I feel like flying me some Han Solo tonight but, before that I'd be curious to know if the hyper-mobile B-Wings and dual Modification Squints have lessened Han's (and, I guess, the YT's - in general) effectiveness.

Any thoughts / experiences?

The biggest problem with HSF is that it sacrifices quantity of attacks for reliability, and in a B-wing heavy meta that's not a good trade: the combination of high hit points and low Agility on Bs makes Han's investment in reliability much less valuable, and he's displacing easily two (and soon three or even four) fighters with potent attacks of their own. That's not to say that HSF can't beat Biggs Walks the Dogs, of course, but it's not a great matchup.

On the other hand, the archetypal Marksmanship+Gunner HSF is great against squints particularly now that they're potentially more durable. Interceptors get a better return on their investment in Hull/Shield Upgrade due to their high Agility, but Han virtually undoes Agility as a relevant factor.

Basically I think if you've got a build you like and with which you're comfortable, you should go ahead and fly it and figure out whether or not it's viable in your local meta.

I am seeing Han do well, but he often carries additional mobility options (EH, EU) as well.

It might be time to start flying other YT pilots, but nothing will ever have the same ring to it as Han Shoots First. Lando Shoots Reasonably Early and Chewie is No Slouch Either simply don't cut the mustard. I might be able to console myself with Let the Wookiee Win, however.

HSF could see a resurgence if miniswarms do take off as they don't generally have the firepower to down the falcon in 1-2 turns and Han gets to roll lots of attack dice with gunner. However, with the change to modified wins (and the first week regional's results) 7 TIE Swarms are back with a vengeance and that isn't good for HSF.

The above posters are right, though, there amount of B and X wings really marginalize the effectiveness of HSF. Unless HSF destroys a ship in the first round of shooting (against a 4 Rebel Build) they 4 Rebel Build has a huge advantage.

It might be time to start flying other YT pilots, but nothing will ever have the same ring to it as Han Shoots First. Lando Shoots Reasonably Early and Chewie is No Slouch Either simply don't cut the mustard. I might be able to console myself with Let the Wookiee Win, however.

I've already got a 'Let the Wookie Win' List:

Chewie w/ Expert Handling, Luke, Nien Nunb, Falcon title & Hull Upgrade

2 blues

Alternatively, I've considered:

Chewie w/ PtL, Gunner, Nien Nunb, Falcon title & Engine Upgrade

2 blues

The problem with engine upgrade is that you're often shooting at R3...which should be a good thing when outnumbered, but the first list seems better so long as you can dodge some arcs with barrel roll and still shoot at R2 or R1.

I've had a lot of success flying Chewie + Luke + Falcon with two Blues + Fire Control. The last two points can go to Expert Handling or Draw Their Fire + initiative.

HSF will always be a mid-tier build with which new players can do well.

Stronger builds have existed even when it first came out, but having super-reliable damage in a 360* arc is a great way for new players to feel fostered by the tournament scene, and improve as customers.

The other thing to consider is that with the "emergence" of higher PS builds (as FFG is claiming are being driven by Wave 4), HSF will remain powerful against other high PS builds. He was overkill against the PS4, PS2, and PS1 builds, but will actually earn his pay against the PS7-8-9 pilots.

I won our Star Wars Day tournament with a Han list, but I've varied it up from the standard HSF list.

Decoy Squad:

Han Solo with the Falcon upgrade, Gunner, Recon Specialist, and Push the Limit

Biggs (unmodified)

Prototype A-wing (unmodified)

I find this version of Han to cover a lot of bases since you have two focus to use on either your initial attack and your gunner attack to get the max number of hits, and with PTL you can always have an evade token, plus you're likely to have a focus left over for defense, which greatly increases his survivability. Biggs and the A-wing are just there to soak up shots and distract from the Falcon while Han sits back and does his thing.

I won our Star Wars Day tournament with a Han list, but I've varied it up from the standard HSF list.

Decoy Squad:

Han Solo with the Falcon upgrade, Gunner, Recon Specialist, and Push the Limit

Biggs (unmodified)

Prototype A-wing (unmodified)

I find this version of Han to cover a lot of bases since you have two focus to use on either your initial attack and your gunner attack to get the max number of hits, and with PTL you can always have an evade token, plus you're likely to have a focus left over for defense, which greatly increases his survivability. Biggs and the A-wing are just there to soak up shots and distract from the Falcon while Han sits back and does his thing.

Problem with PtL on Han is once stressed, its super easy for your opponent to block him...

If you think you will be up against a lot of B-wings, Gunn/Luke + Han abilities really aren't that useful, since you will still probably be hitting. You might want to try an Chewwy with nothing but the Falcon upgrade. I still say you spend every action on evade.

That leaves you enough points to get 3 Awings, you can even change one of those a-wings to an x-wing or an b-wing.

I think this list would tear through B-wings. I'm not sure how well it would do against a TIE Swarm. (They would probably ignore the A-wings and go for the Chewie kill.)

Thanks for the replies guys,

I went up against the following:

2x Academy Pilots

Kath /w Rebel Captive, Vet. instincts

Jendon /w adv. sensors, intelligence agent, Engine

Han slaughtered everything, while his support ships (2 Rooks) did a few points of damage here and there.

I lost a single Rookie.

Now to find me some B-Wings to test against.

It might be time to start flying other YT pilots, but nothing will ever have the same ring to it as Han Shoots First. Lando Shoots Reasonably Early and Chewie is No Slouch Either simply don't cut the mustard. I might be able to console myself with Let the Wookiee Win, however.

You see, that's the thing. I happen to like Lando's and Chewie's abilities better than Han's. I'm a big fan of running Lando + a couple of other ships.

I actually won my store champs.... and am considering taking to regionals:

chewie - PTL, Falcon

2x Dagegr - adv sensors.

=100 exactly.