How do I kill it efficiently? - anti Jonus/Defenders list strategy help

By terrymac94, in X-Wing

I've been using a Dash/Corran build to great success for awhile now, but last week I had come up against a friends Jonus + Defenders list.

His list had 2 HLCs on his Defensers, and hull upgrade w/ determination on Jonus. He usually rolls an average of 4 hits per Defender each turn if he uses his focus for attacking, or can usually roll nearly full evades if he uses his focus for defense. Plus hi Jonus is extremely irritating to kill since he has extra hull, an can completely discard any pilot crits.

I need some serious strategical advice on how I should engage a list like this efficiently. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Defenders and bombers cant turn for ****

Not kidding, all their hard turns apart from 3 are red. Come in from the side with some obstructions near the middle and abuse the poorly implemented but nonetheless effective 360 rule

What flavor of Dash + Corran were you using?

58 Dash should be able to arc dodge reasonably easily vs the defenders, and once Corran gets in range 1, their HLC is useless, and you can double tap them - especially devastating if you have Fire-Control System.

More generally, try getting better with flying Dash + Corran. It is tricky, but you want to use Corran to cover Dash's range 1 blind spot. In this case, the Defenders don't WANT to get in range 1 (this dynamic changes with their white K-turn), so you need Dash's angles to change the approach vectors. But you still REALLY want Corran to get in range 1.

Oh, and I would focus down the Defenders first.

Don't engage with Corran until they commit on Dash. Group asteroids and force them to take turns.

Don't be afraid to completely disengage either. You have the more maneuverable squad. I'd force him to follow you into the asteroid belt to chase you down. There his formation could be forced to split up. Dash doesn't give a **** about asteroids so use that as your advantage. If you aren't flying through rocks with Dash you are playing him wrong.

Jousting is not the only way to play Star Wars. With Dash he is more maneuverable so if you are jousting with Dash you are playing him wrong.

It depends on how you equiped Dash, but since they move first, you should have no problem getting out of their sight with barrel roll+boost. Just don't go head-on against him, flank and speed are your friend.

Defenders with HLC have zero need to get closer than range three, all you hard turns and barrel rolls mean little as these lethal ships stalk you.

As for turning again they don't have to get close so banks let them keep their target In sight stress free.

True in general, but a PtL Dash with Engine Upgrade usually have no problem getting out of sight from a small base ship moving before him. Barrel Roll + Boost on a big base can cover a lot of ground when played right.

So, my approach with Dash would be to try to not end my basic move not right in the middle of the Defenders Line of sight, then barrel roll and boost as needed so I can still have a range 3-2 shot while not being shot at in return. Meanwhile, I would flank with Corran and choose one of the 2 Defenders as my main target. A HLC shot + Corran double tap should usually bring a lot of pain to the Defender this turn. If they decided to go for Corran instead, then fly the hell out with him, turtle up if needed and take a free Focus+TL shot with Dash.

Defender + Jonus is a really nice list, but not that hard to outmaneuver. And even with focus, 3 agility dice doesn't usually roll full evade. What is important against this list is going for the Defenders first (since he realistically won't be able to hold formation for long) and concentrate fire on the same target to burn his token.

Starting placement is important. Start on the opposite corner from them. Corran in the middle. Try to anticipate where they are going and fly corran away frpmthem while making dash go straight down the side very slowly. Make them come to you so you can have corran flank them.

If the Jonus brothers start in middle, dash and Corran on opposite corners. The Jonus bros usually prefer to fly in formation.

Set up a good early strike on one of the Defenders. If you have HLC on Dash and Corran on Range 1 you'll be tossing 12 dice at one Defender in one round. That ought to bring it down a fair bit. Apart from that, fly your ships separate, that way you can always move in with one ship as they go after the other.

Dash-Corran's weakness is low HPs. In reality, you have as much HPs as a three ship X-wing build, which is not good. I can see how this would be a bad matchup for you.

As others have said, your best bet is to try and burn a defender down ASAP. I know Jonus's ability is annoying, but he's not throwing out a ton of dice himself, so I would ignore him.

As you have the more maneuverable squadron, I would advise splitting your forces. Make him commit one way or the other. Then go full defense with the ship he chose and turn in on him with the other.

I'm sorry but I'm stealing this strategy.

2x OMG pilot +HLC +Tactical Jammer

1x Captain Jonus + wingman

1x Howlrunner

Why howlrunner? She's only buffing jonus and seems like a complete waste.

Because I can't think of a better use for 18 points. Avenger maybe?

Scimitar and a flachette?

Because I can't think of a better use for 18 points. Avenger maybe?

Scimitar and a flachette?

Scimitar and a Seismic to cover your butt.

Or

Trade TJs for Engine Upgrades for maneuverability (6 points). You now have 12 points for an Academy, or to spread througout the Bomb, Sensors, and Crew slots.

Interesting. I fly almost this same defender jonus list. Let's face it, in todays meta the game is all about the amount of dice your rolling. Since you don't have many opportunities to attack all these arc dodgers when you do you must hit and hit hard.

People find this list hard because I always deploy in the middle and make sure to put my asteroids as far away from me as possible. So if you deploy in the corner, you make it easy for me to turn. Right now Its my main counter to Dash and Leebo builds. Problem is even with all of this, I still roll crappy.

I also take Debris for my Asteroid choices, so I can fly through if I need to pull a shot.

Edited by eagletsi111

Interesting. I fly almost this same defender jonus list. Let's face it, in todays meta the game is all about the amount of dice your rolling. Since you don't have many opportunities to attack all these arc dodgers when you do you must hit and hit hard.

People find this list hard because I always deploy in the middle and make sure to put my asteroids as far away from me as possible. So if you deploy in the corner, you make it easy for me to turn. Right now Its my main counter to Dash and Leebo builds. Problem is even with all of this, I still roll crappy.

I also take Debris for my Asteroid choices, so I can fly through if I need to pull a shot.

You need to make sacrifices of cola and cheeto`s to the dice gods!

Interesting. I fly almost this same defender jonus list. Let's face it, in todays meta the game is all about the amount of dice your rolling. Since you don't have many opportunities to attack all these arc dodgers when you do you must hit and hit hard.

People find this list hard because I always deploy in the middle and make sure to put my asteroids as far away from me as possible. So if you deploy in the corner, you make it easy for me to turn. Right now Its my main counter to Dash and Leebo builds. Problem is even with all of this, I still roll crappy.

I also take Debris for my Asteroid choices, so I can fly through if I need to pull a shot.

You need to make sacrifices of cola and cheeto`s to the dice gods!

Got it! I have been making sacrifices to the Guinness and Pretzel gods. I guess I picked the wrong gods.

Thanks,

Edited by eagletsi111

Because I can't think of a better use for 18 points. Avenger maybe?

Scimitar and a flachette?

Scimitar and a Seismic to cover your butt.

Or

Trade TJs for Engine Upgrades for maneuverability (6 points). You now have 12 points for an Academy, or to spread througout the Bomb, Sensors, and Crew slots.