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In all fairness, across 20 years of HeroClix, what’s considered “bad” has changed a lot. The worst pieces in 2002 are WAY more terrible than this past year’s junk.

But someone’s gotta be in last place, so here we go, in no particular order because who wants to do all that work???

——

Noh-Varr (Avengers Forever 034) 50 points

av4e034

Screen Shot 2022-12-25 at 8.02.07 PM

Bearing trait Super Senses, IM:Elevated and Running Shot+Energy Explosion+RCE, he doesn’t seem bad at all for the points, especially with a STOP click.

…which, instead of saving him, actually insta-KOs him unless he’s by himself. It’s kinda comic accurate, but WOW.

  • BOTTOM LINE: His other SP on that click is “This Fight Is Over” and in his case, that’s actually usually true.

——

Redroot the Forest (X-Men X of Swords Storyline 039) 70 points

redroot 039

Screen Shot 2022-12-25 at 8.00.55 PM

Oh, I want to like this one so much. FREE damage and terrain wreckage seems good.

But she has to get into range. THEN get to POWER Smoke Cloud — while hiding in Stealth with no other defenses (though she can Defend others) — then hope she can actually do something to an enemy. Her 3 target Incap would be great if she had ANY range or Charge. But nah … she’s a mess, esp. at her top dial.

  • BOTTOM LINE: She might be able to sneak into effectiveness at 40 points, but overall she’s kinda rotten

——

Lockheed (X-Men X of Swords 008)  45 points

xmxs008

Screen Shot 2022-12-25 at 7.45.13 PM

Another Defend piece. He can slip in a FREE attack when enemies attack. But it doesn’t function with his Energy Explosion, and that makes him not a great use of 45 points.

  • BOTTOM LINE: I’d love him at 25 or maybe even 35 points. As is, this tiny dragon is bloated

——

Synch (X-Men X of Swords 019) 70 points

xmxs019

Screen Shot 2022-12-25 at 7.43.50 PM

When this dial was revealed, I thought my prayers for a proper Synch had finally been answered. He could finally — FINALLY — copy the powers he needs like the in the comics. But then I saw: “This turn” meaning he’s virtually defenseless: No reducers, no Stealth, no Shape Change, No Senses to help him survive opponents’ turns.

Plus, despite a free healing trait, he needs OTHERS to heal first to use it.

And on top of all else, he can only copy displayed powers — doesn’t key off SPs or traits — and those only from characters who aren’t giant OR colossal OR tiny OR pogs OR enemies OR out of line of fire

  • BOTTOM LINE: He looks really bad next to the similarly powered Hope Summers. A 70-point fig should be more self-sufficient and not just dead/defenseless if he happens to be the last guy standing.

Same problem goes for the OTHER Synch:

Synch (Hellfire Gala 007) 75 points

MHG-006_Synch_HiresRender_file_1660193822

Screen Shot 2022-12-25 at 7.42.07 PM

No defenses AGAIN. Depending on teammates AGAIN (this time for them to roll for the Gala trait so he can copy ONE of some X-Man’s standard power). And SP Perplex that does himself very little good. He’s also wasting points on Incap for some reason.

  • BOTTOM LINE: Maybe don’t waste points on him for any reason (outside a Hellfire Gala team)

——

 Magik (X-Men X of Swords 102a) 30 points

Screen Shot 2022-12-25 at 7.37.21 PM

Leap/Climb is a spectacular waste of a power on a character with Flight. Even as a training figure, that’s a spectacular waste, as the only extra benefit is easier breakaway from Plasticity, which doesn’t even show up in the starter set she’s from.

  • BOTTOM LINE: What a spectacular waste

——

Monica Rambeau (Disney Plus 026) 45 points

Screen Shot 2022-12-25 at 7.36.45 PM

She’s there to sort of defend other allies. But she kinda needs the same defense boost she offers others for her price point, esp. since she’s doing zip else with 0 range and zero moving attack powers. Her common variant is better at nearly half the cost.

  • BOTTOM LINE: She’s a zero

——

Thor (War of the Realms Fast Forces 001b) 75 points

ffwotr001v

Screen Shot 2022-12-25 at 7.35.51 PM

This many points for this few clicks? And his cool SP doesn’t show until he’s hit hard. And then he’s just got Toughness to protect him before he’s an easy KO.

  • BOTTOM LINE: UNWORTHY.

——

Moon Knight (War of the Realms 032) 70 points

wotr032

Screen Shot 2022-12-25 at 7.33.26 PM

His trait depends on him getting hit, which is … less than ideal. His SP depends on him hitting. But it’s not on his top dial where, ideally, he’d stay — and with him being a Running Shot piece, the SP’s emphasis on melee powers like Quake, BCF and Steal Energy seems wasteful. Maybe could’ve left them off and saved 10+ points.

  • BOTTOM LINE: I don’t even have anything cute to say

——

Iron Man (Avengers Forever 014) 50 points

av4e014

 

Screen Shot 2022-12-25 at 7.29.28 PM

Soooo I think the point is he’s supposed to stand in place and defend allies or something. Which would be OK with longer range, but 6 is really average. Then later, Outwit shows, which would be way more welcome top dial — and, again, with longer range.

  • BOTTOM LINE: It’s giving me bad old Iron Man fig energy

——

Hulk (War of the Realms 009) 70 points

wotr009

Screen Shot 2022-12-25 at 7.28.00 PM

Basically a tie-up fig for 70 points. He’d be effective at 70 points with Improved Movement to ensure he can get in faces. Or Plasticity — even at 70 points — to keep there. But without those things, he’s just a highly ignorable 70 points. Or 70 points you need to dedicate another piece or pieces to make work.

  • BOTTOM LINE: Hulk mashed

——

Empath (X-Men X of Swords 008)  75 points

Empath

Screen Shot 2022-12-25 at 7.26.12 PM

At 75 points, this is a single-target Mind Control piece that HAS to land that attack or he’s utter trash, Masterminding attacks to teammates who are probably more useful than he is. Meanwhile, his low dial lacks the stats to make him effective.

  • BOTTOM LINE: He’s a bottom feeder.

————

OK, that’s enough of this garbage. I’m going to hold my nose and use each of them effectively on a team in the coming months.

But before that, next up: Heroclixin’s top 10 (or so) favorites of 2022.

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In principle, legacy cards are a F.U.N. way to bring some old pieces back into Modern/Silver play, rework some old figs that never really worked right before (or don’t anymore due to rule changes).

In practice? Well, let’s see. Here’s the latest batch, from 2022’s Avengers Forever set.

———

L006 Black Knight
(Fantastic Forces, 2005)

 

L006_file_1666750717

THEN: Dane Whitman here was nearly as basic a Charging Exploit piece as you could get. Sure, he had the then-new Transporter Move And Attack ability (Hypersonic Speed, but only when not adjacent to enemies and at -2 Attack) but for 77 points, you could and would play something better, even in those pre-card days.

NOW: He gains the Defenders TA along with his original Avengers and a trio of traits:

  • 1. Hypersonic Speed proper;
  • 2. Super Senses and Combat Reflexes;
  • 3. A complicated one called “Honor Bound Not Kill” that first gives him Close Combat Expert but also grants bonuses for hitting but not KOing enemies (token removal or healing or Mercy tokens, which up his AV).

F.U.N.? He’s a 50-point Charge piece. His Exploit Weakness notwithstanding, he’s not a scary enemy. So we’ll rate him pure F.U.N.: Useful and Nifty enough but Friendly for casual play as well.

———

L012 Hawkeye
(Fantastic Forces, 2005)

 

L012_file_1666324562

THEN: 84 points was his base cost, but sky cycle Hawkeye was always played with the powerful Trick Shot feat allowing him to shoot through friends and enemies — and defeat the far-more-impenetrable-back-then Stealth — with impunity from 10 range. He was also a Transporter.

NOW: Busted down to 50 points, he gains a trait “Training the Thunderbolts” that mimics the now completely defunct T-Bolts Alternate Team Ability feat that used to go on every Avengers team if possible. He also has a “Trick Shots From The Sky Cycle” trait that boosts his AV and DV each time he hits — and when he maxes on those modifications, he can pick a power on his card to use.

F.U.N.? It encourages aggressive play in a neat way, without veering into game-breaking territory. We like it.

