So, I keep hearing everyone recommending focus fire, focus fire, focus fire, especially to people breaking into the game that are struggling... I'm not a big fan of focus fire, but rather I prefer to maximize the damage. Now, let me start by saying that I will try to focus on one person if all shots are equal...

For example, if I'm running an XXBB in a 2x2 block, I'm going to be choosing someone that all 4 can fire on, and in that case, I think it would be silly to not focus fire.

But, on the contrary, I often like to play lists that don't rely on formation flying, and as such, I might have my A wing coming up the right flank, my Y wing running along the left flank, and an X and B shoring up the middle. Perhaps their most dangerous target is Wedge, I'm going to have my X and B focus fire on him to try and take him out... but my A might only have a R2 shot through the asteroid on him, and have a R1 shot on the B wing behind Wedge... Unless my A wing can put the final point of damage on Wedge, I'm going to take that shot on the B... I'm going to do 1.88 damage compared to .43 damage on Wedge... In all likelyhood if I shoot Wedge, no damage will come from the shot, whereas I could easily do 2 damage to the B... in my opinion I'd be silly to do 1 more damage to Wedge.

Likewise, now my Gold is firing, and once again, unless he can get that kill shot on Wedge, I'm going to shoot at the B wing, or something that's out of position. If I can ionize that B and then swoop in behind him and take him out of the fight, that's a better use of the Y wing than doing 1 more damage (which in all likelihood will just cause overkill next turn as my X+B focus Wedge down again).

So, am I an idiot for not focus firing in favor of taking the best shot each turn? I realize that means potentially more guns are shooting at me the following turn, but I play the odds and say that an A wing is unlikely to do 2 damage to an X at R2 obstructed, so I might as well not waste my shot and get 2 damage in on the B as a head start on killing the B.

What are your thoughts on focus fire vs. best shot available?

In this instance you describe, I think you're doing the right thing. Focusing fire at all costs when you're throwing away good shots isn't wise. However, distributing damage among the enemy's squadron, rather than focusing it on one ship, only keeps their squadron alive, and at full strength, longer.

In your example, trying to put your Y or A-wing in a position to focus on wedge may have been a better strategy. However, it's a boots on the ground situation; if you can focus fire safely, do it. But don't expose your ships for short term gain, and don't waste good shots for unlikely ones.

What are your thoughts on focus fire vs. best shot available?

I think as a rule of thumb, all else being equal focus fire is best. But how often is all else equal?

I would say as way to help newbies get better focus fire is a good thing to suggest because quite often they won't be able to know what the best shot is. Focus Fire is almost always going to pay off, where as taking the best shot only pays off if it's really the best shot.

Ideally I like to have the option of using focus fire, because killing a ship is always better then stripping shields or just doing damage.

This is so situational its hard to even discuss.

Obviously blindly focus firing on a single target without taking into account positioning and attack effectiveness is a dumb idea. So is spreading your damage out too thinly over your opponenents squad. Its a fine balacing act and like I said very situational.

Well, I think that statistically, the odds are against you in general.

While Tournament play doesn't necessarily act as a true representative sample, I think there are enough examples to prove te following:

1. Focus Fire has been employed in some manner, however great or small, by nearly every tournament winner I've watched a video of.

2. Generally speaking, flanking / tricks / etc, don't seem to be very prevalent in the tournament scene, my guess would be because the odds of success are generally lower than slinging 4 ships worth of dice at one ship, then the next, then the next.

Also because it takes a VERY competent pilot to flank effectively. (All ships arrive in range of the target at the same time, response to split fleets, etc.)

3. Your opponent will most likely be focus firing your ships. If you aren't replying in kind or posing a major threat to make them split, you will most likely just get picked off one at a time.

If 10 tanks are fighting 10 other tanks, and 10 shots kills a tank, the squad that focuses on one enemy tank at a time will win easily over the squad whose tanks fire at their single enemy counterpart.

So yes, focusing fire is good.

However, will an unfocused shot deny the opponent an action that round? Or make an enemy ship easier to kill later?

Most of the time, you want to focus fire. Other times, it depends.

