The Ultimate Army
In HeroScape, we usually try to figure out an army that is invincible and can still fit within our point range. There are lots of combos out there, and nearly all of them are hard to beat. But is there an unbeatable army? No matter what, some way, some how that army will get beaten. It’s inevitable. So, the next best thing would obviously be an army that wins 99% of the time, right? Now, you don’t just happen along these armies randomly. You combine them, piece by piece.
Now the obvious strategy would be to combine the best figures, right? Maybe you can have one or two good figures, but in order to stay within your point range, you have to combine them correctly. Keep in mind here, I am no expert.
Not counting the figures in Marvel set, the best figure is probably either Jötun or Tor-Kul-Na. Jötun, with his incredible offensive abilities, can pretty much wipe anyone out and is definitely an ultimate asset. Tor-Kul-Na can easily take out squads, and, with his attack of 6, can usually strike a deadly blow.
However, just having the best figure there is isn’t going to guarantee you victory. It might take out quite a few figures, but it will die. So, what you need to do is get the best figures that work with your army. Also, no figure is too menial to serve you. Who knows, maybe the Nagrubs will become the ultimate combo piece one of these days.
Of course, in order to find the best combo pieces for your army, you must first decide what kind of an army you will have. You could have an army that is purely offensive. Super attacks that will take out the enemy before he takes you out. You could have a purely defensive army: one that is so hard to destroy it is the only one left standing. You could have a custom army. Custom armies require a better plan than “fight ’till you die”.These custom armies take time to develop. After they are made, they must be perfected in trials.
However, for the person that does not have an immediate strategy at hand when a friend suddenly springs a HeroScape game on him, a backup is required. Backups are hand-crafted, cost-efficient, and potentially deadly armies. Backups do, of course, change from game to game. This depends on the army you need to fight. If your opponent winds up with Sgt. Drake, Tor-Kul-Na, Charos, Jötun, the Hulk, and the arrow Gruts (hee hee), then you do not want to be stuck with Thorgrim and twenty-one Nagrubs. You need to watch what your opponent picks.
A good way to play one-on-one and still win is to counter your opponent’s choice. Read about figures and discover their nemesis. (Nagrubs- about a billion) Once your opponent has picked, pick the figure that can eliminate that figure the fastest, easiest, and with as little danger to your own figure as possible.
While this strategy may work, if your opponent starts to target your figures with their ‘non-opposites’, things could get ugly. You should have some way to make sure that you control what happens on the board. You don’t want to have Ne-Gok-Sa all set up to take out his target figure when Syvarris’s target figure takes him out. Things can quickly descend into havoc. You need a figure to take out any one that is destroying your battle plan. A good combo might be a proven killer and a healer to keep him going.
Also, healers are almost necessary in backup armies. They can keep your figures from dying prematurely. If you over-rated someone, you don’t want that figure dead while the killer is at large. You need a way to keep it alive. Of course, you also need a healer that can take care of himself too. People like Sonlen, who can heal himself while bloodying up others, can be helpful. However, people like Rhogar Dragonspine and Kelda can heal a lot faster than Sonlen. More often than not, Sonlen ends up dying because he couldn’t decide if he wanted to heal himself or not. Pieces like Realin can offer vast defensive boosts, too.
However, probably the best army is a self-constructed backup. Think up an army that can fit into a 400-500 point round that is potentially deadly. With more than one round, you can use the rest to fill it out a bit. Your custom backup army should be basic. You don’t need a bunch of figures for a skeleton army (not bones type skeleton). You just need to discover a few figures that work really well together. As long as they pose a good sized threat, you should be safe. On the next round, if there is one, focus on the figures that promote your army. Su-Bak-Na can be an excellent second-round pick for a marro army. Healers and defenders can be helpful too.
So, you have several choices when drafting an army. Of course, there are other things that you need to keep in mind, too. You have to make sure you don’t wind up needing a figure but not being able to buy him. Your starting zone can be another factor. Make sure you know where you want your figures to go, and how much space they’ll be taking up. Also be aware of terrain. Many figures’ abilities depend on what kind of terrain they are on. Be aware of the board and plan ahead.
