Onslaught’s Citadel Hot Location Guide: Strategy, Best Cards and Decks

The Hot Location for the next 24 hours is Onslaughts Citadel: Ongoing effects here are doubled. Hot Locations happen every week, starting Sunday at 3 AM GMT. The chosen location has a 60% increased chance of appearing during games. Players who strategically build around the location or counter the decks that do so can have an advantage over their opponents! So what do you play?

Variants

Onslaught’s Citadel

Ongoing effects here are doubled.

released

view card details Start a deck Decks with Onslaught’s Citadel

Strategy and General Tips

Right up top, the most obvious application, Zabu on 3, Darkhawk and Mystique later in the game. Put Cosmo in your deck to protect from Enchantress.

For everyone else, let’s look at some decks which can utilize the location. Fortunately, these decks tend to have strong positions in the current meta and if you’re making that final rank push before the February 2023 Season starts, you should hopefully be able to use the location in some capacity. Onslaught as the namesake card can also get extra value but given the location act as an Onslaught effect, this is only really required when going for the largest power combinations.

Variants

Darkhawk

Ongoing: +2 Power for each card in your opponent’s deck.

Series 4 Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 4)

view card details Start a deck Decks with Darkhawk

Variants

Onslaught

Ongoing: Double your other Ongoing effects at this location.

Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

view card details Start a deck Decks with Onslaught

Variants

Zabu

Ongoing: Your 4-Cost cards cost 1 less. (minimum 1)

Series 4 Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 4)

view card details Start a deck Decks with Zabu

Blue Marvel, Ka-Zar and Patriot are the simple build-arounds for the location. Iron Man and single lane combo decks can also be effective alongside Wong if you’re looking for something a bit more spicy.

Cosmo is almost a must-run for this one if you’re running Ongoing strategies. She will entirely shutdown all counter play on your Ongoing lane, and as long as you’re not relying on Mystique also on the location, it will have no downside for your play.

Pool 1

Series 1 – Onslaughts Citadel

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 2 months ago

2

Pool 1Hot Location

2x Collection Level 1-14

8x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

2x Recruit Season

2.9

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3.3

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Some version of this deck can be played into the location at all levels. The plan is too flood the rest of the board and land Blue Marvel and Ka-Zar on Onslaught's Citadel.

We can easily swap the flood package with cards in Series 2, 3, 4 and 5 cards and utilize similar strategies throughout ladder. Other cards to consider include Sunspot, Iceman, Zero, Titania, Bast, Mojo and Ultron for this one.

Pool 2

Series 2 – Sandman Zoo

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 2 months ago

3

Pool 2Hot Location

2x Collection Level 1-14

5x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

3x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

2x Recruit Season

2.7

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3.6

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

In Series 2, we can try and combine the early game flood package with Sandman to restrict counter play on 4. After Sandman we play one of Blue Marvel or Ka-Zar on Onslaught's Citadel and land Onslaught on top on turn 6 for even more power on our cards. This combination can be devastating for any deck trying to combo you after turn 4, with or without the location showing up, which becomes increasingly important as we enter into Series 3.

Changing the one drop package slightly with Series 3 cards may also make this deck continue into Series 3, 4, and 5 cards during the location. Some cards to consider include Zero, Titania, Ultron and Bast.

Series 3

Instead of featuring the upgraded versions of the previous two decks, this week we will look at the two top recommendations and two interesting ways to try and enjoy the location as we are in the final countdown of the season.

Series 3 – Patriot Citadel

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 2 months ago

0

Pool 3Hot Location

1x Collection Level 1-14

2x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

4x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

1x Recruit Season

4x Starter Card

2.9

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Silver Surfer – Patriot Citadel

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 2 months ago

0

Pool 5Hot Location

1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

6x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

1x Series 4 Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 4)

1x Recruit Season

3x Starter Card

3.1

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

2.8

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Patriot in all the various guises is excellent on this location. Just remember landing just Patriot on Onslaught's Citadel and playing Mystique elsewhere is still +6 power. Develop your Cosmo on the location ASAP.

