Top Ten Game-Changing Runners-Up of 2011 (2 of 2)

Finishing this highlight of several solid figures that either just missed the top 10 or bring something new to the game that no other piece does but didn’t have an overall good enough dial to carve out a place among the very best.

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Darkstar  (Captain America #043) 
Game-Changing Contribution: Free action powers
So many times, when a wishlist of changes to HeroClix is proposed, free Smoke Cloud is nearly always suggested. Darkstar shows why it shouldn’t be. The special power is great on a figure like her, that’s a bit too high-priced to be a mostly support piece. On less-modest dials, it could be absotively, posilutely broken like a window on the business end of a thrown brick.

other contributors who missed the prime slot:

  • General RAAM (009): Free grenades after move action.
  • Cyborg Superman (034): Free TK, but only on objects. Both made the real Top 10, anyway

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Cypher (Giant-Size X-Men #012)
Game-Changing Contribution: extra team abilities without paying extra ATA points 
There was an old feat called “Siphon Power” that purportedly allowed a wildcard to copy enemy team abilities, but it was hobbled by A) said wildcard’s inability to share that TA with other wildcards, B) the wildcard’s inability to switch up TAs at will since the Siphon Power’d TA was a once-at-the-beginning-of-turn deal, robbing the normal flexibility of the wildcard ability at C) a staggering cost of 20 points.

Now, Cypher here can copy a single enemy TA and give it to all his friends — not just wildcards — via his “Crack Enemy Communications” trait AND sit back and Perplex his friends’ stats as needed AND he offers both the Brotherhood (good for a support piece like himself) and X-Men TAs. At 38 points, he’s worth THREE Siphon Powers.

other contributors who missed the prime slot:

  • Hellfire Club Guard (Giant-Size X-Men #004): essentially grants Mastermind as an extra TA to Hellfire Clubbers
  • Nick Fury (Captain America 023)  : works wonders for Howling Commandos, SHIELDs and Secret Warriors

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Gideon (Giant-Size X-Men #024)
Game-Changing Contribution: Power copy/steal
There were a few characters this year who could grab others’ powers, but none as inexpensively as the ponytailed Gideon here. And while his version is less foolproof than theirs, requiring a die roll based on proximity, he’s the only one who also can grab allies’ powers with no problem.

other contributors who missed the prime slot:

  • Rogue (Giant-Size X-Men #028): also boasts a secondary ability to do free damage, but expensive for the rest of her dial and also hurts friendlies.
  • Parasite (Superman #027): Can’t use pals’ powers.
  • Earth-Man (Superman #023): Can only use Attack slot powers.

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Matter-Eater Lad (Superman #025)
Game-Changing Contribution: Easy demolition
His ability to eat terrain for free is unprecedented. Enemies who depend on otherwise indestructible special objects like Mjolnir or the like will fear this 35-point flying wildcard.

other contributors who missed the prime slot:

  • Doorman (Captain America 024): Actually doesn’t wreck terrain.
  • She-Hulk (Incredible Hulk 007): Tied to an attack.
  • She-Hulk (Incredible Hulk 204): Ditto.

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Abin Sur (Green Lantern Fast Forces #006)
Game-Changing Contribution: Taxi the taxis
For a long time in HeroClix, characters that could carry other characters were (appropriately) unable to be carried themselves. I mean, the only reason Angel ought to be carting Storm around is if she’s unconscious. That equals getting KO’d in HeroClix. But I digress.

Abin Sur offers so many new tactics for play through his ability to carry flyers on the cheap.

other contributors who missed the prime slot:

  • Darkseid (Superman 052): Not only does he carry them, but one can act afterward…IF it matches his keyword(s) and isn’t too expensive

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The Flash (Superman #047)

Game-Changing Contribution: Alpha strike the turtles

Although he’s one of the less impressive Flash figures to hit the game with his decidedly average combat values, he’s utterly unmatched in this context, being the only character in the game who can ALWAYS get the first strike. There’s also his ability to knock folks about with his “Sudden Stop” trait.

other contributors who missed the prime slot:

  • General Thunderbolt Ross (Hulk #208): Though he can hit anywhere, takes him too long to get started. That said, turtles WILL get Alpha-struck against him
  • Krakoa map: lucky die rolls mean one player can get the first strike on this deadly battlefield

 

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That wraps up this quick look at the not-top-flight-but-still-game-changing-pieces-and-elements from 2011. Click on the site next week for the Top Ten WORST HeroClix of last year! Enjoy Super Bowl weekend in the meantime!

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