Greetings HeroClix Masterminds!
We’re happy to announce an expansion of our sponsorship of the ROC series! The ROC, or Realms Open Championship, is a HeroClix tournament circuit that runs parallel to the WizKids Road To Worlds tournaments. In 2023, the ROC will run the official HeroClix Silver Age circuit. We’re excited to begin fostering a more dedicated Silver Age format and to grow Silver Age into a premier format alongside Modern Age.
For more information on the ROC, please visit their website: https://roc.ionsuite.com/
For more information on Silver Age, please visit the WIN.
With this new expansion of Silver Age, we are issuing several errata and figure bans for the health and growth of the format:
BANS:
WW80064 Scarab
Scarab is a potent force in Modern and has been a useful counterbalance against equipped characters. In Silver Age however, there are too many ways to enhance his positive effects while covering his weaknesses, leading to less interactive games. For this reason, Scarab will be banned in Silver Age.
JLU005b Batman
Similar to Scarab, Batman can easily attack across the map. Unlike Scarab, he is not limited in how much damage he can deal. Combined with the rules changes allowing assigning equipment during force construction and the return of knockback damage, some teams in testing were capable dealing 5 penetrating damage to every opposing character as soon as first– turn immunity ended. Batman is simply too powerful to be allowed in a format with as many options as Silver Age, and is being banned.
All ID Cards
Allowing ID cards in Silver Age was an experiment to help differentiate it from Modern, and in that regard they certainly succeeded. However, ID Cards are powerful and exert considerable pressure on the shape of any meta they are a part of, often to the point of defining the metagame. As such, we are removing ID Cards from Silver Age for now, though they may return in the future.
ERRATA:
With the changes to themed team rules, some notable characters no longer work as intended. The following characters are all receiving similar errata to orient them away from Themed Team Probability Control
FuFo059b High Evolutionary
PREVIOUS: (TRAIT) CREATOR OF THE ANI-MEN: If High Evolutionary is on an Animal themed team, your maximum number of Themed Team Probability Control uses this game is 6 (instead of 3)
NEW: (TRAIT) CREATOR OF THE ANI-MEN: Probability Control, but only if High Evolutionary is on an Animal themed team.
EAX062 Captain Venom
PREVIOUS: (TRAIT) EDDIE, YOU’RE JUST THE MAN WE NEED: During game setup when establishing themed teams, you may treat the Monster keyword as a named keyword.
NEW: (TRAIT) EDDIE, YOU’RE JUST THE MAN WE NEED: Probability Control, but only if Captain Venom is on a Monster themed team.
STBG 018a Sela
PREVIOUS: (DAMAGE) WEAKEN YOUR ALLIANCES: Leadership. When Sela uses it and succeeds, you may instead choose that opponents can’t use themed Probability Control until your next turn.
NEW: (DAMAGE) WEAKEN YOUR ALLIANCES: Leadership. When Sela uses it and succeeds, you may instead choose that opposing characters can’t use Probability Control until your next turn.
BW010 Yelena Belova
PREVIOUS: (TRAIT) ESPIONAGE: DEFENDING THE WIDOWS: If Yelena Belova is on a themed team, your maximum number of Themed Team Probability Control uses this game is 6 (instead of 3).
NEW: (TRAIT) ESPIONAGE: DEFENDING THE WIDOWS: Probability Control, but only is Yelena Belova is on a themed team.
CAA025 Spymaster
PREVIOUS: (TRAIT) MY ESPIONAGE ELITE: If Spymaster is on a Spy themed team, your maximum number of Themed Team Probability Control uses this game is 6 (instead of 3). // UNIQUE MODIFIER – Friendly characters with the Spy keyword modify defense +1 if occupying hindering terrain.
NEW: (TRAIT) MY ESPIONAGE ELITE: Probability Control, but only if Spymaster is on a Spy themed team. // UNIQUE MODIFIER – Friendly characters with the Spy keyword modify defense +1 if occupying hindering terrain.
Additionally, the following game elements are receiving errata to bring them in line with the current rules for equipment.
ABPI074 Thanos
PREVIOUS: (TRAIT) ARTIFACT FROM THE INTER-DIMENSIONAL COSMIC VAMPIRE: Thanos may start the game with the 
Ego Gem equipped.
NEW: (TRAIT) ARTIFACT FROM THE INTER-DIMENSIONAL COSMIC VAMPIRE: During force construction, Thanos may be assigned a S011 Ego Gem without paying its cost. If he is assigned an S011 Ego Gem, he may also be assigned any number of Infinity Gems (by paying their costs).
WKMP19-S101 Remaker, WKMP19-S102 Influence. WKMP19-S103 Spin, WKMP19-S104 Spectral, WKMP19-S105 Nightbringer, WKMP19-S106 Daimonic, WKMP19-S107 Incandescence, WKMP19-S108 Lightning, WKMP19-S109 The Liar, WKMP19-S110 Zero
PREVIOUS: Equipped character may be equipped with a second object if it’s also a Mandarin Ring.
NEW: During force construction, characters may be assigned two equipment if both are Mandarin Rings. // Equipped character may be equipped with a second object if it’s also a Mandarin Ring.
MODERN AGE ROTATION
Lastly, we have an announcement regarding the yearly Modern Age rotation. In previous years, sets were rotated out on July 1st, shortly after US Nationals. The idea behind this was that by doing so, a challenge would be posed to our best players to adapt to a new metagame as we headed into the World Championship. This year, we’re trying something new.
In 2023, Modern Age rotation will not happen until the conclusion of the 2023 World Championship. The reasoning behind this is twofold. First, it gives countries outside the USA more time to host their own National Championships. Secondly, it elevates the World Championship into the ultimate refinement of the metagame: the best players with their best teams, pitting themselves against each other with all the practice of the previous year behind them. We’ll have more information about the World Championship as we get closer to it, including which sets will be rotating at its conclusion.
Thanks for reading and making it this far! Before you, check out this sculpt sneak peek from this summer’s Marvel HeroClix: Avengers 60th Anniversary set!
And be sure to give us a shout out on social media showing off which Silver Age teams you’re excited to run!
Sincerely,
The HeroClix Team
