While everyone is worried about the Phantom dominating the tournament scene the Z-95 has been gaining ground. The Phantom has been proving itself as a solid choice to do battle with. We all knew it was a very good ship combined with Advance Cloaking Device. The Kingston regionals was this weekend and this list took top honors:

"Whisper" + Gunner + Fire-Control System + Veteran Instincts + Advanced Cloaking Device (44)

Soontir Fel + Push the Limit (30)

Captain Yorr (24)

That is a really interesting list, a fully loaded Whisper. However that is not what I find the most interesting from this event. There were 12 Z-95's in the top 8, 12! Second place was captured by a Z Swarm list that looked like this:

Airen Cracken + Swarm Tactics + Shield Upgrade (25)

Tala Squadron Pilot (13)

Tala Squadron Pilot (13)

Tala Squadron Pilot (13)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

We all thought a Z swarm would struggle without a Howlrunner effect. I am personally impressed at the performance the Z's have been showing in the new meta. So while the Phantom keeps everyone's attention the meta is being changed mostly be the Z-95. What seems to be happening the most is 3 Z's are replacing 2 Rookies. The 6 point difference is spent on upgrades to the featured ship in the squad. Here is an example of what we've seen:

Han Solo + Veteran Instincts + Gunner + C3-PO + Millennium Falcon + Engine Upgrade (60)

Tala Squadron Pilot (13)

Tala Squadron Pilot (13)

Tala Squadron Pilot (13)

With Phantoms and Z's taking over the E-Wing and Defender are still looking for a home. I want to get some opinions on a squad I've been thinking about. I personally really like Etahn, his ability to improve hits to crits is very intriguing. I was running the 2 rookies in my testing and now because of the performance we've seen by the Z's, switching to 3 Z's. Here is the squad for your consideration:

Etahn A'baht + R2-D2 + Predator (39)

Biggs Darklighter (25)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

With the rookies I only had 1 point left and never really liked any of the upgrades at 1 point for this list. By switching to Z's, I gained the 6 points to upgrade Etahn my featured ship. 7 points gave me room for R2-D2 and Predator. My next play testing session I will be putting it on the table but just wanted to get some opinions.

I like everything you just posted.

I agree with it all too.

The Defender is awesome but it is a ship that will reward cunning pilots.

I like to think of it as a super Squint, but with different maneuvering and better weapons.

This sort of confirms my suspicion that in numbers - the Zs can be formidable.

Based on the past winning % of the Tie-swarms and that the base Zs being better than the base Ties.

(Just so we define what is considered a swarm - in the 100pt game consisting of 5 or more ships of the same type.)

Reason dictates that a Z Swarm w/ combo of some other ship type can be very effective squad.

With Phantoms and Z's taking over the E-Wing and Defender are still looking for a home. I want to get some opinions on a squad I've been thinking about. I personally really like Etahn, his ability to improve hits to crits is very intriguing. I was running the 2 rookies in my testing and now because of the performance we've seen by the Z's, switching to 3 Z's. Here is the squad for your consideration:

Etahn A'baht + R2-D2 + Predator (39)

Biggs Darklighter (25)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

With the rookies I only had 1 point left and never really liked any of the upgrades at 1 point for this list. By switching to Z's, I gained the 6 points to upgrade Etahn my featured ship. 7 points gave me room for R2-D2 and Predator. My next play testing session I will be putting it on the table but just wanted to get some opinions.

I actually came up with the same thing, but using R2 Astromech and Advanced Sensors in place of R2-D2. I think I like the R2 version better, as it gives your star player some added survivability, but advanced sensors on an E-wing is awesome too. I also agree that the Z95 may be the sleeper star from this wave, similar to the shuttle from last wave.

I would remove biggs. You don't need the extra points to protect etahn if you build him accordingly.

Etahn A'Baht + R2 + Push the Limit + Advanced sensors

Bandit Squadron Pilot x 5

This way you have a more swarmy list and you are taking better advantadge of the crit ability of etahn.

I don't think the Zwarm is overly viable (I've seen it lose to several different types of squads). But, I have and continue to think that 1-3 Zs in a squad will really change the game. Gives rebels a lot more options in their popular 4 ship build and elsewhere.

