My official review of ALL the explosion characters (that we have stats for)

[hudson20]

I base this review off the information in the warriors section.

Con Artist – Rookie-Perplex for 11 points! I’m going to playing nine of him in my next 200 point army. Oh sure laugh now but when rookie thug knocks out your THOR I’ll have the last laugh. I can’t see myself ever making an army over 100 points without including perplex ever again. It’s just too easy to throw in now.
Con Artist – Veteran-The only reason to use this boy is if you think you are going to push your perplexer, and trust me that will rarely be a need. Use the rookie!
Hand Ninja – Rookie- This guy has one use. You can stand him next to one of your ranged guys and get +1 to hit. His stealth means he won’t get blown away in the thick of battle. Just please don’t attack with him.
Hand Ninja – Experienced- This guy can actually attack and get by toughness. Of course you still have to deal with his 7 attack value. He’s still good for the same thing as the rookie and only 2 points more.
Hand Ninja – Veteran- Ehh BCF? Use a vampire lackey instead.
Hand Ninja – Rookie(ranged)- Attack from 6 inchs away while stealthed? This guy must have serious robin envy.
Hand Ninja - Veteran (ranged)- Ok 8 attack, 8 inch range, hydra and stealth for 16 pts? Now we’re talking. It’s ninja star time!
SWAT Officer – Experienced- If you can combine him with a tker or a cheep taxi he might be worth it. Maybe.
SWAT Officer – Veteran- You get no extra incapacitate for your extra points. Use the cheaper character.
SWAT Specialist – Rookie- I’d rather use a vet hand (ranged) ninja for a point less. 6 inch range is just too short.
SWAT Specialist – Experienced- Same as above although he’s getting closer to useable.
Paramedic – Rookie- For the points this is the best medic available. All your armies now have room for a medic. I want one. Now.
Typhoid Mary – Rookie- This is just a bad character. Not worth the points, and that’s saying something considering she’s only costs 16 of them.
Typhoid Mary – Experienced- Not good. Use a vampire lackey.
Destiny – Rookie- First paramedic does medics proud, then con artist is the best perplexer around, now we get the best probility controller around? Good set! Scarlet who? Black what?
Destiny – Experienced- 3 More points for more of a good thing. Keep it coming. This is probably destiny’s best version.
Destiny – Veteran- Six more points for the same thing you got for 3 points last time? That’s not the good. This however is still a really good figure.
Boom-Boom – Rookie- The average medic can take her down. She’s pretty useless.
Boom-Boom – Experienced- Shield guys do explosion better. She needs to study more.
Mystique – Rookie- Awesome character. I would user her over harley any day. If you have more points use her. If you have less use con artist.
Mystique – Experienced- Worth the extra points. Not a main hitter but she can be an auxilary one.
Mystique – Veteran- Not too much better than the experienced one. But certainly worth the 8 points.
Viper – Experienced- Nice idea. Poison that’s hard to stop. If you plan around her she’s useful.
Viper – Veteran- No good reason to use her when her experienced form is around.
Shadowcat – Experienced- For 31 points she brings great defense to the table, unfortunately she seems to have left her offense at home. The best use I can think of for her is to go to hamper your opponents medics.
Shadowcat – Veteran- Even more defense, still barely any offense.
Iceman – Rookie- Is he the new avalanche (barrier user of choice)? Nope, at least not this version. Nice scuplt though.
Iceman – Veteran- Big upgrade over rookie. Unlike the rookie, he’s actually kinda useable. If you’re a fan that is.
Doc Samson – Rookie- A possible 4 damage at 79 points ain’t half bad. But if I got a choice I’d probably use hercules instead. This guys damage drops like a stone.
Doc Samson – Experienced- Better attack, better damage. Definitely worth the points over the rookie.
Doc Samson – Veteran- If you can keep him on the first click then he’s the best charging attacker around (damage wise at least). Beyond that first click and he’s sorts iffy.
Scorpion – Rookie- This guy is a 29 point medic harrasser at best. He can take a beating, but he can’t give one.
