Greetings HeroClix Fans!
Today’s exercise in team building and strategy takes the hashtag #squadgoals to a different level since our squad features some of the worst heroes ever from the DC Comics HeroClix: The Joker’s Wild! set. From Belle Reve Penitentiary, make way for the Suicide Squad and its no-nonsense, tough-as-nails director, Amanda Waller!
Today’s theme team utilizes the Suicide Squad keyword and comes in just under 300 points. Our Squad features four characters from The Joker’s Wild! set – one of whom makes his HeroClix debut – as well as a character from the DC HeroClix: The Rogues Fast Forces Pack.
Here’s today’s lineup:
25 Amanda Waller
60 Colonel Rick Flag, Jr.
60 Bronze Tiger
75 Deadshot
75 Captain Boomerang
295 total points
+5 to Initiative Map Roll, 3 uses of Theme Team Probability Control
Let’s start with Amanda Waller.
Working covertly as the Suicide Squad’s director, Amanda Waller’s dial features two appropriate standard powers, Stealth and Leadership. Amanda Waller also has the Suicide Squad team ability, which lets a character using it potentially heal some damage when an adjacent teammate is KO’d. However, the Suicide Squad team ability gets an upgrade, thanks to Amanda Waller’s There Is No Squad Without The Wall trait, which lets teammates using the team ability heal when a friendly character is KO’d anywhere on the map. With her short dial and low combat values, Amanda Waller’s mission on this force is to stay out of trouble so that the rest of the team can benefit from There Is No Squad Without The Wall.
Our next Suicide Squad member is the team’s field leader, Colonel Rick Flag, Jr., who makes his HeroClix debut in The Joker‘s Wild! set. Smart positioning is key for Colonel Rick Flag, Jr. since his trait, Squad, On My Position, boosts his defense value by 1 for each adjacent teammate that shares either his Suicide Squador Soldier keywords. To get Colonel Rick Flag, Jr. next to his teammates, his dial starts with a click of Running Shot and ends with two clicks of Sidestep. Precision Strike, Willpower and Ranged Combat Expertround out the rest of Colonel Rick Flag, Jr.’s standard powers.
Another mainstay of the Suicide Squad, Bronze Tiger is second-in-command to Colonel Rick Flag, Jr. and also served as the group’s mission leader. Bronze Tiger makes a long-awaited return to HeroClix, having last been seen in the DC HeroClix: Justice League set.
As one of the DC Universe’s most feared martial artists, Bronze Tiger is our squad’s primary close attacker. Bronze Tiger’s speed special power, Master Martial Artist, keeps him mobile with Charge and Sidestep while Flurry lets him dish out an extra attack. If that’s not enough, Bronze Tiger’s offensive powers also include Precision Strike and Blades/Claws/Fangs, both of which are usable with Master Martial Artist.
With Bronze Tiger as our squad’s go-to close attacker, Deadshot comes in as the team’s top ranged threat. Deadshot has an optional trait called Contract Killer that costs 5 points. Contract Killer lets you include Deadshot on a themed force if it also includes a character whose point value is greater than 80. If there isn’t such a character, Deadshot’s combat values are modified by -1. For our squad, Contract Killer won’t be needed since none of his teammates have a point value greater than 75.
Both Amanda Waller and Colonel Rick Flag, Jr. can shoot one target up to five squares away, while Deadshot’s range is nine squares. Ranged Combat Expert and Running Shot are Deadshot’s main offensive powers, with an opening click of Stealth available as he prepares to set up his shot and two ending clicks of Sidestep to run-and-gun or maneuver out of opposing lines of fire. Deadshot’s mobility makes him a viable teammate for Colonel Rick Flag, Jr., who’ll want to stay close to benefit defensively from his Squad, On My Position trait.
Our squad’s last member, Captain Boomerang, comes from the DC HeroClix: The Rogues Fast Forces pack and is our second ranged option. Captain Boomerang boasts the ability to shoot three targets up to seven squares away and his power set features the potent opening combination of Running Shot and Energy Explosion. Ranged Combat Expert, Precision Strike and some Perplex sprinkled into the mix make Captain Boomerang a dangerous foe.
All the members of our squad have the Suicide Squad team ability, so it’s imperative that you keep Amanda Waller alive to take advantage of her There Is No Squad Without The Wall trait. Our squad has a good mix of ranged and close attackers but admittedly support powers aren’t as plentiful. Then again, when you’re playing the Suicide Squad, the only one who isn’t expendable is The Wall, right?
Thanks for reading! Visit your friendly local game store this Wednesday to get the new DC HeroClix: The Joker’s Wild! set. Join us again as we highlight more strategies and team builds to help you improve your HeroClix gaming!