Been a fan for some years. But they were no good for years. Paraphrased from a Heroclixin’ article from a few years back:
- Giant-girl Stature [Avengers 011] lacks even the basic giant-size brick powers of damage reduction (ANY!) and her AV is possibly the worst overall in the game for 50 points.
- Iron Lad [Avengers 030] is a design fail: While his AV is appropriately low, he ought to have much better damage numbers.
- Hulkling [Avengers 009] is a hulking mass of powers wasted on horrid combat values.
- His BF Wiccan [Avengers 047] is the useful one but like his mom Scarlet Witch, he’s underpowered.
- Patriot [Avengers 010] is poor at tie-up. No range. Can’t be carried. Leadership too low. Short-lived with poor DV. Good at nothing, really.
So it was great to see these five remade — and well — in Civil War SL set. It’s been even better to see more characters added to the lineup in the forms of Loki and Miss America.
Heroclixin’s going to look at what each Young Avengers piece brings to a pure Young Avengers squad, in order of each character’s appearance in the game. We’ll also look at ATAs and Feat cards that work for point filling and whatnot.
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HULKLING
Half-Kree, half-Skrull and all-gay shapeshifting bruiser of the team.
Hulkling [Avengers 009] 72 points
While many of the old YAs get a little new life on a modern squad, I don’t know that this Hulkling is one of them. His only use is as a meat shield. Not worth the 72 points. Though first in this review, he’s the first to drop if you need build room. CARD THIS TEEN: Too costly for added stuff, really.
Hulkling [Civil War 027] 90 points
New Hulkling, on the other hand, is a must-play. Indomitable 18 DV Invulnerability and traited Shape Change mean he’s a far more survivable brick than his earlier incarnation, especially as down his dial he gets a SP granting Wing symbol and free breakaway. But what makes him a key fig is the +1 DV buff to all adjacent Young Avengers, giving new life to older pieces with the keyword. He’s also Wiccan’s bodyguard, allowing either of those figs to Mastermind to him. CARD THIS TEEN: Traited Shape Change makes Camouflage a good added 8 points.
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PATRIOT
Grandson of the first, black Captain America.
Patriot [Avengers 010] 38 points
Though he’s still a mess of a piece, he’s also the by-far cheapest available for the keyword. On a modern team, use him to handle special objects you want moved about or safeguarded (for example, with the amount of Super Strength on the YA, you might wish to run the Generator or Dumpster special objects). Push him to Leadership and get an extra action for the squad. His stock rose after the 2017 rules allowed him to Leadership tokens off any Young Avengers allies.
Patriot [Civil War 021] 60 points
Heroclixin’ raved about this one shortly after his release:
Once one of Heroclixin’s top needed remakes, this new version of the Young Avengers’ leader is just what we wanted. A Leadership figure for his team. A secondary attacker. Indomitable. A new favorite.
But I’ve been surprised just how key he’s been in every game I’ve run him in. First, his Leadership: Even before the 2017 rules, he could remove tokens off any Young Avenger via his trait. Second, he’s a solid cleanup puncher, or that one guy you need to bust a wall for teammates to shoot past. He also gets CCE and Flurry later. Third, he’s got Indom to help the YA keep the pressure on.
Truly an effective figure that plays better than he looks on paper. CARD THIS TEEN: Contingency Plan is great on trait Leadership.
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STATURE
Daughter of Scott Lang, Ant-Man.
Stature [Avengers 011] 50 points
She was always best at tie-up with opening Plasticity and a 7-click life. Now her best role is as giant, cheap taxi, mobile blocking terrain and object safeguarder (never, EVER use her to attack with an object. With her 8 AV, you’d just be wasting the precious object). She’s especially good for blocking lines of fire to new Stature. Speaking of whom:
Stature [Civil War 041] 80 points
She hits for a wallop and has an even longer dial but the self-sacrificial nature of her trait — become Colossal, gain +1 AV, take a click — can backfire horribly. Use her as a taxi (her sorta boyfriend Vision is the best fare) and blocker to until it’s time for her to strike with Charge, 10+ AV and 4 damage Super Strength. Mid-dial, she gains Willpower and Plasticity and ends the dial with Barrier, but her lack of armor by then, coupled with her being a colossal target, means she’s unlikely to live to use any of those powers. CARD THIS TEEN: Protected is OK on her as she approaches the battle and gets shot at because her trait to go colossal allows her to stay active at need.
