DC HeroClix Streets of Gotham - Assassins Team Pack

Greetings HeroClix Fans!

Today we begin our previews of the upcoming DC HeroClix: Streets of Gotham set by looking into one of the highlights of the set, team packs. The team pack we show off today will highlight a group of assassins, one-a previously unclixed character, the second-a fan requested character not seen since DC HeroClix: Cosmic Justice, and the third-a fan favorite villain.

The first character in the team pack is the father of Cassandra Cain, the Black Bat, and is considered one of the world’s premier assassins, David Cain.

David Cain begins play with a trait called Deadly Mentor, that says “As you reveal your force, choose a friendly character with a lower point value; David Cain can use Enhancement, Leadership, and Perplex, but he can only affect the chosen character. David Cain can use Shape Change when he is adjacent to the chosen character.” With his power set, and this trait, he will pair especially well with one of a number of figures with Sharpshooter combat ability that cost less than David Cain. And speaking of the Sharpshooter combat ability, David Cain has it as well as the Indomitable combat ability, and Improved Movement: Hindering Terrain.

David Cain has a full dial of Stealth to keep lines of fire blocked to him, while still enjoying his full movement with his Shadowy Assassin titled Improved Movement ability. As most opponents will have to base him to attack him, David Cain has Combat Reflexes to make him harder to hit. Offensively, David Cain is going to make sure damage sticks weather from range or up close, with Exploit Weakness and Penetrating/Psychic Blast, backed with an 8 range and again, the Sharpshooter combat ability.

Mid-dial, David Cain starts planning his escape with Smoke Cloud, and loses printed defensive powers. On his last couple of clicks, Outwit will allow him to deprive your opponent of a key power.

The Batman Enemy team ability will allow David Cain to share his solid attack values with other allies using this team ability. At 76 points, David Cain will find a spot on many theme teams with the Assassin, League of Assassins, Martial Artist, and Soldier keywords.

A solid tie up piece or secondary attacker, made better by his trait, David Cain will shine with a lower point tie up piece of his own, for example the mother of Cassandra Cain, and early mentor of Tim Drake, Lady Shiva!

Lady Shiva begins play using her only click of Charge to take the fight straight to your opponent. This plays very nicely with a couple of clicks of Blades/Claws/Fangs and her printed 11 and 12 attack values. (Were you playing her adjacent to David Cain to make those attack values 12 and 13?) Combat Reflexes, a printed 18 defense and careful placement will make Lady Shiva very challenging for your opponent to hit her back.

Her second click sees a special power called The Leopard Blow – A Warrior’s Death. This special power allows Lady Shiva to use Flurry, and when she does and rolls doubles, she deals penetrating damage. This special power, along with Blades/Claws/Fangs and a 12 attack, gives Lady Shiva the ability to inflict serious damage! At this point, Super Senses gives her the ability to avoid attacks. Leap/Climb will allow Lady Shiva to reposition to where she will do the most good with ease. At the end of her dial, Steal Energy can allow Lady Shiva to heal back to the middle of her dial.

Lady Shiva has plenty of theme team options with the Assassin, Birds of Prey, League of Assassins, and Martial Artist keywords. With an aggressive power set, attack values that never see single digits, and at 67 points, earning her a Unique ring, Lady Shiva can easily fit onto any team you choose to include her.

The last character in this theme pack is a villain who manipulated Cassandra Cain into taking over the League of Assassins and conspired with David Cain to cripple the meta-hero community, a master assassin in his own right, Deathstroke!

Deathstroke has an Improved Movement: Hindering Terrain ability, which works very well with his special power, that we will get to in a bit, as well the Sharpshooter combat ability, and the Indomitable combat ability. The Calculator team ability will allow him to use the team abilities of other friendly characters, for example, David Cain from this team pack.

Deathstroke begins play utilizing a special power called Attack From Cover, that allows him to use Stealth, and as long as he occupies hindering terrain, both Charge and Running Shot. The ability to ignore hindering terrain per his Improved Movement ability called Know Your Terrain, is a huge asset to this special power working well. A printed 6 range with 3 targets is a great combo to use with Energy Explosion. A string of Perplex will allow Deathstroke to provide a stat boost (or decrease) where it will be most useful to himself or his allies. An opening run of Toughness will allow Deathstroke to reduce a bit of damage.

Mid-dial, Deathstroke begins to see his power set shift as Blades/Claws/Fangs appears for a couple of clicks. On his next click, all dial opening powers are replaced as Deathstroke becomes a bit of a close combat machine. Pairing well with his B/C/Fs is Flurry, giving him the potential to deal a good chunk of damage. A run of Combat Reflexes will make him more challenging to hit in close combat. Outwit shows off Deathstroke’s ability to out think most opponents he comes up against. The end of his dial sees Deathstroke able to deal penetrating damage in a couple of forms as Penetrating/Psychic Blast is on his last few clicks, and Exploit Weakness is on the closing click. Leap/Climb at this point will allow Deathstroke to reposition to best utilize his attack powers, or beat a hasty retreat to use his end dial Regeneration.

Deathstroke will be a great center piece on any theme team based around the Assassin, Martial Artist, Society, and Soldier keywords, or any team you want to take advantage of his wild card team ability. At 147 points, there is room to add support figures to your force.

Coming in at 290 points, this team pack is playable right out of the package, and will be a very efficient team with great combat values and power sets that compliment and work well with each other. And, it can be used as either an Assassin or Martial Artist theme team.

That’s all for today. Check back soon as we continue to preview figures from the upcoming DC HeroClix: Streets of Gotham and DC HeroClix: Batman sets!

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