If 10 tanks are fighting 10 other tanks, and 10 shots kills a tank, the squad that focuses on one enemy tank at a time will win easily over the squad whose tanks fire at their single enemy counterpart.

So yes, focusing fire is good.

However, will an unfocused shot deny the opponent an action that round? Or make an enemy ship easier to kill later?

Most of the time, you want to focus fire. Other times, it depends.

^^^^

The times at which it is not prudent to focus fire, as described above plus some others, will be apparent.

Otherwise, you should be strategically focusing down your opponents.

This is so situational its hard to even discuss.

I disagree... You can come up with example situations and use that to illustrate the tactical thinking behind your choices. Enough of those can help people to understand how to think.

It's like playing though chess problems to become a better chess player.

For example...

I have 2 ships both at Range 2 from 2 different targets. Both have a focus, and one defender has an evade. Which one do you shoot at first, and why?

Focus fire but never pass up a good opportunity fire.

I find it's an early game late game thing. Early game you approach in formation, focusing on getting in the first kill(and putting the target of your choice up for the slaughter). After those intitial approach turns the goal should be to avoid getting fired on and breaking up your opponents ability to focus on your weakened ships. That's when your skill really comes into play. If you get first kill and keep all your ships alive for the nextround you've practically won. But if you are behind a ship you can still outfly your opponent.

That said, I think formation flying is a step in the metagame that will shift as players get better at timing approaches, as me flanking you with two ships from the side and 2 in front will probably win me the game. If they all arrive on time. Getting that to happen can be tough, but is oh so worth it for the better positioning. Especially if you're running 1 Elite and a swarm of nons. Forcing someone to choose which way to point is killer.

Focus Fire when possible but if you will not be bringing that target down any faster but can get a good jump on another target then going for that alternative target can be the right call.

In the OP's example when the "Focused fire" has a very low chance of making Wedge die a turn sooner then shooting another ship and knocking a turn off of it's lifespan is certainly a plan. I see these other shots as "attacks of opportunity" because you still should be "focused" on one target but if another is too good to pass up then you take it. The risk here is when the distraction is intentional and NOT eliminating your focus allows it to do more bad things to you.

Do whatever it takes to get your opponent down a ship as quick as you can, even if it results in a trade of ship. Just make sure you trade a bishop for a queen.

Getting the first kill is a huge game changing event for the obvious reason that your opponent will have fewer attack dice to throw at you. But it also allows you to choose which ship you want to finish the game with if it comes down to attrition. You should be trying to create a mismatch for the endgame scenario that works in your favor. Carnor Jax vs a HWK with a blaster turret comes to mind, hehe...

The purpose of focus fire is obviously to minimize your opponent's damage output by removing his ships from the board. The difference between focus firing, and not, is mathematically very significant, as I am sure you are aware.

Using an Ion Cannon Turret to force an enemy ship into having no shot the next round accomplishes the same thing: it reduces the firepower of the enemy squad. In a Rebel-heavy Meta where it is difficult to get that final kill shot every round, this is nearly just as good. A 23 point Gold + Ion to lock down even more expensive ships is not a bad use of points.

Eventually I'll build a Salvo Combat Model that can simulate this to some degree, but I make no promises on when that might be.

I am of the following persuasion

Find the one who will cripple me the most in my own opinion (which is different from everyone elses) and fry that sucker, throw a kitchen sink, hook him up to a rusty pipe and defibrillator....anything and everything

Now if there isnt one who qualifies I find the one who I can chew up and spit out for as a dinner mint and take'em down

Maximizing fire is nice, but sometimes just really hurts you in the long run

However do not take my word for it, figure out your play style and go from there, this is your game as much as it's ours and that is what makes it great....go out have fun and kick butt

Do whatever it takes to get your opponent down a ship as quick as you can, even if it results in a trade of ship. Just make sure you trade a bishop for a queen.

That is not always true. Sometimes you need to be keenly aware that taking your opponent's "Queen" may be a move that cost you a game. The "queen" may be a powerful piece but that power can also blind someone allowing other pieces to cause far more problems than they should have.

