Single Figure Strategies

[thecasualoblivion]

First off, a few words on Transformers as a whole. First off, There are only 25 non-mega figures to choose from, and that is dwarfed by Star Wars. Second of all, Transformers are light on strikers, and those that do exist do not really compare to the best strikers Star Wars has to offer. Third of all, the best of the Star Wars figures have better and more reliable special powers than the Transformers tend to have.

On the positive side, Transformers tend to have vastly better sculpts. Robots tend to be bulkier than humanoids or droids and having more mass with which to absorb hits. Also, most Transformers figures are vastly better balanced and more difficult to knock over, particularly against missle fire. Transformers also have some rather unique attacks in their Energy Blast and Scorponok's claw. The smaller energy blasts used by Megatron, Overhaul, Hot Shot, Excellion, and and Vector Prime seem to be akin to the Grievous Bolt, with a little more mass. These have the range of the small and medium missles, and much greater range than a force blast, while still having enough mass to do serious damage. Super Optimus Prime's energy blast is the largest and heaviest projectile in Attacktix, and while it doesn't have great range, its bulk really knocks things down and breaks up formations. Scorponok's claw as well is one of the strongest attacks Attacktix has ever seen. Last of all, the Transform power seems to be a really good one, particularly in higher point value teams.

Well enough of that, on to the figures:

#1 Mini-Con--While unable to tripod, this figure is short and bulky, with few good surfaces on which to aim a strike. Sturdier than the average trooper. Decent if unspectacular power, I prefer it to the Omnicon's power.

#2 Omnicon--What sets this figure apart from most star wars troopers is its gun. Its gun is very slim and barely unbalances the figure at all, unlike the big bulky guns of star wars troopers. This figure can make a very good tripod, and facing the missle backwards give only a very small silouette in which to score a hit.
Battly Cry is infrequent, and you don't always have the three figures to take advantage of it.

#3 Decepticlone--A very elusive target. Like the Omnicon being well balanced and being able to tripod while giving a very small target surface. Has the attackback: Decepticon power similar to the Mini-Con. Hardest to knock down of the Transformers Troopers.

#4 Insecticon--The easiest target of the Transformers Troopers, it has a great power for a 10pt Trooper, a small chance of bringing one of its own kind into play. Its kind of like a trooper with recover, though it clogs up your backups a little. Nice.

#5 Rodimus--A sturdy 20pt shooter with a medium base and nice power. Can bring in a trooper, which for Transformers isn't spectacular, but there are a few SW troopers that make this more interesting. Rodimus can tripod, but is overall one of the easiest targets in the Transformers line.

#6 Battle Ravage--Probably the best striker Transformers have. Its fairly sturdy and economical with the medium base and 20pt cost, and is the only Transformers striker with a power that can keep itself in play(sort of). Its power is to rally other Battle Ravages, so these are best used in packs of three or more. The attack action on this figure is a little tricky to master, but once you get the hang of its as reliable as a light saber. One thing I have noticed with it is that the ball tends to hit high on the target figure knocking it over instead of backwards, making this figure less good at multiple kills.

#7 Scourge--This is a figure I don't currently posess. I have heard varying reports that this figure both falls down with even a glancing blow, and on the other hand is a more difficult target than Count Dooku. These could both be true for all I know. Scourge has a better strike than Ravage, being able to knock things into other figures better, but on the other hand is slow at 8 speed, is easier to shoot down with its tiny base, and can't keep itself in play or bring dead versions of itself back with its special.

#8 Starscream--This figure is somewhat along the lines of the generic 30pt medium missle figures that Star Wars has. I don't think this figure is quite worth 30pts. Its a fairly good sculpt at absorbing hits, but nothing extraordinary. The medium missile is nice, and Starscream is the only Transformer to use it. Its Rally power comes up a fair amount, and applies to all Decepticons. This figure just doesn't strike me as that extraordinary. Maybe if it was 20pts, had a large base, or had a better/more frequent special it would be more useful.

#9 Hot Shot--The fact that this figure is 40pts and has a small base does not inspire confidence. Sacrifice is a better power than Rally, and the fact that Excellion has both Sacrifice and a larger base than Hot Shot for the same point cost makes Hot Shot a trash figure.

