Last edited one week ago
by AndIQuote

Aliens: Difference between revisions

Back to version history
← Older edit
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
AndIQuote (talk | contribs)
editor, reviewer
252 edits
No edit summary
 
(6 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File:SU1001 CoverPhoto Aliens.png|none|frame|Illustrated by: Conceptopolis]]
[[File:SU1001 CoverPhoto Aliens.png|none|frame|Illustrated by: Conceptopolis]]


====== ''<s>Purchase the Aliens Faction on Forgefire!</s> (link coming soon)'' ======
====== ''[https://connect.forgefire.games/products/smash-up-aliens Purchase the Aliens Faction on Forgefire!]'' ======
Aliens love to mess with people, and they love to mess with other players even more. From bouncing minions back to players’ hands, to replacing bases in play, aliens are out to have a great time, at any planet’s expense.
Aliens love to mess with people, and they love to mess with other players even more. From bouncing minions back to players’ hands, to replacing bases in play, aliens are out to have a great time, at any planet’s expense.


Line 12: Line 12:
* '''Returning Minions to hand'''
* '''Returning Minions to hand'''
* '''VP Gain'''
* '''VP Gain'''
Like those in our stories, the elusive and mysterious Aliens of Smash Up take people for who knows what reasons. Aliens are experts at returning anyone's minions back to their hand. They can Beam Up their friends to safety, and Abduct their adversaries to Probe them for information. Can you withstand their bubble-helmed Invasion?
In isolation, returning minions to their owners' hands is not that significant of an ability, but Aliens leverage their expertise to enable a number of unique strategies. All of their returning abilities can target friend or foe. After you return an enemy's minion, use Probe to discard it, and also spy on their hand. You might preemptively deny them a powerful minion you weren't aware of! Aliens have a minor ability to play extra minions to help replay your own minions you return.
Aliens can do more than just return minions to hands. Send them to their decks instead with Disintegrator! This is especially strong against Tenacious Zs. As always, you can use this on your own minions. How about bases? Enter Terraforming! You even get to play an extra minion.
====== Strategy ======
Aliens' overall power is quite low, so they're not too great at breaking bases. Their Scout minions, however, are specialized at maintaining presence on the bases. You may return them to your hand after the base they are on scores, so you can reuse them. You're not likely to win bases this way, but second and third place are enough to support you along with the next strategy.
Invaders probably have the most powerful on-play ability in the whole game. By playing, returning, replaying, and rereturning them in an "Invader Dance", you can theoretically win the game without breaking any bases. More commonly, Invaders make up just one component of the Aliens' overall game plan. Relying on this tactic consumes a lot of your minion plays, so reserve Crop Circles to simultaneously slow your opponents' efforts at breaking bases. While fairly easy in a 2-player game, this gets harder the more opponents you face, because they will more and more easily break bases without your input.
====== Synergy ======
Aliens work best alongside factions that are also good at returning minions to hands. The next best have and/or support on-play abilities and help slow down the game for your opponents.
* '''[[Ninjas]]''': Master Ninja and Tiger Assassin are even more formidable if you can return them to hand and re-use their minion-destroying on-play abilities.
* '''[[Robots]]''': Zapbot, Hoverbot, Microbot Fixer, and Microbot Reclaimer all have useful on-play abilities that provide extra minion plays.
* '''[[Tricksters]]''': Blending their tricks and hindrances in with the Aliens, Tricksters also offer much-desired extra minion plays for you to farm VPs.
* '''[[Time Travelers]]''': Directly replay Invaders with Do Over! and take control of the bases.
* '''[[Star Roamers]]''': Ship's Captain can fetch any minion you need, and even play them as an extra minion if their power is 3 or less (like the Invader). Science Officer's talent lets you return one of your minions to your hand to play another with a different name, giving you access to a VP farming engine with Invader. Collector and Supreme Overlord are good partners for that combo, allowing you to repeatedly return other minions to hand. Medical Officer lets you return your Invaders and other minions to hand if they would be destroyed. Ensigns and Protector Fields can protect your Invaders and other minions from removal outright.


=== Cards - Minions ===
=== Cards - Minions ===
Line 39: Line 19:
'''Power 5''' - You may return a minion to its owner’s hand.
'''Power 5''' - You may return a minion to its owner’s hand.


Errata? No
Errata: None.


Clarifications:
Clarifications:


*
*None


====== 2x Invader ======
====== 2x Invader ======
[[File:SU1001 CoreSet Aliens8.png|none|thumb|420x420px|Illustrated by: Conceptopolis]]
[[File:SU1001 CoreSet Aliens8.png|none|thumb|420x420px|Illustrated by: Conceptopolis]]
Power 3 - Gain 1 VP.
'''Power 3''' - Gain 1 VP.


