4. Condiment King [World’s Finest 038]

So he has a nifty trait that nerfs AV of foes -1 when they attack him and an additional -1 if they’re next to him, which combines well with his Speed SP granting Plasticity and Force Blast.

…..Wait. Who wants Force Blast with Plasticity? You usually want to keep an enemy tied up with Plasticity. That’s just wasting points.

…..Wait. That SP doesn’t show until click 2? Well, that’s trash. Guess you have to run him into adjacency for best results.

…..Wait. He starts with Running Shot and Incap with 2 targets. So you really DON’T want to run into adjacency and waste that extra arrow.

…..Wait. A naked 16 DV. Or worse. He won’t live to use his Poison or Exploit Weakness or…

…..Wait. Is that 0 damage Close Combat Expert with his 9 AV Incap returning on his end clicks? So you HAVE to mod damage?

I know he’s a joke piece but COME ON!

Both Sceritz and I thought he was junk food.

5. Spider-Man [Superior Foes of Spider-Man 031]

Both Sceritz and I chose this piece, another one we wanted to like. Watch me (kinda sarcastically) cape for Miles in our FB exchange:

6. Arclight [Uncanny X-Men 009]

Another Rurouni KJS selection, and here’s why:

No moving attack or improved movement skills at all. So she has to trudge to her target, hope her Invuln holds [then clear cuz there’s only one click of it AND her DV drops] then use her 2 damage CCE. Her free Quake trait is useless unless she misses and unavailable if she’s hitting.

Force Blast is just wasting points. She’s never going to want to knock foes away from her, where she can’t fight them. No moving attack, remember?

When I mentioned her to Sceritz:

Right you are, brother.

7. Silhouette [Civil War Storyline 019]

She’s my pick, and I really want to like her because she was my favorite of the few early New Warriors comics I read.

And really, that trait looks good. But you have to be in hindering to use it. Do you have hindering in your start zone? No? So waste time hoofing it to some.

OK, now push to give her a power action while making sure she has an adjacent pal so she can go to…MORE hindering.

Oh, there’s a 4-square limit on the warp effect. So on the wrong map, she’s a lot of useless. Not having Stealth to aid her just completes the waste.

The character is handicapped but the clix didn’t have to be.

8. Zev [Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice 011]

Both Sceritz and I chose this as one of the worst.

Seems OK with Running Shot, 10 AV PPB and 3 damage. But as Sceritz noted, he loses his 3 damage after one click. His defense? It’s just Mastermind that only transfers to Henchman’s Goon [Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice 004]. So that’s at least 20 points to add to his already rather stiff 80-point cost. And, seeing how he’s using his Running Shot,  keeping the Goons adjacent is problematic because Underworld TA doesn’t work with power actions, only move actions. So you’re wasting more actions moving those guys into position with him. 100 points for 5 clicks that are just so-so.

Sceritz said he’s a niche piece with no niche that’s outdone by 50-pointers such as Cape Killer [Superior Foes of Spider-Man 004], who’s unremarkable and yet still a rock star next to this henchman.

9. Mercy Graves [Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice 005]

Sceritz: she’s a 17 defend 
S: that’s like the worst number for defend
S: she’s next to pointless and too many points
S: All she’s good for is essentially pushing to her second click and standing next to a powerful Lex
S: and that’s still 40 points for that…
Rurouni KJS: 50
S: LOL at the typo
R: I think the 18DV was enough to drag her off the top 10 for me.
R: Barely
S: because I feel she should be 40 points to be excused from the list lol
R: Yeah
S: I just don’t like one trick figures that cost that much
S: She’s obviously there to support a tent[pole], but then most tents already have several 18 defense clicks
S: so what does she add? Shape Change
S: They are just going to kill her off get a nice 50 points and then focus on the tentpole
R: Esp. after these JSA figs do the one-trick thing better
S: plus her tents are few with the politician kw
R: I’m convinced. She bad
S: lol
R: And not in the good way

10. Court of Owls Initiate [Joker’s Wild 005a/b]

The only reason to ever run this (these?) is for a Court of Owls team running the two other figs in the game who can Mastermind to them. And only one of those other figs works with their Underworld TA. They’re only 10 points, you say? Just like a lot more useful pieces.

Both Sceritz and I think these plebes should wash out.

In the modern game of HeroClix, there are no terrible dials anymore, really. Not the way there used to be.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t still a few stinkers made. For the next week or so, Heroclixin’ — yours truly Rurouni KJS and new collaborator Sceritz — will look at the bottom of the barrel and make our picks for the least playable figs of 2016. But first, here are a few that didn’t quite bottom out enough to rate as the worst of the bad:

Occultist [World’s Finest 012]

You shouldn’t expect much for 20 points, and his pokey 6 or lower speed and three clicks of health are fitting of his price point. Heck, his Willpower and Exploit Weakness almost look good. But his SP requires an adjacent ally to get hit and hurt for him to truly pull his weight. Not sure if this is worth the points and the price of, y’know, starting to LOSE.

