HALO Figure Review

[tjpandv]

Just thought I'd jot down some musings on some of the HALO figures and look at their use in competitive games. First of all, the Covenant:

50 Points

Grunt + Plasma Pistol - AV7, DV 15. Grenade token and + 2 when targetting Covenant pieces.

Grunt + Needler - AV7, DV15. Grenade token. Improved Shoot and Move ability.

Not the best 50 pointers going but they both carry grenades and the Plasma Pistol variant gets a good AV against the tough Covnenant pieces which gets my vote.

75 Points

Minor Brute - AV 8, DV17. Brute Shot.

Jackal + Plasma Pistol - AV8, DV16. Energy Shield for first click. +2 AV versus Covenant.

Nothing too subtle about the Minor Brute. It has an amazing DV for the points value and the Brute Shot is a pretty decent weapon if your opponent bunches up. I like the Jackal as the Energy Shield makes it a tough 75 pointer to get rid of. The Plasma Pistol boosts its AV to a very useful 10 against the Covnenant. Both of these lack grenades but make good upgrades from the 50 point Grunts.

100 Points

Brute Major - AV8, DV18.

Elite + Covenant Carbine - AV8. Superior Targetting and +1 AV against UNSC.

Not the greatest selection and the Covenant struggle in this points category. The Elite will make short work of any Active Camo Spartans that it comes across and the Brute's DV really needs a grenade to make sure of a kill.

125 Points

Brute Stalker - AV9, DV17. Grenade Token. Possible 5 damage if you roll a double.

Arbiter + Particle Beam Rifle - AV9, DV16. Grenade Token. Superior Targetting.

Two very good pieces. The Arbiter's Superior Targetting may prove more useful if Active Camo starts to spread. The Stalker does it for me though (largely as Mrs C says that I bear a striking resemblance... ).

150 Points

Arbiter + Energy Sword - 9AV, 16 DV (+ Active Camo). Grenade Token.

Brute Jump Pack - 10AV. 17DV.

Hunter - 10AV, 17 DV (+ Energy Shields for 3 clicks). Fuel Rod Cannon.

The Covenant at last start to compete on Attack values at this point but still lead the pack on defences. The Arbiter's lack of move and attack is a drawback but a DV of 19 may well allow it to get close enough anyway! Another Brute with just great basic stats which I like as some of the HALO abilities aren't always easy to use when you want them. The Hunter - nuff said - nails.

175 Points

Arbiter + Covenant Carbine - 10AV. 16 DV + Active Camo. Grenade Token. Superior Targetting . +1 AV when targetting UNSC.

Hunter = 10AV. 18DV. Superior Targetting. Fuel Rod Cannon.

The Arbiter is perhaps my favorite piece of the whole lot. I know it needs active camo to get its DV but this is a real threat to anything on the table and will shred Master Chiefs for fun. The Hunter getting Superior Targetting makes this an even bigger nightmare than its smaller brother.

I've not covered all of the units but I've focussed in on the pieces that should do well on the table. Playing the Covenant Faction Pure is a little tricky as they do lack some good mid-range pieces. However, their big guys are awesome and I think they have the edge over the UNSC in that area.

[Zxqueb]

I pretty much agree with your assessment of Cov. troop choice. I would add these:

Black Ops Grunt +Fuel Rod (100 points) 8AV. 15 DV. It's not a great defense, but average attack + fuel rod is very strong in a slot where the covenant is a bit on the weak side.

Tartarus + Fist of Rukt (200 points). 10 AV, 18D. With base damage of 3 + D6+ superior targetting and take aim (+1 damage on doubles) this figure can be a game ender. One of the best top value figures in the game.

EDIT: One comment about the 150 pt Arbiter with the energy sword... Active camo seems to be pretty useless with so many figures (master chiefs/snipers) packing improved targetting... Not to mention the number of grenade-toting figures. It seems like it doesn't really help your figure get close enough to do it's job on a regular basis.

[tjpandv]

admin said:

I pretty much agree with your assessment of Cov. troop choice. I would add these:

Black Ops Grunt +Fuel Rod (100 points) 8AV. 15 DV. It's not a great defense, but average attack + fuel rod is very strong in a slot where the covenant is a bit on the weak side.

Tartarus + Fist of Rukt (200 points). 10 AV, 18D. With base damage of 3 + D6+ superior targetting and take aim (+1 damage on doubles) this figure can be a game ender. One of the best top value figures in the game.

EDIT: One comment about the 150 pt Arbiter with the energy sword... Active camo seems to be pretty useless with so many figures (master chiefs/snipers) packing improved targetting... Not to mention the number of grenade-toting figures. It seems like it doesn't really help your figure get close enough to do it's job on a regular basis.

