Even though you lose out on the crits, the 4AD at RB2-3 plus extra evade die denial (at RB3) and this isn't expended like other munitions is very appealing.

So I was going through my ships and trying to figure out better methods of deployment.

I play mostly Imperials, but I did pick up a few B-Wings the other day to try to learn how they fly better.

Anyway I thought I would ask the community what you feel is the best ship(s) to have the HLC and why?

B-wings with BR and 21 points are the best.

Second would be Firespray at 33 with rear arc and larger front arc.

I've liked them on Lambdas while paired with a Gunner. Throw on an Engine upgrade, and I don't think you honestly need much more to have a pretty awesome ship.

I'm digging Rexlar Brath w/ Predator - although that's a hefty point cost (47 w/ hlc) he stands a decent chance to turn a few of those 4 hits into crits. That along with his agility and survivability makes this guy a favorite of mine.

I think it's the defender. While it is more expensive than the other platforms, it is also much easier to get consistent shots off from it and is an incredibly resilient ship, especially at the longer range where the HLC is used.

Firespray cannot fire the HLC out the back....dunno if that was suggested.

I think the defender might be a better imperial platform for the HLC than the firespray. There is at least an arguement for it.

I'd say the Defender is the "best" platform for it although some B-Wing builds may be able to give it a run. Now "best" may not necessarily be "most efficient" when it comes to use.

When it comes out I wonder if the YT-2400 would be the best overall platform for it. Let's forget about the Outrider title for a moment but consider that the HLC would DOUBLE standard forward firepower in the R2-R3 zone and while the turret may not be the greatest it can still deter doing crazy stuff around it. Throw in a BR on a large ship and there you have it.

Krassis was made for HLC. Toss a rec spec on him and you have what I think is the most balanced ship for offense and defense in the game. I use him quite a bit and never regret it.

Kath or Boba firespray with predator.

For me, is Firespray-31, because the durability of the ship, it could generate more damage, greettings.

Lamda for empire. It had the stop maneuver so it can stay at range longer. Bump stop it with an Academy, give it FCS and gunner. Also consider engine upgrade, merc copilot. Many ways to kit this out. Let it hang out near the back, and make them come to you. Bwings are good too. Have not run it in defender yet. To be honest, the board is so small that I only usually find it useful during the first couple of turns in most games. It is powerful but expensive, and most of the ships that can take it roll 3 dice already. Granted, it negates defense bonuses at range, but again this is situational. YMMV.

While shuttles are the cheapest hlc platform at 21 points. I feel the b wing is the best, due to it's small base and ability to move 1 then barrel roll, keeping it at range for longer.

But the b-wing struggles to shake an enemy once one gets behind it, and k turning leaves it stressed and at close range, the defenders k turn puts it at range two with an action which is much better.

Defender. He can keep the range far longer than anybody else, making perfect use of the HLC.

Ok, I also suggest that the Lambda is the best platform for the HLC.

First, the Lambda is cheap. At 21 points, you can afford to sink 7 points into a massive gun. However, I diverge from the above recommendations on what to do next. Now, Engine Upgrade is certainly your next choice. It allows you to escape, to reengage and to chase down enemies. Quite good. Next, a pair of Mercenary Copilots. This way, if you are shooting at range 2, instead of losing your crits, you GET two automatically. That can seriously ruin someones day. That's 36 points, the cost of Krassis without upgrades. If you really want to, you can add FCS or drop one Merc Copilot (or both!) to adjust as desired.

The Defender is the best because, at range 3 the defender gets 4 evade dice and 4 attack dice, as well as denying extra green dice to the defender.

But the b-wing struggles to shake an enemy once one gets behind it, and k turning leaves it stressed and at close range, the defenders k turn puts it at range two with an action which is much better.

Advanced sensors/ lock/ K turn...profit or..

AS/ lock/ PTL Focus/ k turn...profit more

However, the defenders white k turn ought to put you right in 4D HLC position nicely...and more effectively; you still can focus for Rex!

I will echo that the Defender is most likely the best as well. It has the better potential to reliably use the HLC of any of the other cannon upgrade ships. Its 4 k-turn can help keep the stand-off range that favors the HLC. Its also fairly tanky when you can save a focus for defense. The HLC usually can allow you to do that if you get decent rolls. Pair a HLC-toting Defender with Jonus, and you got a potent-tanky combo.