#10 Excellion--This is a nice sculpt, as you can face the shooting arm down giving a slanted target surface to deflect shots, as well as bringing the center of gravity on this figure low and towards the front, especially with the missile loaded. Its a bit pricey at 40pts, but the energy blast is a fantastic attack and Excellion can eat troopers to stay alive. Since it just eats troopers, Excellion works well in mixed armies. The only problem is that Overhaul is probably a better figure.

#11 Vector Prime--As a 40pt Energy Blast figure, it does not have as good a sculpt as Excellion or Overhaul, and its power is way too specific to be useful. Shouldn't really be used, unless you know you're facing piles of insecticons.

#12 Landmine--This figure has a good sculpt and a large base, making it a difficult target. Its prodder is plenty strong enough to kill everything reliably, though being a prodder don't expect multiple kills. Its power is a shootback x3, for Mini-Cons, which isn't anything to sneeze at. Decent enough figure.



more to come...

[Penguin]

A weird strategy for Battle Ravage is to attack with your figure back to the opponent, and pull back as far as you can and let go.Most of the time it should knock your opponent over unless your opponent is short, Minicon for instance.Please try my strategy and tell me what you think.

[superflytnt]

One dissention I have is on the sculpts. The disagreement I have is that most of the transformers, while I agree have more mass and weight in general, have a LOT of flat spots with which to catch projectiles, whereas the SW figs have a lot more contours that allow indirect hits to glance off.

[thecasualoblivion]

superflytnt said:

One dissention I have is on the sculpts. The disagreement I have is that most of the transformers, while I agree have more mass and weight in general, have a LOT of flat spots with which to catch projectiles, whereas the SW figs have a lot more contours that allow indirect hits to glance off.

You have a point, but experience playing with both types of figures in the same game has shown that Star Wars figures are easier to shoot down than Transformers.

Its just a question of:

Star Wars---curved striking surfaces

vs.

Transformers---more mass to absorb energy from hits
---and------------Better/more advantageous balance of figures

The greater mass and better more/advantageous balance of Transformers generally trumps the curved surfaces of Star Wars.

[superflytnt]

well help me out then, because I'm no slouch and I can NEVER win with Tfs Vs. Sws.

[greyelephant]

well help me out then, because I'm no slouch and I can NEVER win with Tfs Vs. Sws.

One thing that might help is if you don't stink at Attacktix. J/K

Actually, the only time I usually lose with Transformers Vs StarWars is when my opponent uses a bunch of Jedi Knights or Wickets in his army. Otherwise I usually win.

[Radar]

At the comic con I had a rough time with my Jedi Knights and Clone troopers against a 3 figure TF team. Those boys are hard to knock over, I almost lost that round.

I agree with Penguin, I no longer turn the base of striking figures, instead, I roll up on my opponent then turn backwards, then wind the spring and release, it can be less awkward in a tight spot.

I also tend to turn figures so they are less likely to catch a bullet, missile, or force blast. Light sabers, wookie claws, and large blasters I always try to turn away from my opponent.

[superflytnt]

thecasualoblivion said:

superflytnt said:

One dissention I have is on the sculpts. The disagreement I have is that most of the transformers, while I agree have more mass and weight in general, have a LOT of flat spots with which to catch projectiles, whereas the SW figs have a lot more contours that allow indirect hits to glance off.

You have a point, but experience playing with both types of figures in the same game has shown that Star Wars figures are easier to shoot down than Transformers.

Its just a question of:

Star Wars---curved striking surfaces

vs.

Transformers---more mass to absorb energy from hits
---and------------Better/more advantageous balance of figures

The greater mass and better more/advantageous balance of Transformers generally trumps the curved surfaces of Star Wars.

I suppose another factor to consider is projectile size (alas, Size Does Matter!) I find that the small bullets are vastly ineffective versus transformers figs, whereas Boba Fett Bullets are quite good, and the 'Medium Missile' size, due to the striations along the sides of them, are ineffective as they appear to glance off the TF figs, even on a good clean hit.

With the SW figs, all projectiles are equally prone to slip off a rounded robe edge or whatnot, so my strategy has been to try to blast 'em right at the apex of the base and table, where they meet. That is a 90% kill for any SW fig.

[thecasualoblivion]

superflytnt said:

thecasualoblivion said:

You have a point, but experience playing with both types of figures in the same game has shown that Star Wars figures are easier to shoot down than Transformers.

Its just a question of:

Star Wars---curved striking surfaces

vs.