———

L024 Black Panther
(Avengers, 2007)

 

av024

THEN: I wrote pretty effusively about this 92-point piece when he was new, especially in comparison with the BPs we’d had before:

He’s the great fighter he’s supposed to be, with an 11 Attack Value that never slides below 9, where the Infinity Challenge vet PEAKED. His three Blades/Claws/Fangs slots aren’t all front-loaded but are spread down the dial. He’s as much a thinker as a fighter, with double the Outwit (4 clicks in total) and Perplex everywhere else, including the opening slot. Like the IC vet, he lacks natural Stealth and instead has a full dial of Leap/Climb. But he’s a wildcard, giving him much more flexibility. Defensively, he sports Toughness and Super Senses to give him life in the fray, and his lone bare click, his last, spikes back up to a 17 value.

But a lot that was good about him — feats, 10-range Outwit, Perplex on  his damage, Leap/Climb, wild card TA — has suffered or vanished altogether over the many years since summer 2007. So he could use an update.

NOW: Though slimmed down to 60 points, he gains a version of the classic “Out of the Shadows” SP in a trait (if he’s in hindering, FREE place him within 4 squares and line of fire) and another trait “Diplomatic Immunity” that keeps him from being shot at or Outwitted if he’s already been attacked that turn. He also gets Stealth.

But … he lost the Avengers keyword somehow.

F.U.N.? Seriously, how does a longtime Avenger in a set called Avengers Forever who had the Avengers keyword on the original figure not get the keyword?

 

———

L033 Tigra
(Fantastic Forces, 2005)

 

L033_file_1666581181

THEN: Stealth + Blades + Super Senses was what 54 points often bought you.

NOW: Her nondescript dial is enhanced — and lengthened — by her “Nine Lives” trait that spends up to nine of her Lives tokens to heal up that many clicks.

F.U.N.? Yes. A simple, svelte upgrade well worth the 40 point price.

———

L035 Jarvis
(Avengers Assemble, 2015)

 

L034_file_1666586626

THEN: He boosted the ID card meta at the time, sporting also a trait that kept him from damage while next to an Avenger. Granting fellow Avengers IM/IT:Hindering rounded out his utility for 40 points.

NOW: He lost all ID card interaction in favor of a new trait allowing him to clear out terrain markers within 4 squares. That’s OK, I guess? He kept a version of his damage resistance when adjacent to Avengers, but it’s no longer Protected: Outwit.

F.U.N.? I suppose? The new version loses a LOT of utility at only 5 points shaved.

 

———

L036 Agent Coulson
(Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD, 2015)

 

L036_file_1666576772

THEN: Agent Coulson had Penetrating/Psychic Blast and Energy Explosion on his SP, the latter of which was not good on him at the time. He also had a SP with Enhancement and Leadership on 2 figs instead of one. But all this cost 75 points, and even his Field Team Backup trait giving corner-case Prob couldn’t help make him playable.

NOW: He’s slashed to 45 points. His Attack SP is Incap+damage instead, now, and his damage SP is Outwit+Leadership, with the ability to generate a SHIELD Operative from the set. But his real worth is the Sideline Active trait that brings him into the game from free if a 50-plus-point SHIELD Leadership roll works.

F.U.N.? Definitely as a main force fig. As a sideliner, he is potential meta material.

———

L039 Cosmo
(Avengers Infinity, 2018)

 

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THEN: I wrote a bit about him when I used to collect and play Guardians of the Galaxy figs.

He’s prime TK for the team. He also bears Outwit (and immunity to same) with IT:Hindering. Mind Control (with +1 AV against multitargets) is hampered a little by 6 range, as is his second damage power to shut down POWER actions. Fortunately, he doesn’t need LOF for that SP. His last click is Charge with 12 AV and BCF and Battle Fury. … His short, unarmored dial is his one weakness, especially for [70] points.

NOW: He’s absolutely slashed in price to 45 points and gets much more useful SPs for the savings. His first still grants basic Mind Control, but … well, read it.

CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER OF K.N.O.W.H.E.R.E. AND I SAID NO!! Mind Control. // POWER: Choose a standard power. Until your next turn, Cosmo has “Opposing characters within range can’t use the chosen power.”

His other SP, which doesn’t appear until clicks 2-4, is Outwit that makes the target Immobile. It’s harder to use because he can’t get to those clicks without help. And I suppose it’s why he’s not more points.

F.U.N.? Nah. Being able to quasi-Outwit potentially a whole team without an attack or even line of fire is pretty busted. This is a meta piece that will be a little difficult to deal with.

———

L040 Captain America
(Hammer of Thor, 2009)

 

L040_file_1666577179

THEN: He made Heroclixin’ first Top 10 of the Year list, back in late 2009:

Cap seems a bit of a disappointment until you note his special power “Deflection Trajectory.” Only walls and indoor blocking terrain block his line of fire. This means he can shoot:
  • past characters, friend or foe (take that, Sharpshooters)
  • around buildings
  • from the middle of a roof to the ground, or vice versa
  • at Stealthed characters
  • at characters using the Camouflage feat(!)
  • through Barrier(!!)

Improved Targeting wasn’t really a thing back then and so he was extra special, even at a slightly weighty 72 points for how otherwise sparse his dial is.

NOW: He’s just 50 points and his SP loses the IT:Outdoor Blocking he used to have. He gains a trait that heals a friendly character 2 clicks when he removes an action token from them — himself included.

F.U.N.? As noted above, he’s a lot less special now. Pure F.U.N.

———

L043 Darkstar
(Captain America, 2011)

 

L043_file_1666749512

THEN: Heroclixin’ noted her as one of a new crop of characters who kinda introduced FREE Smoke Cloud to the game back in 2011. We thought it was fine on her, being a Phasing TK and Barrier piece at nearly 100 points, but could be problematic on cheaper figs.

NOW: Cut WAY down from 98 to 50 points, she becomes that problematic cheaper fig. Her old SP granting Toughness and Barrier now gives her the reducer and the ability to turn up to half her Smoke into blocking, a la Molecule Man. 

F.U.N.? Along with Stealth, she is a piece that could very well make the meta once Molecule Man retires. Marginally F.U.N. in our opinion.

———

L044 Ursa Major
(Captain America, 2011)

L044_file_1666748639

THEN: Wait, forget what we said about Black Knight earlier: THIS was as basic and unremarkable a Charging brick as you could get, despite existing well into the carded fig era. A bloated 102 points gave nothing interesting — you played him because you were running some sort of theme or not at all.

NOW: He slims down to a much more appropriate 75 points with a trait boosting his DV +2 if he’s in 6 squares of enemies and his AV +2 if he’s adjacent to multiple foes.

F.U.N.? Yes. Unbearably so. (Sorry, couldn’t resist)

———

L048 Kang the Conqueror
(Supernova, 2006)

 

L048_file_1666581745

THEN: I mostly liked him back in the day.

At nearly 200 points, a 9-click dial with only one click of starting Invulnerability is a bit of a disappointment. But most of those clicks are excellent, and a 13 attack (WITH Running Shot!) in today’s game shouldn’t be passed up.

NOW: He loses 74 points of cost because the old point formula got COMPLETELY jettisoned some years ago, obviously. He gains a “Master of Time” trait that gains him Time tokens on hits that he can rack up to boost distinct values or spend (up to 3) to heal up. So that opening 10/13/18/4 can become 11/14/19/5 when he has 4+ Time tokens.

F.U.N.? Seems OK to us!

———

L050 MODOK
(Captain America, 2011)

 

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THEN: We had F.U.N. with him leading MODOK’s 11 back in 2011, though he’s overpriced at 160 points to just be a flying PPBing brick. Sure, he had a Pulse Wave SP on his back half that could selectively not hit his chosen keyword allies, but his soft defense at that point kept him from using it very often.

NOW: In addition to keeping the above PW SP, he gains a lot of new tricks. First, he can carry now, which is important for 2) traited Leadership and Mastermind, the former of which can generate minion pogs that 3) gain the AIM keyword. 4) AIM characters rack up Mission Points each turn instead of dealing damage if you like.

All this for exactly HALF the original cost, though. WizKids is wild.

F.U.N.? This piece looks F.U.N. as hell.

———

L067 Rick Jones
(Avengers Assemble, 2015)

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THEN: The first bonafide chase piece to legacy’d, Rick was also a bonafide meta figure back in the day. He started by spawning a Captain America pog, one of three bystanders on his card he could send into battle while staying safe in the back, generating a different when/if the previous one was lost. He also had 10 range TK/PPB, so he could get them into the fray with relative ease. Finally, he had a DOUBLE POWER that could token up every foe in the game under certain circumstances.

NOW: He can still spawn those bystanders on his card and send them into battle while staying safe in the back. He loses the TK and PPB for 10 range Incap that deals damage.  All for an economical 45 points, down from 75.

