Battle Reports: MODOK’s 11

clockwise from top left: The Spot, Super-Adaptoid, Armadillo, Nightshade, Chameleon, Rocket Racer, Living Laser (Xed for lacking the keyword), Mentallo, Puma, Scientist Supreme. And, of course MODOK in the center.

Last summer I wrote about fielding this team en toto. I got a chance to run a truncated version of it soon after, but as it was lacking nearly half the members (500-point game), it wasn’t nearly satisfying.

Well, with a 900-point “last chance for Modern Age”  tourney a few months ago, I finally brought the whole (not-quite-comic-accurate) MODOK’s 11 to the map:

MODOK (Captain America #050) 160 + Intelliencia ATA 3
Super-Adaptoid (Captain America #020) 175
Scientist Supreme (Captain America #033) 97
Armadillo (Captain America #036) 89
Nightshade (Captain America #027) 72
Mentallo (Captain America #010) 71
Chameleon (Web of Spider-Man #019) 66
Rocket Racer (Web of Spider-Man #044) 60
Puma (Web of Spider-Man #012) 56
The Spot (Web of Spider-Man #051) 51
= 900 points.

As I wrote before, running this team is like planning a heist. Every piece has its role. But as you’ve seen in every heist movie ever, things never go exactly as planned. Piece-by-piece:
MODOK (Captain America #050) 160 + Intelligencia ATA 3
The PLAN: As the main perceived threat, MODOK was to hold his big brain back behind pals.

What really happened: With the last-minute addition of the Intelligencia ATA, he had razor-thin opportunities to take range-enhanced Running Shots. So MODOK really was more the tentpole than I intended, taking and landing crippling blasts on the opposition. It worked out pretty well, to say the least. The big brain was also the brawn. He’ll be back for the next caper.

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Super-Adaptoid (Captain America #020) 175
The PLAN: Use him as tie-up and blocker. His long dial would allow him to take multiple hits to land on his dangerous, Cosmic-powered clicks.
What really happened: His paltry 2 damage for his whole early dial made him a non-factor in fighting his weight class, while those foes simply murdered him past his best late-life clicks. Pushing was no help, either: he can’t afford the loss of his one opening click of Running Shot and his DV slides way too low for his price. Worst of all, his Attack-power-copying SP requires him to get way too close but the Intelligentsia ATA (and his inborn fragility) absolutely discourages that. Super Adaptoid will be the first I’ll drop for the sequel to this movie.
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Scientist Supreme (Captain America #033) 97

The PLAN: Wait for the right moment to unleash her Outwit-through-walls SP.

What really happened: It was a challenge to make sure she could keep fellow Scientists in her Perplex-vision — which was more useful than the SP Outwit at first — while staying close to her Mastermind fodder, too. But in both games, she indeed acted as the surprise weapon no one could see coming, or stop. I won’t field MODOK’s 11 without her in a build high enough.

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Armadillo (Captain America #036) 89

The PLAN: Use him as Mastermind fodder for Scientist Supreme.

What really happened: The guy just couldn’t keep up with her and never got used for her Mastermind. (It’s a real pity he can’t tunnel in ‘Clix like he can in the comics.) Instead, he worked OK as a cleanup hitter. Not bad, but feels a bit like deadweight. He’s only for the full squad.

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Nightshade (Captain America #027) 

The PLAN: In between occasional Running Shots, turn The Spot into a buzzsaw of a werewolf.

What really happened: She did just that. In fact, she also functioned well as a tie-up piece, being able to Battle Fury a foe (The Armored Avenger 003, specifically) but keep him from attacking her back! This hottie is no mere eye candy.

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Mentallo (Captain America #010)

The PLAN: Hydra TA and a bit of anti-Stealth shooting and, later, Outwitting.

What really happened: Well, at least he was able to loan Hydra to the wildcards. Moreover, he served as a Penetrating/Psychic Blast threat to draw fire. Any solid hit other than a KO made him an Outwit threat. Still and all, he’s hardly needed for future heists.

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Chameleon (Web of Spider-Man #019) 66

The PLAN: Block LOF or tie up someone. Also loan wildcards the Sinister Syndicate TA.

What really happened: He did perform the requisite Stealth blocking, but the real surprise was that he actually landed an Incapacitate attack that swung the team to a victory. I won’t make certain he’s on future jobs, but he’s not as useless as I’d figured on.

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Rocket Racer (Web of Spider-Man #044) 60

The PLAN: The advance striker, maybe? He needs the Sinister Syndicate TA to actually land attacks.

What really happened: The Intelligencia ATA truly made Racer effective at his intended role; a +2 range boost to his halved HSS attacks isn’t insignificant! He also excelled a bit at being another tie-up piece for the team thanks to his Combat Reflexes. Racer gets the call every time.

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Puma (Web of Spider-Man #012) 56

The PLAN: The close combat specialist.

What really happened: Despite Super Senses and Shape Change, he only ever took damage and never dealt it. At least he frequently got hit to his Outwit clicks. He’s so inexpensive that he should end up on any and all MODOK’s 11 teams, but it seems he ought to be more effective.

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The Spot (Web of Spider-Man #051) 51

The PLAN: The only taxi of the team and, possibly, a second melee fighter if Nightshade does her job.
What really happened: This part of the plan went entirely according to plan. Not bad for a screwup of a villain.

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Somehow this team managed a 2-0 victory over superior forces, proving that sometimes, crime does pay.

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