Which Expansion

Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game expansions

Base game: 1–5 players30–60 minUpper Deck Entertainment33 expansions checked
  1. #1 overall

    Legendary: Dark City

    Buy this first

    A BGG blog ranks it first of all Legendary expansions as the set that completes the base game. One poster started with the core set, Dark City and Guardians of the Galaxy.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Seventeen new Heroes such as Cable, Daredevil, Professor X and Blade, plus Masterminds like Apocalypse, Mr. Sinister and Kingpin. It has 350 new cards and Special Bystanders.

    Big box1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  2. #2 overall

    Legendary: Civil War

    Worth it

    A BGG blog ranks it second and calls it the biggest game changer. A poster names it a favourite. Its Special Sidekicks and Grievous Wounds work in every game.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Anti-Registration Heroes such as Falcon, Hercules and Tigra, split Hero cards, Pet Avengers Sidekicks and Grievous Wounds. Adds the Phasing, Size-Changing and Fortify keywords.

    Big box1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  3. #3 overall

    Legendary: Guardians of the Galaxy

    Worth it

    A BGG blog ranks it with Into the Cosmos fourth overall. One poster names it a favourite, and another started with the core set, Dark City and this set.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Five new Heroes plus Masterminds like the Kree Supreme Intelligence. A BGG blog says it introduced Shards and Artifacts.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  4. #3 overall

    Legendary: World War Hulk

    Worth it

    Several BGG posters call it a favourite, saying it plays fantastic on its own, with fun Transform and well-balanced Masterminds. Rated 8.42 from 770 ratings.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Planet Hulk and World War Hulk heroes such as Sentry, Hulk (Bruce Banner and Amadeus Cho) and She-Hulk. Commenters highlight the Transform keyword.

    Big box1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  5. #3 overall

    Legendary: X-Men

    Worth it

    A BGG blog ranks it third and warns it is crushingly difficult. A poster names it the big box to get. The blog notes it was between print runs.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A big box of 394 cards with X-Men heroes like Psylocke, Banshee and Beast against their greatest foes. The blog adds Piercing Energy, Heroic Bystanders and traps.

    Big box1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  6. #4 overall

    Legendary: Into the Cosmos

    Worth it

    A BGG blog pairs it with Guardians of the Galaxy at fourth, saying the two go hand in hand. Rated 8.16 from 334 ratings.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A 200-card deluxe set of cosmic heroes like Adam Warlock and Quasar, with new Schemes and keywords. The blog names Burn Shards.

    Big box1–6 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  7. #4 overall

    Legendary: Midnight Sons

    Worth it

    A BGG poster picks it as the small box to get, alongside X-Men for a big box. Rated 8.38 from 128 ratings.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Five Heroes including Morbius, Blade and the Werewolf by Night, with two Masterminds, two Villain groups and four Schemes.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  8. #4 overall

    Legendary: S.H.I.E.L.D.

    Worth it

    A BGG blog ranks it fifth for the Special Officers that work in every game, and a poster agrees. The blog finds its four Heroes and two Masterminds unexciting.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Four S.H.I.E.L.D. Heroes with the Undercover keyword, adapting Masterminds, and Special S.H.I.E.L.D. Officers that you shuffle into the Officer deck.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  9. #5 overall

    Legendary: Fantastic Four

    Depends on your group

    A BGG poster says it plays well and that the Fantastic Four are not optional characters. Best if you want that team, as the theme decides.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Heroes Thing, Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and Silver Surfer, plus Masterminds like Galactus and Mole Man.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  10. #5 overall

    Legendary: Marvel Noir

    Depends on your group

    A BGG poster calls it one of the most fun self-contained thematic sets and also uses its Schemes in other games. Good if the noir theme appeals.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A 100-card small box of gritty Noir-universe Heroes, Villains and Schemes where superpowers are replaced by darker stories.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  11. #5 overall

    Legendary: Messiah Complex

    Worth it

    A BGG poster values its Special Sidekicks because they work in every game. Rated 8.28 from 213 ratings.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A 200-card deluxe set on the Messiah Complex story, with surviving mutant heroes, new Schemes and the return of sidekicks.

