10.

The Atom [Joker’s Wild 022]

WHY IT’S ONE OF THE BEST: Unaided by so much as an object, this mighty mite can hit for 5 damage with Close Combat Expert. He’s 25 points. He’s got Sidestep to get into position after taxi or TK. He’s 25 points. He can tie up well with 17 DV Reflexes and 4 clicks of life. HE’S 25 POINTS.

BUT WHAT ABOUT FURY? With an effective 11 speed, he can potentially start out of Fury’s sight and be basing the dude in one turn. And if he’s killed, he’s just 25 points.

WHY IT’S HERE ON THE LIST: Lacking Charge or Willpower makes him a little less scary. But he’s 25 points. And therefore Heroclixin’s No. 10 top fig of 2016 according to Heroclixin’ webmaster Rurouni KJS.

 

But Sceritz has a much different opinion as to what the No. 10 figure of the year should be (his words in italics):

 

10. Overdrive [Superior Foes of Spider-Man 029]

My number 10 pick is a figure that I find it difficult not to put on every single team. Seriously, unless I’m going for a theme, I’m at loss for why he’s not there. Overdrive, from the Superior Foes of Spider-Man set, proved to be the sleeper piece that nobody saw coming. Worried about your close combat team? Don’t. At 35 points, He’s carrying 4 figures 11 squares across the map in a vehicle pog with sidestep and an 18 defense- toughness. On top of that he’s “Empower”-ing all your “red-on-speed” heroes for some serious unexpected damage. Need to reposition your team? Sidestep. Need to run for safety? Very little is stopping you. Oh, did someone waste an action, hoping to destroy your vehicle and actually succeed? Use the heavy object you put in its place to create ANOTHER Charged Up car and ride on! The versatility and potential this figure gives your team for 35 points is insane.

 

How much overlap will there be in our lists? Visit Heroclixin’ in the coming days to find out!

It’s year’s end and Christmas and that means it’s time for Heroclixin’s annual Top Ten lists. Here are the ground rules for the first countdown, the Top Ten HeroClix of 2016:

• We’re looking at Modern Age only.
• We’re considering the 300-point game, which filters out certain high-cost pieces that might otherwise dominate the list.
• Figures only. Despite the overwhelming effect of resources and equipment and ID cards, they’re not being considered for a Top Ten Clix list.
• By the same token, any fig that needs a resource or equipment to be strong isn’t making the list. And that goes for ID card characters as well.
• But the top characters also need to be able to handle the presence of such tactics as resources or ID cards.

Enough talk. Let’s get to the list!

Or…not. Because as I and new contributor Sceritz began putting together our lists, an unwelcome question kept cropping up:

“What about Nick Fury [Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD 056]?”

Heroclixin’s No. 1 Top Ten figure from 2015 has cast a shadow even longer than his cosmic sniper rifle over every piece since. Dark Angel [Uncanny X-Men 049] is an example of a figure that would have been a contender for top piece of the year. But at 200 points, he’s exactly the kind of power tentpole that Fury can eviscerate with little problem despite the vast 80-point gap between the two.  So even as we list our top selections, part of the criteria and discussion is how the piece can handle the Fury Effect.

Maybe it’s a little unfair to rate this year’s figs by his standard, but let’s face it: if it can’t hang with him, it’s likely not doing well against the Quinjet+Drone carrier teams, either — and the majority of those forces are going to have Nick on the sideline as an ID character. So for better or worse, Fury was the arbiter of quality this year.

Check back for the beginning of our two-fisted countdown!