Heroclix Tutorial: Energy Explosion (Note: the rules for this power have changed since)

[@andrewburgoyne4728]

Very helpful. I played last night with my Rogues Fast Forces. I attacked with Capt. Cold's Penetrating first to ignore Capt. America's invulnerability and weaken him. Then I hit him with Capt. Boomerang's energy explosion. The EE was able to spread splash damage to America's SHIELD buddies clustered around. I love your tutorials!

[@coachshaw76]

Will you be releasing new tutorials for the new rules? These are very helpful since I have just begun to learn the game with a friend.

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

I have already. All videos created after August 2017 are "new-rules" friendly. Enjoy!

[@OzzieOlin]

This video is out of date, though. This isn't how Energy Explosion works now.

[@TheOmniscientCow]

Interesting to think about how you need to align your team up to avoid explosive damage. Thank you for sharing.

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

I gave it a bit more thought when creating the video than I had before... Glad to see it's useful. Thanks.

[@Fuzzywumple]

didn't know it only worked with "printed" bolts. learned something new.. which is why I love theses vids. ps- someone gave your channel a shout out on hcrealms

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Thanks! And thanks for letting me know about the reference on HCRealms... I checked it out. I'm very happy that the videos are appreciated. I'm very grateful. Happy New Year!

[@Fuzzywumple]

The Tabletop Teacher just glad the community is helping each other. only way heroclix will go since there isn't any advertising. we depend on each other. Happy New Year.

[@originalredpatriot]

These videos are fantastic - keep 'em up!

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Thank you very much. Glad you're enjoying them!

[@jovarx2064]

Wow, didnt realize ee was so good and again great video!

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Thanks. It is a great power, isn't it? Especially with 3 *lightning bolts* characters. I didn't mention him in the video, but I.S.A.A.C. is another great figure (only 88 points) for Energy Explosion, but you want to make sure to have other characters that can help him out with his 9 attack value.

[@petertyson6634]

Like ur vids. Great graphics, explaining everything. I keep coming back to refresh. ..👍.😊

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Thanks! But please know that videos published before September 2017 are not updated with the new rules. Some of the key concepts are still valid, but details have often changed since.

[@joecelius2269]

Thanks bro!!! great video, its so clear now i was waiting for this video, keep doing this fantastic work please, gratz

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Thank you very much. I'm very happy the video helped you out!

[@13thirteen86]

Good Sir, could you please update Energy Explosion? Also when you do, could you please add all the list of combo abilities on the lightning bolt symbol? thanks

[@matthewrandell5055]

I never liked Energy Explosion because in the past it only dealt 1 damage to all hit characters, not normal damage and then printed bolts for the splash - it is so much better now though! My favourite Energy Explosion moment was in the Age of Ultron organised play month 4, we needed an Avengers and a Robot team so it would be thematic and I really wanted to win the Quinjet (which I did manage to do) so on my Avengers team I played 3x Living Lightning who has Psychic/Blast with 3 damage, traited Energy Explosion, 3 printed bolts, and does 2 extra damage to characters with the Robot or Armour keyword - my opponent somewhat foolishly grouped them all together as it was quite a restricted map with a lot of blocking and a thin corridor down the middle, and I annihilated about half a dozen of the Ultron and Iron Man drones from the Chaos War set in one attack! Anyway, great video again. Thanks for finally clarifying that the adjacent characters can't use Shape Change but can(?) use Super Senses, I've been wondering that for years. I just have one question if you have time: if you roll a critical hit when using Energy Explosion, I'm sure the target(s) of the attack would be dealt an extra damage but what about the adjacent untargeted people who take splash damage? Would they still just take the printed bolts or would they take he printed bolts +1?

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Wow! That Living Lightning is amazing... I'll try to get my hands on one. It's great strategy of course to get the opposing characters to clump up somewhere on the map for EE. Anarky from Joker's Wild should help that way as well. I'm glad you enjoyed the video. A critical hit increases damage dealt by to each successfully hit *target*... The splash damage is dealt to *untargeted* characters; so the +1 would not apply to them. Thanks again for watching!

[@ertai222]

I didn't realize EE's damage was based on the # of printed bolts. Pretty neat.

[@DrDribs]

This came up in 'suggested videos.' Needs a reworking for sure. If you do another Energy Explosion video I'd recommend noting the new term "becomes" and how it interacts with Shape Change. Cheers.

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Thanks for the suggestion. Of course, almost all the videos that were created prior to will need to be reworked.

[@MrBoricua943]

Could you use energy explosion to damage a character who is using stealth if they are adjacent to someone who is being targeted by the energy explosion?

