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The introduction to the series listed the five things needed to be a Top 10 Barrier specialist:

  1. A range of 8 or greater.
  2. Two or more starting consecutive clicks of Barrier.
  3. Ability to serve a secondary or supporting role.
  4. Affordability.
  5. Life after Barrier.

Failure at one or more of these is what keeps these HONORABLE MENTIONS off the list:

E Firelord (Infinity Challenge)

He’s got a ton of Barrier, but let’s face it; you’ll never use him for it unless you’re desperately trying to keep him from being KO’d after his Defense Value dives like a drunk Con Artist bobbing for apples or something.

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V Iceman (XPlosion)

While he starts strongly enough with Barrier and RCE, his late-dial double-target Incap comes too late and with too low an AV to reliably help. There are much better figures for around his 47-point cost to include him in the top 10.
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V Mr. Freeze (Legacy)

Offering several clicks of Barrier and Range Combat Expert for a bit of offensive power, his two clicks of Stealth nearly get him on the list. But at 77 points, he’s too expensive as a Barrier piece — you’ll use him to shoot, exclusively — and he’s absolutely done once Barrier is gone.
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V Shaman

He was on the first version of this Top Barrier figs list. But he’s fallen off because he’s A) Too expensive (74 points); B) too vulnerable, as his 2nd role as Outwitter also requires him to get a little too close to the enemy; and C) can no longer use the Thunderbolts ATA to mitigate his weakness.
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SR Scarlet Witch (AVENGERS)

Wanda Maximoff missed the list by having to push to her long run of Barrier. The power is best available from the start of the game in order to protect your advancing figs from a long-range alpha strike KO, and this gal just can’t do it. Still, the Super Rare has the nice 8 range, low 35-point cost and a great long-range support power in Probability Control to use until she can use Barrier in the mid- to late-game.
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Icicle (Justice League)

He barely falls off the list by having only 6 range AND being a little pricey at 72 points. But now that Perplex lasts through your turn, it’s simple to boost it to 7 and not only build walls, but to free-Incap targets thanks to his Special Power version of Barrier. Moreover, the usual Barrier-piece vulnerability to attack is mitigated by Mastermind and he can use Barrier all through his dial. Seriously, feel free to remove your least favorite piece on the actual list and put him there.
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Dr. Alchemy (Justice League)

He also fails due to his 6 range, even though Shape Change might give him some protection if he has to get closer to make effective walls. Anyway, his primary role on a team is going to be to TK pals well beyond his Barrier range. Late-dial Poison isn’t enough to make up for dead stats after Barrier.

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Jean Grey (Mutations and Monsters)

Despite her long 4-click run of Barrier, at her 90-point cost she’s way  better used for actual fighting since she’s got the stats and powers for it.
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Black Tom Cassidy (Mutations and Monsters)

His 55-point price is right. He’s got Stealth and Outwit, too, making him highly useful aside from his 2 clicks of Barrier. But he doesn’t make the list because he pretty much absolutely should not push off that first click, and a top Barrier piece really ought to be able to take that damage a little more cavalierly.

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Lyssa Drak (Arkham Asylum)

She also lacks the 8-range-or-better prerequisite for a Barrier specialist, and is also a bit pricey for the role. She’s such a good figure for other supporting powers (TK, Perplex and, later, Outwit) that she almost claws her way onto the list anyhow. But the truth is that she, like Dr. Alchemy, will be using those other powers way more than Barrier.

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Songbird (Hammer of Thor)

Way expensive for both her role as a Barrier piece and 2nd attacker, her unique ability to break others’ Barriers with her own earns an Honorable Mention. Being eligible for the powerful Thunderbolts ATA helps, too. Still…at 83 points, she barely makes this list.
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John Stewart (DC 75th Anniversary)

Nearly twice the cost of the most expensive character on this list, he wins the last Honorable Mention because his first use on many teams will indeed be his free-action mini-Barrier when he lacks action tokens.

