Earlier in this series, Heroclixin’ wrote that 2011’s Superman set had the mother lode of Legionnaires at 11. But that’s NOTHING compared with 2014’s Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes’ TWENTY-SEVEN.
As you might expect, this set changes the game for the Legion in a big way. Let’s look at how.
Cosmic Boy (Superman & the Legion of Super-Heroes 001) ups the ante on both the Leadership and Telekinesis earlier versions of the character was known for. He bears SP Leadership that works on even the most expensive Legionnaires. His version of TK is even better: It can be used twice for free, and free once more if he has two tokens. And he’s Indomitable. Suddenly, the Legion’s action disadvantage feels a lot more manageable, especially if you can hit those Leaderships. He’s also a Legion Founder, so use the ATA to help land that clutch hit. He’s 90 points the Legion shouldn’t do without. Hidden Charm: Might want to ignore the Indom. to push to click 2, where he gains Running Shot and a double-digit AV to function as a mid-game fighter at need.
Saturn Girl (Superman & the Legion of Super-Heroes 002) is also a marked improvement and update over her pre-2014 predecessors. She’s got the starting Perplex and Mind Control of the Cosmic Justice classic mixed with the Super Senses defense and 2 damage of the 2007 version with the 8 range of both. The 31st Century’s foremost telepath is now more offensive with Penetrating/Psychic Blast and, most of all, starting with click 2, SP Mind Control that’s
- free when she’s untokened
- gives her +1 for tokens on her target
- doesn’t cause her feedback.
At 94 points — or 97 with Legion Founder ATA — she’s a lot pricier than most other Saturn Girls. But she’s better than the older ones combined and still cheaper than the 102-point Gravity Feed version.
Hidden Charm: Keep pushing her as part of a Legion bunker. She gets Energy Shield/Deflection to bolster her DV and Precision Strike to make her MC attacks unevadable. Enhancement is just gravy.
There’s just no comparison in the case of Lightning Lad (Superman & the Legion of Super-Heroes 003) to his now-Golden-Age incarnations. This is a 104-point cannon of a piece: Running Shot, Penetrating/Psychic Blast, Ranged Combat Expert. By mid-dial, he gets the “Arc Lightning” SP made famous by Electro [Amazing Spider-Man 021] but improved — it gets around the new Damage Depletion Modifier rule and is accompanied on most clicks by Precision Strike. He can be part of a bunker or support the heavier hitters on the front line. Hidden Charm: Don’t overlook the Force Blast interspersed along his dial.
Bearing the team’s best starting AV (12) and range (10) and more, Mon-El [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 005b] is the new leading Hypersonic man for the LSH. He’s got an extra TA in Superman Ally, too, and a dial that, while a little short for his 175 points, never quits. His Hidden Charm is that this tentpole is a good bunker fig as well with his Defend+1 trait.
Remember how this series told you to remember Triplicate Girl from Origin, because that REV works well with the T-Girl 206 from this set? Now that Heroclixin’s gotten a look at Triplicate Girl [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 006], the sentiment is, well, tripled. When next to two of her sisters, this 71-pointer gets to roll 3 dice and pick the best two on attacks, and nerf enemy rolls by a d6. She’s short-lived, though, and all but required to be run in multiples. Hidden Charm: Use her full dial of Empower to aid pals in melee.
Shrinking Violet [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 007] brings Stealthed Outwit to the Legion for 75 points, the first member naturally packing the potent power combo. Her Tiny Size makes her easily positioned for best lines of fire. Perplex follows on her back half. Hidden Charm: Her Stealth and high DV make her an ideal anchor for the Legion bunker if the team has access to the JSA TA.
Phantom Girl [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 008] is a surprising 72-point moving attacker with the ability to combo her Phasing/Teleport with a free close combat action against a character she moves through. And that’s not accounting for her ability against objects, relics and resources. Her Hidden Charm is to pick either Incap or Exploit Weakness as her free attack on clicks 2-3.
A long-awaited addition to the Legion, Polar Boy [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 010] brings both another Enhancement and Barrier piece to the team. Both roles are facilitated by a good long run of Sidestep. Double-target SP Incap that drops 2 tokens on a victim instead is icing [heh] on this cake. Then there’s his trait, leading to his Hidden Charm: Heroclixin’ has gone on quite a bit about the “Legion bunker” tactic that was about the only way to run the team for a number of years. But I’m sure some readers have considered that, in the modern game, this tactic is just asking to be rudely treated to Energy Explosion attacks. Polar Boy’s trait makes him, his adjacent pals, and any OTHER targets the foe’s also looking to light up immune to Energy Explosion.
Sensor Girl [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 011] makes up somewhat for the crushing disappointment that was Princess Projectra [Superman]. First, she has better utility with
- natural 5 range Barrier instead of 4 for Barrier only;
- She starts with PC instead of ending with it;
- She has a decent 10 AV and 3 damage;
- She starts Stealthy;
- And she has traited enemy-only Perplex on AV or DV.
