SAMPLE DECKS

COMPETITIVE BASIC DECK BY KEVIN

POWERFUL BASIC DECK BY KEVIN

POOR MAN'S ADVANCED DECK REVISED BY KEVIN

ANDY GRAUMANN'S SCRYE ADVANCED DECK

THE X MARKS THE SPOT ADVANCED DECK

COMPETITIVE BASIC DECK BY KEVIN

I created this deck for the 2021 Virtual Basic Demos & Games, based off of my old reliable Powerful Basic Deck listed below. A few different strategies are used to give beginners a variety. The four Agents combined have at least a value of 4 in every skill used in the game. The sites are broken into 3 skills: Subterfuge, Bureaucracy and Alien Investigation. Samantha Mulder is a Resource so all four of her combined can handle a Subterfuge site as long as one Agent is with them. The Erlenmeyer Flask can be used to negate any card played against 2/3's of your Sites. The 5 Adversaries can attack just about any Site. This sample deck has the bare minimum of 60 cards.

2021 UPDATE: My misinterpretation of the Samantha Mulder card text has been brought to light, and only 2 of this card are allowed in a deck - so the strategy of having the four Samanthas to work a site with any supporting agent is no longer valid. This deck needs to be modified before making it rule friendly, sorry.

Type Of Card	Resource	Conspiracy	Both
Sites	12	0	0
Building Points	0	0	0
Healing	1	0	0
Negate Card	8	7	0
Change Skill	4	2	2
Move	1	6	0
Adversary	0	5	0
Add/Subtract Cards	2	6	2
Question	0	2	0
TOTAL	28	28	4

Agent
169v1 - Agent Fox Mulder
173v1 - Agent Dana Scully
175v1 - Dr. Charles Burk
180v1 - Assistant Director Walter Skinner

Site
(2x) 085v2 - Skyland Mountain, VA
053v2 - Cumberland Prison, VA
380v2 - Women's Health Clinic, MD
(2x) 468x1 - Braddock Heights, MD
045v2 - Ellens Air Base, ID
068v2 - Mattawa, WA
(2x) 471x1 - Miller's Grove, MA
046v2 - Coastal Northwest, OR
049v2 - Lake Okobogee, IA

Witness
~~(4x) 203v1 - Samantha Mulder~~

Event
(2x) 264v1 - The Erlenmeyer Flask
(2x) 004-GCon - No One So Paranoid
(2x) 240v1 - Surfing the Net
304v1 - Frohike
279v2 - Application for FBI Resources Approved
464x1 - White Buffalo
003-GAM - Alien Technology
303v2 - Evasive Maneuvers
(2x) 234v1 - Red Tape
(2x) 290v1 - Alien Experimentation
(2x) 284v1 - Counterintelligence Measures
(2x) 257v1 - Unexplainable Time Loss
223v1 - Shutting Down the X-files
999-DNY - Deny Everything
(2x) 005-INQ - Mulligan
(2x) 006-SC5 - Smoke & Mirrors

Equipment
437x1 - Queequeg

Adversary
(2x) 393x1 - The List
(2x) 357v2 - Leonard
391x1 - Simon Gates AKA Ferreau

Bluff
(2x) 104v1 - Laser Barrier
(2x) 363v2 - Injured Relative
(2x) 090v1 - Section Chief Joseph McGrath
(2x) 413x1 - Heads Up
(2x) 420x1 - This is not Happening
417x1 - Oubliette
099v2 - The Conundrum
111v2 - Puzzles Within Puzzles

POWERFUL BASIC DECK BY KEVIN

This is my older and strongest basic deck, showing that the most desired cards (like ultra-rares & promos) definitely rule the basic version of the game. The four Agents combined have at least a value of 4 in every skill used in the game. The Sites have a variety of skills, one-third unaffected by Eliminating the Source. The Erlenmeyer Flask can be used to negate any card played against half of your Sites. The 6 Adversaries can attack just about any Site. 6 Events & 1 Witness can get you some extra questions answered, so play those wisely, as the basic game is only one Site per turn - save Alien Autopsy Video for Message from the Stars if needed. This sample deck has the bare minimum of 60 cards.

