While I’ve done a number of articles about different assets of Heroclix like improving your gameplay and what pieces you need to play competitive (which will be getting an update post-rotation), I’ve never detailed how to start the game properly. Figured I’d give it a shot.

Back in 2015 when I started playing Heroclix again, I watched a lot of professional matches online, and that pushed me to find an LGS and start playing locally rather than just home games. After 1.5 years, our judge ended up having to relocate because of the insanity of Southern California living, and he approached me to take over judging. In January of 2018, our LGS announced their closure which forced us to relocate to a brand new store which brought a lot of new players to the game. Exciting!

Why am I telling you all of this? Well it occurred to me that I have a handful of articles about learning different aspects of the game, but not how to get into the game overall and how to get started with your collection. With my wealth of new players, it encouraged me to write an article just about the basics.

This isn’t going to be a detailing of the rules; it’s more of an answer to “how do I play?” and “what do I buy?”, along with my big tips on how to really get a hang of the game.

So What Exactly is Heroclix?

You probably already know what the game is, but just in case you’re new and this article is specifically what you’re looking for to start the game, I figured I would briefly explain. Also, I get this question probably 3 times a month during events from other customers.

Heroclix is basically Chess with Superheroes. It’s a miniatures game like Warhammer, but takes place on a grid system so you don’t need tape measures or tons of pieces. Instead, players can build a team of their favorite Marvel and DC characters (and some others) and battle.

In a nutshell, it’s that simple.

How Do I Start Playing?

If you have friends that are playing the game, ask to join them and have them teach you how to play. If you’re lucky enough to have an LGS (local game store) that has Heroclix events, talk to the judge about organizing a learning day or sitting with you and teaching you the basics. The best way to learn this game is hands-on. There’s a lot of different levels, and trying to just sit and read all the rules and immediately understanding everything is crazy.

Most people I know that are into Heroclix will be thrilled to hear someone else wants to play, especially a judge, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.

I also recommend watching videos online by both Married with Clix, and The Tabletop Teacher. Jason and Amber of Married with Clix are fantastic and were instrumental in helping me relearn the game, and The Tabletop Teacher is very good about explaining things carefully.

What Do I Buy/Collect?

Another question I get a lot as a new player. When you’re starting out, I always recommend buying the latest Marvel or DC set depending on what you prefer. Some people say to look online and just buy the characters you like, but I honestly think this is a bad idea.

In Heroclix, there are two distinct ‘eras’ of play at most venues; Modern and Golden Age. Without getting into the specifics of each (because as a new player, you shouldn’t worry about this AT ALL), I always recommend the newest set because you will always be able to use the pieces you buy no matter what the event is. The characters will be built for where the current power level is and you’ll probably have a better chance at actually winning a game. Once you’ve learned the game and you know the difference between Modern and Golden, you can make a fair choice on which age you like better, and then start buying pieces that fit into that Age.

Since Heroclix can be an expensive game at $13 per booster pack, this makes sure you don’t spend a chunk of cash early on and come to realize 2 months in that the characters you bought aren’t that playable.

If you want specifics, I highly recommend starting with The Mighty Thor. The rules were rewritten during this set and all of the verbiage matches these new rules making a very coherent experience. You don’t have to worry about terms being off or wordy powers. If DC is more your bag, Harley Quinn and the Gotham Girls is the newest DC set that follows this example.

UPDATE MARCH 2019: For Marvel, I recommend going with the Earth X starter set, or the Secret Wars: Battleworld Starter. For DC, you can go with the Batman: The Animated Series starter (yes, they really did make that set!) which is fantastic, or you can wait until early April when Rebirth releases and go with that starter set.

Let me end this section by saying that if you do want to buy singles of the characters you really want to start, there’s nothing wrong with that at all. This is just how I recommend getting into the game, but that doesn’t mean it’s the correct way. Also, make sure to ask other players if they have any freebies! It’s a great way to get into the game and get a collection quickly!

How Do I Actually Learn the Game?

Assuming you’ve had a chance to watch a few games online via YouTube or something like HyperRPG, or you’ve actually gone to an LGS and played/watched some games, you’re at the level of actually learning the game. There’s a huge difference between having played the game and knowing how to play the game.

