So while I was getting my computer and internet situation back in gear, I missed a few post opportunities. Namely, with Q1 2018’s release of Xavier’s School set, we got a couple of new pieces to the X-Statix crew, reviewed back a little over a year ago, when we said:

 

• U-Go Girl is vital to the team, freeing the others up from burning actions getting to the fight.
• Anarchist is vital to the team as its only real range.
• Orphan is vital to the team for his Leadership and to make the Headlines work.
• Doop is vital at 35 points for Prob.
• Dead Girl is vital as the one member of the team with an above average AV, Flight and a degree of “don’t die” ability.

Do the newbies make themselves indispensable as well?

 

Phat [X-Men: Xavier’s School 048] 75 points

He’s another melee fighter for the team, like the equally priced Orphan and Dead Girl. But with starting Invulnerability, he’s much more durable than either. He also boasts Great Reach to offset his not-great 7 Charge. That might not be a huge problem with his trait to nerf a combat value and boost the rest +1, assuming the random d6 roll required doesn’t end up nerfing the very one you needed the boost for.

Maybe you opt out of this beginning of turn roll until you’re sure that it can’t bite you in the nethers.

HEADLINE TIPS: Because he’s an attacker above all with decent to good AV, he’s likely to gain Headlines. But all he gets from them is extra Giant Reach range … not the best way to burn those tokens.

Phat is a lot of FUN, but he’s not quite as vital to the team, it seems. I guess run him if you just HAVE to play a brawler who’s more durable than Dead Girl.

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Venus Dee Milo [X-Men: Xavier’s School 060] 85 points

For 10 points more than Anarchist, Venus is another Running Shot Psychic Blaster for the team, though she lacks his Improved Targeting. Instead, she represents another dedicated taxi in addition to U Go Girl, via her Passengers: 2 “Pinpoint Teleportation” trait.

Just those elements alone would be worth the points increase. But she fills so many other holes in the X-Statix playbook. For in last year’s article, Heroclixin’ lamented that the team lacked the STOPP powers: Support, Telekinesis, Outwit, Perplex, Prob. Control. Venus here provides starting and ending Support, free TK (with Headline tokens, at least) and Perplex mid-dial.

HEADLINE TIPS: Here’s the thing, though, about that “free” TK: She needs to burn Headlines to use it, so during the early game when TK is most useful, it’s not gonna be usable at all.

Still, it’s hard not to see Venus as vital to the X-Statix cast, as she brings so many pluses to the team: that ranged shooter (with better swing than Anarchist), a super taxi (though without the limits and advantages of U Go Girl but far better use in between ferrying) and a healer and TKer…! The only drawback to fielding her is that she’s the only one to lack the X-Force keyword if you want to pad out the team and still stay themed.

Which could be a problem.

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The previous X-Statix team fit in 300 builds at 295 points. Adding these two comes up to 455, which leaves WAY TOO MUCH room left over. Not even Golden Age feats or Additional Team Abilities can properly fill out. Let’s recap from last year:

• Orphan: Contingency Plan 12 points. In lieu of actual Perplex or something
• Anarchist: Force Field 10 points. ‘Cuz a Poison piece needs a little Toughness
• Dead Girl: Opportunist 10 points. Since she’s getting carried by U-Go Girl at first anyway
• U-Go Girl: Alias 3 points. Needs SOMETHING to keep her from being one-shot

Nothing for Doop at 35. That leaves 10 points.

Venus Dee Milo could take Force Field for her opening and last third of her dial, but I was looking at Invigorate to help keep friends token free. But the feat’s banning of power actions in the same turn hurt the team’s chances of maintaining a good offense, so I dunno.

And what about Phat? I guess Damage Shield could work, but there’s a mid-dial where it doesn’t, at all. And Lunge only functions on his end-dial, too late to be worth using.

Maybe the better move is to use 5 points for the Yellow Lantern again — Venus is another member who benefits — and call it a day.