There are two types of Alternate heroes: Clones and Variants.

What is a Clone?

Clones are two (or more) characters that are considered to be the same when setting up a Team or Battlesite. They may have a different grid or Inherent Ability, but play the same special cards. Most clones are easy to spot. They have the original Character's name, but also a second 'identity' preceeded by a colon. For example, Havok: Mutant X is a Clone of Havok. Havok: Mutant X is considered to be the Mutant X version of Havok. Additionally, all non-IQ characters are clone of their IQ counterparts and all of the Onslaught Characters are clones of their reprints.

[EXCEPTIONS: X-Men: The Original Team is actually a variant of Professor X; Shang-Chi: Master of Kung Fu is an original character; Storm: Neutralized is both a Clone of Storm and Storm: Bloodstorm, and a Variant of The Morlocks; Daemonite Voodoo is a clone of Voodoo]

How can I play a Clone?

There are a few simple rules regarding clones:

• Clones may never be used on the same team as the original character.
  EXAMPLE: Havok and Havok: Mutant X may never be played on the same team.
• Clone heroes may be used interchangeably on homebases, as long as the original character is not on the team.
  EXAMPLE: Either Havok or Havok: Mutant X may be played on an X-World Homebase Team, but they may never be played together.
• Clones may be used as activators for the original character's cards.
  EXAMPLE: Havok or Havok: Mutant X may be used to retrieve Havok specials from under an X-World Battlesite.
  EXCEPTION: Storm: Neutralized may play both Storm and Morlocks specials from under a Battlesite, because of her inherent ability. Check out her special ruling.
• Clone Activators duplicate with their Original Character when in the hand.
  EXAMPLE: Havok and Havok: Mutant X cards are both drawn in one hand. One must be discarded unless an Event or Special Card is in play which allows duplicates to be held.
• The total number of Activator cards used must equal the number of cards they can draw from the Battlesite.
  EXAMPLE: There are four Havok specials underneath the X-World Battlesite. The total number of Havok and Havok: Mutant X Activators must be four. There can be two of each, one Havok and three Havok: Mutant X's, four Havok's and no Havok: Mutant X's or vice versa.

The other type of alternate is called a Variant.

What is a Variant Character?

Variant Characters are completely different characters from their original. They have different grids, names and Inherent Abilities. They are easy to spot because they have Inherent Abilities which allow them to use their original characters specials, and they have no specials of their own. For example, Dark Beast is a Variant of Beast because he has an Inherent ability that allows him to play Beast specials.

[EXCEPTIONS: Wolverine: The Golden Age is a Clone of Wolverine; Daemonite Voodoo is a Clone of Voodoo]

How do I play a Variant Character?

• Variant Characters may be played on the same team as their original.
  EXAMPLE: Dark Beast and Beast may be played on the same team.
• Variant Characters may not be substituted for its original Character on a Homebase Team, and vice versa. It should be noted that several Variant Characters are listed on Homebases.
  EXAMPLE: Dark Beast may not be played on 'Ship' Homebase Team, and Beast may not be played on an Onslaught's Citadel Homebase Team.
  EXCEPTIONS: Inhumans and Crystal are both listed on the Blue Area of the Moon Homebase, therefore they can be played together on a Blue Area of the Moon Homebase Team. Likewise, Storm and Morlocks are listed on the Morlock Tunnels Homebase, therefore Morlocks and Storm: Neutralized can be played together on the same team. See also the special ruling for Storm: Neutralized
• Variant characters may not be substituted for their originals to be used as Activators, and vice versa.
  EXAMPLE: Dark Beast cannot be used to retrieve Beast specials under a 'Ship' Battlesite, and Beast cannot be used to retrieve his specials from under an Onslaught's Citadel Site.
  EXCEPTIONS: Beyonder can be used in any deck to retrieve a non-OPD special from beneath a Battlesite. See also the previous exceptions.
• Characters may use Battlesites that their Variants appear on.
  EXAMPLE: A team with Beast on it may use Onslaught's Citadel or Morlock Tunnels as their Battlesite.
• If Character on the Team has its Variant Character on its Battlesite, none of that Character's specials may be under the battlesite. In other words, cards that can be put into the deck may not be put under the Battlesite.
  EXAMPLE: If Beast is on the player's team and Onslaught's Citadel is used as a Battlesite, no Beast specials may be underneath the Battlesite.

Last Updated 4/10/99

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