http://xwing-builder.co.uk/view/235088/xizor-and-the-manglers

I really wanted to use my Scyk interceptors in a squad, so I came up with this. Comes with one less ship then your typical Xizor Z-95 mini-swarm (as a consquence, there is about 7 less wounds in this list in exchange for better weaponary and agility 3), but the manglers are much more effective at long ranges against agility 3 fighters themselves and potentially more resistant, since they either have to kill Serissu first or face effective dice.

Considering getting rid of autothrusters on Xizor to tempt people to actually shoot at him. Not sure what I would buy for the two points mind you.

My first thought is that it would be effective against chubby ships, but probably will have huge problems against high damage shooters.

I've been thinking about what to run alongside Xizor too.

I used him in a practice game with VI, autothrusters, title & advanced sensors. Sensors are soooooo much better than FCS on him. With the ability to pre-boost or pre-barrel roll, its very hard for your opponent to predict where he'll end up, even if your opponent guessed your manoeuvre. Well, provided Xizor is moving last, of course.

But what to fly with him? I personally dislike the z-95 so the standard swarm is not an option for me. Although I would consider 1 or 2 of them...

Scyk seems like a good fit due to similarities in their dials and a mangler scyk is not that expensive. I'm personally leaning towards 3 mangler scyks, since, while Serissu's buff is nice, her offense is pitiful and she becomes too expensive for this list if you give her any upgrades.

So I'm leaning towards:

Xizor w/ VI, AT, title & AS = 38

3 cartel spacers w/ title & 'mangler' = 20 x 3

I might throw Inertial Dampeners on Xizor too...

good point, i hadnt considered that option yet making him more mobile would be a fantastic asset, more so in the late game where he is likely to be last vessel. Just to be honest I feel the scyk is a tad expensive for what it does, six points for a decent ranged attack on a 3 hit body? Doesnt seem worth it aside from on things only worth one hull, so since taking it is a gamble, I shall take a gamble further and work in a HEAVY BLASTER CANNON (Caps accidental, but it felt so metal I kept it)

2: M3A with Ion Cannons (38)

1: M3A with HBC (23)

Xizor with your loadout. (38)

99 points

Perhaps the control aspect would be stronger with 2 Y-Wings and a Ion dude, and perhaps thats the refined list I will run in the end. Or 3 M3A with ions and hull handed out to make them a tad more duriable.

I had a test game earlier this week with 2 mangler sycks, Guri and a warthog y-wing. I was up against Kath & IG88B. They both had heavy laser cannons. Needless to say, the Scyks did not fair well. I'm starting to feel that the scyk is indeed a bit over priced. 20 pts for 3 attack but only 3 health (even protected by 3 agility) seems a tad much. As a result, I don't think they pair well with the Star Viper after all (at least not a pricy named one anyway). You kind of have to build a list around the scyks rather than using them for support. At least that's how it seems to me.

Having said that, I could see trying to get some value out of a flechette cannon + ion cannon scyk....still very fragile, but the control element might help them survive a bit better, although I don't think Xizor benefits from that element as much, so I'm not seeing good synergy there and will save that idea for a different list.

So, my latest Xizor list is:

Prince Xizor w/ VI, AT, title & Adv. Sensors

2 warthogs w/ title & ICT

1 banana pirate w/ feedback

Haven't played it yet, but I think it will be better than using scyks.

First off, I really like Xizor and also the Scyks. I don't think they fly well together. The Scyk is pretty fragile and Xizor shunts off damage to his friends. It's a bad combo. I don't fly them together. Guri with Scyks or Scyks with other ships are good, but not Xizor and Scyks.

Scyks are not bad as 14 pt Tie Fighters. TL is actually pretty useful, as is Barrel Roll. If you are used to flying Tie Fighters (not in formation) then you should be easy to switch over.

Heavy Scyks with Mangler Cannons need to be flown to their advantage. There is a local guy here who flies Kath w/ 3 Scyks (2 w/ Manglers). Kath zips forward and boosts and is soon firing at you from rear arc while the Scyks hang back. So, if you go for the Scyks then Kath is ripping you up. If you go for Kath then the Scyks are ripping you up. It's a pretty effective use. Oh, and the one vanilla Scyk usually flies in front and tries to block you if you get close. Most people don't pay attention and fire at the blank one.

Ion Scyks are something to try out. I wouldn't go with lots of them, but one in a list is not a bad idea.

First off, I really like Xizor and also the Scyks. I don't think they fly well together. The Scyk is pretty fragile and Xizor shunts off damage to his friends. It's a bad combo. I don't fly them together. Guri with Scyks or Scyks with other ships are good, but not Xizor and Scyks.

Scyks are not bad as 14 pt Tie Fighters. TL is actually pretty useful, as is Barrel Roll. If you are used to flying Tie Fighters (not in formation) then you should be easy to switch over.

Heavy Scyks with Mangler Cannons need to be flown to their advantage. There is a local guy here who flies Kath w/ 3 Scyks (2 w/ Manglers). Kath zips forward and boosts and is soon firing at you from rear arc while the Scyks hang back. So, if you go for the Scyks then Kath is ripping you up. If you go for Kath then the Scyks are ripping you up. It's a pretty effective use. Oh, and the one vanilla Scyk usually flies in front and tries to block you if you get close. Most people don't pay attention and fire at the blank one.

Ion Scyks are something to try out. I wouldn't go with lots of them, but one in a list is not a bad idea.

Yeah I agree with you for the most part. That Kath + Scyks list is an example of building around the scyks that I was referring to above. Basically, the scyk is not a good ship by itself, but in the right list built to make up for its fragility, it can do well because it does pack a good punch for its points. having said that, I'm not convinced the Scyk works well with Guri or any Star Viper. They fly so differently, and the Star Viper is not a jouster that can pull enough attention away from the Scyks to allow it to fly unmolested. Or at least so it seems to me...

I fly Xizor with FCS, title, AT with two Z95's and two Scyks with mangler cannons. Super fun and effective list.

If you are going to play Xizor, then at least us his ability. Hand off the extra damage to the Z's.

I was talking to Theorist about Scyks + Star Vipers. He likes both ships and he's got a list that looks like:

Blacksun Enforcer w/ Shield Upgrade = 29

3 Cartel Spacers w/ title & heavy lasers = 23 x 3

Not sure if he did anything with the last 2 points. But his plan is to use the Enforcer as a blocker early game, rushing toward the enemy while the Cartel Spacers hang back and unload their heavies. The opponent will lose if they do not silence those heavy lasers quick, and he accepts the fact that one is likely to die getting maybe 1 or 2 shots off. His hope is that the opponent's list will have taken so much damage by the time all 3 spacers are down, that the Enforcer can mop up whatever remains. It seems a sound strategy, so I guess I should modify my above statement: the Scyk is not very strong in small numbers. Go big or go home with it, it seems.