OP, I agree with you (seems like we sort of had a similar conversation in the thread about flechette cannon. Being a cheap cannon carrier is going to make adding inn one or two with ion or flechette totaly worth it. I don't think it will replace the Z for pure swarming, but you can have Z-like utility + ion or flechette for just a few more points....

I think this may be the sleeper of the wave as well.

I think there will be people who just refuse to play it. This may be because of how it looks or they just don't like the look of the card as is. That is, unless there is some sort of breakaway success with it at Worlds. I think it's a great ship and I'm looking forward to it, but I think there will be those people that will just be haters.

I honestly like everything about the M3-A ...it's small....like the smallest ship in the X-Wing game...thats pretty cool there considering the smallest ship in the game has the ability for some mad customizations options. Added it also has a pretty decent dial. The look of the ship itself I like as well because it is everything I would expect anyone in a Hutt Cartel to fly. Its small and gritty and gets the job done....and a swarm of them can spell trouble for anyone.

I love running A-wings with no pegs, they look so cute just stuck right to the base. I imagine these little guys should work as well.

I disagree with a lot of these responses in that any time you're considering taking a naked Scyk, you're probably better off with a Headhunter. What makes them interesting is the cannon option.

And that, in combination with their moderately weak statistical effectiveness, points to their role for me: they're not swarmers, really. The Scyk is a splash of relatively cheap control, or a nasty little crit-fisher, or a glass cannon daring you to turn to engage the flank. It's worth the investment in all of those roles.

I'm not sure how it's going to work out for me...but the sculpt is my favorite in the game so far.

I got crushed in the finals of a 3 round tournament on Saturday by a 4 Scyk list with

Serissu - Swarm Tactics, Title, Mangler Cannon, Stealth Device

3x Cartel Spacer - Title, Mangler Cannon, Stealth Device

I was running Whisper, Soontir and an Engine Lambda.

I did misjudge the range of Whisper in the opening exchange and didn't realize she was in range 3 of all 4 Scyks, and she got melted, and I did 0 damage. But even without that mistake, the list seems very potent and is the best use of the Scyk I've seen so far.

I'm really interested to see if a list like that can continue to hold out against phantoms in general -- the position you describe means a lot of lists could have taken out your phantom. I also think this list will actually struggle more against engine turrets, especially those with predator. Maybe not, though.

I disagree with a lot of these responses in that any time you're considering taking a naked Scyk, you're probably better off with a Headhunter. What makes them interesting is the cannon option.

And that, in combination with their moderately weak statistical effectiveness, points to their role for me: they're not swarmers, really. The Scyk is a splash of relatively cheap control, or a nasty little crit-fisher, or a glass cannon daring you to turn to engage the flank. It's worth the investment in all of those roles.

hmmmmm, have to disagree

as efficient as the Z is on paper, it's a right pain in the ass to use effectively on the table. You really start feeling it's inferior dial and action bar (relative to a tie) when you're moving your formation especially around obstructions or spreading out to catch fast enemies.

I'd go so far as to say my Stress Luke + 2 Blues wouldn't be possible without a Proto-type pilot as filler, because the little guy is simply worlds apart from the Z-95 in terms of how it flies with the list and how it supports the list (by being an infuriating ******* to my poor opponent).

Or, having run both Zs and tie Fighters in multiples, I have to say it isn't even a contest. The Tie kicks ass and is imo far and away a more flexible/more effective ship than the Z thanks to its dial, barrel-roll, and evade action. The added flexibility is enormously advantageous, and something that math-winging cannot by its nature take into account.

I have no doubt the Scyk will be similar. In multiples, the Z wins out because those extra few points start stacking hard, but for filler the likes of the Proto-type pilot are far more than worth the upgrade cost.

The only difference in S&V is that Zs get feedback array. Feedback Array is such a baller upgrade that I'd actually rather have feedback Zs than Cartels any day

I'm not sure how it's going to work out for me...but the sculpt is my favorite in the game so far.