Read the rules. Seriously, I cannot recommend this more than anything else on this list. If you’re a veteran and you’re reading this for fun, have you read the new rules? WizKids did a terrific job of making the new rules very easy to understand and cut the book in half. You can find the rules at Heroclix.com/Rules.

Second, read the PAC, or Powers and Ability Card. I see a lot of new players either print just this portion out and try to understand the entire game with just the PAC, or they don’t read through it. The PAC is your main tool for games and will give you the answer to most questions you have, but it isn’t a substitute for the actual rule book. In order to truly know the game, you need to read both.

Put it this way; would you put a piece of IKEA furniture together without reading the instructions? How about a Lego set just using the front of the box and hundreds of pieces? The rules and PAC are published for a reason, and it will serve you a ton of good reading them. I emphasis and detail this a lot because this is always the point that most people think “eh, I can get away without doing that portion”, or “I’ll just read the PAC and I’ll be fine”. I guarantee you that every judge or high level player has read the rules multiple times.

Going back to the PAC, I do recommend printing out a copy and keeping that with you. It’s a very good resource and again will answer most questions you may have.

Any Other Tips You Have?

Since I’ve covered the main points of how to buy pieces, how to learn, and how to actually learn the mechanics of the game, everything else kind of goes into a “Tips” section.

Have Fun . I stress this all the time. This is a game, and it’s important to understand that it really doesn’t mean anything. Win or Lose, just have fun with what you’re doing. Play the characters you want to play. Ask for Input . Fellow players and judges are a wealth of information. It’s always a good idea to ask someone at the end of a game “how can I improve?” or “Did you notice me do anything that could have been done better?”. You have to grow as you play this game, and utilizing those you play with is a great way of doing this. Be comfortable with losing… be very comfortable with losing . Heroclix is a tough and complex game to get into, so it’s understandable that you won’t get everything for quite some time. During that time, you’re going to lose, and you’re going to lose a lot. Make sure you understand that and know that it’s going to happen so you don’t get depressed or bummed out. I always tell new players this and that once you get over that hurtle and win a few games, everything levels out and it feels great. Take something away from every loss . Just because you lost the game doesn’t mean you can’t win overall. I mean this both metaphorically and literally. Incorporating new strategies or learning the game more is WAY more valuable than just a single win. On the flip-side, most events are a grouping of three games, if not more, so one loss doesn’t mean you’re out. Be careful with how much you spend . Because of the ‘tough skin’ you need when starting the game, it’s important to not over-commit to the game early on. Heroclix certainly is not a money maker as most pieces will be worth less than the cost of purchase. I’ve seen a lot of players get into the game, spend a ton of money, and then burn out on the losses 3 months in and liquidate their collection. I’m certainly not telling you how much to spend; just be comfortable with what you’re putting out. Ask your LGS if they have a Sidekick Night kit . These were fantastic three-figure kits with very simple but good clicks of Cap, Iron Man, and Thor, and came with a simplified version of the rules. It’s a great addition to help you learn the game if you can get one, but not necessary. UPDATE: These are a bit old now, so they’ll be harder to find, but if you can get one, the figures are still very good and easy to learn with. Listen to advice . When a very good player or a judge gives you a bit of advice, they’re doing it to help you understand the game better. It’s a very good idea to listen to them and ask questions if you have them. Take notes! There’s a lot to this game and you’re bound to forget certain aspects. Maybe it’s a simple mechanic that you tend to forget about, or maybe there’s a specific power that you haven’t quite figured out how it works yet. Heck, maybe you got a piece of advice from someone and you don’t want to forget it. Whatever the reason, it’s a great idea to keep a small notebook and jot things down. Have Fun . This is so important that I wanted to list it twice. Seriously, just have fun.

I’m almost positive there’s a lot more I could be listing, but I think this does a good job of giving new players a good source of knowledge to get started. Please feel free to share this with new players, or let me know if there was something you found that was valuable for yourself.

What are your thoughts on this article? Is there something I missed that really should be included? I’m more than willing to make some changes based on feedback.

I’ll see you all next week on Two Clicks From KO!