10. Black Hand – 111 pts.
There are a number of Black Lanterns, Scar not even a chase, but you still can’t make a theme with him. Choosing a rainbow color for a power an enemy has then subtracting 2 from the Defense of any enemy within 8 that has it is great. Add in Taxi-ing, Stealth, Psychic Blast, Steal Energy, and a ton of Outwit and this expensive support figure is more than worth it. Add in 11 Attack and 3 Damage (likely used in conjunction with that negative two Defense) and you have a figure that doesn’t need a theme to destroy everyone.
9. Holiday Killer – 43 pts
Fragile, but with Stealth for protection, this is a cheap Outwit piece that can lend out its 10 or 11 (with a push) attack thanks to Batman Enemy team ability. That he’s after a push then firing with 11 Attack and Willpower makes him an annoyance teams go out of their way to finish off. Anytime an enemy team is overextending to kill 43 pts, you’re in good shape.
8. Wizard Shazam – 183 pts.
To defeat him you must bring high Attack or Probability Control and 2 or 3 damage. He then can’t be hit again until you’re ready to deal 5 or 6 damage. This must be done while dealing with being shot from 12 away for 3 Damage 2/3 turns with Quintessence and an Enhanced ally firing away, along with a 21 Defense at range in hindering, Probability Control that doesn’t require line of sight, and Psychic Blast. If you do hit, also be prepared to take Mystics damage. Hit for the wrong amount and suddenly deal with a Hypersonic, Super Strength, Impervious brick with 4 damage. Mystical keyword is so versatile he can pack more Perplex or Probability Control at his cost and still make a theme, easily. Try with figures like SR Scarlet Witch, Klarion, An Osiris, Black Alice, Puma, Karnilla, Nico Minoru, Wiccan, and Yondu.
7. Madamoseille Marie – 73 pts.
Stealth and 4 damage at range which, with a push, becomes 4 damage in close, is great for the cost. That with Soldier and Checkmate keywords is great. Better though is that if she kills anyone, she gets a token on her card that allows an auto hit to anyone she aims at, regardless of Defense. Pick off Support early, then be guaranteed a hit for 4 damage later. This is the new Winter Soldier.
6. Checkmate Knight White – 29 pts.
Cheap Enhancement for Spy and Checkmate teams is great, but pushing to be able to Outwit really puts this little piece over the top and, as a Generic, you don’t have to feel bad using multiples. Sure, they die in one hit due to only 3 clicks, but Super Senses gives them a chance to survive and any attack spent on these tiny figures is one not spent on the other 90% of your team.
5. Martian Manhunter – 202 pts.
In a higher point or Golden Age game, this is the best piece in the set, although he isn’t great at 300, at least on theme (unless you’re fine with two Ices). Still, built in, un-Outwittable Phasing and Shape Change have ruined many a game I’ve played against him, and that’s after dealing with his Hypersonic Speed and 4 Damage/8 Range Invulnerability up top, an SP that allows plus 3 to Defense from close or afar after that, which comes with Psychic Blast and Toughness and closes out as your standard Charging Brick. Good placement makes this guy nearly unbeatable.
4. Shazam (of Shazam and Black Adam Duo) – 140 pts.
For the cost, this is one of the best single clicks in the game with 11 attack and Super Strength, Hypersonic Speed, 5 Damage and Probability Control. That’s 7 Damage with a heavy of hit and run for not even half the team’s cost. Only 6 clicks prevent a higher ranking, but when this guy works, well, we know when this guy works he can win Gen Con.
3. Talia – 86 pts.
Talia, when it was revealed she was a Bat and Super-Ally was deemed broken. She isn’t, but it’s damn close. Hiding in stealth to Outwit whatever she wants is deadly. Luckily, she only has 2 damage, although Psychic Blast makes it stick. She’s absurd against Stealth, being able to fire from 8 away and not fear return fire. Mastermind is perfect here, as it can’t be outwitted through Stealth (mostly), and at 86 pts, she has plenty of room for fodder to keep her top dial. If she’s knocked off top dial, she retains and 18 defense in close for while she tries to reposition and use her Ranged Combat Expert to deal yet more damage. If she was Gotham Keyworded she’d be broken. As is, with Politician and Spy, she makes for a must-play with either theme, giving the ranged based Spies a way to Outwit Stealth and the Politicians a way to get rid of Stealthed defenses.
2. Jason Blood/Etrigan – 44 pts.
Mystical has fast become one of the better keywords in the game and Blood is who we have to thank for that. He deals Mystic damage, of course, and he offers Probability Control and he has 18 or 19 defense at range. That’s a huge pain to deal with. Add in that when he transforms to Etrigan he keeps the Prob and Mystic TA, but adds Perplex, Toughness and Blades and you have what is clearly a world class figure.
1. Amazon – 50 pts.
With an Amazon, 4 Move Charge, Super Strength to hit for 5 damage, 19 defense in close, and 11 attack. When faced down with 4 of these, especially with Amazon ATA putting Sisterhood tokens on Attack, Speed, or Range, and the enemy, any enemy, has a problem. I don’t have a ton of Amazons, but have had severe trouble beating a swarm of these with even my most effective squads.