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2. Veteran Blizzard (Infinity Challenge #090)
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 4
53 points

While Experienced Blizzard shares many of the same strengths — great offensive AV, Running Shot + Pulse Wave for the ability to ping away at clusters of enemies — it’s the Vet’s ability to use Masters of Evil TA to push and build Barriers for four straight rounds that puts him near the top as a Barrier specialist. AND he can use Thunderbolts, too? If it weren’t for his total septic-tanking post-Barrier, he’d be number one for sure.

 

1. Ice (DC 75th Anniversary #007)
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 3
47 points

She absolutely nails all the factors: 8 range, low cost, good ability to either damage or super-Incap (via her “Freeze In Place” SP), and still being able to hit when she’s exhausted her long run of Barrier. Her only lack being usable keywords, she takes the crown as the best Barrier piece in HeroClix.

Or does she? As we began this list with a tie, so do we end with one:

1. Klaw (Captain America #210)
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 3
60 points
If Ice nails all the factors, Klaw at least tacks them pretty well with a solid 8 range, even better fighting ability with Penetrating/Psychic Blast, Pulse Wave and/or RCE through his run of Barrier (even afterward!) and wildcard ability to boot. The only reason the Scientist-keyworded Klaw ties Ice for first instead of kicking her down to #2 is that he’s more expensive than any of the top 5.

Thanks for reading this, the first top 10 list I ever made (posted at HCRealms some years ago), redone for Heroclixin’! Be back Monday for the Honorable Mentions.

 

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4. Rookie Raven (Icons #028)
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 2
54 points
Her life as a Barrier-builder is brief, but she makes the list as the queen of support figures. She starts with Probability Control, giving her great use on any team, and can Barrier-push directly into her post-Barrier role as the team healer (and a self-healing one if necessary thanks to the Titans TA and Regeneration). All this utility for just 54 points is a great bargain that makes the Rookie the prize over her otherwise just-as-useful EV versions.

 

3. Rookie Aleta (Supernova #043)
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 3
51 points

Portable (not being a flyer like E Aleta) and self-mobile (thanks to L/C), Rookie Aleta offers a double dose of support abilities in Barrier and two clicks of TK. Her post-Barrier AV is fair at best, but an increase in damage potential can make her quite the clean-up figure — and for just barely over 50 points. Adding the Guardians of the Galaxy ATA keeps her from being Outwitted, and Defenders TA can keep her from being an easy KO (IF she hasn’t hurled all her pals away with TK). She drops from number one because Barrier is really her secondary role and stiffer competition has arrived.

Tomorrow, see who Heroclixin’s top Barrier-builders are!

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Veteran Avalanche (Clobberin’ Time #033)
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 4
32 points

His free-moving Brotherhood team ability, deep Barrier dial and dirt-cheapest cost of the list win him a spot despite A) his lack of effectiveness in his secondary role as a Pulse Waver/Energy Exploder and B) his general late-dial uselessness. He also shares a keyword with another inexpensive Barrier piece on the Top Ten…

 

5. Experienced Pyro (Infinity Challenge #092 / Universe #110)
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 2
35 points

He doesn’t offer much Barrier and his life is all but over beyond those first two clicks. So why does he make the list? Three reasons:

  1. He has a free-move team ability in The Brotherhood. It’s not much, but it can help him get easily into prime position for
  2. his secondary role as a sniper. Sure his damage and AV aren’t so stellar, but what do you expect for
  3. the cheap price of 35 points?
Guess even villains like to be protected. See the cream of the Barrier crop starting tomorrow.

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A couple of blondes take these spots, starting with:

8. Experienced Aleta (SN)
Range: 10
Starting clicks of Barrier: 4
75 points

Very much on the high end for a Barrier specialist, and her attack values are middling for her cost and role as a sniper. But 10 range is great for the power. Better still is that, with Running Shot and Telekinesis appearing after Barrier’s gone, she has great utility in the mid- to late-game action. Her Defenders TA could be useful. Adding the Guardians of the Galaxy ATA protects her from Outwit.