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IRON LAD/VISION
Once a young Kang from his pre-conquerer days, now an AI copied from the memories of Iron Lad within the original Vision’s repaired body.
Iron Lad [Avengers 030] 75 points
While his Invulnerability + Shape Change is a decent defense, his opening 9 AV without so much as Running Shot is unforgivable. He’s got to PUSH to the gray Speed power. And his DV is only 16, slipping to an anemic (even by 2007 standards) 15. He’s another to use only to hold objects in safekeeping for other, better fighters. Strictly for huge, “Let’s Play Every Single Young Avenger from Every Timeline In This One Game” themes.
Vision [Supernova 063] 137 points
He got the keyword retroactively. But he’s more of an adult, veteran Avengers Vision. Very long-lived (9 clicks, mostly armored), he’s nevertheless a mess offensively. 10 range is wasted on 2 damage, though bearing Perplex. He doesn’t get his trademark Phasing until click 2 but loses Invuln. Just not worth the cost even a little bit.
Vision [Chaos War 013] 95 points
This version of the synthezoid is a marked upgrade, both Indomitable and able to SP Charge as a double power action through walls and characters. (He also has normal Charge and Stealth in this SP.) His Toughness feels a little soft for the points and his 3 damage is light. Mid-dial, he hardens to Impervious and gains 2 dmg Exploit before ending with Super Senses and Phasing. He’s OK. But just OK.
Vision [Chaos War 205] 130 points
Nearly matching the price point of the oldest Vision with the YA keyword, this one at least brings some offense with Penetrating/Psychic Blast and some armor in 18 DV Invuln. Too bad his Speed SP is just Phasing and a silver bullet enabling him to shoot past Shape Change and Super Senses. It’s hard to decide whether to push to click 2 for the Perplex, even if he loses DV and speed and penetrating damage in the process.
Basically, all these pieces should be ignored except as point filler for “Every Young Avenger Ever” teams. Instead, go with this:
Vision [Civil War 003] 80 points
The cheapest of all the YA Visions and better by far than his Iron Lad persona. He’s still missing the early moving attack to be the fighter he should be, but he’s really here to synergize with Stature, granting her, via trait, +1 to both her and his AV. He’s got 5 range PPB and a choice between 18 DV Super Senses or 17 DV Invuln. with Super Strength.
Remember when we said Stature is best as a taxi? Well, he’s her best passenger.
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WICCAN
Somehow the son of Scarlet Witch, with reality-warping powers
Wiccan [Avengers 047] 54 points
He’s so overshadowed by his remake that you only have him on an expanded modern version for one thing the newer one lacks: his Enhancement. That might be well worth running if you have any shooters on the team. Being able instantly push (via his otherwise unnecessary ability to taxi more than one passenger) from that to 8-range Prob Control is another benefit.
Wiccan [Civil War 031] 90 points
But this version adds so much more even at a hefty cost increase. No need to push to Prob or Support; he starts with an SP granting both along with Outwit and Perplex. Another SP gives him Mystics TA for his early clicks and a third SP shifts his ESD DV to that plus Barrier and Toughness. And he has a trait to carry up to 5 Young Avengers (excluding the giants and fliers). There’s so much here that it’s easy to forget it all.
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HAWKEYE
Socialite teaches herself super-heroism
Hawkeye [Secret Invasion 023] 57 points
At under 60 points, she doesn’t break the bank, but this 2008 fig hasn’t aged well. While 8 range Running Shot and Willpower are welcome, 9 AV and 16 DV and 2 dmg are not. Her self-Perplex is far too necessary. If you field her, make certain you have Enhancement on board as well.
