General description:
For the Imperial faction, only the tanks (AT-ST, AT-AT Imperial Walker) do more damage than a Heavy Stormtrooper.
Uses:
Every team needs some heavy hitters that are low cost. Heavy Stormtroopers can be extremely effective. I put at least one Heavy Stormtrooper in almost all of my Imperial infantry squads – especially using indoor maps.
Strategies and game play:
Heavy Stormtroopers work well in combination with Imperial Officers and make an effective team. This team can make a rush against your opponent. If you have to move in the open, first move the Heavy Stormtrooper forward. He can’t move and fire, so your done. Now move an Imperial Officer in front of this character (this works best if you move the Heavy Stormtrooper less than six squares). This provides cover for the Heavy Stormtrooper. Fire with the Officer (if it is able), then use the Imperial Officer’s Commander ability to have the Heavy Stormtrooper fire. Very nasty. Chances are that your opponent will try to attack your Heavy Stormtrooper and ignore the Imperial Officer because the Stormtrooper does more damage. Thus the Imperial Officer survives and the Heavy Stormtrooper has a better defense (with cover from the Imperial Officer). If there is natural cover, be sure to use it instead, as the Imperial Officer also provides cover for your target!
Combos with other miniatures:
The Heavy Stormtrooper is a natural to combine with the Imperial Officer. Some people use two Officers for each Heavy Stormtrooper and make the trooper fire twice. I’d use this tactic with some care. It works well only with less experienced opponents or in 200-point or larger squads. Add a Stormtrooper Officer in the mix and you can increase the striking power of the Heavy, but at a cost of some of it’s mobility, since the Stormtrooper Officer’s commander effect cannot be used while the Heavy is moving.
Ways to counteract it:
Massed fire from other non-melee characters or Jedi. Jedi with a lot of hit points can be an effective way to survive this character’s attack. However, you can reduce the effectiveness of the one, two Officer, Heavy Stormtrooper punch by killing the officers first.
Strengths/Pros:
30 point attack at only 12 cost. Nice natural defense of 16 and the +6 attack is not bad either. This character is also the best attack on any map with doors (As AT-STs an AT-AT Imperial Walkers don’t move well inside).
Weaknesses/Cons:
20 Hit points. Concentrated fire and or a good Jedi attack and this character is toast.
Artwork and aesthetics:
Not the most exciting figure in the collection, but you can tell who they are.
Overall rating:
I give this figure a rating of 8
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