X-Force are the more greyish Mutant heroes who do the Dirty Work that the X-Men can't do. They feature many fan favourites from Cable to X-23, Deadpool and Wolverine.
And if you liked the by far and away best Deadpool movie (DP2) this is the perfect affiliation for you.
How to start start the affiliation
Your first and most important purchase is Cable and Domino. Be sure to use Cables updated stat card to be found on the AMG website or Jarvis Protocol because he's much better nowadays than he was. Next up should probably be X-23 and Honey Badger. The old Sabretooth and Wolverine (has an updated stat card) pack is also interesting though if you're deeper interested in the mutant world picking up the X-Men and Brotherhood affiliation packs will be better value. Sunspot and Warlock are interesting new members for the team, while Psylocke, who comes with Emma Frost (unaffiliated) and Archangel, who comes with Angel (unaffiliated), are a dynamic duo of damage dealer 4s that you should absolutely consider down the line. And of course you have Deadpool who after his 2023 update is a super reliable piece but sadly comes with a hefty price tag because there's a Taco Truck in his box, as well as Bob, Agent of Hydra (unaffiliated).
What leaderships are available and what is the typical game plan
All of these people either carry firearms, swords, both or literally have claws for hands, so take a wild guess what they want to do on the table: Yes, they want to hurt you. Fast and reliably, where Wetworks comes in as a good leadership to even out the variance of the attack dice and sometimes also ignoring cover which can be a 2 damage swing. While X-Force will try to kill you, they do it more with their incredible action economy and durability over time than with big heavy alpha strikes. They can also play wide enough with their great selection of 3 threats that they can play the scenario game very well if they feel out fighting the enemy isn't an option.
Who could be added to the affiliation in the future, especially as leaders
There's some already existing characters that have led the X-Force before like Beast and Cyclops but we're supposed to not get any replicates any time soon. So there's some of Logan's "kids" that could end up here like Dagen and Kid Omega. Cannonball and Danny Moonstone are also candidates though for a leadership they feel more likely to be New Mutants leaders. And finally Warpath has to be mentioned here too.
Rating every affiliated TTC and character
Team Tactics (4)
Cat and Mouse
A. A card you'll play in every X-Force game. Figuring out who to play it with is the bigger task.
Dirty Work
D-. This card is in the contention to be the worst card in the game.
Preserve the Dream
B. It's much more conditional than some of these types of effects but out of action movement is always good.
Pretty Sneaky, Sis
B. Really dependent on who you're playing against, but can be clutch in some match ups. Don't try to have the perfect turn with it, where you protect all your models from enemy attacks outside of R2. If you can keep one extract carrier save for the round the card was worth it.
Characters (13)
Archangel (4)
B. Archangel is fast, has big damage potential and can fold like a piece of paper if he can't use his defensive shields (or get Cables). He has a great team up card with Psylocke that should be in consideration if you bring both in your squad.
Bishop (4)
B. Lucas Bishop could've been an A character for what he brings to the table: automatic Incinerate on his builder, a cool spender, Medium Base, Medium Move and most importantly a Size 4 character or terrain throw. What nudges him down to be is his Overload "ability". Having it trigger in the power, instead of the clean up, phase means he'll often awake from being dazed with only 4 health remaining which is really bad.
Cable (5)
A. Cable is one of the most reliable damage dealers in the game. You'll play him every game and you probably won't feel bad for doing so ever.
Colossus (4)
B-. Colossus doesn't particularly further your game plan here. He can help keep your damage pieces on their feet and carry an extract but personally here in X-Force I'd prefer to bring another damage dealing 4 instead. He has a very good team up card with Wolverine though.
Deadpool (3)
A. Deadpool is just a good reliable 3 threat. You don't really mind when he dazes early either has his backside is way better anyway.
Domino (3)
A-. Domino is surprisingly tanky and has huge damage potential. What she lacks is action economy.
Honey Badger (2)
B-. Badger is cool to run with her sister for their synergies and she can take some punches that were meant for someone else. And Anklebiter is a sneaky good ability too.
Psylocke (4)
A. Psylocke brings action economy, variable attack types, stealth and martial artist. A premier damage dealing 4 threat. She has a great TTC with Archangel, too.
Sabretooth (4)
B+. My view of Creed is probably a bit (meaning a lot) tilted because he ripped my Jack Russel apart in two rounds in my last game against him, but what he most definitely brings to the table is a great counter attack, high damage potential and a Long Move to get where his claws are needed. He hates being shot at from range though.
Sunspot (4)
?. I have really no idea how to range Sunspot. He can have a high damage potential but it's hard to evaluate. And X-Force doesn't help him with Flare token acquisition either. I'd go for a different 4 threat personally.
Warlock (3)
B. Warlock is awesome in the comics and at least solid on the board. He'll be your back point sitter most of the time.
Wolverine (4)
B. OG Wolverine (updated Stat Card) has high single target damage potential and is rather mobile with his charge. Not being able to carry extracts on his back side is a bit of a pain though.
X-23 (3)
A. There's rarely ever going to be an X-Force game you don't run Laura in. She's basically Wolverine but faster while being less tanky.
Popular splash characters
Nick Fury (4)
A. Having a Grunt character here is very helpful for the extract game and Fury brings the unique selling point of Eye in the Sky, that can save a key activation for one of your killers.
Red Skull, Master of Hydra (5)
A. Where Fury's Grunts help with the extract game, the Hydra troopers can be parked on a back secure so that none of your aggressive damage dealers have to wait around there. Red Skull himself is also contributing to the attrition game plan very well.
Example Roster
Characters (10)
Archangel (4)
Bishop (4)
* Cable (5)
Deadpool (3)
Domino (3)
Honey Badger (2)
Psylocke (4)
Sabretooth (4)
X-23 (3)
* Red Skull, Master of Hydra (5)
Team Tactics (10)
Cat and Mouse
Preserve the Dream
Pretty Sneaky, Sis
Brace for Impact (R)
Sacrifice (R)
Battle Bound
Cosmic Obliteration
Happy Birthday, Runt!
Jonathan the Unstoppable
Psionic Constructs
Secure Crisis
Deadly Meteors Mutate Civilians (I, 17)
Infinity Formula Goes Missing! (B, 17)
Super-Powered Scoundrels Form Sinister Syndicate (F, 20)
Extract Crisis
Skrulls Infiltrate World Leadership (J, 20)
Mutant Extremists Target U.S. Senators! (L, 19)
Alien Ship Crashes In Downtown! (C, 17)
This roster uses the ability to fight 1:1s very well and tries to divide the enemy to pick them apart with X-Force's superior action economy.
That's it for today. Next up: the big Inhumans update with the four new characters and two new leaderships added
Cheers from Germany 🍻
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