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Thanks for your question... Looking up the new rules on p.15 regarding "becoming a target". If I'm reading this correctly, the Stealthy character does become a target (which makes more sense... being hidden in the shadows doesn't protect you from splash damage ;o). This video was created before the 2017 rules, so it needs an update... Will get there eventually ;o).

[@taochi100]

Jose Santos That is a good question.

[@Organous]

My favorite explosion character is one that will become ridiculous upon the upcoming rules change: UXM Morlock. These 15 point figures will be a bit on the minor side, with only a range of 5 and one target, but now everything gets dealt 2! That's a pretty serious way to fill out 15 points, especially since they'll have stealth on top of it.

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

You might also enjoy Ravager from the Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 set. Would you like a Running Shot with that? Only 4 range, though. Still, with RS, that gives a little more reach than the Morlock for 20 points (or perhaps 10 if you play 4 of them).

[@Maquetilandia]

Hi, can you perplex the multiple damage of skills like quake or energy explosion ??????

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

You cannot. Perplex modifies a combat value, but these powers do not use the damage value (apart from quake with a single target).

[@Maquetilandia]

​@@TheTabletopTeacher okk muchas gracias por la aclaracion y la respuesta tan rapida... sin duda eres el mejor canal de heroclix. okk thank you very much for the clarification and the quick response ... you are undoubtedly the best heroclix channel.

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

That's very nice of you to say. Thanks!

[@nscacpt11]

great very useful hi from the Puerto Rico heroclix league

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Thank you very much! Glad you enjoy the videos and a warm Hello to the Puerto Rico Heroclix League! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@italianmanjosh218]

How about using energy explosion on terrain? Can i shoot the corner of block terrain to hit adjective characters hiding behind?

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

It would be great and it would make sense from a comic-accurate standpoint, but the target of Energy Explosion has to be an opposing character. When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense for game balance since you don't need an attack roll to destroy a wall (only to deal 3 damage in a single attack); it wouldn't really be fair to hit a wall or square of blocking terrain and then get a "free" shot at all adjacent characters... An attack roll must be made and that means targeting a character (in the middle of the Energy Explosion).

[@italianmanjosh218]

You rock man! Could not get a better answer elsewhere! My whole group of friends is all watching and learning from your videos, been a huge help man, love what your doing!

[@sirrios02]

Dear TP im very confused as to why you split the damage? Is that in the new 2017 rules?

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Actually, those are the old rules... You'll notice that video was published way before the updated rules release. I don't want to remove those videos because some of the content is still relevant. Most of the videos that are in-line with the updated rules have the new TTT logo on them.

[@sirrios02]

The Tabletop Teacher thank you I love your videos when can we expect more? I know your pretty busy

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

I'm getting there... I'm at around two videos per month right now, but I hope to get back to my regular schedule in the coming months.

[@serenitysilvermoon]

The Ray from Elseworlds and Rachel Cole-Alves make a fantastic EE team up. Ray has flight, Running Shot and Precision Strike, with 8 range and 4 bolts, while Rachel can give out Energy Explosion, the combination of which, could ruin your opponent's day.

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Wouch! The new announced rules for Energy Explosion will bring this down a notch, but have fun until then ;o) ! Thanks for sharing.

[@ertai222]

4 bolts? Damn that's nice.

[@earthpond8043]

What if the energy explosion occurs on elevated terrain and the target is adjacent to characters that are not on elevated terrain, are they still effected?

[@2mirandir]

Characters on different elevations are not adjacent.

[@archaiclycan505joe]

what was that map called on 6:26?

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

That's the DOTA2 Battlefield outdoor map. It's a 24x24 map that came out in 2013 and I think it was part of a Starter Set.

[@shinypear326]

While I haven't been able to use her effectively, I like NFAOS Thor when I need someone with EE.

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Nice figure! She doesn't have EE for long... If you're counting on it, you have to make sure she doesn't get hit at the start of the game. I can see how she might be hard to use effectively... She starts off as a range figure, but becomes a charging close combatant real quick. Thanks for sharing.

[@ldawg33]

I'm confused. How was batman able to use the power if the power wasn't on his attack symbol (it was on his def) - I thought you could only use a power with the corresponding action (attack, def, movement).

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

That version of Batman, (JW016) has a special attack power (black outline on the attack slot) that lets him choose a power... ANALYTICAL MIND AND UTILITY BELT: Give Batman a free action and choose one: Energy Explosion, Force Blast, Incapacitate, Precision Strike, or Willpower. Batman can use the chosen power until he chooses again. The orange background in his defense slot gives him Toughness, but his Special Attack Power gives him the possibility to choose Energy Explosion among other things. Hope that helps!

[@ldawg33]

thaaaaaaaat makes much more sense. Thanks for helping me understand!