Transformers---more mass to absorb energy from hits
---and------------Better/more advantageous balance of figures

The greater mass and better more/advantageous balance of Transformers generally trumps the curved surfaces of Star Wars.

I suppose another factor to consider is projectile size (alas, Size Does Matter!) I find that the small bullets are vastly ineffective versus transformers figs, whereas Boba Fett Bullets are quite good, and the 'Medium Missile' size, due to the striations along the sides of them, are ineffective as they appear to glance off the TF figs, even on a good clean hit.

With the SW figs, all projectiles are equally prone to slip off a rounded robe edge or whatnot, so my strategy has been to try to blast 'em right at the apex of the base and table, where they meet. That is a 90% kill for any SW fig.

I have a few Star Wars figures we've been playing with, mostly from series IV:

Gold Darth Vader
Endor Luke
Han Solo
Chewbacca
Greedo
Imperial Officer(Tim just loves the Nazi vibe of the thing)

Haven't had much trouble knocking them over with a decent shot to the torso, even with small missiles. From the front, most of them have a perfectly nice target area that being a flat torso surface. Hit it, and they fall. Particularly with figures with guns, these figures really aren't balanced well, and aren't very heavy. Once you get them wobbling, they tend to go down. I was practicing shooting with Megatron(robot), Dirtboss, and Starscream. I put up every figure I own for them to shoot down. The Star Wars figures, with the exception of Darth Vader turned backward with the cape up and Boba Fett bent over were universally MUCH EASIER TO SHOOT DOWN.

While Transformers don't have the curved, organic surfaces of Star Wars they can have other problems:

1. Low profile(Omnicon, Decepticlone, Starscream, Battle Ravage)
These figures can all be turned sideways to provide an almost non-existant target surface. When you do this, it makes it harder to get a solid hit, particularly from longer ranges, and a glancing hit just tends to glance off. Omnicon and Decpticlone also can rest their missiles behind the figure in this pose for extra stability. Starscream can put his missile in front, bringing the center of gravity forward and making it more difficult to knock down with a frontal shot. Battle Ravage can put his weapon arm forward, creating an angled target surface that tends to deflect shots upward.


2. Vehicles(Megatron, Skyblast, Super Optimus Prime)
The vehicle modes tend to be pound for pound some of the hardest figures to knock over. They're really heavy and really well balanced, and often do not have very many good target surfaces. Skyblast with its missile pointing down is a beast to try to knock over, particularly with smaller missiles. Its center of gravity is low and to the front, and in an already heavy figure tends to absorb most of the energy of even a good hit. Even after firing the missile, this thing can be a pain to take down, since the jet itself is a bad target, so you have to aim lower, which is less effective and the only good target is the launcher itself. Megatron's Jet gives you a different problem. Like the others, its heavy and well balanced, but the Jet sits at an angle on the base. With the missile pointed downwards, you're shooting at a wedge, which deflects missiles upwards instead of knocking the figure over. Low shots are largely ineffective, so you almost have to get a shot in from the side. Optimus Prime's Truck provides a further problem. It has a very small sillouette from the front, and the target surface of the cab of the front is a tiny target and the only effective kill zone. A side shot is better, but the space between the truck and the launcher causes problems, making even that a tricky target.
3. Angled Surfaces(Landmine, Hot Shot, Excellion)
Hot Shot and in particular the larger based Excellion are hard targets. You can rest the gun arm on the ground in front of the figure creating a tripod, putting the center of gravity for the figure very low and very much to the front, and creating an angled surface to deflect shots upward. You can even position the free arm in such a way to cover most of his torso area and deflect shots to the right so there is almost no target hit zone for this figure. Landmine has a large base, and his arm when not attacking can be lowered to provide a similar defensive pose.

4. Short(Mini-Con, Overhaul)
The advantages of being short are a smaller target to aim at, smaller kill zones, and a lower center of gravity. I've found Overhaul, particularly with the missile loaded, to be far more of a pain to knock down than it has any right to be.
5. A Tank(Super Optimus Prime Robot)
Super Optimus Prime cannot be shot down with a small missile from the front at any range. Getting an angled shot on the gun is possible, though difficult, and I've personally killed Optimus with shots to the shoulder from the side and hitting from behind with small missiles, but that is it. From the front, nothing. For the medium missile, a shot directly to the torso on the windows from about 5-10tix will do it. Energy Blasts are somewhat more effective. Still, with any missile shot, Super Optimus Prime has this annoying and nasty tendancy of just not falling down. Super Optimus Prime can also easily absorb mistakes with strikers. It is the largest and heaviest sculpt in attacktix, and the center of gravity is very much to the front of the figure, especially with the big heavy missile loaded.

