After looking at how all my old favorites improve (or don’t) under the brand new ruleset, I decided to look more closely at some pieces I might actually realistically play this year compared to, say, Flashpoint Aquaman (No. 98 of 125-plus).
Absorbing Man (Captain America and the Avengers 073) 100 points
WHAT’S BETTER? He got a lot of errata since some of his original abilities trigger off of obscuring and hindering terrain, which either changed or removed. But now CLEAR terrain gives him Super Senses and +2 Speed (instead of obscuring terrain), making him much less map-dependent for survival or playability.
Aside from those changes: Being a grounded Charge piece, not worrying about hindering terrain now is a boon for him. And if he has Masters of Evil TA teammates or wildcards on his side, maybe he hits a little more easily.
WHAT’S WORSE? Masters of Evil TA does not help him keep going with Colossal Stamina anymore. Obscuring terrain used to give him Improved Movement: Blocking and Elevated but he’s lost both those.
WHAT’S NEXT? He’ll be in the next Masters of Evil team I make, probably against Heroclixin’ board member Lenny.
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The Atom (Justice League Unlimited 059a) 40 points
WHAT’S BETTER? He doesn’t push anymore, giving increased chances to punch after quasi-carries.
WHAT’S WORSE? Perplex. Perplex is worse.
WHAT’S NEXT? I still have an all-Atoms team ahead.
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Black Cat (Spider-Man and Venom: Absolute Carnage 005) 40 points
WHAT’S BETTER? No pushing! Her SP combining Leap/Climb and Sidestep really can improve her mobility as an Underworld taxi, as the former allows her to easily traverse elevations with the latter.
WHAT’S WORSE? Her Stealth is a little vulnerable to Outwit now.
WHAT’S NEXT? I tend to squeeze her on teams to fill out points because she’s a keyword cheater.
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Black Widow (Black Widow Movie 100) 75 points
WHAT’S BETTER? She has opening Ranged Combat Expert that makes her Hypersonic range attacks SO MUCH BETTER now…
WHAT’S WORSE? … better enough that I might not even ever use her dragging ability, which requires a close attack … and being on a themed team to boot.
WHAT’S NEXT? Not sure, but it’ll probably involve a Red Room/Black Widow movie theme somehow
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Bombshell (Spider-Man and Venom: Absolute Carnage 009) 40 points
Bombshell (Spider-Man and Venom: Absolute Carnage 025) 60 points
WHAT’S BETTER? They both start with Willpower, which could be cool, and pushing is no longer a concern. Mama Shell (025) ends with RCE for a little boost there.
WHAT’S WORSE? Their tandem Pulse Wave, tho. And especially 009’s Perplex can’t boost her 2 damage.
WHAT’S NEXT? Probably putting them on a “Sinister Sixteen” theme I have brewing.
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Human Torch (Fantastic Four 038) 40 points
WHAT’S BETTER? Nothing, if we’re talking clicks 1 or 3 or 5. RCE, if we’re talking click 4. Well, actually, the no-pushing rule means she has little chance of self-KO on click 5.
WHAT’S WORSE? Pulse Wave on click 2 is worse.
WHAT’S NEXT? I want to play her on another all-Sue team
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Ironheart (Captain America and the Avengers 056) 85 points
WHAT’S BETTER? I said she only needed Willpower before. So not pushing will be great.
WHAT’S WORSE? Her late dial Perplex and Incap kinda feel bad because both powers are actively worse. Her trait Barrier is less special now that all Barrier can be placed on non-clear terrain, too.
WHAT’S NEXT? I had her on a “Hidden Figures” team of Black female clix with the Scientist keyword. Maybe I’ll update it for Silver Age (since one piece rotated from Modern).
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Jolt (Captain America and the Avengers 031a) 25 points
WHAT’S BETTER? She doesn’t push so she might actually get that Flurry off sometime.
WHAT’S WORSE? Losing Reflexes’ knockback immunity could make it harder to get that Flurry off sometimes.
WHAT’S NEXT? Trying to get her on a Thunderbolts team to Flurry sometime.
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Micron (Justice League Unlimited 059b) 50 points
WHAT’S BETTER? His CCE SP makes him hit harder and more easily than ever — whether in his ride-along mode or as a retaliator. And of course Enhancement and Empower are much more important powers now.
