JustBeginning
Beginner's guide

So you're getting into Marvel Crisis Protocol

Marvel Crisis Protocol puts your favorite Marvel heroes and villains on the table as beautifully detailed miniatures with fast, tactical dice gameplay. The core set ($100-120) includes everything two players need to start. Here's what to buy first, what can wait, and how to get your minis painted without spending a week on each one.

By Colin B. · Published June 10, 2026 · Last reviewed June 10, 2026
two men sitting at a table playing a board game

Photo by 2H Media on Unsplash

The 60-second version

If you only buy 3 things to start:

  1. Marvel: Crisis Protocol Earth's Mightiest Core Set — The only box you need to start. Ten characters, terrain, dice, tokens, and the complete rules.
  2. Marvel: Crisis Protocol Avengers Affiliation Pack — The Avengers Affiliation Pack: four iconic heroes plus the official affiliation card for an instant team.
  3. The Army Painter Speedpaint 2.0 Starter Paint Set — Speed paints designed for miniatures. Painted models on the table in 30-45 minutes each.
Budget total
$100
Typical total
$175
The core set is your main spend at $100-120. Add a character pack or two plus a basic paint kit and you're fully equipped for under $200.

We earn commission on qualifying Amazon purchases — see our affiliate disclosure. Price tiers and budget totals shown above are editorial estimates; actual Amazon prices vary.

At a glance

Our top pick in each category

The fastest path through this guide — each best-starter pick by category. Scroll for the budget and upgrade alternatives.

CategoryTop pickPriceWhere to buy
Core SetAtomic Mass GamesMarvel: Crisis Protocol Earth's Mightiest Core Set$$$ See on Amazon →
Character PacksAtomic Mass GamesMarvel: Crisis Protocol Avengers Affiliation Pack$$$ See on Amazon →
TerrainAtomic Mass GamesMarvel: Crisis Protocol NYC Construction Site Terrain Pack$$ See on Amazon →
PaintsThe Army PainterThe Army Painter Speedpaint 2.0 Starter Paint Set$$ See on Amazon →
ToolsThe Army PainterThe Army Painter Color Primer Spray, Uniform Grey$ See on Amazon →
Before you buy anything

A few things worth knowing first

The core set is not optional. Character packs are add-ons; they don't include the rulebook, terrain, crisis cards, or tokens. You need the core set first.

MCP is a game about rosters, not just individual characters. You build a 10-point roster and then secretly pick a 5-threat team for each game. Buy characters you actually want to play, not just whoever seems strongest online.

Painted or unpainted, the game plays the same. Most players paint eventually because the minis are gorgeous and painting is a genuine hobby within the hobby. But you can play bare gray plastic the day the box arrives.

The gear

What you actually need

Core Set

The Marvel Crisis Protocol Core Set is the only required purchase. It includes ten unpainted miniatures across two squads, pre-cut terrain, crisis cards that define each game's objectives, character cards, custom dice, tokens, and the complete rulebook. Do not try to enter MCP by buying only character packs; those add characters but contain none of the game infrastructure you need to play. Buy the core set first, learn the game with those ten characters, and expand from there.

Core Set — what's the difference?

A few common shapes, each making a different trade.

Play Unpainted

Buy the core set and play immediately with bare gray plastic minis.

Extra cost
$0
Ready to play
Same day
Look
Gray plastic

Best for Testing if MCP is for you before committing to the painting hobby

Tradeoff Hard to tell characters apart on the table; most players regret skipping primer

Speed Paint

Prime gray, apply one-step speed paints, done. About 30-45 minutes per mini.

Extra cost
$25-35
Time per mini
30-45 min
Result
Table-ready

Best for Most beginners wanting painted minis without a large time investment

Tradeoff Less precision than traditional painting; colors follow the paint's base tone

↓ See our pick
Full Paint Job

Base coat, wash, drybrush, highlights. 2-4 hours per mini, serious results.

Extra cost
$60-80
Time per mini
2-4 hours
Result
Display quality

Best for Miniature painting enthusiasts who want to develop a real skill alongside the game

Tradeoff Significant time investment; first characters may take weeks to reach the table

↓ See our pick
Best starter
Atomic Mass Games

Marvel: Crisis Protocol Earth's Mightiest Core Set

$$$

This is the game. The core set comes with everything for two players to sit down and play: ten pre-assembled unpainted minis, 3D terrain, crisis cards, character cards, dice, tokens, and the full rulebook. Atomic Mass Games updates MCP through card packs and rules errata, so your core box stays valid indefinitely. No other purchase is required to play a complete game.

