While most standard powers are exemplified on characters who start with those powers, sometimes it's just not possible. Such is the case with Steal Energy, a power that aggressively brings your character closer to his starting click without wasting actions on healing.

Click 'Full Story' to see who's the best at coming back from the edge!

Quote : Originally Posted by Fantastic Four Powers and Abilities Chart

(NON-OPTIONAL) Each time an opposing character takes damage from a close combat attack made by this character, heal this character of 1 damage.

"That's disappointing..."

We can subtitle this article 'Dead Men Walking', because you'll never see so many undead characters in one list.

The Tie-Ups that Never Die
Tie-Ups are a recurrent theme in my articles, and I apologize for that, just in case you're offended by cannon fodder tactics. Steal Energy can really draw out the length of a short dial, and here are a few of the figures you're better off breaking away from.


ic121 R Rogue
Team: The Brotherhood
Range: 0
Points: 38
Keywords: Brotherhood of Mutants, X-Men

8 9 15 2

8 8 14 2

7 7 13 2

7 6 12 2

6 5 12 2

6 5 11 1

5 4 11 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Though many people are completely correct in saying we've never had an accurate Rogue, they're way off base if they try to claim we've never had a playable one. Infinity Challenge's bizarre rookie (in that she was the first to have a flight stand for no reason) may not sport the best attack values, but every hit that connects is another click added to her 7-click dial with 3 clicks of Toughness. That'll make good on your 38-point investment.


mu041 E Spider-Man
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 4
Points: 41
Keywords: Monster

8 10 17 1

7 9 16 1

7 9 15 1

6 8 14 1

5 8 14 1

4 7 13 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Spider-Man's undead, wife-eating interpretation takes evasion over resiliance. Close Combat Expert and Exploit Weakness alternate with each other in somewhat awkward fashion, but for 41 points Spider-Man can always break through Invulnerability. Like all good tie-ups, Spider-Man has Leap/Climb to get where he wants. And as the title of this article would indicate, he's packing Steal Energy on four of his six clicks.


sv222 LE Wolverine
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0
Points: 50
Keywords: Monster

7 11 17 3

6 10 16 3

6 10 15 2

4 9 15 2

5 8 14 3

6 7 14 4

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

One of two listed characters you need to be extremely lucky to even own, Wolverine (who isn't that far removed from a zombie to begin with) foregoes his usual Regeneration in favor of Steal Energy, which is laid out in such a way as to always pull this 50-point warrior back up to his Blades/Claws/Fangs clicks. On top of that, his damage is great on all clicks, meaning he's not pulling punches while he heals himself up. For a guy with one arm, Wolverine's pretty effective!


cd006 V Ragman
Team: Mystics
Range: 0
Points: 58
Keywords: Mystical, Shadowpact

9 9 17 2

8 9 16 2

8 9 16 2

7 8 16 2

7 8 15 2

6 8 15 1

6 7 14 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Ragman doesn't go easy on you anywhere. If you hit him, you'll take Mystics damage. But if he hits you, he'll heal a click. It's pretty ironic, in a twisted kind of way.


si029 E Morbius
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0
Points: 67
Keywords: Monster, Scientist

9 9 16 3

9 9 17 2

8 9 16 2

8 8 16 2

7 9 15 2

7 9 15 2

7 10 14 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Speed) Gliding Shadow: Morbius can use Leap/Climb and Stealth.
(Attack) The Hunger: Morbius can use Steal Energy, but Steal Energy heals Morbius of 1 damage or damage equal to the number of powers possessed by the target of the attack after it takes damage, whichever is greater.
(Defense) Living Vampire: Morbius can use Toughness and Super Senses, but when using Super Senses evades an attack only on a result or 6.
This update comes too late for many of my readers, but I can't let the omission of Morbius stand any longer! Morbius does Steal Energy better than perhaps anyone, with the potential to heal of up to 4 clicks off one attack! Add that to a capable dial with a lot of neat tricks, and Morbius will prove useful!

Getting Extra Mileage Out of Your Main Attacker
The other predominant archeotype that excels at Steal Energy is the tentpole. It's critical to get all you can out of your main figure, and Steal Energy can get you just a few clicks more during battle.


mu028 V Giant-Man
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0
Points: 97
Keywords: Monster, Scientist

8 9 18 3

8 9 17 2

7 9 17 2

7 8 16 1

7 8 15 1

6 8 14 1

6 8 13 1

6 7 13 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Actually, Pym is pretty inexpensive, as far as main attackers go. But with the Outwit and Perplex he's sporting on a decidedly close combat dial, he's just as important to keep healthy. Flurry overlaps with Steal Energy often, giving you great potential to get two clicks back in one action. Just be careful not to let him slip past that Toughness; once he's into Combat Reflexes, he's never getting back to full.


sv223 LE Hulk
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0
Points: 100
Keywords: Monster

6 9 18 3

6 9 17 3

6 10 16 2

5 10 16 3

5 11 15 4

4 11 14 4

4 10 14 3

3 9 13 3

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Hulk is our second unobtainable Steal Energy highlight. Like Giant-Man, ol' undead Bruce here combines Flurry with his black square to maximize his healing potential. Unlike Giant-Man, Hulk's attack values are impressive and stable. Every click of Steal Energy is working his way back to Invulnerability, making him all the more difficult to finish off. Much more staying power than the average 100 point figure.


mu038 E Omega Red
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 4
Points: 124
Keywords:

8 11 17 3

8 10 17 3

8 9 17 3

7 9 16 3

7 9 16 3

7 8 16 2

7 8 14 2

6 8 14 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Damage) Leech: Each time an opposing character takes damage from a close combat or ranged combat attack made by Omega Red, heal Omega Red of 1 damage, this power is not optional.
Omega Red is my cheat of the week. As in, he's not only shown up before (in the Flurry article, before I had this format as fleshed out as I do now), but he doesn't even technically HAVE Steal Energy! Normally, that would completely invalidate a figure as an option, but I can't ignore this figure's incredibly effective mimickry. Omega Red is self-healing for most of his dial, and it's a long, damage-reducing dial to boot. If Omega Red chooses his targets carefully, the opponent shouldn't even be able to retaliate as he heals and Poisons the opposition.


ha026 U Pluto
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 8
Points: 125
Keywords: Deity, Ruler

7 12 17 4

7 11 17 4

7 11 16 4

7 11 16 3

7 10 16 3

6 10 16 3

6 10 16 3

6 9 15 3

6 9 15 3

6 9 14 3

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Speed) Soul Syphon: When a friendly charcter with 30 or higher point value is KO'd, Pluto may move to the square they occupied after any current actions are resolved. If Pluto does, he can use Regeneration as a free action.
If you'll recall, I had a rule about Steal Energy and Close Combat. But while you may plan to keep Pluto at range early on, making the most of that Enhancement, a 17 with Energy Shield will mean most opponents will base Pluto for an attack. That puts the foe right where this deity wants them, as he picks up Exploit Weakness paired with, you guessed it, Steal Energy. Huge attack values mean he likely won't miss as he destroys those who tie him up and regains composure enough to aid his own allies again in the ranged game.

So there they are, folks. The best leeches in the game. Or did I miss one? Who would you prop?

Next week, we'll finish attack powers with Telekinesis!