Finally the we got the Panel to Play for the most interesting character in the upcoming Mutants pack, in both lore and rules (as he has Grunts) in Multiple Man. And the original Hot Takes for Jubilee were so long ago that we will look at her with fresh eyes again and with her now revealed Tactics Cards in mind. I'll also give a first impression and Example Roster for X-Factor at the end of the article.
Strike again guys? Really? I mean Jamie is probably the most deserving character to have his basic attack called something basic as he is just a man with no superpowers whatsoever (expect of course creating dupes who also just punch like regular humans, but they are Many). Of course rerolling 2 dice is good on a Builder, but I would've maybe expected lower dice but a Flurry trigger made more easy when the Grunts are in range.
The Spender, Madrox Monkey Pile! Is super cool and thematic and 9 dice for 3 Power and Range 3 is fantastic, so be sure to have your Dupes close. The Stagger Trigger also goes up from 57% chance on 7 base dice to 70% with the 2 additional.
X-Factor Investigations is immediately the far more interesting leadership of the two for me personally. It probably means you'll lean into a Pay To Flip Game plan but gaining additional power on classic Secures is also good. I've recently realized that I much prefer leaderships with a guaranteed effect as opposed to for example Reroll leaderships that might end up doing nothing. Here of course there is a reroll involved but the power gain part is guaranteed and can be planned around.
Duplicate Reabsorbtion sound very familiar as it is similar to what Sandman can do. Instead of using it as a teleport (on top of the heal) Multiple Man can use it to get an Extract from the Grunts onto himself, which is very useful.
Follow the leads gives Madrox some added mobility though he will suffer the damage for a collision unlike many other Pounce models.
Kinetic Duplication is cool even if it gives your opponent some agency over your Grunt status but if they don't want them to be out Madrox can score pretty freely instead. His damage output will be severely hampered then of course.
Shares Experience will help with his Power Economy.
Before we give a rating let's first look at the Dupes card:
Weirdly above average defenses for Grunts paired with being able to interact with and contest objective (both kinds!) when a friend also contest the same makes them really useful. If they stay close to Multiple Man they also have a 4 dice attack with 2 rerolls making it close to a 6 dice attack mathematically. So you could very well dogpile "6", "6", 9 (the Spender for which you might have generated 2 of the 3 power with the Grunts attack) and "7" dice into an enemy character without much effort. (" " Means it's two rerolls not natural dice). I very much like Multiple Man. He's one of my favorite Mutants in the comics and I'm not disappointed at all here.
I don't think he's going to break the game but he should be a lot of fun on the table at least and his leadership is definitely decent.
B+
This is Fall Back on steroids. If you play X-Factor and Multiple Man this card is in your 5.
A.
The part where it heals a condition shows that it's meant to be used later in the game to get a key Extract or contest with the Dupes but since it doesn't cost anything it's likely best use is a turn 1 double pick up Fury Jr style.
Probably also very much in consideration wherever you bring Jaime Madrox.
A-. The effect is very good but other Grunt characters can do the same without taxing a TTC slot. It's probably not making your squad in X-Men for example.
Jubilee wants to stay guard a back secure, fire of her decent Gainer and provide defensive rerolls to the team. She can hold an Extract in a pinch even if that isn't her primary job.
Wolverine! Is a fun and thematic superpowers but I wouldn't have a Logan babysit her, as neither of his 3 versions wants to stay back.
B.
That is a very good card. Automatic Witty Banter for an entire round is fantastic. Of course it will give her a giant mark on her forehead but if your opponent uses resources to go after your 2 threat, that's most likely not holding an Extract that's probably a win in and of itself.
B+. The question is really if you want to spend a TTC on your 2 threat.
This card represents the (long) time that Jubilee spend as a vampire. It's cool and thematic and if she lives through an attack (a big if) it can be quite good as well. But 3 power to use it, a slot in your 10 and 5 and (least impactful but still a cost) loosing the Wolverine! Superpower is too high a cost to pay for a 2 threat character.
C. But A for reflecting that time in the game for fans of the character.
X-Factor quick overview:
Characters (6)
Angel (3)
Angel is now a decent and fast objective runner. He likes the reroll on Pay to Flips and can use the additional power well. Definitely an Investigations character
* Havok (4)
See the Hot takes from last week. He wants to be in his own leadership but lacks the affiliated characters to make it worthwhile. Will try to turn the additional power from Multiple Man leadership into more damage output.
* Multiple Man (4)
The star of the show for me personally here. My choice of leader when I will play the Affiliation (after WTC).
* Mystique (3)
Mystique is fast and durable with Stealth and Martial Artist. She does not need additional power, but might take the X-Factoring It Token nicely especially defensively.
Quicksilver (3)
Fast, also relatively durable. Your third choice for an objective runner affiliated here.
Sabretooth, Apex Predator (4)
Your only true attrition model. He should like the reroll token but his power economy need help so I still think he fits better with Multiple Man. He does not like his economy be hampered by Pay to Flips though.
X-Factor Example Roster:
Characters (10)
* Multiple Man (0)
* Havok (4)
Angel (3)
Quicksilver (3)
Sabretooth, Apex Predator (4)
Juggernaut (5)
Logan, the Wolverine (4)
Jubilee (2)
* Mirage (3)
Nightcrawler (4)
Team Tactics (10)
Brace for Impact (R)
Can I Borrow That?
Confront the Demon Bear
Do You Know Who I Am?
Fall Back (R)
Gotta Get Some Air
Mutant X
Tactical Operation
Dangerous Business
Multitasking
Secure Crisis
Deadly Meteors Mutate Civilians (I, 17)
Guardians Save Shi‘ar Empress in Style (M, 17)
Strike Team Secures Shield Relay! (D, 17)
X-Men Infiltrate Secret Weapons Facility (X, 17)
Mutant Madman Turns City Into Lethal Amusement Park (B, 18)
Extract Crisis
Scientific Samples Found in Discovered Universe (D, 17)
Inhumans Deploy Advanced Weaponry (O, 18)
Skrulls Infiltrate World Leadership (J, 20)
Jailbreak Leads to Mass Mutant Escape! (T, 20)
Surprise Assault! Mutant Homes Destroyed (U, 16)
I wanted to bring the entire new pack in the list and focus on a Multiple Man led X-Factor that brings Pay to Flips. I'm not convinced it's especially good but it does look fun.
That's it for today.
Cheers from Germany 🍻
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