From Panel to Play: X-23

CP71 From Panel to Play: X-23

She slices, she dices, she makes julienned guys. This time on From Panel to Play, we’re taking a look at the girl who proves the adamantium-coated apple doesn’t fall far from the angry Canadian tree; it’s X-23!

Laura Kinney, or X-23, is the 23rd attempt by the Facility, an offshoot of the Weapons Plus Program, to create a genetic copy of the mutant Wolverine. She was born to be a living weapon and had minimal human contact to enhance her savage and killer instincts.  X-23 is a peerless fighter and assassin with all the mutant abilities of Wolverine, including a superhuman ability to heal from any injury, lightning-fast reflexes, and retractable adamantium-coated claws in her hands and feet.

As you might expect from someone made with the genetic code of Logan, X-23 is a melee machine with some razor-sharp attacks to poke a hole in an opponent’s battle plan. She’s a highly mobile storm of claw slashes thanks to her combination of attacks and powers.

Her Adamantium Slash attack represents the quick strikes she makes with her hands and feet. The indestructible adamantium coating her claws helps her pierce through enemy defenses and can leave her target with some nasty bleeding injuries. Players familiar with Wolverine’s attacks know how effective this basic attack can be.

But when she’s riled up and has the power to spend, X-23 can lay into an enemy force with a flurry of claws, slashing through a line of her opponents. Claw Rush has a slightly higher range and Strength than her basic attack, but after she cuts through one opponent, she can make a Medium move. If she starts an activation with a target in range and has the Power to spare, Claw Rush can carry her just as far as a double movement, with the bonus of slicing up some poor saps along the way!

Adding to this kinetic play style is her only reactive power, Frenzy. If she dazes or KOs a target during her activation, she can pay the Power to move a short distance and make a free Adamantium Slash attack.

With the potential to move and attack 3 times in a turn, X-23 will be a headache for your opponent to pin down. That’s even truer once you look at the other innate powers she has under her belt. Her Adamantium Skeleton makes her heavier than she looks, so opponents who think they might pick up and toss the little scrapper are in for a surprise! Her constant training as a living weapon by the Weapon Plus Program has also attuned her martial skills to top form, represented by the Assassin Training superpower that lets her reroll 1 die in her attack and defense rolls. Due to her genetic makeup, she also has a Healing Factor to rival her “dad,” which offsets her average Stamina.

Last but certainly not least, Laura Kinney is protective of the last person she can call family: the younger clone created from her genetic makeup, Gabrielle Kinney. X-23 keeps an eye on her little “sister,” and anyone who tries to land a hit on Gabrielle learns how seriously Laura takes that responsibility. If an attack damages Gabrielle while within Range 3 of X-23, Laura can immediately make a Medium advance toward the unlucky jerk who did it.

That’s it for our look at this clawed hellion!

Be sure to join us for our next From Panel to Play featuring Honey Badger herself! Pre-order your own copy of the X-23 & Honey Badger Character Pack for Marvel: Crisis Protocol at your local game store or through our webstore here.

Until then, Atomic Mass Transmissions, signing off!