Champions Online surprises us with a new fire archetype

It always seems such a shame that Champions Online’s free-to-play model leans so hard on preset archetype builds instead of allowing everyone to build the superhero that they want, but Cryptic’s in too deep at this point to change course. And so it is that the studio has added yet another prebuilt character to the game in the form of The Blazing archetype.

The Blazing isn’t one of the 10 free archetypes but will be sold through the game’s store as a less expensive option than a freeform character slot. So what does this class do? “The flames of justice rage on. As The Blazing use your short to medium range attacks to apply Clinging Flames to your enemies. The more the flames rage the more you can heal the injuries inflicted on you and your allies. You control the devastating element of fire, creating and shaping it to your will. Whether hurling flaming projectiles or erupting into a deadly firestorm, you leave a blazing swath of destruction in your wake.”

Champions Online kicked off its winter event yesterday, which will culminate in another misfit toy attack starting December 20th. Participating players can earn a free Chiller archetype, a super-snowball device, or a toy robot head costume piece (among other rewards).