F.U.N.? We hate that chase figures are getting legacy cards. That said, not being able to push at will to get to Perplex keeps him in the F.U.N. zone for me.

 

———

L084 Thor
(Supernova, 2006)

 

L084_file_1652148524

THEN: At 235 points, he was always an overcosted pile of a piece. Yes, 12 AV was VERY good and rare in late 2006. 16 DV was NOT, even with Impervious. So he was highly dependent on his Running Shot and 8 range and 5 damage to get that first blast in, or he was getting Outwitted and swarmed down.

NOW: In addition to a massive three-figure cost cut to just 125 points, he gains the all-important Cosmic Energy TA to avoid the Outwit threat. He also gets a pair of traits that essentially allow him to throw a Mjolnir marker at a foe (this is either a CLOSE or RANGE) for +1 damage, then at the end of the next turn, call it back to him, wrecking blocking and enemies in the way.

F.U.N.? That hammer move is pretty Nifty. Time will tell if it’s too Useful to be Fair — that’s an ability to attack for huge damage every single turn.

———

In a pretty cool move, WizKids packed each legacy card with Team Up Cards as well. But this isn’t a review of those. Maybe in a future feature.

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It’s become a DragonCon tradition: Heroclixin’ Board Member Chadd Franklin comes down to Atlanta for a con and for big games with yours truly. And this year, we did it in grand fashion … sort of.

GAME 1: NIGHT OF THE SENTINELS

SENTINELS v XMEN

Thursday was the big kahuna, a titanic match between Chadd’s mutant heroes out to wreck my horde of every Sentinel I could possibly field in 2,500 points.

Bishop (X of Swords) 80
Exodus (House of X) 95
Apocalypse (X-Men Rise and Fall ) 125
Gorgon (X of Swords 022) 65
Kid Gladiator (X-Men Rise and Fall ) 75
Magik (X of Swords 023) 65
Marvel Girl (House of X 020) 80
Phoenix (X-Men Dark Phoenix Saga) 350
Polaris (X-Men Rise and Fall 026) 50
Kitty Pryde (Empyre) 35
Rogue (X of Swords 037a) 60
Professor X, Dreamer (X-Men Dark Phoenix Saga) 50
Scarlet Witch (Empyre) 50
Cable 75 + Futuristic Holograms 25 (X-Men Dark Phoenix Saga)
X-23 (Fantastic Four) 50
Egg (House of X) 25
Hope Summers (X of Swords) 100
Cyclops (X-Men Rise and Fall) 45
Dazzler (Empyre) 35
Colossus (Empyre) 125
Iceman (House of X) 65

Elixir (House of X) 40
Forge (House of X Fast Forces) 75
Sage (House of X Fast Forces) 50
Dr. Moira MacTaggart (X-Men Rise and Fall ) 20
Deadpool (X-Men Rise and Fall 100) 60

Beast. (X-Men Dark Phoenix Saga Fast Forces) 70
Gambit (X-Men Dark Phoenix Saga Fast Forces) 70
Jubilee (X-Men Dark Phoenix Saga Fast Forces) 50
Storm (X-Men Dark Phoenix Saga Fast Forces) 70
Wolverine (X-Men Dark Phoenix Saga Fast Forces) 70

X-Men Blue ATA 4 points each

Monster Hunter feat on everyone legal 3 points each

This was an impressive 2,500-point force and one well suited against a colossal Sentinel force, something like what I fielded:

Alpha Class Sentinel @150
Bastion (XDPS g013) @100
Cerebra @150 + Brilliant Tactician 20
Cyclops Sentinel @150
Friend of Humanity @5
Karima + Robot Team Up card 75
Master Mold @200
Nimrod (047b) @125
Nimrod the Greater 25
Nimrod the Lesser 100
Omega 200
Omega Prime Sentinel 59 + Infiltrate 2
Omega Sentinel 50
Orchis Soldier 25
Phoenix Sentinel @75
Sentinel (Captain America) @200
LE Sentinel Captain 29
legacy Sentinel Mark II @100
legacy Sentinel Mark V @40
Sentinel Squad ONE 70
experienced Sentinel Trooper 25
Tri-Sentinel @30

He’d brought the Morlock Tunnels, a cramped indoor map that I’d had to diagram carefully to even be able to place my starting force.

Chadd’s plan was to Barrier up in between my waves of attacks. But it didn’t go that way because why would I march up to get shot like that? Sentinels are artificial intelligence … emphasis on INTELLIGENCE. And so that map hampered him more than it helped — especially when Tri-Sentinel blew up the walls

We played for some hours but had to call it far too early because Chadd had been up for nearly 20 straight hours and I had been awake for more than 16 myself.

We planned revisit this battle on Monday, when the con was basically over, ahead of our Tuesday morning checkout time.

RESULT: INCONCLUSIVE (but the momentum was mine)

——

GAME 2: X-MEN #1 (1991) COVER vs. ACOLYTES

Chadd built a 1000-point team based on the iconic cover:

xmen1

So I opted to face him with Magneto and his Acolytes!

Magneto (XDPS G025) 300
Frenzy
Colossus (XDPS) + Inside Information
Amelia Voght
Scanner
Kleinstock Bros x 3
Random
legacy Fabian Cortez

We agreed to play on Genosha, the site of the battle. And we kinda played it twice because the first go-round we made some ridiculous misplays. I played the Acolytes about as poorly as one could — Magneto wasn’t even on his right starting click! — while Chadd realized too late he hadn’t packed the right Beast for the team.

The second game, I had full command of my team, such that Chadd  folded.

RESULT: MAGNETO WAS RIGHT

——

GAME 3: EXILES V. EXILES

Exiles-logo-600x257

Chadd built a team of Exiles: Blink, Juggernaut, Proteus, Dazzler, Longshot and Sage.

So I wanted to play my OWN EXILES: T’Chaka II, Magik, Valkyrie, Tessa, Nocturne and Spider-Man 2099

But … this game was almost a bust because, again, Chadd had brought the wrong piece — this time a Juggernaut.

But … we found a way to rebuild our teams to have a match anyway.

But … it ended in a draw. And we didn’t even do a roll-off because WHY? It was a draw.

RESULT: A DRAW

——

GAME 4: THE NAME GAME

This is a F.U.N. scenario that Chadd came up with for Dragon Con years past where you build a force based on your government name.

C: Cyclops (Regenesis) @120

H: Honey Badger @80

A: Apocalypse (XMRF) 125

D: Dark Phoenix (M10th Anniversary) @100

D: Deadpool (X of Swords) 40

vs.

K: King Shark (Harley Quinn and the Gotham Girls) @90 + Submerged 5 because he’s a shark

H: Harley Quinn (WW80) @50 + Alias 3 because she’s literally wearing someone else’s clothes

A: Ant-Man & Wasp (Chaos War) 168 + And Stay Down! 5 because they are a one-two punch duo

R: Rikki Barnes (Empyre) 75 + Loner 5 because she’s literally the last survivor of her world

I: Ironheart (Captain America and the Avengers) 85 + Shellhead 10 because she’s armored and has the old defense symbol to gain the +2

I LOVE how the feats are thematic for each of them.

We left the hotel room for this one, playing in the Heroclix gaming area at DragonCon. The map was the David Leverette/Howard Brock-provided Barnstable Wedding map.

I wound up winning, but the biggest moment was when Jonathan, Honey Badger’s pal wolverine, one-shot King Shark. Ohhhhh I was as salty as the water King Shark likes to swim in.

RESULT: KHARI’S VICTORY BUT CHADD HAD BEST SCENE

——

GAMES 5-6: THE CHARLIE

Another Dragon Con classic, we saved this for nearly last — because we had multiple teams to run.

The Charlie (named for Charlie “Rockman” Cates, an old school Heroclix judge and former player) works like this: Seven figs, all in differing point brackets, sit on the sideline. The cheapest fig starts first. When it heals or takes damage, immediately roll d6 and replace it with the corresponding fig on the sideline.

First game, Chadd had as many Phoenixes as he could muster: from Dark Phoenix down to Jean Grey and an X-Trainee filling in the very cheapest slot.

I ran a bunch of legacy card figs: Leech, Havok, Deadpool, Warlock, She-Hulk, Namor and Thor & Loki.

RESULT: SHINY LEGACIES SHINE

 

Some hours later, we found a quiet table in the gaming hall and did the other team. I forget what Chadd packed but I used my All Black Everything squad: 25-point WOTR Black Panther, Isca The Unbeaten prime, SR Uhura, 022 Power Girl @115, Empyre Monica Rambeau @150 and 250-point chase Black Panther.

