Greetings HeroClix Fans!
We hope you’ve been enjoying our series of previews for the Marvel HeroClix: Uncanny X-Men set and were able to participate in our Pre-Release events. If you missed out on the Pre-Release events, we encourage you to find Organized Play tournaments at a venue near you by visiting the WizKids Info Network.
Today, we’re pleased to present to you a Giant-Size X-Men Team Building exercise where we’ll create a senses-shattering 300-point force that includes characters featured on the cover of the Giant-Size X-Men #1! By design, each member of our force has a point value of 50, which lets us field an even, no-nonsense team of six characters on the battlefield. Each character on our force also has a trait called All-New, All-Different X-Men, which boosts a character’s combat values (except for damage) by +1 until your next turn when it is healed by the X-Men team ability. All-New, All-Different X-Men is a Unique Modifier, which means a character’s combat values can’t be modified more than once through the trait’s effect.
The first member of our Giant-Size X-Men force is the Bavarian teleporter, Nightcrawler! Like the rest of his teammates on this force, Nightcrawler has the X-Men team ability and keyword. He also has the Martial Artist keyword to offer you an additional option for themed team building. Nightcrawler’s role on your force is to roam the map, tying up opposing characters and making attacks as needed. To help him do this, his dial features a special power called *BAMF* which lets you place him in any square within his line of fire. If that square is within four squares of the one in which he began his action, he may then make a close attack. Precision Strike allows Nightcrawler to get some of the damage he deals past opposing defenses. The rest of Nightcrawler’s dial features standard powers that make him difficult to hit or pin down: Phasing/Teleport, Combat Reflexes, Super Senses, and Shape Change.
Charging in next to Nightcrawler on the cover of Giant-Size X-Men #1 is Thunderbird! Playing the role of tertiary attacker on your force, Thunderbird begins play with a trait called His Death Remembered, which can either heal his teammates 1 click or modify their combat values by +1 until the end of your next turn when he is KO’d. Thunderbird’s specialty is close combat so his power set includes Sidestep, Charge, Super Strength, Toughness, Willpower, and Close Combat Expert. (Spoiler Alert) Thunderbird died on the new X-Men team’s second mission so to represent his sacrifice, he has a special power late in his dial called Punching a Fighter Jet. This power lets Thunderbird use Exploit Weakness, but when he does, he’s KO’ed after actions resolve. Punching a Fighter Jet is paired with Super Strength on Thunderbird’s dial so his damage output late in the game makes him a formidable opponent. In addition to the X-Men team ability and keyword, Thunderbird has the Soldier keyword.
Next up on our force is the X-Men’s big bruiser, Colossus! Colossus’ dial features only standard powers but his power layout is aggressive, with Charge, Super Strength, Invincible and high attack values to start things out. The rest of his dial is rounded out with Sidestep, Invulnerability and Toughness. Colossus has consistent damage values and the rest of his combat numbers are steady as well. Make sure to keep light and heavy objects within Colossus’ reach early in the game to take advantage of his top-click combination of Chargeand Super Strength and dish out extra damage. Like Nightcrawler and Thunderbird, Colossus has the X-Men team ability and keyword. His secondary keyword is Armor.
So far, each member of our Giant-Size X-Men force has been a close combatant. Our next member, Storm, gives our team some ranged punch. Storm can shoot a single target up to six squares away. Our previous three team members have the standard speed, attack, defense and damage symbols. Storm breaks that trend by having the wing speed symbol, which lets her use the Flight and Carry abilities. Storm’s dial is highlighted by a special power called Localized Weather, which lets her use Smoke Cloud as a free action. Localized Weather is paired on Storm’s dial with Stealth, making her a difficult target for opponents to draw lines of fire. The rest of Storm’s dial features Sidestep, Pulse Wave, Perplex and Energy Shield/Deflection. Deity is Storm’s secondary keyword.
Sticking with characters that can shoot, we’ve come to the X-Men’s field leader, Cyclops! The leader of our force, Cyclops can shoot a single target up to seven squares away and comes into play with a trait called Field Leader of the X-Men, which lets him use Leadership. Additionally, if he uses Leadership and succeeds, he can use Probability Control until your next turn. Cyclops’ power set reflects his ability to shoot and features Ranged Combat Expert, Penetrating/Psychic Blast, and Running Shot. Sidestep helps him stay on the move while Willpower keeps him from taking pushing damage. Cyclops has a consistent set of combat values which see a slight uptick offensively toward the end of his dial.
X-Men is the only keyword available to Cyclops, but that’s not the case with the final member of our force, Wolverine! Like the rest of his teammates, Wolverine has the X-Men team ability and keyword. Additionally, he has the Alpha Flight and Weapon X keywords. Wolverine’s main mutant powers, his adamantium claws and healing factor, are showcased on his dial through Blades/Claws/Fangs on each of his clicks and a trait, appropriately called Healing Factor, which lets him heal a click when he clears action tokens. Wolverinebecomes more wild and aggressive as the game progresses, thanks to a power set that includes Charge, Flurry, Combat Reflexes, Toughness and Battle Fury. His speed, defense and damage values take a dip toward the end of his dial but his attack values see a significant increase. Wolverine’s potential damage output makes him a vital part of this force, and he should see plenty of play on other teams as well.
And there you have it! Our Giant-Size X-Men team should be a viable force in both constructed and sealed play, and will hopefully earn you points among your peers in the comic accuracy and fun departments. Let Colossus, Wolverine and Thunderbird handle all your heavy hitting up front while Storm and Cyclopshang back and shoot. Meanwhile, Nightcrawler can play tie-up and attack as needed.
Thanks for reading! Join us again as we highlight more strategies and team builds from the Marvel HeroClix: Uncanny X-Men set!
