So Rex with predator is pretty much standard but would it be worth an extra 4 points for engine upgrade? I feel this would give him a huge lead for range one shots after a white K. Thoughts?

Probably not. If you're spending your action on boosting then you aren't using his pilot ability, and in general range 1 without focus is less damage than range 2 with focus. So you're paying a lot of points on top of the high cost of the basic ship, and all you get is improved PS.

Rexler Brath + Predator + Engine Upgrade (44)

I like the idea of it but with 56 points left in the squad where do you go from there? Mini swarm, 3 academy pilots and Howlrunner? If you add in a Phantom you're surly in the 3 ship only range.

I agree with iPeregrine. If you are already dishing out the points for Rexlar I would want to be using focus as much as possible. Unless you are using a Fleet Officer to support him.

Good point,he's so tempting to add to lol, HLC.... Hull upgrade etc. just have to keep him simple I guess. I hope he plays as good as he looks on paper. I see him as a direct swap for the firesprays in my future builds.

I say go for it. The defender can be a little predictable with its very linear maneuvering, and boosting after k turns allows for some interesting stuff.

I have won a Defender at Imdaar and for having tried mods, the best mods is simply one of durability and I always go for the shield upgrade. It is just that much better than EU. When you invest so much in a single unit, you want that it last and the 1 more shield makes a difference. 3 hull, 4 shields and 3 evade dice, always 4 attack dice + a white K! That thing is a beast!

I have a pretty strong build with Rexler:

- Rexler + Predator + HLC

- Howl + Hull

- Back

- Dark

My strongest build though is with Vessery. Having a constant TL + focus on a Defender with HLC is just plain deadly! And I am always going for VI+HLC +Shield on Vessery, that is what I have found to be the best

Well, lets bot forget there is more to him than just his pilot ability. He IS PS 8, and will have pretty good knowledge of the best time to boost. You also won't be boosting all the time, nor will you be spending that focus for his pilot ability all the time. With shields and things you will often be in a position to focus for extra damage, or save it for defense, after all.

I just know that when I have predator, I won't often reroll a focus for the chance at 2 hits vs guarantee of spending the focus for 3 hits. The same can be said for the benefits of boost. If you cant get an arc without a boost, you won't put out ANY damage, so having that focus isn't worth it anyways. Nor will that focus give you much defense benefit at PS 8, since you'll be constantly spending it on Brath for offense. At least Boost will let you escape amd set up for subsequent rounds of shooting. Idk, ill use it.

With that in mind, putting him at more 40 pts does limit your support options. At exactly 60 left, you get 5 academy ties. And in general, the numbers work out pretty well when working with 60 pts for imps. Though, there can be arguments made whether 5 Academy pilots is better than a 4 Tie mini swarm with Howl with some sort of PS bid, so it is probably okay to go over 60.

I love the idea of Vessery + Engine Upgrade + Adrenaline Rush (40 points).

• The free Target Locks from his allies give him better than Predator as far as damage goes.
• The Engine Upgrade gives him insane mobility
• The Adrenaline Rush whitewashes his 1-2 Turns, for the rare time in which he needs a tight Turn with an Action attached (which is, admittedly, more often than most folks need a Koiogran with an action attached).

TIE defenders with Engine upgrade sounds pretty good, but Rexler Brath needs the focus action for maximum punch. If you want Boost on Rexler you ought to have a Squad Leader nearby to give him another action.

If you're willing to stick four points on him though, Opportunist could be interesting, especially when you team him with Jendon.

I love the idea of Vessery + Engine Upgrade + Adrenaline Rush (40 points).

• The free Target Locks from his allies give him better than Predator as far as damage goes.
• The Engine Upgrade gives him insane mobility
• The Adrenaline Rush whitewashes his 1-2 Turns, for the rare time in which he needs a tight Turn with an Action attached (which is, admittedly, more often than most folks need a Koiogran with an action attached).

You also could use Yorr instead of the adrenaline rush and do it multiple time in a game. Yorr also help for the target lock. I have found that the fact the Defender has a turn 1 and 2 red really affects the power of EU

TIE defenders with Engine upgrade sounds pretty good, but Rexler Brath needs the focus action for maximum punch. If you want Boost on Rexler you ought to have a Squad Leader nearby to give him another action.

If you're willing to stick four points on him though, Opportunist could be interesting, especially when you team him with Jendon.

Rexler will really start and have some fun when you can use Fleet Officer on another ship to pass him a second focus for the crit ability to kick in.

TIE defenders with Engine upgrade sounds pretty good, but Rexler Brath needs the focus action for maximum punch. If you want Boost on Rexler you ought to have a Squad Leader nearby to give him another action.

If you're willing to stick four points on him though, Opportunist could be interesting, especially when you team him with Jendon.

With Opportunist you will stress him and a Defender absolutely needs his action, and since the only way to clear a stress is a forward move, the Defender has become much more predictable

A forward at just about any speed followed by a barrel roll. That, and "predictability" is a double edged sword, if the opponent believes the Defender must have its action, Hard 3 on him.

Give EU to vessery, he already has a tl most of the time so an extra boost wont tak as much away rom being able to attack. Then give him outmaneuver.