OverDrive Locker Room: Introducing Shadow

Welcome Coaches to the OverDrive Locker Room! This is the place to come for exclusive sneak peeks at the players you'll be battling it out with in the arena when OverDrive launches this September. In each blog we'll be taking a closer look at the background, stats and tactics for each player. Today we're meeting Shadow... who should perhaps be renamed to 'Neon' with that paintjob!

Check out the tips and tactics for the other Players in the core game: Brank Reborn, Skarathron, Karadon, The Spawn and Dozer.

If you want to learn a bit more about how the game plays, before reading about each character, check out this video from Blackjack Legacy, which explains the basics.

BACKGROUND

Shadow was originally used as a security guard by the Shan-Meeg Starhawks DreadBall team to protect them from rival fans who were furious with their dubious tactics on the pitch. Similar to the Asterian Spectra but significantly smaller, Shadow’s armour allowed them to take the punches and knocks, as the angry crowds lobbed empty DreadMax cans at the Starhawks’ tour shuttle. Shadow was eventually gifted to the OverDrive circuit – and given a brighter, more eye-catching paintjob - when the Starhawks upgraded their tour shuttle to a fully-equipped Chroma gunship, which helps keep the crowds at bay more effectively.

STATS AND TACTICS

Shadow is a master of dodging attacks from your opponent, which means you can normally run them over to an active scoring zone and shrug off even the toughest attacks from the likes of Dozer and Brank. The two abilities that really help Shadow to become a dodging machine though are Duck and Weave and Nimble.

First up you've got Duck and Weave, which gives you an additional dice when Dodging - taking Shadow from three to four dice. There aren't many players in the game that have this bonus, so your opponent is going to have to work hard to counteract it. Not only that, but Shadow has Nimble, which allows them to re-roll one dice when Dodging - and when you're Dodging on a 3+ that re-roll can often become a success... or even a 6, and suddenly you're on the fast train to Exploding Dice Central.

All this fantastic Dodging really comes into play when using Shadow's OverDrive ability: Defence is the Best Offence. Here Shadow turns the opponent's attacks against them and any successful Dodge rolls made, can potentially be turned into damage. "If the DODGE action wins, the opposing Player is given Damage counters equal to the difference between the winning and losing rolls." This can really catch the opposing team off guard and help to take on attacking characters like Karadon.

Another ace up Shadow's sleeve is a Skill of 3+. Although Skill isn't used in the standard game, in Pass the Bomb and DodgeBrawl it's absolutely vital, as you'll be making a Skill test to either Pass the Bomb or throw the DodgeBrawl. As a result, Shadow is a great addition to your line-up in a league or tournament because they can make all the difference in the alternate game modes.

Finally, some bonus info for all you Deadzone fans, Shadow will be making their way into Deadzone as the Marionette Phantom. The resin model comes with the pieces to build either the OverDrive version or the Deadzone variety. Wonder how we'll add the rules for the Phantom though.... hmmmmmmm?

OVERDRIVE IS HEADING TO STORES LATER THIS MONTH. YOU CAN FIND SHADOW IN THE TIGRAX VERSUS SHADOW RIVALS PACK!