Note on Killmonger – Armor can be ran if you really feel you need it, but if you’re expecting Killmonger with this deck, try to avoid priority until the final turns and aim for Ultron to fill the board.

Series 5 – Citadel – Zabu Darkhawk

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 2 months ago

1

Pool 5Hot Location

5x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

1x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

4x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

2x Series 4 Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 4)

3.1

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

2.8

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

Zabu on Onslaught's Citadel means each 4 drop will cost 1 energy. It may be harder to manage your hand at this point than win the game. Moon Girl on Darkhawk creating two, 2 energy Darkhawks with potentially 1 to 2 Mystiques ready to copy them is absurd. They will then also double their effect on Onslaught's Citadel.

Rest of the gameplan focuses on good value 4 drop cards and you can swap between reactive and defensive shells. The one opted for here is on the more defensive side, with Spider-Man so you can stop an opponents Onslaught's Citadel setups or lock down a lane.

Series 3 – Omega One Lane

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 2 months ago

4

Pool 3Hot Location

1x Collection Level 1-14

5x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

1x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

4x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

1x Starter Card

3.8

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3.2

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

This is one of the first of the two interesting ways to spend the last location of the season. This focuses on building one lane using Omega Red, Onslaught and some assortment of strong Ongoing cards.

Magik on 5 allows for Onslaught on 6 followed by Mystique + Omega Red. Sera allows for Onslaught and Mystique on 6, which can land on top of your key Ongoing cards. Wave allows for early play of Onslaught or Iron Man for Mystique copies also. Cosmo may seem anti-synergy but with Onslaught's Citadel you are likely to be better off using Cosmo to stop counter play than going for full Mystique combinations.

One change compared to other lists you may notice is Armor and Sunspot. These are just good cards which can be added too with the sideways ongoing effects later and also provide good base power for Ironman and Onslaught is needed.

Zafety Hazards

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 2 months ago

1

Pool 5Hot Location

1x Collection Level 1-14

1x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

1x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

6x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

2x Series 4 Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 4)

1x Recruit Season

3.3

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

The only deck featured this week without Cosmo, as it significantly punishes you with this deck. The plan here is not to double the Zabu effect, but to land Wong, Hazmat and Luke Cage on the final turn or just prior to hitting them with Odin. Don’t do the maths and just hit the End Turn button.

Shuri is excellent but if you’re missing her, Debrii or Lizard can be added. Debrii does make it harder for you also remember however, and I would recommend Lizard as a good card which helps you keep priority when you need it.

If you have Shuri, try to double your Typhoid Mary, but if you don’t, doubling any card is still valuable except Luke Cage as your gameplan remains to Hazmat the opponents side.

After Credits

Yes, this Zabu version of the Omega Red deck has Super-Skrull in it. We can reasonably expect with this type of location people are going to play Ongoing cards, because they are strong and fun, so let’s have their fun as well as our own if we can. If you were lucky enough to open Super-Skrull when it went down to Series 4, it’s your weekend.

Series 3 – Yes, this deck has Super Skrull in it

Created by SafetyBlade

, updated 2 months ago

3

Pool 4Pool 5Hot Location

4x Collection Level 18-214 (Pool 1)

1x Collection Level 222-474 (Pool 2)

3x Collection Level 486+ (Pool 3)

3x Series 4 Rare – Collection Level 486+ (Pool 4)

1x Starter Card

3.8

Cost

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

3.1

Power

0-
1
2
3
4
5+

That’s a wrap on the Savage Land Season, it’s been quite the journey this month and hope you will continue to join us as we shrink down to explore the Quantum realm next month!

What is your strategy? Let us know in the comments below, or our Discord community! Remember to share your decks using our deck builder or browse our deck database!

Good luck, have fun, and stay safe!