RESULT: ALWAYS BET ON BLACK

——

GAME 7: NIGHT OF THE SENTINELS PART II

Now it was time to do our real match, being relatively rested this time and having several hours to do it justice.

Well, that didn’t quite happen either, as Chadd for some reason needed nearly an ENTIRE HOUR just to set up his team. Then he never quite played his force’s best pieces, essentially letting me take the offensive at will.

SENTINELS v XMEN 2

He’d built an impressive team. But the whole thing was just a little too overwhelming for him.

RESULT: SOME MUTANTS ELIMINATED, SOME SENTINELS WRECKED … but not nearly enough of either!

———

Chadd is skipping DragonCon next year, but coming to MomoCon in the spring. We’ll be holding the points down to a cap of 1000 this time. And we’ll have more F.U.N. Heroclixin’.

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A while back, I listed my favorite clix of the 2010s after annually doing a top ten-or-so for each year since Heroclixin’s founding in 2009, and retroactively posted my picks for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008: my first full years as an active HeroClix player.

Now, to help mark HeroClix’s 20th anniversary, I thought I’d pick my faves of the figures released in the years before I started collecting but later quickly grew to be liked.

Here we go! (In alphabetical order.)

2002

LE Arthur Curry (Hypertime 138) (experienced Aquaman pictured)

ht052

This could have been Vet Aquaman, the first single I bought. (It was during a trip out of town to celebrate my cousin’s graduation.) But I liked the slightly more subtle gameplay of this LE version of my favorite DC hero.

 

experienced Black Panther (Infinity Challenge 086) (vet pictured)

ic086

The Rookie was the meta favorite (thanks to his ability back then to autonomously move into Stealth position and Outwit from 10 squares out — neither possible today), but this Experienced version with Blades/Claws/Fangs to fight with along with the Stealth and Outwit (no TA though) reflected the character best of the REV set.

 

veteran Blizzard (Infinity Challenge 090)

ic090

11 AV was rare at this price (53 points), and so was Pulse Wave.

 

veteran Dr. Doom (Clobberin’ Time 075)

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With a sky-high 12 AV, Perplex to aid his printed 3 damage, his old Minions of Doom wild card status and two clicks of Mastermind, he was my first power piece, part of the lot that got me in the game.

 

unique Elektra (Infinity Challenge 144)

ic144

I liked her more for the sculpt than anything. Also was my first Unique.

 

unique Flash (Hypertime 128)

ht128

i’ve always liked Jay Garrick. 20 Speed Hypersonic! Who cared if he only dealt 1 damage?

 

veteran Hawk (Hypertime 087)  (experienced pictured)

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Once activated, he got you 12 AV with Super Strength. I struggled to play him on teams in those days before keywords.

 

rookie Invisible Girl (Clobberin’ Time 043)

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18 Defend was really high in 2002.

 

veteran Logan (Clobberin’ Time 069) (rookie pictured)

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Great pose, long dial.

 

rookie Mandroid Armor (Clobberin’ Time 007) (experienced pictured)

ct007

Cheap TK and an early “Black box” fill-in. Pretty sure Rhodey spent time in this suit between his Iron Man and War Machine years.

 

 

2003

 

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 experienced Fatality (Cosmic Justice 053)  (rookie pictured)

A “Black box” fig, she offered Telekinesis and offense alike. The Experienced version I preferred was a flier as well.

There was an event where she was intended to be the mainstay of my team, but the judge secretly had a scenario where we had to swap our team with our opponent … and she wrecked my face.

“Thanks for building such a good team,” my young opponent told me after he’d won … the little snot!

 

xp009

veteran Hand Ninja (Xplosion 009) (rookie pictured)

This generic has a surprising 8 range, making it the first I’d reach for in any ninja-themed force.

 

xp206

LE Jane Foster (Xplosion 206)  (experienced Paramedic pictured)

Medics were a staple at this time (thanks to possible 6 healing and crater-low defense values to make the Support roll) and she was the best. It took me years to actually get her.

 

in021

veteran Johnny Alpha (Indy 021)

There’s that TK again. But he also had an uncommon 11 AV, making him a solid fighter.

 

cj201

LE Little Sure Shot (Cosmic Justice 201)

10 range for 15 points? Yes, please. He was also a provisional member of my Black figure collection back before I realized he was actually a Native American character.

 

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rookie Lobster Johnson (Indy 034)

Stealth Outwit AND wildcard status gave him a place on many of my teams in those early days, when all three of those abilities were VERY powerful.

 

in030

veteran Magdalena (Indy 030)

Like a lot of characters from this set, she was a dull Stealth+Blades  piece, so she made my list more for her sculpt than anything.

 

in053

 experienced Major Maxim (Indy 053)

Cheap Stealthy Super Strength. And a great sculpt.

 

cm026

 experienced Moon Knight (Critical Mass 026)

Stealth was much better then. So was Super Strength. And with his Willpower and Avengers team ability (which qualified him for the Thunderbolts feat a few years later), he was a good pick.

 

xp065

 experienced Taskmaster (Xplosion 065)

High, high AV. And Stealth. And Wildcard status. All for an economical cost under 60 points! The only thing wrong with him was the non-iconic costume.

 

2004

un201

LE Cameron Chase (Unleashed 201)

I really liked this sneaky-good LE. On top dial, she was just a Stealthy Police TA ally, but a couple of pushes later (or if an enemy tried to beat her up) and suddenly she’s also got Impervious and/or Outwit. Pretty good for the 36 points back then.

 

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LE Catwoman (Unleashed 222)

Possibly the only good thing to come out of the wretched Halle Berry film is this tiny mini of her.

 

un071

 experienced Doctor Fate (Unleashed 071)

He squeaks onto the list by being a key part of my first-ever tournament win in Heroclix. I’d built a team based on the lineup from the JLA/JSA: Virtue And Vice graphic novel and piloted it to victory, partly on the strength of his long-range Probability Control and Energy Shield/Deflection. He was a key part of my then-JSA completion streak.

 

mm039

veteran Havok (Mutant Mayhem 039)

At 44 points, this old vet version of Alex Summers was just a TK away from dealing a massive 4 damage, making him one of the giant-killers of his day. Hence his spot in this Top 10.

 

ul095

unique Hulk (Ultimates 095)

Hulk SMASH! This sculpt is still one of the most beautiful things in HeroClix. And he was one of the first non-colossal figs to have a natural 6 damage on dial.

 

mm085

unique Longshot (Mutant Mayhem 085)

With him being one of my favorite characters, I was really happy to get the lucky one into my collection.

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LE Manticore (City of Heroes 002)

This 10-ranged wildcard archer swiftly found a place in my heart, if not my competitive teams.

 

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unique Shazam (Unleashed 088)

Like Doctor Fate, he was part of the Virtue And Vice squad. Others preferred the more straight-up powerful Kingdom Come-based LE version of the Big Red Cheese, but this activation-clicked one was my jam.

 

ul042

veteran Spider-Man (Ultimates 042)

This piece was all about the Pounce feat, which, for an extra 15 points, gave him a pretty staggering 10-square reach to bash someone with Super Strength (then among the game’s best powers) and land on his Super Senses clicks to stay a tie up piece the rest of the game.

 

un095

unique Superman (Unleashed 095)

Boy, did I used to fear seeing this across the table from me. He was fearsome from 10 range with 5 natural damage, but hitting him only turned him into a Hypersonic beast that was very difficult to deal with. Still one of the best Superman sculpts ever made!

 

 

 

2005

 

cv004

LE Captain Mako (City of Villains 004)

Being an Aquaman fan, I always had a liking for the swimming characters. This shark-inspired baddie grew into a favorite.

 

cv002

LE Ghost Widow (City of Villains 002)

A flying medic with then-way above average 18 DV, Poison and equivalent of Mystics TA, this City of Villains citizen found her way into my all-time hall of infamy.

 
ff074
 experienced Invisible Woman (Fantastic Forces 074)
 
Early on, I valued nice sculpts and paint jobs more than playability, so this was my first favorite figure.
 
aw036
veteran Marrina (Armor Wars 036)
“She’s still alive?”
Never got tired of hearing opponents say that as she soaked up damage down her ridiculously long dial. Surprisingly nice sculpt as well despite the nondescript pose.

 

lg018

veteran Mr. Terrific (Legacy 018)

One of my favorite figs ever, I fielded him to great effect using the Protected feat (which gave the ability to completely negate a hit once per game — fitting for a character who uses holograms to fool attackers). He was key to my first tournament victory as well.

