The addition of Feats to Heroclix took the basics of Powers and Abilities and introduced the first attempts to modify them. We had Passenger (that gave Phasing the ability to Carry), Trick Shot (that allowed Ranged Combat Expert and Plasticity to ignore terrain and other figures), and a countless stream of new Standard Powers modifiers since that time. But perhaps no Feat so completely turned around what we look for in a power as Nova Blast, which forever changed the role of Pulse Wave in the tournament scene.

Climb aboard as we look for the Best of Pulse Wave, with or without the feat card!

Pulse Wave wasn't always the multi-tool it is today. Back in the old days, the only time Pulse Wave was planned around was to open up a 'hooker bomb' - that is, pulse waving a group of your own characters (usually Con-Artists) to bypass activation clicks in one action. Since that time, the 'hooker bomb' has been removed as an option through a series of changes that I'm not going to bother covering. What's much more important than how we lost the self-detonation is how Pulse Wave rose to the prominence it currently enjoys.

Here's the current wording of Pulse Wave, according to the Fantastic Four PAC...

Did you catch all that? Here are some highlights:
-Pulse Wave hits EVERYONE within half your character's range value, ignoring characters along the way.
-And speaking of ignoring, it also ignores powers, abilities, team abilities, and feats throughout the course of the attack.
-If more than 1 character is within the radius, your damage is 1; BUT, if there's only 1 character in the radius, you can use your full base damage!

That's a lot of versatility! A pulse wave figure can attack a stealthed character without basing them. They can bypass damage reducers, EVEN if the foe is packing Fortitude. They can hurt Mystic and Crossgen figures without taking the feedback damage. To make a long list short, if you've got Pulse Wave on your team, chances are good you'll find a good use for it.

Pulse Wave doesn't come cheap.
The starting price point for a Pulse Wave figure is 22 points for LE Dominic Petros, but Dominic has a pitiful 4 range, which cut in half makes a two-square radius! It's hard for Dominic to be close enough to hit someone with it while remaining far enough away to use Pulse Wave (a ranged combat action). Thankfully, Dominic makes the list in his Veteran representation of his alter ego:


ct033 V Avalanche
Team: The Brotherhood
Range: 8
Points: 32
Keywords: Brotherhood of Mutants, X-Corps

8 8 16 2

8 7 15 2

7 7 14 1

6 6 13 1

5 6 12 1

4 5 12 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

Going from 22 to 32 points makes a huge difference- as in, 8 range over 4. That makes for a decent radius on a cheap-ish figure. Avalanche will have to move himself into place (which won't count toward your actions that turn thanks to the Brotherhood team ability), or he can stay back and use Barrier until the opponent comes to him.


ic088 R Blizzard
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 8
Points: 35
Keywords: Scientist

8 9 15 1

6 7 14 1

5 5 13 1

4 4 12 1

4 4 11 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

One less click of Pulse Wave and Barrier lets Blizzard pick up 2 clicks of Running Shot. Yes, he's a one-hit wonder, but he can move himself in for the attack, and he's disposable. While the whole REV set of Blizzards are good at Pulse Wave, the Experienced dial wastes points on a team ability requiring adjacency. (Stop, think, got it? Good...) And the Veteran? Well, that would be telling...


aa025 U Johnny Sorrow
Team: Injustice League
Range: 6
Points: 55
Keywords: Celebrity, Injustice Society, Monster

7 9 16 2

7 9 16 2

6 8 15 2

6 8 15 1

6 8 14 1

5 7 14 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

(Speed) Subspace Transfer: Johnny Sorrow can use Phasing/Teleport and the Carry ability.
(Attack) Visage of Sorrow: Johnny Sorrow can use Pulse Wave (as if he had a range of 10); his damage value becomes 2 for the attack.
While most Pulse Wave figures under 100 points are saddled with short range, Johnnyboy spends the second half of his dial improving from his earlier attempts at Pulse Wave. His damage value becomes 2 when Pulse Waving, no matter how many people are in his rather large radius. That's not too shabby.

