId=106
 |access-date   = 2006-08-22
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070618224800/http://metagame.com/vs.aspx?tabid=46&ArticleId=106
 |archive-date = 2007-06-18
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref>
Well known artists that have contributed card art include [[Alex Ross]], [[John Van Fleet]], [[Alex Garner]], [[Jim Lee]], [[Rachel Dodson]], and [[Bill Sienkiewicz]].

==Gameplay==

The Vs. System attempts to emulate epic [[superhero]] battles. Each player starts the game with 50 "endurance points". If a player has zero or negative endurance at the end of the Recovery Phase, he or she is knocked out of the game. The Vs. System Comprehensive Rules has an in-depth explanation of every aspect of the game and is official for use in tournament judging.

===Types of cards===
[[File:X men brotherhood card game.jpg|thumb|150px|Cover of ''[[X-Men]] vs. the [[Brotherhood of Mutants|Brotherhood]]'',<br />
one of the "Vs. System" titles published]]
There are four types of cards in the Vs. System, with color-coded frames: ''Character'' (usually red, but black for "concealed" characters), ''Equipment'' (gray), ''Location'' (green), and ''Plot Twist'' (blue). All four types of cards share a common layout.

===Phases of gameplay===
*'''Draw Phase''': Each player simultaneously draws two cards from their deck.
*'''Build Phase''': Starting with the player holding the initiative, and going clockwise, each player completes the following steps:
**''Resource Step'': You may place one card face down into the resource row.
**''Recruit Step'': Spend resource points to recruit characters and/or equipment. Resource points are determined at the beginning of the Recruit step by how many cards a player has in his or her resource row.
**''Formation Step'': Rearrange your characters between your front and support rows.  You may also transfer "Transferable" equipment during this step.
::After the player with the initiative completes their steps within the Build Phase, each other player completes theirs in turn. Once each player finishes, the Build Phase ends and the Combat Phase begins.
*'''Combat Phase''': Starting with the player holding the initiative, each player has an "Attack Step" where they may declare attacks with the characters they control against their opponent's characters, or directly against an opposing player if they don't control any non-stunned visible characters. The player with the initiative attacks with all legal attackers, or until they wish to pass. Repeat this Attack Step for each player, going clockwise, from the player with the initiative.  Once each person has completed their Attack Step, the Combat Phase ends and the Recovery Phase begins
*'''Recovery Phase''': At the end of the recovery phase, during the "wrap-up" portion, each player compares endurance totals, and all players with 0 or less endurance lose the game.  If this would leave no players still in the game, the player with the highest endurance total wins the game. Then all players may simultaneously recover one stunned character, KO all remaining stunned characters, and ready all objects (characters, locations, equipment) they control.  Once these steps are performed, the initiative passes clockwise to the next player, the Recovery Phase ends, and the next turn commences with the Draw Phase.

===Variant rules===
* '''Grand Melee:''' A regular game of Vs. System for any number of players. Last man standing wins.
* '''Team Alliance:''' A 2-on-2 game of Vs. System. Teammates sit across from each other. Plays just like grand melee, but teammates share an endurance total of 100 and cannot attack each other. Play until only one team is left.
* '''Two-Headed Mutant:''' A 2-on-2 game of Vs. System. Teammates sit next to each other across from their opponents. Each team begins the game with 100 endurance. This game variant can be played with any number of people on either team, as long as the teams are even numbered. 50 endurance is added onto the total endurance score for each person on a team. Therefore, a Three-Headed Mutant would see a game with 150 endurance.

==Card sets==
All cards are marked in the lower left with an '''expansion code''' or '''set code''', a three-letter code identifying the set in which the card was published. The first letter of the set code indicates the setting (D for [[DC Comics]] and M for [[Marvel Comics]]), except for the Essential Collection set, which starts with the letter E.

Most Vs. System cards are released in '''expansion sets''', of which there were a total of 18. The first 14 expansion sets all had either 165 or 220 cards, but starting with ''Marvel Legends'', which had 273 cards, the size of expansion sets grew larger, peaking at 330 cards of the ''[[Marvel Universe]]'' set. ''Marvel Legends'' also debuted a card face [[page layout|layout]] redesign.

