VETERAN INSTINCTS. Seriously, Echo HAS to have Veteran Instincts, he absolutely needs to shoot first with ACD.

Vader + Decoy is how the OP is planning to boost Echo to PS9--which is better than PS6+VI. I think Echo + Outmaneuver/Predator, with Decoy on Vader, is at least an interesting plan for outmatching Falcons, and I don't know if it will work but I'd like to see someone try it.

Not exactly.

Decoy/Swarm Tactic is how the OP planned to boost Echo's SHOOTING to PS 9 which, I'll grant you, is better than the PS 8 you get with Echo +VI. Echo is still maneuvering as a PS 6 instead of as a PS 9. Maybe one never faces any pilots in that PS 6-8 range where having VI can make a difference but when one does that difference can be huge.

Now getting a Phantom, not just Echo, Predator/Outmaneuver and shooting at PS 9 may be part of a plan for dealing with Han Solo but it has it's drawbacks. It still couldn't "one shot" the Falcon. Even if shooting against 6 defense dice it is still possible that Han could "one shot" a cloaked Phantom and "just getting hit" is still likely. The points you are spending to shoot at PS 9 will be overkill on many targets. Those reasons all ignore that a late moving Echo can often dodge arcs and avoid many of those issues against ships other than Han.

I feel like with Stay on Target giving more ships Phantom like maneuverability, HSF will be even more ubiquitous than it currenlty is. Checking the regional results thread for my local area showed mostly yt-1300s. I know it sucks to get into a shot for shot war with a falcon, but I can't get out of its arc and Echo would be my highest attack ship. If I can focus Han down with my ships even if Echo dies I think I am better off agaist the remaining escorts.

VETERAN INSTINCTS. Seriously, Echo HAS to have Veteran Instincts, he absolutely needs to shoot first with ACD.

Vader + Decoy is how the OP is planning to boost Echo to PS9--which is better than PS6+VI. I think Echo + Outmaneuver/Predator, with Decoy on Vader, is at least an interesting plan for outmatching Falcons, and I don't know if it will work but I'd like to see someone try it.

Not exactly.

Decoy/Swarm Tactic is how the OP planned to boost Echo's SHOOTING to PS 9 which, I'll grant you, is better than the PS 8 you get with Echo +VI. Echo is still maneuvering as a PS 6 instead of as a PS 9. Maybe one never faces any pilots in that PS 6-8 range where having VI can make a difference but when one does that difference can be huge.

Now getting a Phantom, not just Echo, Predator/Outmaneuver and shooting at PS 9 may be part of a plan for dealing with Han Solo but it has it's drawbacks. It still couldn't "one shot" the Falcon. Even if shooting against 6 defense dice it is still possible that Han could "one shot" a cloaked Phantom and "just getting hit" is still likely. The points you are spending to shoot at PS 9 will be overkill on many targets. Those reasons all ignore that a late moving Echo can often dodge arcs and avoid many of those issues against ships other than Han.

I feel like with Stay on Target giving more ships Phantom like maneuverability, HSF will be even more ubiquitous than it currenlty is. Checking the regional results thread for my local area showed mostly yt-1300s. I know it sucks to get into a shot for shot war with a falcon, but I can't get out of its arc and Echo would be my highest attack ship. If I can focus Han down with my ships even if Echo dies I think I am better off agaist the remaining escorts.

Stay on Target with a Phantom would be HORRIBLE, because with Stay on target you treat it as a red manuever, and Phantoms CANNOT get stressed because they can't cloak then and pretty much have to do a green manuever next turn.

"That's the beauty of the alphabet, it gives you twenty-six plans to choose from..."-Fi Skirata

VETERAN INSTINCTS. Seriously, Echo HAS to have Veteran Instincts, he absolutely needs to shoot first with ACD.

Vader + Decoy is how the OP is planning to boost Echo to PS9--which is better than PS6+VI. I think Echo + Outmaneuver/Predator, with Decoy on Vader, is at least an interesting plan for outmatching Falcons, and I don't know if it will work but I'd like to see someone try it.

Not exactly.

Decoy/Swarm Tactic is how the OP planned to boost Echo's SHOOTING to PS 9 which, I'll grant you, is better than the PS 8 you get with Echo +VI. Echo is still maneuvering as a PS 6 instead of as a PS 9. Maybe one never faces any pilots in that PS 6-8 range where having VI can make a difference but when one does that difference can be huge.

Now getting a Phantom, not just Echo, Predator/Outmaneuver and shooting at PS 9 may be part of a plan for dealing with Han Solo but it has it's drawbacks. It still couldn't "one shot" the Falcon. Even if shooting against 6 defense dice it is still possible that Han could "one shot" a cloaked Phantom and "just getting hit" is still likely. The points you are spending to shoot at PS 9 will be overkill on many targets. Those reasons all ignore that a late moving Echo can often dodge arcs and avoid many of those issues against ships other than Han.

I feel like with Stay on Target giving more ships Phantom like maneuverability, HSF will be even more ubiquitous than it currenlty is. Checking the regional results thread for my local area showed mostly yt-1300s. I know it sucks to get into a shot for shot war with a falcon, but I can't get out of its arc and Echo would be my highest attack ship. If I can focus Han down with my ships even if Echo dies I think I am better off agaist the remaining escorts.

Stay on Target with a Phantom would be HORRIBLE, because with Stay on target you treat it as a red manuever, and Phantoms CANNOT get stressed because they can't cloak then and pretty much have to do a green manuever next turn.