I agree, so far I think this is my favorite ship in S&V next to the Aggressor. Scyks are so fun....its hard not to love them

I like them. A ton. I'm definitely picking up another 2-3 when the budget allows.

As posted elsewhere, a 2x Z-95, 3x M3-A swarm took second in the biggest store championship in Colorado (25). The forum seems to hate them, but they're quite good.

Business as usual.

I love these cool little SCUM meanies too!

I disagree with a lot of these responses in that any time you're considering taking a naked Scyk, you're probably better off with a Headhunter.

People take the A-wing over the Headhunter though.

I disagree with a lot of these responses in that any time you're considering taking a naked Scyk, you're probably better off with a Headhunter.

People take the A-wing over the Headhunter though.

Yeah, but Prototype Pilot + Chaardan Refit costs just 1 point more than the Scyk, and has a better dial, boost instead of barrel roll, and an extra shield.

I find barrel roll superior to boost in more cases than otherwise.

Of course, the best ships have both.

I disagree with a lot of these responses in that any time you're considering taking a naked Scyk, you're probably better off with a Headhunter. What makes them interesting is the cannon option.

And that, in combination with their moderately weak statistical effectiveness, points to their role for me: they're not swarmers, really. The Scyk is a splash of relatively cheap control, or a nasty little crit-fisher, or a glass cannon daring you to turn to engage the flank. It's worth the investment in all of those roles.

Probably have to do with playstyle, but I see value in taking a vanilla Scyk over a Z-95 for the 2 points.

-Maneuver dial: Having access to the 1 Turn and 5 k-turn and more green makes the Scyk much more maneuvrable than the Z. The only edge the Z have is the 3 Turn.

-Action bar: The Scyk have access to the Evade Action and Barrel Roll which ,combine with the 1 Turn, allow them to turn on themselves.

The one thing going against it is the survivability since it lacks the second shield. But since I always prefered maneuvrability over survivability, I think I will favor the Scyk over the the Z, even for 2 points more. Unless I pair them with the Prince and need cannon fodders, in that case, Z all the way!

I do like to compare them to Prototype Pilot: One less shield (hurt), Barrel Roll instead of Boost (Win for me) and dial as good but different (Without PtL, having a lot of green is not that important, and I do favor the 1 bank over the hard 3 and straight 5) With barrel roll and tighter maneuver (bank 1) the Scyk is meant for close maneuver, while the A-Wing is meant for speed with the hard 3, straight 5 and boost.

I've found my favourite filler with the scyk when I have the right points - 2 Heavy Scyk Cartel Spacers, one with ion cannon, one with flechette. Can almost guarantee a stress and an ion on one ship in a turn. Pair those up with whatever you want.

And the mangler is surprisingly effective, a cheap mangler carrier (or a more expensive one with an EPT or pilot ability) is great, even at only three health that's still behind three green dice base. Same total health and primary weapon as a tie fighter, which usually last a surprisingly long time. And you trade one hull for a shield, so except in the rare case you're dealt a faceup damage card (proton bomb for example) you've got a little crit protection.

Also, when I first saw it in the preview I thought it was ugly, on every viewing since I've grown more and more enamored with the look of the thing. I like all the scum ships aesthetically. And I still don't quite get the "it's not Star Wars-y". The greatest part about the vehicles in Star Wars is how diverse they are. An X-Wing is a completely different design philosophy to a tie fighter, both in form and function. A B-Wing is even more different, with the rotating cockpit and unique appearance. Which I think slightly resembles a killer bee about to sting, with the main cannon on the bottom wing as the stinger, the other wings as the wings etc. Hence, Bee-Wing. Tangent aside, that's just a couple of examples.

For larger ships, Slave 1 is, for example completely different to the Millenium Falcon, and I didn't see any ship bar the firespray in the films/ the clone wars that landed on its back.

I get not liking the look of something, but again I don't quite understand saying it looks out of place in star wars. Space slugs are a thing, why can't Starvipers be?

Right, that little aside over, I really like the Scyk, and I lucked out with the two I have so far. One looks quite dirty, an older used scyk; the other looks straight from the production line, from some crime lord's private hangar.