Errata? N
Errata: None.


Clarifications:  
Clarifications:  
Line 57: Line 37:
====== 3x Scout ======
====== 3x Scout ======
[[File:SU1001 CoreSet Aliens5.png|none|thumb|420x420px|Illustrated by: Conceptopolis]]
[[File:SU1001 CoreSet Aliens5.png|none|thumb|420x420px|Illustrated by: Conceptopolis]]
Power 3 - Special: After this base is scored, you may place this minion into your hand instead of the discard pile.
'''Power 3''' - Special: After this base scores, you may return this minion to your hand.


Errata? N
Errata: Yes, Wording.


Clarifications:
Clarifications:


*
*None


====== 4x Collector ======
====== 4x Collector ======
[[File:SU1001 CoreSet Aliens.png|none|thumb|420x420px|Illustrated by: Conceptopolis]]
[[File:SU1001 CoreSet Aliens.png|none|thumb|420x420px|Illustrated by: Conceptopolis]]
Power 2 - You may return a non-Collector minion of power 3 or less on this base to its owner’s hand.
'''Power 2''' - You may return a minion of power 3 or less on this base to its owner’s hand.


Errata? Yes - Changed to "non-Collector" in the Bigger Geekier Box update.
Errata: Yes, Reversion - Changed back to the original wording (No longer has the "non-Collector" errata that was added in the Bigger Geekier Box update).


Clarifications:  
Clarifications:  


* Collectors cannot return Collectors.
* None


=== Cards - Actions ===
=== Cards - Actions ===
Line 81: Line 61:
Return a minion to its owner’s hand. Play an extra minion.
Return a minion to its owner’s hand. Play an extra minion.


Errata? No
Errata: None


Clarifications:
Clarifications:


**
*None


====== 2x Beam Up ======
====== 2x Beam Up ======
Line 91: Line 71:
Return a minion to its owner’s hand.
Return a minion to its owner’s hand.


Errata? No
Errata: None


Clarifications:
Clarifications:


**
*None


====== 1x Crop Circles ======
====== 1x Crop Circles ======
Line 101: Line 81:
Choose a base. Return each minion on that base to its owner’s hand.
Choose a base. Return each minion on that base to its owner’s hand.


Errata? No
Errata: None


Clarifications:
Clarifications:


*
*None


====== 2x Disintegrator ======
====== 2x Disintegrator ======
Line 111: Line 91:
Place a minion of power 3 or less on the bottom of its owner’s deck.
Place a minion of power 3 or less on the bottom of its owner’s deck.


Errata? No
Errata: None


Clarifications:
Clarifications:


*
*None


====== 1x Invasion ======
====== 1x Invasion ======
Line 121: Line 101:
Move a minion to another base.
Move a minion to another base.


Errata? No
Errata: None


Clarifications:
Clarifications:


**
*None


====== 1x Jammed Signal ======
====== 1x Jammed Signal ======
Line 131: Line 111:
Play on a base. Ongoing: This base’s abilities are cancelled.
Play on a base. Ongoing: This base’s abilities are cancelled.


Errata? No
Errata: Yes, Wording


Clarifications:  
Clarifications:  


* Ignoring a base’s ability means: you do not follow a base’s instructions, you are not subject to its restrictions, and your cards are neither affected nor protected by its ability.
* None


====== 1x Probe ======
====== 1x Probe ======
Line 141: Line 121:
Look at another player’s hand and choose a minion in it. That player discards that minion.
Look at another player’s hand and choose a minion in it. That player discards that minion.


Errata? No
Errata: None


Clarifications:
Clarifications:


*
*None


====== 1x Terraforming ======
====== 1x Terraforming ======
Line 151: Line 131:
Search the base deck for a base and swap it with a base in play. You may play an extra minion there.
Search the base deck for a base and swap it with a base in play. You may play an extra minion there.


Errata? Yes/No
Errata: Yes, Wording.


Clarifications:  
Clarifications:  


* You do not discard minions on the Terraformed base, nor actions attached to those minions. They all remain in play on the swapped in base.
* When a base is swapped, all cards on it remain on the new base (minions, actions on the base and on minions there, buried cards, titans, etc.)


