Can't beat my friend

By hanasolo, in X-Wing

Hello, I know this is pretty lame and I hope my friend won't read this topic but simply I can't beat him. This is his squadron https://www.dropbox.com/s/t5wu8vrhiir24qc/%5BUnnamed%20Squadron%5D%20%C2%B7%20X-Wing%20Squadron%20Builder.pdf

I'm missing some points but I guess those are irrelevant. His basic idea is to fly very slow in one corner and collect as many focus tokens as he can. First problem is how to play against such tactique and the second one what squadron do beat him? Of course using Imperial Navy!

Maybe Carnor Jax with Tie Swarm? I don't have ships form wave IV.

Cheers.

Edited by hanasolo

Maybe you should get over there as quick as you can to disrupt him? A couple of 5 forwards with boost will get there pretty sharpish. Stops him building up and catches him off guard? Even if he realises it might make him change tactics?

I've not been playing long, but I'd try to knock him out of his rhythm. Others may have better solutions.

I've been trying your solution but in this scenarion I have to fly into asteroid which with TIEs is very hard, and also he is sitting in the corner so with speed of Imperial Navy's ships is hard for me to fight in such area.

What lists have you been flying to try and beat him?

His list just doesn't seem all that scary to me...

So your buddy uses this squad?

Ibtisam + Advanced Sensors + Veteran Instincts (32)

Jek Porkins + R5-P9 + Expert Handling (31)

Kyle Katarn + Expert Handling + Ion Cannon Turret + Moldy Crow (31)

First he has 6 points to build and is only a 3 ship build. It would help us if you could list the ships you have to field for the Imperials.

Carnor Jax shuts down focus tokens if you can get in close. This means he can't spend focus tokens to repair shields on Porkins. The Rebs aren't very agile. Target Locked Heavy Laser Cannons would probably do the trick. A pilot skill 9 ship with Squad Leader can hand out an action to Make someone target lock after his ships have already done their actions.

Krassis Trelix with Heavy Laser Cannon

Darth Vader with Squad Leader

Carnor Jax

Make sure Jax stays out of line of fire from some of those guys. If you get too reckless and boost in at the wrong time you'll eat 3 attacks. With Darth + Krassis you'll get a Target Locked + Focus + 1 more reroll 4 attack dice at range 3, and he'll only get 2 defense dice with his Moldy Crow. You'll probably want to kill of the Moldy Crow first since that 360 degree ion turret will make it harder to keep in close with Carnor. Always do evade action on Carnor While you're hanging back.

Try to kill a lower Pilot Skill ship before it gets shots off.

Or just do 6 named Ties.

The other option is to start with a Pilot skill 9 Vader or Fel, and daisy chain Swarm Tactics to as many other cheap ships with elite skills as you can.

Edited by Vulf

I just don't remember his other upgrades which covers that 6 points. I have 5 Ties, Imperial Aces, 2 Lambdas, Firespray, 2 Tie Advanced and 1 TIE Bomber.

Darth Vader + Swarm Tactics

Soontir Fel + Swarm Tactics + Shield Upgrade

Alpha Squadron Pilot

Alpha Squadron Pilot

Keep the Alphas within one of the PS 9 guys. Everyone uses Focus, Vader can also target lock to make his 2 dice do as well as the 3 from the others.

You'll get all 4 attacks off before he gets 1. Kill that Ion cannon!

Edited by Vulf

Try doing something like this:

Bounty Hunter + Heavy Laser Cannon + Recon Specialist (43)

Howlrunner + Stealth Device (21)

Academy Pilot (12)

Academy Pilot (12)

Academy Pilot (12)

You'll want to run down the HWK first, they tend to be a little weak to a focused attack. Turn of that focus battery as soon as you can. The mini swarm should handle the B-Wing with not to much trouble. If he plans on stressing the B-Wing block it to prevent actions squad. To many bad rolls on the X-Wing attempting to remain stress free is only going to help you. Sure he can regenerate those shields but holds onto those faced down cards.

If you are willing to buy a ship or two, get a Defender and/or Interceptor pack, then bring three high PS ships. Ex: Carnor, Turr, and Tetran in Interceptors, load up with TC's and set up straight across from him, run straight at him and concentrate fire on the HWK 290! Alternatively bring Vessery, Carnor and another named interceptor. Put TC's on the Interceptors, EU and VI on Vessery and do a similar maneuver at the beginning. The whole idea is concentrated firepower on the HWK early and it's death in two to three turns from initial contact.

Good luck!

http://xwing-builder.co.uk/view/94638/beat-your-friend maybe something like this?

Carnor gets in close and uses his stupidly high PS to outmanouver and nip at targets up close. Meanwhile Jonus fires off his Flechette torpedoes while closing, causing damage and stress (though don't stress Ibtisam!) while lending his ability to Krassis who is getting THREE re-rolls when using the HLC.

Youll get all 4 attacks off before he gets 1. Kill that Ion cannon!

Ibtisam (PS8) with Veteran Instincts makes for a PS10 ship... That'll shoot before your PS 9s.

Youll get all 4 attacks off before he gets 1. Kill that Ion cannon!

Ibtisam (PS8) with Veteran Instincts makes for a PS10 ship... That'll shoot before your PS 9s.

Ibtisam is Pilot Skill 6 base.

Ten Numb is the PS 8 B-wing, he costs 3 points more.