    Big box1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  12. #5 overall

    Legendary: Paint the Town Red

    Depends on your group

    A BGG poster calls its Mysterio Mastermind amazingly thematic. It is a small box, so best for Spider-Man fans.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A small box of five Spider-Man Heroes including Black Suit Spider-Man, two Villain groups, two Masterminds including Carnage, and four Schemes.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  13. #5 overall

    Legendary: Weapon X

    Worth it

    A BGG poster values its special wounds because they work in every game. Rated 8.29 from 68 ratings, a small sample.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Four Heroes including Weapon X before he was Wolverine, three Masterminds, two Villain groups and ten Enraging Wounds cards.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  14. #6 overall

    Legendary: Secret Wars, Volume 1

    Depends on your group

    Opinion varies. A blogger dislikes its zombie Masterminds and some keywords, a commenter came to enjoy it, and a poster likes its standard Sidekicks.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Fourteen new Heroes from the Illuminati, Cabal and alternate universes, such as Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Namor and Miles Morales. A poster says it adds standard Sidekicks.

    Big box1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  15. #6 overall

    Legendary: Secret Wars, Volume 2

    Depends on your group

    No dedicated opinions found. Rated 8.05 on BGG from 1314 ratings. A forum poster says the sets are worth playing unless you dislike the theme.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Sixteen new Heroes, six Villain groups, four Masterminds and six Schemes that continue the Secret Wars story.

    Big box1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  16. #7 overall

    Legendary: 2099

    Depends on your group

    No dedicated opinions found. Rated 8.43 on BGG from 98 ratings. A forum poster says the sets are worth playing unless you dislike the theme.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Five Heroes including Spider-Man 2099, Ghost Rider 2099 and Doom 2099, with two Masterminds, two Villain groups and four Schemes.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  17. #7 overall

    Legendary: Annihilation

    Depends on your group

    No dedicated opinions found. Rated 8.08 on BGG from 243 ratings. A forum poster says the sets are worth playing unless you dislike the theme.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Annihilus, Lord of the Negative Zone, with heroes and villains banding together, such as the Fantastic Four with Galactus and his Heralds.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  18. #7 overall

    Legendary: Ant-Man

    Depends on your group

    No dedicated opinions found. Rated 8.02 on BGG from 587 ratings. A forum poster says the sets are worth playing unless you dislike the theme.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A set built around Ant-Man, the Wasp and the Microverse, with new Heroes, Villains, Masterminds and Schemes.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  19. #7 overall

    Legendary: Black Panther

    Depends on your group

    No dedicated opinions found. Rated 8.22 on BGG from 163 ratings. A forum poster says the sets are worth playing unless you dislike the theme.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Five Heroes including Black Panther and Storm, with two Masterminds and two Villain groups, themed on Wakanda.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  20. #7 overall

    Legendary: Black Widow

    Depends on your group

    No dedicated opinions found. Rated 8.21 on BGG from 161 ratings. A forum poster says the sets are worth playing unless you dislike the theme.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Five Heroes including Black Widow, Red Guardian, Winter Soldier and White Tiger, with two Masterminds and two Villain groups.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  21. #7 overall

    Legendary: Captain America 75th Anniversary

    Depends on your group

    No dedicated opinions found. Rated 7.88 on BGG from 1358 ratings. A forum poster says the sets are worth playing unless you dislike the theme.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A 100-card small box built around Captain America and the comrades who took up his mantle.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  22. #7 overall

    Legendary: Champions

    Depends on your group

    No dedicated opinions found. Rated 7.87 on BGG from 619 ratings. A forum poster says the sets are worth playing unless you dislike the theme.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A 100-card small box of new Heroes, Schemes, Villains and Masterminds themed on the Champions team after Civil War II.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  23. #7 overall

    Legendary: Dimensions

    Depends on your group

    No dedicated opinions found. Rated 7.76 on BGG from 452 ratings. A forum poster says the sets are worth playing unless you dislike the theme.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A ragtag group of heroes including America Chavez, Man-Thing and Jessica Jones, who cross dimensional barriers to warn of peril.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  24. #7 overall

    Legendary: Doctor Strange and the Shadows of Nightmare

    Depends on your group

    No dedicated opinions found. Rated 8.12 on BGG from 204 ratings. A forum poster says the sets are worth playing unless you dislike the theme.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Nightmare and his dream-dimension threats, with Doctor Strange and other heroes to power up your deck.

