Get up to speed on the new Warriors, Brutes, and Guardian coming in Heavy Hitters
By Nick Miller
Deathmatch Arena illustrated by Anton Bezrukov
The next Flesh and Blood expansion, Heavy Hitters, is set for release on February 2. While preview season doesn’t officially start until Monday, the six heroes in the set have been announced with five new heroes and one reprint joining the Deathmatch Arena.
Heavy Hitters focuses on the Brute, Warrior, and Guardian classes and introduces hybrid cards to Flesh and Blood. These heavy hitters are no strangers to the Deathmatch Arena, which is the setting for the 12th expansion of the classic TCG. Each new and reprinted hero is accompanied by a young version of the hero, used in Limited and Blitz play.
First up is Victor Goldmane, High and Mighty.
This Guardian is all about clashing, and hopefully coming out on top in those clashes. Based around the new combat keyword, clash, Victor allows you to try to win a clash again after the first failed attempt for the cost of a Gold token. When a card says to clash both heroes reveal the top card of their deck. The Hero that reveals the card with the greatest attack wins and nets some kind of bonus, whether it be an Agility or Gold token.
By destroying a Gold token, Victor lets you pick one of the reveled cards and put it on the bottom of its owner’s deck before clashing again. Victor also has the ability to draw a card the first time each turn you create a Gold token from an affect you control. By winning clashes each turn that net a Gold token, Victor lets you have access to an additional card — a powerful ability that lends the player more choices and potential power in combat.
The second Guardian in Heavy Hitters in Betsy, Skin in the Game.
Betsy is an aggressive and chaotic heavy hitter, bringing a gambling attitude and smashing good time to the Deathmatch Arena. Betsy enjoys betting big on herself, then taking her winnings to enjoy good booze in celebration. Her fighting style fits her larger than life persona, utilizing monstrous attacks that pay off when they connect with an opponent. When an attack you control wagers, you may pay two resources to give it an extra power of attack and overpower.
Check out Betsy’s specialization, Bet Big, as well as a new Guardian Action, Bigger Than Big. If you connect with Bet Big, not only do you deal damage but you win a Gold token, Might token, and Vigor toke
The first of two Warriors in the set is the return of Kassai, but this time as Kassai of the Golden Sand. This new version of a fan-favorite hero is all about attacking with swords, hopefully for cheap.
As long as you have drawn a card on your turn, your sword attacks cost one less resource to activate. On top of that, your weapon (ideally a sword) can create a Gold token if it hits a hero once per turn by banishing two red and two yellow cards from your graveyard. Kassai’s specialization card from Heavy Hitters, Raise an Army, lets you convert your Gold tokens into Cintari Sellsword tokens to overwhelm your opponent.
The other Warrior in the set is Olympia, Prized Fighter.
This new Warrior is a legend of the Deathmatch Arena who pays you off for winning wagers with Gold tokens. The first time each of your attacks wins a wager, create one. This means if you have multiple attacks win a wager on a turn, you can generate multiple Gold tokens.
Wager is a new keyword mechanic that gives a player the option to put their opponent to a test. Action cards like Hold ’em and Money Where Ya Mouth Is lets the player choose to put a resource on the line (in these cases either a Vigor token or Gold token) with the next attack. If the attack hits the opponent, collect the token. If the opponent blocks it out, they get the token.
The new Brute hero is Kayo, Armed and Dangerous.
This version of Kayo differs from the first iteration of the hero, Kayo, Berserker Runt, as it doesn’t care about rolling dice. Instead, this one-armed Brute can only have one weapon zone and also cares about six-power cards like Rhinar, Reckless Rampage, the original Brute from Welcome to Rathe. Kayo’s first ability gives attack action cards you own an additional power when they are in any zone other than the combat chain. This ability helps the second ability, which cares about discarding cards with six or more power during your action phases to create a Might token.
Lastly, Rhinar, Reckless Rampage returns as the only reprinted hero in the set.
One of the first four heroes in the game of Flesh and Blood, Rhinar is back and still intimidating opposing heroes whenever you discard a card with six or more power during your action phase. The reprinted version of Rhinar comes with new art for both the young and adult versions of the hero.
Heavy Hitters is schedule for release on February 2. If you’re going to Raise an Army with Kassai of the Golden Sand (both coming in Heavy Hitters) you’re going to need an army of Sellsword tokens. Preordera booster case ofHeavy Hittersfrom Star City Games to receive four (4) rainbow foilextended art Cintari Sellswordtokens while supplies last.
And to get in on the Heavy Hitters action at a competitive level, plan to play in the Calling at SCG CON Hartford on February 3-4. The format is Heavy Hitters Limited, with PTIs, promo cards, and prize money on the line.
