So has anyone thought about using the Predator title with their builds? 3 point elite pilot talent that grants a free re-roll on attacks (1 die, unless target is PS2 or less, then 2 dice).

I was thinking would work for a Green Squadron swarm. They run 20 points each with Chardan refit and Predator.

But it frees up builds Imp side from using Howlrunner as well. Or would work great with Howlrunner cause now all your fighters get 2-3 dice rerolls on attacks.

Also is it worth giving Push the Limit? Hurm.

Predator is definitely worth it and has it's place. Predator fills a different niche than Push the Limit, but in can feel the same in some instances. For instance predator allows you reliably have a way to modify attack dice yet still be able to take another action. That said Predator is not subject to action denial and doesn't grant a stress. It does not, however grant you the same sheer utility Push the Limit does on some ships, namely ships with more than two actions. On a ship with only focus and target lock Predator is by far the better choice. With more than 2 actions it becomes more of a question of what you want to do. PTL gives you the option of turtling up with with focus and evade for example.

With Rebel Aces, you could conceivably run both PTL and Pred. Not sure it's a good idea, but it is possible. 5 Greens with Chardans and an EPT does sound fun though, but it's not going to win any prizes for fire power. That said, Greens rocking the Refit, Test Pilot, Outmaneuver and Predator/PTL for 23 points makes for a potent flanker.

In conclusion, Predator is a strictly offensive upgrade with no downside, where as Push the Limit gives you more utility at the cost of a stress and is vulnerable to action denial.

Yes, everyone has thought about predator. It's pretty well known that it's an amazing card that replaces PTL in a lot of situations. As a general rule, assuming you aren't looking for a defensive EPT:

If your second action with PTL would be a target lock, take predator. Wedge, for example, has no reason to get a stress token for a re-roll when he can just take predator.

If you're woried about losing actions, take predator. This should be pretty obvious, it's a firepower boost that doesn't require an action to benefit from it.

If you're making multiple attacks (cluster missiles, gunner) consider predator. Since the re-roll applies to both attacks you'll get a lot of benefit from it.

If you have a good action bar with lots of options, take PTL. Predator is nice when it works, but is limited to giving you a "free TL action". Ships like a-wings and TIE interceptors need the flexibility of PTL to make good use of their boost/barrel roll and evade actions.

Would this card work in a Han solo list?

Came across this line of thinking yesterday and was gonna post something, but life got in the way.

I think Predator will be a solid on Black squadron Ties. Like a you say, removing the reliance on Howlrunner can be good to let the ties operate solo. I think it would also suit some low attack elites such as names bombers and Vader. Depends on your list set up but allows good independence.

Would this card work in a Han solo list?

This would be legal to equip... but not useful.

You're only allowed one reroll per die. Solo forces you to reroll all (and then not reroll any) if you trigger his ability.

You could Predator reroll one (or two against <= PS2), and then Solo the rest, but... don't do that.

My thoughts trend toward BSP+Pred lists...

Might be trash, but you can run 6 TIE/Ln, 5 having Pred for a Howl-free mini-swarm.

I think Chris Hansen needs to speak to it.

Would this card work in a Han solo list?

Came across this line of thinking yesterday and was gonna post something, but life got in the way.

I used it with Solo once and it is now my EPT of choice for him. It works just like a target lock: 2 hit and a miss, reroll one die with Predator; 0 hit, reroll all die with Solo ability; 1 hit, reroll all, 1 die or 2 if against PS1-2 depending on situation.

It allows you to play more defensively. My new Solo build:

Han Solo + Predator + Chewbacca + C3PO + Falcon title (57pts)

Alternatively, you can switch Chewie for a gunner for one more point. Predator is still useful for the second attack, so it works great with that too.

Would this card work in a Han solo list?

Came across this line of thinking yesterday and was gonna post something, but life got in the way.

It doesn't work "with" Han's pilot ability but as Red Castle is showing it can be complementary by easily giving you the option to reroll one (maybe two) OR all of your dice with Han.

I think Predator will be a solid on Black squadron Ties. Like a you say, removing the reliance on Howlrunner can be good to let the ties operate solo. I think it would also suit some low attack elites such as names bombers and Vader. Depends on your list set up but allows good independence.

That's a question that has been debated before on several different threads. Using Predator upgrades may remove a "dependence" on Howlrunner but it is also far less efficient. For the cost of four BSP+Predators (68 points) you get Howlrunner + 4 Academy Pilot (66 pts) for 2 points less with an additional ship.

I think Predator will be a solid on Black squadron Ties. Like a you say, removing the reliance on Howlrunner can be good to let the ties operate solo. I think it would also suit some low attack elites such as names bombers and Vader. Depends on your list set up but allows good independence.

