After ignoring the glory that is the alabaster space oxen, I have found that I've been including it in 90% of my imperial lists the last month or so. More specifically, the doomshuttle.

I absolutely love this set up. But I've noticed people use it differently then I do and so I wanted to start a discussion on how you feel the doom shuttle is best used.

Do you use Vader every single attack and then ride out his last HP as best as you can? Or do you sit back and conserve him for the late game? I've even seen people set it up in the middle and ram the other opponents squad while unleashing Vader from the start.

Is there a "best" method to this? Or is it all subjective?

My take:

-I always set up edge of the board as a flanker and start the wide turning a turn early while using the red zero when I can..

-If my opponent keys on the shuttle first, I try to conserve the Vadster, doing damage as much as I can while the rest of my squad fires a few shots up their rear. I'll use him conservatively if the opportunity presents itself.

-If they ignore him, I typically fire Vader off at will. The thinking being that if one of my main threats is being focus fired out of the game, I need to cause as much damage as possible, as quickly as possible.

I see Pro's and Con's to both being conservative and aggressive.

So I ask, dear friends, how do you bring the doom?

That sounds about right.

Is it the Lambda shuttle?

Sometimes it pays to use Vader. Sometimes it doesn't. But the key is to slow play it. Once you're through you're out of the fight. You don't wantnto live that long. I use him against the key pieces of my opponents squad. The Hawks with their support abilities, Interceptors, Howlrunners, etc.

I think the best way to use it is to save Vader until you get a ship low in HP, or you get a pesky arc dancer in your sights. Always put it on a low PS shuttle and give the opponent something else to shoot at, IE a TIE Swarm, Firespray, Interceptors, etc. Otherwise they'll focus it out early. Use the rest of your squad to focus fire ships down and finish them up with the Doom Shuttle.

I run to opponent with Vader and let him died fast. Then i use the rest of my build.

If the opponent has a no-shield ship, i go for it, trying to maximize the crits made with Vader.

I think the best way to use it is to save Vader until you get a ship low in HP, or you get a pesky arc dancer in your sights. Always put it on a low PS shuttle and give the opponent something else to shoot at, IE a TIE Swarm, Firespray, Interceptors, etc. Otherwise they'll focus it out early. Use the rest of your squad to focus fire ships down and finish them up with the Doom Shuttle.

That's completely different than I thought the strategy is run. I thought you wanted them to go after the shuttle first. Its kind of like a 1 point cheaper Biggs that can put out way more damage. Why save the shuttle for the end when you possibly could be facing a slippery ship that can get behind the shuttle and chew it up?

You send the shuttle right at them and essentially force them to engage it or be crushed to death by the Sith Lord.

I think the best way to use it is to save Vader until you get a ship low in HP, or you get a pesky arc dancer in your sights. Always put it on a low PS shuttle and give the opponent something else to shoot at, IE a TIE Swarm, Firespray, Interceptors, etc. Otherwise they'll focus it out early. Use the rest of your squad to focus fire ships down and finish them up with the Doom Shuttle.

That's completely different than I thought the strategy is run. I thought you wanted them to go after the shuttle first. Its kind of like a 1 point cheaper Biggs that can put out way more damage. Why save the shuttle for the end when you possibly could be facing a slippery ship that can get behind the shuttle and chew it up?

You send the shuttle right at them and essentially force them to engage it or be crushed to death by the Sith Lord.

Oh I didn't mean that you shouldn't be aggressive with the shuttle. Just that it will Live much longer if you provide them with another major threat. Otherwise they'll focus it out turn one and you'll never use Vader.

As a noob here, what is the doom shuttle build?

As a noob here, what is the doom shuttle build?

+1 to this question, all I know is shuttle with Vader. Are there other components?

Doom Shuttle is an Omicron Group Pilot and the Darth Vader Crew card. Total for 24 points. I've added an engine upgrade to it before, but I'm not sure its necessary or cost effective. But the baseline is OGP + Vader.

I think the best way to use it is to save Vader until you get a ship low in HP, or you get a pesky arc dancer in your sights. Always put it on a low PS shuttle and give the opponent something else to shoot at, IE a TIE Swarm, Firespray, Interceptors, etc. Otherwise they'll focus it out early. Use the rest of your squad to focus fire ships down and finish them up with the Doom Shuttle.

That's completely different than I thought the strategy is run. I thought you wanted them to go after the shuttle first. Its kind of like a 1 point cheaper Biggs that can put out way more damage. Why save the shuttle for the end when you possibly could be facing a slippery ship that can get behind the shuttle and chew it up?

You send the shuttle right at them and essentially force them to engage it or be crushed to death by the Sith Lord.

Oh I didn't mean that you shouldn't be aggressive with the shuttle. Just that it will Live much longer if you provide them with another major threat. Otherwise they'll focus it out turn one and you'll never use Vader.

I've never been that unlucky to lose a shuttle before ever getting a chance to fire. Even with an entire list focus firing on your shuttle, 10 HPs is hard to chew through in a single turn. Not saying it can't be done but its rare. I'm just saying I want them to target my shuttle first. Its suppose to die just like Biggs.

As a noob here, what is the doom shuttle build?

A Doom Shuttle, at is basic level, is the generic Lambda Pilot with the Darth Vader crew card. Idea behind it is to cause damage with pews, then kick in Vader to deal damage to both yourself and the target. Doomshuttles are cheap to run for the damage they deal (24), and when complimented with a good array of allies/upgrades can be devastating.

Quite common to run this with a gunner, as it lets you trigger Vader twice, and an Engine Upgrade to get those pesky foes in arc!

Unless the next Vader use wins you the game, I recommend having the shuttle flee the battle. Best use is to vader a few times, slow rolling, 0 reds, take a bit of aggro, blocking sometimes, get low hp, then 3 fwd out of the fight. If your opponent has to waste another shot to get those points, then the shuttle has payed for itself over and over and over.

Thanks guys.

Against Rebels: Block and Shoot (till shields are gone)

Against Imperials: Shoot and Vader

Slow roll and use an academy pilot to block FOR YOU for free red maneuvers. Unleash Vader but never use Vader to kill himself unless it would take out a KEY target garunteed. A shuttle at 1 Hp limping back around can win the game for you in two turns with a 3-4 dice volley and a Vader shot. Never kill your own shuttle, make the opponent choose to chase and finish or to suffer its wrath if the game goes longer.

I like Vader (DOOM) shuttle with howlrunner and swarm. Shuttle benifts from howlrunner rerolls too!

I have seen shuttles with the engine modification and woah those big ships begin to move fast.

I have started running black squads with wingman next to it so I can keep pulling red maneuvers when needed and more importantly I can dead stop the shuttle for as long as I want. You hold the doom shuttle to where it is in a good position and it can totally traffic jam the enemy. Lots of fun options.

I have started running black squads with wingman next to it so I can keep pulling red maneuvers when needed and more importantly I can dead stop the shuttle for as long as I want. You hold the doom shuttle to where it is in a good position and it can totally traffic jam the enemy. Lots of fun options.

If you're going to use it to traffic jam the enemy, anti-pursuit lasers seem good.