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RKJS writes below:
No. 5
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Hawkeye [Avengers Defenders War 067]
Perhaps the best way to review this piece is with STORY TIME!
I was playing my semi-comic accurate team of Authority (from 2014’s The Flash set) and Planetary (from 2017’s Elseworlds). Though the new Bifrost map was fairly open, I felt safe enough to advance a few squares and set up my squad in a 3×3 formation. They’d be fine.
But Hawkeye was on the other team and got flung forward with HENRY in tow. And then he activated his trait
RAPID-FIRE TRICK SHOOTING: Hawkeye can use Running Shot. Each time Hawkeye hits an opposing character with a range attack, after actions resolve, he can use Running Shot again as a free action, but only to target a character that wasn’t attacked this turn.
He hit my stealthed Midnighter. Thanks, IT:hindering!
He hit my Jenny Sparks in the middle. Thanks, IT:Characters!
He hit my Apollo. Thanks, Precision Strike!
He hit my Elijah Snow.
He hit my Swift.
He hit my Jakita Wagner.
He hit my Doctor.
He hit my Drummer.
Who else can do that in one turn? No one can do that. (Well, maybe one other. But that’s a fig from another year and another story)
Prior to the 2017 rules, Hawkguy was held in check by the Damage Depletion Modifier, which would take his additional shots’ damage to a base 1. But now he can deal vast damage to a whole team with a single costed action. With no bad clicks and an AV of 11 for most of his life, he’s top tier even at 65 points.

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RKJS: Though I nominated all the Shredders for consideration, it was Sceritz who said Mini rose as the cream of the crop. Taylor writes about him at No. 6.

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Mini Shredder [Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Return 033] 

TBT: The TMNT series of Heroclix has always been a cache of surprises: from the original sketch chase pieces, to the super turtles, and now Shredders galore!

The Shredder chases are all strong, but Mini takes the cake. He shares the longest dial of eight clicks — matched only by the 40-point-extra Shark Shredder — He supports the most consistent dial like the Claw Shredder, and to top it all off… TINY SIZE. He’s got a mess of powers to contend with, a fine mix of attack (Precision Strike) and support (Empower), traited Sidestep with penetrating damage, Indomitable, and a Plasticity/Stealth combo power. All top-dial.

It gets a little easier if you manage to knock him down a few clicks, but if you play against him it’s still a headache. This is my favorite part — if you kill him, you have to do it AGAIN. I don’t know the story-based TMNT shenanigans behind the Shredder’s “Mystical Worms” trait, but it’s amazing. What’s the saying? Kill me once, shame on you — kill me twice, shame on me? This is a 90-point, 11-click TINY-SIZE MONSTER. Very deservedly on the 2017 Top Ten.

 

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This one was Sceritz’s nominee. he writes below:

No. 7

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Merc With a Mouth [Deadpool and X-Force 060]
This is possibly one of my favorite figures from last year, and I have to say that it is very difficult to get your bang for the buck of 70 points from a figure as well as you do out of this Deadpool. First of all, he’s 8 clicks long, for 70 points. That alone is enough reason to play him. With dial that switches from decent range to close combat, and the ability to heal pretty regularly, I’d say that he’s worth it already. But what makes him really tick is the ability to spend 2 of his title character plot points to pulling a nighthawk prime for a turn. This means that opposing characters cannot increase their combat values. Do this at the right time and you can completely throw an opponent off their game and swing it in your favor. I wouldn’t recommend gunning for it, but if you do happen to gain 6 plot points he’s also got the “Bullet Time” capability to shoot up the opposing team pretty darn bad. Again, I wouldn’t base a strategy around this, but it’s a nice move to have in your back pocket. He is a solid secondary attacker for any team with enough utility to make it worth it. An absolutely annoyingly effective figure.