The game was also periodically supplemented by the release of [[Booster pack|starter deck]] sets, of which there were a total of 6. The starter deck sets each contained two playable 40 card mini-decks. They pitted two teams against each other, typically a "[[hero]]" team versus a "[[villain]]" team. The first 3 (''[[X-Men]] vs. the [[Brotherhood of Mutants|Brotherhood]]'', ''[[Spider-Man]] vs. [[Doc Ock]]'', and ''[[Batman]] vs. the [[Joker (comics)|Joker]]'') drew all their cards from other expansion sets. However, the last 3 (''Batman'', ''[[Fantastic Four]]'', and ''X-Men'') contained new cards not in expansions sets. Each of the last 3 starter sets also were published to coincide with an associated film also released that year (''[[Batman Begins]]'', ''[[Fantastic Four (2005 film)|Fantastic Four]]'', and ''[[X-Men: The Last Stand]]'', respectively). UDE had originally planned to release a 7th starter set, for [[Superman]] (to coincide with the 2006 ''[[Superman Returns]]'' movie), but that set ended up being cancelled and never released.

Additionally, UDE planned an '''Essential Collections''' line geared towards introducing characters from outside the [[Marvel Universe|Marvel]] and [[DC Universe]]s. However, only one such set ever ended up being released, the ''[[Hellboy]] Essential Collection''. It contained two pre-constructed 60-card decks, a comprehensive rule book, and a number of other extras. Like the starter decks, the Hellboy Essential Collection is tournament-legal.<ref name="essential">{{cite web
 |title        = Hellboy Comes to Vs. System!
 |work         = [http://www.metagame.com Metagame.com]
 |date         = 2006-05-09
 |url          = http://www.metagame.com/vs.aspx?tabid=46&ArticleId=5528
 |access-date   = 2006-08-22
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070829045928/http://www.metagame.com/vs.aspx?tabid=46&ArticleId=5528
 |archive-date = 2007-08-29
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref>

UDE also planned a '''Giant-Size''' line. However, the only set ever published in the line was ''The [[Coming of Galactus]]'', a set geared toward multiplayer play in which multiple players would be pitted against a single powerful player taking on the role of [[Galactus]]. All cards in the set were legal for tournament play, with the exception of an oversized Galactus card and "Planet" cards.

Finally, there were '''exclusive sets''', consisting of promotional cards associated with a particular expansion set released through venues such as conventions and tournaments. The exclusives sets are listed here rather than in the table below. The 5 exclusive sets (with set codes in parentheses) were:
* associated with ''Marvel Legends'': ''[[Age of Apocalypse]]'' (MAA) and ''Marvel Exclusives'' (MEX)
* associated with ''DC Legends'': ''DC Exclusives'' (DCX)
* associated with ''Marvel Universe'': ''Marvel Equipment'' (MEQ) and ''Marvel [[Ultimates]]'' (MUL)

