The Anatomy of a PreRelease

So first things first, let's talk about how a prerelease event works, and what you should expect to come away with from the event in general. If you attended the Mutant Mayhem event, or if you've navigated your fair share of large Marquee events, please feel free to skip down to the next section. However, if this will be your first prerelease or first big event, please read on.

There are a couple of things you will want to do before you even head out for the event. First off, make a constructed team. What? It's a prerelease, sealed, right? Well, yeah, but, if you make the top 16, you'll move on to a constructed event, and you should be ready to play. The constructed event will be 300 open...that means all universes are OK, but retirement is in effect...and remember, Legacy isn't open legal yet either, so don't count on using the figs you pull in the sealed event.

Make sure you have all of your supplies on hand as well...dice, action tokens, ID rings, something to carry your brand new 'Clix in, all of the basics. Don't neglect things like food and water either, if you make it to the final rounds, it's going to be a long day.

Ok...you're all packed up and heading out. I would suggest getting to the event at least a half hour early, that will give you plenty of time to sign in, and sometimes the Tournament Organizer (TO) will sit everyone down to layout the ground rules of the event. WizKids is telling everyone to get started by at 11 am at the latest, though your event might start even earlier, make sure to check the schedule.

Speaking of signing in, make sure you have cash on hand in case the TO isn't setup to take credit cards. The event I'm playing is running $30, I'm guessing that will be the normal price for the event. Not a bad deal, considering the packs alone would cost you $24 two weeks from now, and you're almost guaranteed one extra goodie.

Once everyone is seated, they'll pass out everyone's packs...three boosters, and the goal of a 300 point team. Make sure to open your boosters one at a time, and check each figs model, base, and dial to make sure they match. To match the base and the dial, turn the dial back the other way from the starting line, the small number there should match the number on the base. If you have any problems with a booster, let the TO know right away, they should be able to provide you with a replacement.

Once you get your figs and cards laid out, build your team. There will almost definitely be a time limit for this portion of the event, so you might have to move fast. (We'll talk more about team building theories in the next section.) Once your team is built...hang back, and wait for them to start the pairings.

WizKids has dictated that the pre-release have three Swiss style rounds, with the top 16 advancing to meet the Local qualifiers in a single elimination constructed tourney. Swiss style means that the winners will face the winners and the losers will face the losers...this will divide down the field quickly. Depending on the number of players, a 2-1 record may be enough to make the top 16, but you may need a perfect 3-0, it's hard to say.

Oh, remember earlier how I mentioned a goodie? Sometime during the beginning of the event, maybe during the first round, the TO will hand out the Participation Prize. These prizes are the coveted Purple Ring Uniques...you'll get a random unique from the Legacy set that has a Purple Ring instead of a Silver ring...you can't use it on your team, but it's likely highly collectible. The MM purple ring figs were selling for up to ten times what the normal silver ring pieces were going for. If someone wants to trade for your Purple Ring, be sure to keep that in mind.

Ok, so back to the event...if you make the final 16, you'll enter a single elimination phase with your constructed team. Win that, and the prize is a big one...a complete factory set of Legacy, and a pass to the second round of the Wizard World L.A. Invitational event. Fear not...fellowship also receives a factory set of Legacy. Typically, Fellowship winners are chosen from those still in attendance (not necessarily still playing) at the end of the event...whether that will be at the end of the sealed or constructed portion, I don't know. There should also be LE prizes for the top X finishers, probably top eight.

Ok, so what happens if you lose your first two games, and you just want to try a new group of figs and get your hands on some more Legacy goodness? Well, there will be side events. If supplies of boosters hold, the side events should be much like the main event, only with a much smaller number of players, and a more limited prize pool of les. However, this is a great way to try out more new figs if things aren't going your way in the main event.

Team Building in a Sealed Legacy Environment

In lieu of azs' excellent figure by figure breakdown of a set, I'm going to talk about Legacy team building in some broad strokes...hopefully get you thinking about what TYPE of team you can expect to try and build.