 

7. Veteran Magma (AW)
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 4
51 points

A very weak opening AV (7? Seriously?) completely wastes her early-dial ability to shoot for 4 damage through RCE, leaving her nothing else to do but Barrier-push (or trade clicks via X-Men TA) for four clicks, as her stats rise. It’s only after Barrier that she becomes a genuine late-game threat who, after stalling the enemy this long, can either score a KO herself or act as a sacrifice piece the enemy can’t afford to ignore.

Tomorrow is hump day and mid-point on the Barrier list. Things begin to grow more villainous…

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Happy Labor Day, U.S. readers!

The lowest spot on the list is actually a three-way tie:

10. (tie) V Trapster
Range: 8 x 2
Starting clicks of Barrier: 2
59 points

Trapster makes the list by being cheap, having a decent starting DV and mobility through Leap/Climb. Double Incap never hurts, either. He only has a short run of Barrier but phases into a 2nd role as a backfield Perplexer.


(tie) JL Dr. Light
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 2
67 points

Otherwise a thoroughly mediocre piece, Dr. Light shines as a Barrier specialist. She can burn out her two clicks of the power and land directly on Pulse Wave and Support with a decent 9 AV, both pretty good powers for the mid- to late-game action. If she doesn’t have a need to use Barrier upfront, she can offer some mobile or stationary cover fire thanks to Running Shot and Ranged Combat Expert. (It’s just too bad her AV is only 8 at that top spot.)


(tie) Arcade
Range: 4
Starting clicks of Barrier: 4
86 points

Though he’s way on the high end of Barrier specialists, points-wise, his Special Power granting him 10-range Barrier in addition to Mastermind brings him into consideration. He’s a little different from most Barrier figs in that he’ll be using his other SPs more at first to move and detonate objects at first before moving to his Barrier skills.

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#9 shares her spot with no one.

9. Experienced Atom Eve (Inv)
Range: 8
Starting clicks of Barrier: 4
73 points

Merely adequate offensively, Eve really is a Barrier specialist with several opening clicks of the power and a fairly push-friendly (or at least push-neutral) dial. Too bad she’s a bit too expensive for the role. Still, her AV never quite tanks after her Barriering is done and she remains a decent shooter to the end.

Tomorrow we climb the Barrier ranks for numbers 7 and 8.

 

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It’s the turn of the month, so it’s time for another Top Ten list from Heroclixin’. This time we’re looking at Barrier.

It’s one of those supporting-actor powers in Heroclix. Sexy marquee powers like Hypersonic Speed and Psychic Blast or Probability Control get all the paparazzi attention. But once in a while you see this background player step up and steal a scene right out from under those headliners. And sometimes, the right vehicle can make it a star in its own right. Anyone who’s ever been stymied by a double-Barrier team knows this.

What makes Barrier great?

  • It’s the supreme defensive power. Impervious may reduce damage to zero sometimes, but Barrier reduces it to zero all the time by preventing the attack in the first place. It also cuts off enemy lines of fire for support powers.
  • It’s flexible. Barrier only needs Line of Fire to its first square, allowing for some truly unexpected uses.
  • It’s “Construct”ible. The Feat card CONSTRUCT is a great boost to an already solid power, increasing its effectiveness especially against flying enemies outdoors in range by forcing them to breakaway from the barrier.

What’s not so great about it?

  • It’s a defense slot power that doesn’t help its owner when targeted…at ALL. A character with Barrier will take all the damage when hit unless you add cost by using the FORCE FIELD feat.
  • It’s really just a stalling technique. The best defense is good offense. Barrier is not offense at all, and thus is rather second-rate.
  • It’s restricted to clear terrain. You can’t place a barrier token on hindering terrain, so it’s sometimes difficult to build as airtight a defense as you would like.

