HCRealms' very own Paragon of Pith Hesster56 provides us with another round of HOT TAKES, this time focusing on the uncommon rarity figures in the X-Men: X of Swords release from WizKids!
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#017 Cable
Real Name: Nathan Summers
Team: X-Men
Range: 6
Points: 70/40
Keywords: S.W.O.R.D., X-Force, X-Men, Future, Soldier, Warrior

10 11 18 3

10 11 18 3

10 11 18 3

l l l l l l

8 10 17 3

8 10 17 2

8 10 17 2

8 9 16 3

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

SWORD BEARER +5: This character starts the game with any Sword equipment equipped.
RALLY (5): Opposing Attack Rolls. FREE: Remove one of Cable's Rally dice. If you do, this turn when Cable uses Perplex or Outwit, he may use it to target a character regardless of line of fire.

Look, another cheap X-Man! Cable gets a lot of hate for being the poster child for 90’s eXcess, but he’s become a favorite character of mine, especially because of how often he gets reimagined. Teenage Dayspring holding the FF7 Buster Sword makes me happy on sculpt alone, and the combo of run and gun and charge and slash, combined with a lovely Rally mechanic and eXcellent support powers, makes Cable a hard choice to pass up. Just wish we got an alt 90’s version using his Psimitar. It’s a thing. It was dumb. It was glorious.

#018 Peeper
Real Name: Peter Quinn
Team: S.H.I.E.L.D., X-Men
Range: 5
Points: 25
Keywords: Brotherhood of Mutants, S.W.O.R.D., X-Men

6 10 17 2

6 10 16 2

6 9 16 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Targeting: Ignores Elevated, Ignores Hindering, Ignores Blocking, Ignores Characters, This character can make range attacks while adjacent to opposing characters.
I Can See For Both Of Us: Friendly characters modify speed +2 if carrying Peeper.

I can’t hear this character’s name without thinking of this PA strip from (checks notes) 2003? God I’m old. People are thrilled to see Peepers though, and can’t wait to get eyes on him. Expect him to find his way to constructed teams surrounded by friendly SHIELD agents, enhancers, and other friendly buffers. He’s going to be a mainstay. Oh, and look down to find Abigail Brand and just start crying blood.

#019 Synch
Real Name: Everett Thomas
Team: X-Men
Range: 5
Points: 70
Keywords: Generation X, S.W.O.R.D., X-Men

8 10 17 3

8 10 17 3

8 10 17 3

8 11 17 3

8 11 17 3

8 11 17 3

8 11 17 3

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Always Adapting: Phasing/Teleport. // Once per turn when another friendly character within range heals, after resolutions heal Synch 1 click.
Always Evolving: FREE: Choose a friendly standard character within range and line of fire and two displayed standard powers that character can use. This turn, Synch can use the chosen powers.

Everett’s come a long way since Generation X. This dial might be the best we’ll see of him in Heroclix, and it’s a whopper. Solid stats, great healing-especially with his friend Laura around-and just about any power he wants whenever he needs it. And then the back half he just starts nuking people. Synch does exactly what he advertises-he sharpens any team he’s on.

#020 Honey Badger
Real Name: Gabrielle Kinney
Team: Team Player
Range: 0
Points: 80/50
Keywords: Champions, New Mutants, Weapon X, X-Men, Assassin, Martial Artist

10 11 18 2

10 11 18 2

10 11 18 2

l l l l l l

8 10 17 2

8 10 17 2

8 10 18 2

8 10 18 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

I never leave him behind: At the beginning of the game, generate a Jonathan bystander.// At the beginning of your turn, you may place Jonathan in a square adjacent to Honey Badger.
I feel no pain: Invincible, Super Senses

Jonathan
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 0

8 10 17 1

KO KO KO KO

Tom Taylor’s Wolverine series introduced an amazing little sidekick. Gabrielle Kinney is one of the most entertaining characters to come out of the recent X-Books. Here she makes her Clix Debut as an absolute brawler in the sub-100 point division. If blades and exploit are your cup of tea, Gabby and Jonathan are going to be on your menu.

#021 Cyclops
Real Name: Scott Summers
Team: X-Men
Range: 7
Points: 35
Keywords: X-Men

8 11 17 3

8 11 17 3

7 11 17 3

7 11 17 3

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Targeting: This character can make range attacks while adjacent to opposing characters.
Recruiter: POWER: Choose a character with the X-Men keyword in your KO area that hasn't been chosen for or generated by a Recruiter effect. If you do, generate a character with the X-Men keyword from your Sideline that has a lower point value than the chosen character. This game, the generated character can't be replaced and your opponent scores them immediately instead of when they're KO'd.