Scorpion – Experienced- Is he a ranged attacker? Is he a close combat guy? For 49 points he sucks at both. Keep in mind when I say this that I’m a fan of the comic book character. If he was even sorta good I’d give him a thumbs up. Unfortunately he’s not. Can someone tell me why he isn’t in the sinister syndicate?
Scorpion – Veteran- His one click of incapacitate and his 8 range range would make him a fairly good 40 point character. Unfortunately he clocks in at 58 points.
Abomination – Rookie- Low attack but otherwise he’s pretty darn usable.
Abomination – Veteran- Now that’s a what a 100 point figure should look like. Too bad he doesn’t cost one more point. That way he’d give mind controllers a headache.
Crimson Dynamo – Rookie- Low attack and kinda useless 4 clicks, but so are a lotta clix. I like him.
Crimson Dynamo – Experienced- He may be the only character over 100 points to have an attack of less than 10. Aside from attack value he’s really nice.
Crimson Dynamo – Veteran- 5 damage? Holy firelord batman! Unfortunately, his attack and defense aren’t nearly as high and his point cost is quite a bit more than chesselord. However the toughness and invulnerability make up for some of that.
Beast – Rookie-Kinda reminds me of toad. Not especially useful but you can makesome interesting playing with this piece.
Beast – Veteran- Very effiecient piece for his price. Attack is still kinda low.
Psylocke – Experienced- If the rookie has enhancement then it’s probably not worth it to play this version.
Psylocke – Veteran- Correction:Make that never ever play the experienced version. The vet is only three points more and way more usable.
Daredevil – Rookie- This is the ultra powerful improved daredevil? He ain’t that much more powerful in rookie form. Medic harasser at best.
Taskmaster – Experienced- That’s a lot of color on the dial for 58 points, and yet he still could be better. He might suffer from changling symdrome.
Silver Samurai – Rookie- I think he’s a pretty good deal.
Silver Samurai – Experienced-Even better deal
Silver Samurai – Veteran- Even better deal yet. Has unique elektra met her match?
Gambit – Rookie- He’s like the spear using elektras that everyone says suck. Only he’s not as good.
Gambit – Experienced- Perplex and stealth? Mystique is way better at it, and she can do it cheaper to boot.
Gambit – Veteran- He sucks for even more points now.
Mandarin – Rookie- He’s like the key but he’s not quite as good. 9 attack value on a 107 point character?
Mandarin – Experienced- Much better than rookie version. I might use this one.
Mandarin – Veteran- 12 inch range 11 attack and A whole lotta powers. This is a nice clix. If only they didn’t double up incapitate and mind control.
Iron Man – Rookie- 117 points and an 8 attack value? You’re joking right?
Iron Man – Experienced- 161 for a nine attack value. Are you sure they didn’t mean 19?
Colossus – Rookie- Charge and four damage for only 90 points? He’s actually only 79 points, but you’ll need the 11 point con artist to hit anything with his 8 attack.
Colossus – Experienced- Big time bargain, as long as you are packing probability control.
Storm – Rookie- Anyone see a reason to use her instead of bullseye?
Storm – Veteran- Anyone see a reason to use her instead of cyclops?
Shadowcat – Unique- This is the best of the shadow cats. Unfortunately that is still not that good.
Elektra – Unique- She would need at least flurry to be worth anything like 160 points.
Deathbird – Unique- I think we got a moon dragon style bargain there.
Apocalypse – Unique- He’s almost worth his points and might be cool in a fun game.
Green Goblin – Unique- Yet another gobiln who’s not quite worth his points.
The Leader – Unique- Completely worth it if you can somehow only pay sixty points for him. Unfortunately, the rules say you have to play 113 for him.
Sauron – Unique- Charge flying and blades claws fangs combine well here.
Lady Deathstrike - Unique She’s costs 9 more than unique elektra and she ain’t as good.
Spider-Man – Unique- It’s a toss up between this one and the 6 armed one. Both are good, but not great.
Savage Hulk – Unique- If you play him you’ll be facing so much outwit that his dial will be colorless, but I think you’ll still have a fun time doing it. Best hulk ever.
Phoenix – Unique- Her or experienced magneto, probably her. Moon dragon is still a better deal though.
Weapon X – Unique- I play logan all the time. Weapon x just don’t measure up.

