I asked the same question on his page, and got the affirmative on it. Some might not be happy about that, but that makes me ecstatic! A self healing piece that can go from click 6 to 1 in a single penetrating attack. With the Replace then Modify rule (Which I did not know about till literally twenty minutes ago), that means you can heal him all the way up after tk'ing him up, somehow moving your tk back, and perplexing your range up 3 so he has an 8 with pulsewave. I honestly think this is a evil combo, even if his first click is weaker than number 6. Prevents a quick and untimely death, since he has 9 clicks. Without flurry, I can only think of getting him down 8 clicks, since most figs hitting him probably have 5 damage, and Groot has 6, but no defense countering power. This takes him to his best click still. Seems evil enough. Besides, I always love a good split-shot incap. Good alternative to attacking with his 3 damage on his top clicks.

I'd better stop while I am ahead. God, I LOVE this piece already.

If the healing from this power moves Maelstrom off it, are the hit characters still immobilized? I assume not, but want to make sure.

I would think yes. In is the order:

1) Characters are hit.
2) Damage is applied to hit characters simultaneously.
3) Maelstrom heals one click for each character damaged, applied simultaneously.

step 2 qualifies the damaged character(s) for immobilization.
step 3 qualifies Maelstrom to heal for each character damaged.

There should be no issue with applying both.

No I'm pretty sure they still stay Immobile. The power already happened and the effect was added. If you Incap someone and then heal to a non Incap click, you don't remove the action token given.

I could be wrong though.

They would take the damage, but they would not be immobilized.

The immobilization has a specified duration. Effects with a specified duration end immediately when the power causing that effect is lost.

Thanks.
I figured there would be differing opinions. Good to get it cleared up.

To add to this discussion....I used him last night in a sealed tourney and destoyed !! Even took out Quasar in round 1 ! But my question is in regards to the Non-optional wording.

If you MAY heal him, that is clearly optional, but I am curious if you get to choose HOW MUCH you heal him if multiple targets are hit ? If I target 3 with Psychic Blast, and hit all 3...MAY I heal only 2 ?

thanks....

Each instance of damage taking is triggering the power separately.

I'll take that as a yes....thanks