Scotty Take Two, Optic Boogaloo! Shave off 2 clicks and 15 points and what do you get? Scott Summers running a recruitment drive. I’m kind of ambivalent about the Recruiter ability, but that’s about the only reason you’d pick this version of Marvel’s favorite Boy Scout. I like Cyclops, I really do, but about the only positive things I can say about his two versions in this set are that he’s budget-friendly. X-Swarms will be a thing, Slim here will be a big part of that, but it sure isn’t an exciting piece.

#022 Gorgon
Real Name: Tomi Shishido
Team: Team Player, X-Men
Range: 0
Points: 65/30
Keywords: X-Men, Assassin, Martial Artist

12 12 18 3

10 11 18 3

10 11 17 3

10 11 17 3

l l l l l l

8 11 17 2

8 10 17 2

8 10 17 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Great Captain: Leadership. When Gorgon uses it and succeeds, this turn, friendly characters with the (X-Men TA) may use it as FREE
Sword Bearer +5: This character starts the game with any sword equipment equipped

One of the most aggressive Uncommons I’ve ever seen, Gorgon sets up the Ninja Gaiden style “dashes in out of nowhere and decapitates you” trope to a bloody T. 12/12/18/3, maybe with a Sword, Wildcard TA, maybe free-action X-Men TA, all for under 70 points? I can’t wait to use him. Or, grab him for merely 30 and consider him part of a swarm of ninja.

#023 Magik
Real Name: Illyana Rasputin
Team: X-Men, Mystics
Range: 0
Points: 65/30
Keywords: New Mutants, X-Men, Mystical, Ruler

10 11 18 3

10 11 17 3

10 11 17 3

8 10 17 3

l l l l l l

8 10 17 2

8 9 17 2

8 9 17 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Sword Bearer +5: This character starts the game with any Sword equipment equipped.
Great Captain of Krakoa: Leadership. When Magik uses it and succeeds, this turn, friendly characters that have X-Men TA may use it as free.

UC Magik has been forged in the fires of Limbo, sharpened on the whetstone of life, and quenched in blood. Way back in Exiles a version of her showed up and decided it was easier to just kill her teammates and move on if a mission wasn’t going her way, and I’ve really loved the bloodthirsty take on our Russian doll ever since. The Charge/ESD will take some finesse to use properly, but it acts nicely as cover to get her where she needs to go so she can put the Soulsword where it belongs. That being the chests of her opponents.

#024 Tarot
Real Name: Marie-Ange Colbert
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 4
Points: 30
Keywords: Hellions, X-Men

7 10 17 2

7 10 17 2

6 9 16 2

6 9 16 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Shifting The Fates: For all characters with this trait, when you would draw a Tarot Card from your deck, you may instead draw two and choose one to use and put the other one at the bottom of your deck.
Reading The Cards: Shape Change. // FREE: Roll a d6. Tarot can use the corresponding power until your next turn. 1-3: Perplex. 4-6: Outwit.

Here she is, the character that messes with the gimmick of the set. Tarot’s damage power is pretty situational-while people can argue that Outwit and Perplex are always useful, sometimes you need to make a hit land and sometimes you need to get rid of something that’s bothering you, and a random choice can end up being limiting. That’s not why this Hellion is here though. She’s here to cheat at cards. Maybe that’s worth it, maybe not.

#025 Mystique
Real Name: Danger Room
Team: Brotherhood of Mutants
Range: 6
Points: 25
Keywords: Brotherhood of Mutants, Robot

8 11 17 1

8 10 17 1

8 10 17 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

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Danger Room Construct: When Mystique makes an attack, after resolutions give him an Error token for each [1] in the attack roll (maximum 3). // If Mystique has 2 or less Error tokens, characters take a maximum of 1 damage from Mystique's attacks, Mystique takes a maximum of 1 damage from opponent's attacks, and he can't be healed or chosen for Mastermind. Protected: Pulse Wave.
Lessons From The Danger Room: When Mystique is KO'd by an opposing character, this game, when that character makes an attack, other characters can't use Shape Change.