[Heroclix?]

Good analysis, hudson. I don't think that the Silver Samurai is a match for the U Elektra. Sure, a 10 speed with Phasing is OK, but since Firelord is out there, I'd rather have the Stealth.

[Ironman44]

I really have to scratch my head and wonder what some people are talking about with Iron Man? Last time I checked Batman had similar attack values for an expereinced fig.

Did you want him to come with an 11 attack value and be the very best fig in the entire game? Every fig has a weakness. It's still a great piece to play and more importantly a FUN piece to play in my opinion .

if the argument is that he's exepnsive ...well he should be...he's a flying tank with regeneration no less and even some outwit. look at all the positives of the fig.

[hudson20]

I'll grant that the experienced iron man may have his uses, and a nine attack maybe ain't that bad(if you can pack probability control). His changing to close combat right in the middle of his dial is definitely and interesting feature. However, I am gonna stand by my guns and say that rookie iron man is still poop on a stick. He only starts at 8 attack value and that goes down after only 1 click. Push your 117 point character once and you will hit nothing from then on. A defense of 16 will seem near impossible to hit.

[DoomX]

some winners

Mandarin is a scary scary. I'm talking POWER. 12'' Range with outwit?! The only funny thing is he won't always be able to outwit everyone thats within his attack range heh.

Psylocke is interesting and has the much underused enhancment. Plus she meshes with the pre-exsisting X-Men well enough. She is a possible replacment for Wolveriene on some teams.

Abomination. its a solid brawler Villian thats accurate even and playable to boot, strange isn't it?

Doc Sampson is another bearer of the Perplex epidimic but a deserving host at the least. Doc Smash! is all i can say. I like em lots but think he is a little much for the character.

Silver Samurai is just Wow. Price effiecient and deadly to start. While he isn't giving Elektra Black a run for her money really they do work well together i feel.

Paramedic is sick and wrong. heh ok well maybe not but is really good. i don't like medics but i can recognize power when i see it.

Destiny is solid alternitive to Rookie Scarlet witch...or better yet use both considering how cheap they both are. Very powerful.

Colossus brings Super Strength brawling to the X-Men, and brings it well. His attack may not be the best but its not the worst. Soild, accurate enough, and dangit i like em'. nice.

Gambit is another carrier of the Perplex virus, and not one that should bear it. but hey, it gives the X team perplex and a neat new character. not bad, not fantastic but then again that is the X-Men sumed up.


top losers

Lady Deathstrike. Wow! Its Rookie Wolveriene without regeneration, and for 1 pt more!!!!!

Apacolypse isn't worth his points for his rock bottom defense. Its really my only gripe besides lowish damage but that defense is glaringly bad.

Leader is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy over priced. Did they forget they made Exp. White Queen?

Green Goblin. thats right he is a chump. He may be a super strength taxi. he is pretty pricy for that role everyone has dreamed up for him. considering his stats arn't all that in the first place. and not ever SS? bleh, if i wanted the Ultimates i'd buy a set about them.

[Manchine]

Have to say Hudson. I am pretty impressed with your look at it. Some I agree some I disagree but it not to bad.

[Thunderbolts]

Comparing Taskmaster to Changeling could be the worst Heroclix comment I've ever heard. Seriously. changeling starts useless and doesn't progress any further than that. Taskmaster is awesome to begin with and the only thing that fluctuates is his Team Ability - whioch the player gets to change as he sees fit/is available. Used properly he'll stay on the click you want him to - in hindering terrain he can't lose Mastermind*, thus as long as you have fodder around he'll always be safe.

*E version, V not confirmed to have MM yet, though it is likely.

[Mr. Drifter]

If that's the worst Heroclix comment you've ever heard (heard? I have to read stuff on my computer...sucks for me, I guess), you really must not get around too much. Seriously.

Does anyone know why Close Combat Mastery hasn't made its way to Marvel clix yet? In my opinion, it was sorely needed (by which I mean that, from a "comic book" perspective, it would have been very appropriate) on a bunch of guys in this set, including The Taskmaster (probably one of my favorite villains, and no, I don't know why).

I appear to be the Parentheses-Master. Boo-ya.

[lavinah]

Um, hafta disagree with the Shadowcat comment.

31 points, flying - phasing - 17 SS defense.

And you complain about no damage...what, your Wasp
at 33 points is there for DAMAGE? Or vulture?
She's not a DC taxi, but no one in Marvel is.

At 31 points, she's amung the best taxis in the (Marvel) game.

Lack of a free move action sucks, but FLYING PHASING
and supersenses...

Shadowcat will RULE indoor maps.

-lavinah

[hudson20]

Sorry I hadn't yet checked the picture and I had no idea was able to fly. Of course from wha ti know of her comic book character I would never have guess flight for her.

If she flies she is quite a bit more promising.

Does the leader do somthing special I haven't seen, or does he still suck?

[whiteperegrine]

Originally posted by hudson20
Sorry I hadn't yet checked the picture and I had no idea was able to fly. Of course from wha ti know of her comic book character I would never have guess flight for her.