Edited by Vulf

Youll get all 4 attacks off before he gets 1. Kill that Ion cannon!

Ibtisam (PS8) with Veteran Instincts makes for a PS10 ship... That'll shoot before your PS 9s.

Ibby is a six. Numb is an 8

Youll get all 4 attacks off before he gets 1. Kill that Ion cannon!

Ibtisam (PS8) with Veteran Instincts makes for a PS10 ship... That'll shoot before your PS 9s.

Ibtisam is Pilot Skill 6 base.

Ten Numb is the PS 8 B-wing, he costs 3 points more.

Ahhh... I got confused since the linked PDF shows Ibtisam as PS8, but that includes VI's +2 already.

I'm used to geordanr's (Yet Another) Squad Builder which would have showed the PS as 6 (8).

My bad!

http://xwing-builder.co.uk/view/94638/beat-your-friend maybe something like this?

Carnor gets in close and uses his stupidly high PS to outmanouver and nip at targets up close. Meanwhile Jonus fires off his Flechette torpedoes while closing, causing damage and stress (though don't stress Ibtisam!) while lending his ability to Krassis who is getting THREE re-rolls when using the HLC.

Flechette Torpedoes come in E-Wing and Transport. If your friend doesn't mind you printing stuff off or borrowing the torpedoes...

The only problem I see is that all 3 enemy ships may be able to get a shot off on Jonus before he gets to fire. The Ion Turret will probably be out of range, but an X-Wing and B-wing is still nothing to sneeze at when you have no evade action to cancel crits. The first trade of fire will probably happen before Carnor can get in range 1. But if he's wasting time shooting at the bomber while Carnor is getting into range, that's almost a win right there.

Edited by Vulf

Here's what you do throw a massive wobbly sweep all his models onto the floor and jump up on them repeatedly, job done!

More seriously don't give up there is no perfect combo in this game and everything has a counter keep trying.

Consider lobbing assault missiles into him if he flies in a tight formation and spreading damage to all his ships at once stuff like that.

Just pick one of the squad archetype that is known to perform consistently, and fly it a few times to get used to it. You should beat him soon enough.

Biggs + 3 B-Wings

2 Falcons

TIE Swarm

3 Firesprays

His list doesn't seem like a list that requires a hard counter to beat...

His basic idea is to fly very slow in one corner and collect as many focus tokens as he can.

This caught my eye. I want to make sure I understand what you mean by "collect." Your buddy isn't saving tokens from round to round, is he? Any unused tokens go away at the end of the round, unless the ship has the Moldy Crow title.

EDIT: Nevermind, I see the Crow is part of the squad. Sorry.

Edited by Rain King

Try doing something like this:

Bounty Hunter + Heavy Laser Cannon + Recon Specialist (43)

Howlrunner + Stealth Device (21)

Academy Pilot (12)

Academy Pilot (12)

Academy Pilot (12)

You'll want to run down the HWK first, they tend to be a little weak to a focused attack. Turn of that focus battery as soon as you can. The mini swarm should handle the B-Wing with not to much trouble. If he plans on stressing the B-Wing block it to prevent actions squad. To many bad rolls on the X-Wing attempting to remain stress free is only going to help you. Sure he can regenerate those shields but holds onto those faced down cards.

I second this list. Firespray + mini-swarm should get the job done.

But for my part, I would focus on Ibtisam first. He only has 2 ship that can hurt you and they are not that terrifying, once you get rid of one, his damage output is pretty much done.

His list doesn't seem like a list that requires a hard counter to beat...

but I had a lot of trouble dealing with his list. Maybe because I'm rebel player.

I guess I will try Firespray with mini swarm.

Although it is not as easy as it seems. Because I have to put all the ships first. In the middle there are always asteroids and if I put them in the corner he will always choose opposite one.

Your buddy's build isn't very strong.

I think it could be outactioned and outgunned with a classic TIE Fighter Swarm (Howlrunner + 6 other TIEs).

Or, you can try Soontir Fel + stuff, as only Kyle Katarn has a 360 arc of fire. So, take out Katarn first and then hit his other guys with impunity with Soontir Fel.

If you are a rebel player, perhaps try Han Shoots First. It is a easy to put together meta build that IMHO is one of the top three builds for rebels.

I'll echo the sentiment that I don't think you need a specific list to beat this. And Carnor Jax is unnecessary. Even though they are greatly modified, your opponent is still only chucking 9 red dice at range 2 and they are only capable of roughly 7 damage. He just doesn't have much damage output. And I think Ibby is the clear first target here. The most offensive ship he has on the board, and that 1 agility die isn't helped very much by his focus farm. I'd willingly attack Porkins first too if he was just a better target to get to.

If I were inclined to build a list to counter this, I think I'd throw 2 Bounty Hunters right in his face to start with. He'll have a hard time getting through their HP, and two evade dice don't hurt. And his ion cannon will get a lot less use against a large base ship. To go with those BHs, you can almost pick whatever you please. I'd probably take Dark Curse and another TIE since DC is a small counter to everything this list tries to do with focus. But you could also throw in a Shuttle or another Bounty Hunter. Depending on what you add, throw in a Recon Specialist on a bounty hunter if you have the points.

Edited by GiraffeandZebra

You should become a muscle wizard and cast fist.

I heard that thing has like twenty attack die.