"That's the beauty of the alphabet, it gives you twenty-six plans to choose from..."-Fi Skirata

I mean that other non-Phantom ships will gain maneuverability resembling the Phantoms cloak, not that "Stay on Target" would be good on a Phantom. This likely means that there will be more call for ships capable of dealing with that kind of movement, namly tough turret ships.

Alternately, you can run Decoy on Echo, which makes her a little more flexible. It means you can't Outmaneuver with Echo, which is a shame, but it means you can borrow PS from any other nearby pilot, and you have 34 points to work with. That's Vader + Predator and a 2-point initiative bid, or Vader + Wingman with room for Ion Pulse Missiles or a 3-point modification on Fel, or (and I actually kind of like this one) Mauler + VI and Backstabber... lots of options.

I like this, never thought of letting both Fel and Vader be targets for Decoy by putting it on Echo. Would outmaneuver be good on Vader since he will likely be the least overtly threatening target?

You really don't need Decoy in a PS8-9 only squad. For a point less you could go Veteran Instincts on Echo, which is worth its weight in gold.

What ships have you got? It's much easier to advise when we know the pool you have.

If you're looking for solid Imperial ships, the Firespray (base 33 points) is loved and for good reason, and Rexler Brath with the Heavy Laser Cannon (37 + 7) is no slouch if you can learn to fly him well.

Example Squad:

Soontir Fel (TIE interceptor) with Targeting Computer and Push the Limit

Echo with Veteran Instincts and Advanced Cloaking Device

Bounty Hunter (Firespray-31)

Expansionwise, this would require Slave I expansion (for the Firespray and Veteran Instincts), TIE Phantom expansion (Echo, Advanced Cloaking Device), TIE interceptor expansion (Soontir Fel) and Imperial Aces (Push the Limit, Targeting Computer.)

(VI and PTL are also in the Falcon and A-wing, respectively.)

All of those are Imperial expansions and full of other good stuff.

I currently have Imp Aces, TIE Defender, TIE Interceptor, TIE Phantom. I would like to avoid getting the firespray because its not an imperial ship, its a outlaw/bounty hunter ship (we dont need that scum!) This means I would like to avoid VI both because I kinda wanted to try some other crafty way to raise Echo's PS and because I don't want to get the firespray/falcon.

I would like to thank everyone for their advice so far, and I hope I don't seem too picky.

Underworld ship? The Firespray is a law enforcement ship!

The Firespray-31 is a patrol and attack craft manufactured by Kuat Systems Engineering, a subsidary of Kuat Drive Yards, the planetwide shipyards of Kuat famed for the mass production of Imperial Star Destroyers (although not the Executor, which was built at Fondor). It's widely used as a patrol craft for Imperial correctional facilities. That's why bounty hunters (many of which go after Imperial contracts) like it, it's fast, packs a punch and can handle captives.

Break out the paint, put some Imperial Grey over Boba Fett's red markings, stick some Imperial emblems on the sides of the front part, and you've got an Imperial Kuat Sector Patrol Craft.

It also comes with Stealth Device which you can use to make Fel even better, and Heavy Laser Cannon which pairs amazingly well with Rexler Brath.

It's a good buy and a very fun ship to fly. So, believe it or not, is the Lambda-class shuttle, which also comes with a lot of very nice upgrades.

VETERAN INSTINCTS. Seriously, Echo HAS to have Veteran Instincts, he absolutely needs to shoot first with ACD.

Vader + Decoy is how the OP is planning to boost Echo to PS9--which is better than PS6+VI. I think Echo + Outmaneuver/Predator, with Decoy on Vader, is at least an interesting plan for outmatching Falcons, and I don't know if it will work but I'd like to see someone try it.

Not exactly.

Decoy/Swarm Tactic is how the OP planned to boost Echo's SHOOTING to PS 9 which, I'll grant you, is better than the PS 8 you get with Echo +VI. Echo is still maneuvering as a PS 6 instead of as a PS 9. Maybe one never faces any pilots in that PS 6-8 range where having VI can make a difference but when one does that difference can be huge.

Now getting a Phantom, not just Echo, Predator/Outmaneuver and shooting at PS 9 may be part of a plan for dealing with Han Solo but it has it's drawbacks. It still couldn't "one shot" the Falcon. Even if shooting against 6 defense dice it is still possible that Han could "one shot" a cloaked Phantom and "just getting hit" is still likely. The points you are spending to shoot at PS 9 will be overkill on many targets. Those reasons all ignore that a late moving Echo can often dodge arcs and avoid many of those issues against ships other than Han.

I feel like with Stay on Target giving more ships Phantom like maneuverability, HSF will be even more ubiquitous than it currenlty is. Checking the regional results thread for my local area showed mostly yt-1300s. I know it sucks to get into a shot for shot war with a falcon, but I can't get out of its arc and Echo would be my highest attack ship. If I can focus Han down with my ships even if Echo dies I think I am better off agaist the remaining escorts.

Stay on Target with a Phantom would be HORRIBLE, because with Stay on target you treat it as a red manuever, and Phantoms CANNOT get stressed because they can't cloak then and pretty much have to do a green manuever next turn.

"That's the beauty of the alphabet, it gives you twenty-six plans to choose from..."-Fi Skirata

I mean that other non-Phantom ships will gain maneuverability resembling the Phantoms cloak, not that "Stay on Target" would be good on a Phantom. This likely means that there will be more call for ships capable of dealing with that kind of movement, namly tough turret ships.

Well i definitely agree with you there. I just misread your post.

"That's the beauty of the alphabet, it gives you twenty-six plans to choose from..."-Fi Skirata