by Jacob Bishop
Hello Heroclix players! I was asked if I would like to write a tournament report of my most recent tournament win – ROC NC States and of course my answer was yes! I will start by listing my build and give a brief description of my games below.
Event: ROC NC State Championship
Number of Players: 13
Location: The Comic Dimension, Greensboro, NC
(Click to Buy!)
My build:
FF 002 Invisible Woman 40
FF 013b Black Leopard 50
FF 039 Franklin Richards 65
FF 047a Silver Surfer 75
FF 049 The Thing 50
WK MP19-s103 Spin (Mandarin Ring) 5
WK MP19-s105 Nightbringer (Mandarin Ring) 5
ABPI s004 Space Gem 10
Unstable Molecules Map Bonus 0
Maps: FF Reid’s Lab, XMAS Sentinel Factory
Sideline:
FF 027 Valeria Richards
FF 035 Human Torch
FF 053a Ghost Rider
FF 054 Wolverine
FF 063 Valeria Von Doom
FF 064 Franklin Von Doom
JLU 067 Gorilla Grodd
JLU 069 Brainiac
JLU 072 Black Vulcan
I won’t go into too much detail describing the FF build, but this is generally why I included each FF figure
Invisible Woman – Included because of her trait:
FORM THE NEW FANTASTIC FOUR: At the beginning of the game, you may replace up to 4 friendly characters with the same number of characters from your sideline on their starting clicks. All replacement and replaced characters must have the Fantastic Four keyword and different names. the total points of the replacement characters can’t exceed the total points of the replaced characters.
Black Leopard – Efficient piece for the cost. He provides Leadership, Perplex, and a well stated dial for 50 points. Not to mention his trait that sets maximum values for my opponent’s characters within 6 squares. My go-to figure for equipping the Nightbringer ring.
Franklin Richards – Franklin provides Power Cosmic for my Fantastic Four characters within 4 squares of him. He’s also very versatile with the ability to choose any 3 standard powers to use in a turn. He’s always going to be on my build.
Silver Surfer – I start with him so I’m guaranteed a Dawn Greenwood if I want to use him. I actually don’t prefer using him over Wolverine unless I’m placed on a map that Wolverine has trouble getting around on. Silver Surfer is more mobile, and he’s able to make other figures IMMOBILE which can be relevant in some match ups.
The Thing – Grants 19-Defense Defend to my team. My go-to character for equipping the Space Gem. The Thing also generates 2 Autonomous Bystanders and has Empower and Perplex. He’s able to dish out a surprising amount of damage sometimes too.
Valeria Richards – Guaranteed TK if I expect my opponent to KO my Spin Ring, and I don’t want to TK with Franklin Richards. She has a +2 Perplex which can be relevant, too.
Human Torch – Running Shot Pulse Wave is always good, but I’m normally only using him in a Black Widow / Captain Marvel match-up. Knocking Marvel off top click is nice with multi-target Pulse Wave, and he also grants some Poison protection against Widow Recruits.
Ghost Rider – My alternate option to Black Leopard. If I’m expecting to be ranged a lot, I’ll switch to Ghost Rider because she provides Energy Shield Deflection to adjacent friendly characters.
Wolverine – One of my favorite FF figures. He’s hard to KO, and able to score points almost any time during the game.
Valeria Von Doom – I feel like everyone knows why this piece is played. Perplex, Leadership and situational Outwit is great for 30 points. Add in the 1-penetrating damage from placing characters and she’s a must play. My go-to figure for equipping the Spin Ring.
Franklin Von Doom – My team only has one piece with access to Barrier, so putting up blocking terrain and being able to body block with Franklin seemed worth the sideline spot to me. If he’s ever put on his STOP clicks it can be game changing too.
Game 1 – Hugh Vogt – Latveria Theme with God Doom / Sue Storm / Valeria and Franklin Von Doom
First round of the day had my Fantastic Four team up against a Latveria theme team, so that seemed very fitting. I win map and choose Reid’s lab. I choose to use Invisible Woman’s trait to replace Invisible Woman and Silver Surfer with Valeria Von Doom, and Wolverine. I equip Valeria with Spin Ring, The Thing with the Space Gem, and Black Leopard equips Nightbringer Ring. I Sidestep carried Black Leopard and Franklin with The Thing on my first turn, leaving Black Panther slightly exposed in front of Valeria. Hugh decides to Perplex up God Emperor Doom’s damage and manages to KO Black Leopard on his turn 1. He uses Sue to free Barrier around God Doom, and Franklin placed a Blocking Terrain Marker around Doom to completely protect him from any follow up from me. His Sue is now exposed though because he moved her out. I’m able to TK Wolverine up with Valeria, Phasing Teleport carry Franklin Richards and Valeria with The Thing. Wolverine Charge Flurry kills Sue. Hugh followed up by KO’ing my Thing. Franklin and Wolverine make quick work of Doom. The following turn Wolverine KO’s Valeria Von Doom, and two or three turns later I KO Hugh’s Franklin Von Doom thanks to Wolverine Flurry and a Spin Ring placement from Valeria to deal the last click of damage.