 

ff091

unique Orphan (Fantastic Forces 091)

Was this the first Unique (the then-equivalent of Super Rare) I ever pulled? I think so. Mr. Sensitive here is a prime example of why I love HeroClix: D-listers like him get as much a slot in the character selection as the A-listers like Batman.

 

lg003

veteran Spoiler (Legacy 003) 

Although her low cost (22 points) and contribution of Batman Ally TA for wildcard teams were the meta reasons for her being on such teams, it’s always been the sculpt for me.

 

io048

veteran Superman (Icons 048)

My first REAL power piece. I pulled him in my very first sealed event and … chose not to play him. Even at that early date, I’d become leery of tentpole figures. Later, this incredibly un-F.U.N. figure — one that began a long series of changes to the Hypersonic Speed power — would factor greatly into defining my F.U.N. focus for how I approach the game. But that year, at least, this was definitely a big favorite of mine.

aw068-2

 experienced War Machine (Armor Wars 068)

This was the first kinda really OK piece for my Black team. Worked well with the old Thunderbolts feat that allowed Avengers symbol to pick any non-wildcard team ability for the duration of the game.

io032

 experienced Wonder Woman (Icons 032)

Like so much in the Icons set, Experienced WW here functioned as a budget powerhouse. Love the pose!

 ———
I was thinking of reviewing how these figs work in today’s rules, but opted to focus only on how I liked them THEN.
 
I might have a few more 20th anniversary Heroclix posts in me. Stay tuned!
 
In the meantime, what are some of YOUR favorites from the first three years of HeroClix? Post in the comments!

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In principle, legacy cards are a F.U.N. way to bring some old pieces back into Modern/Silver play, rework some old figs that never really worked right before (or don’t anymore due to rule changes).

In practice? Well, let’s see. After a a short break with the Disney Plus release, they’re back in X of Swords.

———

L020 Fabian Cortez
(X-Men: Dark Phoenix Saga, 2019)

xdps020

THEN: Able to boost an adjacent pal’s stats for a term, at the cost of maybe dealing them a click, Fabe was almost pure support. SP Enhancement and Leadership was maybe the better use for him since the above trait was a POWER action. He also had a “Mutant Messiah” shared trait that allowed the likes of, say, Magneto to Mastermind to his followers.

NOW: He loses “Mutant Messiah” and his stat boost is now only limited to Attack Value and the chances of harming his ally are a bit lower. But it’s no longer a POWER so it’s easier to use. He gains Empower in his SP. And he’s a Mission Points character, racking up possibly 5 at a time — but only if he KOs a pal with his Overload trait.

F.U.N.? YES! It’s much more playable AND more comic accurate. The “Messiah” trait never quite fit him due to the character’s not-exactly-loyal nature.

———

L026 Leech
(Giant-Size X-Men, 2011)

gx026

THEN: He was hell of a nerf piece, barring all Power Actions within 6 squares. Park him in Stealth (harder to deal with in 2011 than now) and hinder friend and foe.

NOW: He’s both more limited and more potent, keeping all adjacent characters from using any powers from any source. Easier for foes to get around but easier for you to weaponize.

F.U.N.? He’s a lot more comic accurate than before, which rates him high on the F.U.N. factor for us. But this is also a potentially mega-meta piece, especially in Silver Age, where he’s all asset and low liability due to his having a 3-point ID card with his name on it.

———

L039 Havok
(Mutant Mayhem, 2005)

mm039

THEN: At 44 points, this old vet version of Alex Summers was just a TK away from dealing a massive 4 damage, making him one of the giant-killers of his day.

NOW: He only drops a few points to 40. His gain: +3 attack if he hasn’t been moved or placed this turn. New keywords of Avengers and Starjammers round out his modest upgrades.

F.U.N.? He’ll take a little more finesse than before (no TK to get the AV bonus) but he’s still a giant-killer.

———

L042 Unus the Untouchable
(Mutations and Monsters, 2007)

mu042

THEN: An early Special Powered piece, he boasted a strong defense SP (Impervious AND Super Senses) but little else. His other SP just dealt knockback in close actions but without Charge or another TKer besides himself to get him in position, he’d never use it. A waste of 90 points nearly every time.

NOW: He slims way down to 50 points and his losses are zero: His defense SP keeps the ImperviSenses and adds a once-a-turn rider where if a foe would move or place into his 4 range, on a 1-3 d6 roll, they … can’t. And then his other SP just becomes KNOCKBACK — no qualifications needed.

F.U.N.? Yes, this piece is actually playable now. Could even have some minor meta use, but not enough to make him un-F.U.N.

———

L046 Warlock
(Wolverine and the X-Men, 2013)

wxm046

THEN: An overcosted mess of a piece. He had a nifty pick-a-power SP, but with no move+attack ability and really short 4 range, most of his options (limited to the Attack powers) were worthless for him. He also had traited Perplex with an option of +2 for himself and fellow New Mutants (except damage). Oh and then there’s his weird Dune Buggy trait to permanently turn into a vehicle that could Ram … which I suppose was intended to make up for his lack of move+attack. Not great for 164 points at ALL.

NOW: He gets absolutely SLASHED in price to just 80 points. What’s he lose for the savings? First, his Perplex, sorta: it only works on friendlies with a shared keyword and the +2 is gone. He also loses his attack-power-picking SP and his transform into a car trait. But despite costing less than half his original weight, he still makes gains: He can use ANY one power on his Perplex target’s card (including his own) and his SP grants him Giant Reach: d6.

F.U.N.? Yes, and actually effective now.

———

L051 Banshee
(Deadpool, 2014)

dp051

THEN: Super overpowered! Like Leech earlier in this list, he could nerf powers up to 6 squares away (rendering all reducers to just Toughness and nixing Super Senses altogether) but only foes, not friends, who could take on the weakened target while he was safe behind a wall or something. Then he dealt extra damage to those who normally have better armor — not that his Penetrating/Psychic Blast even cared about most. And should he actually take damage (either pushing/X-Men TA/getting hit), he got an attack SP allowing him to Pulse Wave through walls. All this plus Improved Targeting: Elevated and PD TA, too? At 98 points, he was one of the more unbalanced pieces ever made.

NOW: He still bars Super Senses but now his sonic trait just keeps enemies from reducing damage to 0 and he doesn’t deal the extra damage when he attacks them. His SP is improved to deal full printed Pulse Wave damage instead of just 1 like everyone else. Points shave down to 75.

F.U.N.? Not really — he’s still in the conversation for being a top meta piece. (IT:Elevated is really top tier on ANY figure.) But at least he’s a lot better balanced than before.

———

L051 Iceman (Uncanny X-Men, 2016)

uxm051

THEN: A 110-point SR who saw much meta play with his Frozen Solid trait that basically gave him a no-cost close attack on a target he moved through. So he could get two attacks a turn (vs. different targets, though), then make the second of the targets Immobile and unable to act for a turn. Oh, and he also had Incap-lite as well (damage SP) and Barrier+Regen (defense SP).

NOW: Mostly the same, except he no longer paralyzes that 2nd hit target but keeps them from clearing tokens until his Ice Wall token is gone. He also gains Toughness in his defense SP along with FREE Barrier on top of his normal Barrier. And he only costs 60 points with all these upgrades???

F.U.N.? That is WAY too undercosted for this piece to still be this good.

———

L085 Forge
(Sinister, 2006)

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THEN: From the pre-card age, HeroClix’s first take on the inventive mutant was anemic even at the time, with then-average 9AV Running Shot but zero defense power to start. His Outwit worked from 10 squares but 84 points is a lot to ask. He could push to click 2 for Perplex (which wasn’t as good then, anyway) or, in mid-dial, become a Support piece before ending on Leadership. Not great at all.

NOW: He’s just 45 points, for a couple of new traits. One allows him to FREE remove objects 1 or fewer squares away to gain Tinker tokens, which he can FREE spend to boost his or adjacent friendly stats other than damage +2.

F.U.N.? Yes? He’s still not that good, though.

———

L129 Magneto
(Infinity Challenge, 2002)

ic129

THEN: From the very first HC set, he was nothing but TK and Leadership and a bit of ESD to protect him for his hefty 103 points. (Well, OK, he has 4 damage to start.)

NOW: He gets a couple of traits: First, one that grants him Mastermind for defense and for offense, a +2 attack and damage when attacking Armor or Robot targets — and a FREE shot at enemies with those keywords. Second trait gives Brotherhood of Mutants allies the X-Men symbol. He also gains the X-Men symbol himself along with his original Brotherhood one. And he only cost 50 points!

