Galactus when played as a figure on a force has his own rules including the following


Galactus, eater of worlds
(Galactus’ combat values can’t be increased)

With the New Dr. Streange #209, adjacent charaters can use ESD
SHIELDS OF THE SERAPHIM: Dr. Strange and adjacent friendly characters can use Energy Shield/Deflection.

Would Galactus if played on your force be able to use the ESD from Strange?
I'm guessing yes because Strange is just allowing him to use another power.

Yes and no.

Yes, Galactus can use ESD when #209 Dr Strange is adjacent to him. However, ESD would provide no benefit for Galactus, since his combat values cannot be increased.

I've quickly learned how funny Heroclix is in regards to situations like these. As in you can roll Impervious against PB and EW despite the fact both attacks ignore damage reducers. And now Galactus can use ESD, but doesn't get the DV modification.

Which also tells us that attaching the IG to that Galactus is almost worthless.

I'd hardly say that. There are tons of benefits to the Gauntlet besides the stat bonuses that are gained on Specials 2 & 3.

The rules aren't always funny. Usually they are purposeful.

Maelstrom's Defense SP says
Psychic Blast says
And Penetrating Damage says
So what does this all mean? It means that damage reducers are not ignored. Should you hit Maelstrom with Psychic Blast, he can roll his Impervious. If he rolls a 5 or 6, the damage will not be reduced to 0 because Penetrating Damage cannot be reduced. However, the attacker will be dealt 1 unavoidable damage because Kinetic Backlash is not ignored.

I always roll because it's good practice. Lord knows I've missed many an opportunity to roll for Leadership, Shape Change, Super Senses, and Team Abilities because of not remembering.

Here is one more important thing to learn...

Using correct terminology is crucial to understanding mechanics. There are a couple of mistakes in your post.

1) There's nothing optional about the Impervious roll. It isn't that you CAN roll for it against PB & EW. You MUST roll for it. In the end, though, as you stated, it won't be reduced, but that doesn't change the fact that you must roll for it.

2) Psychic Blast and Exploit Weakness do not in any way ignore damage reducers. They simply deal damage which cannot be reduced. There's a big difference. Ask Ulik. If they ignored damage reducers, then his power would drop the damage of those attacks. As it is, Exploit Weakness and Psychic Blast will tear through Ulik like running a frog over a cheese grater.

Go play Retail Dr. Manhattan

If you were hit with Psychic Blast or Exploit Weakness and you have Impervious, you can roll off the damage by rolling a 5 or 6?


Edit: I see, rolling a 5 or 6 will reduce it to 0 and damage can't be reduced due from penetrating damage.

No.

If you are hit with Penetrating damage, and you can use Impervious, you MUST roll the die. However, even if you roll a 5 or 6, Penetrating damage cannot be reduced.

Most peopl forego the die roll, because it is usually superfluous. However, there do exist rare occasions where that die roll yields other effects which CAN still occur, even against Penetrating damage.

Again, terminology has come to shake my understanding of Heroclix. Thanks for the clarifications.

Why would he not be able to increase his values? I looked at the rules sheet for him and saw nothing on there.
Curious so I know for future reference...

It is the "New Galactus" rules sheet (part of the Avengers set, I think? The rules sheet starts with "Countdown to Destruction: the Galactus Scenario"). Looking at the rules sheet, the last sentence on the sheet before the copyright info is "Galactus’ combat values can’t be increased."