So I just got back from my local Barnes and Noble with a big xwing haul! I picked up 2 core boxes, and Imperial Aces expansion, as well as a TIE Interceptor, TIE Defender, and TIE Fighter expansion. What would be a good squad I could put together with these?

I'll toss out the obvious one:

Howlrunner

4x Academy Pilots

Soontir Fel w/PTL + Hull Upgrade

That leaves you with 1 point to spend.

2 Rookies + Shield Upgrade

That leaves you with 50 points for initiative bid

...

I've had fun with this list:

Rexlar Brath + Predator + HLC

Carnor Jax + PTL

2 x Academy Pilot

Since you don't have an HLC, maybe something like this:

Rexlar Brath + Predator

Carnor Jax + PTL + Hull Upgrade

Backstabber

Academy Pilot

Hi. Welcome to the game.

Hmmm...I'd recommend trying out a fair number of Tie Fighters. If you only had one more, you could do all 6 named Tie Fighters. Actually, I tend to dislike Howlrunner as she dies too quickly and forces you to fly in formation. I think people are split 50-50% on her.

I'd say try a number of the Tie Fighters and a named Interceptor. I'd go with:

Turr Phenirr w/ Push the Limit (known as PTL)

Backstabber

Dark Curse

Night Beast

2 x Academy Pilots.

Rexler + Predator

5 Academies

Another idea would be...

Rexler Brath, Predator

Royal Guard Pilot, Push the Limit, Hull Upgrade

Carnor Jax, Push the Limit, Hull Upgrade

I also like:

Rexler Brath (Tie Defender) w/ Ion Cannon and Predator

Mauler Mithel

Backstabber

2 x Academy

Rexler can Ion someone and then K-turn behind them with no stress. Or, Rexler can ionize someone and have Mauler Mithel get within Range 1 pretty easy to do some nasty nasty damage. Backstabber is the same.....or just someone likes taking snipe shots at anyone he gets a bonus for.

You know.....I really like that list...

Don't forget that it's a valid tactic to stick your Academy where you think your opponents are going to go and force them to bump into you.

I think learning to fly with Tie Fighters is important to understand how the Empire works.

Another idea would be...

Rexler Brath, Predator

Royal Guard Pilot, Push the Limit, Hull Upgrade

Carnor Jax, Push the Limit, Hull Upgrade

Nice list but ...

Beginners should start with Academy Pilots first

Vessery + Outmaneuver

Soontir Fel + Royal Guard Title + PTL + Targeting Computer + Hull Upgrade

Royal Guard + PTL + Targeting Computer

Rexler + Predator

Mauler Mithel + Outmaneuver

Backstabber (or Dark Curse ... yeah you like his artwork better, I know)

2 x Academy

Beginners should start with Academy Pilots first

Interceptors are a bit more tricky to get to work. But I had just bought the Imp Aces box and an interceptor I'd want to play with it.

Beginners should start with Academy Pilots first

Interceptors are a bit more tricky to get to work. But I had just bought the Imp Aces box and an interceptor I'd want to play with it.

Yeah we got some serious lists there.

But for the first game(s) I'd suggest a pack of Tie Fighters + a killer

Good first buy, btw.

And welcome to the EMPIRE

Welcome to the hobby now say goodbye to a positive bank balance.

You've got a nice selection there to start better than I had, your basic tie fighter is never a bad choice you'll need to learn to arc dodge to survive.

At the start you'll want to just fly straight at the rebel suck but don't they have shields and will win head to head, learn to attack from their flanks and practice the barrel roll.

People have already given you some good lists try them out.

I got a last one:

Soontir Fel + Push the Limit + Targeting Computer

Howlrunner + Swarm Tactics

4x Academy Pilots

If you want to play with your fancy TIE Interceptors:

Soontir Fel w/ Push the Limit, Targeting Computer (32)

Carnor Jax w/ Push the Limit, Royal Guard TIE title, Shield Upgrade, Hull Upgrade (36)

Turr Phennir w/ Outmaneuver, Shield Upgrade (32)

Triple squint is probably a bit advanced for a new player, he needs to take arc dodging 101 before the advanced class opens up

“Fel's Wrath” (23)

Lieutenant Lorrir (23)

Kir Kanos (24)

Winged Gundark (15)

Night Beast (15)

= 100

Welcome to the Empire!

Here is a quick primer on what to expect when flying Imperial vs Rebels:

Imperial Defending

miss

miss

miss

miss

dead

Rebel Defending

hit

hit

hit

hit

dead

Anyways, imperial squad building really comes down to "How am I going to survive flying straight into 4 rebel ships?" With your purchase, a swarm makes the best sense with a flanker, like Soontir.

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Join the Empire

We have cookies

Rebels stink

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Never go head to head with fighters and interceptors the green dice will betray you first chance they get.

You have speed and agility as an imp learn to use it.

There is a simple reason to send Tie Fighter pilots, who haven't even graduated the academy yet, straight at Rogue squadron. As my buddy Zapp Brannigan said:

Now, like all great plans, my strategy is so simple an idiot could have devised it. On my command all ships will line up and file directly into the alien death cannons, clogging them with wreckage.

For every other pilot, yea, the green dice gods love to laugh at you.

I agree, don't joust unless you want to lose. i think starting basic is better. fly an interceptor with a mini swarm and learn how they fly.

the defender is very different and has it's own learning curve

So I just got back from my local Barnes and Noble with a big xwing haul! I picked up 2 core boxes, and Imperial Aces expansion, as well as a TIE Interceptor, TIE Defender, and TIE Fighter expansion. What would be a good squad I could put together with these?

You have chosen wisely, these are a great selection of initial ships. I'd recommend flying a group of the same in your initial matches to get the feel for flying that model.

For example with tie fighters:

Howlrunner + Swarm Tactics + Shield Upgrade

Mauler Mithel + Predator + Hull Upgrade

Dark Curse + Hull Upgrade

Backstabber

Winged Gundark or Night Beast + Targeting computer

99 points and a nice mix of experience with upgrades and elite pilot talents and pilot abilities and skill levels. Fly as a pack, with Backstabber as a flanker.

Another with tie interceptors:

Soontir Fel + Push the Limit + Royal Guard Tie + Shield Upgrade + Hull Upgrade

Carnor Jax + Push the Limit + Shield Upgrade

Turr Phennir + Veteran Instincts + Hull Upgrade

99 points with some really powerful pilots. Keep Soontir stressed, Carnor in the middle of the mix, and Turr on the edge so he can boost or roll out of arcs after attacking.

Enjoy!

Thanks a lot for the lists guys! I'm going to start making the different combos and go fly them around my kitchen table to get a feel for the ships!