So the Z-95 expansion has now been fully spoilered.

We now know the movement dial (pretty much exactly an X-Wing dial, except it's got a 3 koiogran instead of the x's 4, and it's 2 bank is Green rather than White)

We now know the point costs of the named pilots

We now know both named pilots

We now know what Munitions Failsafe does.

Munitions Failsafe has superb utility alongside the Flechette missiles: Not having to discard Flechettes if they don't hit is great, because you stress out your small-ship target anyway. And it's only 3 points across the two slots, so that's definitely playable, particularly alongside Ion Cannon or Turrets ;-)

A 17 point Blount that always "Hits" even if he deals no damage is potent. No stealth device for you, and Assault/Ion Pulse missiles will always get their effects in.
He should never equip the Munitions Failsafe, though.

A 19 point Airen Cracken is a beautiful addition to the game. Considering the free-action can be an in-combat Target Lock, the Z-95 Alpha Strike Swarm is definitely a possibility, He also synergizes beautifully with Garven/Dutch/Kyle/Lando et c.
Also, the "Free Action" isn't specified, and doesn't need to be one in their action bar. giving you EPT/Astromech/Damage based actions as well.
He's also the second pilot in the game that makes Cluster Missiles worth playing, as they let him toss out 2 actions. Once again fantastic with Munitions Failsafe, assuming he doesn't hit with either attack.

How's this for an Alpha Strike list?

Airen w/ Squad Leader

Dutch w/ Proton Torpedoes

Tala w/ Concussion + Munitions Failsafe

Tala w/ Concussion

Tala w/ Concussion

Total: 100 points

The three Talas move forward and focus, Dutch takes a TL at PS6, handing one out. Airen uses Squad Leader at PS8 and hands a second one out, and then combat starts, Airen shoots and hands out a third TL. Meanwhile, Dutch shoots off his Protons (note, you could replace this + MFS for an ICT, which is probably what I would do), and then at PS4, you shoot off 3 F+TL concussions.

Off topic... 1000th post

I disagree with Blount not equipping Munitions Failsafe, for this reason:

If he misses his attack, he still damages the entire swarm, and KEEPS his assault missile. Next attack. If he misses, he still damages the entire swarm, and KEEPS his assault missile.

Third combat round, the swarm will be forced to scatter, even if he has not missed, because he can destroy the swarm with 3 turns of "failed" attacks.

I disagree with Blount not equipping Munitions Failsafe, for this reason:

If he misses his attack, he still damages the entire swarm, and KEEPS his assault missile. Next attack. If he misses, he still damages the entire swarm, and KEEPS his assault missile.

Third combat round, the swarm will be forced to scatter, even if he has not missed, because he can destroy the swarm with 3 turns of "failed" attacks.

But he cannot miss. Every attack is considered to hit. Ergo, MFS on him is 1 point wasted since every attack will HIT.

Khyros…you sultry Ninja

Khyros…you sultry Ninja

Herm? What'd I do now?

If he misses his attack, he still damages the entire swarm, and KEEPS his assault missile.

It doesn't work that way.

The Failsafe says you keep the missile if you don't hit. But Blount always hits, even if he doesn't do any damage. So he doesn't get to keep the the assault missile, or any other missile for that matter.

Put a Concussion Missile on him and he losses it even if he doesn't do damage, because he still is considered to have hit the target.

How's this for an Alpha Strike list?

Airen w/ Squad Leader

Dutch w/ Proton Torpedoes

Tala w/ Concussion + Munitions Failsafe

Tala w/ Concussion

Tala w/ Concussion

Total: 100 points

The three Talas move forward and focus, Dutch takes a TL at PS6, handing one out. Airen uses Squad Leader at PS8 and hands a second one out, and then combat starts, Airen shoots and hands out a third TL. Meanwhile, Dutch shoots off his Protons (note, you could replace this + MFS for an ICT, which is probably what I would do), and then at PS4, you shoot off 3 F+TL concussions.

Off topic... 1000th post

That should be very powerful or fail miserably, depending on your rolls with missiles. Once they are out, you are left with a bunch of ship easy to destroy and with little punch left. Granted, that's a lot of focus+target lock, but it's really dependant on your alpha strike.

Here's an idea.

Z Assault - 100 points

Arien w/Squad Leader

Lt Blount w/Assault Missile

3x Tala Squad w/Assault Missile and MFS

Arien can hand out 2 actions giving 2 of the 3 Tala's TL+F, meaning a very good chance of landing at least 1 hit with the AM. Blount will always land a hit. That means a great chance of doing 3 points of splash damage.

Edit: Gah! So even after I post how MFS on Blount is a bad idea... I still give it to him. But that was because I had him as a Bandit in my excel file I was using as a scratch pad, to see how the points worked out.

That means the list is 97 not 98 points. Which means you could upgrade the Bandits to Tala Squad.

So, Airen with squad leader could let a ship with expose, expose, target lock and focus.... Now add Garven and Dutch for laughs

Cracken with swarm tactics along side blue squadron pilot with heavy laser cannon. Blue squadron focuses, Cracken does his thing, fires, gives blue squadron pilot a target lock, blue squadron fires HLC with focus and target lock at PS 8. Only 50 points.

At 19 points for a PS8 with a built in Squad Leader lite, I can see Arien becoming the filler of choice for Rebel lists. Even without SL he's still going to be a pretty big boon to a lot of lists.

Cracken with swarm tactics along side blue squadron pilot with heavy laser cannon. Blue squadron focuses, Cracken does his thing, fires, gives blue squadron pilot a target lock, blue squadron fires HLC with focus and target lock at PS 8. Only 50 points.

This is so going to replace a rookie in this list for me:

Cracken + swarm

Biggs

Blue + HLC

Blue + AS

Losing the firepower is made up for by Cracker's ability, and the durability could be an issue; but Biggs will mitigate that somewhat.