Ive played mostly rebels in my time playing this game and figured it may be time to give the Empire a go now Wave 4 is on the horizon.

I was looking at Defenders as they have some good stats for TIEs and the Named Pilots have great abilities but that cost puts me off while the Agility and positioning potential of those Phantoms though has gotten me REALLY interested but i wonder how best to run them. My suspicion is that neither is really intended to run as dedicated fleets (like the 3 named X-Wing Fleet etc)

I was looking at...

Echo + Advanced Cloak, Push the Limit

Shadow Squadron + Advanced Cloak

Shadow Squadron + Advanced Cloak

Now this is a 99 point Squadron that seems REALLY flimsy and although PS is above average it does mean those named fleets are gonna basically ignore that advanced cloak altogether and its positioning that will really save the day so i was considering something with a Lone Phantom, maybe even a Lone Defender and then adding whatever i can.

Any tips?

"Best" phantom is a fully loaded one, but that is a ton of points.

If I make it to the finale this weekend I will spend a crap ton of points on Whisper+Veteran Instincts+Rebel Captive+Advanced Cloaking Device. It is 40 points but should really aggravate my opponent. Move last (hopefully) decloak, shoot, recloak. Seems awesome.

Well yeah thats the style i was looking at but im guessing at that point, the usual TIE swarm to backup is the only thing you can really go with as if you give them the opportunity to focus on him hes still gonna get taken down.

Him and 5 Academy TIE's? Or 3 + Howlrunner? These are still just 3 HP ships without shields no matter how nippy they are.

Im still kinda tempted by the extra movement that Echo has with his banked Barrel Roll decloak though.

Perhaps...

Whisper + Vet Instincts, Advanced Cloak, Captive

Echo + Vet Instincts, Advanced Cloak, Saboteur

OGP + Anti Pursuit Lasers

Basically ram the shuttle down the enemies throats, use the stress tokens to attempt to dictate movement/collisions and the APL to chip away.

PS5/6 is a dangerous region to be using Advanced Cloaking Device. It'll be useless against anything with higher PS than you, and then you'll have 3 very dead ships. I would suggest SPA on the non named phantoms, and either SPA or Veteran Instincts on Echo.

With advice given above ive editted the first list to....

Echo + Captive, Vet Instincts, Advanced Cloak

Shadow Squadron + Saboteur, Stygium Particle Accelerator

Shadow Squadron + Saboteur, Stygium Particle Accelerator

Comes to dead on 100. Looks a little more useful i think.

I don't know that I'd say the Advanced Cloak is useless on low-PS phantoms. It's more a bet that the extra movement from decloaking every turn is worth more than the occasional free evade action.

I don't know that I'd say the Advanced Cloak is useless on low-PS phantoms. It's more a bet that the extra movement from decloaking every turn is worth more than the occasional free evade action.

Ill admit that its useful but a free evade with the normal Barrel Roll can help enough. The problem ive got with the Advanced system is that so many people run those high PS fighters that apart from that Decloak Roll, im not gonna see any benefit and the Shadows could be straight dead in a round or two with such low HP and no Shields at only AG 2. I would have to pick their spots to attack INCREDIBLY well, providing of course they havent already been chipped down due to really poor dice rolls.

With the High PS guys using it, i never actually have to declare a cloak move. Even in the first turn i can use normal actions to position/setup and my first R3 shot activates my cloak for me before any return fire.

If im honest im actually leaning more towards the 2 Named + Shuttle option though im open to suggestions if theres a better option for that third ship. A Bomber maybe? 2 TIES?

Why run three Phantoms? It is a ship to build a list around.

Off the cuff:

Shadow Squadron

FCS

Navigator

SPA

Vessery

Adrenaline Rush

Ion cannon

OGP

FCS

Tactician x 2

Or

Echo

VI

Recon Specialist

FCS

ACP

2 x Delta as the anvil to Echo's hammer

I was pondering:

Shadow + SPA x 2

Scimitar + Seismics x 2

Another option would be

Shadow + SPA x 2

Carnor Jax

Night Beast

Your 4 red dice against an enemy's unaided green dice is going to feel awfully good.

I'm interested in Whisper with recon. 3 focus a turn should be enough to allow you to shoot and focus and leave 2 to baby your 4 evade dice.

Im relatively new to the game but Is there a Benefit to using two Tacticians on a OGP?

Im thinking that with the attack power of the Shadow, using Tactician on a Shuttle to throw around stress tokens may give them another tough decision.

Two tacticians, two stress tokens for double the fun, you don't even have to hit to cancel a ship's actioning for two turns.

Ok thats more useful than the APL, just gotta make the most of the time at R2

yeah i think thats the list im gonna settle on until i can get them on the table to test them out.

Whisper + Vet Instincts, Advanced Cloak, Recon Specialist

Echo + Vet Instincts, Advanced Cloak

OGP + Tactician, Tactician

The best way to run a TIE Phantom is right off the board and out of play.

(Someone had to say it)

Colonel Vessery + Outmaneuver

Whisper +VI + FCS + WE + ACD

Scimitar + 2x FT

The TLs are STRONG in this one.

Weapons Engineer Shadows would make decent little spotters for a long range Bomber list....

"Whisper" + Predator + Stygium Particle Accelerator (37)

"Echo" + Predator + Stygium Particle Accelerator (35)

Omicron Group Pilot + Darth Vader + Engine Upgrade (28)

Personally I plan to one day run a list that is just 4 of the basic phantoms I plan to fly them like slightly flimsier xwings.

You can't have an all phatom squad, you do need a target they can try to takeout, something beefy. Like a firespray or defender. I agree that low PS phantoms with ACD isn't a good idea, you won't use it enough to get your worth and the 12 points could put in an academy tie.

Sigma+Tactician+Sensor Jammer+Stygium Particle Accelerator x3.

Cloak/De-Cloak every turn.

????

Profit.

Im not seeing where you recloak?

Cloaking is an Action and you cant fire while cloaked so.... you could uncloak, get the movement bonus then recloak i guess?

Infact recloaking is pretty much a negative unless youre not planning on shooting during that turn. Its a defensive action if you dont have a shot on.

Advaced cloaking device allows you to cloak after you shoot for free. Can't do it if stressed though.

Advaced cloaking device allows you to cloak after you shoot for free. Can't do it if stressed though.

Yeah but thats what i mean, on basic Sigma Phantoms thats almost never going to be a benefit and the list the guy before me posted didnt have Advanced Cloaks.

My prediction is that eventually players will settle on unique pilot of choice + veteran instincts + adv cloak as the most cost effective Phantom loadout

My prediction is that eventually players will settle on unique pilot of choice + veteran instincts + adv cloak as the most cost effective Phantom loadout

Thats more than likely the way. Im also curious as to the types of list theyre going to pop up in as theyre not all that cheap and pure Phantom fleets are pretty fragile. Theyre the 3rd most expensive before upgrades for Imps but im kinda expecting both the Defender and the Phantom to start becoming 'cheap options' in lists that normally would use a Firespray variant.