From power rings to radioactive rocks, explosives to magical artifacts, every hero and villain has some equipment they just can't live without. And when you need to decide which of these weapons you need on your Heroclix team, it can be a pretty tough decision. I'm here to help.

Greetings, my fellow Clixers! We’re staying in the past to look at an object that, while it may not turn the tide of your high-point game, will certainly make those rangeless bricks of yours into slightly more appealing pieces (not that they really need it). Of course, I’m talking about the Laser Turret!

cdS004 Laser Turret

(optional) Once during your turn (but not during another action) when a character friendly to you occupies this object's square, give this object a free action to make a ranged combat attack ( 8, 2, 4 ) against any opposing figure.
0 Points


Availability: The Laser Turret was available in Collateral Damage boosters, and is now available on the secondary market for next to nothing, like most old special objects.

You have no idea how cool these objects were when they came out. You young guns are all used to the idea of all your special objects being 3-D and comic-inspired, but in the beginning they were just generic items with interesting effects. This one was the best of the first class of cardboard special objects, granting you a free attack that only you and your teammates can use. The turret does have its own statistics, but that makes sense and lets you put a guy with no range or 1 damage on top of it and blast away. It’s not without its flaws – such as being designed for a world where Invulnerability was reserved for Uniques and rarer pieces – but you can still make use of its extra attacks in whatever way you please.

In Action

The part that really shows the Laser Turret’s age is the stats it uses for its attack. Back when Collateral Damage was released, figures often had lower defenses (making the 8 attack more likely to hit) and didn’t have damage reducers like they do today (meaning that the 2 more likely to have an impact). Still, we have an object that lets us make a ranged attack that A) functionally ignores Mystics damage (since the damage is dealt to the Turret, which made the attack), B) doesn’t use up one of your precious actions, especially important in low-point games, C) can attack regardless of adjacency, D) provides your brick with an object to fight with should he be using it and get rushed, and E) can’t be turned back on you. Thank you, Player’s Guide, for finally getting with it and working on my computer; I’ll never write another article without consulting you first. Back on topic, the Laser Turret really shines in low-point games, where you’re less likely to encounter a lot of Invulnerability and super-high defenses. If you’ve ever wanted to play a 100-point game and need a special object that you think can help you out-fight your opponent, look no further.

Final Assessment

While it’s not as effective as it used to be, the Laser Turret can still make an impact on lower-point games, where actions are slim and that 2 can make a difference whether you win or lose. If you’re ever in the mood for a quick game with a few figures, this is the format and object for you.

That’s all for this article; come back next time when we have a special article planned for all you Teen Titans fans. Until then, happy Clixin’!

It's great fun with Hank Pym. Mobil turret.

I remember playing my brother in a game where he had Lian Harper manning the laser turret and desperately trying to get some bragging rights. He didn't KO anyone if I recall, but did get some hits in.

One bit of advice and one question. To get over the 2 damage problem maybe try manning it with someone with Outwit. And can the range be extended by someone with the SHIELD TA?

You can put the question on that for the outwit, and he/she (depending on which one you use) can be stealthy because of it!

the bit about only you and your teammates being the only ones that can use it was an old rule right?

Pair this with the Shield Disruptor special object and now you need not worry about that pesky Inv or Imp.

Wow... I totally missed the change about my opponent using the Turret. That's pretty big!

-J

Was definitely on my go to object list back in the day. With almost all games being Modern these days, I hardly think of these any more when team building. Thanks for the reminder.

Am I missing something here? I thought any single based figure could use the Laser Turret.

I just played this last week. It was a scenario where one of your figures started the game outside of your opponents starting area.

I think I got about 3 shots with it in 3 games and none hit.

I used to use it more when it came out, but then my opponents were using it more than me. It has been collecting dust for the last couple of years.

Of all the objects in the game, old or new, this one has done the most for me in terms of winning games. Every time it has been used in a game, either by me or my opponent, I have always been able to make use of it to my advantage.

I want to clarify one point on this statement; the only map I have ever run into this object on is the Castle map (the one with the moat etc). That said, I have been in at least 5 games on that map where the Laser Turret was used, by me or the other guy.

In every game where the Laser Turret (LT) was placed by either side, I wound up in control of it and basically sat there and used it with near impunity. The way it worked out was, I had a guy who could use the object set up waiting for anyone who closed in to take them out; and, in every situation, I also was lucky enough to have an Outwitter next to the Laser Turret gunner as well. This means that no one, not even bricks, were able to close the distance on the Laser Turret, nor get an angle enough to make ranged shots on the LT, without getting a retaliatory strike in return.

The LT has been so great for me in games that I have even thought about making an actual 3-D version of it to use in the game. It is definitely worth using, even in todays games - if you can get the situation to come together for you, as I was able to make it work for me.

Even at 8 attack and 2 damage, It's an extra free attack every turn that ignores Mystics and Stealth! That's pretty good, broken in fact. One of the top objects in the game, especially at 0 points. The only reason not to use it was because you had super strength figures and were using the dumpster and meteorite objects as you fro heavies.

Also this.object goes together with Congo Bill/Congorilla like peanut butter goes with chocolate.

I think its worth mentioning that prob doesn't work on it and nanoarmor will protect you from its damage.

A bystander is best to fire this turret.