Megaton Mashup is finally here! To celebrate, I’ll be creating some monster-specific scenarios. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be releasing one new scenario featuring a different monster each week.

When I heard about the co-op project for Monsterpocalypse, the very first thing I thought would be awesome is some special scenarios changing up the Villain to produce gameplay that felt monster-specific. To that end, today I’m going to bring you the first idea I had of turning Incinerus up to eleven! Before I begin on the specifics of Incinerus’ scenario, let me warn you: these scenarios are really hard and are meant to be that way. If you want a bit of an easier experience, I suggest lowering the starting health, as with normal Megaton Mashup.

So, without further ado…

IT BURNS!

Villain Health

This scenario uses Incinerus as the Villain. Incinerus starts with 3 extra health on the bonus health card in each form, but his maximum health on the bonus health card is 6 per form. Incinerus will never re-enter alpha; instead, he is considered at maximum health if he has 6 extra health on either side of the bonus health card.

Setup

When players are creating their city, no more than six buildings may have the Incombustible rule. The players must fill all foundations with buildings.

Incinerus and Hazards

• Whenever Incinerus enters a hazard for the first time each turn, flip the tile to the rubble side; if it flips, he regains 1 health.
• Whenever Incinerus enters a hazard that is not a tile for the first time each turn, he regains 1 health. Incinerus may only regain health from each hazard once per Villain turn. A tile flipped this way may not be flipped again this turn.
• When Incinerus collides with a hazard, he doesn’t take any damage from the hazard as normal but doesn’t regain health or flip the tile to the rubble side.

Movement

• When Incinerus advances, he does not avoid hazards as normal and instead attempts to enter any debris tile (or volcano hazard) from which he hasn’t already regained health this turn.
• He will also always attempt to end his movement(s) on or adjacent to a debris tile as long as he can still achieve all other requirements from his movement.

Note: This means if Incinerus starts aligned with his target, he will move away from the target to enter a debris tile (or volcano hazard) if it means he can still return to his target to achieve the normal list of requirements for Villain movement.

Special Rules

• Before Incinerus makes his first attack each Villain turn, he performs the Ignite action on a debris tile that he is on or adjacent to. He does not count as entering that tile this turn, and he will ignore any tile that can’t be flipped. He will also always target the tile that causes the most damage to monsters or units. He performs this action in both alpha and hyper mode.
• While Incinerus is in hyper whenever he enters a rubble tile for the first time (and only the first time) each turn, it flips to the hazard side as per his Fire Step rule. A tile flipped by Fire Step may not be flipped again that turn.
• Incincerus is immune to the effects of Grappler and any effects that would stop him from moving.
• The trigger from the rule Waterlogged does not trigger during this scenario.
• Incinerus’ stomps do not flip hazards to the rubble side.

This scenario is meant to bring out not only the challenge of Incinerus but his essence as well. During the game, Incinerus will consume hazards within the city, empowering himself. He also will constantly create new hazards throughout the game. It’s important to remember that because he performs the Ignite action before attacking, if he is on or adjacent to a hazard, he will gain the benefit of his Feed the Flames ability. Be sure to watch where you’re standing, too—being on a rubble tile is a huge danger when facing Incinerus.

Be sure to not let his low total health fool you. He may only have 14 total health to begin with, but trust me, he’s all but impossible to bring down easily. Right when you think you have him, you’ll realize you are quickly running out of ways to deal enough damage to him. That being said, there are some good strategies I’ve come up with to counter his suite of abilities. However, what would be the fun if I just told you?

Still not enough of a challenge, you say? Well, I have you covered. There are three dials to turn to make this scenario even harder (or easier, if you do the opposite). The first is fairly obvious: increasing his starting health and/or maximum health is the easiest way to increase the difficulty. The second is to reduce the amount of incombustible buildings that are allowed to start in the city. The final way is to play on the Isle of Annihilation map—he really loves that cute little volcano.

Well, that’s it for Incinerus, but be sure to tune in next week, I have a sinking sensation that the entire planet may be consumed if you don’t! Be sure to pick up Megaton Mashup and Incinerus while our quarantine sale is still on!