F.U.N.? Yes, very flavorful. Heroclixin board member Chadd wishes he had this.

———

LG01 Sentinel Mark II
(Giant-Size X-Men, 2011)

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THEN: Despite his fearsome 300 point cost, this anti-mutant robot was never reliable. Its first SP required rolling doubles. Its next SPs in mid-dial, required A) KOing a foe — hard to do with just 10, 9 or 8 AV — and B) it to take fire to boost its DV … which sank about is much as it rose.

NOW: At top dial, it still has the same doubles-needed damage SP. That’s the only bad news. The good: It’s exactly half the cost at 150 points, and even better, its other SPs now populate a new 100-point start line. Those SPs are also markedly improved: one grants Running Shot and Force Blast — the latter with a FREE option — and the defense grants ESD and Toughness instead of a totally conditional stat boost. Add to that a free beginning-of-turn move similar to other Sentinels past and a new trait that heals it when it KOs targets, and you have a solid upgrade.

Oh, I didn’t mention the 30-POINT start line, which offers Running Shot, Pulse Wave, Invulnerability and Perplex for such low investment. Sure it’s only 9 AV, but still.

F.U.N.? Yes. Sentinels’ Great Size makes them easy targets. But you’ll never feel completely outclassed when using them.

———

LG02 Sentinel Mark V
(Giant-Size X-Men, 2011)

gxG02

THEN: This more advanced model of Sentinel worked better with an improved Incap SP (made a hit target immobile or gave it 2 tokens) and more solid defenses. But it also cost 400 points and its lower 200 level was an average Charge piece and the 8 range isn’t as good. Its Outwit SP that allowed it to counter multiple targets if they had 2 tokens (which worked well when it the Incap SP was also active) was pretty OK, though.

NOW: Like its Mark II brother, its cost is halved, with even lower price points of 125 and 40, respectively. It also shares the free move trait at beginning of turn and the heal traits. But it loses the multi-target Outwit in its Speed SP in favor of a more aggressive Running Shot + Plasticity + 3-square tie-up zone combo. More importantly, it gets starting click access to this SP on the 125-point line, along with its new Attack SP, which is like old-school Incap but better, because A) it works with ANY range attack, B) it gives Immobile and C) it deals 1 penetrating if they can’t be tokened.

Best is that all these powers are available on the 40-point line, too — also with Enhancement.

F.U.N.? Yes. Sentinels’ Great Size makes them easy targets. But you’ll never feel completely outclassed when using them.

———

LG03 Apocalypse
(Giant-Size X-Men, 2011)

gxG03

THEN: Apocalypse writ large was kind of a point sink. Sure, he couldn’t be Outwit and had traited Shape Change, but penetrating damage could and did tear through his dial. His Speed SP “You Appear More Worthy,” with which he could swap an adjacent wounded enemy for one of his teammates, was clunky and almost impossible to pull off, since he was 500 points and likely to either be alone on the force (either from taking up all the room or outlasting his allies — or both).

NOW: His max price got slashed to just 300, and along with his he loses a few steps. His Outwit is gone (replaced with the more team-friendly Empower, Enhancement and Prob Control) while his defense SP lost its old Invulnerability for Combat Reflexes and Energy Shield/Deflection. So he’s got a big soft spot middial. But it almost doesn’t matter: He can generate Horsemen Bystanders at the beginning of the game and when he rolls Leadership AND every time his dial passes a new starting line (or via a POWER action middial). Those pogs work well with his new traited Mastermind (usable at his range, too, not just adjacent!) and Leadership to go with his Shape Change — and, of course, his svelte price points of 300, 250, 200 and 100. He also gains the Deity and Warrior keywords.

F.U.N.? The pogs are his classic original 1980s X-Factor run Horsemen. That’s super F.U.N. But better still is that he can actually be played on a 300-point team!

———

 Hopefully all these cards will be readily available.

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The set’s basically here and so here’s the customary checklist.

This PDF link at the bottom gives you two copies of the main set checklist and one foldable copy of the tarot card list.

The former should be complete. The latter … PROBABLY is, too. But I haven’t figured how to do a proper set listing for the tarots.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

8/8/2022 UPDATE: Corrected a small error in the main list and completely overhauled the tarot card list

XofSwords Checklist

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So after looking at how my favorites improved (or don’t) with the 2021 rules overhaul, here’s a new look at some pieces — now retired but still playable in Silver Age — that Heroclixin’ panned in the past.

 

We’ll start with 2020’s trash.

Dr. Traci Simmons (Justice League Unlimited 024) 20 points

Screen Shot 2020-12-27 at 12.37.30 PM

screenshot from Clixnexus.com

She still has to get too close to use her trait to nerf enemy fliers and that little 3-click dial won’t live long. Worse, Perplex isn’t quite as useful as before, and she’s not doing enough to get any use out of her Willpower, either. So she’s EVEN WORSE

———

Dr. Emil Hamilton (Justice League Unlimited 023) 25 points

Screen Shot 2020-12-27 at 7.12.59 PM

screenshot from Clixnexus.com

He rates a bit higher now that generic themed teams are a better play and Empower is a more important power. SOMEWHAT BETTER

———

Aaron Davis (Spider-Man and Venom: Absolute Carnage 017) 30 points

Screen Shot 2020-12-27 at 12.38.41 PM

screenshot from Clixnexus.com

He’s still just 30 points of Perplex that opponents can even more safely ignore. He can’t even push himself to his Secret ID. Unless you can force the opponent to not ignore him, he’s EVEN WORSE.

———

Hawkgirl (Justice League Unlimited 100) 50 points

Screen Shot 2020-12-27 at 5.28.45 PM

screenshot from Clixnexus.com

 

Still bad for the -1 DV her special power deals to allies with no reward for this risk. Steal Energy’s healing puts you back on that click 1 over and over again — IF she’s doing well. EVEN WORSE because Super Strength is worse (now that knock back damage is history).

———

Iron Man (Avengers Vs Masters of Evil Battlegrounds 102b) 75 points

IMG_20201230_103958780

Just five clicks for 75 points? I mean, 11AV Penetrating Blast with Prob isn’t bad, but this remains an Iron Man with no armor on its top clicks that can get one-shot (thanks to the missing STOP power seen on the front of his card). But he gets A LITTLE BETTER with those three clicks of Ranged Combat Expert boosting his attack and damage for shooting.

———

Superman (Justice League Unlimited 001) 100 points

Screen Shot 2020-12-27 at 12.28.23 PM

screenshot from Clixnexus.com

 

So the no Indomitable aspect is no longer a problem, and his ending Willpower could actually be beneficial. A LITTLE BETTER but still bad.

———

Singularity (Captain America and the Avengers ) 100 points

Screen Shot 2020-12-27 at 12.27.14 PM

Screenshot from HCRealms.com

Her points are still a waste for no move+attack ability until well into her dial when she’s lost her armor, but Power Cosmic Willpower might be enough to make up for the weakness sometimes. It’s too bad the nerfing of Pulse Wave causes a mid-dial sag in her potential even as the Hypersonic + Penetrating Blast combo makes for an end-dial spike. BETTER though still mediocre.

———

Zeke Stane (Captain America and the Avengers 029) 100 points

Screen Shot 2020-12-27 at 12.36.29 PM

Screenshot from HCRealms.com

Pushing is no longer a problem, though that means he can’t get to his SPs at will. (Perplex isn’t as good on him anyway.) Once he’s in middial, though, he’s got a lot he can do — attacking with two tokens, FREE drop of an action token, or Willpower. MARKEDLY BETTER.

———

Static (Justice League Unlimited 043) 100 points

Screen Shot 2020-12-27 at 12.35.17 PM

Screenshot from HCRealms.com

He was a mess before because TK on a 100-point piece was not a good value in build or action efficiency — and that’s worse now that the power doesn’t attack. But not having to worry about pushing damage to capitalize on his debris trait, and being able to Chain Lightning with close attacks — or triple target Precision Strike — he’s MARKEDLY BETTER if still not great.

