Greetings HeroClix Fans!
Welcome back as we bring you another exciting preview from our upcoming Marvel HeroClix release, The Invincible Iron Man! Today we spotlight a character who aided in the assassination of Captain America and has been an on-again, off-again companion of the Red Skull’s daughter, Sin. We’re talking, of course, about the deadly mercenary Crossbones!
Crossbones begins play with the Sharpshooter combat ability and a range of six squares. He also starts his dial with a click of Stealth and Precision Strike in his speed and attack slots, respectively. Defensively, Crossbones is difficult to hit from range thanks to Energy Shield/Deflection but he also can pack quite a punch with the help of Close Combat Expert.
Once Crossbones is off his top click, he switches from Energy Shield/Deflection to Toughness, and these two powers alternate for the remainder of the dial. Crossbones can maneuver into position for an attack with Running Shot and has a special power he can use once per turn called I Shot Captain America – You’re Next. When Crossbones hits with a ranged combat attack, I Shot Captain America – You’re Next lets him use Sidestep and boosts his attack and damage values by +1. After Crossbones uses Sidestep and actions resolve, he can make another ranged combat attack against a different opposing character.
I Shot Captain America – You’re Next appears for three clicks, and on those same clicks Crossbones has Ranged Combat Expert. Once Crossbones reaches the back half of his dial, he switches to Mind Control for a pair of clicks, and can potentially do up to six clicks of damage on his last two clicks with the aid of Blades/Claws/Fangs.
Crossbones comes in at 79 points and has a quartet of keywords (Brute, HYDRA, Skeleton Crew, and Thunderbolts) that should help you when considering him for any force. Crossbones also has the Hydra team ability, which should help adjacent friendly characters when they make ranged attacks against opposing characters.
We mentioned Sin earlier and astute players will recall that the two versions of the character from the Marvel HeroClix: Captain America set have traits that trigger when a friendly character named Crossbones is adjacent or nearby on the map. The 57-point Sin (#025) has a trait called Brainwashed, Again, which gives her one action as a free action if she has exactly one action token and is within 8 squares of Crossbones, Red Skull or a character that can use Mind Control.
Meanwhile, the 80-point version of Sin (#209 from the Marvel HeroClix: Captain America gravity feed release) has a trait called Killer Duo, which modifies both their attack values by +1 when Crossbones is adjacent to her. This version of Sin also has the Hydra team ability, which Crossbones is sure to enjoy!
Thanks for reading! Please join us for our next Marvel HeroClix: The Invincible Iron Man preview when we turn the spotlight over to villainous couple who frequently run afoul of Thor and She-Hulk, respectively!