    Expansion1–6 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  25. #7 overall

    Legendary: Heroes of Asgard

    Depends on your group

    No dedicated opinions found. Rated 8.08 on BGG from 426 ratings. A forum poster says the sets are worth playing unless you dislike the theme.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Asgardians such as Thor and Sif defending Earth from ancient threats, with new villains from the followers of Malekith and Hela.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  26. #7 overall

    Legendary: Realm of Kings

    Depends on your group

    A BGG poster says that if you do not like the Inhumans you will probably not like this set. Rated 7.98 from 246 ratings.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: The Inhuman Royal Family led by Black Bolt, fighting mutinous family members and cosmic conquerors like the Shi'ar Empire.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  27. #7 overall

    Legendary: The New Mutants

    Depends on your group

    No dedicated opinions found. Rated 8.09 on BGG from 338 ratings. A forum poster says the sets are worth playing unless you dislike the theme.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: The New Mutants team of young heroes, facing Masterminds like Belasco and his Demons of Limbo.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  28. #7 overall

    Legendary: Venom

    Depends on your group

    No dedicated opinions found. Rated 7.9 on BGG from 522 ratings. A forum poster says the sets are worth playing unless you dislike the theme.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Five Heroes, two Villain groups, two Masterminds and four Schemes, with poisoned and venomized heroes and villains. Excessive Violence returns.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  29. #8 overall

    Legendary: Marvel Studios Ant-Man and the Wasp

    Depends on your group

    A forum poster rarely returns to the MCU sets and finds mixing comic art with movie stills jarring. Rated 7.75 on BGG from 57 ratings.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A 200-card set covering all three Ant-Man films, with Yellowjacket, Ghost and Kang as foes and the new Heist keyword.

    Big box1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  30. #8 overall

    Legendary: Marvel Studios The Infinity Saga

    Depends on your group

    A forum poster rarely returns to the MCU sets and finds mixing comic art with movie stills jarring. Rated 7.93 on BGG from 82 ratings.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: New Heroes, Masterminds, Villain groups and Schemes against Thanos and the Black Order, with images from the Infinity Saga films.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  31. #9 overall

    Legendary: Deadpool

    Most groups can skip

    It is the one expansion a BGG poster dislikes, and another finds its half points and Excessive Violence underpowered and awkward. A third likes it despite the half numbers.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A 100-card small box with five Heroes, two Villain groups, two Masterminds and four Schemes. Its gimmicks are half-point values and Excessive Violence.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon
  32. #9 overall

    Legendary: Marvel Studios Guardians of the Galaxy

    Most groups can skip

    It overlaps the comic Guardians set. A forum poster rarely returns to the MCU sets and finds the comic art and movie stills mix jarring. Rated 7.84 from 101 ratings.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: An MCU version with characters from the first two Guardians of the Galaxy films, facing threats like Ronan the Accuser.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek
  33. #9 overall

    Legendary: Marvel Studios Spider-Man: Homecoming

    Most groups can skip

    The lowest rated set here, 7.0 from 462 ratings. One poster finds Coordinate interesting but rarely returns to the MCU sets. Buy it for the movie theme.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A movie-art set with five Heroes, two double-sided Masterminds, two Villain groups and four Schemes. A poster says it is the only Marvel set with the Coordinate keyword.

    Expansion1–5 players
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeek

Need the base game?

Reference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Amazon

Stuck between two?

Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game expansions: quick answers

Which Legendary: A Marvel Deck Building Game expansion should I buy first?

Legendary: Dark City. A BGG blog ranks it first of all Legendary expansions as the set that completes the base game. One poster started with the core set, Dark City and Guardians of the Galaxy.

Is Legendary: Dark City worth it?

Our verdict: buy this first. It adds: Seventeen new Heroes such as Cable, Daredevil, Professor X and Blade, plus Masterminds like Apocalypse, Mr. Sinister and Kingpin. It has 350 new cards and Special Bystanders.

Legendary: Dark City or Legendary: Civil War: which first?

We’d buy Legendary: Dark City first. See the side-by-side comparison for what each adds and needs.

Other games’ expansion guides

Rankings are our editorial picks, built from the reviews linked on each expansion page. Last checked 2026-10-15.