Because of these weaknesses, you really want to get the most out of a character with the power. So…

What makes a great Barrier figure?

  1. A range of 8 or greater. Because a Barrier figure lacks damage reducers (barring any feats granting such), it is best kept well out of the fray; a range of 6 or less puts the Barrier fig within most characters’ Charge zone. This means that for its power to be of maximum use to the team, it needs to have a long range. More range also increases the power’s flexibility.
  2. Two or more starting consecutive clicks of the power. Simply put, the optimal Barrier figure has to be able to push to use the power, if necessary, since it’s not always advantageous to build in multiple-Barrier teams. And while many figs with Barrier have many late clicks of it, that is of little strategic use as those figs are also usually near KO and it may be better to push and run them away than to push and make walls.
  3. Ability to serve a secondary or supporting role. Yes, a good Barrier figure can be able to fight. But if it’s the main attacker, then the Barrier power is mostly wasted. Your first-stringer should be dealing damage, not trying to prevent it with barriers. The flip side is that Barrier is not always needed. So what does the figure offer besides wall-building? (This is another reason why long range is necessary.)
  4. Affordability. A secondary/supporting figure like this should not top 100 points. Preferably it would be far cheaper.
  5. Life after Barrier. Say you exhaust every click of the power to hold off that tentpole fig with the Meteorite on the other team. What can this figure do now? If the answer is pretty much, “nothing else but die,” it doesn’t belong on the list.

Be here Monday to see the #10 and #9 best Barrier specialists in the game!

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Some Green Lanterns, while great enough to make most any GL team, weren’t quite great enough generally to be among the greatest GLs, period. Here’s Heroclixin’s list:

Salaak

He bears Telekinesis, Probability Control and the Brilliant Tactician-like SP “Brilliant Administrator,” and some late-dial Flurry for when he gets based and punched to circumvent his near-dial-long ESD. But 100 points is a lot for pure support, his DV is below average and he lacks keywords. He’s still highly playable, though, and is essential for large GLC builds.
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V Green Lantern (Collateral Damage)

The other 12-ranged GLC member is the 2nd fig I consider for GL tank duty. He’s just way too expensive for what he does nowadays (and doesn’t do, such as push well), but old-school Rayner is still an effective piece to tank up with Trick Shot.
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Guy Gardner (DC 75th Anniversary)

Inexpensive and hard-hitting, it’s hard to leave Guy off a GL team, much less this top 10 list. His lack of opening moving attack or damage reducers made it hard to rank him over more mobile, better-protected Corps members.
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Hal Jordan (Gravity Feed)


An absolutely dirt-cheap meat shield with a helpful SP for fliers, test pilot Hal is a welcome addition to help fill out GLC themes. His tweaked-to-near-perfection AE power is simply icing. Obviously, his stats aren’t Top Ten material, but he’ll get picked for many GL teams anyhow.
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and finally, Sinestro (Fast Forces)

I really wasn’t impressed with his dial at first, ruing the lack of Running Shot and soft opening defenses on the front end. But playing against him in action, I see that he’s quite fearsome in combat — 19 DV with Willpower can be unstoppable and Exploit Weakness is always scary. Haven’t lost to him yet, though, so he remains just an Honorable Mention.

That does it for this edition of Top Ten! Look for the next edition the week of the 27th. Monday, be here for the last of My Custom Mods!

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Number(s) 2 is (are):

TIE: Hal Jordan (DC 75th Anniversary #053) and Sinestro (Gravity Feed #005)

Why they’re top pieces:

  • Both are Indomitable, 18 DV + 11AV Running Shot-ready shooters bearing two 8 range targets, with Hal being more durable and damaging with 4 damage + Invulnerability and Sinestro being more well-rounded starting with Telekinesis and Enhancement.
  • Both gain Perplex and Psychic Blast if hit for a few clicks.