That's a question that has been debated before on several different threads. Using Predator upgrades may remove a "dependence" on Howlrunner but it is also far less efficient. For the cost of four BSP+Predators (68 points) you get Howlrunner + 4 Academy Pilot (66 pts) for 2 points less with an additional ship.

That's a very good point and running any sort of Swarm then Howlrunner is still probably an auto include, however she will be the first target for most. The BSP's do give you complete freedom of positioning, outside of Howlrunners R1, and leave target priority a tougher call. Perhaps some of the other named pilots are better picks for higher PS but Predator BSP's do kind of fill a jack of all trades roll, allowing an offensive modification alongside being able to barrel roll to better positions or evade to survive.

If you don't have target lock predator is great.

Hardest part is just remembering that I had it. It's not a skill you use every turn (sometimes you get all hits, or hits and eyeballs) so I frequently forgot to use it the first few matches.

Hmm, a Black Squadron TIE with Predator is cheaper than an Alpha Squadron pilot. Frees up 3 points in my Krassis + 3 Alphas squad. Something to experiment with...

Was thinking of this myself

Krassis, HLC, Recon, Seismic

3 x BSP predators

99pts

Something just doesn't feel quite right with it though.

I flew a mini swarm of black sqaudron TIEs all with preditor. It was awesome.

Hmm, a Black Squadron TIE with Predator is cheaper than an Alpha Squadron pilot. Frees up 3 points in my Krassis + 3 Alphas squad. Something to experiment with...

The BSP+Predator is a point cheaper than the Alpha and has PS 4 vs PS 1 advantage. The Alphas still have Boost, more green on the dial, and are always rolling one more die.

I've been loving GSP + Predator as a flanker. Predator + Focus means you're almost guaranteed one hit, and usually get two; plus, you can evade without totally sacrificing defense.

I've been loving GSP + Predator as a flanker. Predator + Focus means you're almost guaranteed one hit, and usually get two; plus, you can evade without totally sacrificing defense.

I believe you meant "offense".

How do you guys feel about a comparison between Predator and Flight Instructor? Sure, they fill different niches (Flight Instructor is defense and crew, while Predator is offense and EPT), but they both punish low-PS ships and thus mainly swarms.

Are the two different enough to consider both in any list and thus comparing them makes sense, or is their focus so different that they only fit different lists in the first place?

So has anyone thought about using the Predator title with their builds? 3 point elite pilot talent that grants a free re-roll on attacks (1 die, unless target is PS2 or less, then 2 dice).

I was thinking would work for a Green Squadron swarm. They run 20 points each with Chardan refit and Predator.

But it frees up builds Imp side from using Howlrunner as well. Or would work great with Howlrunner cause now all your fighters get 2-3 dice rerolls on attacks.

Also is it worth giving Push the Limit? Hurm.

Pred is one of the best upgrades to date. It's completely bitchin.

I flew a mini swarm of black sqaudron TIEs all with preditor. It was awesome.

I played a game with 5 Black Squadrons with Predator and 1 Night Beast. I versed the worst matchup for it and did poorly - 3x Shadow Squadron Pilots with Advanced Cloak and Fire Control System. TIEs didn't stand a chance. I'm going to test it against other builds sometime in two weeks.

How do you guys feel about a comparison between Predator and Flight Instructor? Sure, they fill different niches (Flight Instructor is defense and crew, while Predator is offense and EPT), but they both punish low-PS ships and thus mainly swarms.

Are the two different enough to consider both in any list and thus comparing them makes sense, or is their focus so different that they only fit different lists in the first place?

I wouldn't really say that. Flight Instructor is more "i will make it slightly easier to evade you", and Predator is more like " B**** I will cut you."

How do you guys feel about a comparison between Predator and Flight Instructor? Sure, they fill different niches (Flight Instructor is defense and crew, while Predator is offense and EPT), but they both punish low-PS ships and thus mainly swarms.

Are the two different enough to consider both in any list and thus comparing them makes sense, or is their focus so different that they only fit different lists in the first place?

I wouldn't really say that. Flight Instructor is more "i will make it slightly easier to evade you", and Predator is more like " B**** I will cut you."

Predator interacts positively with focus.

Flight Instructor interacts negatively.

Attack dice have a 50-75% chance to come up good.

Flight Instructor gives a 3/8 chance to improve a focus result. Against a lowbPS pilot it gives a 5/8ths chance if you focused.

The only thing Flight Instructor is better for is facing low PS swarms, but even then, ships with crew have low agility already.