I recently have been running a decimator "Whisper" list which I have been doing really well with, but before the last 2 weeks I never flew the Phantom much, What is the best way to deal with a level 9 pilot like Han if my opponent has initiative.

My list comes in at 98 points so that should not be much of a problem for the tournament I am playing in tomorrow, but I know one player is going to be flying Han and his list comes in at 97 points. He is also one of the better players who will be playing in the tournament and he also designed his list to beat mine since he thinks my list will be the one to beat tomorrow.

My list is:

"Whisper" 32

Veteran Instincts 1

Fire Control System 2

Advanced Cloacking Device 4

Gunner 5

Commander Kenkirk 44

Determination 1

Moff Jerjerrod 2

Ysanne Isard 4

Recon Specialist 3

Without initiative its really really hard to manage much against PS 9. Short of selling out and taking the ps 8 Decimator, with Veteran Instincts and using the phantom with Decoy so he can swap PS and shoot at 10.

The Rear Admiral is a pain in the butt. In a two ship list, he would be first on my list.

I prefer Commander Kenkirk because he survives a lot longer

Without initiative its really really hard to manage much against PS 9. Short of selling out and taking the ps 8 Decimator, with Veteran Instincts and using the phantom with Decoy so he can swap PS and shoot at 10.

I could do:

Rear Admiral Chrianeau 46

veteran instincts 1

mercenary copilot 2

rebel captive 3

mara jade 3

whisper 32

decoy 2

fire control system 2

advanced cloaking device 4

gunner 5

FCS and gunner always struck me as redundant on phantoms when there's a rebel captive just begging to shut down opposing phantoms and PTL ships

rebel captive would stop an opposing phantom, it would not stop an opposing Han from blasting the crap out of my phantom.Especially with the build my friend uses which is designed to clear stress every round

In your revised list I'd consider Isard on the Rear Admiral and a hull upgrade? Shield upgrade on the Phantom over Gunner and mercenary copilot.

Honestly. Han kind of shuts down Phantoms if the PS matches and he has initiative. Its never going to be that favourable a match up. Some match ups in this game just dont favour certain sides. I'd offer good luck either way.

In your revised list I'd consider Isard on the Rear Admiral and a hull upgrade? Shield upgrade on the Phantom over Gunner and mercenary copilot.

Honestly. Han kind of shuts down Phantoms if the PS matches and he has initiative. Its never going to be that favourable a match up. Some match ups in this game just dont favour certain sides. I'd offer good luck either way.

I find using Isard without Commander Kenkirk kind of pointless.I think honestly though I am just going to stick with my original list and deal with Han's as they come along. Other than my friend at 97 pts I think 98 points should win me initiative most games.

How many players?

Don't focus on one build?

It is possible for you not to even get matched up with him.

Focusing entirely around one build can leave you weak vs another

Gunner and fire control systems is awesome on whisper.

Especially vs turrets.

Decoy and vet instincts on the rear admiral may not be a bad idea.

So long as your confident you can keep whisper within range 2.

In that case you also need to be aggressive with the decimator as you want things to shoot at it first vs whisper

He can take some dmg.

Leaving whisper alone to do her thing.

Then get your decimator far away as he'll be smoking.

Also with the Decoy/vet instincts you will want to keep whisper semi close, but this could become a weakness as she's easier to predict, and depending on what else he has you don't want multiple things shooting at her.

A fat dash and 3 z95, swarms, and other lists could exploit your weaknesses.

If you do to a tournament and build around 1 specific counter to your build, could very well prevent you from winning

Wave 5 has introduced a lot of new strategies and turrets are now everywhere, and ships like phantoms manueverability doesn't really matter