Why they tied:

  • Hal’s “One-Man Justice League” SP gives him incredible flexibility in the late game, enabling him to use TK, Pulse Wave, Poison, B/C/F or any other standard Attack power.
  • But he’s well over 30 points more expensive than Sinestro, who’s more versatile on the front end.

Why they’re not number one:

  • Hal is by far the most expensive Green Lantern (well, one of two at the same cost) and a bit one-dimensional on his opening clicks, while Sinestro lacks that little bit of extra horsepower he needs to truly be the greatest of the lanterns that he thinks he is.
  • Both get defensively soft mid-dial.

Nevertheless, these two really are the greatest Green Lanterns you can run in Modern Age in Heroclixin’s opinion.

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And Heroclixin’s #1 Green Lantern Corps piece is:

Green Lantern (Crisis #023)

He tops the list because:
He’s the total package. He’s got…

  • 10 range, which is increasingly rare in Heroclix;
  • Perplex, making him great for boosting his or his pals’ stats. And he’s got a lot of it;
  • Telekinesis makes him super at deploying the team (as does his GLC TA);
  • The great keyword of Soldier in addition to his GLC and Justice League-related ones;
  • Running Shot, even if it’s just the one opening click of it.
  • Pulse Wave mid-dial.
  • perhaps most of all, his stellar “Lantern’s Will” SP granting use of Energy Shield/Deflection, Toughness and Willpower. He’s a hard target, and one whose DV rises mid-dial to become a potential 21 from range.

If he has a weakness, it’s that his AV numbers aren’t as good as most other GLCs’ on the list. But the Perplex and his overall utility mitigates this weakness capably, making him Heroclixin’s #1 Green Lantern Corps figure.

Come back tomorrow for a rare Saturday update featuring the Honorable Mentions that some of you expected to see here, but didn’t. 😉

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Number 4 of the GLC  is:

Hal Jordan (DC 75th Anniversary #W-4)

Why he’s a top piece:

  • There’s absolutely no Green Lantern fig as durable as him. With starting 18 Impervious + Shape Change that “downgrades” to 17 Invulnerability + his “Leader of the White Lanterns” SP (that actually heals him for free on a successful Leadership roll), then a spike back to Impervious+Shape Change (with 19 DV!!!) before settling to Toughness and the damage-stopping/Regeneration-granting “LIVE!” SP, it takes a LOT to put him down for good.
  • He’s also offensively capable with very high AV and 3+ damage for most of his 8-click dial.
  • A stretch of TK ensures he’s useful even off his opening Running Shot click.
  • Oh, and there’s a neat little trait that allows him to theme-team-up with other Lantern Corps.

Why he’s not higher on the list:

  • No Willpower whatsoever makes him very push-unfriendly and thus very overshadowed by the top GLs in playability.

If you’re fortunate enough to have this, one of THE most sought-after White Lantern chase figures, enjoy the fourth-best GLC fig in the game.

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The #3 GLC fig is:

Green Lantern (DC 75th Anniversary #200)

He makes the list because:

  • He’s got great Green Lantern powers: Running Shot, double targets, Perplex and Indomitable 17 ESD — for a relative bargain price.
  • When an enemy succeeds in shutting down his range attacks by damaging and basing him, instead of getting soft and largely folding like many other GLC members, he becomes a dangerous mid-dial melee fighter with Blades, Toughness and Plasticity.

He’d be higher on the list if not for:

  • His lack of opening damage reduction (though being 19-20 to hit from range largely mitigates that weakness).
  • A higher AV on click 2 that he’s unlikely to see. He’s Indomitable and thus won’t likely willingly sacrifice the click for such marginal benefit, but he’s even more unlikely to take just one click of damage under any circumstances. It’s just weird.

Solidly playable with surprising flexibility, 2011’s FCBD Green Lantern is Heroclixin’s vote for #3.

Be back tomorrow for the top two (…or more…;)) GLC figs in Heroclixin’!