Greetings HeroClix Fans!
Welcome back as we bring you another exciting preview from the most X-cellent upcoming set, Marvel HeroClix: Wolverine and the X-Men! Today’s preview is an alternate reality version of Cable, brought to our world at the end of Age of Apocalypse. A member of the most recent team of New Mutants; he is Nate Grey, X-Man!
X-Man has two traits. The first is called I Don’t Really Belong in This World and makes up for his lack of printed team ability by making him a wild card. This trait also gives X-Man the option to take a free action to copy an opposing figure’s team ability instead. His second trait helps represent that he was one of the most powerful mutants in the AOA universe by allowing him to alter a standard power to his level of power. TK Prodigy allows X-Man to use Telekinesis, replacing all instances of “8 squares” with “12 squares.” Also, when he uses his Telekinesis to place an opposing character, if the attack is successful and the character is placed adjacent to blocking terrain or walls, that character is dealt 2 penetrating damage after actions resolve.
X-Man can be played at two point levels, 287 points, to represent the one man army he is, or a slightly more team friendly 175 points, giving him room for support to back up his still formidable might. At his 278 point line, X-Man begins play taking the fight to most opposing figures with his 12 movement and Hypersonic Speed. If a little more reach is needed, he also has a printed 8 range with 2 targets to get an additional 4 squares of targeting. Protecting him from the inevitable counter attack are a couple opening clicks of Invincible. A run of Probability Control will allow X-Man to manipulate die rolls to his advantage. A couple clicks in; X-Man changes tactics a bit as he now has Running Shot to offer mobility while making range combat attacks. Penetrating/ Psychic Blast will allow him to ignore opposing damage reducers. At this point, X-Man sees a click of a defensive special power called Psionic Shields, allowing him to use Barrier and Energy Shield/ Deflection. Additionally, when this power is revealed, X-Man can use Barrier as a free action, once actions have resolved.
At this point in his dial, X-Man has his 175 point starting line, where he will continue on with both Running Shot and Penetrating/ Psychic Blast, now with a click of Invulnerability to give him some damage reduction. At this point, X-Man switches things up a bit as he now has couple clicks of Mind Control, allowing him to use your opponent’s figures against him. He also gains a good length run of another special power called Telekinetic Fury, which allows him to be given a free action at the beginning of your turn to knock back all opposing figures within range 1 square, no attack roll required. This can create the space X-Man needs to make a range attack, or to use Support to heal an adjacent friendly figure. Defensively, a click of Psionic Shields is here before switching back to a few clicks of Invulnerability.
Getting near the end of his dial, X-Man reaches his lowest combat values, including a 16 defense and his only 9 attack, before ramping back up to his end dial. To help offset his “low” defensive values, he now has Shape Change to try and avoid attacks, while Invulnerability will still reduce damage. Telekinetic Fury still gives him the ability to move opposing figures around as a free action. End dial, Invincible will again halve the damage dealt to him, and when Shape Change is done protecting him, a closing click of Probability Control will again allow him to force rerolls. Offensively, Pulse Wave does 1 click of damage to every opposing figure within 4 squares, or allows him to deal 5 clicks of damage to one target. Another click each of Running Shot and Hypersonic Speed will round out the last two clicks of his dial.
X-Man can be played in theme utilizing his Brotherhood of Mutants, Future, or New Mutants keywords. No matter how you choose to play him, his strong combat values and aggressive power set will bring a powerful heavy hitter to your force.
Thanks for joining us for our latest Marvel HeroClix: Wolverine and the X-Men preview. Wolverine and the X-Men is due out later this summer, but be sure to check back with us next week as we spotlight our first Team Base from this X-citing HeroClix release! Until then, keep your Clix off their K.O.’s and have a great weekend!