The following table lists all non-exclusive sets in chronological order of release:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Release order (expansion sets only)
! Set name
! Set code
! Setting
! Set type
! Date
! Featured teams
! Teams introduced
! Size (number of cards)
! New mechanics and notable features
|-
|| {{sort|01|1}}
|| ''Marvel Origins''
|| MOR
|| Marvel Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2004-04|April 2004}}
|| [[X-Men]]<br />[[Brotherhood of Mutants|Brotherhood]]<br />[[Doctor Doom|Doom]]<br />[[Fantastic Four]]<br />[[Sentinels (comics)|Sentinels]]<br />
|| [[X-Men]]<br />[[Brotherhood of Mutants|Brotherhood]]<br />[[Doctor Doom|Doom]]<br />[[Fantastic Four]]<br />[[Sentinels (comics)|Sentinels]]<br />[[Skrull]]<br />[[Negative Zone]]
|| 220
|| First set
|-
|| N/A
|| ''[[X-Men]] vs. the [[Brotherhood of Mutants|Brotherhood]] Starter Deck''
|| MOR (same as for ''Marvel Origins'')
|| Marvel Comics
|| Starter set
|| {{sort|2004-04|April 2004}}
|| [[X-Men]]<br />[[Brotherhood of Mutants|Brotherhood]]
|| None
|| {{sort|080.000|80 total, all reprints}}
|| All cards are drawn from the ''Marvel Origins'' expansion set
|-
|| N/A
|| ''[[Spider-Man]] vs. [[Doc Ock]] Starter Deck''
|| MSM (same as for ''Web of Spider-Man'')
|| Marvel Comics
|| Starter set
|| {{sort|2004-06|June 2004}}
|| [[Spider-Friends]]<br />[[Sinister Syndicate]]
|| [[Spider-Friends]]<br />[[Sinister Syndicate]]
|| {{sort|080.000|80 total, all reprints}}
|| All cards are drawn from the ''Web of Spider-Man'' expansion set, released a few months later
|-
|| {{sort|02|2}}
|| ''DC Origins''
|| DOR
|| DC Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2004-07|July 2004}}
|| [[Batman supporting characters|Gotham Knights]]<br />[[Batman villains|Arkham Inmates]]<br /> [[League of Assassins]]<br />[[Teen Titans]]
|| [[Batman supporting characters|Gotham Knights]]<br />[[Arkham Asylum|Arkham Inmates]]<br />[[League of Assassins]]<br />[[Teen Titans]]<br />[[Fearsome Five]]<br />[[Deathstroke]]
|| 165
|| Boost<br />Loyalty<br />Transferable
|-
|| N/A
|| ''[[Batman]] vs. the [[Joker (comics)|Joker]] Starter Set''
|| DOR (same as for ''DC Origins'')
|| DC Comics
|| Starter set
|| {{sort|2004-07|July 2004}}
|| Gotham Knights<br />Arkham Inmates
|| None
|| {{sort|080.000|80 total, all reprints}}
|| All cards are drawn from the ''DC Origins'' expansion set
|-
|| {{sort|03|3}}
|| ''Web of [[Spider-Man]]''
|| MSM
|| Marvel Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2004-09|September 2004}}
|| Spider-Friends<br />Sinister Syndicate
|| Spider-Friends<br />Sinister Syndicate
|| 165
|| Evasion
|-
|| {{sort|04|4}}
|| ''[[Superman]], Man of Steel''
|| DSM
|| DC Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2004-11|November 2004}}
|| [[Superman character and cast#Team Superman|Team Superman]]<br />[[New Gods]]<br />[[Enemies of Superman|Revenge Squad]]<br />[[Darkseid's Elite]]
|| [[Superman character and cast#Team Superman|Team Superman]]<br />[[New Gods]]<br />[[Enemies of Superman|Revenge Squad]]<br />[[Darkseid's Elite]]
|| 165
|| Cosmic<br />Invulnerability
|-
|| {{sort|05|5}}
|| ''[[Marvel Knights]]''
|| MMK
|| Marvel Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2005-02|February 2005}}
|| [[Marvel Knights]]<br />[[Kingpin (comics)|Crime Lords]]<br />[[:Category:Marvel Comics demons|Underworld]]<br />[[X-Statix]]
|| [[Marvel Knights]]<br />[[Kingpin (comics)|Crime Lords]]<br />[[:Category:Marvel Comics demons|Underworld]]<br />[[X-Statix]]
|| 220
|| Concealed<br />Dual-Loyalty<br />Hidden area<br />First reprint: Marvel Team-Up
|-
|| {{sort|06|6}}
|| ''[[Green Lantern Corps]]''
|| DGL
|| DC Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2005-05|May 2005}}
|| [[Green Lantern Corps|Green Lantern]]<br />Emerald Enemies<br />[[Qward|Anti-Matter]]<br />[[Manhunters (DC Comics)|Manhunters]]
|| Green Lantern<br />Emerald Enemies<br />[[Qward|Anti-Matter]]<br />[[Manhunters (DC Comics)|Manhunters]]
