I am enjoying all the love for the Rebel Captive now that this ship is out. That was one of the overlooked gems from the shuttle as far as i was concerned. I always felt is was awesome, even on a shuttle or BH. But the Deci is where it is going to truly shine.

Thanks Juggler. As my post count would indicate, I am very new to the game. Appreciate the insight.

Thanks Juggler. As my post count would indicate, I am very new to the game. Appreciate the insight.

Check out the thread pinned on the top of this forum (and linked in my signature), there is a ton of info in there.

@ CapAp. I saw your initial thread and really like the wingman idea. However, in trying to mess with your build I realized a few things:

TIE survivability is hinged to their maneuverability. Tethering them to the decimator to pull off wingman greatly reduces that capability.

Playing a strategy that is dependent on catching / ramming your opposition makes your ship extremely predictable. Predictable = bad in x-wing. And you are spending points to do it. Time will tell but I suspect bunker Kenkirk or offensive Chiraneau will prevail over the ramming strategy (my money is on the latter).

The TIEs are really just Wingman-deployment-devices, but since I'm keeping them all very tight with each other, the reroll is actually really handy.

@Hayes, ramming is not really the focus, but rather a happy accident that works out nicely for you if you can do it. Oicunn costs just 2 more than the Patrol Leader, and you need his Elite talent to get Expose. If your opponent thinks that ramming is all you're trying to do, even better. The synergy is there but you really just want to get big 4-5 dice salvos, and constant multiple actions with Wingman.

My experience with the other Deci pilots has been that late movement and action loss is crippling. On the other side of the table, I've found it trivial to keep Chiraneau blocked every single turn. This build prevents action-blocking on a ship that you've sunk half your list value into.

@ Juggler. Good link. I do question the effectiveness of Mara vs Captive. Captive works well to penalize their higher PS ships first, consistently, whereas Mara kinda hits everything. Sure the opponent could keep a ship or two at range 2, but then isn't Chiraneau advantaged? Plus they have to deliberately try to maneuver to stay there (another inconveneince for your opponent).

Rebel Captive is clutch vs both Phantoms (can't recloak) and 58 Dash (can't get all 3 actions).

Isard + PtL + EU is better at keeping you alive and in R1 of Dash, but EI + Expose does 40 - 45% more damage (overall meta average).

I consider Rebel Captive nearly auto-include for almost all VT-49 builds. Incidentally it also shuts down opponents from using Expose + EI in the mirror.

Which also means you pretty much waste 7pts and 2 valuable slots in a mirror match if both are running captive but only one runs EI+Expose. Not impossible to overcome, but something to look out for. Decimator vs Decimator is going to become a thing soon.

MJ, can you explain the math on EI + Expose?

45% increase from what? Baseline?

What about Gunner + Predator?

I like the Rear Admiral with Expose, Gunner, Ysanne Isaard, Rebel Captive and Experimental Interface.

This set up is designed to kill with moderate survivability.

You get 3 actions a turn once shields are down and 2 before that. Even if you green move and bump you can still use Ysanne and then trigger the EI for Expose.

At R2 and 3 you are throwing 4 dice, often with a TL or Focus due to action efficiency in this build.

Gunner is the safety net for the times you don't have a TL or focus or your dice plain suck.

Ysanne, will keep you on the board 2-3 turns longer than otherwise.

Rebel Captive is a real dilemma for high PS ships, especially Phantoms and Ints, but Fat Han's and Dash's don't like it either.

The Admirals special ability is also sweet when you are throwing 4 and 5 dice.

This comes in at 65 points and considering the cost of a souped up Whisper or a Fat YT, it is a very good ship set up.

A fully kitted out RAC looks nasty. It makes me want to play something like this.

Rear Admiral Chiraneau (46)
Expose (4)
Ysanne Isard (4)
Rebel Captive (3)
Gunner (5)
Experimental Interface (3)

Omicron Group Pilot (21)
Fire-Control System (2)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Gunner (5)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Commander Kenkirk (44)

Lone Wolf (2)

Gunner (5)

Yssane Isard (4)

Rebel captive (3)

Engine Upgrade (4)

This 62 points monstrosity is very tough, counters well phantoms or superdashes, deals tons of damage, and gets out of most swarmy arcs. Switch LW for determination to gain survival skills on a different way.