I find that with the Firespray I take a good half, if not more, of my shots out of the rear arc. Unless you K-turn frequently with the FS, which is dangerous near the edges, its hard to keep nimbler small base ships in the front arc. But why K-turn, lose an action and gain a stress when you don't have to? You can shoot behind you. I try to minimize my K-turning with the FS unless absolutely necessary. I just don't get the utility out of the HLC for the points. I wish Krassis's ability was that you can shoot secondary weapons out of the auxiliary arc. Now he would be the best HLC platform.

The shuttle is decent as a HLC platform because its cheap, but to reliably keep targets in your front arc, you need an EU. Which now puts you at 11 points of upgrades. Now with boosting you are using up an action to allow you to shoot your HLC at someone. The shuttle starts off cheap, but gets pricey when you have to upgrade around the HLC. Also, it makes it a bigger threat and more of a higher value target. Anyone who's flown shuttles before knows that with focus fire, the one evade dice doesn't help much at all.

The B-wing is ok as a HLC platform, but I find it kind of goes against its role a bit. Its dial favors shorter close in movements, which makes it a better close range "knife" fighter. So the HLC is kind of wasted a bit in my opinion. Frankly, I rather use my system slot upgrades and save the points. AS, FCS, and even Sensor jammer help the B-wing more.

I'd say the Defender is the "best" platform for it although some B-Wing builds may be able to give it a run. Now "best" may not necessarily be "most efficient" when it comes to use.

When it comes out I wonder if the YT-2400 would be the best overall platform for it. Let's forget about the Outrider title for a moment but consider that the HLC would DOUBLE standard forward firepower in the R2-R3 zone and while the turret may not be the greatest it can still deter doing crazy stuff around it. Throw in a BR on a large ship and there you have it.

You might be right about the YT-2400. It all dependent on the dial. If its YT-1300 like, it will be a beast with the HLC, especially with the barrel roll. You still get the reassurance of the turret as well. So a Tie just can't stay in tight behind you without having to dodge fire.

I've been running it on a lower level defender with Jonus (swarmtac). Being able to do a white 4K and then TL or focus is solid. Krassis is also an excellent platform.

But the b-wing struggles to shake an enemy once one gets behind it, and k turning leaves it stressed and at close range, the defenders k turn puts it at range two with an action which is much better.

Advanced sensors/ lock/ K turn...profit or..

AS/ lock/ PTL Focus/ k turn...profit more

However, the defenders white k turn ought to put you right in 4D HLC position nicely...and more effectively; you still can focus for Rex!

Nope, you can't do red maneuvers with a stress token. so your AS/Lock/Ptl/Focus with a b-wing would result in your opponent choosing a move for you. sometimes a good choice, but rarely.

With the defender, a TL focused range 2 HLC shot would be nuts after a k-turn, but that gets expensive in a hurry, 45 points right there.

Defenders for Empire. Abuse of 4blank k. and beat rebels down!

...for rebels...Dash Rendar..coming soon!

I don't play Rebels, so my opinions are based solely on Imperial lists, however I feel the Lambda is the best platform if talking ships. It is inherintly slow and with the stationary move is almost perfect for keeping the cannon at the 2-3 range. However if we are talking Pilots then I think Rexler Brath wins hands down.

Krassis was made for HLC. Toss a rec spec on him and you have what I think is the most balanced ship for offense and defense in the game. I use him quite a bit and never regret it.

Another vote for this, although a yt2400 withOUT the outrider title is looking very tempting.

A 360 HLC does sound good but that range 1 dead spot makes me afraid plus it's 12 points to field it.

A 360 HLC does sound good but that range 1 dead spot makes me afraid plus it's 12 points to field it.

I think you may have missed the OUT in "withOUT" when talking about the YT-2400. Sure you could spend even more points for the Outrider title making it the "best" HLC use you could have but the hole in the middle tells me to forget the title and save the points. The 2400 has BR to set up better shots and presumably to allow it to move forward at a very slow rate if desired; when something does manage to get by the HLC you'd still have shots due to the Turret primary weapon.