Black Panther  [Captain America: Civil War 013]

He has a nifty SP nixing LOF to him beyond his printed 3 range and also granting Sidestep, forcing foes to get close.

But that’s when the trouble starts.

He only has Super Senses for 17 defense, no Willpower to truly leverage the SP, and he loses the SP quickly. Traited Precision Strike frees up the attack slot for, say, Blades — which doesn’t show till click 2. So you’re basically running an 80-point Outwit or Perplex piece with a mishmash of extra powers and modest stats. Not so kingly.

Prism [Uncanny X-Men 013]

A piece with super-low DV and a SP that opponent won’t want to counter because it can cause insta-KO. The only reason he doesn’t rate among the very worst is this convo between me and Sceritz:

Sceritz: You’ll spend all that time trying to get him in position or whatever and screw yourself over and then get him blasted xD
Rurouni KJS: Gotta use him as meat shield against range. Make sure he can’t be knocked back LOL
S: I suppose that could be useful
R: That and the Enhance is his ONLY use
S: I think my brain is trying push all the other things I could use 35 points for out of my head
S: or rather I need to push those things out of my head
R: Nah
R: Those other 35-pointers are part of the reason these are the worst

So I talked him off the worst list. But………he’s still bad.

Killer Moth [Joker’s Wild 035]

65 points for Running Shot, 9 AV Incap. For some reason, he ramps to 10 AV mid-dial. Damage fluctuates from 2 to 1 and back. For 65 points.

But almost ANYTHING is a better use of 65 points

Looker [Joker’s Wild 37b]

Usually, primes are supposed to be stronger than other figures. But so not with this 100-point, five-click pile of nothing but TK, really. Sure, she can Steal Energy to more powerful clicks past her starting line, but with only 8 Charge, 10 AV and no Willpower, she’s going to have a lot of trouble getting to and staying on those sweet spots. LOOK AWAY.

So much for the almost-worst of 2016. On to the list of the actual worst of 2016’s figs. Stay tuned

1. (tie)

Mary Marvel [World’s Finest 041]

WHY IT’S ONE OF THE BEST: At 150 points, she needs to be a tentpole, and she certainly delivers with 12 Hypersonic Speed, Super Strength and 4 damage. She’s also immune to cheaper Outwit and enemy Perplex and Probability Control while packing her own Prob to help herself. Starting with Invincible guards her from the threat of penetrating damage. Most of all, this Indomitable piece has a one-time STOP click with super-Regeneration that gives her a very good chance at extending her 7-click dial even further — maybe even healing her back to full!

BUT WHAT ABOUT FURY? She’s the exact kind of enemy that Fury’s made to fight to a standstill. But with 12 HSS, she has the potential to maybe get first shot at Balls before he can shoot her. It all depends on the spymaster’s Shape Change.

WHY IT’S HERE ON THE LIST: With 0 range, she’s also vulnerable to Plasticity, and her starting 17 defense is very low for her points and role on a team, so it wasn’t immediately apparent that she ought to top our list — and new contributor Sceritz didn’t think she should, placing her at No. 5. But those shortcomings are more than made up for by her strengths, and so she’s Heroclixin’s Top Ten fig of 2016…along with her sorta big bro:

Shazam [World’s Finest 065]

WHY IT’S ONE OF THE BEST: All the Kingdom Come chase pieces in World’s Finest were strong. But corrupted Captain Marvel here is the finest of all. 15 Hypersonic Speed. 11 AV … that rises to 12. Super Strength. 4 damage with Shape Change and 3 range to get around Plasticity. Invincible. Immune to Outwit or Perplex from non-KC members. Wildcard. End-dial Prob Control and Running Shot Pulse Wave. All for a relatively svelte 170 points.

BUT WHAT ABOUT FURY? He’s easily able to get a first shot from outside Fury’s range before Balls can turn off his HSS. But he’s the exact kind of enemy that Fury’s made to fight to a standstill — and kill.

WHY IT’S HERE ON THE LIST: Click for click, he’s Heroclixin’s Top Ten fig of 2016, but her forcing the double tap where he does not forces this first-ever tie.

Sceritz buried these two at the bottom of his top 5, in favor of one of the pieces that I actually vocally disagreed with him on:

1. Krang [Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 031]

And finally we come to HIM. The reigning champ, hailing from the far corner of the TMNT set. KRANG. There is so much I can say about this figure and how much I absolutely hate how powerful he is. By himself, he’s capable of changing size, and all increase his combat values. He has to take damage after of course, but where we are really hurt is that in addition to already having Prob (and then outwit and prob), he can also choose a power. This means he can be attacking on turn one with 13 attack, and 6 damage, with prob and whatever power is most worthy at the time. Then, after actions he’s still sitting at 19 defense at least. Now 170 points is a lot, but it’s not the complete total of any team. Pretend we are playing 200 points for the giggles. Add Baxter Stockman [Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 013] for 30 and you’d solved your taking damage problem, and are crushing most teams easily. I refuse to discuss what Juston Seyfert does to put him beyond No. 1 on this list, but if you’re a competitive Heroclix player, you already know :P.