All this works superbly for her because with Improved Targeting: hindering and Characters, she can do it from the back of a Legion bunker. She’s not quite the ultimate supporting figure for the team, but she’s definitely among the best. Hidden Charm: Her DV holds pretty solidly, so don’t be afraid to push.
Tyroc [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 012] is a combo of relatively straightforward 96-point mobile shooter and rainbow-dialed Leadership figure. A little soft-shelled, but never lands on a bad click thanks to Pulse Wave and 2-bolt Incap showing later. Hidden Charm: Use the alternating Running Shot and Force Blast clicks to his advantage.
With the average Legion member rating about 100 points nowadays, it was time for a new Timber Wolf [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 015]. 97 points gives us a basic Indomitable, Charge+BCF Battle Fury fig. Later, he gets a little range ability via SP and free Regen if he’s on the attack. Hidden Charm: He ignores characters for movement, so use him to tie up — and beat up — whomever he wants.
Ultra Boy [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 018] is a new heavy hitter for the Legion. He’s got three SPs each offering him the choice of two to three powers:
- Charge or Running Shot;
- Super Strength, Penetrating/Psychic Blast or Energy Explosion;
- Impervious or ESD and Super Senses
…allowing the Indomitable Ultra Boy to adjust to the situation he faces. But it’s his Improved Targeting that may be the true Hidden Charm that makes him worth his 165 points and more as he sees through hindering and blocking alike for both attacking and using less aggressive powers, too, such a themed team PC or Superman Enemy Outwit via the Legion Lost ATA.
Blok [Superman & the Legion of Super-Heroes 020] is a standard brick for the LSH, with one important addition: INDOMITABLE. He’s one of the few Indom. characters at all for the team. Part of the problem is that the LSH has been no-shows in so many of the sets since the ability was created. He’s a little slow, but it matters a lot less when he’s Charging regardless of characters and through wall. Hidden Charm: Willpower and his starting stats make him a good candidate for chaining combat values through either Batman Enemy or Justice Society TAs. Choose your Legion Lost ATA wisely.
Wildfire [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 021] is a LOT more costly than the 2011 or 2005 versions at a whopping 180 points. But he gets the immediate mobility of the Legacy REV with the mid-dial heal ability of the Superman rare, only better in both regards: He improves on AV and gets TWO “stop” clicks with high DV, armor and free Regeneration. He’s a hell of a Pulse Wave fig, too, with a SP that hits multiples with his normal damage using the power. Hidden Charm: Poison on his Regen clicks might be the way to go. Phase to a soft target that can’t get through his armor.
Gates [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 022] singlehandedly solves the one of the biggest problems the Legion’s always had, of being a team full of taxis that badly needed one themselves. His Speed SP allows him to carry 4 pals, fliers or not. He can set up the Legion bunker by himself, sparing the actual members the actions. He pushes to Perplex on click 2. Simply put, he belongs on every LSH team, ever. He’ll show up on many NON-Legion teams, too. Hidden Charm: With his 4-6 Super Senses, the little bug also makes for a decently survivable tie-up piece at need.
Dawnstar [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 030] looks like the first downgrade among the new remakes, being more expensive [81 points] and losing both the opening Willpower that made the Crisis Dawny so effective and the AV boost she gave against a given target. But this one’s ability to clear the whole team’s LOF to an otherwise hidden target more than makes up for the losses. She’s still Hypersonic, too. Hidden Charm: She’s much more survivable, DV-wise.
Chameleon Girl [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 031] brings a lot of options to the team in a 115-point package aside from her Charge, thanks to two “beginning of turn” skills.
- Pick boot, wing or dolphin symbol in case you need her to be carryable, to fly or to swim this turn.
- Pick Tiny symbol or Giant symbol or normal in case you want her carryable/hard to shoot or to see/punch over stuff or neither this turn.
- Pick Incap and Poison or Combat Reflexes and Exploit Weakness or Flurry and Sidestep.
Hidden Charm? Her whole everything is a hidden charm, sometimes literally thanks to traited Stealth and Shape Change. But really, it’s her many clicks of Perplex, which work well with her shifting abilities.
Whereas the first version way back in 2006’s Giants set was little more than an oversized support piece, today’s Colossal Boy [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 032] is a 154-point beastick with Charge and Impervious and great stats. Unlike nearly every other giant, he can shrink to human height or grow even bigger via his Size Change trait, giving him unparalleled flexibility.
Need to avoid LOF from Penetrating/Psychic Blast threats? Choose normal symbol.
Want to sock a target two squares away? Giant symbol.
Have two tokens [because he’s Indomitable] and need to act anyway? Colossal symbol, which adds bonus Impervious from range attacks.
Hidden Charm: Play him with Chameleon Girl and put her in harm’s way to activate his wall-smashing, no-breakaway needed, free action full-speed Charge to retaliate.