Kate Bishop [Avengers Assemble 018] 86 points
Hey, look…Enhancement. And two target Incap. And Shape Change if she’s next to a friendly. At her cost, I don’t know that her Sharpshooter ability is worth it with only a 10 AV and 6 range and 2 damage. But 17 ESD makes her a lot more survivable than her Secret Invasion predecessor.
Kate Bishop [WizKids WK17-008] 70 points
This very latest Kate boasts the Willpower of her first incarnation (with a grateful nudge to 17 DV), the two targets of her second, and buffs her AV to 11 and her damage to 3. She also has a SP granting RCE or CCE to truly make her an offensive linchpin of a squad that generally doesn’t have more than a 5-square swing.
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But here’s one of the exceptions…
SPEED
Speedy. Also somehow the son of Scarlet Witch.
Speed [Chaos War 021] 55 points
There’s no other starting HSS on the team, so despite his low AV, DV and damage values, he’s got a use. He can harass the enemy back line or back up your linemen once they land on Empower or Perplex clicks.
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LOKI
De-aged trickster god of lies
Loki [Wizkids M-027] 115 points
The YAs are, by and large, low-powered C-grade figs. Not so with Loki here. He can headline this force somewhat.
First, he’s a hard-to-tag target with 18 Super Senses + trait Shape Change and immunity to being seen in plain view by foes under 151 points unless they’re Mystical or Deity or Asgardian or he’s pushed. Which he shouldn’t be because he lacks Willpower. If they do hit, they’ll take Mystics damage and he may land on one of his free-reroll Regen clicks.
Second, he’s offensively solid as just one of three YAs with natural 11 AV. He sports 7-range Mind Control and Incap with two arrows and Prob and traited Sidestep to stretch that range a bit further — and 3 damage. Late dial he gains SP Blades/Claws/Fangs that’s max 4 damage but can be penetrating (if you clear the target of action tokens) along with Perplex.
He’s a bit of an odd fit compared with the rest of the team, but is ultimately a boon. However…
Loki, Agent of Asgard [The Mighty Thor 050] 60 points
At an extreme discount of 55 points, maybe you go with this version of the little liar. Being a Title Character, he’s a lot more complicated to use as Plot Point abilities require making attacks to keep from taking damage. But with 7 clicks of life guarded by opening Stealth and Reflexes, he’s a difficult KO — especially given his Plot ability to freely heal up to 2 if he can dodge being hit after activating it. He can also Plot away enemy Prob and Perplex for a round. And with Exploit to start, followed by Blades on the back half, Loki can indeed do a little fighting.
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MISS AMERICA
Kicker of butts and time/space fabric
Miss America [WizKids WK17-009] 95 points
With 9 Charge, 11 AV Super Strength and 18 Invulnerability, America is a slightly beefed up brick compared to Hulkling, though she lacks his Indom. But her contribution to the squad is her trait that allows her to place a Space Portal next to the foe she just punched at. Then, when a teammate is ready to make a close combat action, that ally can be placed next to the portal to make its own close action attack at the same target.
THE LAWS OF PHYSICS CAN KISS MY… When Miss America makes a close attack targeting an opposing character and actions resolve you may place a Space Portal marker in an unoccupied square adjacent to her and her target. Before a friendly character makes a close combat action it may be placed adjacent to the Space Portal but may only target that opposing character this turn. Remove the Space Portal at the end of your turn.
So the question is who to call with the Space Portal. It’s got to be a close combat action, so that more or less rules out Speed, Wiccan, all the Kates. Also, any Young Avenger with single-digit AV or 2 damage should be ruled out. This maneuver is high-risk, so you want to give it the best possible chance of succeeding.
Note, however, that nothing prevents you from using multiple allies with the Space Portal. So call however many it takes!
- Patriot: Offers respectable 10 AV and 3 damage. But he’s better chosen for his potential to clear America with Leadership and/or follow up with Indom next turn. Make sure he’s placed next to her and as many other YA pals Portal’d over as possible.