Type Of Card	Resource	Conspiracy	Both
Sites	12	0	0
Building Points	0	0	0
Healing	2	0	0
Negate Card	7	4	0
Change Skill	2	6	2
Move	0	8	0
Adversary	0	6	0
Add/Subtract Cards	2	2	2
Question	3	2	0
TOTAL	28	28	4

Agent
169v1 - Agent Fox Mulder
173v1 - Agent Dana Scully
175v1 - Dr. Charles Burk
180v1 - Assistant Director Walter Skinner

Site
071v1 - Psychiatric Hospital, VA
055v1 - Northeast Georgetown Medical, DC
061v1 - University of Maryland, MD
381v2 - Tracking the Killer
050v1 - Newark, NJ
473x1 - Strikers Cove, Heuvalman's Lake, GA
468x1 - Braddock Heights, MD
045v1 - Ellens Air Base, ID
068v1 - Mattawa, WA
471x1 - Miller's Grove, MA
046v1 - Coastal Northwest, OR
049v1 - Lake Okobogee, IA

Witness
382v2 - Mrs. Mulder

Event
(2x) 006-SC5 - Smoke & Mirrors
(2x) 005-INQ - Mulligan
(2x) 222v1 - Deep Throat
247v1 - Message from the Stars
005-GMR - Chester Bonaparte, The Spirit Guide
236v1 - Fingerprints
293v1 - X
(2x) 464x1 - White Buffalo
(2x) 240v1 - Surfing the Net
(2x) 004-GCon - No One So Paranoid
(2x) 264v1 - The Erlenmeyer Flask
(2x) 284v1 - Counterintelligence Measures
(2x) 999-DNY - Deny Everything
(2x) 257v1 - Unexplainable Time Loss
234v1 - Red Tape
262v1 - Computer Access Denied
001-BBB - Believe the Lie
(2x) 002-BBB - Infected that you Might Believe
450x1 - Eliminating the Source

Equipment
424x1 - Alien Autopsy Video

Adversary
(2x) 393x1 - The List
(2x) 357v2 - Leonard
(2x) 355v2 - John Barnett Links you to Mulder

Bluff
(2x) 104v1 - Laser Barrier
(2x) 417x1 - Oubliette
(2x) 363v2 - Injured Relative
(2x) 090v1 - Section Chief Joseph McGrath
(2x) 003-BBB - A Final Choice

POOR MAN'S ADVANCED DECK REVISED BY KEVIN

Below is the first sample deck I have submitted. It can be considered the "poor man's" advanced deck. The deck consists of only common and uncommon cards; the two promos used are considered to be uncommon. No ultra-rares or rares. This is a very competitive deck in which I beat 1 person and lost to another after 2 hours - both of their decks had the usual rares and ultra-rares: Clyde Bruckman, Oubliette, Deep Throat, X, Shotgun, etc.

So you ask, how can this deck compete? Well, stick with the fundamentals of the game. You need sites and only a few cards to help you when it is your turn. When it is your opponent's turn, you need cards to stop them and a way to build points. Other than this, most cards are not needed. Never inflate your deck with too many cards. This sample deck has the bare minimum of 60 cards.

The Agent teams are:

Kosseff & Nemhauser for Behavioral

Hosteen for Occult Investigation

White, Colton, Kreski & Lamana for Criminal Investigation

Hosteen's ability is to look at the opponent's hand and pick a card that can get you a free question. Make sure this gets used early in the game. Lamana has a similar ability. Colton & Kosseff can help pay for Sites.

With the 3 healing cards, you should be able to withstand Adversary attacks. Use Langly sparingly only against very rough cards like A Final Choice, Oubliette, Explosion and so forth. Use Mulligan when you need cards and have enough points to spare; in the long run this card saves points. Equipment cards are to be discarded for Conspiracy points. Points should never be a problem since the Agents combined give 7 Resource and no card costs more than 3 (except the 14 Bluffs which can cost more if needed but rarely cost more than 3). Use the Adversary against a weak opposing Agent. Try to use Driving when you have two Criminal Investigation sites that are in the state of PA. And finally, get rid of cards as fast as possible - the faster you get rid of them, the faster you will reshuffle your deck and get them back.

