First Imp Squad or am I still thinking like a Rebel

By jaekat, in X-Wing

EMPIRE SQUADRON (100 points)

1 • Maarek Stele - Marksmanship - Cluster Missiles - Shield Upgrade (38)

2 • Carnor Jax - Elusiveness - Stealth Device - Targeting Computer - Royal Guard TIE (33)

3 • Kir Kanos - Stealth Device - Targeting Computer - Royal Guard TIE (29)

Yes - no- or tweak

Trying to do something just a little out of box

For the amount of pts of Maarek I'd suggest another named Interceptor Soon/Turr perhaps? if you want missiles u can use a bounty hunter or named bomber.

just my cents

Edited by TheycamefromBEHIND

Looks like fun. I may have a go at your list the next time I play Empire. Also at 35-37 pts you could possibly sub in the Colonel or Brath once you get a hold of a Defender.

I would rather run Vessery, Vader, Brath or Soontir than the ultra expensive Maarek you listed. Unfortunately he has a so-so ability in a crap ship. Vader at least has an awesome ability in a crap ship. Maarek is really only viable in Epic, against Epic ships... but you still got to figure out how to cause crits with two piddly attack. You could have two Scitimar Bombers both with Cluster Missiles for just 40 points.


Edited by Jo Jo

EMPIRE SQUADRON (100 points)

1 • Maarek Stele - Marksmanship - Cluster Missiles - Shield Upgrade (38)

2 • Carnor Jax - Elusiveness - Stealth Device - Targeting Computer - Royal Guard TIE (33)

3 • Kir Kanos - Stealth Device - Targeting Computer - Royal Guard TIE (29)

Yes - no- or tweak

Trying to do something just a little out of box

No.

You are very much over-upgraded, and have also included a very sub-par ship.

  • 38 points of Maarek Stele still gives you less consistent damage than 2 Academy Pilots, and he costs more than 3 of them.

  • Carnor Jax is potentially the only pilot in the game that can make use out of Elusiveness. However, he (and all Interceptors) gets astonishing utility out of Push the Limit.

  • On Named Interceptors, Targeting Computers are rarely worth the points. Target-Lock has the same odds of improving your dice as Focus does, and with your incredible mobility you should never be in a situation where you want an offensive action in which you do not have a shot.

  • In lists with very few ships, the importance of fairly rare events (Outliers) is greatly amplified. As such, you should stay away from upgrades that rely on luck, even if they have a fairly high statistic average. Carnor Jax with a Stealth Device and Elusiveness can still potentially be killed in one shot. Carnor Jax with a Hull Upgrade cannot, unless crits are involved.

I'll second the anti Maarek sentiment. Much as I want to love him in specific and the Advanced in general, I... can't.

If you want to do a 3 ship build, I'd make the third ship a Firespray or a TIE Defender. Jax will really want PTL, it will help him close to range 1 easily.

I would tweak the list to Fel+PTL, maarek as you have him, Carnor+PTL+Hull

Personally I don't like Kanos too squishy, and PTL is pretty much glued to any Interceptor with a EPS that I run

I had this problem and one things to realize is that with pre-wave 4 meta, imperials should go for quantity not quality because of the lack of shields

I'll ignore most of the pilot and upgrade choices but for all that's good if you're going to use a Shield Upgrade it really should go on one of the Interceptors. When it comes to Defense the Interceptor and Advanced both have 3 agility dice but the Advanced it tough enough that if hit it should be able to take one; the Interceptors may not be so lucky but having to suffer one more hit to bring them down can easily make a difference.

Looking at your collection, this is what I would pose:

Bounty Hunter - Gunner

Soontir Fel - PTL, Hull Upgrade

Carnor Jax - PTL

Alternatively you could change Jax in to Kanos, and have 5 points to spend. Possibly a Hull upgrade for Kanos and a Seismic Charge for the bounty hunter.

If you really want to do the Advanced, I'd go for Vader. Give him an Engine Upgrade, and either Cluster Missiles/Marksmanship, or just Adrenaline Rush and have a few more points.

Edited by Damoel

Trying to do something just a little out of box

Good luck. If you ask for list help here, unorthodoxy will be curb stomped. That said, I'd opt for hull on jax. You're gonna want him up close and personal.I like your list. Maybe non über competitive but looks like a hell of a lot of fun! If you can get Maareks ability to trigger it is oh so satisfying!

I generally don't like three ship Empire lists. Come the defender I may change tunes but I would drop Marek, and sub in a Firespray. I recently ran Trrelix, HLC, nit-pursuit lasers, with two ceptors. It was great fun. I favor a ptl royal guard and looir with a hull upgrade.

I feel like unorthodox lists may get some flak, but folks do offer some good advice for them as well.

To keep the same ships, I would do the little following for the list.

-I would remove TC from Carnor and use the 2 point to switch Maarek for Vader.

-I would then switch the Shield Upgrade for an Engine Upgrade so he gain mobility.

-I would change Marksmanship for Squad Leader on Vader so he can help Kanos to snipe with a second action

-I would replace Elusiveness on Carnor for PtL

Vader + Squad Leader + Cluster Missiles + Engine Upgrade

Carnor Jax + Push the Limit + Stealth Device

Kir Kanos + Targetting Computer + Stealth Device

Personally, I prefer Hull upgrade over Stealth Device, but it's really a matter of taste, so keep it and try it. With Interceptor, you learn fast that luck is never on your side...