———

Martian Manhunter (WizKids M19-004) 120 points

Screenshot from HCRealms.com

Screenshot from HCRealms.com
When a fig will almost never get to use its own first click of life, you know it’s bad. But does it get better with new rules?
  • At the beginning of each turn, he’s takes a click if there’s any Choco on the board. So he’s on click 2 ALREADY. That doesn’t change.
  • He MIGHT heal 2 clicks if he can pick one up (moving) or hits an enemy holding one (likely via HSS), but by then he’s already acted and will take another click of damage on his next turn, so … BACK to Click 2. Also the same
  • He can’t use range because he’s got Battle Fury which means he’ll have to venture deep in enemy territory to get Chocos. Same.
  • He doesn’t even have WILLPOWER to help keep himself going. Now here things improve. He could stay very active in a non-pushing game to at least stay on click 2 more often. Still…
  • There are 5 of these Chocos out there, which means 5 straight rounds of MM not being able to use his own Click 1 on his own turn. Ugh.
  • He’ll be taking fire while trying to get Chocos. Uggh.
  • Sometimes stuck with two tokens, having pushed, while taking fire AND the unavoidable Choco click. Ugggh.
  • The enemy can ensure there’s ALWAYS a Choco out there even after the initial five are gone. Uggggh.
  • His stats are mediocre without the Choco bonus.
UGGGGGH. STILL SO BAD
 
———
Mr. Fantastic (Fantastic Four 001)
Screen Shot 2020-12-30 at 4.44.53 PM
screenshot from Clixnexus.com
It’s just the most underwhelming version of Reed Richards possible. Like an old rubber band that you expect to actually stretch but instead it just cracks and breaks. Just … just POOR. And with Plasticity no longer stopping enemies in their tracks, Perplex no longer boosting damage, and the general worthlessness-for-the-cost of Incap and solo Leap/Climb, he’s poorer than ever. EVEN WORSE
———
 But how about the

Top Ten WORST HeroClix of 2019?

Hydra 011 [Earth X 011] 25 points

THEN: Taylor gave me an argument on this one because he loves Incapacitate and I …….. do not. But this Hydra chick ranks among the worst because she’s so much less effective than her Hydra 010 counterpart.

Hydras side-by-side

NOW: Incap is worse than ever and Plasticity is still a bad pairing with RCE. But the Willpower does improve her, so … MARGINALLY BETTER

———

Spiders Man [Earth X 013] 30 points

Screen Shot 2019-12-20 at 11.27.09 AM

THEN:  I rather like the SP. It’s half of what Incapacitate SHOULD be. But that short range and low DV and too-brief life are all problematic.

NOW: Not being able to push to the better second click might outweigh the benefit of no pushing damage. He’s unlikely to see any of his Perplex clicks and even late Willpower may not be enough. PRETTY MUCH JUST AS BAD

———

Winter Soldier [Avengers Black Panther Illuminati 016] 45 points

Screen Shot 2019-12-23 at 12.01.11 AM

THEN: While his opening stats are good, him being vulnerable to Mind Control from being based is doubly bad due to him being a range piece. Especially with the chance of it being permanent. He’s just not good enough with just 6 range to make running him worth the risk.

NOW: The midlife Willpower and RCE could defray a little of that drawback, but he’s still PRETTY MUCH JUST AS BAD

———

Spider-Girl [Earth X 001] 50 points

Screen Shot 2019-12-20 at 11.30.05 AM

THEN: I hate Incap in general, and in particular when the range isn’t great and the Running Shot is missing. Maybe if she had Willpower to make up for the lack of first-strike capability, she wouldn’t be on this list, because the AV and 2x targets is what you want in an Incap piece and CCE thrives on pushability.

NOW: Her CCE makes her MARKEDLY BETTER even though Incap isn’t as good. But the two combo to make the Incap more effective as a melee option, especially with multiple targets.

———

Starfleet Admiral [Star Trek To Boldly Go 007] 50 points

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THEN: Outwit puts her too close to the action while using Mastermind frankly hurts more valuable figs than her. Sure, she has Leadership-plus, but the conditions attached to it makes it not much of a bonus.

NOW: She will almost never see her second click with the Prob (being unable to push) and likely end up on the less-useful Perplex. MARKEDLY WORSE.

———

Jessica Cruz [Rebirth 056] 65 points

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THEN: No move+attack and just 6 range both mean she’s just a taxi (and her “Leading the Charge” trait is likely wasted). But the no-cost TK is likely hindered by the fact that her lines of fire are blocked by her many passengers. Plus she’ll need to set up objects in prescient fashion to be able to use them well. 

NOW: That TK is no good for attacks at all, making it basically impossible to Lead the Charge. Add to that her back-dial RCE she might not see because she’s a soft but ignorable target, and you have a MARKEDLY WORSE piece.

———

Bumblebee [Rebirth 039] 75 / 50 points 

Screen Shot 2019-12-20 at 11.35.39 AM

THEN: She just doesn’t mesh together. Her SP offers a nice HSS option, but drops her damage to 2. Also, her 2 targets don’t work with Precision Strike and 10 AV is a little underwhelming at her full cost. So what about her 50 point line? Her AV jumps to 11 and she swaps the Precision for Incap, but her damage drops to 2 which means her HSS is wasted on the -1 damage penalty. Outwit isn’t on either top click.

NOW: Precision and 2 targets play VERY well together, HSS works with Incap, as does her end-dial RCE (again, with multi-bolts). All this and no pushing? She’s MARKEDLY BETTER.

———

Deathstroke [Rebirth 017] 75 points

Screen Shot 2019-12-20 at 11.29.10 AM

Incap works well with his Defiance trait that lets him maybe heal after hitting. What’s wrong is that his first and second clicks should be swapped to make him actually useful for his cost.

What was true THEN is truer NOW: He can’t even push to the better click. At least his late CCE is better. BUT STILL BAD

———

Maximus [Avengers Black Panther Illuminati 060] 90 points

Screen Shot 2019-12-20 at 11.38.06 AM

THEN: His plusses (mass Perplex of friendlies if you build same-name teams, incapacitating Mind Control, TK) are dragged down by his non-optional trait that has a 33% chance of Battle Fury-ing him (so much for that 6 range), or keeping him from costed actions.

NOW: That 3-4 result might be so much worse going forward. And both TK and Pulse Wave took a hit. So he’s WORSE going forward.

———

Professor X [X-Men Dark Phoenix Saga 035] 100 points

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THEN: I want to like him (ranged Leadership and being able to shoot/Outwit through walls is good) but losing his Influence upon clearing hurts him too much in early game and his dial’s so short.

NOW: His ability to self-clear is a double-edge sword, as he loses Influence! But being able to shift his Influence around if he frees up tokens OR opt to use old-school Colossal Stamina to press his Influence —and— manipulate his dial in a way most characters can’t anymore could be interesting. STILL BAD but maybe not worse.

———

But how about 2018’s worst?

No. 10

DevilDinoMoonBoy

Devil Dinosaur & Moon Boy [Avengers Infinity 016]

THEN: Not terrible, just not good for the cost at any point. You’re paying nearly 300 for base 3 damage, needing Blades/Claws/Fangs to get them to pull their considerable weight in a fight? Or worse, only 3 clicks of 3 damage at 175? Or worse, a whole dial of 2 damage at 75 points?

NOW: BETTER because of CCE working with more stuff, even though the above problems are still problems

———

No. 9 (tie)

GL039

Green Lantern [Batman The Animated Series 039]

THEN:

GREEN LANTERN POWER RING: FREE: Choose one: [Improved Targeting:  Destroy Blocking, Close Combat Expert, Ranged Combat Expert, Giant Reach: 3, -or- Barrier. Green Lantern can use the chosen power or ability until your next turn.

Looks good, right? Until you realize he — a GREEN LANTERN! — lacks the Willpower to actually leverage it. Nice to bolster his 10 AV with RCE or CCE but having to push off his 3 damage to then use, say, Barrier next turn is poor. And when pushed, the FREE action is totally useless as all five options require costed actions. Then his back half is 9 AV and 2 damage, requiring self-Perplex for middling results.

NOW: The pushing issue is a non-concern, making him WAY BETTER on his top dial. No longer a worst fig!

SpeedDemon

Speed Demon [WizKids M17-017]

Hypersonic Speed and 2 damage is not the worst, given his trait:

TURBO-CHARGED THIEF: When Speed Demon hits an opposing character and his attack total is at least 3 higher than that character’s defense value, anything equipped to that character that began the game as an object is KO’d.

Nice idea. Too bad his AV is just 10 so good luck rolling that 20 or higher to jank Exospex or whatever from anyone with 17+ DV.

Too bad it can’t also work on built-in equipment like Mjolnir on Thor [The Mighty Thor 061].

Too bad there might not even BE equipment in a given game, meaning you just wasted 65 points on this weak-HSS fool.

NOW: Nothing improved, really. JUST AS BAD, STILL A WORST FIG

———

No. 8

VisionFF

Vision [Avengers Infinity Fast Forces 005]

The Impervious-lite combo of Invulnerability + trait Super Senses is killed by a starting 10 AV that drops to 8, then 7. 125 points for this? Nope. This vision is blurred or something.

