Priority target.

By Khsofsso, in X-Wing

For example in the usual scum build of Wedge, Luke, Biggs. I'll leave Luke till last. Against the high intercepter list I'll go for highest PS.

This is usually a bad idea because PS doesn't identify the correct threat. For example, in the rebel example Luke is an incredibly dangerous endgame ship (especially with R2-D2), while Wedge is fairly easy to kill. So you might be better off taking Luke down while you still have the ships to put concentrated fire on him, and dealing with Wedge later. After wave 4 arrives you might even need to gank PS 3 Tarn Mison as your absolute #1 priority because his R7 droid makes him one of the hardest ships to kill 1v1.

And then of course there's the position issue. Fel might be the highest-PS threat, but if your opening maneuvers gives you a better position to chase down and kill Phennir then you'd be making a game-losing mistake if you gave up that opportunity and went for the harder target. Or you might have a case where the low-PS ship is at range 1, while the high-PS ship you want to kill is at range 3. In that situation you're usually better off taking the sure kill instead of throwing uncertain shots into the high-PS target you've declared your priority.

In short, don't go into a game with rigid rules about which ship is the priority target, always assume that you'll take the shots you're given regardless of what you're "supposed to" kill first.

I'd say this is a Pilot Skill issue.

If most of your squad fires before the escorts younwill ahbe a better chance Target Locking the. And killing one before it even fires. If this is true I'd go for the escorts first.

I played mini TIE swarm with the least PS at 3 and Turr Phennir versus a Han Shots First (2Rookie X-Wing escorts). I concentrated fire on one rookie at a time and quickly dispatched both before taegeting Han. The first X-Wing never got a shot off and the other only fired twice in the game.

Now, I have a challenge for y'all.

We've all been assuming he's facing a Han Shoots First build.

However, there is another YT-1300 + 2x Escort build out there.... BBBlockORS.

2 B-Wings, either Hypermobile or with Sensor Jammers and upgrades to taste, flying alongside an Outer Rim Smuggler with Intelligence Agent, Navigator, and Anti-Pursuit Lasers.

Do you go after the hard-hitting B-Wings, or do you go after the ship that is actively crippling your offense, mobility, positioning, and action economy, while also damaging you in non-intuitive ways?

Now, I have a challenge for y'all.

We've all been assuming he's facing a Han Shoots First build.

However, there is another YT-1300 + 2x Escort build out there.... BBBlockORS.

2 B-Wings, either Hypermobile or with Sensor Jammers and upgrades to taste, flying alongside an Outer Rim Smuggler with Intelligence Agent, Navigator, and Anti-Pursuit Lasers.

Do you go after the hard-hitting B-Wings, or do you go after the ship that is actively crippling your offense, mobility, positioning, and action economy, while also damaging you in non-intuitive ways?

I often fly a version of this (Blocker ORS with Porkins and Wedge) and I love if they go for the ORS first.

Now, I have a challenge for y'all.

We've all been assuming he's facing a Han Shoots First build.

However, there is another YT-1300 + 2x Escort build out there.... BBBlockORS.

2 B-Wings, either Hypermobile or with Sensor Jammers and upgrades to taste, flying alongside an Outer Rim Smuggler with Intelligence Agent, Navigator, and Anti-Pursuit Lasers.

Do you go after the hard-hitting B-Wings, or do you go after the ship that is actively crippling your offense, mobility, positioning, and action economy, while also damaging you in non-intuitive ways?

I often fly a version of this (Blocker ORS with Porkins and Wedge) and I love if they go for the ORS first.

And they have a devil of a time killing Porkins or Wedge if you're flying your BlockORS properly too.

Basically, its a good list. I like SableGryphons BlockORS + Blue + Blue + Blue variant :)

I can't wait for aces to come out to give Arvel EPTs :) not that it helps a whole lot 4 turns bumping into an Anti Pursuit lasers could kill him

Now, I have a challenge for y'all.

We've all been assuming he's facing a Han Shoots First build.

However, there is another YT-1300 + 2x Escort build out there.... BBBlockORS.

2 B-Wings, either Hypermobile or with Sensor Jammers and upgrades to taste, flying alongside an Outer Rim Smuggler with Intelligence Agent, Navigator, and Anti-Pursuit Lasers.

Do you go after the hard-hitting B-Wings, or do you go after the ship that is actively crippling your offense, mobility, positioning, and action economy, while also damaging you in non-intuitive ways?

This is demonstrating why "what" the YT and escorts are matters. Here the YT threat level drops while the escort threat greatly increases. As a result your priorities need to change as well. If the ORS presents as a possible "fast kill" taking it may be the right move but the B-Wings could be the bigger direct threat.