We fly both kinds of lists here ..... Scum AND Villainy

By Funkleton, in X-Wing

Even though Scum hasn't dropped here yet I decided to try out some lists with what I already Have in my collection at my LGS this evening.

First list I tried to give a real Scummy feel to it.

I called it - The Monty Python Stratagem.

Kath Scarlet (50) Firespray-31 (38), Proximity Mines (3), Andrasta (0), Experimental Interface (3), Proximity Mines (3), Proximity Mines (3)
Syndicate Thug (25) x 2 Y-Wing (18), Bomb Loadout (0), Ion Cannon Turret (5), Seismic Charges (2)
If the list or the title haven't already given it away, the strategy is ........ Runaway!
First match was just a quick scratch match while one of the guys waited for another to set up - so not a real test.
I decided that flying like a lunatic was probably the best way to get into character - so I opened by K turning all of my ships.
That seemed to flummox him, and it was very satisfying to ion two of the three amigos straight into a double seismic combo and catch the third on the edge of the blast radius. Kath cleaned up with a few 5 dice range 1 shots from the rear and didn't even get a chance to drop her mines.

Next up I was up against probably the best player in the club - he had a pretty intimidating ZZZAAAY swarm.

He wasn't quite such a soft target and while my opening K-Turn threw him off momentarily, he readjusted and blasted me into little iddy biddy bits of hot glowing space junk in pretty short order.

We had a rematch with me fielding something that felt a little more familiar and Rebel-ey with perhaps just a little scummy twist on top.

Binayre Pirate (15) x 2 Z-95 Headhunter (12), “Hot Shot” Blaster (3)
Kavil (29) Y-Wing (24), Ion Cannon Turret (5)
Emon Azzameen (41) Firespray-31 (36), Andrasta (0), Seismic Charges (2), Proximity Mines (3)
This turned into an epic slogfest where the balance shifted several times - finally down to our 2 Y-wings on a single hull point each and Kavil closing out the game for me.
I predict great things for Kavil with an ion cannon turret - it's not the obvious pairing but oddly it's his low damage output in the short term that makes him such a threat in the long term.
He tends to be left alone at first - just skirting the flanks and chipping one damage a turn - but by the time he's had 4 consecutive hits, is out of arc, has a target lock, a clear path to get a focus next turn, has full shields and closing in for the kill - it suddenly dawns on your opponent that this guy just never misses against anything with 2 or less green dice - and if you're rolling 3 you still want to make sure your taking evades instead of focus.
The guy is like a metronome and your opponent is wishing he'd been paying more attention to him.
Coran Horn and R2 - look out
Phantoms - look out
B-Wings - you haven't got a hope

Have you tried Kavil with Blaster Turret + R4 Agromech? I feel Kavil's ability should be used as more damage output than control.

Not yet - but that is the obvious pairing I was referring to.

I plan to give that a try too but it's pretty obvious - paints a great big target on his head and it's not difficult to focus fire a Y-Wing into oblivion.

VI and EU would be useful in that regard to give him a bit more mobility - but he is still just a Y-Wing (just? Pah!!) so you don't want to overload him with points

In fact I've half a mind to kit him out with EU, experimental interface and Expert handling just for the sheer unadulterated joy of being able to barrel roll and boost in a Y-Wing!

With ICT he's more of a dark horse, a bit of a slow-burner - unless your opponent is wise to what's going on and deal with Kavil early it may already be too late for him

Edited by Funkleton

Have you tried Kavil with Blaster Turret + R4 Agromech? I feel Kavil's ability should be used as more damage output than control.

Ya, this is where Kavil shines

You have a 4 dice range 1-2 turret, and it's cheap, and tanky.

Plenty of room for something more threatening, and backup.

I've flew against kavil with this loadout, and 2 syndicate thugs, and a z95

He ioned my decimator off the board, but even though echo managed to pull off the win, I still really like this build (echo should have been dead but the dice gods didnt want that to happen)

He also had the title on the two syndicate and an ion.

This is how I think the ion will work best

This way the Y wing still gets its primary, granted only 2 attack dice, but follow up with an ion attack as well. Hard to ignore that.

Get into range 1 with them, and it hurts even more.

If they manage to ion you, then they will stick on you like glue. Add a unhinged astro for that little extra mobility. Suddenly the Y wing dial just got better

For a generic list I'm kind of thinking the following, adding something for the last 11 points

4x Blacksun Soldier w/ Feedback

1x Blacksun Vigo w/Auto

In fact I've half a mind to kit him out with EU, experimental interface and Expert handling just for the sheer unadulterated joy of being able to barrel roll and boost in a Y-Wing!

Experimental Interface is a modification too. You can boost or barrel roll, not both. You could take an Engine Upgrade and Daredevil, though, which would pair very well with an Unhinged Astromech....

I think an Ion cannon turret is a better buy if you're playing a manouvrable Kavil - you can only do 1 damage, but you can do it reliably, and it comes with the added benefit of ion tokens, which makes an arc dodger better. More importantly, it frees up actions and stress for dealling purely with manouvring.

The blaster turret is better for a pure damage output kavil.

Have you tried Kavil with Blaster Turret + R4 Agromech? I feel Kavil's ability should be used as more damage output than control.

That's definitely the go to Kavil build. That being said, I kinda like this version with ICT. It'll be especially useful if Soontir Fel with Stealth Device + Autothrusters ends up being as popular as people imagine. Also Phantoms hate to see this version of Kavil. Maybe add Predator/Lone Wolf or Veteran Instincts for ghostbusting.

I'm curious to try Kavil with Autoblaster Turret and Engine Upgrade/Expert Handling/Unhinged Astromech. Or swap in Expert Handling for Opportunist.