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Every year, there's
always a piece or
three (or
ten or more)
that ALMOST makes
the cut, but some
slight flaw squeezes
it off the list.
Let's see what slid
off mine.
=============
Air-Walker
He won consideration
due to his opening
Hypersonic Speed,
excellent AV and
Power Cosmic. His
low damage and poor
defense for his cost
lost him his spot. A
solidly Invulnerable
middle and lots of
Hypersonic and Regen
almost won it back;
he's a difficult
piece to pin down
and finish off!
---------------------------
Beta Ray Bill
He won consideration
due to his opening
Running Shot,
excellent AV with
high damage and
solid defense. But a
run of low-DV Super
Senses mid-life
kills his Top 10
aspirations despite
a late-dial upswing
in AV and the return
of Running Shot.
---------------------------
Odin
As costly a piece as
can be currently run
and still have room
for feats, Odin is
mighty indeed.
Outwit, Power
Cosmic, very high
defenses and attack
to start
unfortunately give
way to all-too-soft
Super Senses in the
middle. This pudgy
underbelly
undermines Odin's
otherwise deadly and
resilient dial and
costs him a place in
the Top Ten.
---------------------------
Sif
One of the game's
best taxis thanks to
her
"no-Carry-penalty"
SP, being a
minion-activator and
a Super-Strong
fighter, she's a
great piece for
under 100 points. If
she'd had
move+attack ability
or even Indomitable,
she'd certainly have
made the list.
---------------------------
Thor & Loki
This duo figure is
absolute death
against many teams
thanks to titanic
damage and the
ability to use
Thunderbolts and
either hide in the
shadows (Bat Ally)
or double up on
Mystics retaliation
(by picking either
Crossgen or Arachnos).
Unfortunately, one
of their SPs kills
their range attacks,
making them highly
vulnerable to the
game's best
Hypersonic bricks.
Unforgiveable at
their
highest-cost-yet
price point.
---------------------------
Ulik
With a DV topping
out at a rather
putrid 15, one may
wonder how Ulik even
makes the also-ran
list. Answer:
because of his
Outwit- and Pulse
Wave-proof defense
power that reduces
damage dealt to just
1. Unless the enemy
is dealing
penetrating damage
like Exploit
Weakness or Psychic
Blast, or using the
Meteorite, Ulik can
absorb a lot of
attacks. Meanwhile,
he's dealing as much
as 6 damage per hit
and never less than
3 with very high AV.
But the low DV and
the fact that he
takes a click from
even peons' attacks
hold him back.
---------------------------
Every year there's a
truly deserving
piece that gets
knocked off for lack
of space. This time
it was because I was
pretty enamored of
the generics who, in
retrospect, should
have probably shared
an entry. (Honestly,
I wonder if maybe I
haven't overrated
them a tad, since
they won't be quite
as superb without
their leaders.
But...I digress.)
So. Like I did with
Gamora last year,
feel free to drop
your least favorite
of my Top Ten pick
and replace it with:
Ultron
wing & indomitable
symbols
174 points
Team: none
Keywords: Cosmic,
Masters of Evil,
Robot, Ruler
Range: 12 x 1
DIAL:
http://wizkidsgames.com/heroclix/gallery/
STRENGTHS:
12 range, 12 AV, 12
Speed with Charge, 4
damage, Impervious
and Pulse Wave. And
he's indomitable,
costing well under
200 points. Any
questions?
Well, OK, there's
Outwit on clicks 2-4
should he get hit to
those. Mid-dial, he
can shunt damage off
to subordinates with
Mastermind while
using "Transfer
Essence" (Mind
Control that doesn't
take feedback from
controlling Armor or
Robots) or Psychic
Blast. Late-dial,
Running Shot makes a
reappearance along
with Regeneration to
give him a second
wind.
WEAKNESSES:
Aside from his
leading 3 Impervious
clicks, he's devoid
of damage
reduction...could be
a problem. Energy
Explosion is kinda
pointless.
CARDS TO CONSIDER:
FORTITUDE might be
extra-necessary on
Ultron as he cannot
afford to lose ANY
of his defensive
powers...ever!
Because he has the
indomitable ability,
he can totally
ignore the pushing
damage NOVA BLAST
usually causes.
AUTOMATIC
REGENERATION is
probably a good fit,
too, so he doesn't
have to waste
actions trying to
heal and can instead
continue eradication
of all
flesh!!!!!!!...in
HeroClix.
IN SUM:
Able to deal hurt
from extreme range
or in close with
Charge or medium
range with Pulse
Wave, Ultron is the
total tentpole
package.
---------------------------
SR Loki
This is another
piece that could
have scratched a
spot on the top 10.
Stealth + Mastermind
is a superb
combination, one
that various version
of Doctor Doom have
been lauded for
since the early days
of HeroClix. And
Loki does it a bit
better with his
special 4-square
Mastermind. He also
gains a solid
defense in mid-dial
Invulnerability,
getting the best out
of his Mystics TA.
It's his utter lack
of move+attack
powers or Willpower
that hold him back
from being among the
best. At his price
point, he needs to
be more actively
fighting and less
supportive.
---------------------------
The Warriors Three:
Fandral, Hogun,
Volstagg.
Sporting 11 AV and
18 DV with
Invulnerability or
better on their
first clicks for
around 100 points
each, the members of
this trio are pretty
solid alone.
However, they work
best in a group so
their shared Trait
can supercharge
their AVs to
can't-miss 13s, and
they're highly
vulnerable to ranged
fighters.
=============
That wraps up 2009's
top pieces. Next
begins a series on
the ultra-rare chase
pieces. Bookmark
this site. Clix of
the Day is BACK!!!!
Also, check
out alternate
versions of these
reviews, battle
reports, and other
fun articles on my
HeroClix blog,
Heroclixin'
(heroclixin.wordpress.com).
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