Pair it with your own basic Phantom, or even a loaded Soontir.

I opted for an Omicron with EU, Ion Cannon, Tactician and Gunner. Stress and Ion potential or twin Stress and damage potential.

It's also a lot of HP's to chew through and the EU makes you quite mobile.

I am currently running Echo and Kenkirk it is working out well.Echo with VI, FCS, and ACKKenkirk with Expose, Isard, Jade, Gunner, and EI.I have won about 6 in a row at our local store. I have had a few semi close calls due to poor playing on my part but for just two ships it works well. I killed a Han mini swarm build with ease, I took out another decimator list similar to the OP's list here and various other 3 to 5 rebel ship builds with it.Against the Han list my first to shots were one shots on two Z95s. After that it is easy breezy. The hardest challenge was against the other Decimator list, but I forgot to use Jade for several turns and that made it closer than it would have been. I also got some terrific defense rolls on my Phantom the one time I misplayed and left it exposed. Having initiative in all but one game helped me a ton too.I have tried a double decimator, and used decimator/firespray as well. I have used Decimator with mini swarm but it was just boring to play so I am trying to build outside the mini swarm box. I don't know how competitive this build will be in a tourney setting but I will find out this Thursday night as I play in my first tourney ever. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Expose on kenkirk is a waste of points.You're paying for his ability and not using it or paying for expose and only using it one or two turns.Run chiraneau or oicunn with expose.Also, the gunner well do more good on echo with the fcs than on kenkirk.

I agree with the gunner. always nice to have a buzzsaw. but EI(experimental interface) will allow kenkirks ability and expose I believe in the same round

Take Expose and Ysanne.

You do your normal action, you take the free action with Ysanne, then EI to Expose. Clear stress and repeat.

Before Ysanne kicks in, you just EI off of your normal action.

But you take Kenkirk over oicunn because you want 1 agility. Expose removes that agility. So you're wasting points.

You could decide not to use Expose, but then you're wasting even more points because EI is only there for Expose.

The reason you don't play expose on kenkirk is the same reason you don't play expose on any ship in the entire game besides 0 agility ships. But even more so because you could spend 2 less points, have the exact same stats (0 agility and 4 attack), but also gain the ability to damage people when you ram them. And honestly, ps6 is about as useful as ps4.

Lone Wolf or Determination will be my go to EPTs on Kenkirk.

Chiraneau is a good candidate for Expose if you're tacking on Experimental Interface, otherwise, Predator is the way to go. With Predator, he has a built in mini Focus and Target Lock so he can still be dangerous when he inevitably bumps someone.

Oicunn is the one I have the hardest time choosing an EPT for. Intimidation, Ruthlessness, Determination, and Predator are all good choices.

Lone Wolf or Determination will be my go to EPTs on Kenkirk.

Chiraneau is a good candidate for Expose if you're tacking on Experimental Interface, otherwise, Predator is the way to go. With Predator, he has a built in mini Focus and Target Lock so he can still be dangerous when he inevitably bumps someone.

Oicunn is the one I have the hardest time choosing an EPT for. Intimidation, Ruthlessness, Determination, and Predator are all good choices.

I like ptl, ysanne, and engine on kenkirk.

Lets him chase down Dash and arc dodge non-turreted ships.

Its fun to Push off the Isaard Evade and boost out of arc. It really messes people up.

Determination is nice on a Deci as they can pile crits quickly, but I rather not be shot at, at all.

I do want to try the ultimate tank Deci build:

Kenkirk + Det. + Isaard + Moff + Intel. Agent + SU/HU/CM = 56 points with Shield Upgrade.

17 hitpoints and you can flip or discard quite a bit of nasty crits. If you ran Counter measures, you could potentially get 3 evade dice at range 3 once, which I find pretty funny in a Deci.

For near crit immunity you could pair him with 3 BSP w/ DTF and essentially never worry about crits on the decimator.

Its fun to Push off the Isaard Evade and boost out of arc. It really messes people up.

Determination is nice on a Deci as they can pile crits quickly, but I rather not be shot at, at all.

I do want to try the ultimate tank Deci build:

Kenkirk + Det. + Isaard + Moff + Intel. Agent + SU/HU/CM = 56 points with Shield Upgrade.

