Been a while since the last Top 10 article series [since JUNE?!? Wow.] To get the once-monthly feature restarted, we’re revisiting one that was all set for back in spring 2013: Top Ten Tie-Up Figures. Heroclixin’ had a list ready to go, but then two things happened.
- A shot of Fear Itself’s Monkey King’s first click was teased, and he was already better than about the whole bottom half of the original list. So Heroclixin’ shelved the TUF list until more of the then-secret set was revealed.
- Then…Plasticity got its major overhaul in the 2013 Powers And Abilities Card. That tore the list of TUFs into little bitty pieces.
Now, though, we’ve gotten a little distance and perspective and can finally make our call on this, at least for Modern Age figures.
Tie-up figures need these things to best function as such: Mobility, utility, survivability and expendability [MUSE].
MOBILITY
The point of using tie-up is to restrict the opponent’s options. More concretely, you’d like to keep, say, an enemy sniper from raining fire down on your 0-range brawlers. To do that, a good TUF needs to be able to reach and base the shooter. It’s also good to have the ability to leave one spot and tie up another square. Therefore, most figs on this list will have at least 8 Speed and some sort of Improved Movement.
UTILITY
Once in position, the ideal TUF will keep the opponent there. That’s why Plasticity is all but a required power now for the role. Additionally, what’s the TUF to do other than sit there and die? Or before it gets there, does it have any purpose? This is a consideration, but not the key one, thanks to the final criterion.
SURVIVABILITY
If you’re using a TUF right, an opponent’s top priority will be getting rid of the thing. The more attacks and actions burned against a TUF, the better. Therefore, it needs to be able to absorb or deny big attacks that would otherwise be turned on more vital figs on your force. Armor, 6+ life, Combat Reflexes, Super Senses and Shape Change are found on the best of the best TUFs.
EXPENDABILITY
In the end, a TUF is on the team to die so that others may live. That means it needs to be relatively low-cost — no more than 70 points and ideally well under 50 — and not be otherwise vital to the team’s function.
With these factors in mind, here are some excellent TUFs that still don’t QUITE make the Top Ten.
Grymm [Teen Titans 016]: Bearing both Plasticity and Reflexes with Poison for extra use, Grymm nevertheless slips off the list for his short life and 16 DV. But at 53 points and 9 Speed, he’s still great for the role.
Bruce Wayne [Batman 202a]: Only 3 clicks of life dooms him. He’s also a bit too useful as a Telekinetic Perplexer to risk as a TUF. Sometimes, though, sacrificing his 50 cost is the difference between losing a lot more.
Batgirl [No Man’s Land 002]: Stealth can guard her against shooters trying to end her tie-up threat. But she’s nearly 70 points and really functions more as a main or secondary fighter than a dedicated TUF.
Gamora [Guardians of the Galaxy 001]: Also much more of an actual fighter than mere tie-up, though her 55 cost is fairly ideal for the role. Lack of Plasticity and extra attack avoidance cost her spot in the top TUFs.
Shatterstar [Wolverine and the X-Men 010]: He’s far too pricey to make the list, despite a superb 17 DV Reflexes and the unparalleled ability to get into position once per game without restriction — and bring a cheaper pal. He also lacks the Plasticity a top TUF needs.
Monkey King [Fear Itself 003]: No Plasticity and no opening defense aside from Combat Reflexes ironically keeps this fig that first derailed Heroclixin’s 2013 take on the subject off the eventual list. Otherwise, his Flight, 17 Reflexes, 45 cost and dial sprinkled with Shape Change, Toughness, BCF, Flurry and CCE make him one of the best anyway.
Golden Glider [The Flash 025]: Improved Movement: Elevated almost gets her on the list despite a 60-point cost and lack of extra defenses. But she also misses by not having IM: Characters. That would make her ability to drop Plasticity-bearing markers in squares she moves through supreme for tie-up. As it stands, she still works well enough as a TUF to get this honorable mention.
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Keep an eye out this week for the list of Top Ten TUFs in earnest.