Win – 299 to 105 – 1-0 record
Game 2 – Jackson Omohundro – F4 Theme with Full Point 047a Silver Surfer / Black Leopard / Dr. Fantastic
Jackson wins map and chooses Earth X Wakanda. I use Invisible Woman’s trait to do exactly the same as before – replace Invisible Woman and Silver Surfer for Valeria Von Doom and Wolverine. Jackson immediately advanced on my team with Surfer and Leopard, with Dr. Fantastic hanging back in the middle of the map. Surfer misses his shot, but both are close to my build so I’m able to Charge Flurry on Leopard with Wolverine, not bothering to Perplex because Leopard nullifies my values anyway. Wolverine misses twice. My Black Leopard then Charges Jackson’s Black Leopard and I miss again. This was my 3rd miss of the turn, so I was able to bring in Black Vulcan on the diagonal where Jackson’s Black Leopard couldn’t draw line of fire to nullify Black Vulcan’s stats. I Perplex up Vulcan’s Attack and Damage to KO Black Leopard with Black Vulcan. Jackson has to mostly clear on the following turn, so I’m able to follow up by using Wolverine and Franklin Richards to KO Silver Surfer. Dr. Fantastic falls soon after. Win – 300 to 0 – 2 – 0 record
Game 3 – Emmanuelle Olavarria – +10 JLU Theme Team with Prime Batman / 6 Dr. Fate / Starter Superman / Stargirl / Amanda Waller / Exospex / Influence Ring
Emmanuelle wins map and places us on WWE Arena. I use Invisible Woman’s trait to replace Invisible Woman, Silver Surfer, and Black Leopard with Valeria Von Doom, Franklin Von Doom, and Ghost Rider. Ghost Rider provides Energy Shield Deflection which helps a little bit against Batman, but really I choose her because she’s a little harder to KO than Leopard, as she requires at least 3 attacks from Batman if Batman stays on click 1. I body block most of my build with Franklin Von Doom, and the Chuck and Buzz bystanders generated from The Thing. Emmanuelle doesn’t wait to start shooting with Batman and Psychic Blasts from across the map to knock Franklin to his first STOP click, and KO my bystanders. I follow up by using Valeria to TK Franklin up so he can shoot Stargirl and Amanda Waller. His Batman is next to 3 Dr. Fate for Mastermind fodder. I roll doubles to KO Stargirl, and Waller Masterminds the damage to a Dr. Fate. Franklin heals via the Minions of Doom TA. Thing carries up the rest of my build to be closer to Franklin and Emmanuelle’s build. I don’t remember exactly how Emmanuelle’s following
turn played out, but I believe he pushed a Dr. Fate (KOing it) to TK his Batman up to get a nice shot on my build. Batman and Superman was able to KO Valeria Von Doom, spin Ghost Rider, and deal 4 to Franklin Richards. He wisely avoided hitting my Franklin Von Doom to activate him again. I follow up with using Franklin Richards to Pulse wave three Dr. Fate, Batman, and Superman. I was tokened up with Ghost Rider after using TTPC on Franklin to land the attack so I couldn’t finish off Batman. Emmanuelle is able to KO Franklin Richards, Ghost Rider, and The Thing before time is called. Loss – 200 to 70 – 2-1 record
Game 4 – Fletcher Hutton – +3 Avengers Theme with Black Widow Chase / 2 Captain Marvel SR
Fletcher wins map and chooses Ancient Hold. I choose to replace Invisible Woman and Silver Surfer with Valeria Von Doom and Human Torch. Fletcher and I both spend our first two turns equipping, moving up a little and clearing. I position my team in the middle of the map. Fletcher begins the action with Running Shot on Black Leopard and nailing a Critical Hit that I couldn’t TTPC because of Widow. He follows up with a Hypersonic from Captain Marvel, moving through Leopard’s square leaving my Leopard on his last click. Marvel misses her attacks, and Fletcher creates a Chewie who misses his attacks as well. Fletcher Hypersonic’s with his 2nd Captain Marvel on Black Leopard but misses his attack again. At this point we’re both in the center of the map, and Fletcher’s pushed on one Captain Marvel, 1 token on Widow and the other Marvel. My Leopard is still alive because he wasn’t able to deal the last damage to Leopard to kill him. My turn started with Valeria using Spin Ring to kill Chewie. Human Torch
Running Shots on the double token’d Marvel for 5 damage after a couple of Enhancements. I hated going for the pushed Marvel because the other ones a better target, but she was farther back so I couldn’t get a shot on her. I throw some Perplexes on the Chuck Bystander to Sidestep CCE the injured Marvel to knock her to her last STOP click. I debate going for the killing shot on Marvel with Franklin Richards but I decide to go for Widow because I didn’t want Widow to bring in any Recruits. Franklin Running Shot shoots at Widow, I hit my attack, Fletcher uses a TTPC with Widow, but I hit the attack anyway. Widow takes 5 so she’s one click away from her STOP click. Now Fletcher only has one Marvel, and a Chewie to use on his following turn as everyone else is pushed. Fletcher uses his Captain Marvel to KO Black Leopard, makes his 2nd Chewie and swings on Human Torch twice – hitting one attack for a 5-damage BCF roll with Chewie. His Widow and other Marvel have to clear. I use Valeria to Spin KO the 2nd Chewie, and Human Torch finishes off Captain Marvel. Franklin uses Charge Flurry to KO Black Widow. Fletcher’s able to KO Human Torch before I’m able to take her out, but I’m able to KO his Captain Marvel with Valeria Von Doom, Thing, and Franklin Richards left on my build. Win – 299 to 155 – 3-1 record
This was the end of Swiss. We cut to top 4, and I was 2nd seed going in.
