NB is probably my 2nd favorite named tie after Backstabber. He's good but you usually can find 1 pt more for Backstabber or find other uses for the 3pts you're upgrading from an AP. NB pays nothing for his ability and is very very efficient.

He's predictable and can be blocked , but he still gets his focus token so it's not nearly as bad . Also, he's very very useful for "fake outs" since opponents tend to expect his "predictability".

He's not a build around pilot but his "free" ability and a PS of 5 certainly has it's uses.

edit: not sure about getting a token...does he Perform the maneuver and take the free action then collide or Perform the manuver, and then collide, so no free action?

I love Nightbeast. I took him (?) in my first tourney swarm just because I'd never used him before and at the end of the tournament found out that he actually gets the focus even if he bumps. So I used him in my second and he completely won me my first match. If only Winged Gundark turned out well. The only use I see for him at the moment is along with Mauler Mithel, so there isn't an obvious ship to focus on once you get close.

Backstabber and Dark Curse are also very good for their points :>

In fact, most of the named TIE fighters are superb.

Most of the named ties didn't "pay" anything for their ability and are very efficient. A well flown 6 named tie swarm is very potent, they usually fire first and 7-8 ship swarms usually lose one ship before firing anyway, so if you've got the skill they are great.

I took my first imperial squad tonight and Night Beast was in there. As a seasoned rebel player the cost for the extra focus feels silly cheap.

I have 3 points left on the squad Hrathen, should I put Targeting Computer or Sealth on him?

For 1 more point you can get Backstabber or Dark Curse. if night beast is underplayed it's probably because of the way squad building trends typically work. If you use a lot of ties, you tend toward the generics. if you're trying to build a more elite squad or stick a slightly pricier but effective TIE in to fill points and get a cheap PS boost plus a nice ability, Backstabber and Dark Curse are more popular. Night Beast is most likely to be seen in the 6 high PS TIE builds which fall neatly in the middle between small elite squads (or squads with large base ships) and full on swarms

Not to mention the unfortunate effect the FAQs have had on Night Beast's particular ability regarding stress tokens

Night Beast is most likely to be seen in the 6 high PS TIE builds which fall neatly in the middle between small elite squads (or squads with large base ships) and full on swarms

Touché.

Backstabber

Night Beast

BH+ Rebel Captive

Soontir +PTL+SD

NB is my choice No 1 in my 8 TIE squad. The squad comes out 99 points, so I autowin the initiave every now and then, which is nice for asteroid placement. I tend to stay close to the enemy, to deny actions, and NB is the best when you get close - bump and still get Focus. That opens the door to more maneuvers, as you can use the stop-bump-tactics freely with him. Also, when close, you can barrel roll out of arc and still have focus to shoot some other targets, or put an extra evade on him. To my experience so far NB lives far longer then any other of the named TIEs, including DC. He might lack the punch of a BS, but by living longer he will deal more damage totally over the course of a game. I'm tempted to try a targeting computer in him, just to see if its worth the 2 points, although he's doing great without (and the TC would bring my squad down to 7, which is not as good as getting the TC; maybe pairing him with PtL Howl then to divert attention and get more out of the 7).

When you add opponents into the mix with Opportunist, he gets even better.