Nothing Says 'Thanks for Playing' Like a Nova Blast
And when you need to say something special to that special someone, these figs might help you say it loudly.


aw023 E Banshee
Team: X-Men
Range: 8
Points: 77
Keywords: Mutant, X-Men

8 9 15 3

8 8 15 2

8 8 14 2

7 7 14 2

6 6 14 2

6 6 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

I never realized before this article, but Banshee and the character to follow are remarkably similar in design. Banshee has a nice 8 range with Running Shot and 3 damage (which is important when you can manage a single target attack... or if you're a Nova Blast kinda person.


mm217 LE Polaris
Team: The Brotherhood
Range: 6
Points: 78
Keywords: Brotherhood of Mutants

10 9 17 4

9 8 16 3

8 8 15 3

7 7 14 3

6 6 13 2

5 5 12 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

If you're looking for a higher damage potential, a point more will buy you Polaris' LE. A higher damage makes up for shorter range, and Toughness may serve you better than Banshee's defensive boosts, as opponents learn quickly to tie up Pulse Wave figures.


cd063 V Emerald Empress
Team: Calculator
Range: 8
Points: 102
Keywords: Fatal Five, Future, Ruler

10 10 17 4

10 9 16 4

8 9 15 3

8 8 14 3

7 8 13 3

7 7 13 2

6 7 12 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Adding a little to Polaris' dial layout, Veteran Emerald Empress sports a 10 attack and Invulnerability that'll make you sad to push past. So if you're going to Nova Blast anyway, and you're not concerned about the difference between a 9 and 10 attack, try the rookie...
cd061 R Emerald Empress
Team: Calculator
Range: 6
Points: 83
Keywords: Fatal Five, Future

8 9 15 4

8 8 15 3

7 8 15 3

7 7 14 2

6 7 13 2

6 6 12 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

Either way, the Wildcard team ability should serve you well. If your opponent survives to use it.


sv090 U Jack of Hearts
Team: Avengers
Range: 8
Points: 105
Keywords: Avengers

10 9 17 4

9 10 16 2

8 9 16 2

8 9 15 2

6 9 16 3

7 8 16 3

7 8 15 3

6 7 14 4

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Jack of Hearts has a better back dial than the Empress, and he roams through different ways of doing large amounts of damage. Beginning and ending with our power of the week, Jack of Hearts is capable of big damage against a single target or with a Nova Blast on three of those clicks. The Avengers team ability gives you customization options with Thunderbolts. And if all else fails, you've only spent 105 points on that high-damage package.


ic170 LE Annihilus
Team: Minions of Doom
Range: 10
Points: 146
Keywords: Armor, Cosmic, Ruler

8 11 16 3

8 10 15 3

8 9 14 2

7 8 13 2

7 7 12 2

6 6 12 2

5 5 11 1

4 4 10 1

4 4 10 1

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

The LE Annihilus is the last of our Nova Blast options; once you've spent more than 150 on a character who's losing 2 clicks of life after his first attack, you need to go back to this list and start at Banshee. If you're lucky enough to own this gem, you're one of the few who gets to enjoy such a cheap 11 attack, 10 speed with Running Shot, and 10 range. All that with a Wildcard... who says Infinity Challenge doesn't hold up?

Just Because You CAN Doesn't Mean You Should
-or-
How To Move Past Nova Blast and Stay On Your Top Click
A lot of folks see Pulse Wave and big damage and instantly formulate how they can KO a whole team in one shot (see Icons Brainiac for a figure who enjoys way more popularity than his dial deserves). The following folks are GREAT Pulse Wave figures, and don't need to throw away clicks of life to prove it.


ha049 V Ultron
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 12
Points: 174
Keywords: Cosmic, Masters of Evil, Robot, Ruler

12 12 18 4

12 11 17 4

10 11 17 3

10 10 16 3

9 9 16 3

9 9 16 4

8 8 15 3

8 8 15 3

8 7 14 3

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

(Speed) Transfer Essence: Ultron can use Mind Control. Ultron takes no damage from Mind Control if his target has the Armor or Robot keyword.
What's a rule without an exception? Current loopholes in wording allow Ultron to use Nova Blast without taking that nasty 2 clicks of feedback. That's just great, because Ultron's amazing 12 range will hit a LOT of figures for big damage. The rest of the dial's great too, if you ever get there...


ff090 U Nimrod
Team: No Affiliation
Range: 10
Points: 264
Keywords: Future, Robot

12 12 17 4

10 11 16 4

10 10 16 3

9 9 15 3

9 9 16 2

8 9 15 2

8 9 14 3

8 10 14 3

8 11 14 4

10 8 13 2

KO KO KO KO

KO KO KO KO

Someone with plenty of Outwit to go around... the Pink Jolly Rancher is a fantastic attacker who just happens to have Pulse Wave in his arsenal. If he gets surrounded, go ahead and use it; otherwise, save it for those single target opportunities where he can't use his full 10 range. A 12 speed makes it easy to get around, and a lot of end-dial Regeneration can make your pink machine operational again. Expensive, but good at what he does.