Game 5 – Justin Nichols – +9 Mystical Theme with God Doom / 2 Tri-Sentinel / 4 Wendigo / Billy Batson / FF 053b Ghost Rider / Exospex / Venom Harness
Justin wins map and takes me to Ancient Hold. I use Invisible Woman’s trait to replace Invisible Woman and Silver Surfer with Valeria Von Doom, and Wolverine. Justin equips Exospex on God Doom, and Ghost Rider gets the Venom Harness. I use my first turn to equip my 3 items as usual, and start creeping toward the edge of the map so I’ll be opposite God Doom. Justin’s 2nd turn consists of him using a Tri-Sentinel to move close to my build, activating retaliation and blowing up a lot of blocking terrain in the middle of the map, and some on the edges too. This KO’s both of my bystanders, and deals 1 to Valeria and Black Leopard. Justin moves up his Wendigos to block most of the doorways and clears. My turn consists of me using Valeria to Spin Ring KO the Tri Sentinel that just moved up, Perplexing up defenses and clearing. Justin uses his following turn to Running Shot on Black Leopard with his God Emperor Doom, nailing the attack for 5 damage KO’ing my Black Leopard. He chooses Sidestep with Exospex to hide him behind a Door. On my turn I use The Thing to carry Wolverine and Franklin Richards closer to
one of his Wendigos, trying to advance to KO a Wendigo while also trying to keep as much distance as I can from God Doom as I don’t want anyone getting Pulse Waved. I wanted to use Valeria to FREE place on the other side of a door, kill a Wendigo, and Sidestep back to the safety of Thing’s Defend. I rolled a 1 for her placement though so I wasn’t able to. Justin’s able to Hypersonic in with God Doom and attack The Thing, as I left him slightly exposed to keep everyone else safe. Justin hits The Thing knocking him to click 3. The first Wendigo Sidesteps in on The Thing and gets a free attack off because of Thing’s newly acquired Wound token. Wendigo misses his attack, Justin Probs it into a Crit Miss. Justin uses Charge Flurry with another Wendigo to swing on The Thing. I burn 2 TTPC trying to get this Wendigo to miss, but Justin is able to KO Thing after making all of his attacks. He moves up a 3rd Wendigo adjacent to God Doom but he isn’t quite able to make it to start swinging on anyone else. I begin my turn with a
successful Leadership roll with Valeria granting Outwit to Wolverine. Wolverine Outwits an adjacent Wendigo’s Toughness and Flurries on it. Wolverine’s first Flurry attack is a Crit Miss, which I decide not to TTPC. Wolverine hits the 2nd attack knocking Wendigo to his last click. Valeria uses a Spin Ring to KO this Wendigo. Franklin Richards chooses Charge, Probability Control, and Impervious. Franklin uses Charge Flurry on God Doom (Franklin gained Flurry from Wolverine hitting with a close attack), hitting both attacks and knocking Doom to his last click. Wolverine is able to Sidestep up and bring in a Black Vulcan because of the Critical Miss earlier to KO Doom and the 3rd Wendigo. Vulcan carries Franklin next to Valeria. Justin’s uses Venom Harness on Ghost Rider and using her “SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE” trait to place herself adjacent to Franklin and make a close attack on him. Justin hits Franklin with Ghost Rider and uses his last Wendigo to Charge Flurry on Franklin hitting twice. Franklin’s probably on click 7 or 8 at this point – the Impervious pick kept him alive reducing a lot of that incoming damage. My next turn I chose Outwit, Poison, and Regeneration with Franklin (probably the one and only time I’ll ever do that). I
outwit Ghost Rider’s Invulnerability, and Poison her with Franklin and Vulcan. Vulcan CLOSE attacks Ghost Rider to finish her off, crit hitting in the process. Vulcan creates a Brainiac that shoots at Wendigo, but misses. Franklin rolls a 1 on Regeneration. At this point Justin is able to set up an opening with his Tri-Sentinel to retaliate without getting KO’d due to Valeria, so he activates Colossal Retaliation to KO Brainiac and Vulcan. Justin uses his Wendigo to finish off my Franklin and free attacks Valeria. I use Wolverine to KO Tri Sentinel, so at this point the game is Justin’s Wendigo that’s healed twice, and a Billy Batson vs my Wolverine on 2nd click. Justin is able to Charge Flurry my Wolverine hitting once, and missing after. Wolverine is able to use Flurry and KO Wendigo. Justin’s Billy Batson isn’t close enough to get any kind of shot on Wolverine so I’m able to Regeneration up and finish off Billy a few turns later. This was probably the closest game I’ve ever played, as it was really back-and-forth and exciting.
