The Doom Shuttle, how does it work?

By devotedknight, in X-Wing

I am trying to find out how the doom shuttle works. The Doom Shuttle is the Lamda Shuttle and Darth Vader.

When Darth Vader uses his ability the Damage can be applied to the shields, is this correct.

But the Critical damage by passes the shields of the defending ship?

Darth Vader ability

After you perform an attack against an enemy ship, you may suffer 2 damage to cause that ship to suffer 1 critical damage.

After you deal damage you can activate Vader. You then take two damage and they take one critical damage. Taking damage isn't the same as being dealt a faceup card (what proton bombs do), if the ship still has shields it knocks a shield off.

After you deal damage you can activate Vader. You then take two damage and they take one critical damage. Taking damage isn't the same as being dealt a faceup card (what proton bombs do), if the ship still has shields it knocks a shield off.

You don't have to do damage to activate Vadar, all you need to do is make an attack. Often you want ships that are PS 2 or above to strip shields off of your target that way you can land critical hits on them. The hard part is flying the ship when it's so bare bones, and to keep it in the fight.

yep damaged comes from the shields first, you can also use the ability to self destruct if only one hull point remainsbut vader has full effect.

Im thinking 'doom decimator' could do a fair bit of damage before it was wrecked but it would not be cheap which may make it less effective.

But a VT49 could potentially use vader 8 times!

Half of the trick is the fact that the Shuttle's low PS means your other ships will have already fired and stripped the target of its shields, allowing Vader to go straight for the hull. Great for crippling or, in the best case, killing a high-value target very early on.

Yup its theoretically lethal and obviously works well for many...i've just never got it to work for me.

After you deal damage you can activate Vader. You then take two damage and they take one critical damage. Taking damage isn't the same as being dealt a faceup card (what proton bombs do), if the ship still has shields it knocks a shield off.

You don't have to do damage to activate Vadar, all you need to do is make an attack. Often you want ships that are PS 2 or above to strip shields off of your target that way you can land critical hits on them. The hard part is flying the ship when it's so bare bones, and to keep it in the fight.

Could deal zero damage... *shifty eyes*

i tend to get maybe two uses out of the vader shuttle before it gets sniped... =/ dunno. It is guaranteed damage though.

i tend to get maybe two uses out of the vader shuttle before it gets sniped... =/ dunno. It is guaranteed damage though.

That's 6-10 damage that hasn't gone towards your main threats, and you should (usually) have been able to trade for something of equal or greater value from their squad. If you can the shuttle has done it's job.

The secret to Doomshuttle is in its costing. If you try and overload the shuttle for too many points - you are likely to trade poorly.

24 points for for the most basic build (Omnicron + Vader) is solid. Thats a 3 ATK 10 HP problem for the enemy. Oh, and with Vader it can snipe kills.

To fly it well, you need to avoid losing it too early. Asteroid placement and alternating between Green moves and the Red 0-move will help you keep some distance.

If you want to play-test a comparison option. Try this:

Colonel Jendon + Title + Weapons Engineer + FCS + Vader lets you do the Doomshuttle thing and also provide your other ships with Target Locks. But at the cost of 37.

I personally find the basic Doomshuttle more valuable for the points.

Doomshuttle's always best with a minimum of upgrades: it's built to die, trading itself for destroying or crippling a more valuable enemy ship. You could always take another Lambda if you want more Lambda functionality.

Just go to 4:00 on this video:

That's how it works

Edited by TheJrade

Agreed. The trick to effective Shuttle play is to master the slow-play -- intentional bumps and the Red 0. Because once they get behind you, it's kind of over.

Point. Roll dice. Do auto damage. Rinse... repeatish.

It's the repeatish part that is hard.

Self bumping and creative use of the red 0 are key to the doomshuttle.

You do that extra damage after they have attempted to evade correct? So they cannot roll to try to avoid it? Thats what I was told it was but I was never super clear on it....

yep damaged comes from the shields first, you can also use the ability to self destruct if only one hull point remainsbut vader has full effect.

Im thinking 'doom decimator' could do a fair bit of damage before it was wrecked but it would not be cheap which may make it less effective.

But a VT49 could potentially use vader 8 times!

Ive been thinking of using Vader and Jerjerrod together on a more Tanky Kenkirk build (the other Crew would be Ysanne). Doom until you think its getting a bit too risky, then Jerjerrod can be used to discard Vader and then Himself for 2x Crit protection.

It also means you can control (or speed up) how fast you get to Kenkirk/Ysannes abilities kicking in for that incoming fire.

Edited by Sonikgav

Vader Decimator is the Phantom A wing and Interceptors worst nightmare

I can't wait

You do that extra damage after they have attempted to evade correct? So they cannot roll to try to avoid it? Thats what I was told it was but I was never super clear on it....

You can't evade a Vader crit. It isn't an attack, you just throw a card at 'em.

They can shield absorb it or chewie can flip it or determination can stop it. But those green dice don't come into play.

The ability to roll green dice is insignificant next to the power of the force.

Glad its not be who thinks 'decivader' would be hell for phantoms. You could guarantee killing it for the sacrfice on half your hit points.

Its not the greatest points trade off (what 43 on a naked deci with vader) but it would completely cancel out even a well equipped phantom and still leave you with an 8 HP turreted ship in play.

Decivader will indeed be a thing. A very effective ship.

Just go to 4:00 on this video:

That's how it works

I need about 1000 more smurf accounts to like this.

Glad its not be who thinks 'decivader' would be hell for phantoms. You could guarantee killing it for the sacrfice on half your hit points.

Its not the greatest points trade off (what 43 on a naked deci with vader) but it would completely cancel out even a well equipped phantom and still leave you with an 8 HP turreted ship in play.

Its an interesting idea. It might also be effective against the possible influx of interceptors we will see once AT gets released. Soontir Fel will hate a DeciVader.

The Decivader won't play like the Doomshuttle. I think it will be used more as a sniper to make sure you close ships. Only Vader when you have to.