In all fairness, across 20 years of HeroClix, what’s considered “bad” has changed a lot. The worst pieces in 2002 are WAY more terrible than this past year’s junk.

But someone’s gotta be in last place, so here we go, in no particular order because who wants to do all that work???

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Noh-Varr (Avengers Forever 034) 50 points

Bearing trait Super Senses, IM:Elevated and Running Shot+Energy Explosion+RCE, he doesn’t seem bad at all for the points, especially with a STOP click.

…which, instead of saving him, actually insta-KOs him unless he’s by himself. It’s kinda comic accurate, but WOW.

• BOTTOM LINE: His other SP on that click is “This Fight Is Over” and in his case, that’s actually usually true.

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Redroot the Forest (X-Men X of Swords Storyline 039) 70 points

Oh, I want to like this one so much. FREE damage and terrain wreckage seems good.

But she has to get into range. THEN get to POWER Smoke Cloud — while hiding in Stealth with no other defenses (though she can Defend others) — then hope she can actually do something to an enemy. Her 3 target Incap would be great if she had ANY range or Charge. But nah … she’s a mess, esp. at her top dial.

• BOTTOM LINE: She might be able to sneak into effectiveness at 40 points, but overall she’s kinda rotten

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Lockheed (X-Men X of Swords 008)  45 points

Another Defend piece. He can slip in a FREE attack when enemies attack. But it doesn’t function with his Energy Explosion, and that makes him not a great use of 45 points.

• BOTTOM LINE: I’d love him at 25 or maybe even 35 points. As is, this tiny dragon is bloated

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Synch (X-Men X of Swords 019) 70 points

When this dial was revealed, I thought my prayers for a proper Synch had finally been answered. He could finally — FINALLY — copy the powers he needs like the in the comics. But then I saw: “This turn” meaning he’s virtually defenseless: No reducers, no Stealth, no Shape Change, No Senses to help him survive opponents’ turns.

Plus, despite a free healing trait, he needs OTHERS to heal first to use it.

And on top of all else, he can only copy displayed powers — doesn’t key off SPs or traits — and those only from characters who aren’t giant OR colossal OR tiny OR pogs OR enemies OR out of line of fire

• BOTTOM LINE: He looks really bad next to the similarly powered Hope Summers. A 70-point fig should be more self-sufficient and not just dead/defenseless if he happens to be the last guy standing.

Same problem goes for the OTHER Synch:

Synch (Hellfire Gala 007) 75 points

No defenses AGAIN. Depending on teammates AGAIN (this time for them to roll for the Gala trait so he can copy ONE of some X-Man’s standard power). And SP Perplex that does himself very little good. He’s also wasting points on Incap for some reason.

• BOTTOM LINE: Maybe don’t waste points on him for any reason (outside a Hellfire Gala team)

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 Magik (X-Men X of Swords 102a) 30 points

Leap/Climb is a spectacular waste of a power on a character with Flight. Even as a training figure, that’s a spectacular waste, as the only extra benefit is easier breakaway from Plasticity, which doesn’t even show up in the starter set she’s from.

• BOTTOM LINE: What a spectacular waste

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Monica Rambeau (Disney Plus 026) 45 points

She’s there to sort of defend other allies. But she kinda needs the same defense boost she offers others for her price point, esp. since she’s doing zip else with 0 range and zero moving attack powers. Her common variant is better at nearly half the cost.

• BOTTOM LINE: She’s a zero

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Thor (War of the Realms Fast Forces 001b) 75 points

This many points for this few clicks? And his cool SP doesn’t show until he’s hit hard. And then he’s just got Toughness to protect him before he’s an easy KO.

• BOTTOM LINE: UNWORTHY.

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Moon Knight (War of the Realms 032) 70 points

His trait depends on him getting hit, which is … less than ideal. His SP depends on him hitting. But it’s not on his top dial where, ideally, he’d stay — and with him being a Running Shot piece, the SP’s emphasis on melee powers like Quake, BCF and Steal Energy seems wasteful. Maybe could’ve left them off and saved 10+ points.

• BOTTOM LINE: I don’t even have anything cute to say

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Iron Man (Avengers Forever 014) 50 points

 

Soooo I think the point is he’s supposed to stand in place and defend allies or something. Which would be OK with longer range, but 6 is really average. Then later, Outwit shows, which would be way more welcome top dial — and, again, with longer range.

• BOTTOM LINE: It’s giving me bad old Iron Man fig energy

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Hulk (War of the Realms 009) 70 points

Basically a tie-up fig for 70 points. He’d be effective at 70 points with Improved Movement to ensure he can get in faces. Or Plasticity — even at 70 points — to keep there. But without those things, he’s just a highly ignorable 70 points. Or 70 points you need to dedicate another piece or pieces to make work.

• BOTTOM LINE: Hulk mashed

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Empath (X-Men X of Swords 008)  75 points

At 75 points, this is a single-target Mind Control piece that HAS to land that attack or he’s utter trash, Masterminding attacks to teammates who are probably more useful than he is. Meanwhile, his low dial lacks the stats to make him effective.

• BOTTOM LINE: He’s a bottom feeder.

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OK, that’s enough of this garbage. I’m going to hold my nose and use each of them effectively on a team in the coming months.

But before that, next up: Heroclixin’s top 10 (or so) favorites of 2022.