=== Cards - Bases ===
=== Cards - Bases ===
Line 161: Line 141:
====== 1x The Homeworld ======
====== 1x The Homeworld ======
[[File:SU1001 CoreSet Aliens22.png|none|thumb|420x420px|Illustrated by: Conceptopolis]]
[[File:SU1001 CoreSet Aliens22.png|none|thumb|420x420px|Illustrated by: Conceptopolis]]
Breakpoint 23 - VPs: 4 2 1 - Oncer per turn, after you play  a minion here, you may play an extra minion of power 2 or less.
Breakpoint 23 - VPs: 4 2 1 - Once per turn, after you play  a minion here, you may play an extra minion of power 2 or less.


Errata? No
Errata: Yes, Functional (changed to once per turn)


Clarifications:
Clarifications:


**
*None


====== 1x The Mothership ======
====== 1x The Mothership ======
Line 173: Line 153:
Breakpoint 20 - VPs: 4 2 1 - After this base scores, the winner may return one of his or her minions of power 3 or less from here to his or her hand.
Breakpoint 20 - VPs: 4 2 1 - After this base scores, the winner may return one of his or her minions of power 3 or less from here to his or her hand.


Errata? No
Errata: None


Clarifications:
Clarifications:


*
*None

Latest revision as of 18:32, 24 September 2026

Illustrated by: Conceptopolis
Purchase the Aliens Faction on Forgefire!

Aliens love to mess with people, and they love to mess with other players even more. From bouncing minions back to players’ hands, to replacing bases in play, aliens are out to have a great time, at any planet’s expense.

Aliens are from the Core (Base game) set and do not have a Titan card.

Complexity Level: LOW-MEDIUM
Mechanics
  • Returning Minions to hand
  • VP Gain

Cards - Minions

1x Supreme Overlord
Illustrated by: Conceptopolis

Power 5 - You may return a minion to its owner’s hand.

Errata: None.

Clarifications:

  • None
2x Invader
Illustrated by: Conceptopolis

Power 3 - Gain 1 VP.

Errata: None.

Clarifications:

  • If the Invader is destroyed or its ability is later cancelled, you do not lose the VP it gave you.
3x Scout
Illustrated by: Conceptopolis

Power 3 - Special: After this base scores, you may return this minion to your hand.

Errata: Yes, Wording.

Clarifications:

  • None
4x Collector
Illustrated by: Conceptopolis

Power 2 - You may return a minion of power 3 or less on this base to its owner’s hand.

Errata: Yes, Reversion - Changed back to the original wording (No longer has the "non-Collector" errata that was added in the Bigger Geekier Box update).

Clarifications:

  • None

Cards - Actions

1x Abduction
Illustrated by: Conceptopolis

Return a minion to its owner’s hand. Play an extra minion.

Errata: None

Clarifications:

  • None
2x Beam Up
Illustrated by: Conceptopolis

Return a minion to its owner’s hand.

Errata: None

Clarifications:

  • None
1x Crop Circles
Illustrated by: Conceptopolis

Choose a base. Return each minion on that base to its owner’s hand.

Errata: None

Clarifications:

  • None
2x Disintegrator
Illustrated by: Conceptopolis

Place a minion of power 3 or less on the bottom of its owner’s deck.

Errata: None

Clarifications:

  • None
1x Invasion
Illustrated by: Conceptopolis

Move a minion to another base.

Errata: None

Clarifications:

  • None
1x Jammed Signal
Illustrated by: Conceptopolis

Play on a base. Ongoing: This base’s abilities are cancelled.

Errata: Yes, Wording

Clarifications:

  • None
1x Probe
Illustrated by: Conceptopolis

Look at another player’s hand and choose a minion in it. That player discards that minion.

Errata: None

Clarifications:

  • None
1x Terraforming
Illustrated by: Conceptopolis

Search the base deck for a base and swap it with a base in play. You may play an extra minion there.

Errata: Yes, Wording.

Clarifications:

  • When a base is swapped, all cards on it remain on the new base (minions, actions on the base and on minions there, buried cards, titans, etc.)

Cards - Bases

1x The Homeworld
Illustrated by: Conceptopolis

Breakpoint 23 - VPs: 4 2 1 - Once per turn, after you play a minion here, you may play an extra minion of power 2 or less.

Errata: Yes, Functional (changed to once per turn)

Clarifications:

  • None
1x The Mothership
Illustrated by: Conceptopolis

Breakpoint 20 - VPs: 4 2 1 - After this base scores, the winner may return one of his or her minions of power 3 or less from here to his or her hand.

Errata: None

Clarifications:

  • None
Retrieved from "https://smashup-rulebook.alderac.com/w/index.php?title=Aliens&oldid=3697"