What we like

  • Complete two-player game in one box, no extra purchases required
  • Ten characters across two affiliations, enough variety to learn every rule
  • Pre-assembled minis; no clippers or build session required

What to know

  • Pricey upfront at $100-120; character packs add up quickly after
  • Ten characters feel thin after a few sessions once you want variety
Find on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Battle Systems

Battle Systems Terrain Frontier Game Mat (3x3 ft)

$$

MCP is played on a 3x3 or 4x4 foot surface. Any flat table works, but a neoprene mat prevents terrain from sliding and visually grounds the game. A pre-printed city or urban design fits MCP's street-level aesthetic perfectly. Buy this once you know the game is sticking.

What we like

  • Non-slip neoprene keeps terrain pieces from shifting mid-game
  • Pre-printed art dramatically improves table presentation

What to know

  • Not required for your first games; any flat surface works fine
  • Rolls up for storage but creases without a proper tube
See on Amazon →

Character Packs

Character packs ($25-40 each) add two miniatures and their character cards to your roster. After a few games with the core set, you'll want your favorite Marvel characters. The game rewards player investment in the IP, so buy who you care about. The picks here balance iconic status with beginner-friendly playstyles and strong affiliation synergies.

Best starter
Atomic Mass Games

Marvel: Crisis Protocol Avengers Affiliation Pack

$$$

The Avengers Affiliation Pack delivers four of Marvel's most iconic characters plus the official Avengers affiliation card, so you can immediately run a complete Avengers squad. Captain America, Iron Man, Captain Marvel, and Black Widow all play distinctly, each teaching a different core MCP mechanic. The best single first purchase for any Avengers fan.

What we like

  • Four iconic Avengers including Cap, Iron Man, Captain Marvel, and Black Widow
  • Includes the official affiliation card to run a legal Avengers squad immediately
  • Each character plays distinctly, teaching multiple MCP mechanics at once

What to know

  • Bigger upfront spend than a single 2-character pack at $50+
  • Cap's slower playstyle frustrates players who prefer aggressive tactics
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Atomic Mass Games

Marvel Crisis Protocol: Black Panther & Killmonger

$$

The Wakanda affiliation is a fan favorite for good reason: both characters are aggressive, thematic, and visually striking. Killmonger is a tournament-level piece. If you're drawn to Wakanda, this pack opens that path and is one of the best values in the game for what you get both thematically and competitively.

What we like

  • Killmonger is a genuine top-tier competitive piece, not just thematic
  • Wakanda affiliation has strong synergy and a devoted player community

What to know

  • Aggressive playstyle punishes positioning mistakes you'll make early
  • Wakanda needs 4-5 characters to run optimally; one pack isn't enough
Find on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
Atomic Mass Games

Marvel Crisis Protocol: Thor & Valkyrie

$$

Thor is one of the strongest individual characters in the game and anchors the Asgard affiliation, among the most competitive factions. Valkyrie adds disruption and board control. If you want to build toward organized play or local tournaments, Asgard is a sound investment. Buy this after 10-15 games when you know you're committed.

What we like

  • Thor is one of the highest-rated individual characters in the current meta
  • Asgard affiliation is a top-tier choice for competitive and organized play

What to know

  • Asgard requires significant further investment to field a full roster
  • Thor costs 5 threat in-game, making him hard to fit in smaller squads
Find on Amazon →

Terrain

The core set includes functional terrain, but MCP plays significantly better with more of it. Full terrain coverage means characters use cover, line-of-sight rules actually matter, and the table looks like a Marvel street fight. Official Atomic Mass Games terrain includes the terrain cards used in competitive play. Budget players can start with core terrain and add pieces over time without impacting casual gameplay.

Best starter
Atomic Mass Games

Marvel: Crisis Protocol NYC Construction Site Terrain Pack

$$

Official AMG terrain that adds 3D buildings, barriers, and scatter pieces for a proper MCP table. The NYC Construction Site pack is a longtime player favorite for its gritty street-level aesthetic that fits Marvel's Hell's Kitchen battles. Includes terrain cards for tournament-legal setup. Buy official terrain if you plan to play at local game stores or any organized event.

