help with defender

By eibon, in X-Wing

so im trying to get into the defender, traditionally im an interceptor or firespray guy, n figured the defender was a bit of a cross over between the two, but for the points it seems a bit expensive wot are ur guys defining points to choose the defender....other than the white k turn

thanks.

honestly the reason why you want the TIEdefender is for that white Kturn. Under 1v1 situations with other small ships, only a named ACD phantom can really tear it apart. Other than that, I've used Deltas to fight Soontir PTL on par, simply because of that white Kturn.

There's also that total 6 hp which makes it a little bit beefy, but shouldnt be your main reason for taking the Defender since it is very fake. A couple of bad rolls and that thing could go down in just 1 round of shooting.

Vessery with Adrenaline Rush, pair him with anything that can target lock.

I've had fun with:

Colonel Vessery — TIE Defender 35
Adrenaline Rush 1

Scimitar Squadron Pilot — TIE Bomber 16
Flechette Torpedoes 2
Proximity Mines 3

Scimitar Squadron Pilot — TIE Bomber 16
Flechette Torpedoes 2
Proximity Mines 3

Scimitar Squadron Pilot — TIE Bomber 16
Flechette Torpedoes 2
Proximity Mines 3

It's a Mid-PS build so it's flexibility will come with practice at Identifying good opportunities depending on opposing PS builds.

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Colonel Vessery — TIE Defender 35
Veteran Instincts 1

Shadow Squadron Pilot — TIE Phantom 27 (x2)
Fire-Control System 2
Weapons Engineer 3

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Other Options:

Downgrade Shadows to Sigmas and give them SPAs.

Exchange 1 WepEng for 1 Fleet Officer.

Downgrade 1 Shadow to Sigma and give Vessery Ruthlessness or Outmaneuver.

The defender isn't a short range knife fighter like the interceptor, it's a patient hunter that whittled down the opponent from range before closing to deliver the finishing blow.

The cannon slot is part of why it's expensive but also why it can be so deadly, using the ion cannon in conjunction with the k turn gives you massive control over your target, sticking on a HLC and sniping from range early in the game is a role it excels in and having four attack at all ranges with the manuverability to keep stuff in arc is well worth the investment.

Another selling point is its durability six hit points behind three agility will survive where an interceptor having a bad turn rolling the dice won't.

I use a named defender with ion cannon and outmanuever. Get up it's face, ion it and the white k-turn to flip around and light it up with outmanuever.

I like a Delta with an ion cannon. Cheapish and extremely annoying, if you can get it to work. It really comes into its own against slow and slowish ships like B-Wings, Y-Wings and X-Wings, where the Defender's somewhat predictable movement matters less. As others have said, ion, K-turn and run Keyan/Wedge right into that asteroid. If you can ion and stress you've really got them, so maybe a Bomber with a couple of Flechettes or a Lambda (or a Phantom!) with a Tactician might be worth a try?

so im trying to get into the defender, traditionally im an interceptor or firespray guy, n figured the defender was a bit of a cross over between the two, but for the points it seems a bit expensive wot are ur guys defining points to choose the defender....other than the white k turn

thanks.

Defining points to choose the defender...other than the white k turn:

  • sentimental value from Tie Fighter the computer game.
  • most likely, best Heavy Laser Cannon platform in the game
  • having a 1 bank and 5 forward green on the same dial
  • Rexler Brath can single shoot undamaged ships, yesterday I one-shotted Garven's x-wing (3 hits and a blank + lone wolf for a hit, terrible evade roll on the x-wing, 2 hits converted into crits, one of the crits was double damage).
  • Vessery is very efficient if you already like playing with Imperial ships that have target locks.
  • very very different play style than most other imperial ships (defenders seem to be better at longer range)
  • the challenge of playing with a ship that probably could have been play tested just a tad bit longer
  • a ship that will make you really appreciate the maneuverability of your Tie Interceptors and the durability of your Firesprays
  • you can play with it and be the first to write a "In defense of the Tie Defender" article, similar to the one that we got for the shuttle some time ago

I like going with Col. Vessery and the Doom Shuttle. Stick on a named Interceptor for the knife fighting.

Vessery is a beast you can rely on him to hurt the other guy, he does need VI though to make him a real threat.

Played against a vessery list at a recent tournament and just ran a very close version of it last night it's very fun.

Carnor Jax with PTL (29)

Vessery with Ion Cannon and Adrenelin Rush (39)

2 Scimitars (32)

Let the tie bombers mix it up in the middle and pass out tl's on whatever ship vessery goes after. Jax kills alot of defensive ability and vessery can either dish out damage or ion when appropriate.

Another list I enjoy to fly is

Rexler with lone wolf and HLC (46)

Howlrunner (18)

3 academies (36)