I really like Abaht and think when paired with a mini swarm of his own can perform very well and might give life to lower PS lists.

With Phantoms and Z's taking over the E-Wing and Defender are still looking for a home. I want to get some opinions on a squad I've been thinking about. I personally really like Etahn, his ability to improve hits to crits is very intriguing. I was running the 2 rookies in my testing and now because of the performance we've seen by the Z's, switching to 3 Z's. Here is the squad for your consideration:

Etahn A'baht + R2-D2 + Predator (39)

Biggs Darklighter (25)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

With the rookies I only had 1 point left and never really liked any of the upgrades at 1 point for this list. By switching to Z's, I gained the 6 points to upgrade Etahn my featured ship. 7 points gave me room for R2-D2 and Predator. My next play testing session I will be putting it on the table but just wanted to get some opinions.

I actually came up with the same thing, but using R2 Astromech and Advanced Sensors in place of R2-D2. I think I like the R2 version better, as it gives your star player some added survivability, but advanced sensors on an E-wing is awesome too. I also agree that the Z95 may be the sleeper star from this wave, similar to the shuttle from last wave.

Advanced Sensors has always been a staple upgrade in X-Wing. At a 3 point swap between Predator and Advance Sensor it comes down to a matter of taste. Both have their benefits. B-Wing's are an excellent choice for the Advanced Sensors as they have a lot more red on that dial compared to the E-Wing. It helps keep the B-Wing's using their actions. As the popularity of the Z's grows, as it seems it will, the chance for Predator to kick in that 2 dice reroll. I will have to see how often each card will trigger during play testing. I do have the feeling I'll get more use out of Predator over Advance Senors, but certainly couldn't go wrong either way.

While I suppose it was inevitable, I'm sad to see the X-Wings being phased out of X-Wing.

I don't think the Zwarm is overly viable (I've seen it lose to several different types of squads). But, I have and continue to think that 1-3 Zs in a squad will really change the game. Gives rebels a lot more options in their popular 4 ship build and elsewhere.

This for sure until proven otherwise. I kinda feel bad for the rookies, but I suppose they have had their time to shine. I can't imagine taking 2 rooks over 3 Zs + 6 pts. Hell, for 6 MORE pts than the 2 rooks you could have 4 Zs.

Speaking of phasing out X wings, I recently tabled an opponent with:

Yt1300 - Chewie, C3P0, and the falcon card,

Ewing - knave squadron x 2.

The E's have muscled out the X wings I used to use with the falcon. I've only flown the list once, but the extra agility dice seemed to make a big difference. I'll need to play it a few more times, but it was a joy to fly. 3 decent dials, and plenty of surviveability.

Played and won with this last night

A'baht

Gold with ICT

3 x Bandit with IonPulse

vs Zoom Shuttle, Onyx and Echo

Downed the Empire in a flurry of Ion and Crits. Its tricky getting the TLs for the missiles but I managed to hit with 2 of 3. To be fair it was my opponents first go with Echo so he could have been used more effectively but the wide net the 4 ion totting ships can throw was pretty effective. I like naked Ethan too, he has the stats to be effective, and helps the Z's hits count as they will likely be Crits. He can also get there in a hurry when a ship is ionized and needs a kill shot.

It's got significant PS problems, but I ran this twice the other day and won both games:

Blue x2

Bandit x2

Luke+R2-D2

The Bandits replace one ship in a more normal XXBB, and I decided on Luke for PS reasons, assuming he'd get focused fast so the other lists would have less shoot-first to worry about. I lost one Bandit in the first game, and a Blue to a Seismic in the second.

Thinking about replacing Luke with Etahn, dropping the Blues for Greens, and bumping the Bandits up to Talas, which is a nice 3-4-5 cluster. Alternatively, I'd drop R2-D2 off Etahn and run him with VI+AdvS to get a crit in faster.

While I suppose it was inevitable, I'm sad to see the X-Wings being phased out of X-Wing.

I don't think that's completely happening, but I do see the generic X-Wings being phased out. The named pilots have too many good abilities to be replaced.

