I think that with the recent availability of Imperial aces, and with rebel aces recently announced, now is a good time to discuss which speedy ship is better, the A Wing or Tie Interceptor. Both have exactly the same dial except the A Wing's 5 is green, and one has barrel roll while the other can target lock naturally, but targeting computer and expert handling gives both what their missing. Interceptors can't take missiles, but can take two modifications with a title upgrade, have an extra attack dice and also have more pilots the choose from, including better generic pilots. The A wing gains the ability to be cheaper, and to take two elite pilot talents in the new Rebel Aces. Taking into account everything announced for rebel aces, which speedy flanker is superior?

I personally will always devote myself to the interceptor. I like having more pilot options, and Soontir is just a beast. Plus I feel like the natural barrel roll makes them a lot more maneuverable even though their lacking green 5 straights. I also feel like after going through so much trouble to keep my interceptor alive, and risking taking such a low hull ship, those three attack dice give me more reward for my hard work maneuvering. In the end to me using an interceptor makes me a better pilot in the game.

Plus the Interceptors look way better

The a wing is a tank. The interceptor is a glass cannon. After the -2 point cost reduction, you will be able to joust with a-wings about as well as b wings or TIEs (without Howlrunner). Interceptors are not good at jousting. They are very different ships, especially after Rebel Aces.

I would say they're pretty even. Also Both can take TL or BR as additional upgrades thanks to the Titles they received.

Targeting computer is a Modification --- RGI "may take 2 modifications"

Expert Handling is an Elite Pilot Talent --- ProtoVET "may take 2 EPTs"

coincidence? I think not.

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for a Stock Fighter I would rather have an Interceptor, coming straight out of the box it is the superior ship.

if cost is no issue I would rather have an A-Wing, the amount of utility is has far surpasses the Squint's.

The a wing is a tank. The interceptor is a glass cannon. After the -2 point cost reduction, you will be able to joust with a-wings about as well as b wings or TIEs (without Howlrunner). Interceptors are not good at jousting. They are very different ships, especially after Rebel Aces.

However, with two modification options interceptors can be as strong or stronger in hull and shields than an A Wing, and A Wings can also be killed quite quickly. Plus if you want to be as maneuverable as an Interceptor in the seat of an A Wing, those -2 points are gained back by using expert handling, which also takes up one of two possible elite pilot slots.

I dont know! The possibilities of 2 elite upgrades is so intriguing.

PTL + Daredevil = Like a ninja Kturn that you can pull if you ever get out foxed. Turn the wrong way? Ok, Daredevil and Boost the right way.

PTL + Expert Handling = you know what we love about Sootnir? All the Awings PS2 or higher can do that now.

Marksmanship + Opportunist = 4 attack dice at RB1 where one hit becomes a crit. Thats not too shabby.

And both ships play different rolls. Ints are flankers. Awings darty little ships that take a lot more firepower to put down than they give off.

Expose + Opportunist = 5 at RB1 and 4 everywhere else... that's how I plan on running one of my GSP's.. It'll be Garven's new best friend.. also works with Katarn, Lando, and soon upcoming Cracken.

Although I think Interceptors have the natural advantage of an extra attack and the barrel roll, I like A-Wings more for their more naturally defensive entrenchment. Stealth Device is a natural choice for almost all of my builds that include them when I send one out. Additionally, since they can either cheapen themselves with Chaardan Refit now, or simply make a perfect fit for various missiles with Push the Limit on their hands! I'd also like to mention Munitions Failsafe from the Z-95, if you're looking to make the absolute most of missiles now. :3

Lol I didnt even think of Expose with Opportunist...

As much as I love the a-wing ( my favourite ship ) I think the interceptor is a better ship in game

I've smoked Interceptors with A-Wings more often than the reverse. Plus I just love A-Wings.

I think the A Wings just got a leg up. Interceptors still fill a slightly different role, but A Wings are going to be much more competitive than they were.

Just imagine Tycho with Push the Limit and Wingman, or ptl and evasive maneuvers, or ptl and opportunist. All of those cards that generate stress that you had to choose between before, now you just have to make sure you can find tycho underneath his stack of stress tokens.

Or, two green squadron pilots with ptl and wingman. They can take two actions, discard the stress, and then make a k-turn the next move. Or, they can do back to back k turns, shedding each others' stress.

A wings will be even better flankers than they already are.

RGI - need PS5 or higher

ProtoVet - Need PS2 or higher.

Just adding that, with low PS A-wings and Interceptors, the Interceptors do not get the extra modification.

A-wing PS3 Green Squadron with Chardaan now costs 17, and with ProtoVet, have 2 EPT.

Interceptor PS3 Avenger Squadron costs 20 points, and 0 EPT

For the Interceptor to get an EPT,

Avenger Squadron PS3 at 21 points, but still couldn't get the RGI.

For PS3 comparions, A-wing is 3 points cheaper and can equip 2 EPT, might as well put an obligatory PTL, the A wing will cost the same as the Avenger ship and still have 1 EPT available.

