Guri and Starvipers in general

By Blail Blerg, in X-Wing

Hello all,

I got wrecked by Guri.

I made the mistake of simply choosing the easiest target (Palob was in front of me, something like 50 to 70 pts. Guri was on the other side of the map.) This was a casual game, so I was running a Delta Defender with Flechette Cannon. Anyway.

I had a shuttle and the Defender nearly full health plus a half health Shadow (who got blasted) go up against Guri. Ended up with Yorr out of position forever and the Defender at 2 hull even with good flying.

Guri is a monster. Wow. Poeple have already speculated, but now I think we don't have quite the accurate math: Guri's ability is relevant almost every other turn in the end game, especially in a 1v1 joust. Or even 1v2, it was even better for her. Bump one, gain focus, attack the other.

Absolutely brutal efficiency.

If a free action is wroth about 3 points, then a free specific focus should be about 2 points.

Her ability in the end game proc'ed about 4 times: thats 8 points. Easily enough to overcome the 1-2 inefficiency of the Starviper and the increase in cost for PS.

Her PS5 was a little troublesome, but a good player could make it work. Since she actually has great action economy already, I suggest VI. PS7 is a little more manageable.

Also: Advanced Proton Torpedoes. These I guarantee with give you a full 12+ point kill for 6 points. Extremely easy to pull off with her ability.

After that, Auto thrusters.

Guri

VI

Auto

Adv Proton Torps

--

What to pair with?

I think pairing with "catchers" should be fine. Simply add 2 Ys 1 with BTL. And a Z, and it should be an effective squad. Torkil Mux also seems like a good idea too.

Don't use adv torps

You'll get predator + thrusters for cheaper and they'll guarantee more damage throughout the game (rather than guri getting bum rushed because she's such a huge target). Lone wolf is also incredible if you can get it to work

Same upgrades for xizor unless you needva PS 9 and FCS for an offense that can justify his cost.

Edited by ficklegreendice

I've tried expensive Adv. Proton Torpedo delivery systems before, and they almost universally fail. You just paint too big a target on your head, and end up hurting for points elsewhere. Fun if you can pull it off, sure, but that's about it.

Trust me. I'm very much an advocate of cost efficiency. But have you guys tried it yet? Seems like guri gets the R1 TL F shot very often.

TL f 4 dice is 3.75 hits.

Apt is 98% chance of 5 hits with focus. So yeah I guess we do pay 6 points for 1.25 hits more.

Here's the thing though: guri often gets the f and takes TL action anyway. So not sure how much I care for predator. Also ps seems to be a problem.

Ehhhhhh. Yeah I guess it's still probably better to take predator. I'd definitely pair with mux though.

I have a theory, and I'd like to test it here. The StarViper is best when its played like the other heavy knife fighter in the game: the B wing. I'd guess he used a lot of 1 turns and barrel rolls? I've seen many players try to run Guri Soontir-style, but that really doesn't. The dial doesn't lend itself to push, so they take push and lose a lot. But, if you get in close, take short maneuvers, and roll into shots and out of arcs,and grab that free focus for R1 offense. Is that how he wrecked you? Because I'll be testing her like that pretty soon.

Hello all,

I got wrecked by Guri.

I made the mistake of simply choosing the easiest target (Palob was in front of me, something like 50 to 70 pts. Guri was on the other side of the map.) This was a casual game, so I was running a Delta Defender with Flechette Cannon. Anyway.

I had a shuttle and the Defender nearly full health plus a half health Shadow (who got blasted) go up against Guri. Ended up with Yorr out of position forever and the Defender at 2 hull even with good flying.

Guri is a monster. Wow. Poeple have already speculated, but now I think we don't have quite the accurate math: Guri's ability is relevant almost every other turn in the end game, especially in a 1v1 joust. Or even 1v2, it was even better for her. Bump one, gain focus, attack the other.

Absolutely brutal efficiency.

If a free action is wroth about 3 points, then a free specific focus should be about 2 points.

Her ability in the end game proc'ed about 4 times: thats 8 points. Easily enough to overcome the 1-2 inefficiency of the Starviper and the increase in cost for PS.

Her PS5 was a little troublesome, but a good player could make it work. Since she actually has great action economy already, I suggest VI. PS7 is a little more manageable.

Also: Advanced Proton Torpedoes. These I guarantee with give you a full 12+ point kill for 6 points. Extremely easy to pull off with her ability.

After that, Auto thrusters.

Guri

VI

Auto

Adv Proton Torps

--

What to pair with?

I think pairing with "catchers" should be fine. Simply add 2 Ys 1 with BTL. And a Z, and it should be an effective squad. Torkil Mux also seems like a good idea too.

How bout Guri with Jammer+Expert Handling+Pablo w/Bodyguard? No rerolls, no focus points, 4 AG...good luck hittin that.

Trust me. I'm very much an advocate of cost efficiency. But have you guys tried it yet? Seems like guri gets the R1 TL F shot very often.

TL f 4 dice is 3.75 hits.

Apt is 98% chance of 5 hits with focus. So yeah I guess we do pay 6 points for 1.25 hits more.