One last thing to keep in mind is your opponent(s)’ strategy. Too often have I come up with a grand plan, only to have it destroyed by my opponent’s first unexpected move (which, coincidentally, is usually his first). You need to plan ahead. Put yourself in your opponent’s position. Would YOU send Charos against Deathwalker? Or would you send Dünd out while you keep him in readiness for Sgt. Drake?
Above all, you have to have backup plan. If something goes wrong, you don’t want to have it all over in one turn. Have your backup figure, your surprise tactic, anything at all up your sleeve that could upset your opponent’s strategy and possibly win you the game. Although it is unlikely that you need it once you discover your backup army, it is good to have many reserves.
As are all games of strategy, HeroScape is a game that requires a fine-tuned plan. You can’t just go barging in with your half-dozen squads of Gorillanators (pause…). You need to know how your opponent)s) play, what their custom armies usually are, and how to defeat them. Good Luck!
If you have any strategies or other things to add to this post, please contact me below. I will peruse your content and hopefully add it to the post.
Categories: HeroScape
22 Comments »
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November 5th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
(quote)the best figure is probably either Jötun or Tor-Kul-Na.(quote)
Just because a figure has the highest amount of points, doesn’t mean they’re the best.
For example, play a game of Jotun vs. 3 squads of 4th Massachusettes Line. The 4th will win nearly 100% of the time.
Or even Jotun against 2 squads.
The main weakness of those figures is their one attack per order marker, so they can only kill one squad figure per turn. Squads, however, can get 3-4 attacks a turn, and quickly wear down even the toughest heroes, while losing little numbers due to the hero getting 1, at best 2 attacks per turn.
For example:
Tor-Kul-Na 220/220
Rhogar Dragonspine 110/330
Syvarris 100/430
Zettian Guards 70/500
Would need amazingly good luck to beat:
4th Massachusettes Line X6 420/420
Raelin 80/500
The squads would just compeletely overwhelm them.
Other useful thing:
http://www.heroscapers.com/community/showthread.php?t=6171
Jotun has a “C”
Tor-Kul-Na has a “B+” (Only because of the Nagrubs)
Incredible Hulk and Abombination have a “B”
Deathreavers have an “A+”
4th Mass Line have an “A”
Blast/Gladiatrons hava an “A”
Deathwalker 8/9k have a “C-”
Dr. Doom has a “C+”
Going to the link will provide evidence from an experienced player that Jotun and Tor-Kul-Na aren’t the best, and some of the best units in the game are squads.
Also, here:
http://www.heroscapers.com/community/showthread.php?t=4396
It shows plenty of competitive armies, and I will gurantee there aren’t more than 1-2 with 1x of a common squad, and NO ones with no squads.
November 7th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
He is talking about the statistically best single piece.
November 7th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
Oi! I should have said that a long time ago! I am talking about the best single piece. However that kind of defeats the purpose, seeing as almost every army has some squads in it.
November 8th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
Torky and Jotun are still definitely not the best individual figures. I can think of at least a dozen figures I would take over Jotun.
(Sonlen, Raelin, Sunshadow, Kelda, Krav, Nakita, SOTM Drake, Stingers, Dwarves, Mogrimm, Snipers, Q10 etc.
If you are talking about head to head, well obviously, they have the highest point cost. Although I think Torky and possibly Jotun would lose to Charos.
November 8th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Uh, I’m not sure why you would pick Raelin or Erevan over Jotun. Especially Erevan. I mean, he is pretty much useless. Pathetic attack, pathetic defense, semi-good ability, but not worth much. I’m talking about the best figure (as in hero) to pick. I decided to leave the squads up to Abwiechen Glieche Schatten on his post about common squads. Tor-Kul-Na can easily beat Charos. But then again, Charos can easily beat Tor-Kul-Na. However, I’d say that Tor-Kul-Na would win more often.
November 15th, 2010 at 11:08 am
Raelin is obviously a better pick than Jotun. *cough* A+ *cough*. If you are disregarding point cost, Jotun is obviously better, but that is what point costs are for.