- Stature: As a giant/colossal, she’s able to attack from a square back for big damage while leaving room for others to gangpile. Because she’s so tall, this maneuver puts her very much in harm’s way. She could later evac America if needed.
- Hulkling: In addition to Indomitable Super Strength, he brings his DV boost. Drawback is that he may leave the rest of the squad less protected, and the more YAs this tactic brings, the fewer YAs he can cover with the trait.
- Vision: IF he’s selected Invuln. + Super Strength and IF he’s holding an object and IF he’d be adjacent to a Stature, then he’s a good pick for this attack option. But those are a lot of conditions to answer, and he might be tied up and unable to use his PPB after.
- Loki: Only if he’s on his BCF clicks, or if you opt to use him to do a Mind Control attack.
- Loki, Agent of Asgard: Exploit and Reflexes make him an excellent selection, especially since he can then use Plot skills freely.
There are some corner cases where a player might choose one of the others. Old Patriot has Battle Fury. Old Stature has first-click Plasticity. 95-point Vision has Stealth and Indom to serve both as a potential blocker and to press the attack. Maybe LE Kate could use her Willpower next turn to use CCE for big damage. But again, these are corner cases and not really your first choices, ever.
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There are a few more Young Avengers-related characters that can’t be played on a keyword themed team, yet.
Noh-Varr [Web of Spider-Man 038] 141 points
He joined the team in its most recent series (circa 2013) but the figure lacks the keyword. (And he and Kate aren’t seeing each other anymore anyway.) He’s the priciest member by a fair degree but even without Willpower he could be well worth the cost. Since he’ll break theme anyway, feel free to use his “Traitor To All” trait to gain him +1 AV.
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Prodigy [Xavier’s School 047] 30 points
He didn’t get the YA keyword, either. His ability to grant himself and a teammate the same power(s) an opponent chose that turn is nice, but nothing to count on. He’s better run for his opening Outwit and his late dial Support — though with his four-click life, you may not see it. X-Men TA is a waste on this squad.
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Finally, there are some alternate Young Avengers: The Runaways, from a timeline where THEY became the YAs. Fielding them feels a bit wrong, but the two teams indeed partnered for a miniseries, so it’s not completely un-F.U.N. by any stretch.
Iron Lad [What If 006] 100
Though he looks like the classic OG Young Avenger, he’s actually a new form of Runaway Victor Mancha. And you might recall that he garnered a dishonorable mention among Heroclixin’s Worst of 2018 list. Field him for completeness’ sake, as starting Running Shot and Invulnerability can be useful, and his late-dial free healing SP could keep him in the game a bit longer.
Molly Hayes [What If 011] 50
She made Taylor’s favorites and it’s not hard to see why. This powerful princess can bruise enemies with ease for not a lot of points. She’s a key fig to for Miss America to Space Portal in.
Chase Stein [What If 012] 50
Sidestep+Perplex is what Chase is for. He also has the same free heal that Iron Lad sports, at half the price.
Karolina Dean [What If 024] 75
Flying Running Shot+PPBlast is welcome on a YA squad. But her best boon to the team is her SP Barrier+Defend granting adjacent allies +1 vs. range attacks.
Nico Minoru [What If 031] 75
Oh look! One of the original “pick a power” characters returns to clix. She has to alternate between Speed, Attack, Defense or Damage powers each turn (can’t choose the same category two turns in a row) but she’s still full of nigh-unrivaled utility for the Runaways — and the Young Avengers. Natural Willpower helps assure she can push freely.
Gertrude Yorkes & Old Lace [What If 037] 50
Gert is really about A) siccing Old Lace the Velociraptor Deinonychus on folks and B) Leadershipping from the back field for Runaways and Young Avengers. Both are nice boons to the team(s).
Finally, for all these Young Runavengerways, there’s a trait that allows them to reroll a 1 on attacks if they’re next to a Young Avenger or Runaway.
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There’s our look at the Young Avengers! Hope you enjoy reading and, more importantly, playing!
