Article by THE-MOX
How To Make Your Outwit Work For You
Now, the general consensus of players agrees that Outwit is probably the most valuable superpower in the game. You cannot doubt a power than can completely sap the strengths of your opponent. Outwit, when used properly, can practically strip your opponents naked of everything that makes them great. But it seems there are a lot of players out there who just don't grasp how to use it properly. I've witnessed this kind of behavior first-hand and have seen it lose games. So, today, I'm going to try and show you how you can use Outwit and turn it into the game winning power it is.
Don't feel too bad if you're one of these players. It's an incredibly subtle point to the game. You either need to be shown this, or focus solely on it to develop it. It's not like building an army. It's not something you can just do.
The first step in the process is to know your enemy. Yes, the first step of Outwitting doesn't use it at all. You have to understand you must always keep the presence of your enemy in mind. Understand what powers they have and what they plan to do with them, and figure out which ones are going to bother you the most. This is where the more experienced players will excel because they know their clix. They will know what superpowers most figures possess at their different clix. Like, for example, they will know Nightcrawler(U) has 5 clicks of Hypersonic Speed or Crimson Dynamo(V) has 6 clicks of Ranged Combat Expert. If you know most of your clix and know facts like this, then you're one step ahead of everyone else. Being able to do this is the greatest asset in using Outwit.
Next, you need to figure out what superpowers will bother you the most. Myself, I am for things that in some way modify damage. It's obvious you may not need to bother with things like Leap/Climb, Leadership, Phasing, Telekinesis, Super Strength, Smoke Cloud, Pulse Wave or Shape Change. Worry about things that could bother you, and be careful of the not-so-prominent ones like Range Deflection, Enhancement, Willpower, and Mastermind. Yes, there are exceptions, but only a handful. I have Outwitted Leap/Climb or Phasing once or twice to prevent my enemy from breaking away for free. You know, it all depends on your situation at the time.
Next, let's understand that using Outwit is meant to deprive a figure of a particular superpower, but your ultimate goal should be containment into removal. That's why Outwit is a nice double-edge sword. It's both an offensive and defensive weapon. Let's go through the steps in determining how to use it, when, and why.
1.At the start of your turn, think out your game plan. There will obviously be turns where you will be more aggressive and turns where you will be more passive. Determining which route will determine when to use your Outwit.
2. If you decide it's going to be a more passive turn, save your Outwit until the end of your turn, then use it on superpowers that could hassle you.
3. If you decide it's going to be a more aggressive turn, then your analysis is going to need some secondary steps.
a. Figure out which figures you're going to attack and determine if they have any superpowers worth eliminating other than damage soaking powers. (Note: Super Senses counts as a damage-soaking power in my book.)
b. If they only have damage-soaking powers, it's probably not worth your Outwit to get rid of them (unless it is the last power left). Your best bet may be simply to attack them.
c. If they have non-damage soaking powers, your best bet is to attack them first, then see if they still have those powers to be Outwitted later.
d. If they possess both damage soaking powers and non-damage soaking powers, here's where the strategy comes in. You'll have to figure out if the damage you're going to deal to it this turn would erase the non-damage soaking power if the damage soaking power were erased. If it is sufficient, then Outwit the damage soaking power and attack. If the damage you would do to it were incapable of removing the non-damage soaking power, then take your chances attacking it with the damage soaking power on and then Outwit the non-damage soaking power later.
I understand this is a bit confusing, so let's go through a couple of examples.
1. You're standing poised to attack Hercules(V) on his first click with one Outwit. He has Super Strength and Toughness. Since it is unlikely you pose his Super Strength as a serious threat, your best bet is to go ahead and Outwit his Toughness and attack for all the damage you can do. This is based on the premise that there aren't any other opposing figures with threatening powers that would need containment. We'll discuss that in a moment.
2. You're up against Crimson Dynamo(V) on his first click with one Outwit. You stand poised to deal a total of 4 base damage to him with your only attack and would like to get rid of his Ranged Combat Expert. Since you know that you cannot erase his Ranged Combat Expert with only those 4 clicks, your best strategy may be to attack him head on (Invulnerability intact), deal 2 clicks, and then Outwit the Ranged Combat Expert at the end of the turn.
3. You're up against Darkseid(U) with one Outwit and you're aiming to permanently erase his Outwit. You are able to deal 5 base damage with your only attack. The 5 damage he would take would click him all the way past his Outwit clicks, so your best bet is to Outwit the Impervious and attack.
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