I denied Krang the top slot because as I noted in my No. 4 ranking for this dude, unless you field a very specific 70 points with him, he’s not nearly as potent as the TRUE No. 1 figs of the year, which don’t need specific teammates. But Sceritz is correct in his counterargument: HeroClix is a team game. So we’ve just agreed to disagree here.

Rurouni KJS’s “almost” figs:

Spider-Man [Superior Foes of Spider-Man 049]

For years, WizKids made bad Spider-Men, OK Spider-Men and a few pretty good ones. But not until now has there been a Spidey that was basically perfect, with great moving attack in his melee-only Hypersonic Speed+Super Strength combo, Willpower and Perplex to start, and traited Super Senses immune to Precision Strike. He’s sensational. Spectacular. AMAZING. He’s completely unarmored; that’s his only weak spot. And for a front-line fighter of 100 points, that can be a danger. “Handstand” Spider-Man nearly cartwheels his way to a spot among Heroclixin’s Top Ten of 2016.

Quicksilver [Uncanny X-Men 054]

Quicksilver can use Flurry with Hypersonic Speed and, via his Speed Shadow token trait, hit from around corners, safe from enemy Prob Control. But no Willpower blunts the extreme threat he can represent, and both Plasticity and Smoke Cloud/hindering terrain can utterly ruin his attack access.

Devil Dinosaur [Superior Foes of Spider-Man 054]

He’s a fig who brings help to the fight, with his “Unusual Weapons of Mass Destruction” SP planting pogs similar to Dr. Demonicus in 2015. Indomitable, Devil Dino can then TK one into the fray. The giant-sized red reptile is limited to Sidestep and a plodding 2 Speed, but he’s got the equivalent of THREE STOP CLICKS to start his dial … and then an ACTUAL one to transition to a Battle Furious, Charging B/C/F machine. Thing is, he’s so darn slow that he can be worked around/ignored, and his pog army is more annoying than actually dangerous.

Element Man [World’s Finest 040]

Though his traited Shape Change, Giant Reach and Plasticity are all welcome, it’s his attack SP “Periodic Arsenal” that nearly win him a place on the top list. Being able to pick a power or two means he’s loaded with options. He also has an end-dial spike that’s bananas. And Outsiders TA is strong. If only his SP weren’t counterable or he had better numbers early on.

Raphael [Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 001]

His attack SP grants Flurry and penetrating in close attacks. Combined with 11 AV and Charge and he is a terror of a piece at just 50 points. Lack of Willpower is his undoing.

Harlequin [World’s Finest 053b]

Her “Murderous Jack-In-The-Box On My Back” trait lends some temporary aid in the form of a pog with Ranged Combat Expert and Blades/Claws/Fangs as a free action. This means she can essentially attack every single turn of the game — and because the pog vanishes after actions resolve, she is effectively able to avoid retaliation effects such as Mystics team ability. Later in her dial, she has the option of using a one-time mega Pulse Wave SP at the cost of the trait. She’s also got P/PB to aid her attack skills in between Box shots. Defensively, she relies on the updated Kingdom Come TA (basically Super Senses vs. range). Her weakness is a total lack of armor and limited keywords — just enough to drag her from the list as a Top Ten fig of 2016.

Sunfire [Uncanny X-Men 043b]

Running Shot with high-damage Pulse Wave is one of those archetype offensive power combos in HeroClix, and prime Sunfire is the best such piece this year, especially with his melee-punishing Poison and “Radiating Intense Heat” trait of Energy Shield/Deflection. Not having Willpower is his downfall at his cost.

Iceman [Uncanny X-Men 051]

Now this is an Iceman worth playing. Running Shot with good range and attack values are only the beginning: He can dish out action tokens to hit foes (literally, with two targets) from 7 out. But closing in on him is pointless and dangerous because he can free attack a foe whose square he moved through (With Flight and IM:Characters) but didn’t attack, then freeze that foe until its turn is basically over — no moving, fighting, getting taxied/TK’d away, Outwit/Perplex…nothing. He’d be on the top ten if his damage were higher or if he were cheaper or if he had Willpower.

Taskmaster [Civil War Storyline 026]

While some figs are about picking powers, Tasky is focused on dial control, able to click to the number he wants, then return to the click he started on. In addition to being able to gain the power set needed for the turn, he can take damage from pushing or Mystics or such, then effectively heal the damage. Also a wildcard and Thunderbolt, he can bring a great degree of utility to the right teams — especially if he stands with one who has better stats so he can boost one of his, since his native numbers are so modest.

Johnny Thunder [Joker’s Wild 053a]

“Pick a power” figures are rare and always tend to shine. Johnny is just a little overpriced for his modest numbers or super short-lived at his cheaper point to seriously consider for the tops.

SCERITZ’s “second team”