Judoka Skill? More like Grootoka Skill!

His Divine Majesty King Groot the 23rd, Monarch of Planet X, custodian of the branch worlds, ruler of all the shades is here to provide all of the Judoka Skills without actually running the Judoka Skill card.

I struggle to enjoy playing Protection, and it took me a dozen different attempts to make something that agrees with my play style. This is a thematic deck, I do my best to only play Guardian allies. Groot is the master of defending, if you manage to get him into play early you are gonna be laughing at the villain's feeble attempts to harm you.

This deck likes to flip. Conditioning room is fantastic here. It is one cost but I'll build support it turn one if I draw build support and no conditioning room. I played against all of the villains from Fear No Evil, they have comfortable schemes so you will usually be able to go alter ego quite a bit if you keep the main scheme in check. Don't even worry about Electro's Electric Charge, or Bullseye with his nasty attacks. Groot has you covered.

The basic premise is to get your defense to 3 turn one (I don't play armored vest every game if it doesn't feel necessary), play Groot, and then just be Gamora. Her kit is strong enough that you don't need great events added in to take care of anything. Drop Kick is what I usually use as an added event, after you are set up the 3 fists are not hard to pay for and it gives card draw. If the villain can't be stunned sub it out as you wish. Tackle (or really any Protection attack event)is actually ok to sub in too because you can Defensive Training to shuffle it back into the deck.

Between Ops Room and Stronger Together Groot will not be getting hurt very much, and if you get set up you can keep shuffling Stronger Together back for another use. Don't disregard Crosscounter, use it when you want to give Groot a break or just to chip away at something in the villain phase with Precision and Finesse.

Remember that you can heal Groot. If you reduce the incoming damage to zero he will still heal 2. Many games he will end with full health.

Also don't underestimate Drax or Martinex if you haven't drawn Groot yet. They can easily survive if you draw into either defense card.

It took a different way of playing Protection for me to enjoy it and I hope you like it too.