Well, that does it for Pulse Wave! Thanks for joining us again, and come back next week; one of my favorite abilities will really make waves!

I always liked the idea of Pulse Wave, but never actually had it work like it seems it's supposed to... Can you pulse wave if you are based? Playing at home, since the power states it's a ranged combat action, we've always ruled that you can't use it when based. Is this wrong?

edit: found the answer to my question.

Great article, by the way!

The endurance feat prevents pushing damage and is good to get in that extra shot if your pulsewaver survives retailation long enough so he can push (not taking damage to) to add insult to injury after the nova blast by hitting them all for just one more :-)

Banshee is totally a comic accurate figure to use Nova Blast too, since I've never seen him NOT scream himself into uselessness.

most current pulse wave success story: 400 point game against Thoki, in my arsenal I employed 2 molemen, pluto, and the metal god Ultron. I had pluto run in Kamikaze along with the molemen. While the 2 asgardians were busy I positioned Ultron. 3 Pulse waves later and the brothers fell to the true ruler of the cosmos. Opponent wanted a rematch. Time ended before second match was completed.

Well I've gotta make a case for Black Bolt (partially cause I'm a fan, and partially cause I'd like to hear your rebuttal). Front and end dial pulse wave with a great speed value and running shot to start make him credible. Players that use the defend initially and then come from behind friendly lines with him for big damage (with or without Nova blast) can get great results. Plus he shares a keyword with Lockjaw, whose enormous two-square butt makes for great cover.

But the biggest thing he has going for him is perplex. Correct me if I'm wrong, but he can modify his attack value for a nice 11 or range, which gets rounded down then increased by one making a radius six square blast. That can be big with a pulse wave.

I can see the argument that he doesn't have much of it, but the clicks up front coupled with the resurgence at the end seem to line up with the figures already selected.

He also shares the ruler KW with vet emerald empress for multi novablast action.

I knew Black Bolt was on the short list, so here's my thinking:

I am a huge Inhumans fan, and probably use them more than any other heroclix team. As such, I've tried a lot of approaches with Black Bolt. What I find to be most effective is to have his run around shooting with his full range, sharing defense with someone like Karnak while the two approach. Anyone capable of doing so and benefiting from the defense boost should be by Black Bolt. Lockjaw is a beast for post-shot cover, with a 17 defense borrowed from his owner. And Black Bolt can keep any potential challengers at bay with the mere threat of Pulse Wave. However, since I find Blackagar works best when he's got friends around him, his dial is counter-intuitive for actually using that Pulse Wave (aside from running away from his family, Pulsing off on his own, and then calling Lockjaw out to block a return attack).

I will make any argument you want for Black Bolt being an awesome figure, but I maintain that his Pulse Wave , like his voice,is best used sparingly.

I just recently used Nimrod in a 4 player,1000 point game and on my first turn tk'd Nimrod out and used running shot and nova blast to hit 5 of my opponents clix including SOD Superman.I love going last!They all took the 4 damage and he was not happy.Since it was a partners game i was then able to send some help to my partner who was dealing with a E2 Superman and Prime!

QFT

I also think the THREAT of Nova Blast, is about as disruptive to your opponents strategy as the act itself. In other words, even if you tack on NB, nothing says you need to use it .

Great write-up!

EDIT: On another note, this is another reason why I am sad to see soaring gone. It was a great counter-tactic to Alpha-Nova-Blast strategies.

I'll put in a mention of Magus. An 11 Pulse Wave for 3 halfway down your dial (and the power stays for the remaining 5 clicks) is nasty. What if you're based? He has EW...but that's another article

I know this is the most basic of PW questions, but if the only fig in range of a PW attack is stealthed, can the attack be made? You can't draw LoF because of Stealth, but PW ignores Stealth (I guess its a timing question)

Thanks!
and thanks for the great article (again!)

Pulse wave is my Fav offensive power. My Favorite team to play is a nova blast team and it works out really good for me i just don't play it unless i've been facing the same #### every week for about a month then i bust them out and ruin everyones night, they might not have fun having almost all their clix die on my first round of attacks, but i find it satisfing on a total cheese team that has beat me repeatedly over the last few weeks

Yes you can; Pulse Wave needs an opposing character within its radius, without asking you to draw line of fire to them until after the line saying 'ignore all powers, team abilities, etc'. It's a wonderful tactic!

Magus is very cool; I'd never noticed until I scoped out the dials for this article. But the back-half layout makes him a tough bid for 'best of'.