|| 220
|| Concealed-Optional<br />Willpower<br />Non-character cards ("Construct")
|-
|| N/A
|| ''[[Batman]] Starter Deck''
|| DBM
|| DC Comics
|| Starter set
|| {{sort|2005-06|June 2005}}
|| [[Batman supporting characters|Gotham Knights]]<br />[[League of Assassins]]
|| None
|| {{sort|080.028|80 total, 28 non-reprint}}
|| Some cards are drawn from the ''DC Origins'' expansion set; others are new<br />Released to coincide with ''[[Batman Begins]]'', the 2005 Batman film
|-
|| N/A
|| ''[[Fantastic Four]] Starter Deck''
|| MFF
|| Marvel Comics
|| Starter set
|| {{sort|2005-06|June 2005}}
|| Fantastic Four<br />Doom
|| None
|| {{sort|080.028|80 total, 28 non-reprint}}
|| Some cards are drawn from the ''Marvel Origins'' set; others are new<br />released to coincide with ''[[Fantastic Four (2005 film)|Fantastic Four]]'', the 2005 Fantastic Four film
|-
|| {{sort|07|7}}
|| ''The [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]''
|| MAV
|| Marvel Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2005-08|August 2005}}
|| [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]<br />[[Masters of Evil]]<br />[[Kang the Conqueror|Kang Council]]<br />[[Thunderbolts (comics)|Thunderbolts]]<br />[[Squadron Supreme]]
|| Avengers<br />Masters of Evil<br />Kang Council<br />Thunderbolts<br />Squadron Supreme
|| 220
|| Leader<br />Reservist<br />Non-character cards ("Team-Up")
|-
|| {{sort|08|8}}
|| ''[[Justice League of America]]''
|| DJL
|| DC Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2005-11|November 2005}}
|| [[Justice League of America]]<br />[[Justice League International]]<br />Injustice Gang<br />[[Secret Society of Super-Villains|Secret Society]]
|| Justice League of America<br />Justice League International<br />Injustice Gang<br />Rann<br />Secret Society
|| 220
|| Ally<br />Dual team affiliations<ref name="justlea">{{cite web
 |last         = Hyra
 |first        = Matt
 |title        = Justice League of America Preview: Superman, Avatar of Peace
 |work         = [http://www.metagame.com Metagame.com]
 |date         = 2005-10-13
 |url          = http://www.metagame.com/vs.aspx?tabid=46&ArticleId=3738
 |access-date   = 2006-08-22
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20051226165348/http://www.metagame.com/vs.aspx?tabid=46&ArticleId=3738
 |archive-date = 2005-12-26
 |url-status     = dead
}}</ref>
|-
|| {{sort|09|9}}
|| ''[[X-Men]]''
|| MXM
|| Marvel Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2006-02|February 2006}}
|| X-Men<br />Brotherhood<br />[[Morlocks (comics)|Morlocks]]<br />[[Hellfire Club (comics)|Hellfire Club]]
|| Morlocks<br />Hellfire Club
|| 220
|| Mutant Traits (Physical, Mental, and Energy)
|-
|| N/A
|| ''[[X-Men]] Starter Deck''
|| MXS
|| Marvel Comics
|| Starter set
|| {{sort|2006-02|February 2006}}
|| X-Men<br />Brotherhood
|| None
|| {{sort|080.032|80 total, 32 non-reprint}}
|| Some cards are drawn from ''The X-Men'' expansion set; others are new<br />released to coincide with ''[[X-Men: The Last Stand]]'', the 2006 X-Men film
|-
|| 10
|| ''[[Infinite Crisis]]''
|| DCR
|| DC Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2006-04|April 2006}}
|| [[Justice Society|JSA]]<br />[[Shadowpact]]<br />[[Villains United]]<br />[[Checkmate (comics)|Checkmate]]
|| JSA<br />Shadowpact<br />Villains United<br />Checkmate<br />[[Secret Six (comics)|Secret Six]]<br />[[Crisis on Infinite Earths|Crisis]]
|| 220
|| Vengeance<br />Backup<br />Loyalty-Reveal<br />Identity concept expanded<br />Non-character cards ("Magic")<br />"Champion" characters
|-
|| 11
|| ''[[Heralds of Galactus]]''
|| MHG
|| Marvel Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2006-09|September 2006}}
|| [[Herald of Galactus|Heralds of Galactus]]<br />[[Inhumans]]<br />[[Kree]]<br />[[Doctor Doom|Doom]]<br />[[Skrull]]
|| Heralds of Galactus<br />Inhumans<br />Kree<br />[[Infinity Watch]]
|| 220
|| Press<br />Terraform<br />Cosmic-Surge