Never before have three clicks seemed so dangerous. Mystique is a switchblade in the dark, 25 points to drop into your opponent’s face and see how long she lasts. Senses and Shape Change keep her alive, and Precision Strike means she’ll ping someone to an early grave without caring about the Error tokens. A perfectly cromulent Mystique, even if she is just a hard-light hologram.

#026 Sebastian Shaw
Real Name: Danger Room
Team: Underworld
Range: 0
Points: 30
Keywords: Hellfire Club, Robot

6 9 16 2

8 9 17 2

10 10 18 3

12 11 19 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

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Danger Room Construct: When Sebastian Shaw makes an attack, after resolutions give him an Error token for each [1] in the attack roll (maximum 3). // If Sebastian Shaw has 2 or less Error tokens, characters take a maximum of 1 damage from Sebastian Shaw's attacks, Sebastian Shaw takes a maximum of 1 damage from opponent's attacks, and he can't be healed or chosen for Mastermind. Protected: Pulse Wave.
Lessons from the Danger Room: When Sebastian Shaw is KO'd by an opposing character, this game, when that character is targeted by an attack, the attacker can't positively modify their combat values.

This dial makes me unreasonably happy. It’s an old-school “Hulk Up” type figure, which is spot-on for the Black King. He’s also packing the Underworld TA, which is going to let him bring friends-think Hellfire Guards so that if Shaw gets to his good clicks he can stay there. I think the up-front Enhancement is going to surprise people as well and justify keeping Shaw out of harm’s way until he can get enough Error tokens to really wreck someone’s day with a 12/5 attack line.

#027 Omega Sentinel
Real Name: Karima Shapandar
Team: Police
Range: 5
Points: 50
Keywords: Sentinel, Detective, Future, Police, Robot

8 11 17 3

8 11 17 3

8 10 17 2

8 10 17 2

8 10 17 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Rally (1): Friendly Attack Rolls. FREE: Remove one of Omega Sentinel's RALLY dice to choose a friendly character within range. The chosen character has the Police team ability until your next turn.

ASAB. All Sentinels Are Bas…Brats. All Sentinels Are Brats. I like this one though. It’s an aggressive model that favors getting in close, blowing up formations, and letting others take a shot next turn. Watch me run these in squadrons of two, when I end up letting an effective 12/4 from two attackers for 100 points grind my mutant opponents into so much genetic slurree.

#028 Magneto
Real Name: Max Eisenhardt
Team: Brotherhood of Mutants
Range: 7
Points: 100/30
Keywords: Acolytes, Brotherhood of Mutants

10 12 18 4

10 11 18 3

10 11 18 3

10 11 18 3

10 11 18 3

l l l l l l

8 10 17 3

8 10 17 3

8 9 16 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Recruiter: POWER: Choose a character with the Brotherhood of Mutants keyword in your KO area that hasn't been chosen for or generated by a Recruiter effect. If you do, generate a character with the Brotherhood of Mutants keyword from your Sideline that has a lower point value than the chosen character. This game, the generated character can't be replaced and your opponent scores them immediately instead of when they're KO'd.

I’ll be honest, I wanted Erik (Always Erik, never Max) to forge a sword in the comic series. I wanted to see some crazy metallurgy at work where he hones a sword to an electron’s sharpness or something. Instead, we have our Brotherhood Recruiter Magneto. If you need an axe, his 100 point dial is great. Consistently high attack values coupled with a boring if dangerous Penetrating/Psyblast option makes him an attractive piece if you don’t have anything better to use. But his 30-point scalpel line is probably going to be where he is most dangerous.TK, Invuln, Leadership, and Recruiter is going to be backing a lot of Brotherhood teams.

#029 Jean Grey
Real Name: Jean Grey
Team: X-Men
Range: 5
Points: 35
Keywords: Phoenix Force, X-Factor, X-Force, X-Men

8 10 17 2

8 9 17 2

7 9 17 2

7 8 17 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Seeing Enemy Threats: Empower. // When Jean Grey is targeted by an attack, after resolutions you may place her adjacent to a friendly character within range.

I feel so bad for Jean Grey sometimes. On the surface, this is a great dial. Stealth taxi with TK, Barrier, and Empower? That’s a strong dial, right? Only 35 points? All of that is great. She’ll be a great team player. I like her ability to jump around based on attacks. But man is she a dull blade. There’s nothing on here that makes me think “Omega-Level Mutant.” Or “X-Leader who killed Cassandra Nova with kindness.” Or “Headmaster of the Xavier Institute who fought off the U-Men assault by telekinetically making them all void themselves and run away screaming.” I want to see a Jean dial that cuts loose, instead of staying bound up.

