With peons and backups out of the way, Morrison’s ready to get fitted for the real heavy metal.
Corner Stone Pieces
FCBD Iron Man
Class– Primary/Secondary Attacker
You might point out that he does not have Armor keyword. But dear reader, each of the other figures with the same sculpt have Armor, as do the other Iron Man figures with Scientist, Avengers, S.H.E.I.L.D., which this guy has. [So there! — Editor RKJS]
For a while, this guy, SI Spidey, and Namor were my go-to Avengers team. This guy excels especially in low point games where you might not face Outwit, but will face high-ish damage. That makes his “Invincible” SP stand out. After a couple of shots he’ll go down fast, but with a 10 range, copyable S.H.I.E.L.D. TA, and Running Shot, you should be able to stay decently away from the fighting. That 11 attack can go a long way.
(On the theme of considering his lack of Armor keyword, if several Colossus pieces can have Armor, then this guy and August General in Iron should have the keyword as well.)
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Box
Class – secondary attacker, support
Box isn’t the best by any stretch, but he was an early favorite figure of mine (my usual team back then was Box, Hood, and Rampaging Hulk). He suffers from Alpha Flight syndrome (low attack for the points). But with natural 3 damage, and 18 defense, you only really ever need his opening Perplex to boost his attack or reduce opposing defense. His giant SP can be potentially useful. His consistent damage reducers and innate nanobots SP keep him in the game longer.
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Annihilus
Class– Corner Stone
Psychic Blast, Running Shot, 10 range, and 4 damage for a good figure does make. Mid-dial Regeneration could profoundly help you, especially if he has Automatic Regeneration, but the Running Shot + Pulse Wave combo might be even better if you are positioned correctly.
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AV Spider-Man
Class – secondary Attacker
This Spider-Man is quite possibly one of the best secondary attackers in the game. His first click is certainly formidable, with 11 attack with Super Strength and Outwit. But it’s the second and third clicks that especially stand out. With double targets his “Webbing” SP impedes your opponent tremendously. Shape Change also comes in handy in lieu of the later WOS Spidey’s Super – Duper senses.
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Iron Widow
Class– Corner Stone
This dial has three distinct phases: three first 3 clicks (aggressive attack), middle 2 (Outwitting sniper), and the final 2 (penetrating sniper). 4 clicks of Mastermind may not seem useful, but as good as those clicks are, it is a wise investment to protect these clicks (see the first section). Make full use of her Ultimates TA. For feats, consider Contingency Plan, as late dial stat-boosting will certainly come in handy.
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E & V War Machine
HoT War Machine
Class – Primary Attacker/Cornerstone
Considering the age of 2 of these 3 pieces, all are phenomenal. The experienced Armor Wars version is a solid investment for slightly more than 1/3 of a conventional build total. EE and 8 double target range makes the Vet the perfect piece to push and heal with Recharge. For 13 pts more, the FCBD War Machine brings three clicks of natural 4 damage, for s total of 5 clicks capable of dealing more than 3 damage. The reason these figures are so affordably priced is that their defensive numbers are somewhat low, but each flouts near dials full of damage reducers. These low point values ensure that Rhodes will have friends to draw fire and support. Truly stellar pieces.
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OK, there’s the mid-range suits of Armor settled with. Thursday, Morrison assesses the top-of-the-line of metallic face-kicking fashion.