Hello HeroClix fans! Colossal figure strategies weren\u2019t viable\u2026 until they were. Monster theme teams weren\u2019t viable\u2026 until they were. Back in 2018 Tylor Spees was able to become the HeroClix World Champion utilizing a Monster theme team that mostly featured 2×2 characters. Plenty of players have jumped on board the Monster bandwagon since then, developing the archetype along the way. How will upcoming sets impact Monster teams? How will Modern Age Rotation 2020 impact these strategies? Are there any figures from X-Men the Animated Series that may have been overlooked in the months without a WKO? We\u2019ve got those answers and more!<\/p>\n
First \u2013 as a baseline, let\u2019s take a look at Tylor\u2019s 2018 team.<\/p>\n
Monster Theme +8<\/p>\n
[wpcmtt id=”13378″]AI G017 Giganto & Namor x 2 (50 points each)[\/wpcmtt][spacer height=”5px”][wpcmtt id=”13381″]AI G025 Groot x 2 (20 points each)[\/wpcmtt][spacer height=”5px”][wpcmtt id=”13383″]TMT G004 Carnage x 2 (10 points each)[\/wpcmtt][spacer height=”5px”][wpcmtt id=”13385″]TMT G001 Surtur (25 points)[\/wpcmtt][spacer height=”5px”][wpcmtt id=”13387″]TMNT3 033 Mini Shredder (90 points)[\/wpcmtt][spacer height=”5px”]<\/p>\n
ID cards (24 points)<\/p>\n
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- Wolverine (5 points)<\/li>\n
- Harley Quinn (5 points)<\/li>\n
- Professor X (5 points)<\/li>\n
- Cyclops (Student) [3 points]<\/li>\n
- Jean Grey (Student) [3 points]<\/li>\n
- Chamber (Student) [3 points]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Sideline: XXS053 Wolverine, HQGG049 Harley Quinn, XXS037b Professor X, XXS052 Cyclops, XXS065 Jean Grey, XXS 041 Chamber<\/p>\n
Troubalerts: BTAS 067 Wonder Woman, BTAS 068 Flash, BTAS 072 Firestorm<\/p>\n
Maps: WK Sporting Arena, WK WizKids Office, TREK:OS Underground Caverns<\/p>\n
Tylor\u2019s team makes use of various threats (Giganto & Namors, Surtur, Mini-Shredder) and ID call ins as practical bullets for important situations. By using STOP clicks, Mystical Worms, and a total of 8 characters on his team this team will get to take advantage of Colossal Retaliation, ID Cards, and Mini Shredder\u2019s Shredder Elite.<\/p>\n
One of the figures we got in X-Men the Animated Series is going to be a huge boon to a Monster Team. The Colossal Prime Storm (G023b) has four different options for inclusion on your force (300\/225\/150\/25). While you might choose Storm to come in at 150 and be the cornerstone of your force, plenty of players will try to use her at 25 so they can leave room for other figures on their team and still get access to her amazing traits. Check out her card below if you\u2019re unfamiliar with it:<\/p>\n<\/div>
![](\"https:\/\/wizkids.com\/heroclix\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/storm-889002-OSqdlSQX.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div>No matter what point level you field her at or if played main force or from the sideline, she can punish her opponent while also being able to control and disrupt play on the map. Her \u201cSummon a Vortex of Wind\u201d <\/strong>trait keeps her harder to hit from range with Energy Shield Deflection. For some perspective, if your opponent has a 12 attack, and Storm is on her last click (18 defense) this means ESD is changing their odds of hitting you from over 70% (most of the time) to about 40% (about 2 in 5). For an opponent with only 11 attack, they\u2019re hitting you less than 30% of the time because of that ESD bump. For some players, their low odds of hitting Storm will discourage them from even trying.<\/p>\n
That same trait has an offensive component as well. It allows her to take a Free action to choose up to 3 opposing characters within 6 squares and line of fire, roll a D6 and then knock back each figure equal to the roll. Saying this is a strong ability is an understatement.<\/p>\n
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- It can target multiple opposing pieces.<\/li>\n
- It ignores your opponent\u2019s defense value.<\/li>\n
- It can cause knockback damage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Depending on the situation, this could be better than a free attack! Storm can keep her opponents\u2019 attackers at a distance and keeps your opponent constantly thinking about positioning. Additionally, she has Improved Targeting characters, Improved Targeting range attacks while adjacent to opposing characters. (May target adjacent or nonadjacent opposing characters.) and a STOP click for staying power.<\/p>\n
But wait…there\u2019s more! She also has Colossal Retaliation with the new wording \u201cIf no friendly character has been placed this turn, choose an opposing character that attacked Storm or damaged friendly character since your last turn…\u201d which has slightly different wording compared to other Colossal Retaliation effects in the past. When using this free action, you place Storm so she can make a close attack targeting that chosen character. If she hits, after resolution AT NO COST, she can use Mind Control as a RANGE, modifying her attack by +3 to target the hit character and two others within range and line of fire. With her eight range and the improved targeting abilities we already mentioned, not many will be able to hide from her as they are made to attack their own team. Just one more tool she has to deal maximum damage each turn and control where your opponent\u2019s characters are positioned.<\/p>\n
Storm will be able to disrupt a ton of your opponent\u2019s team, in some cases she\u2019ll get to target characters multiple times between her attack, Mind Control, and Summon a Vortex of Wind!<\/p>\n
All that being said, Mojo might be the biggest meta-competitive bomb Monster from X-Men Animated.<\/p>\n<\/div>
![](\"https:\/\/wizkids.com\/heroclix\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/01\/mojo-157110-CSNf50Ic.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div>[spacer height=”10px”]<\/p>\n
Super Rare G022 Mojo has great combat values on any of his 3 starting lines (250, 175, or 75). His starting lines all include Perplex or Probability Control. With his \u201cBehind the Scenes\u201d trait, your opponent won\u2019t be able to attack him from range of more than 4. Improved Movement Characters keeps Mojo mobile. Furthermore, \u201cKeep the Cameras On Them!\u201d lets Mojo move 2 squares every time an opposing character uses Sidestep. Whether it hampers your opponent\u2019s movement or speeds up Mojo, it\u2019s sure to spell trouble for your opponent! Those extra squares of movement help to combo with \u201cBehind the Scenes\u201d to keep Mojo protected.<\/p>\n
As good as Mojo\u2019s positioning capabilities are, his biggest strength might be \u201cMore Action\u2026Ratings are Dropping\u201d trait. \u201cWhenever a character misses all targets of their attack, give Mojo a Bored token. \/\/ Free: Remove 2 Bored tokens to either place Mojo anywhere on the map OR make an attack.\u201d Whether you\u2019re using regular attacks, free attacks, or even Flurry (perhaps from Captain Venom or Weapon H?) Mojo\u2019s Bored tokens will become a big problem for your opponent. Pairing Mojo with the likes of Storm will give you a chance to make multiple attacks in a single turn. Even if you can\u2019t guarantee that you\u2019ll be dealing damage with her attacks, your victory may start to feel inevitable to an opponent who can\u2019t continue to dodge Storm and suppress Mojo.<\/p>\n
The last, but not least, Monster we\u2019re going to look at is the rare Wendigo G018.<\/p>\n<\/div>