Disclaimer: I once "goofed" and plopped my Queen down right into the area threatened by a Pawn. As predicted the Pawn took my Queen which then allowed my Bishop to swoop in for the Checkmate that the Pawn would have prevented had it not moved out of position. The correlation to X-Wing is do NOT become fixated on a single piece no matter how powerful it is; doing so can cause you to make stupid moves that may not be in your best interest. Example: When Wedge is the "focused" target he acts just like Biggs but with a little more offense and a higher PS.

Hypermobile B-Wings with either Navigators or Intelligence Agents, or with a Gunner to negate the need for damage actions.

I like to focus my fire on the best shots available.

The biggest problem I see here is the list and formation. You haven't allowed yourself a good enough opportunity to put high percentage damaging dealing shots on the enemy.

Focus fire doesn't factor into this example but only because the list doesn't pass the smell test to begin with.

Massive Ion barrages make my interceptors very sad, indeed, MJ.

The biggest problem I see here is the list and formation. You haven't allowed yourself a good enough opportunity to put high percentage damaging dealing shots on the enemy.

Focus fire doesn't factor into this example but only because the list doesn't pass the smell test to begin with.

I beg to disagree with that. Without even knowing what all this mythical list is, besides XYAB, it doesn't pass the smell test so it's pointless to use as an example of an instance I don't want to focus fire?

Fine then... what about another example... Round 2 of combat, Wedge is shooting first. At R1 he has a full health academy, at R2 he has one with 1 hull remaining. Biggs and your Dagger are both going to shoot before any of the enemy. Does Wedge finish off the 1 hull ship or does he gamble on the 4v2 to one shot the other one? It seems to me that the better strategy would be to have Wedge attack the full health one, and have Biggs and your Dagger mop up the injured one (or two if Wedge didn't 1 shot it).

But conventional focus firing logic would have Wedge shoot at the injured one first to make sure it's dead before you take shots elsewhere. Now I'm not saying you should pass over it if your only other shot is a green at R3 or something like that, but I'd be fairly confident that the Dagger+Biggs should be able to knock out 1 hull on a TIE, leaving Wedge open to take the good shot on the R1 TIE.

The biggest problem I see here is the list and formation. You haven't allowed yourself a good enough opportunity to put high percentage damaging dealing shots on the enemy.

Focus fire doesn't factor into this example but only because the list doesn't pass the smell test to begin with.

I beg to disagree with that. Without even knowing what all this mythical list is, besides XYAB, it doesn't pass the smell test so it's pointless to use as an example of an instance I don't want to focus fire?

Fine then... what about another example... Round 2 of combat, Wedge is shooting first. At R1 he has a full health academy, at R2 he has one with 1 hull remaining. Biggs and your Dagger are both going to shoot before any of the enemy. Does Wedge finish off the 1 hull ship or does he gamble on the 4v2 to one shot the other one? It seems to me that the better strategy would be to have Wedge attack the full health one, and have Biggs and your Dagger mop up the injured one (or two if Wedge didn't 1 shot it).

But conventional focus firing logic would have Wedge shoot at the injured one first to make sure it's dead before you take shots elsewhere. Now I'm not saying you should pass over it if your only other shot is a green at R3 or something like that, but I'd be fairly confident that the Dagger+Biggs should be able to knock out 1 hull on a TIE, leaving Wedge open to take the good shot on the R1 TIE.

This one to me isn't that difficult. Wedge takes the range 1 shot. 4 vs 2 should mean a dead tie. If not Biggs and the Dagger should be able to get one kill a piece. The tougher questions would be the full healthed tie at R2 and the damaged at R1? Then what. I still take the R1 shot and hope that Biggs and the Dagger can take down the full health tie at R2.

I look at my opponents squad and indentify what I feel is the biggest threat. And fly towards killing it with a full squad. If I'm flying an 'A' due to cost reason I try the flank on the main fleet. If during the course of movement, another high profile target presents themselves I'm taking them out.

Last night I had a game where I was running a HWK, B, B, X list against Fel, Doom Shuttle and BH. I'm terrified of Fel and the Doom Shuttle. I fly in formation slowly to react to my opponent. They eventually tried to flank with Fel and I was slow enough to make the turn in with half my force and keep the rest on path with the shuttle and the BH. I was caring an ion and that went after Fel. If I can ion him, he's dead. If I didn't have the ion in my list I still think I would have peeled off and fought Fel. I probably did the foolish thing and split my forces, but it worked. Killed Fel in the first exchange. Killed the shuttle in the next round. My opponent made some bad piloting mistakes, but I feel my strategy was right.