Win – 299 to 240 – 4 – 1 record
Final Game – Emmanuelle Olavarria – JLU Theme, same player as my Game 3
Emmanuelle wins map again and takes me back to WWE Arena. I use Invisible Woman’s trait to replace Invisible Woman, Black Leopard, and Silver Surfer with Valeria Von Doom, Ghost Rider, and Wolverine. This is different than what I used in round 3, and another reason I enjoy playing this FF team. I wanted to go with Wolverine this time. Franklin Von Doom is better defensively but he was super easy to play around when I needed a figure that could threaten damage. Wolverine fits that role. Emmanuelle’s first turn consists of him equipping Exospex on Batman, and Influence Ring on Superman. My first turn I equip Space Gem on The Thing, and Valeria equips Spin Ring. Franklin takes a FREE action to choose Sidestep, Barrier, Perplex. Franklin puts up a barrier, and Sidesteps up. Thing Sidestep carries Wolverine and Ghost Rider. Chuck and Buzz are still being used for Cannon Fodder, as I didn’t really have a way to protect both sides and an added bonus was being able to heal Franklin after he’s going to take damage at the end of my turn. Emmanuelle wastes no time Psychic Blasting with his Batman to KO one of my bystanders. He missed the 22-Defense on Chuck, hit the 21 on Buzz and didn’t want to throw any TTPC into it. Emmanuelle follows up by TK’ing out his Superman, moving him out and setting up a FREE knock back from the Influence Ring to get a shot on Franklin. He hits Franklin, but this left his Superman exposed so I killed it on my following turn. I threw up another Barrier with Franklin and creeped up with The Thing. Emmanuelle’s following turn consisted on him double perplexing range on Dr. Fate, and TKing him out. He blew up a square of Blocking Terrain in front of Valeria so Batman was able to take her out. I had to clear on my next turn, body blocking with Ghost Rider. Batman was able to get a shot on either Franklin or Wolverine too, but not both. Emmanuelle decided to go for Franklin, knocking him to click 11. On my next turn I’m finally able to carry Wolverine adjacent to Emmanuelle’s team to start utilizing the free attacks gained from Wolverine’s “The New Fantastic Four Trait”. I’m able to use this to swing on Waller, but she Masterminds to a Dr. Fate. Emmanuelle’s next turn he uses Batman to shoot Wolverine and Ghost Rider. Emmanuelle KO’s Franklin Richard with a Dr. Fate. Ghost Rider’s Trait “Temporarily Sent Back By Johnny Blaze, King of Hell” kicks in and I decide to leave her on click 5 as she has Flurry
Steal Energy. Emmanuelle pushed one Fate to death trying to kill Wolverine, but defend from The Thing was able to keep him safe. On my turn, I’m able to use Wolverine to KO Amanda Waller. Ghost Rider KO’s the full point Dr. Fate, and hits Batman for 5. Batman masterminded to a Dr. Fate. At this point I have The Thing, Wolverine, and Ghost Rider vs Batman, 2 10-point Dr. Fate, and a Stargirl. Manny uses his turn to swing with Stargirl on Wolverine, but he’s not able to land the 9 needed. Batman shoots at Wolverine, and Ghost Rider but misses both. Wolverine KO’s Stargirl on my turn, and The Thing uses Flurry granted from Wolverine to finish off Batman and the last Dr. Fate. Time is called before I can KO the last Dr. Fate. Win – 275 to 110 – 5-1 record
Thank you all for reading! I’d also like to thank my friends and teammates Emmanuelle Olavarria, Fletcher Hutton, Justin Nichols, and Jeremy Christie who helped me practice with my Fantastic Four build before the last couple of tournaments!