Only flown them once but I do love my Veterans. Looking forward to trying more combinations, especially when MW hits my state.

Space slugs are a thing, why can't Starvipers be?

because nobody ever suspects the Butterfly!

I get not liking the look of something, but again I don't quite understand saying it looks out of place in star wars. Space slugs are a thing, why can't Starvipers be?

Right, that little aside over, I really like the Scyk, and I lucked out with the two I have so far. One looks quite dirty, an older used scyk; the other looks straight from the production line, from some crime lord's private hangar.

I agree with you on the Scyk - I love the looks of them, and I think they look Star Warsy. The issue with the Star Viper for me is that it's too clean in appearance. It wouldn't look out of place in the prequels (though in my opinion, the prequels looked out of place themselves), but classic Star Wars has a very dirty, cobbled-together, wires hanging out, sort of feel to it. The Scyk taps into that in my opinion, with its hilariously big rocket nozzle out the back, but the Star Viper doesn't. I'm crossing my fingers they'll add a Dunelizard to the scum, I love that ship. It has just the right mix of WW2 fighter plane and rotting space hulk to really fit in with Star Wars.

Only flown them once but I do love my Veterans. Looking forward to trying more combinations, especially when MW hits my state.

I agree, they have a good chance to do something before they get blown up. If you want to run the Heavy Seekers, you need to use the veterans I think.

Haha in my first game three of them almost shot down Chewie!

Only flown them once but I do love my Veterans. Looking forward to trying more combinations, especially when MW hits my state.

I'll be interested to see what the best elite talents to put on them end up being. PtL and Predator are probably still go tos, but I imagine there are some other excellent choices.

The greatest part about the vehicles in Star Wars is how diverse they are. An X-Wing is a completely different design philosophy to a tie fighter, both in form and function. A B-Wing is even more different, with the rotating cockpit and unique appearance. Which I think slightly resembles a killer bee about to sting, with the main cannon on the bottom wing as the stinger, the other wings as the wings etc. Hence, Bee-Wing.

The B in B-wing stand for "block"

play SoT Keyan w/sensors and int agent if you don't believe me (if you still don't, throw in two blue squadrons)

that or, apparently, Lucas wanted more ship designs to diversify the battle above endor and distinguish it from the battle above Yavin. The concept art was turned in, titled "design A" and "design B' and apparently stuck which fit the A-wing nicely but left viewers scratching their heads at the T-looking B-wing

also have to agree that I have no idea what people say when they think a ship looks "not Star-wars." Only the empire really has a super uniform look with all their Tie variants (and even the Decimator looks like a Tie whale) while the rebels (which scum shamlessly steal from ) come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors.

the only things I'd say don't look star wars are the episode 3 droid starfighters which looked and acted like living things (which, given the personalities of the battledroids, cannot be a good thing...)

I thought the star viper was very ugly from the pictures in the preview.

But in person its pretty cool. Looks like a flying gun platform. Though slightly like the elven ships in spelljammer.

I'm up to 6 M3As now. They are fun and versatile.

Thinking about Heaver's metagame article and trying to figure out how the SYCK fit in. It must be the Jousting archetype since it isn't quite boosty enough to be an arc-dodger. From that thinking, 5xCartel-Manglers is an interesting choice. But would it work facing down 4 B-Wings? Let alone be able to take down Fat Han + whatever?

Thinking about Heaver's metagame article and trying to figure out how the SYCK fit in. It must be the Jousting archetype since it isn't quite boosty enough to be an arc-dodger. From that thinking, 5xCartel-Manglers is an interesting choice. But would it work facing down 4 B-Wings? Let alone be able to take down Fat Han + whatever?

mangler cannons will easily take han down. question is can they take down all those B-wings? i think with a very competent pilot, it's very possible

as for the comment "isn't quite boosty enough to be an arc-dodger". Barrel rolls play a much stronger roll in arc dodging while still being able to shoot afterwards than boost does. Both make it a lot easier, but if i had to choose one or the other, barrel roll will always trump boost

Ten or twelve Seeks in Epic... now that is just fun.