The Premise and Standings
Each week we’ll face off in a best of three series playing a different board game from our collection. The winner claims the moniker of C&C Clash Champ for the week. The loser learns why one is the loneliest number. The lesser player also gets to choose the game for the next week.
We will maintain a record of wins and losses throughout the year to see who finishes 2022 as the ultimate board game champ in our household.
Our current C&C Champion is Chaos after winning last week’s Suspend scuffle.
Pre-Clash Current Standings:
- Weekly Winner: 18 Chaos – 23 Confetti
- Individual game wins: 58 Chaos – 57 Confetti
After losing last week, Confetti has chosen Ultimate Uno.
The Game – Ultimate Uno
Ultimate Uno is a Marvel themed Uno game that adds new rules and dynamics to shake up the traditional game with new goals and paths to victory.
Each player will start with a hand of seven cards, a character card, and an individual character deck. Players will be able to choose a Marvel superhero as their character. The base game comes with Black Panther, Captain Marvel, Iron Man, and Thor, however, more character add-ons have been released. There will also be a communal danger deck built from the danger cards provided by each character deck.
Like traditional Uno, players can win Ultimate Uno by having no cards left in their hand. This will happen by playing cards to the shared discard pile. During their turn, a player can lay down a card that matches the number, color, or action symbol of the previously played card. Wild cards can be used as an automatic match that also lets a player choose a new active color.
If a player does not have a matching card, they may draw from their individual character deck. If they draw a card they can use, they may play it immediately. Otherwise, they will hold onto their new card and pass the turn to the next player.
Ultimate Uno does have another win condition for players to strategize around. Players are eliminated if their character deck ever runs out of cards. So, it is possible for someone to win by being the last player standing. Players can try to speed up their opponents’ demise by forcing them to draw cards or burn them (place them unused in a discard/burn pile specific to that player). This fate can be avoided though through the use of a recovery mechanic.
Burn and recovery can be activated through abilities found in a character’s deck (usually on wild cards) or through a character’s individual ability found on their character card. These may also happen through the result of a danger card.
Danger cards are activated when a player uses a card that has a danger icon on it. When used, they will flip over a danger card which will either be an event or an enemy. Events happen immediately and simply need to be followed out as specified on the card. Enemies stick with a player until either defeated or replaced with another enemy. Enemies will first have an effect when revealed. Then they have a continuous effect that lasts as long as they are in play. This effect will usually limit what kinds of cards a player may use. Each enemy also comes with a “to defeat” condition, which will specify what kind of card needs to be played to have them removed.
Players will continue playing cards, fighting enemies, and affecting both themselves and opponents, until either someone has run out of cards in their hand to win or until all but one player has been eliminated by running out of cards in their character deck.
Oh and don’t forget to say “Uno” when you are down to one card in hand, or an opponent may call you out and force you to draw two more cards.
Chaos’ Pre-Clash Thoughts:
I find adding a splash of Marvel theming makes most things a little better. I can only assume that Uno follows that rule too. Honestly, my track record with Marvel themed games hasn’t been the best during this Clash series, but I don’t think my fate is set in stone. There can be only one, and I will be that “Uno!”
Confetti’s Pre-Clash Thoughts:
I’ve heard good things about Ultimate Uno, so I’m excited that it’s finally hitting the table. Hoping I can break out of this losing streak to help solidify my weekly win victory for this year.
Game 1 –
Despite being a new game, Chaos and Confetti both had a decent enough foundation with Uno that they were able to jump right into Ultimate Uno. Chaos started with Iron Man who is able to burn one card from an opponents’ deck each time he plays a danger card. Confetti brought in Captain Marvel who can change the active color by adding/drawing a card to her hand. Each character attempts to balance a trade off.
Chaos decided to try to lean into the burn mechanic in order to get through Confetti’s deck. This did mean he had to deal with a lot more danger cards. He handled most of the villains with ease, but they definitely were unkind, forcing him to burn and add cards, along with blocking a few plays.
Confetti stuck more to the traditional path of trying to ditch her hand. Her hand was dwindling, but so was her deck. Captain Marvel’s color change ability helped keep her from not being able to play a card, but it also wasn’t the quickest route to winning. On the bright side, the danger deck wasn’t being too cruel to her.
Confetti might have been able to win, but Chaos called her out for ending her turn with only one card and not saying “uno!” That was all Chaos needed to swing the momentum back in his direction. Not too much time later, he burned out Confetti’s deck and took home the first win.
Game 1 Winner: Chaos
Game 2 –
Confetti came into game two very angry. How dare Chaos call her out for not saying “uno?” She would seek revenge using Black Panther and his recovery ability. He can gain back two cards every time he defeats an enemy. Confetti came in swinging with Thor, who burns two cards from an opponent every time he changes the active color.
Having worked the first time, Chaos went the burn route again. Confetti stuck to her hand-emptying plan.
Thor proved to be very powerful, and was blasting away at Confetti’s deck. However, Chaos definitely had to make some questionable decisions in order to keep changing colors. It also didn’t help that he kept coming up against nasty villains who burned away at his deck or prevented him from playing anything but number cards.
Confetti never used Black Panther’s ability because she was never able to beat a villian. They all either got replaced or simply walked away. Yes, one of her danger cards just had her current villian, Baron Zemo, leave. While that seemed like simple dumb luck to Chaos, it turned out to be a minor miracle for Confetti. Zemo blocked wild cards, and by leaving he let Confetti play her unstoppable wild card to win the game. And of course, she made sure to say Uno this time.
Game 2 Winner: Confetti
Game 3 –
For the final game, Chaos decided to give Thor another chance. He knew he could make the massive burn work. Confetti opted for a new character in Iron Man. She wasn’t sure she wanted to utilize his burn much, but it would be good to have the option.
Early on, Confetti fell victim to a string of +2 draw cards and a skip or two. This caused her to be fighting from behind almost immediately. It also didn’t help that Thor’s burn ability was already chipping away at her deck with no mercy.
Chaos could taste victory already, but then a string of tough villains and +2s against him made the final outcome less certain. Confetti closed the gap, and soon it seemed like it could be anyone’s game.
As the battle continued, Chaos pulled back ahead. He knew that his chance to win laid now in doing away with his hand. He found himself proclaiming “uno” several times but not being able to get rid of his final card due to not having a match.
Confetti wrestled with her hand, but was also having trouble getting rid of cards.
Finally, a villain caused chaos to replace his current card with a newly drawn one and that was all he needed to win. The unlikely play of a green reverse card brought the war to an end. Chaos would hold onto the championship for at least one more week.
Game 3 Winner: Chaos
Your Winner and STILL C&C Clash Champion: Chaos!!
Chaos’ Post-Clash Thoughts:
I don’t know how take-that and attack heavy normal Uno feels at two players, but this definitely felt like a constant fight with Confetti. Every play felt like it had so much impact on whether or not I would win. Thankfully, everything came out right in the end. It’s a long road back to contention for actually finishing the year with the most weekly wins, but I’m at least taking the right steps for now.
Confetti’s Post-Clash Thoughts:
Sigh, the cards just didn’t like me this time around. I don’t want Chaos to mount a comeback, so there is a lot riding on next week’s game.
New Standings:
Post-Clash Standings:
- Weekly Winner: 19 Chaos – 23 Confetti
- Individual game wins: 60 Chaos – 58 Confetti
Next Week: Bohnanza
Chaos & Confetti 