17 hitpoints and you can flip or discard quite a bit of nasty crits. If you ran Counter measures, you could potentially get 3 evade dice at range 3 once, which I find pretty funny in a Deci.

For near crit immunity you could pair him with 3 BSP w/ DTF and essentially never worry about crits on the decimator.

Hull Upgrade synergizes better with his ability. Maybe Counter Measures for those turns where you end up being shot by ay least 2-3 ships.

Here's the thing:

I really want to like Expose+EI on the Admiral, but rebel captive will shut that down completely in a decimator vs decimator match. And these are going to happen!

The same is actually true for PTL on the deci, that's why i think Predator+Engine Upgrade would be the safest choice if you consider mirror matches. As with many builds this is potentially less strong against other archetypes such as Fat Han.

Here's the thing:

I really want to like Expose+EI on the Admiral, but rebel captive will shut that down completely in a decimator vs decimator match. And these are going to happen!

The same is actually true for PTL on the deci, that's why i think Predator+Engine Upgrade would be the safest choice if you consider mirror matches. As with many builds this is potentially less strong against other archetypes such as Fat Han.

Most people don't run the admiral. His ability to crit basically makes him win vs other decimators, all you need is the TL action and free evade. And if you don't need the TL, expose that turn. It works... It's just nice to have options against non decimators too.

Here's the thing:

I really want to like Expose+EI on the Admiral, but rebel captive will shut that down completely in a decimator vs decimator match. And these are going to happen!

The same is actually true for PTL on the deci, that's why i think Predator+Engine Upgrade would be the safest choice if you consider mirror matches. As with many builds this is potentially less strong against other archetypes such as Fat Han.

Y'know he seldom comes alone in a Mirror Match, so you also still get to use the Exp. EI combo if you are shooting at the escorts.

Here's the thing:

I really want to like Expose+EI on the Admiral, but rebel captive will shut that down completely in a decimator vs decimator match. And these are going to happen!

The same is actually true for PTL on the deci, that's why i think Predator+Engine Upgrade would be the safest choice if you consider mirror matches. As with many builds this is potentially less strong against other archetypes such as Fat Han.

Y'know he seldom comes alone in a Mirror Match, so you also still get to use the Exp. EI combo if you are shooting at the escorts.

Oh rly

I'm going to use EI+Expose for now, just saying that it'll probably get countered once the Meta settles down. Captive is just one possibility.

Here's the thing:

I really want to like Expose+EI on the Admiral, but rebel captive will shut that down completely in a decimator vs decimator match. And these are going to happen!

The same is actually true for PTL on the deci, that's why i think Predator+Engine Upgrade would be the safest choice if you consider mirror matches. As with many builds this is potentially less strong against other archetypes such as Fat Han.

Y'know he seldom comes alone in a Mirror Match, so you also still get to use the Exp. EI combo if you are shooting at the escorts.

Oh rly

I'm going to use EI+Expose for now, just saying that it'll probably get countered once the Meta settles down. Captive is just one possibility.

Your argument is like saying not to run 58 dash, advanced cloaking device, or Fel because someone might find a way to give you a stress.

Here's the thing:

I really want to like Expose+EI on the Admiral, but rebel captive will shut that down completely in a decimator vs decimator match. And these are going to happen!

The same is actually true for PTL on the deci, that's why i think Predator+Engine Upgrade would be the safest choice if you consider mirror matches. As with many builds this is potentially less strong against other archetypes such as Fat Han.

Y'know he seldom comes alone in a Mirror Match, so you also still get to use the Exp. EI combo if you are shooting at the escorts.

Oh rly

I'm going to use EI+Expose for now, just saying that it'll probably get countered once the Meta settles down. Captive is just one possibility.

Your argument is like saying not to run 58 dash, advanced cloaking device, or Fel because someone might find a way to give you a stress.

I get your point but actually Captive is a very good counter to 58 Dash. Atleast he wont be getting those 3 actions a turn.

And Phantom vs Phantom fights usually get decided by whoever runs captive. Highly underrated card in my opinion, i think we'll see more of it in wave 5.

Here's the thing:

I really want to like Expose+EI on the Admiral, but rebel captive will shut that down completely in a decimator vs decimator match. And these are going to happen!

The same is actually true for PTL on the deci, that's why i think Predator+Engine Upgrade would be the safest choice if you consider mirror matches. As with many builds this is potentially less strong against other archetypes such as Fat Han.