Long story. It depends on what they have vs. what you have. And I take kill shots first.

The biggest problem I see here is the list and formation. You haven't allowed yourself a good enough opportunity to put high percentage damaging dealing shots on the enemy.

Focus fire doesn't factor into this example but only because the list doesn't pass the smell test to begin with.

I beg to disagree with that. Without even knowing what all this mythical list is, besides XYAB, it doesn't pass the smell test so it's pointless to use as an example of an instance I don't want to focus fire?

Fine then... what about another example... Round 2 of combat, Wedge is shooting first. At R1 he has a full health academy, at R2 he has one with 1 hull remaining. Biggs and your Dagger are both going to shoot before any of the enemy. Does Wedge finish off the 1 hull ship or does he gamble on the 4v2 to one shot the other one? It seems to me that the better strategy would be to have Wedge attack the full health one, and have Biggs and your Dagger mop up the injured one (or two if Wedge didn't 1 shot it).

But conventional focus firing logic would have Wedge shoot at the injured one first to make sure it's dead before you take shots elsewhere. Now I'm not saying you should pass over it if your only other shot is a green at R3 or something like that, but I'd be fairly confident that the Dagger+Biggs should be able to knock out 1 hull on a TIE, leaving Wedge open to take the good shot on the R1 TIE.

My apologies. I hastily posted when I should have waited and clarified further.

By splitting up you squad like that I can take all of my ships at a portion of your list without having to get hit back by all of them.

In addition I see an XYAB list as not having the necessary firepower to hurt me quick enough even if you brought all your guns together.

The lists I prefer can dish out more hurt.

Sorry if I came off as rude.

In Starcraft 2 and in the Art of War, the first rule of engaging the opponent is to choose an engagement that you are likely to win. If not, pick a different time.

This first tenet should tell you to maximize your fleet's number of attacks on the first attack as possible. Make sure everyone gets to the engagement on the same first turn.

The more numbers you have on the first shot, the better the game will go. You want to be, in general, maximizing your damage output over time, with a skew towards earlier damage.

A wounded ship still fires, versus a dead ship that doesn't. This is the general effect of focus firing. This assumes as a given that you don't give up incredible positioning to do so. Following one ship down and giving up your back to an entire rest of the enemy squad is not a good idea. Keeping a good position and taking out one ship creates a 100 vs 75 game. That is a good idea. Losing your position to 100 vs 75 behind you is NOT a good idea. Thus you can consider the action-ed attack as being more valuable than the stressed K-turn attack.

A better example of when to focus fire is: An XXBB approaches a Jendon + 3 bombers squad where both players are good enough that the engagement will have all four ships being relatively able to target one or two ships on each side.

The XXBBs should focus down one of the bombers carrying a missile. This will result in considerably lower damage from the bomber list.

Who should the Imperials focus down?

The question here is what constitutes a worse threat, the more maneuverable Xs or the bulky Bs with smaller K-turns.

How long will the fight go? As the Imperials use up missiles and Jendon is trying to turn around, the Imperials will lose their ability to maneuver well, meaning the Xs may be better end game players.

If you are left with Luke vs two bombers with no missiles. It might be rather hard to close the game. Thus sometimes, its also a good idea to focus down good end game players, such as Luke, Vader and Soontir, who have abilities that make them harder to hit.

--

Someone else on the forum said something really interesting in a previous thread. The build was:

Vader Shuttle

FCS Shuttle

FCS Shuttle

Soontir PTL

The deployment was in a big line along the edge, and turning inward as the opponent chose to focus down one of the shuttles.

In this build, the Shuttles were supposed to try and take the best long term movement runs and just take the best shots possible. No point in focus firing. Leaving the opponents at 1hull would allow Soontir to easily finish them off in a shoot-off. This utilizes highest damage output along with a late-game keypin to finish the game, allowing the enemy to instead focus fire and letting the rest of the list attack everything else.