If she flies she is quite a bit more promising.

kitty doesn't fly, 'per-say', but walks on air...
given this I think she will be a mean taxi who, as mentioned earlier, will be hell on wheels on indoor maps.

unique kitty with unique wolvie on an indoor map is a rough combo...and makes sense they would team up given their history in the comics ;)

[Nickel97]

Low attack/damage values + an abundance of cheap perplex = high attack or damage values.

I'm suprised at how many posts I see where someone says "Gahhhh, look at all that perplex, what were they thinking" and then goes on to say "ARRGGHH, look at those single digit attack values, what were they thinking."

Well, they were thinking, and they did their math well. Especially due to the lower overall defense values. Heck, they could've raised defense values a bit to compensate for the perplex (as perplex is almost useless on your own figs defense).

If they would've put that much perplex in and given lots of high attack values, (and, you know, there a few 11s and 12s as well, sorry we don't have any 14s or 15s), they'd've had to make the defense values higher, and thus make figures more expensive.

I think the game is going get a bit more technical with low AVs and perplex. -- Of course, there will always be a moron that will go "Hey look, 9 con artists and Jay Garrick, or 10 con artists and Nightcrawler. Man, I'm smart and good at heroclix" -- Low AVs mean that choices will have to be made for what to perplex each turn. Every piece has the potential to be a beast, but you have to make good choices, and position your figures well. It's not as simple as just picking undercosted figures with big numbers now.

Another thing that struck me is the prevalence of ESD, which counteracts nicely the longer ranges that have been given.

now my response to some of the reviews:

Ultimate Shmultimate, Green Goblin has flying, willpower down the dial and super strength. That's very good. willpower is good. flying willpower is good.

Typhoid Mary and the BCF ninja don't have battle fury. Until they change the taxi rules, that makes them better than vamp lackeys (except rachel van helsing).

Taskmaster is nuts at all levels. His rookie has one of those low attack values though... sort of like that Elektra with the black costume.

Good reason to use vet viper when the experienced is around: higher cost means more choices for mastermind.

Best Uniques: Sauron, Shadowcat (though she's only slightly better than her e version).

only (tiny) gripe I have: one or two clicks of super senses for psylocke. But hey, she's pretty dang okay by me as she is now.

Boy, I'm long winded when I have other important homework to do...

[greenflash21]

Everyone seems to be forgetting one simple use of both Leader and Madarin.... Mind Control. 12 range, two targets ( don't forget mind control can be used with multiple targets, I checked with a judge and the rulebook) and willpower equals total control of your opponents team at a safe distance. Although Leader dose not have two targets mind control and will power could be very deadly.

[VenomDaBomb]

Originally posted by hudson20
I base this review off the information in the warriors section.

Green Goblin – Unique- Yet another gobiln who’s not quite worth his points.



What are you SMOKING! Hes like megaPHAT! A WIllpower Flyer! no Pushing Thats hugh add his movement(9) is just killer! and Shadow(uni) is wicked too. It seems you have never played a game with a phasing flyer with a healer in range! SHe will see hugh tourny play!

[Ghost_Rider]

Originally posted by greenflash21
Everyone seems to be forgetting one simple use of both Leader and Madarin.... Mind Control. 12 range, two targets ( don't forget mind control can be used with multiple targets, I checked with a judge and the rulebook) and willpower equals total control of your opponents team at a safe distance. Although Leader dose not have two targets mind control and will power could be very deadly.

Mandarin doesn't have 2 targets.
Ghost

[Ghost_Rider]

Originally posted by VenomDaBomb



What are you SMOKING! Hes like megaPHAT! A WIllpower Flyer! no Pushing Thats hugh add his movement(9) is just killer! and Shadow(uni) is wicked too. It seems you have never played a game with a phasing flyer with a healer in range! SHe will see hugh tourny play!

Speed is 10.
Ghost

[Veggiehater]

Originally posted by Ghost_Rider

Mandarin doesn't have 2 targets.
Ghost

Oh man...

But if he did! Just the thought sends shivers down my spine... :eek:

;)
VH

[JoFo]

I'm not sure if Leader will be completely with his points, but come on, you guys are bashing him way too much. A fig with MC and Willpower should cost 60 points? Ha!

I agree with most other things though.

[PantherPriest]

you use storm because she is very cheap, and she flies, unlike cyclops or bullsye, in fact you use storm to carry cyclops and what not. However I am very very sad that storm isn't nearly as cool as she should be, she has only 1 target(?) and ####py defense and no force blast or running shot or pulsewave or anything resembling weather.