Here's the thing though: guri often gets the f and takes TL action anyway. So not sure how much I care for predator. Also ps seems to be a problem.

Ehhhhhh. Yeah I guess it's still probably better to take predator. I'd definitely pair with mux though.

I've flown against it and it was weak

PS 5 target-lock and range 1 is a horrible thing to try to ensure on anyone. You are so many times better off just focusing or maneuvering that you should just pretend the torp slot doesn't exist (I know I do :P)

I did fly predator/thrusters guri with mux (recon/baster/crow) and 3 pirates. Worked like a charm against super kath. Poor girl couldnt do a thing as the Zs, Guri, and Palob ate her mini-swarm until it was too late

How bout Guri with Jammer+Expert Handling+Pablo w/Bodyguard? No rerolls, no focus points, 4 AG...good luck hittin that.

higher PS pilots only

Edited by ficklegreendice

Trust me. I'm very much an advocate of cost efficiency. But have you guys tried it yet? Seems like guri gets the R1 TL F shot very often.

TL f 4 dice is 3.75 hits.

Apt is 98% chance of 5 hits with focus. So yeah I guess we do pay 6 points for 1.25 hits more.

Here's the thing though: guri often gets the f and takes TL action anyway. So not sure how much I care for predator. Also ps seems to be a problem.

Ehhhhhh. Yeah I guess it's still probably better to take predator. I'd definitely pair with mux though.

I've flown against it and it was weak

PS 5 target-lock and range 1 is a horrible thing to try to ensure on anyone. You are so many times better off just focusing or maneuvering that you should just pretend the torp slot doesn't exist (I know I do :P)

I did fly predator/thrusters guri with mux (recon/baster/crow) and 3 pirates. Worked like a charm against super kath. Poor girl couldnt do a thing as the Zs, Guri, and Palob ate her mini-swarm until it was too late

How bout Guri with Jammer+Expert Handling+Pablo w/Bodyguard? No rerolls, no focus points, 4 AG...good luck hittin that.

higher PS pilots only

****. Perhaps wingman, then? Either way, Pablo stealing a focus means that Guri gets at least 1 free dodge each turn, possibly 2 with AT, and then the EH removes a Target lock. That's nasty on a 3 AG ship.

I think Deadeye is still the preferred Adv. Proton Torpedo EPT, but that poses it's own set of issues. To wit, you're wasting an EPT slot on Deadeye.

****. Perhaps wingman, then? Either way, Pablo stealing a focus means that Guri gets at least 1 free dodge each turn, possibly 2 with AT, and then the EH removes a Target lock. That's nasty on a 3 AG ship.

Palob is a ******* boss monster, but EH seems like a waste of 2 points on Guri and leaving her without focus (unless you have some way of guaranteeing an enemy in range 1) is probably going to do more harm than good target-lock or no

Anyway, my main advice regarding Vipers is that they're not cheap. If you start pouring upgrades on top of them, they can prove very difficult to kill but even more difficult to do enough damage to warrant their cost. They're not great ships to make super expensive because they don't have the force multipliers of traditional super-aces (fat falcon durability and stupid turret, soontir's extreme maneuverability and action efficiency, the phantom's pre-errata bull etc.) they're 3-agility, auto-thruster B-wings with no red maneuvers apart from Segnor's and an added 3 green straight. Keep the characters simple and effective, their abilities will take care of the rest.

After all my games with them (love Vipers, because they look sweet, have great abilities, and remind me of my beloved B-wings ^_^ ) I'm not even sure I'd put Virago on Xizor (Guri, imo, never needed it) unless I need FCS on V.I Xizor. Sure, sensors are sweet but they're also 4 points.

Can't say much about the generics since I've only had one game with them.

Edited by ficklegreendice

****. Perhaps wingman, then? Either way, Pablo stealing a focus means that Guri gets at least 1 free dodge each turn, possibly 2 with AT, and then the EH removes a Target lock. That's nasty on a 3 AG ship.

Palob is a ******* boss monster, but EH seems like a waste of 2 points on Guri and leaving her without focus (unless you have some way of guaranteeing an enemy in range 1) is probably going to do more harm than good target-lock or no

You can still focus after EH, its a free action.

You can still focus after EH, its a free action.

EH costs your action (the Action: header signifies a cost) to get a free action barrel roll. Otherwise, you'd see that **** everywhere

As is, it's great fun on K4 Firesprays but a little redundant on Guri

Edited by ficklegreendice

Sensor Jammer is Guri's friend. I also tested using SoT + AdvS with Guri and that was pretty fun. Choose anything at the speed of 3 and use SoT to choose the better option if you need to. Sure, you won't know where the ship with higher PS is until they move but you can use this to block higher PS ships or correct a maneuvering mistake.

I think he meant that she doesn't get a focus if she's out of range 1. Incidentally, her ability is not a free action.

You can still focus after EH, its a free action.

EH costs your action (the Action: header signifies a cost) to get a free action barrel roll. Otherwise, you'd see that **** everywhere

I see. Hence why no one uses it.

To be fair had you had something that was higher ps you probably would have been fine and not think they were so strong.

Guri seems really good, but I can't figure out how to run her other than with autothrusters.