Anyone notice that every time someone blathers about, "is this the new best ship?" it's almost always what has the most attack die?

Not dials, abilities or applied cards. The attack dice. This leads me to believe one thing.

They're the, "Best" because they're the easiest to use the power of, upfront. Which doesn't make them the best at all. Just the most accessibly powerful, relying more on PEW PEW than skill.

Of course, that's just an observation of mine. I could be wrong.

I also believe the X-Wing is not completely being replaced, just the Rookie and Red. There is too much value in the named X-Wing pilots for them to ever disappear from competitive play.

Captain Lackwit, no one here is claiming the Title of "Best Ship!". (Waving hand in front of you) this is not the thread you are looking for!

I really wish I had enough points for a good AEXZ list.

I also wish I could make a better acronym for that.

I find the title of this thread amusing because I feel that's where the real threat behind the phantom lies: your opponent WORRYING about the phantom. I'm not saying the phantom isn't hard hitting and dangerous, it most certainly is, but your opponent may open himself to attack from other units while trying to position to defend against the phantom. Therein lies it's true threat.

Now what I'm surprised about is E'than not DOMINATING the rebel meta with his absurdly powerful ability. I knew it was good, but until I actually exploited it I had no idea just how overpoweringly effective it is. The sheer number of crits it generates will frequently turn the tide of a fight against the unshielded ships of the empire.

I really wish I had enough points for a good AEXZ list.

I also wish I could make a better acronym for that.

How about a ZEXY one?

Bandit Pilot

Blackmoon + Advanced Sensor (or Etahn A'Baht)

Hobbie + R3-A2

Dutch + Ion turret

You know something,

I like 4 shuttles in turtle formation covering all angles with ion, it works like this.

s. s. s. s.

The edges turn hard inwards and the two in the center stop. Next turn everyone moves 1 straight all turns after. The shuttles stay put coving all angles.

\ /

>ss<

ss

Anyone notice that every time someone blathers about, "is this the new best ship?" it's almost always what has the most attack die?

Not dials, abilities or applied cards. The attack dice. This leads me to believe one thing.

They're the, "Best" because they're the easiest to use the power of, upfront. Which doesn't make them the best at all. Just the most accessibly powerful, relying more on PEW PEW than skill.

Of course, that's just an observation of mine. I could be wrong.

Nah for a casual player or tourist you are probably right.

I also believe the X-Wing is not completely being replaced, just the Rookie and Red. There is too much value in the named X-Wing pilots for them to ever disappear from competitive play.

Captain Lackwit, no one here is claiming the Title of "Best Ship!". (Waving hand in front of you) this is not the thread you are looking for!

There's a reason I didn't say in this thread. I was talking with, not against.

Then one must consider how many are, "Casual" players. I hear so much about the stygium stuffed thing that it gives the impression that it's all anyone, even competitive types, are using. I for one will never understand choosing a list based on firepower.

Of course, then one has to define what a casual player is. Which is loosely definable at best.

First game I used the phantom my two defenders stole all the glory so I tried a list based on a 40 point echo and she tore things appart in an impressive fashion, you have to do some fancy flying to avoid high ps guys taking you out but if you get echo behind someone they are dead.

Z-95 looks good when I start my rebel fleet I'll be using them but the named pilots have not impressed me and when I've fought against them they've died in a single round of shooting, at 12 the lower survivability is fine but a tooled up headhunter just won't get a chance to do much.

Anyone notice that every time someone blathers about, "is this the new best ship?" it's almost always what has the most attack die?

Not dials, abilities or applied cards. The attack dice. This leads me to believe one thing.

They're the, "Best" because they're the easiest to use the power of, upfront. Which doesn't make them the best at all. Just the most accessibly powerful, relying more on PEW PEW than skill.

Of course, that's just an observation of mine. I could be wrong.

To be fair this ship has the most attack dice in the game. Can have the most def. dice in the game. Can move like no other ship before dials are revealed. Can take a crew and a sensor. It has pretty much anything you could want if you don't trust ordinances.

Are you guy's crazy! Everyone knows the best ship in the game is a Tie Bomber!

Boom Boom Bang! Oooooh what fun it is! :-)