So,

with a few new toys out in the way of upgrades I revisited an old 3 X-Wing favorite.

I've taken it out one time against another high PS 3 X-Wing squad and it was very effective. More testing is needed, but it seems solid.

R5-P9 on Wedge is very nice when passed a focus by Garven.

The list also requires your opponent to make some early target decisions as all three ships have fairly equal utility in the list.

Anyone have any thoughts?

If I were to fly against this list, I'd concentrate all firepower on Garven first, he's what makes R5-P9 more dangerous on Wedge. whereas taking Wedge out first would only relocate the focus to Luke who would then be even harder to kill with his evade and R2-D2 still forcing you to go after Garven.

I'm not saying it'll be easy, but that's the way I would go.

I probably would still target Wedge first. I feel like one of the biggest issues with R5-P9 is going to be the balance between using him and using the token. And I feel like that means that I could get a few extra hits in with Wedge not spending the focus token, and then perhaps not having a focus result on the roll that kills him, so he dies with R5-P9 and a focus token. That would be the best case scenario.

Since you really don't have anything besides a F token for defense (and nothing offensive besides the standard Wedge), it'll likely end up being Luke + Garven vs. 3 ships. And then it'll be R1 shots, and you'll be down to Luke, and I'll have a severly hurting ship, plus 2 untouched. Luke would hopefully kill the limping ship, but then two ships returning fire on Luke... and it just comes down to the same old "can Luke take on 2 weaker targets" that the WLB lists always come down to.

Except this time, you've put 4 points into VI to make it 11 10 8, which against plenty of lists will be wasted, and you've potentially wasted 3 more points on R5-P9, and you have wasted 2 points on Flechettes. So, you're pretty much running a 91 point list imo.

I would suggest redistributing those 9 points. You could drop VI on Wedge and Luke, then you're at 9 8 8, which is more reasonable, but will still likely be wasted against plenty of squads... And you should drop the Flechette because you're goal is to kill the target, not stress it... you're better off (even at R3) attacking with primaries and TL than spending the TL to deny the extra die. But if you really wanted the torps, they should go on Luke, since he's the consensus last target, and you could spend them in the end game, preventing the K turn, or double stressing the guy after he does a K turn.

I would drop some shield upgrade and vi to add ptl for wedge and marksman for Luke. Then maybe push the limit for graven if there are enough points from dropping the fletchette torpedo. I like the concept though. That was my first thought when I saw r5-p9. Gavin is useful for high ps pilots!

The mistake I see with any 3 X-Wing list is trying to improve the defense. The VI will earn you nothing in 95% of your matches. I also don't like Biggs in a 3 X-Wing list because it forces a focused fire on an already defensive weak squad. Having Graven in your the list at the lowest will either try and help protect Wedge or Luke. If one of your higher PS X's loses his action Garven does not help on his offense, so that is why I think your squad is in trouble.

The mistake I see with any 3 X-Wing list is trying to improve the defense. The VI will earn you nothing in 95% of your matches. I also don't like Biggs in a 3 X-Wing list because it forces a focused fire on an already defensive weak squad. Having Graven in your the list at the lowest will either try and help protect Wedge or Luke. If one of your higher PS X's loses his action Garven does not help on his offense, so that is why I think your squad is in trouble.

That's not very constructive...

The mistake I see with any 3 X-Wing list is trying to improve the defense. The VI will earn you nothing in 95% of your matches. I also don't like Biggs in a 3 X-Wing list because it forces a focused fire on an already defensive weak squad. Having Graven in your the list at the lowest will either try and help protect Wedge or Luke. If one of your higher PS X's loses his action Garven does not help on his offense, so that is why I think your squad is in trouble.

That's not very constructive...

Hmm Constructive......... Aim to build your 3 X-Wing build to maximize offense. Opportunist, Push the Limit, Predator and Outmaneuver are good choices to accomplish this task. Games are won by removing ships of your opponents squad, not by having yours stick around.

The VI may be a waste and the list still needs more testing. I really like your guys thoughts and comments. I am trying not to use PtL as there is a lot of stress givers coming into play. (Hence why I like the flechette).

Predator will certainly be tested once released...

I'll drop some more comments after further testing.

The VI may be a waste and the list still needs more testing. I really like your guys thoughts and comments. I am trying not to use PtL as there is a lot of stress givers coming into play. (Hence why I like the flechette).

I'll drop some more comments after further testing.

Don't discount Determination. they aren't as common as Ship crits, but seeing the look on your opponents face when you discard a crit is priceless. Plus all the pilot crits are doom to high PS pilots.