|-
|| 12
|| ''[[Legion of Super-Heroes]]''
|| DLS
|| DC Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2006-12|December 2006}}
|| [[Legion of Superheroes|Legionnaires]]<br />Future Foes<br />[[Teen Titans]]<br />[[Darkseid's Elite]]
|| Legionnaires<br />Future Foes
|| 220
|| Substitute<br />Alternate use of Cosmic
|-
|| 13
|| ''[[Marvel Team-Up]]''
|| MTU
|| Marvel Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2007-02|February 2007}}
|| Spider-Friends<br />Sinister Syndicate<br />Underworld<br />[[Defenders (comics)|Marvel Defenders]]<br />[[Silver Sable|Wild Pack]]
|| Marvel Defenders<br />Wild Pack
|| 220
|| Dual Loyalty<br />Alternate use of Boost<br />Paying attack or defense
|-
| N/A
|| ''[[Hellboy]] Essential Collection''
|| EHB
|| Hellboy
|| Essential Collection
|| {{sort|2007-02|February 2007}}
|| [[B.P.R.D.]]<br />[[Thule Society]]
|| B.P.R.D.<br />Thule Society
|| {{sort|055|55}}
|| First and only set not set in [[Marvel Universe|Marvel]] or [[DC Universe]]
|-
|| 14
|| ''[[World's Finest (disambiguation)|World's Finest]]''
|| DWF
|| DC Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2007-07|July 2007}}
|| Team Superman<br />Gotham Knights<br />Revenge Squad<br />Arkham Inmates<br />[[Outsiders (comics)|Outsiders]]<br />[[Birds of Prey (comic)|Birds of Prey]]
|| Outsiders<br />Birds of Prey
|| 220
|| Insanity<br />
|-
|| 15
|| ''Marvel Legends''
|| MVL
|| Marvel Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2007-08|August 2007}}
|| X-Men<br />Brotherhood<br />Marvel Knights<br />Fantastic Four<br />Doom<br />[[Shi'ar]]
|| Shi'ar
|| 273
|| New card layout<br />Concealed and Concealed-Optional changed from keywords to symbols<br />team symbols added<br />"Legendary Character" concept<br />Minor rule changes and clarifications<br />Vast number of game mechanics temporarily abandoned to make the game easier for newer players
|-
|| N/A
|| ''The [[Coming of Galactus]]''
|| MCG
|| Marvel Comics
|| Giant-Size set
|| {{sort|2007-11|November 2007}}
|| Heralds of Galactus
|| None
|| {{sort|042|42}}
|| For multiplayer play, pitting multiple players against a single player taking on the role of [[Galactus]]
|-
|| 16
|| ''DC Comics Legends''
|| DCL
|| DC Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2007-12|December 2007}}
|| JLA<br />Teen Titans<br />Injustice Gang<br />Secret Society<br />League of Assassins<br />[[Doom Patrol]]
|| Doom Patrol
|| 273
|| Return of Reservist<br />Return of Concealed-Optional characters<br />Return of dual affiliations<br />Secret Society and Villains United teams combined into one team
|-
|| 17
|| ''[[Marvel Universe]]''
|| MUN
|| Marvel Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2008-06|June 2008}}
|| Avengers<br />Thunderbolts<br />[[SHIELD]]<br />[[Hydra (Marvel Comics)|Crime lords]]<br />[[Warbound]]<br />[[Annihilus#Annihilation|Negative Zone]]<br />[[Alpha Flight]]<br />Infinity Watch<br />
|| SHIELD<br />Warbound<br />Alpha Flight<br />[[Asgardians (Marvel Comics)|Asgardians]]<br />[[Atlantis (Marvel Comics)|Atlantis]]<br />[[Invaders (comics)|Invaders]]<br />[[Nextwave]]<br />[[Phalanx (comics)|Phalanx]]<br />[[United Front (comics)#Annihilation limited series|United Front]]<br />[[Nova Corps]]<br />[[Weapon X]]
|| 330
|| Rally<br />Return of Boost (including Boost on non-character cards)<br />Return of Leader<br />Return of Terraform<br />Return of Substitute<br />Return of Evasion<br />Return of Cosmic<br />Return of Invulnerability
|-
|| 18
|| ''Marvel Evolution''
|| MEV
|| Marvel Comics
|| Expansion set
|| {{sort|2008-11|November 2008}}
|| [[X-Factor (comics)|X-Factor]]<br />[[Exiles (Marvel Comics)|Exiles]]<br />[[X-Force]]<br />[[Marauders (comics)|Marauders]]<br />Weapon X
|| X-Factor<br />Exiles<br />X-Force<br />Marauders<br />[[Starjammers]]<br />[[Runaways (comics)|Runaways]]<br />[[Purifiers (Marvel Comics)|Purifiers]]
|| 275
|| Shift<br />Energize<br />Hunter
|}

