I have been an X-Men fan since I was a teenager when my parents found and burned the only X-Men comic I owned, so I am understandably stoked for a new tournament season with GSX LEs. Here is a short review of each, with links to their dials.
1) Cable
Playability: Cable’s late dial HSS upswing reminds me of Rookie Shazam, in that a competent opponent will never let you see those clicks. One of my friends pointed out that this is not necessarily a barrier to winning a number of national events, but the difference is that Cable lacks the front-loaded mobility as well as the inexplicably unbalanced Mystical keyword. That being said, Cable is still a strong figure with solid damage output. His mid-dial Charge/CCE clicks seem inefficient, but he will most likely be knocked onto them after your opponent hits him in close combat, enabling him to swing back for four.
What sets him apart: Cable doesn’t fit squarely into a teambuilding role. On a 300-point team you will have to assign him a taxi so he can keep pace with other primary attackers (which can be good if the taxi is GSX Angel), and as a secondary attacker I’m hard pressed to think of a non-theme reason to field him over AN Deadshot + Warlord. Except that Cable is awesome.
What you should bring to the tournament: Cable is one of the hotter LE’s, so while you won’t necessarily have to break out Nightcrawler, bring a strong team and be prepared to slog through brimstone-scented fog to get him.
2) Karima
Playability: Karima joins a handful of modern age figures with front loaded pseudo-Impervious (Groot, Iron, White Martian, BD Martian Manhunter, WL Hal Jordan, and sometimes SI Iron Man), and Running Shot/Indomitable make her a very competent frontline attacker. Of course, in an environment defined by figures like WL Flash, JL Batman, and Nightcrawler competence is not necessarily a reason to put a figure on the table, but she’s better that most people give her credit for.
What sets her apart: While lackluster as a primary attacker, Karima is the muscle Police and Detective teams have been waiting for.
What you should bring to the tournament: You know that brilliant U-Foes team you’ve been sitting on, waiting patiently for an opportunity to field it without being snickered at incessantly by your peers? That time is now.
3) Archangel
Playability: Stealth is a rarity on fliers, but whatever advantage Archangel derives from the best ranged defensive power on the PAC is diminished by his Quake, four range, and Combat Reflexes. As a finesse piece, how you play him will change from turn to turn, although he has no shortage of quality teammates for him to ferry around. Wolfsbane, Psylocke, or X-23 are all solid choices, although you could always blow your opponents’ mind and team him up with Tabitha Smith.
Uniqueness: Although this is the third version of Warren in GSX, all of them have an interesting mix of powers and fill slots on different teams.
What you should bring to the tournament: Despite his limitations Archangel is a very cool figure, and is my #2 want aside from Psylocke. Build a solid non-Mystical theme team and have fun this week
4) Deadpool
Playability: Most of Cable’s limitations regarding mobility also to apply to Deadpool, at least in 300-point environments, although Deadpool has the added advantage of being re-written each game. The correct choice for Deadpool’s New Writer SP is RCE/CR unless you see Ultimates/Superman Ally across the table, because Wade doesn’t need two defensive powers.
What sets him apart: Like Cable, if you want to play Deadpool you have to win it, open a chase duo, or field a horrible Mutant Mayhem version. In this case, you could always trade a picture of Ulysses S. Grant for it.
What you should bring to the tournament: Start preparing for this tournament now. Inscribe your victory on an oak rod, and then burn it with your offering to the Roman goddess Fortuna. Build a team with two Nightcrawlers. Bribe the judge to look the other way. Track down an old pair of loaded Mechwarrior faction dice. If you must rely on this ‘fellowship’ thing, Bake Cookies (If you’re in the Morgantown area, Chocolate Chip with walnuts).
5) Psylocke
Playability: Throughout clix history Psylocke has always been a strong, well-designed figure, and this LE is no different. My only complaint about her is that her AV is low for someone with so much martial talent, but her powers aren’t tripping over each other and she can affect figures many times her point value no matter what click she’s on.
What sets her apart: Mind Control alongside Stealth is unique not only to this version of Betsy but to Clix in general; people underestimate it now because they’ve never seen it on such an efficient secondary attacker, and will continue to do so until they experience it firsthand.
What you should bring to the tournament: Although Betsy will most likely be the fourth least expensive LE monetarily, tactically she is the best, and she’s on the top of my wants. Bring your power team and hope everyone else has taken the week off.
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