I really wish his 11 Attack and 18 Defense had been front loaded. If so he would have been PERFECT.

I still like this Groot, but I think he is just a tad too many points for his combat stats.

I'll go out on a "branch" by saying that this version may be slightly better than the WoS original, due to starting Charge, a stop click, more durability, Outwit for more than half the dial, and wildcard capability for 1 point more via the GotG (Silver) ATA.

199 pts is still steep for what you get compared to other options, but he's a great choice in higher point games.

That last click is super confusing!!! If he can't be targeted by ranged combat attacks, can he be targeted by close combat attacks?! If so, does the attack automatically hit? i'm so confused...

Yep, he can only be targeted by close combat attacks. And as long as it's not a critical miss, it would hit, yes.

Why, would you give someone the Tiny Symbol if they can not be attacked by ranged combat attacks? Would that have something to do with puls wave?

...so he can be carried by a standard character...

More importantly, Groot can be carried by other Tiny characters on his last click, as he becomes "super tiny."

The Tiny Size represents Groot being reduced to nothing more than a sliver or twig and needs to be planted to regrow. Very clever representation of a comic trope.

He's not bad by any means. The near full dial outwit coupled with his ranged plasticity, move and attack capbilities, and indomitable offer some very useful alternatives to the 152 pt version. However at a 46 pt increase, shorter dial, lack of devastating mid dial power, less versatile healing capabilities, loss of all shape change, and Loss of team ability I just can't see using this new one all that often. I think the starter sets fast Groot really gives more options to the team, and the WoS one really acts like more of a threat.

is this true? i was actually going to post this exact question in the rules forum.

Yup. Groot is smaller than all other characters so tiny characters (like Rocket) can carry him for free.

As a tent pole he has serious limitations, but in a larger point game, say six or seven hundred points, he starts to become really useful. Especially against grouped opponents. That charge/quake/giant reach combination is a real game changer.