Just making this observation on people wanting to compare the Title cards between the ships.

What if we looked at this as a fleet (100pts) of A-wings verse Interceptors. Current upgrades only.

I think my A-wing squad would be

4x Green w\ PtL

and equip three of them with Concussion missiles.

For the Interceptors:

4x Royal Guard w\PtL

In this scenario, I think I would favor the higher PS squad with bigger guns winning the day. Those Concussion missiles are nasty, but at a lower PS, I'm not sure how many of them the Green's would get off. Then after that, they're only a base 2 attack.

What if we looked at this as a fleet (100pts) of A-wings verse Interceptors. Current upgrades only.

I think my A-wing squad would be

4x Green w\ PtL

and equip three of them with Concussion missiles.

For the Interceptors:

4x Royal Guard w\PtL

In this scenario, I think I would favor the higher PS squad with bigger guns winning the day. Those Concussion missiles are nasty, but at a lower PS, I'm not sure how many of them the Green's would get off. Then after that, they're only a base 2 attack.

Sorry but for this scenario why would you bother Royal Guarding them if you could go for the slightly cheaper Sabers? Four points goes a long way in this game.

Also, I forgot to mention something: A-Wings will never be able to avoid the stress of Flechette Torpedoes, ever. The Interceptor can with the very affordable Hull Upgrade card, and seeing as how the game is likely going to have a shift towards more craft that actually utilize their ordnance I have a feeling that that is going to be what keeps the Interceptor on the table.

I feel A-wings will be much better with Imp Aces alone, that hull upgrade Omnom. The amount of times I've had 2 hits and a crit slip through 3/4 and even 5 defense and the crit be 2 damage, instead death A-wing is uncanny.

That being said, I have also done the same to interceptors with 4/5/6 dice, but once you add the new Pilots and the -2 upgrade I feel people will start to fear A-wings and give them the respect they deserve.

Both are High Risk/High Reward, with the interceptor being stronger due to its attack dice and barrel roll I feel. However that being said, with Opportunist and/or good use of Expose the A-wing is just as good if not better due to the shields.

Edit: Very good point made by Leo about the Flechette Torps.

Flechettes still effect Interceptors with Hull Upgrade. Flechette's card text reads "Hull 4 or Lower" and RGI read "2 different Modifications"

What if we looked at this as a fleet (100pts) of A-wings verse Interceptors. Current upgrades only.

I think my A-wing squad would be

4x Green w\ PtL

and equip three of them with Concussion missiles.

For the Interceptors:

4x Royal Guard w\PtL

In this scenario, I think I would favor the higher PS squad with bigger guns winning the day. Those Concussion missiles are nasty, but at a lower PS, I'm not sure how many of them the Green's would get off. Then after that, they're only a base 2 attack.

Sorry but for this scenario why would you bother Royal Guarding them if you could go for the slightly cheaper Sabers? Four points goes a long way in this game.

Also, I forgot to mention something: A-Wings will never be able to avoid the stress of Flechette Torpedoes, ever. The Interceptor can with the very affordable Hull Upgrade card, and seeing as how the game is likely going to have a shift towards more craft that actually utilize their ordnance I have a feeling that that is going to be what keeps the Interceptor on the table.

Hate to burst your bubble, but Flechettes effect ships with Hull Value 4 or lower. You need 5 or higher to clear the flak, so interceptors are still stressed even with hull upgrade.

dang... ninjas abound!

What if we looked at this as a fleet (100pts) of A-wings verse Interceptors. Current upgrades only.

I think my A-wing squad would be

4x Green w\ PtL

and equip three of them with Concussion missiles.

For the Interceptors:

4x Royal Guard w\PtL

In this scenario, I think I would favor the higher PS squad with bigger guns winning the day. Those Concussion missiles are nasty, but at a lower PS, I'm not sure how many of them the Green's would get off. Then after that, they're only a base 2 attack.

Sorry but for this scenario why would you bother Royal Guarding them if you could go for the slightly cheaper Sabers? Four points goes a long way in this game.

I thought about that, but I felt FOUR SP6 pilots with PtL was better than SP4s with four points left over. All I could do with those points is give two of them TL or one a Shield Upgrade.

Okay, so I was wrong about the Flechettes. In that case, I still give the edge to A-Wings when given the choices they will have in Rebel Aces.

The a wing is a tank. The interceptor is a glass cannon. After the -2 point cost reduction, you will be able to joust with a-wings about as well as b wings or TIEs (without Howlrunner). Interceptors are not good at jousting. They are very different ships, especially after Rebel Aces.

I agree that they are different ships, I wouldn't call either of them jousters. But I think we overstate the glass-cannon-nature of the TIE Interceptor.

They die fast for the same reason Wedge dies fast. They are the smart ship to shoot at.

A-wings on the other hand are one of the last ship to get shot at. They are particularly hard to hit (if not kill) and they have some of the lowest firepower of any rebel ship.