NOW: Despite some late-dial CCE to aid his punching some, he’s still JUST AS BAD.

———

No. 7

Catwoman013

Catwoman [Batman The Animated Series 013]

Cheap Stealth Perplex that goes to Flurry Blades is OK. But she’s only 4 clicks long and then her “Playing Both Sides” trait comes up and suddenly you’re fighting her cheap Stealth Perplex and Flurry Blades. She’s just awkward to use, which seems the case for nearly every Catwoman ever made. (Might be a future article in that)

NOW: Perplex is less useful so SHE is less useful. WORSE.

———

No. 6

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Magik [X-Men Xavier’s School 038]

THEN: So the point of playing her is to turn her into her Super Rare form. She does it by being a taxi and by damaging foes. But…

She’s a taxi so completely inferior to fellow New Mutant Lila Cheney [WizKids M17-015], with only Passengers: 3 and 11 Speed or lower, that WHY WOULD YOU EVER. She also can’t Carry fliers. No Willpower and 10 AV or lower and just 2 damage (so that her Blades has a strong chance at failure to damage) make it very difficult to raise the Corrupted tokens to MAYBE transform into her much better Darkchylde form.

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But is Darkchylde actually better? Assuming you got the 2 or more Corrupted tokens needed to MAYBE transform (it’s a one-time d6 roll that requires a final result of 8 or better), she goes to click 5: That’s just 9 AV and Super Senses and Prob. She’s an easy kill despite Mystics and 17 DV which could just as easily surrender an additional 40 points.

NOW: She can build up Corruption much more efficiently as a taxi — now carrying fliers! — even if her fighting ability is still poor. Her other form is just as bad on click #5 as ever, though. Marginally BETTER … but still not really.

———

No. 5

LockUp

Lock-Up [Batman The Animated Series 024]

THEN: A thoroughly confused design. He’s a Barrier piece with 0 range and trait Plasticity. So wait: Is he playing “keep away” or “stay here?”

And look at that Barrier SP.

LOCK THIS PLACE DOWN!: Barrier. Opposing characters adjacent to 2 or more of Lock-Up’s Barrier markers modify speed -2.

With only 4 range on his Barrier, that speed penalty is almost totally useless. He also has Incapacitate along with Exploit Weakness. Um, I know which one of those powers I’m using in close. So why even give him Incap? All it and that SP do is inflate his cost, which even at just 40, is too much.

NOW: Barrier now having a minimum 6 range makes his SP much better against Charge pieces. Incap being worse now makes it an even bigger point sink. And Plasticity got a bit of a nerf. STILL BAD

———

No. 4

BlackWidow

Black Widow [Avengers Infinity 003]

THEN: Stealthy Perplex is good if you can do something more. She does NOTHING more. So you have to push her. But then you lose the Perplex and she’s a Mind Control medic. So not useless, but not great. And so she’s not great. At all.

NOW: Perplex is way less useful than it was, and she can’t push to another role. She’s possibly now the worst figure of 2018. Maybe of all of Silver Age!

———

No. 3

Starfox027

Starfox [Avengers Infinity 027]

THEN: No armor. No mobility. Poor damage and AV, needing his trait to punch up at pricier foes, WHO WILL JUST KILL HIM AND TAKE THOSE POINTS. Mind Control is trash without great AV.

NOW: Being able to use both Force Blast and Mind Control at better range improves him considerably. STILL BAD but no longer maybe Top 5 bad

———

No. 2

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Artie [X-Men Xavier’s School 008]

THEN: 9 AV and 1 damage Shape Change means all he’s good for is Mind Control. 4 range Mind Control for 25 points. (If you’re going to pay that price, use the X-Student for a MC with a real chance of hitting). He’s junk. Not even worth running as an ID character — for FREE

NOW: Mind Control is markedly improved, so he’s SLIGHTLY BETTER.

———

No. 1

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Professor X, Dreamer [X-Men Xavier’s School 049]

THEN: Title Characters usually have powerful effects and long dials. He has neither. For +1 Plot Points, “Violence is Not the Answer” gives a DV boost to the team, but Prof needs to attack or take self-damage. With 7 range, 10 AV and 2 damage, he’s not good at it (though you can use his out-of-character TK to hurl a heavy). -4 Plot Points grants “Freeze Motor Functions” to immobilize and -2 DV a target in range/LoF. But you never want to use it because the -9 “Dream of Peaceful Coexistence” is the real one … that you can’t use until Turn 8 at the earliest — and that’s if you take the damage every turn he doesn’t have an attack opportunity, which is likely. But by the time he gets it, he’s on his last click and if he dies, it’s wasted. Worse than wasted: the team loses the quasi-armor “Dream” gives AND the enemy gets +1 damage.

And anyway, he’s likely using TK early on. So the chances of the Prof using any of these abilities are low. At 50 points, maybe you could build in X-Men batteries to build him up. But … why?

NOW: He can’t even use TK to attack anymore. Not even the improved Willpower mid-dial helps him And by the time he gets Mind Control, his stats won’t let it be great. WORSE.

———

BY THE NUMBERS:

12

are improved

9

are … not

10

are even worse

by ·0 Comments

Long ago, early in the life of this blog, I said the kids were all right.

One of the greatest comics Marvel's ever produced.

 

But although it was great to get them in ‘Clix back in 2008 and all at once,  the sculpts were lacking and the dials weren’t right, either.

Somewhat surprisingly, they got a remake in 2021’s Future Foundation, 13 years after their first versions. And they got a somewhat F.U.N. trait where they swap powers, something they could occasionally do in their comics runs:

WE SWAPPED POWERS AGAIN?: FREE: If you have 2+ characters with this trait and different names on your force, choose another of those characters. Until your next turn, Katie Power and the chosen character can’t use their displayed powers and instead can use each other’s displayed powers and range values, and can’t be chosen for, or activate, this effect.

But as one can see from their appearance on Heroclixin’s Worst of 2021 list, these kids still aren’t all right.

 

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Jack Power (Future Foundation 016) 25 points

With 18 DV, he’s got the highest printed defense of the whole Pack. That can be a 21 in hindering with his big sister Julie’s power set. He’s also a Sidestep flier (though he shouldn’t be … he’s a cloud) and thus can act as a taxi (though he shouldn’t; he’s a CLOUD) as well as Packing a bit of punch with Close Combat Expert (when he compacts his molecules to shrink while retaining his full weight).

———

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Katie Power (Future Foundation 017) 25 points

  • Energy Explosion and Exploit Weakness

She has the best damage potential, but it’s very modest and wasted on her. The youngest Power child might be the least useful of all.

———

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Franklin (Future Foundation 028) 25 points

He’s the one 25-point member who does NOT have the swapping trait. He’s here for completeness’ sake and for his Prob Control and Pack-centric Perplex. Which they need.

———

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Alex Power (Future Foundation 029) 25 points

  • Force Blast and Telekinesis

It’s kinda the wrong power set for him again (and the wrong costume), but whatever. Really, the oldest of the Powers is just here to either TK a sibling or swap his TK to another member so they can TK someone ELSE.

———

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Julie Power (Future Foundation 030) 25 points

  • Hypersonic and Energy Shield/Deflection

With the best offense and defense powers, the eldest girl is either doing most of the fighting or giving her ESD to the ones in front.

 

Speaking of the eldest, both Alex and Julie got young adult versions, too.

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Alex Power (Future Foundation 034) 50 points

In the wrong costume, he’s got Sidestep but no Flight like his younger self. He can fight a little more effectively, sort of, with triple Incap (though at very short 4 range) and defend a bit with Barrier — including a FREE 2-square version (that can’t be placed diagonally).

———

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Julie Power (Future Foundation 035) 50 points

She has HSS again, but a SP version that gives her a mid-move placement of fellow Sidekicks.

Too bad the 25-point Pack aren’t Sidekicks.

 Sigh.
In Golden Age, one could play them with one more character with their keyword:
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Leech (Giant Size X-Men 026) 35 points
From way back in the early 2011 set, he kept all figs from taking POWER actions. That’s bad for uncommon Alex (Force Blast and TK) or both Julies (HSS) but maybe not the rest of the Pack.
But WAIT! Leech is coming back to Modern Age in August via LEGACY CARD! And this 25-point version’s trait is “Adjacent characters can’t use powers.”
So as long as he’s not next to his friends, Leech here could get TKed by Alex to open up a target’s defenses. Hmmm.
Maybe the kids COULD be all right.