The game — and the Legion — has come a long way since the original Shadow Lass REV first made the team viable for the first time. The newest Shadow Lass [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 035] is a rather different kind of fig. Rather than Defending a Legion bunker, she serves to guard members from enemy fire with her special traited Smoke Cloud, which totally prevents line of fire to friends and prevent enemies from seeing, period. Paired with a Telekinesis ally, she can exert an extreme degree of control over the game’s pace. Not bad for 78 points, though it’s the only thing she’s got to offer. Hidden Charm: With 3 damage or Incap or Flurry or CCE along her dial, she’s got the melee ability to deal with attackers who tire of her shadowplay.
Glorith [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 036] is the new PC specialist for the Legion, bearing a little more than the old Dream Girl with Perplex bundled in, too. A hit — or push — leads to a dial-long run of Pulse Wave. She frequently also has Toughness and, always Super Senses. Rather costly at 83 points for a short life, though. Hidden Charm: Team her up with the Black Witch for access to the Mystics TA.
Computo [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 045] is barely a Legionnaire; indeed, he’s more like a tool-turned-enemy-turned-tool-again. But he’s got the keyword and so should be looked at. The rogue robot is loaded with features:
- Anti-object/relic/resource tech: Because he can target foes equipped with or even within a square of objects, Computo can really screw with enemy forces.
- He’s a rare Legionnaire that can be carried, if only on his first click.
- Flurry, Precision Strike, Quake.
- With CHARGE.
- GIANT REACH CHARGE.
- AND OUTWIT!!!!
This ‘bot may be undercosted at 144 points, especially against the right team. Hidden Charm: A rare non-affiliated member with the keyword, he’ll need the Legion Lost ATA to have access to a team ability. [Robot ATA is no good on a Legion team since he’s the only one with the prerequisite TA.
The appearance of Superboy [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 046], the first-ever classic “Superman When He Was A Boy” figure actually NAMED Superboy, adds another beater to the Legion front line with his 8 range, 11 AV and 4 damage. But he works well as a bunker character, too, thanks first to his trait granting Leadership and, for cheaper adjacent allies, Willpower. Then there’s his Enhancement —and, later, Empower — making him great for his teammates at either his 175 or 100 cost. Hidden Charm: His SP granting melee-only HSS can combine with the Force Blast also bundled within it.
White Witch [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 047a] is one heck of a nerf piece: she can either effectively Outsider a whole enemy team at the cost of a power action, or she can cap enemies’ free actions at one for free. She also ignores the Mystics TA and, most blessedly for the Legion, is the team’s first healer starting on click 2. Though it’s unlikely she’ll see enough combat to rack up the hits, she can Battlefield Promote into her Black Witch persona. Hidden Charm: With her beau Blok, she can use Mastermind on him and stick around a good long time.
Black Witch [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 047b], the darker version of the mage, would be overpriced at 170 points if all she brought was offensive firepower, copious though it might be: Starting Penetrating/Psychic Blast that shifts to Energy Explosion and ends on PW with RCE, Ppx and MC interspersed. It’s her trait that makes her a bit more worth running, as she can pull in 20 points’ worth of relics into the game. At the very least, that’s nigh-indestructible hindering terrain for the Stealthy. Hidden Charm: Thanks to traited Defend and DV that never drops below 17, she’s perfect for a Legion bunker. She’s also a lot more durable than most centerpieces for the tactic with her Invincible and Invulnerability stacking atop Mystics TA.
Tellus [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 048] is all about the telepathic link trait allowing pals within 4 squares of him to see through other pals within 4 squares of him. This alleviates a big problem with the swarming team that is the Legion of Super-Heroes constantly blocking each other’s LOF. He also serves as a TK and PC fig. Well worth the 82 price. Hidden Charm: Add Mind Control to the mix, and Tellus is yet another welcome support star for the LSH.
On a Legion team, Mon-El [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 102] wastes a lot of his 200 points on the useless Green Lantern Corps TA. But he’s still a solid figure, bearing 2-bolt 8 range, Running Shot, bundled Barrier/Penetrating/Psychic Blast/Energy Explosion/ESD, and his usual Impervious and high damage. Hidden Charm: But hey. There’s a relic that could make that GLC TA so NOT useless.
Shrinking Violet [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes 103], the third iteration of the character in this set alone, is all support with her starting Perplex that shifts to Enhancement then ends with a run of Empower. It’s frankly really hard to see how she costs 75 points…this should be a cheaper dial. Hidden Charm: She shares the “Morph: Shrinking Violet” trait to be able to turn to either of the others, or to pull her in if you need this one’s powerset.
And, finally, one last piece that’s not a figure but belongs on nearly every Legion team:
Legion Flight Ring [Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes S102] is easy to pick up [3-6 roll] and, in addition to granting the Wing symbol, Legion of Super-Heroes keyword and Defend and Toughness, it allows fliers to be carried. Hidden Charm: It can be fielded in multiples, too. At 5 points, it’s the perfect points filler for a Legion team.
Next: There’s one more thing to examine when focusing on the Legion of Super-Heroes: Team abilities. Check Heroclixin’s take soon!