My earlier version of this deck used Agent Janus instead of White and Kreski. Computer was a site skill instead of Criminal Investigation. Agent Nemhauser did not have a permanent partner. Janus's ability to heal was found to be useless against most decks. Some sites were changed. Added Driving, Rejuvenating Caves, another First Aid and another Teamwork. Removed Successful Diagnosis, Run for it!, Dried Frog and one Laptop Computer.

2021 UPDATE (OPTIONAL): To make this a better competing deck, I broke my golden rule of only allowing a bureau deck to be 60 cards - I added another Medical Treatment, plus two Detective Miles and two Sinus Cavity Implants. I might eventually remove a First Aid, Travel Arrangements, and 3 other Bluffs to get it back to 60 - trial & error at this point.

Type Of Card	Resource	Conspiracy	Both
Sites	16	0	0
Building Points	4	6	0
Healing	3	0	0
Negate Card	2	0	0
Change Skill	2	22	0
Move	2	0	0
Adversary	0	1	0
Add/Subtract Cards	0	0	2
Question	0	0	0
TOTAL	29	29	2

Agent
399x1 - Agent Kreski
401x1 - Detective Angela White
182v1 - Agent Jerry Lamana
183v1 - Agent Karen Kosseff, Counselor
176v1 - Agent Tom Colton
161v1 - Albert Hosteen
398x1 - Agent Fred Nemhauser

Site
078v2 - Minneapolis, MN
043v2 - Excelsius Dei Convalescent Home, Worcester, MA
(2x) 044v2 - Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
(2x) 079v2 - Franklin, PA
470x1 - Jerusalem, Ohio
(2x) 083v2 - Browning, MT
(2x) 048v2 - Arlington, VA
(2x) 063v1 - Aubrey, MO
467x1 - Mostow's Studio, Washington, D.C.
(2x) 073v1 - Marion, VA

Event
(2x) 007-SUR - Teamwork
(2x) 249v1 - Reading the Signs
228v1 - Medical Treatment
(2x) 254v1 - Langly
(2x) 272v1 - Fingernail Scrapings
300v2 - Travel Arrangements
287v2 - Driving
289v1 - Rejuvenating Caves
(2x) 005-INQ - Mulligan

Combat
(2x) 002v1 - First Aid

Equipment
(2x) 323v1 - Walther PPK 7.65 Hold Out Weapon
311v1 - Laptop Computer
(2x) 319v1 - High-Powered Flashlight

Adversary
343v1 - Squeeze

Bluff
(2x) 093v1 - Dr. Berube
(2x) 097v1 - Holtzman, D.S.A.
(2x) 100v1 - Paul Mossinger
(2x) 094v1 - The Overcoat Man
(2x) 112v1 - Government Cover-Up
(2x) 098v1 - Claude Peterson
(2x) 091v1 - Cigarette Butts
(2x) 116v1 - Detective Thompson
(2x) 089v1 - Peter Tanaka
(2x) 092v1 - Sheriff Daniels
(2x) 107v1 - Radioactive Area

ANDY GRAUMANN'S SCRYE ADVANCED DECK

This is a 60-card deck made entirely from Common X-Files cards. It was created by the NXT Games design group who found it to be very competitive in their playtests. (Note: The Agent cards do not count against the 60-card deck total.)
This deck is designed so that the Agents can, in pairs, investigate more than one Site per turn. Scully and Spiller have the skills to investigate Sites with the Prerequisite "Medical" or "Sciences." Hosteen and Burk have the skills to investigate Sites with the Prerequisite "Occult Investigation" or "Computer."

UPDATE: It seems like this deck used some playtest or prototype cards - see cards in red below.