What we like

  • Official terrain matches MCP aesthetic and competitive ruleset exactly
  • Includes terrain cards required for organized play scenario setup

What to know

  • Expensive per piece compared to third-party terrain alternatives
  • Multiple packs required for a full table; plan for several purchases
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Mantic Entertainment

Mantic Terrain Crate: Bustling Metropolis

$

Any solid urban miniature terrain works for casual MCP play. This Mantic set gives you more pieces per dollar than official terrain and fills a table without a $150 investment. The game rules work identically regardless of which boxes the terrain came in. Swap to official terrain before competing; use this for home games.

What we like

  • More pieces per dollar than official AMG terrain packs
  • Works perfectly for casual home games where aesthetics can vary

What to know

  • No official terrain cards; not legal for organized play events
  • Scale and detail quality varies; check measurements before ordering
See on Amazon →

Paints

You don't have to paint your miniatures to play MCP, but most players do. Painted minis look dramatically better on the table and the painting is its own satisfying side hobby. Speed paints changed the category: prime a mini, brush on a single contrast or speed paint, add a quick drybrush highlight, and you have a table-ready character in 30-45 minutes. Start with a speed paint starter set and primer; buy individual colors as you find ones you like.

Best starter
The Army Painter

The Army Painter Speedpaint 2.0 Starter Paint Set

$$

Twelve speed paints designed for one-coat miniature painting, plus a brush and primer. Army Painter's speedpaints shade and highlight automatically as they flow into recesses. You can get a solid table-quality MCP mini in under an hour without prior painting experience. The most efficient way into painting your first characters.

What we like

  • Speed paints shade and highlight automatically with one coat
  • Starter set covers enough colors to paint your first squad
  • No blending or wet-palette technique required for beginners

What to know

  • Can pool on flat surfaces; takes 2-3 minis to dial in your technique
  • Starter palette is limited; you will buy individual colors quickly
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Reaper Miniatures

Reaper Miniatures Learn to Paint Kit: Core Skills

$

Reaper's learn-to-paint kit comes with two miniatures, 11 paints, three brushes, and a beginner guide. At under $35 it's the best all-in learning kit in miniature painting. The paints are high quality and translatable to any mini including MCP characters. If you want to learn painting fundamentals rather than just speed painting, start here.

What we like

  • Best all-in-one beginner kit: minis, brushes, paints, and a tutorial
  • Teaches fundamental techniques that work on any miniature line

What to know

  • Included minis are not MCP characters; practice set only
  • Traditional paint techniques are slower than speed paints for results
Find on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
Games Workshop

Citadel Contrast Paint: Guilliman Flesh (18ml)

$$$

Guilliman Flesh is the best single Citadel Contrast paint to start with: one coat creates natural-looking skin tones on every human character in your MCP roster. The broader Contrast range extends to 80+ colors matched to specific character schemes. Buy individual pots as you need them; this one earns back its cost on every face you paint.

What we like

  • One-coat skin tone that self-shades; the most-used color for any human mini
  • The 80+ Contrast range scales with your collection as you expand

What to know

  • Single pot only; most characters need 3-5 different colors total
  • Citadel pots cost $8-10 each, pricier than most paint alternatives
See on Amazon →

Tools

MCP miniatures arrive mostly assembled and need minimal hobby prep compared to traditional wargames. Spray primer is the only true essential for painting — paint won't stick durably to bare plastic without it. A decent brush set rounds out your kit. Everything else is a quality-of-life upgrade that can wait until you know the painting hobby is sticking.

Best starter
The Army Painter

The Army Painter Color Primer Spray, Uniform Grey

$

Grey primer is the most versatile starting color: neutral enough to work under any paint scheme, light enough to see your brushwork. Spray primer bonds to plastic, seals the surface, and gives paint something to grip. Skipping primer causes paint to chip within a few gaming sessions. One can covers about 20-30 miniatures.

What we like

  • Grey primer works under any color scheme, maximum flexibility
  • One can primes 20-30 minis at excellent value for the price

What to know

  • Spray only in ventilated space; garage or outdoors required
  • Grainy finish in high humidity or cold temperatures; check weather first
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Games Workshop

Games Workshop Citadel Colour Painting Handle Mk2

$

A painting handle holds the base while you paint without touching or smearing finished work. Sounds trivial until you've ruined an hour of painting by accidentally grabbing the mini. The Citadel handle clamps any standard base size and the grip is comfortable for long sessions. One of the few quality-of-life tools that genuinely changes how you paint.

