Until now, this FUN Focus has looked at the pieces in ascending order of point cost. But to keep things a bit simpler for us, what with multiple characters getting multiple point costs, we’re reordering things according to set number.
Star-Lord [Guardians of the Galaxy Movie 001] 95
The first of the Chris Pratt-inspired Star-Lords brings the character’s usual penchant for running and gunning either via his opening Attack SP “Short Duration Flight” that allows him to use Leap/Climb and take a shot if he moves half-speed or less or his Speed SP “Espionage Battle Suit” granting Running Shot and Stealth. These two powers alternate, so he’s always got moving attack powers and Stealth. He needs the latter to protect his very short and unarmored dial. No Willpower is a problem, but Outwit is a single push away, with a great 8 range. HEROCLIXIN’S TAKE: Could do better with your Star-Lord. Could do worse.
Gamora [Guardians of the Galaxy Movie 002] 73
She’s got problems. 1) No range and no Charge makes it a little difficult to get her attack in. 2) 3 damage with Blades/Claws/Fangs isn’t really what you want to see. 3) Flurry + Precision + 2 damage isn’t so great. Just think how good it’d be if some of those power combos were swapped instead of appearing on alternating clicks. 4) Her defense is nothing special despite a +2 DV bonus in hindering against shooters. She needs help with that DV to be worth using over, well, almost any other version of Gamora. HEROCLIXIN’G TAKE: The last Guardians-keyworded Gamora we’d pick to fill the character’s slot.
Rocket Raccoon [Guardians of the Galaxy Movie 005] 90
As much as we liked the original Rocket Raccoon in Hammer of Thor, it’s unlikely we’ll ever use him again if the points allow. This one offers so much: Perma-Perplex-lite, Running Shot, better AV and damage, and a DV bonus (18-20!!!!) vs. most attacks. Add to all this his Tiny Size status enabling him to get in position much more easily and it’s clear that HEROCLIXIN’S TAKE is he’s a solid pick.
Groot [Guardians of the Galaxy Movie 009] 198
Outwit…for many clicks. Plasticity…that reaches two squares out. Solid 4 damage for many clicks. Great armor. Indomitable. A stop click with a guaranteed heal trick if you can get him to water or his start zone — not a problem since the same power makes him taxiable by any ally and he can’t be shot. But…his AV and DV numbers are a little lacking for his very high point cost. And despite his Improved Movement: Wall-buster ability, he’s really slow. His 90-point level has the same trouble with poor AV, though the average DV goes up a bit — and he needs it, given his very short dial at this cost. HEROCLIXIN’S TAKE: The Outwit/Plasticity SP is still enough to make this Groot stand a bit taller than the rest.
Drax the Destroyer [Guardians of the Galaxy Movie 013] 94
He’s got some real cons: Starting Battle Fury keeps him from being carried into the fight, which is bad ’cause he’s a bit slow. With no Willpower. His damage is a tad low and he only bears Toughness for armor. But he’s got serious pros: Charge+Flurry+Precision Strike as an early combo. Later, a SP packages Close Combat Expert+Combat Reflexes. And then there are his stop clicks — yes, CLICKS — with Regeneration (free if he has any action tokens). Granted, these clicks aren’t guaranteed stop clicks: they only work on a 5-6 roll. But he’s got three of them and he gets to roll for each one. We like those odds. HEROCLIXIN’S TAKE: Our first choice as for the Drax role in ANY Guardians team. Don’t forget that beginning of game trait to select a target for him get a close-combat +1 AV against.
Star-Lord [Guardians of the Galaxy Movie 017] 150
Decent stats with unusual-for-the-character Invulnerability and Willpower are welcome. But the Invuln’s gone so fast. And his “All-Out” SP is not so hot when one considers taking self-damage MIGHT NOT be a good move on the back end of the dial. Even with his “KO me, take 2 damage” trait in play, you may not want to sacrifice such a costly part of your team. HEROCLIXIN’S TAKE: Neat but too top-heavy.