Agent Cards
Dana Scully
Nancy Spiller
Albert Hosteen
Dr. Charles Burk

Site Cards
2x Genetics Clinic, Marin County, CA
2x Gibsonton, FL
2x Scully's Dream, Georgetown, DC
2x Cape Cod, MA
2x Mt. Avalon, WA
2x Browning, MT
Arlington, VA
2x Laboratory, Colson, WA
Psychiatric Hospital, Richmond, VA
2x Containment Facility, Georgetown, MD

Adversary Cards
The Mechanic
Slithers In The Night
2x Pvt. McAlpin, Zombie
2x Terrorist Attack
2x Hunter In The Dark

Bluff Cards
Cigarette Butts
Claude Peterson
Dr. Berube
Holtzman, D.S.A.
The Overcoat Man
Paul Mossinger
Rail Car Network
Car Troubles
Laser Barrier
Nasty Surprise
Poisonous Gasses
Radioactive Area
Sinus Cavity Implant

Combat Cards
Ambush
First Aid
Run For It
Take Cover

Equipment Cards
Binoculars
Electron Emission Microscope
Gas Chromatograph
Hi-Res Camera
Glock 19 Semi-Automatic
Mini-14 Assault Rifle
Walther PPK 7.65 Holdout
Kevlar Vest

Event Cards
Hard Evidence
Langly
Relentless Pursuit
Travel Arrangements

Witness Cards
Byers
Doug Spinney
Dr. Hodge
Gerd Thomas
Maggie Holvey

THE X MARKS THE SPOT ADVANCED DECK
(origins unknown - this may have come from one of the gaming magazines of the 1990's)

This is a basic X-Files deck comprised of mostly common cards. The card mix is well-balanced among the various aspects of the game. A little Criminal Investigation here, a little Evidence Collection there-the four starting agents are more than adequate to handle the job. In fact, in most cases, you'll only need two to uncover the secrets behind the sites in the deck. With a little luck, you'll be able to investigate two sites a turn, wrapping up the case quickly and efficiently. The offensive end of this deck is similarly well-balanced. You never know where your opponent is going to go, so there's an adversary for everything. Just stopping your opponent a couple of times should give you the advantage you need.

Surprised to see Fox Mulder in the deck instead of as a starting agent? Well, besides the fact that using Mulder is so cliche, his broad range of abilities is balanced by the disadvantage that you can only use the resources he provides to buy cards. When played as a one-shot, Mulder will help you solve just about any case, and he doesn't take away space from the rest of your starting line-up.

Hard Evidence. You'll have a difficult time playing cards like Fox Mulder if you don't have enough RP lying around, so be sure to stock up on resources with the handy-dandy event Hard Evidence.

Relentless Pursuit. Speaking of hard, it's awfully hard for your opponent to do anything when he can't draw cards, and Relentless Pursuit is a great way to stop him from doing just that. Chuck just one high RP card (like Mulder!) to thwart your opponent's nefarious schemes.

Travel Arrangements. You never know when your opponent is going to put a crimp in your plans by springing some nasty surprise on one of your teams of agents. If a mysterious beastie knocks one of your agents out of commission, send one of your other agents over after the battle to make sure that skill check succeeds. Forget the wounded agent-the investigation must go on!

Agents (Starting)
Albert Hosteen
Alex Krycek
Assistant Director Walter Skinner
Section Chief Scott Blevins

Agents (in the deck)
Fox Mulder
Lt. Brian Tillman, Aubry Police Department

Adversaries
2x Hunter In The Dark
Mechanic, The
Psychotic Attack, The
2x Pvt. McAlpin, Zombie
Slithers In The Night

Bluffs
Car Troubles
Cigarette Butts
Claude Peterson
Dr. Berube
Government Cover-up
Holtzman, D.S.A.
Paul Mossinger
Radioactive Area

Combats
Ambush
2x First Aid
Running Gun Battle

Equipment
Geiger Counter
Glock 19 Semi-Automatic Pistol
Government Car
Hi-Res Camera
Knife
Wire Tap

Events
2x Hard Evidence
I Want To Believe
2x Langly
2x Medical Treatment
Rejuvenating Caves
2x Relentless Pursuit
2x Travel Arrangements

Sites
Broadstreet, Philadelphia, PA
2x Browning, MT
2x Cumberland Prison, VA
2x Coastal Northwest, Oregon
2x Franklin, PA
Icy Cape, AK
2x Lake Okobogee, Campsite #53, Sioux City, IA
2x Mattawa, WA
Newark, N.J.
Olympic National Forest, WA

Witnesses
Billy Miles
Maggie Holvey
Sheriff Spencer
Sir Malcolm Marsden
U.S. Marshall Tapia

......