[@mattroberts6451]

I love using punisher for it because of his rocket propelled grenade ability problom is I'm new and I can't find a way to make him accidently take damage to get to his energy explosion click

[@mattroberts6451]

I guess he already has it due to his ability

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Not sure which Punisher you're referring to, there... (sorry for the late reply).

[@mattroberts6451]

The Tabletop Teacher hey it's fine um all I van say I can reply later but he has a ability where he can pretty much have energy explosion to start with called rocket propelled gernades

[@mattroberts6451]

The Tabletop Teacher oh he's the punisher in the video I think mabye it was another but you have only shown one punisher

[@edgar69895]

Does it get reduced with toughness or invincible

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Yup. It's not penetrating damage.

[@hikaru99]

I have a Steph Brown Batgirl who has a Energy Explosion Incap! I really want to try her out now :)

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Interesting idea, but the two powers cannot be used together. Energy Explosion needs a ranged combat action that *deals damage* for the splash damage to be an option and Incapacitate deals *no damage*. That is, unless you're referring to BM016 Batgirl's Electro-Magna-Gooperags which also give tokens (an EE/Incap variant that allows for that combo). That's going to be even better with the new rules! Energy Explosion RANGE: Make a range attack (targeting normally), and all other characters adjacent to an original target also become targets of the attack. Hit characters are dealt 2 damage instead of normal damage. (excerpt from 2017 Rules series, #10) Thanks for watching and sharing that great idea!

[@serenitysilvermoon]

Well that change will give Shape Change a buff

[@lexvill123]

So when you target two character at the same time, you have to divide the damage between the two?

[@2mirandir]

That does not apply to the current version of Energy Explosion. In fact a lot of this video doesn't apply any more as Energy Explosion has been completely remade.

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Indeed

[@althgrea11]

classic ultron with 10 range 3 bolts and 13 atk. so brutal

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Wow! A Wild Card and only 139 points! No traits or special cards (or even a character card) back then, but that's an interesting figure indeed. Thanks for sharing.

[@gmilb97]

Aw man... I was just about to post that.

[@BizkVizc]

good work!

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Thank you very much. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@Vigilante9033]

God I’ve always hated his power. As a strictly casual player of this game it is always been way too messy and way too confusing as to how it works

[@nicolasjrinear]

Dude, a new player at our venue used R Storm from UXM to deal 14 damage in one attack in a battle royale. It was nuts.

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Never thought about it that way, but Energy Explosion might actually be something you aim for when drafting in a Battle Royale... Lots of grouped up opposing characters in a Battle Royale. Thanks.

[@LittlePlasticSuperheroes]

I don't believe Iron Man 2020 can use Energy Explosion and Penetrating Psychic Blast since they're both Ranged Combat Actions. I think he just has the option to use one or the other.

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Thanks for watching and commenting! The first sentence of Energy Explosion is "When this character is given a ranged combat action (...)" , so when you give Iron Man 2020 a ranged combat action to use Penetrating/Psychic Blast, he may "activate" Energy Explosion. The two powers are not two distinct ranged combat actions; P/SB is and EE is a possible effect of that action. Few characters have that very powerful combo since they are two attack powers; this requires a special power or trait to include them both. I wish I had Atomic Skull that has a similar combo (+poison)... Not quite as much range, but 52 points cheaper. Thanks again for your comment.

[@LittlePlasticSuperheroes]

The Tabletop Teacher Wow, he just got that much nastier!

[@FJB2020LGB]

I was going to watch but this is outdated as the 2017 update has changed the rules. That being said, a great character to use EE would be characters from the infinity set, like ultron with 3 lightning bolts.

[@connors7078]

y did batman spit the damge

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

When a character hits more than one opposing character with a ranged combat attack (granted by multiple lightning bolt symbols on the base), he or she must split the damage among the opposing hit characters (you don't deal full damage value to each, but you divide the damage as you see fit). How you divide the damage is a decision that can sometimes involve a bit of strategy. In the case of Energy Explosion, some damage must be dealt to the target (although the opposing character can reduce it) for the untargeted adjacent characters to be dealt splash damage.

[@connors7078]

oh thanks i didn't know that

[@shinshenmichailovich7711]

Good video, but it needs update so much!

[@TheTabletopTeacher]

Thanks! Of course, all the videos that were produced before the release of the 2017 rules are eventually going to be updated. At some point, I hope to find the time to add a mention to that effect in the description of those videos that need updating and change their thumbnail to reflect that.

[@Raulruul]

I have that iron Man 2020 so I'ma devistate opponents

[@13thirteen86]

Please be reminded this is an old tutorial. The ability has change.