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RKJS named and wrote about

No. 8

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Peace Machine [What If? 043]
He doesn’t seem to belong here at first. At the not-dirt-cheap cost of 50 points, he does 0 damage and is only four clicks long. How does this make the Top Ten?
Because of his trait, which works like the old-school battlefield condition card, Power Dampener: No one takes damage greater than 3. One-hit KOs are all but impossible. There’s also his high 19 DV, his ever-useful Sidestep+Telekinesis combo, 7-range Outwit, Flight and his 3-range Force Blast, giving him another use beyond pure support.
Speaking of which, on his back half he gets Support. Plasticity, too, can give him some use as minor board control.
His ability to blunt the brute force of so many teams and offer so many pit crew powers all while being cheap enough to build around, earns him a spot on our list of the best figures of 2017.

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I really expected to have to fight to add this one to the list, but both Sceritz and TBT named him on their own. Here’s my review:

No. 9

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Kite Man [Harley Quinn and the Gotham Girls 044]

WHY IT’S ONE OF THE BEST: 10 speed. Two passengers. 4 clicks of life protected by 17 Energy Shield/Deflection for just 15 points. He’s supplanted 2016 Top Ten figure Overdrive as the game’s best taxi.

WHY IT’S HERE ON THE LIST INSTEAD OF HIGHER: Well, OK, Overdrive still brings a lot of intangibles that Kite Man lacks, and one wonders how much better this fig might be with more keywords (Gotham City Underworld is all he’s got) or points saved from not having his Batman Enemy TA, which he’s not likely contributing to or benefiting from. And there’s that almost useless beginning of turn free “sidestep” when he’s holding an object — because he’s primarily a taxi and can’t carry allies and objects at the same time, when is he ever gonna use it?

But, y’know, no one really cares about those drawbacks. Because he’s KITE MAN. And one of the top figs of the year.

 

…

 

…Hell, yeah.

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Last year, Sceritz and site master RKJS each delivered full-blown lists and reviews for the Top Ten. But this year, with so many clix released, our top picks were much more identical than 2016’s lot. Plus, with Taylor’s addition, three top tens might’ve been too much. So each of us picked a member of our Top Ten to write on.

No. 10 was chiefly Sceritz’s nomination. I had to be convinced he belonged, but he crowded out my nomination, and after reading Sceritz’s review, the case is strong.

No. 10

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Wiz Kid [Deadpool and X-Force 059b]
 For 25 points, if you are capable of protecting him, he is invaluable on almost any team. Providing increased attack, damage and range, you are capable of dishing out more with higher probability. Push him to his second click and you gain access to Sidestep, making his positioning that much more effective. He starts with an 18 defense so he’s not exactly a sure hit, and if someone does manage to KO him, he’s only 25 points, and the rest of your team is likely still capable enough to take on the opposition.
His keywords aren’t extremely synergetic but with people like Quicksilver and Iceman who can attack without necessarily being right next to their targets, this can be a useful means of dealing extra damage and keeping the team safe at the same time. Adding him on any team can make them frustratingly more deadly.

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HAPPY 2018!

We online!

After a trying 2017, Heroclixin’ is on track to getting back to a regular posting schedule. And to kick things off, here’s our annual look at the best HeroClix figures of the past year!

For the first time, it’s truly a group effort. A year ago, webmaster RKJS invited Sceritz to weigh in on his top picks. Now we’re welcoming Taylor, aka The Baker Tay, aka TBT, to join as a Heroclixin’ contributor:

A great thank-you to Rkjs for inviting me to write for his blog. Heroclixin’ has been my go-to site for Heroclix-based reading, and I’ve been through much of the archive. My introduction to the “F.U.N” way to play really set me up for a love of the game, and led to my volunteering to judge at our local shop. Now, without further ado; LET’S DO THIS.

As always, there are a few criteria:

  • We’re looking at Modern Age only.
  • We’re considering the 300-point game, which filters out certain high-cost pieces that might otherwise dominate the list.
  • Figures only. Despite the overwhelming effect of resources and equipment and ID cards, they’re not being considered for a Top Ten Clix list.
  • By the same token, any fig that needs a resource or equipment to be strong isn’t making the list. And that goes for ID card characters as well.
  • But the top characters also need to be able to handle the presence of such tactics as resources or ID cards.

Prelims are done. Stay tuned in the early days of January for our list, culled from a record number of figures released. Next we’ll look at the very WORST the year had to offer, then wrap up with our favorites. Hope you enjoy.