[thecasualoblivion]

superflytnt said:

well help me out then, because I'm no slouch and I can NEVER win with Tfs Vs. Sws.

I didn't really answer this question well the first time, so I'll try again and do better.

TFs do have better sculpts and are more difficult on the whole to shoot down with missles.

but...

Star Wars figures have a lot of quality strikers that make what the TFs have just look sad. Using strikers is generally the best way to play Attacktix and Transformers are at a huge disadvantage playing against Star Wars there. Also, the best Star Wars figures have powers and success rates better than anything the Transformers possess. Transformers have nothing like Starter Kenobi, Series III Luke, Yoda, Kat-Adi-Mundi, or the better Armored Vaders. There's more Star Wars figures, hence, more good ones. Star Wars dominate Transformers based on Striking and Powers, not sculpts.

I'm going to talk about some figures next, but first a few words about the Transform power. Hasbro really hasn't clearly defined what this power does, but here are some theories:

1. This power is just the same as recruit, and brings in the specified figure at your start area(nobody plays this way)
2. This power brings in the specified figure at the spot of the defeated figure, and the defeated figure is dead(most people play this way)
3. As 2. but the dying figure goes to your backups instead of your dead pile (This make sense, as the figure doesn't truly die)

I don't think #3 is that out of line. The Transformers really don't have any powers as good as what the best Star Wars figures have, and if Transform works that way, they would. Its not that out of line since the robot modes tend to have low success rates of Transform anyways. Even playing as the second option, Transform is a great power. Like recover, but instead of standing the figure back up, you put an even better figure into play. The only problem is it only happens once, unless we're wrong about how the power works. The vehicle modes are not only cheaper points wise, they're tricky to shoot down, and the robot modes tend to be at their best at close range, which the vehicles help make happen. Its a great mechanic that should be taken advantage of, especially with Skyblast.

That being said, lets move on to some more figures:

#13 Super Optimus Prime--Ah, the tank. First off, this figure is seemingly impossible to shoot down from the front with a small missile. I've never seen it happen. With medium missiles and energy blasts, its still a bit of a hassle to shoot him down. Strikers don't seem to have as big a problem though. Optimus Prime isn't invincible, but he's probably the hardest figure to knock over in all of Attacktix. Thats worth something isn't it. His missile is also the largest and heaviest projectile in Attacktix, and while it doesn't have great range, its very powerful. It can be arced at enemies, and at anything other than short range arcing is necessary. Best used with his vehicle mode, as the Transformation is almost certain, you get Super Optimus Prime for 10pts less, and when you get the robot into play, you should be a lot closer to the enemy and ready to cause some real damage. His power really shouldn't come into play unless you have a second Truck in your backups, or unless Hasbro decides to rule that the Transform power puts the dying figure into your backups instead of the dead pile.

#14 Super Optimus Prime(Truck)--The first of the vehicles, which are some of the most difficult targets in all of attacktix. This truck is no exception, being more difficult to shoot down with missiles than most humanoid shaped figures. It only fires a small missile, and its launcher points slightly up even at its lowest point. At closer ranges against figures that aren't Wookie tall, you'll have to lift the base a little to point the gun downward. This seems to be legal, since I've heard people lifting up Palpatine a little to arc his force blast. The main use of this figure is not itself, but its 77% chance to bring the big beefy robot mode into play. This figure has a speed of 8, so you can just charge forward with it. You pretty much want your enemy to kill this first, so you just rely on the figure's natural defense. The high speed lets you get close, so this figure can die close to the enemy, where the robot is at its deadliest.

15. Scorponok--The other figure I don't have yet. It has a large base, which should make its defense pretty sturdy. Its attack is new for the game, a throwing striker arm that is powered not by a spring, but by you're own muscle. I hear its fun to throw figures 3 feet through the air with Scorponok, and you should be able to get 100% kills and break formations to pieces with this. 30pts, nice attack, nice defense, but what about his power. His power is recruit: 2x Insecticons. A pair of 10pt troopers, at a little less than 50%. The best strikers either have a power that keeps themselves in play or break the game wide open. Scorponok has neither, and is merely an above average striker for it.