What we like

  • Prevents smearing finished paint when repositioning your grip
  • Works with any standard base size used in MCP

What to know

  • Premium price for what is essentially a clamp on a handle
  • Third-party handles work just as well for significantly less money
See on Amazon →
Going deeper

Your first month of Marvel Crisis Protocol

MCP is three hobbies in one: a tactical miniature game, a painting project, and an ongoing roster puzzle. The first month is mostly about learning the rules, surviving your first squad selection, and figuring out which characters you actually want to paint and play.

Read the guide →
Save your money

What you don't need yet

Beginners get pressured to buy a lot of stuff that doesn't help them play better. Here's what we'd skip on day one.

  • A second core set — You only need one. Character packs add new characters; a second core duplicates what you already have.
  • An airbrush — Airbrushes give professional results, but speed paints and brush-on primer get you 90% there for a fraction of the setup and learning investment.
  • A full Asgard or X-Men roster — Building a complete competitive affiliation takes 5-8 packs. Play with what you have for the first 10 games before deciding which direction to invest.
  • Professional mini photography gear — A phone with decent lighting takes perfectly shareable mini photos. The ring light and lightbox can come after you have a painted squad you want to show off.
  • Every terrain pack AMG has released — One expansion terrain pack plus the core set terrain is plenty to fill a 3x3 table. Buy more as your collection grows, not all at once.
First week

Your first seven days

A short, real plan to get from gear-on-doorstep to actually playing.

  1. Order the core set. Everything else is optional at first. · Buy
  2. Watch a first-play walkthrough video before opening the box. The rules are dense on paper, easy in motion. · Learn
  3. Set up the game and play your first match without worrying about rules accuracy. Look things up as they come up, not before. · Action
  4. Prime your first squad of five minis with spray primer. Grey is the most versatile starting color. · Buy
  5. Order one character pack of your favorite Marvel characters. Buy who you love, not who is strongest. · Buy
  6. Speed paint your first mini with one color per panel. Imperfect and on the table beats perfect and still in the box. · Action
FAQ

Common questions

How much does it cost to get fully set up for Marvel Crisis Protocol?

The core set runs $100-120 and is a complete game by itself. Add one or two character packs ($25-40 each), a spray primer ($15), and a speed paint starter set ($25-35) and you're fully equipped for under $200. Most players spend $300-400 in the first year as they expand their character roster.

Do I have to paint the miniatures?

No. You can play bare gray plastic out of the box. Most players paint eventually because the minis look dramatically better painted and the painting hobby becomes its own source of satisfaction. But it's genuinely optional and doesn't change how the game plays.

How long does a game of MCP take?

About 60-90 minutes once you know the rules. Your first few games will run longer (90-120 minutes) while you're looking things up. Games to a specific round count (typically 6 rounds) rather than to a fixed outcome, so timing is predictable.

Is MCP competitive or casual? Can I play both?

Both, and the game supports it well. There is an active organized play scene with local game store events, regional tournaments, and a world championship. But the kitchen-table game is also completely valid. Many players never compete and just enjoy building and painting rosters of their favorite characters.

How many character packs do I need to buy?

To run a focused single-affiliation roster (the most common competitive approach) you need around 5-8 characters, which means 2-3 packs beyond the core set. To run multiple affiliations or a flex roster, expect 10-15 characters over time. There's no upper limit; many players collect every character they love from Marvel regardless of game utility.

Is there a good app or digital tool for roster building?

Yes. The Marvel Crisis Protocol app from Atomic Mass Games handles roster construction, card management, and tracks the official FAQs and card errata. It's free. Use it from day one; keeping track of rosters in your head or on paper quickly becomes unmanageable once you have 8+ characters.

Going further

Where to next

Related hobbies

Browse by category

Authoritative sources

  • Atomic Mass Games — Official game publisher. Rules documents, card errata, FAQs, and organized play information. Bookmark the downloads page for the current living rules.
  • r/marvelcrisisprotocol — Active subreddit. Best for beginner questions, painting showcases, and roster building help. The community is unusually welcoming for a competitive miniature game.
  • Midwest Warmongers (YouTube) — The best MCP tutorial and analysis channel on YouTube. Excellent beginner guides, character reviews, and game coverage. Start here for your rules walkthrough.
  • Longshanks — The event registration platform for MCP organized play. Find local events, regional tournaments, and track your competitive record. Check here to see if a local store near you runs events.
  • Warzone: Crisis (Discord) — The primary MCP community Discord server. High activity, dedicated roster-building and painting channels, and direct access to experienced competitive players.

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