==Organized Play==

In tournament play, there are three common formats:
* '''[[Modern Age of Comic Books|Modern Age]] format''' draws a card pool from the last two released sets from both brands (i.e., the last two Marvel sets and the last two DC Comics sets).
* '''[[Silver Age of Comic Books|Silver Age]] format''' draws a card pool from the last four released sets from both brands (i.e, the last four released sets from Marvel Comics and the last four released sets from DC Comics).
* '''[[Golden Age of Comic Books|Golden Age]] format''' draws from a card pool of all legally playable cards.

Upper Deck Entertainment planned the year-round professional $1 million Organized Play Pro Circuit prior to the release of the game.

===Notable players in UDE Organized Play===
The following is a listing of players who have won more than one 10K event or have won a Pro Circuit event.

* William Hodack, 2004 [[Origins Game Fair|Origins]] $10K Champion, June 26, 2004
* Marshall James, 2004 Philadelphia $10k Champion, July 10, 2004
* Jeremy Tucker, 2004 $10K Champion, Wizard World Chicago
* [[Brian Kibler]], first-ever Pro Circuit Champion, [[Gen Con Indy]], August 22, 2004<ref>{{cite news |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2004_August_26/ai_n6170663/ |work=Business Wire |title=Atlanta Native Brian Kibler Crowned Champion in Upper Deck Entertainment Super Heroes Trading Card Game Pro Circuit Tournament |date=August 26, 2004}}</ref>
* Robert Leander, $10K [[Wizard World]] [[Texas]] Champion, November 6, 2004, $10K [[New Jersey]] Champion, January 15, 2005; first Vs. System player to win multiple $10K events
* Ryan Jones, Pro Circuit [[Los Angeles]] Champion, December 3, 2004
* Hans Joachim Höh (Hans served a 3-year ban for cheating in the top 8 of a Pro Circuit), $10K [[Hannover]] Champion, February 5, 2005, $10K [[Bologna]] Champion, February 20, 2005, $10K [[Bremen]] Champion, December 3, 2005 
* Dean Sohlne, $10K [[London]] Champion, March 21, 2005, $10K [[Amsterdam]] Champion, April 9, 2005.
* Michael Jacob, $10K [[Chicago]] Champion, April 2, 2005, $10K [[Toronto]] Champion, August 27, 2005, $10K [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] Champion, October 15, 2005
* Ian Vincent, Pro Circuit [[San Francisco]] Champion
* Trey Kelly, Pro Circuit [[New York City|New York]] Champion
* Anthony Calabrese, Pro Circuit [[Indianapolis]] 2006 Champion
* Adam Horvath, Pro Circuit [[Amsterdam]] Champion, April 7, 2005
* Adam Bernstein, Pro Circuit [[New York City|New York]] Champion, May 26, 2005
* Adam Prosak, $10K [[San Diego]] Champion, July 15, 2005, $10K [[Atlanta]] Champion, September 4, 2005 Pro Circuit [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] November 17, 2006
* Kakarot Turker, $10K [[Sydney]] Champion, December 1, 2006, 6 consecutive 10K top 8s
* Darryn Ying, $10K [[Melbourne]] Champion, October 20, 2006,
* Vidianto Wijaya, Pro Circuit [[Atlanta]] Champion, March 24, 2006; as of August 13, 2006, has a record five Pro Circuit top eight finishes and has won over $100,000
* Kyle Dembinski, Pro Circuit [[Sydney, Australia|Sydney]] 2007 winner
* John Hammond, $10K Indy 2007 Champion - Bring Your Own Set format <ref>{{cite web |url=http://vs.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?id=2397 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918033014/http://vs.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=2397 |archive-date=2007-09-18 |title=VS TCG Article - Hammond Wins BYOS 10K Indy by TCGplayer Staff}}</ref>
* Brian Eugenio, 1st Vs. Worlds Champion 2008
* Robert Rietze, [[Gen Con Indy]] 2008 1st Place
* Alexander Antonias, [[Brisbane]] and [[Adelaide]] 10k champion

