Meet the Hex Gambit Captains!
Hex Gambit: Respawned presents players with a choice of ten different Captains, each with their own unique minion loadout and limited-use Captain’s Gambit super power. While mastering the strengths and secrets of your minion classes is crucial, learning to leverage your Captain’s Gambit can make or break your PvP performance.
You will begin with five available Captains, and unlock the rest through playing and earning coins.
Read on to be introduced to your Captains, and pick up some tips for each to give you an edge.
Abbacus
Unlocked | Gambit: Hard Reset x 2
Hard Reset restores any minion to its ‘just spawned’ state. This Gambit’s most straightforward use is to heal your minions - but you might also consider using it on an enemy! This might sound counterproductive, but returning a minion to its ‘spawning state’ also resets the cooldown timer for their strongest moves. You can check enemy minions to see when their best attacks are ready, then zap them and reset the clock! Against powerful attacks like the Brute’s Wrecker or the Sniper’s Airstrike, this can save you some serious pain.
This gambit will also remove the Intimidation or Pacify status when used on your minions, which might otherwise doom an important unit.
Penny Miser
Unlocked | Gambit: Take a Penny x 2
Take a Penny deals 1 HP damage to all enemies! In addition to the obvious, it’s a free way to knock off any pesky Inspiration the enemy team may have built up. It will also deal double damage against Intimidated enemies - though keep in mind that Captain Penny won’t have a Motivator on her team in competitive PvP.
Bjorgolf
Unlocked | Gambit: Cold Make Stop x 3
Cold Make Stop will freeze an enemy in place for one round - and they’ll still be vulnerable to attacks while frozen! This Gambit is the weakest of the bunch, so you’ll be permitted the most uses of any special in the game.
Like with Abbacus, freezing a unit just as its deadliest move has cooled down is a smart approach. You can also block reinforcements by freezing enemies on their own spawn space, or squeeze in one extra Pillar Tap by freezing an important defender.
Salvador
Unlocked | Gambit: Protect x 2
Protect grants a minion invincibility for one round! Whether you’re tapping or defending, there are plenty of moments when this will come in handy. It also gives Salvador’s Pacifists two turns to heal your protected unit, and pairs well with Pacify.
Hexpert
Unlocked | Gambit: Glitch x 2
Glitch adds 3 HP to any minion, and can even boost their health above its maximum. This one is pretty straightforward. Instead of burning it immediately, though, you might want to hold onto this Gambit for a pivotal moment, to keep a crucial minion on the board for one more turn.
Molera
Locked | Gambit: Immolation x 1
Immolation burns your own minion to gain two Victory Points. While that seems counter-productive, you’re actually denying a Victory Point to your enemies and claiming it for yourself!
For the most strategic use, you’ll want to choose a minion that is about to die, and squeeze any last bit of usefulness out of them before their blazing demise. Maybe send them on a little suicide mission, then burn ’em up! They’re robots. It’s fine.
It’s extra cruel to trigger this late in the match, catching a comfortable opponent off guard with that final, fiery mic drop.
Grim Drake
Locked | Gambit: No Mercy x 1
No Mercy charges all of your cooldowns and allows moved units to move again. This Gambit is very dangerous when used well! All of the game’s strongest attacks have cooldowns, but with this special you can use them twice in one turn! If you save some AP ahead of time, you can bring to life every player’s worst nightmare: the dreaded double-Wrecker from a single Brute! This is also the only way a minion can tap a pillar twice in one turn.
Dr. Superior
Locked | Gambit: Alter Fate Itself x 1
Alter Fate Itself conjures 3 AP from the celestial void of cheating, almost giving you a double turn! The Brute’s Wrecker is the most expensive attack in the game, and this Gambit definitely takes the edge off. It’s also great for bringing in a ton of reinforcements, or for a massive push with minions you’ve already spawned.
Violet
Locked | Gambit: Smackdown x 1
Smackdown crushes an opposing minion down to 1 HP (also removing any damage modifiers). Keep an eye out for someone beefy and dangerous to get as much bang for your buck as possible. This Gambit is especially effective against teams with Motivators, since it cuts right through their damage-blocking Inspiration. Make sure to always have a Runner ready to finish your target off with a free Scratch.
Lolli
Locked | Gambit: No Backsies x 1
No Backsies will swap one of your minions for one of your opponent’s. Think carefully about your trade, because you only get one!
A popular strategy is to swap a dying unit for a healthy one, then kill the dying unit immediately for a Victory Point. You might also consider stealing a Brute whose Wrecker has just cooled down, or replacing a minion afflicted with Intimidate or Pacify.
Another good option is trading a tapping character that’s almost done for. Swap in something healthy, and they’re already in position to rack up more Victory Points!
Now you’ve met each of your potential Captains, you’re well-placed to choose who will lead your minions into rapid-fire hex warfare! Every Gambit has its uses, and if ultra-crafty powers like Violet’s punishing Smackdown or Lolli’s devious No Backsies have your caught your eye, you’d best get started earning some coins - ice up your foes with Bjorgolf’s Cold Make Stop or bolster your minions with Hexpert’s Glitch, and you’ll have all the Captains unlocked in no time!