Y'know he seldom comes alone in a Mirror Match, so you also still get to use the Exp. EI combo if you are shooting at the escorts.

Oh rly

I'm going to use EI+Expose for now, just saying that it'll probably get countered once the Meta settles down. Captive is just one possibility.

Your argument is like saying not to run 58 dash, advanced cloaking device, or Fel because someone might find a way to give you a stress.

I get your point but actually Captive is a very good counter to 58 Dash. Atleast he wont be getting those 3 actions a turn.

And Phantom vs Phantom fights usually get decided by whoever runs captive. Highly underrated card in my opinion, i think we'll see more of it in wave 5.

Been trying to get feedback on this one. Bit of a session report along with my build:

-------------------

Decimator - 61 pts

Captain Oicunn (42)

Title: Dauntless (2)

Expose (4)

Ysanne Isard (4)

Darth Vader (3)

Rebel Captive (3)

Experimental Interface (3)

TIE Fighter - 23 pts

Howlrunner (18)

Wingman (2)

Stealth Device (3)

TIE Fighter - 16 pts

Black Squadron (14)

Wingman (2)

----------------------------

The basic idea was to keep the TIEs right on the tail of the big ship, and Wingman will remove the stress gained from Interface, or from the Dauntless rams (or both). This will allow me to pilot the Decimator normally and act again every turn. As an added bonus, since the Wingman effects happen at the start of Combat (just like Ysanne), once she begins working, I can choose to trigger Wingman and THEN trigger Ysanne, gaining the evade token.

The perfect sequence is to ram for a damage, then trigger the Dauntless action (Focus or Lock, gaining a stress). Then at the start of Combat, trigger one Wingman (remove the stress), trigger Ysanne (gain Evade), trigger Interface (gain Expose and a stress), and trigger the second Wingman (remove Interface stress). I've taken three actions, rammed you for a damage,I'm about to shove a hot load of Expose (5 dice maybe?) down your throat, and I don't even have any stress so I can do it all again next round.

Is this legal? At the beginning of the combat phase, Wingman removes a stress, which happens at the same time as Ysanne Isard's evade action. I can accept that since they are both your ships, you get to choose the order, so you'd remove the stress, then take the evade action, followed by triggering Experimental Interface and receiving another stress token. But is it still legal to use the second Wingman on the newly stressed Decimator? I'm not sure if that's still the start of combat. Am I the only one slightly concerned by this? I don't want to sound critical or mean-spirited. I'm honestly unsure of the ruling.

My favorite way to run it now would be to run it at all...I have not had the chance to play since it came out. Here is what I am thinking of running at my next meet on Friday. Criticisms welcome:

"Black Squadron Leader"

Kenkirk

Lone Wolf

Ysanne Isard

Rebel Captive

Moff Jerjerrod

3x Black Squadron Pilot w VI

The objective is to make the decimator as durable as possible...with 1x def die (after conditions are met), an auto evade every turn (once conditions are met), and at least one nullified crit, and getting to reroll that def dice when it comes up blank combined with auto stress for the first person shooting makes this build quite durable and an extreme pain in the arse I would think. Should be easy enough to keep him some distance from the TIEs and the VI on the BSPs keeps the entire squad moving and shooting together. So what say all you? I am very flexible when it comes to the TIEs in particular.

I love the look of this squad! Not surprisingly, it looks a lot like my favorite Decimator squad (which I am still modifying).

Commander Kenkirk

-Predator

-Ysanne Isard

-Rebel Captive

-Moff Jerjerrod (formerly Recon Specialist, but I've dropped that idea)

"Dark Curse"

"Night Beast"

Academy Pilot

99 points

I'd be very interested to see how these squads compete against each other. I tried to fit 3 Black Sq. Pilots with Veteran Instincts into my list, but the other upgrades on Kenkirk were too valuable to me. So I opted for TIE fighter pilots that were inherently defensive, and thus not very ideal targets. It's been working well. We barely made it through a Dash + Corran list, where "Dark Curse" was the sole survivor and managed to take out Corran Horn. It was glorious!

Anyway, I'm curious how Lone Wolf would work out. I have a hard time keeping my starfighters away from my large ships, so I opted for Predator instead.