===Banned list===
As with most TCGs, the ever-increasing card pool leads to more and more combinations and possibilities. While this is generally considered to be a positive factor, sometimes these combinations bring a degeneracy that is unhealthy for tournament play and the long term health of the game. When this occurs, organized play intervenes and the offending cards are usually banned. The first card to be banned was "Overload" banned because of its synergy with various attackpumps. Used in tandem, players were able to stun their opponent's board at minimal cost. UDE later released a fixed—playable but unremarkable—version of the card called System Failure, released in MAV.<ref name=overload>{{cite web  | last = Humpherys  | first = Dave  | author-link = Dave Humpherys  | title = Unexpected Developments: Time For a Change or Two  | publisher = Metagame.com  | date = 2004-06-14  | url = http://www.metagame.com/vs.aspx?tabid=46&ArticleId=2624  | access-date = 2006-09-08  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070515130055/http://metagame.com/vs.aspx?tabid=46&ArticleId=2624  | archive-date = 2007-05-15  | url-status = dead  }}</ref>

Unlike most CCGs which have banned lists unique to various formats, UDE has chosen to have one universal all-encompassing banned list.

==Video game==
A [[Marvel Trading Card Game|video game based on the Vs. System]] was released on February 27, 2007 for the [[Personal computer|PC]], [[PlayStation Portable|PSP]] and [[Nintendo DS]]. It was developed by [[Vicious Cycle Software]] and published by [[Konami]]. The game has been named as the ''Marvel Trading Card game'' and only includes cards from ''Marvel Origins'' and Marvel-based expansions up to the Avengers set.

==Awards==
In 2004, Vs. System won the ''Gamers' Choice Award'' and was also nominated for ''Best Collectible Card Game or Expansion'' both from [[Origins Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/2004/list-of-winners |title=Origins Award Winners (2004) |publisher=Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design |access-date=2007-10-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603142308/http://www.originsgamefair.com/awards/2004/list-of-winners |archive-date=June 3, 2008 }}</ref> In 2005 it received the ''Game of the Year'' award from [[InQuest Gamer]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}

==Reviews==
*''[[Pyramid (magazine)|Pyramid]]''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/sample.html?id=4923|title = Pyramid: Pyramid Review: Marvel Superheroes TCG}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite magazine|title=Vs. System|last=McGee|first=Thorin|issue=130|magazine=[[InQuest Gamer]]|pages=42–45|date=February 2006}}

==External links==
* [https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/vssystem/ VS System Fan Forum (VSSystem.org)]
* [https://www.pojo.com/vs/COTD/index.shtml VS System Card of the Day - Over 500 Card Reviews (Pojo.com)]
* [http://vs.tcgplayer.com VS TCGplayer Magazine]
* [http://www.pojo.biz/board/forumdisplay.php?f=75 VS System Fan Forum (Pojo.biz)]
* [http://www.ccgdb.com/vs ccgdb.com card engine: vs system] A search engine for Vs cards.

{{Upper Deck}}

[[Category:Card games introduced in 2004]]
[[Category:Collectible card games based on comics]]
[[Category:Origins Award winners]]
[[Category:Collectible card games based on Marvel Comics]]
[[Category:Upper Deck Company games]]
[[Category:DC Comics games]]