Not the Defender of the Universe

So the Voltron, Defender of the Universe set is coming out. Eventually, but more likely sooner than later. Monsterpocalypse.com has released the details for a handful of the figures available from the Voltron set so more experienced players can learn what their favourite childhood giant robot can do against his great nemesis, Lotron. So where do we start?

So what do they all have in common?
Flight. Defence 5. 5 Morphers. That's all. As it should be, each figure has a uniqueness to them. The three figures previewed show a proficiency in one, the other, or both. Lotors Command ship, a large dinosaur skull retrofitted to have rose tinted windows, stands as a good Blastard, with two triggers and a passive ability called Motivator that obviously Lotor in the command seat and ordering "GO my minions". To help with movements of minions and to benefit himself, his Blast attack activates two triggers.

Siphon: If target monster is hit, gain +1 P-Die. That monster’s controller loses 1 P-Die.
Synchronised Move: Choose 1 allied unit within 2 spaces of this figure and advance that unit up to its SPD, even if it has already advanced this turn.

So he leads a good Flight of the Valkyries, basically slingshotting his minions into their deaths. Pity he can't do it to friendly Morphers, because that would mean firing off the Armadillo Robeast into the midst of everything.The Armadillo Robeast is a good little figure and plays as the Predominant Brawler. With only two rules, Flight and Radial Attack Brawl Trigger, he bolts in and goes crazy with his Brawl of 4*2 in a whirling fury of destruction.

Radial Attack: If target figure is hit, other monsters and units adjacent to the attacking figure with a DEF equal to or less than the number of strikes rolled take 1 damage.

Cool Bananas I say. So far, these are looking pretty good. Looking lastly at the Rhino Robeast, we have our Monster Hunter. He's a Jack of Trades, being proficient in both Brawl and Blast, he claims his position as Monster Hunter by way of his Triggers.

Toss: Place target monster in a new location up to 4 spaces away from its current location in a straight line in a direction chosen by the attacker. You can place the target only into unoccupied spaces or spaces occupied by buildings and/or units.
Lightning Attack: Once each turn, this monster can roll a second attack of the same type with dice in play against the same target monster.

Toss, by my own history, is a good trigger ability. It's a Pseudo Power Attack Throw that doesn't require you to align with the target, making it very nifty indeed. Especially since one with Toss can get around Ulgoth's “Massive” Ability.

Massive: this figure cannot be thrown.

So the Armadillo and Rhino Robeasts can combine and do one of either trigger, giving a good overall brawl stat of 8*3 and causing havoc as an Armadillo and Rhino can do.

When they combine (with the remaining two morphers of course) they get Lo-Tron, a funny looking guy with a pair of wings he stole from Batfink. But I look at the abilities on him, and I consider him to be more of a soccer player who occasionally does the whipping sound as he flicks someone with his flail.Why? Ignoring flight, his abilities are divided into his two primary attacks, Brawl and Power, both of which have good scores to work with. First is his Brawl, which I imagine him throwing the ball of his flail about and making the whipping noise with his mouth, and surprising himself when it makes the sound itself. By this I mean Crunch.

Crunch: If this monster’s attack rolled 1 or more super strikes, it does super damage.

On top of that he has Reach, which shouldn't surprise many as being a chain weapon gives anyone the ability to attack an extra space away and as far up into the air as they like.

Then we look at his Power Attacks. It's his better stat at 8*4, to more easily assume it to be his better attack type, and his two abilities shape up the English Football hooligan image I have.

Hit & Run: Advance this figure up to 3 spaces, even if it has advanced this turn.
Adaptable: When this monster’s swat or ram power attack does damage to another monster, it does super damage.

So now I have Lo-Tron bolting forward on his Speed of 7 and playing “Bend it like Beckham” (Cos he's cool like that) in his head as he puts the boot into an enemy unit and scores a super goal into Voltron, before quickly jumping back out of range. For a cost of 4, that's not a bad deal. He's got good range of Super damage abilities, along with a reasonable hyper cost of 4, I quite like his Villainous ways.

But before I start drivelling on about how cool Voltron is, and how so many people are having cubs and making an impressive pride in his Honour, I'm going to stop and leave you waiting.

Next Tuesday: “This way” “NO THIS WAY!”