10. Vector – 68 pts
For 68 pts, you get the best TK in game, five full clicks. Along with that, he can Taxi, spots 20 Defense at range in hindering and, with a 3 pt ATA, deal 3 damage to anyone capable of doing 4 or more damage. Add in a no-attack roll 1 Damage and TK to any enemy within 3 and he’s a huge bit of board control. U-Foes as a keyword is a bit of a loss, but he’s essential for Politician and would rank higher with a better defense.
9. J Jonah Jameson – 24 pts.
The cheapest Perplex in Modern Age and he counters Spider-Ally, as well. If you’re pure Golden Age, take him off the list, but he absolutely must be accounted for due to sheer value in Modern Age. He and Vector really add a lot of punch to Politicians.
8. Night Nurse – 27 pts
9 Attack Support is always nice, but that, succeed or fail, it adds 1 to the Defense its almost overpowered. Willpower on top of it means that the power is overpowered, as your ranged (i.e. non-based) figure get a +1 Defense 2 of every 3 turns. Want a NASTY 300 pt team? Try Crisis Kyle Raynor with her, J Jonah Jameson, and Edward Nigma for a 22 Defense in hindering (thanks to the Perplex) 4 damage (thanks to the Enhancement), 11 attack, and 10 Range, along with the ability to Carry everyone, immunity to pushing and Outwit, and an Outwit from Nigma to make his damage penetrating.
7. Bombastic Bag-Man – 90 pts
He’s here for the Trait. 4 damage on Click 1 thanks to Super Strength, Leap Climb to Tie up, Wild Card/Fantastic Four Duo TA, and Perplex are all just extras. He’s here because he deals penetrating damage of equal amount to however much anyone hurts him. He alone means I wouldn’t play a tentpole at GenCon, although low cost support pieces, Poison, Force Blasting into walls and several other tricks can take him out. Still, he changes the way opponents play – always valuable.
6. Ben Reilly/Scarlet Spider – 38 pts
Either he or An Crimson Avenger are the best tie up in the game. Ben sports being a cheap Wildcard, along with 19 Defense in close and, after a push, 4 damage thanks to Close Combat Expert. 9 attack isn’t great, except that for the cost and with the fact that he’s a Wildcard, it isn’t a real hindrance. That he’s a Scientist really just allows him to be a huge pain to enemies thanks to all the range and Perplex that keyword packs.
5. Noh-Varr – 141 pts
Pulse Wave and Running Shot! Yet another reason to not go Tentpole in Modern Age. His skillset is great, especially since he can be carried and choose between PW and Psychic Blast. Invulnerability protects him and makes it likely he’ll be able to land on his Hypersonic Speed or, at least, Regeneration to get back to HSS. He has a ton of Keywords or he can have a big attack all the way down the dial. This is a winning piece.
4. Wolsfbane – 65 pts.
Stealth is awesome for dealing with Outwit, as are Traits. Wolfsbane combines Stealth with an amazing trait to be nearly impossible to hit. Shape Change and Super Senses is annoying. Add in Combat Reflexes for a 19 Defense in close, Stealth for immunity to Range, and blades to make anyone who bases her pay and you have one of the best first clicks in the game. Once hit she loses that big damage potential, so she’s merely good, not great, but when she’s awesome, she’s unbelievable.
3. Puma – 56 pts
3 charge is absolutely his only weakness. Super Senses and Shape change is horribly annoying and, worse, he has BCF so if you miss, he can make you pay, big time. If he pushes, he’s on a 4 damage click, and if you get the attack through, 18 or 19 defense in close, Flurry with Blades and Outwit. That’s not impossible to deal with, but at a mere 56 pts, it’s damn close.
2. Nightcrawler – 86 pts.
One of the most debated figures in the game, Nightcrawler makes Martial Artists and X-Men awesome for his first two clicks. He has the amazing ability to Hypersonic Speed and move whoever he hits the rest of his speed with him. Better, he ignores characters and terrain for movement. Better, he has Shape Change and Super Senses. Better, his Super Senses, when hit, allows him to teleport half his speed away. Better, he has 19 Defense and Stealth. 3 Damage or 11 attack, preferably the latter, and he’s the best click in the game. When Cyclops comes out to allow him to heal two clicks via the X-Men TA, he goes to #1.
1. Bullseye – 117 pts
Add in 8 points for Thunderbolts ATA and you have what amounts to a 14 Range (Running Shot and 10 Range) along with 3 damage. He can carry an object while he does this, dealing an extra 1 penetrating, leading people to not want to base him. He’s a bit vulnerable at range, but can running shot into a 19 Defense in close and then choose to use that object for extra damage or just blast away in close with Sharpshooter. He ignore Super Senses and Shape Change, so his huge attack, starting at 12 and never going below 10 can kill nearly anyone. Thunderbolts is an awesome keyword, but just as good is Martial Artist and with him and the aforementioned Nightcrawler, it will be a shock if they don’t rock at GenCon.