First and foremost, let's look at some numbers. There are 121 total characters in Legacy, including Super Rares and Bystander Tokens. The average cost per figure is a whooping 86 points. (This jumps to 91 if we don't count the bystanders.) Needless to say, you probably won't be fielding any kind of weenie storm. In fact, don't be surprised if you end up running around four or five figures on your team, give or take a Feat or Bystander Token to round out points.

Now let's talk about mobility, the ability to move your figs around the board. There are plenty of flying figs, but none that scream pure taxi like a Wasp or Parademon might. TK is rather rare...only 8 figs have the power (all front loaded), but two of those are Super Rare figs and one is a Unique. The rookie Jade is the cheapest of the bunch with a cost of 64 points. Luckily, there is plenty of Charge, Running Shot, and even a small dose of HyperSonic Speed. The upshot is this, don't panic if you aren't fielding a double TK team like you might in constructed, likely you'll be able to build in plenty of mobility via Charge and Running Shot, and even HSS if you are lucky.

Another issue are the utility powers. Guess what, in case you haven't noticed, there are NO figures with Support in the set. This opens up the doorway for alternative methods of healing, such as the Titans and Suicide Squad Team Abilities to play a bigger roll. These two TA's are basically discounted altogether in constructed play, but in sealed, especially in this set, they could make or break a team. (By the way, I checked, no Regeneration in this set either. Yikes.) The second leg of the top tier utility powers is Perplex. Now, there is some Perplex in this set, but not much. Only eight figures have the power, and only one, Kid Flash, has it front loaded. For 81 points, he is likely a very solid pick if you can pull him. Though it's not Perplex exactly, the new Feat In Contact with Oracle acts like Perplex, and I expect it to see play by everyone that pulls it. While the strength of the feat versus pure Perplex is debatable in constructed play, in this sealed environment, it will be a huge swinging factor. The third leg of the top tier of utility powers is Outwit...and that is something Legacy does have in spades. A full 27 figures have Outwit, many with it front loaded. Outwit is a power you can almost count on getting in some form or another. While the Fortitude feat will foil your Outwit plans, if you don't manage to pull any Outwit, there is a good amount of both Exploit Weakness and Psychic Blast to cut through those defense you would normally rely on Outwit to take care of for you. The fourth and final leg of the top tier utility powers is Probability Control. There are actually 11 figs with PC in the set...a higher than average number...you can't count on it...but the odds are good you'll be able to field a team with both Outwit and PC.

Let's touch on Team Abilities. Taken together, the wildcards of the set, Legion of Super Heroes and the new Calculator figures, make up the largest block of TA's...there are 15 wildcards in the set. Pulling wildcards will be a good thing, a good number of figures have a TA, and every single TA DC has in in this set with at least one member. (Just remember, your wildcards can't copy the new CSA or Outsiders TAs.) Second largest in terms of numbers are the JSA members, 14 and all...the odds are pretty good you might pull a couple of them, enough to really use the TA. The Power Girl vet, unique Wonder Woman and Super Rare Jade all have 17 defenses to share...a good reason to team them up with either their allies in the JSA or perhaps even a Wildcard or two.

Let's touch on big guns for a minute. A full 45 figs, more than a third of the set, cost 100 points or more. In fact, 5 figs cost 200 or more points. Likely, you'll be fielding at least one figure in the 100 plus point range. And, if it's not you, you will face someone playing one of the big guns...Ares, Ultraman, General Zod, KC Green Lantern, or Mongul. Each of these power five are daunting in their own way. Ares and Green Lantern are probably the most dangerous, followed by Zod, Ultraman and Mongul. Each of them is beatable with the right team, but make sure you build a team ready to take on one of these fearsome fighters.

One last thought on team design...take note, there is NO front loaded Pulse Wave in this set. (Jinx has it, but mid-dial.) However, there is an inordinate amount of figures with "activation clicks" (figures whose powers don't kick in until their second click) in this set. Many of them are worth using, but don't load up on them too much...if you spend your first three turns pushing your whole team and resting, odds are you'll fall prey to a first strike by your opponent.

In closing...