Guri seems really good, but I can't figure out how to run her other than with autothrusters.

That seems like a problem in and of itself, using an upgrade that requires you to be at range three on a ship that already benefits from being at range one.

Guri (30)

Veteran Instincts (1)

Advanced Sensors (3)

Inertial Dampeners (1)

Autothrusters (2)

Virago (1)

Palob Godalhi (20)

Bodyguard (2)

Ion Cannon Turret (5)

Recon Specialist (3)

"Hot Shot" Blaster (3)

Moldy Crow (3)

Binayre Pirate (12)

Binayre Pirate (12)

Total: 98

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

How about this?

It's got control, blockers, a solid defense for the star, and has a few tricks with the hot shot blaster and ID

Edited by YwingAce

Guri seems really good, but I can't figure out how to run her other than with autothrusters.

lone-wolf/predator w/thrusters

you really don't need anything else

you could get fancy with sensors, but at 4 points I wouldn't say it's worth it

Guri seems really good, but I can't figure out how to run her other than with autothrusters.

That seems like a problem in and of itself, using an upgrade that requires you to be at range three on a ship that already benefits from being at range one.

not necessarily

it just means you're covered at range 3 and at range 1 (and against turrets, which will rip a Viper a new one if it doesn't have thrusters because ******* turrets <_< )

at range 2 you derive no particular benefit, but neither does your opponent

at 2 points, you really only need it to trigger once to be worth it (or for your opponent to not shoot Guri because of it, provided you make great use of her)

Edited by ficklegreendice

Guri seems really good, but I can't figure out how to run her other than with autothrusters.

That seems like a problem in and of itself, using an upgrade that requires you to be at range three on a ship that already benefits from being at range one.

You're Range 1 of your target, but Range 3 of the ship that can shoot at you ;-)

Ideally, anyway...

Guri (30)Veteran Instincts (1)Advanced Sensors (3)Inertial Dampeners (1)Autothrusters (2)Virago (1)Palob Godalhi (20)Bodyguard (2)Ion Cannon Turret (5)Recon Specialist (3)"Hot Shot" Blaster (3)Moldy Crow (3)Binayre Pirate (12)Binayre Pirate (12)Total: 98View in Yet Another Squad BuilderHow about this?It's got control, blockers, a solid defense for the star, and has a few tricks with the hot shot blaster and ID

See I look at that build and it seems like you're really asking guri to do alot in that build, she goes she takes your offense along with it.

I ran Guri twice over the weekend so I thought I'd share my experiences.

First game

Guri (30)
Push the Limit (3)
Advanced Proton Torpedoes (6)
Sensor Jammer (4)
"Hot Shot" Blaster (3)
Autothrusters (2)
Virago (1)
Mandalorian Mercenary (35)
Push the Limit (3)
K4 Security Droid (3)
Advanced Proton Torpedoes (6)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Slave I (0)
Total: 100
This was an experiment with APT and 2 pilots I've never used before so obviously not a competitive list. Both ships got their payload off but in the end I lost with lots of 1 hull enemy left on the table. Played against Blue, Ten Numb with Pred, Mangler, Advanced Sensors, Wedge with Pred, R2D2
Lessons learned, and I'll focus on Guri for this;
  • Vipers don't like stress. They don't hate it, but they are no interceptor and I found the stress to be severly limiting.
  • APT are too expensive, even if you assume 5 damage guaranteed.
  • Vipers play like something between a TIE Interceptor and a B-Wing. They knife-fight pretty well but have the extra ability to rocket away to break and re-engage.
  • The lack of evade is really telling.
  • The free focus is really good.
Sidenote, Ten Numb with Mangler Cannon is really nasty. Guaranteed crits can really mess up your game.
I played a second game the following day with this list.
Guri (30)
Calculation (1)
Fire-Control System (2)
Autothrusters (2)
Virago (1)
Drea Renthal (22)
Ion Cannon Turret (5)
R4-B11 (3)
BTL-A4 Y-Wing (0)
Palob Godalhi (20)
Opportunist (4)
Blaster Turret (4)
Recon Specialist (3)
Moldy Crow (3)
Total: 100
Won this game but I played against a bit of a joke list. Carnor (no upgrades), Tetran (Autothrustors), Mauler (no upgrades), Dark Curse, Night Beast
Lessons learned
  • Much prefer Guri without her stressing herself.
  • Calculation is more effective than I thought it would be. If you have 2 or more focus results, just turn them into hits, if you have just 1, turn it into a crit. I rolled a reasonable amount of single focus results for it to work, but you don't have to use it every turn.
  • FCS was not as good as it could have been, but that's because I was playing against low HP ships. More games to see if I really like this.
  • Free focus is still really good, particularly given the close range knife fighting aspect.

Guri seems really good, but I can't figure out how to run her other than with autothrusters.

That seems like a problem in and of itself, using an upgrade that requires you to be at range three on a ship that already benefits from being at range one.

Gotta say I disagree. Compared to Shield upgrade(4) and hull upgrade(3), if you even manage to prevent 1 damage its already paid for itself, especially on a ship without Evade. Turrets and R3 shots are still a thing.