WHAT’S WORSE? He doesn’t get the Colossal Willpower other giants do because his choice to grow is a FREE and thus after the beginning of turn phase.
WHAT’S NEXT? He’s on my current F.U.N. meta team.
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Quake (Captain America and the Avengers 010) 65 points
WHAT’S BETTER? Look who’s not pushing anymore! Plus there’s middial CCE and late Willpower.
WHAT’S WORSE? Nothing. She’s great.
WHAT’S NEXT? I once had a Directors of SHIELD theme of her, the Furys, Coulson, Iron Man and a few others. I should rebuild it.
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Red Guardian (Black Widow Movie 016) 75 points
WHAT’S BETTER? Late CCE is welcome.
WHAT’S WORSE? Nothing except that his old Indomitable is no longer special. Not really a loss.
WHAT’S NEXT? He’s been on that Black Widow team I teased earlier.
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Reed Richards, Fixer Of Universes (Fantastic Four 056) 60 points
WHAT’S BETTER? Nothing.
WHAT’S WORSE? Perplex is nerfed.
WHAT’S NEXT? I’ve had a standing “Council of Reeds” team build for the past eight years. Of course he’s on it.
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Spider-Hamurai (Spider-Man and Venom: Absolute Carnage 066) 60 points
WHAT’S BETTER? His FREE attack is much improved now that Blades/Claws/Fangs and Exploit Weakness are no longer tied to CLOSE actions.
WHAT’S WORSE? This little piggy is all good.
WHAT’S NEXT? Either an Animal or Martial Artist team sometime.
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Spider-Man (Spider-Man and Venom: Absolute Carnage 054) 60 points
WHAT’S BETTER? Perplex … on his J. Jonah Jameson pog that can’t target his damage values anymore.
WHAT’S WORSE? Until we got the Comprehensive Rulebook for the 2021 overhaul, I was afraid that his ability to multitarget a bunch of foes had gotten nerfed. But no, he still doesn’t have to split his damage the way multi-bolt attackers do. So he’s still fine.
WHAT’S NEXT? Unsure, but he’s the first Spidey I reach for when considering the character.
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Spot (Spider-Man and Venom: Absolute Carnage 042) 50 points
WHAT’S BETTER? …umm…late dial he can Force Blast…
WHAT’S WORSE? Nothing really.
WHAT’S NEXT? Still might be on my Goofy Marvel Villains team.
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Sue Storm (Fantastic Four 062) 100 points
WHAT’S BETTER? Hey, she can plant her Barrier on terrain now and maybe Outwit a Stealther.
WHAT’S WORSE? But her Perplex, Telekinesis and Incap are all worse.
WHAT’S NEXT? That Sue team of all Sue Storm-Richardses that no one will see coming because she’s invisible.
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Superman (Justice League Unlimited 105) 125 points / 60 points
WHAT’S BETTER? Almost everything. He can now knock back most opponents, so he’ll get more attack opportunities with his opening HSS and traited Super Strength. On clicks 2-5, he has CCE for higher AV and damage with some Precision to boot. He just becomes fantastically more playable in 2021 than before.
WHAT’S WORSE? Invincible is a little worse, as is Super Strength.
WHAT’S NEXT? I had this pandemic-era plan to pit my collection of Lex Luthors against an equal build of Superman figs. So this’ll be on that squad for sure.
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Ultron (Avengers Vs. Masters of Evil Battlegrounds 110b) 100 points
WHAT’S BETTER? Absolutely nothing.
WHAT’S WORSE? Nothing again. He used to be an Indomitable fig but that’s no longer special.
WHAT’S NEXT? Eradication of all flesh on another all-Ultron team because Lenny owes me a rematch.
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Vixen (Justice League Unlimited 015) 75 points
WHAT’S BETTER? She can pick CCE for every turn on offense now to good effect, bolstering her EW on click 1 to a staggering 4 damage, her Flurry on clicks 3-4, her BCF on click 5.
WHAT’S WORSE? Her Willpower is thoroughly useless now. But she’d really rather select an actual defense anyway for her non-attacking rounds such as Invulnerability, Reflexes or Senses.
WHAT’S NEXT? Not sure, but I can’t wait for it.
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