Heroscape Valkrill’s Gambit Review
Only in Heroscape can revolutionary soldiers battle both ancient samurais from the past and robotic rats from the future. The brand new Valkrill's Gambit small expansion set opens up the possibilities and expands the capabilities of any Heroscape collection. This expansion is the 10th such small expansion set from Wizards of the Coast and parent company Hasbro, the makers of Heroscape.
Valkrill's Gambit Character Overview
There are a total of 4 different packs in this set, 2 of which appeared first in special collection 5 (Thora's Vengeance).
Champions of Renown
• Elite Onyx Vipers of Marr
• Nerak the Glacian Swog Rider of Grut
• Sir Hawthorne of Earth
Sir Hawthorne’s blade cuts deep. But when the battle has ended, who’s back will bear the wound? Nerak and his Glacial Swog stalk the frozen battlefields of the icy north. His presence is inspiring, and his guttural commands keep every grut sharp and focused. Their writhing forms seethe forward with inhuman speed. The arrows of their enemies sail by them, always missing. They are legend. They are the Elite Onyx Vipers. This pack includes 5 pre-painted figures and 3 cards.
Soulborgs
• Deathstalkers of Alpha Prime
• Blastatrons of Alpha Prime
• 2 Double Hex Snow Tiles
Surround your enemy with Soulborg power! The Blastatrons' power enhancing bonding abilities make these warriors a commanding force on the battlefield. Deathstalkers possess Maul power which can deliver lethal damage. This pack includes 7 pre-painted figures, 2 double-hex tiles and 2 cards.
Warriors and Soulborgs
• Warriors of Ashra of Feylund
• Deathreavers of Alpha Prime
• 2 Double Hex Snow Tiles
The Warriors of Ashra use their agility well in battle, often escaping injury. These tricky elven warriors react quickly when attacked. The Deathreavers move quickly, move well and scatter when attacked as a group. This pack includes 7 pre-painted figures, 2 double-hex tiles and 2 cards.
Warriors of Feldspar
• Granite Guardians of Valhalla
• Quasatch Hunters of Valhalla
The Granite Guardians emerge from the mountainsides of Feldspar to punish trespassers by hurling great rocks with crushing force. The Quasatch Hunters fight with a feral rage when their forest home is threatened by outsiders. Moving amongst the trees like a blur, they ambush their enemies and deliver a barrage of savage blows. This pack includes 6 painted figures and 2 army cards.
Valkrill's Gambit Review
When I first saw the toys I was worried that they would be made of hard plastic and that the small and thin details wouldn't last long in the hands of an 8 year old. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised upon opening the packet and finding that the small figurines were made of something between hard rubber and plastic. The figures bend nicely but have no trouble retaining their shape when left alone. These figures would survive many battles in the hands of excited kids.
I was also very impressed with the level of detail and variability of each figures within the sets. Of special note are the Deathstalkers which are a blend of organic wolf and robotic framework that defines the machine inspired lore of Alpha Prime. Each of the 3 figures had their own unique blend of wolf parts and machine parts. It would be easy to include the same piece 3 times but, as with all Wizards of the Coast products, their attention to detail and quality shines through.
The standout product in this line-up, at least in my humble opinion, is Sir Hawthorne. A dragon slaying knight straight from an alternate Tolkien inspired reality. While the Blastatrons fight with machine guns and the Deathreavers are futuristic robots, Sir Hawthorne braves battle with little more then full plate armor, a sword, and a (very cool) dragon shield. His abilities also are a treat. During combat he can enter a blind rage, attacking over and over again until the player stops rolling skulls. He also has a 1-in-20 chance that he will defect to the other player's side! Nothing adds excitement to a game then a little back stabbing treachery!
The Deathreavers are a group of robotic rats from Alpha Prime. An interesting skill that they possess is called "scatter." It allows any 2 Deathreavers to move 4 spaces each after any Deathreaver rolls defense dice. What's important to note is that the unit defending is not the unit that has to move! You can use this to pierce deep into enemy defenses and take out vulnerable ranged attackers.
All in all Valkrill's Gambit is a solid entry in the world of Heroscape. This game continues to show that Wizards of the Coast can produce a fun engaging product that is sure to delight kids (and adults) for years to come.
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