Ever face a figure or team you can't seem to take down? Then this is the series for you. We take a deeper look into those problematic pieces and Exploit their Weaknesses! In this edition, we take a look at a teenager who is just way too cool for this article but decided to make an appearance anyway!

Click "Full Story" below as we analyze this awesome figure and Exploit its Weaknesses

Thanks for joining me in another installment of Exploiting Weaknesses! As with the other articles' precursors, Pulse Wave will not be discussed as it is almost always effective. If it isn't effective, I will point out why.


Here is the dial for reference, in case you couldn't tell from the intro picture.



Things that tell me I should get some pointers from Tony Hawk:

- Auto Scrolling Skate Level
- Sais
- Charge
- Indomitable
- Reducers a non-issue

Exploiting Raph's Weaknesses

So I was watching some TMNT Video Game gameplay videos on a sick day (because that seems totally normal for a 30 year old...) and realized that I've been feeling nostalgic as of late. I never played these games but always just watched my friends play instead. Give me anything Mario and I was all over it but TMNT never interested me from a game play standpoint. Then comes TMNT in heroclix and I gave it a shot and have loved just about all of it! So seeing a skateboarding Raph in the video inspired me to do this. Think what you may about this figure but I really don't care, lol! Let's dive in and see what makes Raph work so well. Maybe you'll find a new way to deal with similar figures!

First up, his dial. It is pretty standard when it comes to length for point cost, has average stats at a 9, 10, 17, 3 level, and pretty normal looking power set. There isn't anything that really says, "I'm a beast, no way you can take me down!" His defense is normal with a little toughness, super senses, and combat reflexes. Nothing to write home about. The main reason I want to focus on him is his ability to produce an alpha strike for TMNT teams especially. Plus, his ability to act so often thanks to Indomitable will allow him to get in your face first and then pound it home next turn if we don't take care of him right away.

I'm going to talk about 2 powers here because they can relate and will often be used together. The first is Auto Scrolling Skate Level - this allows Raph to move 1 square at the beginning of the turn as well as move 3 squares as a FREE action so long as it is in a straight line. So that is 4 squares he can move without taking a costed action. Being that he has IM: Characters, good luck tying him up so he doesn't get away. Also, this is a trait so there is nothing in it that we can outwit. Therefore, he will always be able to move 4 squares freely. Unless...we use Barrier! We can trap him inside providing the terrain allows us to lay the barrier accordingly. Even though 3 of those spaces must be in a straight line, the first move can get him into the right row or column to set up for the 3 move. And even if that 3 move isn't ideal, Raph can still zig or zag to get into position for his Charge. This is not unlike doing a zig zag across the screen in this game - kinda cool design when you think of it.

Charge will allow him to get even closer and make that attack from 9 squares away when comboed with the free moves from above. That is a pretty hefty threat range on a charge. Be careful around TK because that will be even greater since the FREE move isn't at the beginning of turn. There are plenty of things we can do to stay safe however. Keeping our distance may be the best/easiest way. Anywhere from 11 to 15 squares should do the trick but just remember to count carefully and keep an eye out for Perplex and TK that may boost these numbers. Outwit is a great way of getting rid of charge. As stated earlier, barrier can work to keep him at bay but positioning around natural blocking/walls will work along with elevated terrain making his movement patterns difficult. Hindering terrain can slow him down a bit too so a well positioned smoke cloud can actually do wonders too! We can also do a couple clicks of damage to get rid of charge but it reveals Jump Kick which gives him HSS. So if we can avoid that it would be preferred. Granted, it is a -3 move but when he gets to move 3 for FREE, it evens out.

The last thing to take care of is the Sais power (with a Battle Fury combo to help). Sais not only grants flurry but deals penetrating damage any time he would deal damage. Not unlike above, we have similar options. Outwit is the obvious choice and the second option is hitting him onto clicks 3-5. Shouldn't be too hard to do but if we only have 1 outwit, best go after the move and attack powers first. If he is already close, definitely getting rid of Sais should be priority. Be careful of relying too heavily on shape change as he has battle fury to get past it very easily.

That's all I have this time! Until next time, always look for the chinks in the armor and Exploit your opponent's Weaknesses!

I used this figure today. It went down faster than a lead zepplin. Not worth the 100pts at all...

wish this figure was as ridiculous as it sounds. I'd love to see some stealth + ignores characters, elevated, hindering OFF his high jump kick at 6 speed yanno... just because it's Raphael... on a skateboard... but what do I know

Well, you don't run him out in the middle of the map alone creating a giant bullseye on him. You have someone like Lockjaw run with him and Raphael will spring out from behind the teammate shield and slice through an opponent.

I have the set of these chases and have been a little hesitant to try them out. Their cost is fine, but when you look at alternatives it is hard to beat. The set 1 chases have almost the damage capability these do, but they have the ridiculous trained imperv that means they will always be hard to hurt. And they are cheaper to boot. I will try them someday though, but I doubt they can stack up to their albino brothers.

Love this figure. I have played against him and with him.

He is a Target with the 17 toughness. I won't play him without a medic. 25 pt April who can autoheal is a great option. I'm not a fan of throwing objects on characters but the Symbiote is worth it just to grant Shape Change and the possible +1 to stats.

Raphael is mobile and with the right team (a few cheap plasticity pieces) can deal his worth in damage.

I was happy to pull him. My Chase of choice