#030 Bishop
Real Name: Lucas Bishop
Team: Police, X-Men
Range: 6
Points: 80/35
Keywords: Hellfire Club, Marauders, X-Force, X-Men, Detective, Future, Pirate, Police

8 12 18 3

8 11 18 3

8 11 17 3

8 11 17 3

l l l l l l

8 10 17 2

6 10 16 2

6 9 16 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Great Captain of Krakoa : Leadership. When Bishop uses it and succeeds, this turn, Friendly characters than have (X-Men TA) may use it for FREE.
You've taken your best shot, now it's my turn!: FREE: If Bishop took damage since your last turn, heal him 1 click, and then he can use Range Combat Expert.

Anyone else bring a gun to a knife fight? Just Bishop? Okay, cool. For a long time now we’ve seen our time-tossed energy manipulator get a “takes damage? Remove token” variant. Now we have a “heal and gain RCE” piece and my friends? Watch out for dirty tricks with this guy. “What dirty tricks could he possibly do?” I hear you say? The great Captain Trait, paired with a friendly X-Man, means Lucas can damage himself to help a friend, pick up RCE, and heal himself back up. Which gives you an Outwitter with a potential 13/4 attack line. And he’s helping his friends with his PDTA. Or take the risk and drop him to 35 points and hope he’s not shot off the board.

That Bishop trick was the first thing that came to mind when I saw the dial. He’s one of the few previously made figs I actually want in this set (my Alan Moore fondness is making this expensive to collect).

I see swarming mutants as a return to form more so than a new idea. I’ve been getting Danger Room starter vibes from a lot of these pieces and that was the gilded age of the game imo.

I miss the figure ratings… I mean… how are these figures ranking against eachother?

I don’t mind not having ratings for SLOP events. There could be lots of changes to tournament format depending on booster availability, attendance, etc. Besides that rating a fig for constructed vs sealed produces different results. It’s a conclusion I can draw on my own honestly.

You'd have to ask Raven and Saturnflight, they usually write those. These are quick hit thoughts.

This isn’t SLOP though, this is the main set.

I find myself peculiarly disappointed with the Uncommon Magik dial. It isn't bad, but it feels a little too much like a sort of "throwback" dial I would have liked to have had available a dozen+ years ago in a pre-card era. I label my disappointment peculiar, because ultimately it is better to have these (decent enough options) for a character that has been rather important in the source comics for quite some time.

I'm glad to have cheap versions ($$$, points) available of the character, but I was expecting a (power creep) version to give the Regenesis Chase a run for its money... yet I don't exactly see that with either the common or uncommon. Again: these aren't bad dials, just somewhat meh dials.

As for which dial would I use? I lean towards the full cost uncommon, +5 with a sword, probably Mercy as it offers the most useful passive effect IMO, and this dial needs and extra layer of defense. Charge/Precision Strike is only valuable if you can pull off attacks. The low cost dials would only be used if I wanted the specific character on the force, or if I needed specific keywords.

UC Magik was one of the pieces I used. She's weird, in that she's really not an attacker, she's a cheap prob piece. What really kills her is the lack of range. Even like a 4 range would have put her over the top, especially in sealed. I really think at the end of the day she's a better use of 30 than 65.

Personally I have no fondness for the Danger Room starter, nor would I say that its 6 figures represent any significant "age" of Heroclix. However, I do agree that this is not a new trend, especially in reference to the X-Men, and I would posit that the Uncanny X-Men set is much more representative of a set specifically giving us lower-costed X-Men as a dedicated trend. That's where we got our first 50-point Colossus, for instance.

Danger Room was important almost exclusively because of the Generator. The figs looked great and played well but were overshadowed almost exclusively by V Icons Supes.

The 40 point Storm and Cyclops won me a Masterpiece figure in an era of Icons Superman dominance. It definitely was a significant age defined by Supes and a Generator, and gilded by an unbeatable Galactus, Spectre, Kingdom Come and cheap swarming mutants.

Our first 50 point Colossus was 10 points cheaper than the Danger Room version and both Cyclops and Storm of the same set are 10 points more. Posit what you will, I think you’re too focused on your Peter to notice your surroundings. Budget X-Men have been a thing since Infinity Challenge, quintessentially competitive since Danger Room, and pretty much returned to form with XofS.