The biggest difference between the A-wing and the TIE Interceptor is not how their stats differ, but how they within their own fleets. Compared to X-wings, B-wings, or YT-1300s, A-Wings are very low target priority.

Compared to TIEs, TIE Bombers, and Firesprays, TIE Interceptors are very high target priority.

I think the A Wings just got a leg up. Interceptors still fill a slightly different role, but A Wings are going to be much more competitive than they were.

Just imagine Tycho with Push the Limit and Wingman, or ptl and evasive maneuvers, or ptl and opportunist. All of those cards that generate stress that you had to choose between before, now you just have to make sure you can find tycho underneath his stack of stress tokens.

Or, two green squadron pilots with ptl and wingman. They can take two actions, discard the stress, and then make a k-turn the next move. Or, they can do back to back k turns, shedding each others' stress.

A wings will be even better flankers than they already are.

Don't a lot of those EPTs say you can't do them if you have stress tokens?

I feel that rebel aces will give A-wings a leg up. Interceptors are the better ship, hands down, but double elite talents is better than double mods, and Interceptors have a very severe weakness to the Millenium Falcon. A-wings are almost as vulnerable, but lower on the totem pole. I'll be running Daredevil PTL Tycho all day long.

Well, double modifications for interceptors is not quite equivalent to double elite talents.

There are 15? or more EPTs and counting... That provides a lot of versatility for finding combinations and synergies between EPTs.

However, regarding modifications... Most of them are unusable by interceptors... Pursuit lasers, only for big ships... Failsafe, no missile slot... Stygium gadgets, no cloak sorry... Engine upgrade, already have boost... Which leave interceptors with a grand total of 4 usable modifications (Targeting comp, Hull, Shield and Stealth device).

So, sure, the moment interceptors have 15+ modifications to choose from, we can start talking about title equivalences....

For the role of flanker, the Interceptor is better with his attack 3 and their elite pilots skills are designed for that role: moving after attacking, denying actions when close, weird barrel rolls, posibility to add a damage with evade, taking a focus after stress so you can make more stressful actions/move and still get a focus to attack or defend, variable k-turn on the go and yes, being able to get one last shot.

It is a ship specifically design to get behind ennemy lines and cause chaos. And it does a WONDERFUL job doing that. So much so that your opponent might even break from the main squad just so the Interceptor is dealt with fast. You won't see that from a A-Wing. And that's the thing. A lot of players say that there is too many counters to it, that it gets shot down too easily, that it's not fit for competition. But it's not true, it's a wonderful ship when used properly. From a competitive point of view, it's not a ship that should be used to form an entire squadron, it is meant to get to the flank or behind the line. But to do so, the enemy must have another threat. If it's only Interceptors, 3-4 of them, of course they're gonna get shot down fast if you make mistakes.

They don't really go down faster than any other ships, it's just that they are so threatening that your opponent will do whatever it can to shot it down. Unless of course from the unlike blank roll, but if you don,t want to take that risk, get a shield or hull upgrade, that 4th hit point will help a lot. Of course not, we prefer to gamble with Stealth device or maximize our offensive potential with Targeting Computers.

Last thing that set it appart is the community. It's the only ship that I see people says that it needs skills to fly, that if you get shot down easily, it,s because you're doing something wrong. To which I reply: it's true! Bring all those counters to the Interceptor like stress inducing weapons, droids, Ion missiles or automatic hit! Bring 'hem I say! That will just make us brag even more that we're the best there is in this gorram galaxy far far away!

God I love this ship!

I think that with the recent availability of Imperial aces, and with rebel aces recently announced, now is a good time to discuss which speedy ship is better, the A Wing or Tie Interceptor. Both have exactly the same dial except the A Wing's 5 is green, and one has barrel roll while the other can target lock naturally, but targeting computer and expert handling gives both what their missing. Interceptors can't take missiles, but can take two modifications with a title upgrade, have an extra attack dice and also have more pilots the choose from, including better generic pilots. The A wing gains the ability to be cheaper, and to take two elite pilot talents in the new Rebel Aces. Taking into account everything announced for rebel aces, which speedy flanker is superior?

I personally will always devote myself to the interceptor. I like having more pilot options, and Soontir is just a beast. Plus I feel like the natural barrel roll makes them a lot more maneuverable even though their lacking green 5 straights. I also feel like after going through so much trouble to keep my interceptor alive, and risking taking such a low hull ship, those three attack dice give me more reward for my hard work maneuvering. In the end to me using an interceptor makes me a better pilot in the game.

Plus the Interceptors look way better

Edit:

On topic, A-wings 4 lyfe! I can't say enough about how fantastic they are. My opponents always ignore them (sometimes even with missiles) and they are consistently there at the end of the battle being hard to kill and fantastic in a dogfight. Now we can take barrel roll and be one point cheaper than the avenger interceptor.

I always find myself including them in my lists because they are such a blast to fly.