November 15th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
Maybe so, but what about Erevan? I mean, sure he’s pretty good if he keeps on rolling all skulls, but it isn’t that likely, even with only two die. Sure there’s a fifty-fifty chance that he will roll all skulls, but still, the damage will be minimal. Not a good defense or range either. You have to get so close to the enemy that on their next turn the enemy can engage you.
~ He Who Knows
November 21st, 2010 at 6:40 am
The point IHA is giving is how good a unit is for their points. Sure he isn’t amazingly strong, but he can destroy his points, often enough, but a unit like Tor-Kul-Na will often only manage to kill ~150 points. Although Erevan might only manage 60 pts sometimes, it’s a better % than TKN. Also, Erevan is low-rated on the Power Rankings, so he isn’t the best comparison.
When looking at figures, you basically either look at how much they help others or how many points they kill before they die.
Also, in Erevan’s defense, I’ll mention that you can just use it as a range 6 attack 4 special attack. (Fey Step is also extremely powerful.)
November 21st, 2010 at 5:39 pm
True, but he dies way to easily. I mean, he might be good while he lasts, with his potential for multiple attack and all, but still, with only two defense, he goes down in no time. By the way, it’s range 5 😉
November 22nd, 2010 at 4:58 pm
I just said erevan because I like him. What about Raelin v1? Do you think Torky is better than her?
November 22nd, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Hapless Hapsburg Hippos! Of course Tor-Kul-Na is better than Realin. By all means! Well, at least in a one-on-one situation. Realin can be helpful, but Tor-Kul-Na is the guy that goes around killing everyone!
November 23rd, 2010 at 10:05 am
This is where you are messed up. Sure Torky is better in 1v1, but no tournaments or scenarios are 1v1 between figures of tottally point values. It is a lot easier to base a competitive army around raelin than Torky. Therefore, she is likely a better figure, and why she is an A+ unit.
November 23rd, 2010 at 4:19 pm
True, she is good. Still, if Realin is better than Tor-Kul-Na, why is she 100 points less?
November 25th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
She is better for her point value. (Stress on “for her point value”)
The best figure isn’t the most expensive figure. It’s the one that is the best for their point value.
November 26th, 2010 at 8:45 am
140. The whole point is that she is better FOR HER POINTS. Nobody plays games with set numbers of cards, they play with a number of points. The point value is irrelevant. Deathreavers are probably better units than Jotun, and they only cost 40 points.
November 26th, 2010 at 11:25 am
Well, I see what you’re saying. For her points she’s pretty good. I was speaking of the newer version, anyway. However, with the older version, you’re definitely right. She adds 2 defense dice; and on something with counterstrike that can be fairly affective.
I’m not saying you’re wrong. I just think that Realin is a seriously over rated figure. I’m not saying that she isn’t good. She is. It’s just I consider Tor-Kul-Na to be better. I see what you’re saying, though. In the long run, Realin could be a better help than Tor-Kul-Na. I don’t consider her to better than Tor-Kul-Na, though. At best, I’d probably consider her to be about equal.
November 30th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
She is better for her point value. (Stress on “for her point value”)
The best figure isn’t the most expensive figure. It’s the one that is the best for their point value.
(Posted by Fen Hydra)
Touche.
You are right however, Torky is probably better than Raelin 2.0.
November 30th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Oh, I’m on to you now. You were quoting Schatten’s post. Got it. I haven’t the slightest idea why he worded it that way, but believe me. He thinks they are great, as do I. I’ll have to ask him about that on the weekly get together.
November 30th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Yo, IHA. Check out the ‘About Us’ page. Do you want to become an author?
December 2nd, 2010 at 8:55 am
Yo, HWK.
Sure, but I don’t know how often I could post stuff.
December 2nd, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Yo, IHA.
Give me your user name on HSers. Then I can PM you. I think I know who you are, but I’m not sure. Oh, and you can post stuff as fast as you want. No limitation. In fact, we would really like it if you would post a ton of stuff.
December 2nd, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Yo, HWK, my username is I Hate Atlaga. Hence the IHA. I was actually meaning that I wasn’t sure I could post very often, but I’ll try.