I've played in almost every Marquee for every set so far, my fair share of Battle Royals, and the Mutant Mayhem PreRelease event. Each set, in sealed play, has it's own flavor...and I predict that Legacy will be all about the big guns. Most games will come down to who can bring out the biggest, baddest fig they have and smack their opponent first...prepare for an aggressive style of play, and don't be surprised to find your force standing toe to toe with your opponents, trading blows back and forth. I don't see many of these games being decided by a few points here or there...I expect game to blow wide open, with entire team being taken out. It'll be great.

That's it for today...next week I'll share my experiences from this Sundays event. Good luck if you get to play in one yourself, and we'll see you in seven! - webhead817

Great read, keep it up Webhead

Excellent! Excellent article! I'm going to the pre-release in about 9 hours... this is one great read! Thanks! And HCRealms is so much fun now with these articles...

very nice as always, it will give us something to read and talk about on our 4 1/2 drive.... .

the real question is who do you think is going to be the best low point figure? i have not heard anything on the lower cost figures....i give my vote to the Red Hood

thank you again
phillip

The Red Hood would be a huge pull...he's Super Rare, so you can't count on him, but he'd be a great side car for all of the Running Shot figs.

I guess the vet. Spoiler with the Batman TA, if you end up running wildcards, that could be a big pull.

Thing is, in this set, the low point figs will be competing for spots against the strong Feat cards...so it will really depend on what type of support your big guns need.

Great article. Only small thing no mention of the Suicide Squad team members in the section about healing. With Enchantress, Blockbuster and wildcards and pogs that could be something to contend with. Also Lazarus Pit.

I only wish I could go to the Prerelease up in Detroit.

Instead I have to go tell my family that I am going to be a father again Darnit

I touched on the fact that both the Squad and Titans TA's could shine, but they are both fairly rare TA's as well. You are right though, I didn't mention the pit...that's almost an article in itself, but it does allow for healing, and could be clutch.

Webby, you are doing a great job as well as azs......I'm glad you guys are having more articles featured on the front page. It's better than seeing the same bleepin' thread every other day. BTW, when are we recieving the fourms upgrade?

Just in case you want to bone up on the stats themselves, there's a downloadable pdf (Acrobat required) of the Legacy stats (yeah, already!) at National Heroclix Labs.

Great points! Thanks.

I miss Azs figure by figure review though.

Any idea why wizkids sat on the stats for so long?

Thank you.

azs' reviews will be here in plenty of time for the Marquee...

As for why it took so long to get all of the stats, BroMags stated that they were making some changes to their Figure Gallery...so basically it just sounds like it took them longer to get everything in. Assuming it all went to plan, I'm hoping we will be back on track for next time.

bro mags said in a thread it was a new database and they had bugs to work out ...

nice article webby...

Great heads up for the first timer and the veteran attendee. I would like to add a few thoughts about these events.
Players bring your "Fellowship Face". As a judge its a little dis-concerning to be greeted with grumpy, confrontational and ornery players at 10AM.
Bring your lunch money, chances are that this event will take all of your day from the sealed to the finals. You might not have an opportunity to run to the border. Vending machine food might be your only nourishment.
Most venues might have a take out menu for local pizza joints/delis on hand and if not ask local players if there are any delivery restaurants in the area.
*WARNING* *WARNING* *WARNING*
Lack of personal hygiene is not a strategy tactic. Consider others, whether in the 4 hour car ride to the venue, the three sealed rounds or the 6 rounds of finals. Use some anti-funk product, breathe mints, gum, deodorant...
Just remember to be considerate to your fellow clixers, some might be from out of town relying on the kindness of the local clixing community.

First point, great job Webby. The number breakdowns for average costs, team abilities, and Utility powers really helps put things in perspective!

To Gumpold, my "Primer" review will go up next week. Sorry its not in time for the Prerelease, but for everyone else who isn't going to that but will be attending a sealed or Marquee, it will be up in plenty of time for those.

As for WK timing for the stats, they have always posted stats on the first day the figures were comercially availible.
Last year that just happened to be for a convention that was preselling product. That's why it went up in advance of the pre-release tournament.
For this set, there were no cons, and the prerelease is the first public release of the set. To that end, WK actually put the stats up early, especially since all of my "sources" told me they wouldn't be up until late Today!