Rocket Raccoon [Guardians of the Galaxy Movie 018] 100
At an even 100 points, he’s the priciest RR in the game. Is he worth it? Let’s see:
- There’s another Outwit piece for a team that kinda needed some.
- Tiny Size = portable Enhancement for all other non-raccoon-sized allies. He offers +1 AV for adjacent GotG pals, so there’s another boon to his size.
- Good range (7) and Improved Movement Elevated and Hindering work well with his Running Shot.
- And he starts with a base 19 DV Super Senses.
HEROCLIXIN’S TAKE: He has a short life but who cares?
Star-Lord [Guardians of the Galaxy Movie 101] 75
Pros: He’s a relatively cheap Running Shot/PPBlaster, a combo that used to more than cost twice as much to get on the team [see Adam Warlock from part 3: Galactic Guardians]. A nice damage SP, “Leading The Attack,” can help press an advantage by allowing adjacent fellow keyworders to act with 2 tokens. An Empower+Enhancement SP and Perplex are scattered on his dial so he’s a constant boon to the team, and he bears a one-time Pulse Wave bomb trait that will prove VERY useful. Cons: He’s also VERY short-lived, lacking the Stealth or ESD or armor that aids other Star-Lords in surviving and his range is a bit lacking, which will put him in further peril. HEROCLIXIN’S TAKE: The bargain-priced Star-Lord is still worth running in a pinch, esp. with Indomitable pals he can keep active.
Rocket Raccoon [Guardians of the Galaxy Movie 102] 75
Ahhhh, there’s that inexpensive opening Outwit the team’s needed forever. Tiny Size and Willpower mean more actions for shooting “Two Big Guns” — like ranged Flurry — with Improved Targeting: Hindering and Characters. Being able to thusly fire from behind pals helps cover his lack of defense, a middling 17 with only Stealth to cover at first. HEROCLIXIN’S TAKE: A great pick of the litter of Rockets.
Gamora [Guardians of the Galaxy Movie 103] 100 / 75
This one is much more like it, starting with Charge, her trait offering an AV and damage boost against a target, and CCE-plus. She’s the costliest of the Gamoras, though. Fortunately, there’s a 75-point level that unfortunately only offers same problems as Gamora 002 — lack of opening Charge — but less life and lower DV. Still, HEROCLIXIN’S TAKE is that either price is a good one to pay for a solid Gamora on the team.
Drax The Destroyer [Guardians of the Galaxy Movie 104] 125
This Drax is a lot more durable than ALL the ones that have come before: Impervious, Invincible, and Invulnerability each make a run on his otherwise rather short dial. He also hits harder with Charge, Exploit Weakness and Super Strength leading the way. Don’t overlook his 6 range and the same Hadron trait as Star-Lord, giving him one-time-use Pulse Wave. HEROCLIXIN’S TAKE: Though he’s not our favorite — Drax 013 above is — he’s well worth the extra points for the easier-to-use dial.
Groot [Guardians of the Galaxy Movie 105] 100/75
At last, a Groot with a decent Speed value! It’s too bad he lacks the opening Charge to truly leverage it. Instead, he’ll need to rely on his two SPs: A Speed one that negates the benefits of hindering terrain for foes within 6 squares and a DV one that not only bears Invulnerability and Defend but grants Toughness to adjacent allies. Never push him off this click if you can help it — and with Indomitable, you shouldn’t have to. If you’d prefer a more actively fighting Groot, cut him to his 75-point dial, which trades away the starting special stuff but retains the Giant Reach + Super Strength + CCE powers to deal big hurt along with that starting Charge we lamented earlier. HEROCLIXIN’S TAKE: While we prefer our Groots to be high-cost monsters, there’s no downside to this, the cheapest Groot of the game.
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OK. One more part coming up next week. Watch for the F.U.N. Focus on the Guardians of the Galaxy full-sized set, which gave us even more Guardians than I expected!
