Greetings HeroClix fans! Today we have a very special and exciting Clix It Up Article that previews not just one Batman, but four Batman figures from the upcoming DC Comics HeroClix: World’s Finest set pre-releasing tomorrow (January 27th)! The intent of Clix It Up is to look at a number of versions of the same character and compare/contrast their different strengths/weaknesses to help you decide which version is the best for your team-building options and game-play strategy— but why play just one Batman when you can play all four Batman figures from the DC ComicsHeroClix: World’s Finest set using his new Shifting Focus trait?!
The DC Comics HeroClix: World’s Finest set includes four Batman figures who all share the Shifting Focus-Batman trait— two Common (#003 & #004 Batman), one Uncommon (#018 Batman), and one Rare (#034 Batman). Each Batman is 60 points with the Batman Family, Detective, Gotham City, Justice League keywords.
The Shifting Focus-Batman trait read: “Give Batman a free action if he began your turn on the map. Replace him with another character with this trait on the same click number.” This means for 60 points you have four different options on how to play your Batman as long as you have the other three on your sideline.
With higher-point Batman figures available in DC HeroClix: World’s Finest and other recent DC Comics HeroClix sets, the intent of the design of the Shifting Focus-Batman figures was to design a team-building-friendly Batman that still offers all of the powers & abilities that one associates with Batman. With having each Batman figure specialize in certain aspects of Batman’s capabilities, this dial design provides all of the functionality we would want from a Batman figure at a much more economical point cost. While these Batman figures collectively can do all of the things you would want out of a Batman, it does require a bit more planning and finesse to make sure you have the right Batman on the map for the right situation.
So what specialized uses could these Batman pieces have? Let’s check out the dials below:
Batman #003 is the stealthy Batman. He has the Batman Ally team ability (granting him Stealth) and the Improved Movement ability to ignore hindering terrain. This Batman also has a speed power for his whole dial called Hiding Behind You, that lets him take a free action if he is in hindering terrain or if no opposing figure is able to draw line of fire to him and place him in a square of hindering within 6 squares and line of fire— a great way to move around the map unseen. This Batman has 0 range, so he is meant to sneak around and get in close to make use of his Exploit Weakness. His Willpower will keep him moving until he can find a good position. Later in his dial, Combat Reflexes will help protect him once he is in close combat and his Smoke Cloud will allow him to place hindering terrain so he can use his Hiding Behind You trait to disappear back into the shadows.
Batman #004 is the Batman that shows his physical prowess and mastery of all the martial arts. This Batman ditches the Batman Ally team ability as he brings the battle up close and personal with a potent combination of Charge, a 12 attack, Combat Reflexes with a 17 defense and 3 base damage. One click in, he gains Precision Strike and Close Combat Expert. He finishes up with three clicks of Flurry, Precision Strike, and Toughness and an attack value that doesn’t drop below 10. Early or late dial, this is the Batman who will knuckle his way through the opposing team.
Next up we have Batman #018—the Batman figure that shows he is truly the world’s greatest detective. The Batman Ally team ability appears again on this dial as Batman is secretly collecting clues, observing his opponent and preparing for the right time to strike. Between his Study Your Enemies Well trait and his special damage power, this Batman can do some very unique things with Outwit and make an opening for himself and his allies. With Study Your Enemies Well, you place a ‘Study’ token on his card when an opposing character hits with an attack within Batman’s line of fire. Then, with I’ve Discovered What I Need To Know, he can use Outwit with a range of 8 and if you decide to remove a Study token from his card you can either counter a second power on the target OR that use of Outwit lasts until the next turn even if you lose the power. This means that you could target someone with Outwit, spend a Study token, then use Shifting Focus to replace this Batman with another on your sideline as a free action and make an attack with the power you Outwitted still cancelled. This Batman rounds out his dial with some Sidestep to get the best position for his Outwit special, Smoke Cloud, and Willpower transitioning to Plasticity, Super Senses, and regular Outwit.
Finally, we have the range-combat oriented Batman with the rare Batman #034. This Batman is equipped for a shoot-out with Running Shot, a 6 range with two targets, an Improved Movement ability that allows him to ignore elevated terrain and Energy Shield/Deflection to help defend against range attacks. He also starts with a special attack power Two Types of Batarangs that allows him use of both Energy Explosion and Incapacitate— giving this Batman the option to hit a cluster of foes at once or tie up larger threats with action tokens. He finishes out his dial with Sidestep and Ranged Combat Expert.
So there you have it, four Batman figures that can operate as one!
Between the four options, Batman has access to 19 different standard PAC powers, ignoring hindering or elevated terrain, and two special powers granting special placement and outwitting advantages.
Also, with the spread of rarities; two commons, an uncommon, and a rare, it is very possible to have a few Shifting Focus options pulled in a sealed booster tournament event, like the upcoming DC HeroClix: World’s Finest Pre-Release Events. Check the Wizkids Event System to find and register for a DC Comics HeroClix:World’s Finest Pre-Release tournament near you!
