so my next purchase is gona be a defender but dunno how to field it, I'm thinking rexler with predator, but I figure you guys are the ones to ask.

is a named pilot an auto included for defender or do the generics work.

jus for reference I have 5 ties, 3 interceptors, a firespray, and a phantom.

Rexler is quite great with predator and a focus, helps get his ability off, but more than likely just helps with reliable damage output. Vessery is great if you have a ship that can toss out TLs with another ship that either gains it after its attack but before Vessery attacks, like Fire Control System on a high PS Echo or Whisper, or a ship that can TL and fire AFTER Vessery so that it can still gain its own use from the TL and not have to keep it there just for Vessery.

Plain jane defenders are great pincushions and people usually don't give them much credit when they hit the board. If you can get them in on a flank at an angle to allow for max use of that white 4k they become outstanding damage dealers.

The list I am currently using and am enjoying:

Echo w/ VI+FCS+AdvC

Vessery w/ Outmaneuver

Omicron Group Pilot w/ Darthvader

In your case, you could toss a HLC on vessery and take a black squadron pilot with a targeting computer to help Vessery get the required locks, or a bomber might do well (I have run this and enjoy it as well).

That is just a few ideas. Fly it a few times in lists you might like and get a feel for it. That will be your best way to understand the ship.

I have been using defenders for a while with mixed results.

I have however found that Rexler with a Heavy Laser Canon to have a great damage output.

Rex+pred+HLC

Then take four ties as a miniswarm which can rush in and make a mess mid field while rexler picks things apart from range.

If they ignore the ties to go after the defender you can get in behind them and stay there pulsing on the punishment it's win win.

I used rexler in an epic game with heavy laser,

I shot a shieldless tanive, did 4 damage and changed all to crits, basically took out every upgrade in that section without crippling it. it was awesome

I've been playing around with 2x Onyx Defenders with Ion Cannon, clocking in at 35 each.

Plan is to Ion the target, then K-Turn in behind them to shoot them at range 1 out of arc. I flew them with Jonus with middling results. I'm going to try with some other support to see how it goes, but I feel the Defenders are the solid choice.

Rex+pred+HLC

Then take four ties as a miniswarm which can rush in and make a mess mid field while rexler picks things apart from range.

If they ignore the ties to go after the defender you can get in behind them and stay there pulsing on the punishment it's win win.

I personally can't wait for Lonewolf so I can switch Predator for it and include Howlrunner into the swarm. That will be one nasty team!

Rexler + LW + HLC

Howlrunner

Academy x3

...

To the OP, I also had great fun with Vessery paired with a Shuttle with the ST-321 title, Fire-Control System and Weapon Engineer. Until the Shuttle goes down, you are pretty much guaranteed to have a target lock for Vessery to benefit.

Generics works too. Vanilla for tank and blocking; with a Ion Cannon for control; or a HLC for sniping. When I run Generic Defenders, I usually run them in pair. 2 Delta with a HLC teamed up with Jonus can be devastating against high Hit Point-low maneuvrability teams.

I wonder what will the new cannons from wave 6 will bring.

I've been flying the defender a lot lately. Like any ship it takes a while to figure out what it can and can't do, and how best to use it. Expect lots of early defeats. For me, I have found a couple of things critical to the way I fly and use the defender.

1. Asteroid placement. I personally like to clump up the middle of the board as much as possible, and try to draw the enemy ships into the asteroids or around them for battle. If you do this technique, then spend lots of time learning to maneuver the Defender in and around the asteroids. Getting the extra defense dice for the Defender when behind the asterioids is great, and then being able to pop out from behind an asteroid at range 3 is just fun.

2. With the above though and like anything else, you need a good support squad around him. Jonus is usually in the list, and I've been having good success with Vader as well in the tie advance. I've used Decoy and Swarm Tactics interchangably. Also a group of Tie Bombers carrying seismic charges, proton bombs, or proximity mines is good to clutter up the flight paths of the enemy ships.

Don't count out the low pilot skill defenders in the lists Paired with Darth or Jonus, with Decoy/Swarm Tactics and the Defender with HLC, it makes for a very potent strike squad. Just make sure you are staying at range 3 and as much as possible not getting caught in the arcs. Don't over use the white K turn, it is a great thing to pull out when the enemy forgets about it.

I really like pairing Vessery+HLC with Soontir+PtL+TargetingComputer. Then I typically throw in a shuttle. Makes for a lot of target locks flying around, a decent bit of hit points, and some major offense. My favorite part is that so many people concentrate on Soontir that you can set up the Defender and Shuttle really well. Just make sure you keep Soontir out of harm's way.

I've used Col. Vessery with just VI to up his PS and he's been a beast. I have a Buzzsaw Shuttle in the mix who throws out the Target Locks and the two of them have been dishinng out a lot of damage. I throw in Turr Phennir to help with other agile stuff.

I have found that it gets a bit awkward at times when jousting. I find I keep wanting a 1 forward to just sit and blast.