How could I forget the Black Ops Grunt? Almost the same dial and stats as the Spartan - just not as cool looking.

Tartarus is a real killer - I suppose you'd need to start with a 150 pointer and get 2 upgrades to get him onto the table. I've never seen the piece so any advice would be welcome.

Good point about Active Camo - even some of the smaller pieces carry Superior Targetting and the Sniper Rifle (arguably the best weapon in the game) deals with it too easily.

[tjpandv]

I've gone through the UNSC pieces and done the same sort of review. There are more to choose from but I found that the greater range just comes down to your weapon preference.

50 Points

Marine + Battle Rifle or SMG - AV8, DV15. Grenade token. Perhaps the best 50 pointers in the game. Only available in the starter pack but real threats with those grenades.

ODST + Magnums - AV7, DV15. Grenade token. Runs the Marines very close through its ability to move a full move and shoot without penalty. Far more common than the Marine pieces.

The 50 point Marines in the starter pack are probably some of the best pieces around. Most army builds need a 50 pointer or two to allow the inclusion of bigger hitters and these are usually the first 2 names on the list.

75 Points

Marine + Sniper Rifle. AV8, DV15. Superior Targetting, Sniper Rifle.

Spartan + Plasma Pistol/Caseless SMG. AV8, DV16. +2 AV versus Covenant.

Spartan + Dual Magnums. AV8, DV15. Full move and shoot without penalty.

A massive range of figures to choose from but the vast majority are Spartans with different weapon combos. They lack grenades which is a real shame and their stats aren't stellar. I'd probably take the Magnums as the extra mobility is very useful. The Marine with Sniper Rifle is another great piece from the Starter set and is my top choice in this bracket.

100 Points

Cortana - AV0, DV19. Heals and mobile upgrade tokens.

Spartan + Covenant Carbine - AV8, DV16. Superior Targetting. +1 versus UNSC.

Spartan + Fuel Rod Gun - AV8, DV16. Fuel Rod Gun.

Spartan + Brute Shot - AV9, DV15.

A very solid selection of pieces for the UNSC. I should also mention the Active Camo Spartans which are pretty much copies of their 75 point bretheren but have that +3DV thanks to Active Camo as well as an extra click of life. Not for me, but they do look nice. Cortana is a real enigma for me - not played her but she looks too good to ignore. (By the way, can she move and then heal or heal and then move or is the act of healing considered as her entire move?). The Spartans are all well equipped and its really your choice of weapon that matters. The Fuel Rod gun is a killer but the Brute Shot's AV of 9 wins it for me.

125 Points

Sgt Johnson - AV9, DV15. +2 Versus Flood. Extra order for 50pt UNSC piece.

Spartan + Energy Sword - AV9, DV16. Move and attack at start of dial.

MC + Plasma Pistol/SMG - AV9, DV16. Grenade Token. +2 versus Covenant.

Spartan + Sniper Rifle - AV9, DV16. Superior Targetting. Sniper Rifle.

Sgt Johnson is the star here - his stats are pretty good (but I just don't like shotguns in this game) but the extra order is a real bonus. I know that it ties your build to using 50 pointers and this makes it a trade off between 4 orders a turn and offering your opponent easy kills. Both Spartans are great pieces. The Energy Sword is perhaps my favourite but the Sniper Rifle will hit pretty much anything. I like the MC figure - not headline stuff but a good AV (great against Covenant), good damage and a grenade to boot.

150 Point

MC + Fuel Rod Gun - AV10, DV16(?). Superior Targetting. Sniper Rifle. Grenade Token.

MC + Brute Shot - AV10, DV16. Grenade Token.

MC + Covenant Carbine - AV10, DV16. Grenade Token. +1 versus UNSC. Late dial Superior Targetting.

Not the same survivability as the Covenant at this point in the proceedings but very attacking pieces. The Fuel Rod gun can wreak havoc - even if it doesn't get any knock back bonus and its the winner for me. I like the Brute Shot as a weapon and the Covenant Carbine is a great weapon that will virtually auto-hit a UNSC with these starting stats.

175 Points

MC + Sniper Rifle - AV10, DV17. Superior Targetting. Grenade Token. Sniper Rifle. The game's ultimate long-range killer and perhaps the most rounded piece in the game.

No real gaps in the UNSC line up and they can cover all the point classes. The Marines from the Starter Pack are some of the best in the game. Survivability is not the UNSC's strong point and the lack of Grenades for Spartans at 125pts is a weakness. Still, there is a good choice of Fuel Rod guns and Sniper Rifles that make for good kills. A much better bet than the Covenant if you're looking to play FP.