Greetings HeroClix Fans!
Today’s Marvel HeroClix: Amazing Spider-Man takes us on a safari of sorts, where Spider-Man is the hunted and the hunters are members of the feared Kravinoff family. First up, please welcome a founding member of the Sinister Six, Sergei Kravinoff (aka Kraven the Hunter)!
Kraven the Hunter comes into play at 95 points and has a trait called Last Hunt, named after a storyline in which Kraven defeated Spider-Man and then dished out vigilante justice while dressed as the Web-slinger. With Last Hunt, choose an opposing character at the beginning of the game. Kraven the Hunter modifies his attack value by +1 when targeting that character with an attack. When the chosen character is KO’d by Kraven’s attack, modify his combat values by +1 and choose a standard power that character possessed on any click. Kraven the Hunter can use that power for the rest of the game.
To begin his dial, Kraven the Hunter has two clicks of a special power called Stalking His Prey, which allows him to use Leap/Climb and Stealth. His defensive slot begins with another special power called Jungle Potions, which lets him use Combat Reflexes, Super Senses, and Toughness. Jungle Potions is followed by a click of standard Combat Reflexes. Kraven the Hunter also has the Indomitable combat ability, which allows him to use Willpower and, as a result, ignore pushing damage. On the first two clicks of his damage slot, Kraven the Hunter has Exploit Weakness and Outwit respectively.
Once Kraven the Hunter has had time to stalk and study his prey, he drops the Stalking His Prey special power in favor of two clicks of regular Leap/Climb. Kraven the Hunter has a range of three squares for his ranged attacks and he picks up two clicks of Incapacitate as he flings tranquilizer darts to slow down opposing figures. Jungle Potions returns on these same two clicks, as does the one-two punch of Exploit Weakness and Outwit.
Kraven the Hunter becomes somewhat more vicious on his last two clicks as Charge replaces Leap/Climb and Blades/Claws/Fangs replaces Incapacitate. Blades/Claws/Fangs is additionally fearsome when combined with Exploit Weakness in Kraven the Hunter’s damage slot. Jungle Potions and Combat Reflexes respectively close out Kraven the Hunter’s defense slot.
As a founding member of the Sinister Six, it’s appropriate that Kraven the Hunter has the Sinister Syndicate team ability to share his attack values with friendly characters using the same ability. At 95 points, Kraven the Hunter leaves plenty of room for other teammates and his attack values never fall below 10 until his final click. Kraven the Hunter makes a great addition to themed teams using the Martial Artist, Sinister Syndicate and Warrior keywords.
Kraven the Hunter’s son, Alyosha Kraven, has become fearsome in his own right. Alyosha Kraven comes into play at 70 points and is a Prime character. He begins play with a trait called Gulyadkin, named after a lion owned by Kraven the Hunter. As you place your force on the map, you may place in your starting area a Gulyadkin the Lion bystander. As long as a friendly Alyosha Kraven is on the map, Gulyadkin the Lion can be given one action as a free action. Gulyadkin the Lion is shown below:
Alyosha Kraven begins his dial with three clicks of Charge as he begins his grim hunt. In his attack slot he starts with two clicks of a special power called Animal Influence, which represents his mutant ability to communicate and control animals. If Alyosha Kraven is given a non-free action during a turn, you may give Gulyadkin the Lion or another friendly character with the Animal keyword a move action as a free action. Defensively, Alyosha Kraven starts with two clicks of Combat Reflexes while Close Combat Expert occupies his damage slot on thos same two clicks.
Mid-dial, Alyosha Kraven drops Animal Influence in favor of two clicks of Blades/Claws/Fangs. Super Senses appears in his defense slot on those same two clicks. Outwit takes over for Close Combat Expert in Alyosha Kraven’s damage slot as he uses the knowledge he gained in Hollywood to his benefit. As we reach the back half of Alyosha Kraven’s dial, we see that Flurry has replaced Charge and Regeneration appears as well. Close Combat Expert returns on Alyosha Kraven’s last click to help the son of Sergei Kravinoff land one last big hit.
At only 70 points, Alyosha Kraven leaves plenty of room for other teammates (such as Kraven the Hunter) and his combat values are fairly close to his father’s as well. The Gulyadkin trait should make matches interesting as opposing characters won’t want to get too close to Gulyadkin the Lion’s combination of Charge and Flurry. Finally, Alyosha Kraven has the Animal, Celebrity, Sinister Syndicate, and Warrior keywords to aid with theme-team building.
Thanks for reading! Please join us again for our next Marvel HeroClix: Amazing Spider-Man preview. Until then, keep your Clix off their K.O.’s!