I've been thinking about this ship, and I think it merits some discussion. I think it hasn't seen a lot, because it looks like a pretty vanilla Scum X-wing. The dial might be different, but with no boost or barrel roll, it won't fly drastically different than the X-wing. I think there's a major difference, though and I think it can matter a lot: the illicit slot.

Background first: It's got X-wing stats (or close enough) and actions. So it's most notable known feature is a 3 dice attack. The shown PS9 pilot is 28 points. He (or she) has got a pretty good ability, so if that costs a point, we're looking at 20 point PS2 Cartel whatevers. That's 5 of these ships in a squad. This is cool and new, but there's another approach. At 20 points, you could have 4 Cartels, 4 Glitterstim, and 3 Concussion Missiles in a squad. Let's say you're making a joust, Any of your ships that successfully get Target Locks pop their Glitterstim. They are each doing a likely 4 hits with their missiles, and they're getting great defense for a turn. Next turn, they just clear stress. Alternatively, go for a PS bid with a hypothetical 23 point PS5 Black Sun pilot. This makes it easier to get Target Locks and helps against Predator. If the base cost of the PS2 pilot is 19 instead of 20, you've got a few more points with either build. This would give you an extra missile with the PS2 squad or 4 1-point EPTs (like Calculation or Adrenaline Rush) with the PS5 squad.

As individual ships in a squad, a pilot of any kind with the conveniently included Homing Missile and Glitterstim is a solid jouster in general and an expert at damaging high AGI token-stackers. The Homing Missile fired the turn you pop Glitterstim is most likely doing 4 hits and ignoring an Evade token. This is good for breaking Stealth Devices or just racking up some early hits on arc-dodgers to narrow their margin for error later in the game.

I could also see a solid mixed squad with Warthogs. 2 Hired Guns with Unhinged Astromech and Ion Cannons is 48 points. At 20 points a piece, that would be enough for 2 Cartel pilots in the Khiraxz with Homing Missiles and Glitterstim. This would give you a nice High-Low mix of 2 fighters that could stand up to heavy fire and massively hurt low AGI stuff and 2 fighters that could withstand large quantities of 2-dice shots and spike damage against high AGI stuff.

Glitterstim is bringing back the Joust.

This would have pretty much fixed the X-wing.

I would run 4 X-wings with Stims in a heartbeat.

Quite frankly, if I wanted to build a team around the idea of Stim+Ordnance combo, I would go with the cheaper Z-95 for it. N'dru with Cluster Missiles+Stims+Lonewolf comes to mind... Hmmm...

Quite frankly, if I wanted to build a team around the idea of Stim+Ordnance combo, I would go with the cheaper Z-95 for it. N'dru with Cluster Missiles+Stims+Lonewolf comes to mind... Hmmm...

Yeah, N'dru definitely needs to be there. The Ks are better on non-missile turns, though. A N'dru (N'drug?), 2 Ks and 2 12 pointers would have a nice spread of abilities.

Don't get my hopes up for a 22-point Kihroghz at PS5 with an EPT ...because Stims + Adrenaline Rush sounds fun.

Don't get my hopes up for a 22-point Kihroghz at PS5 with an EPT ...because Stims + Adrenaline Rush sounds fun.

Doesn't it!?!

eh

glitterstim + cluster missiles is a fine combo at all (eat your heart out, lone wolf n'dru) but we're still wrestling with low pilot skill target-locks

I don't think Glitterstim is the silver-bullet that'll spare the fighter the fate of the x-wing (only an obscene PS 6 pilot, a very charitably priced generic, or a yet unseen upgrade can). It's a potent upgrade, but 2 points is going to take the assumed (X-wing) points inefficiency and jack it up further.

Glitterstim seems to be an upgrade that will syngerize more effectively with more elite pilots (imo) that can provide re-rolls to match the illicit's "focus" effect. Lone Wolf is an obviously potent candidate, as is scum Boba but even pilots with predator (or the K4) and 2+ agility can see very great use of it. I'm also paranoid enough to believe FFG didn't spoil Glitterstim below Cobra for no reason (four green dice at range 3 and 5 reds at range 1 being pretty good reasons, imo)

Plus, Glitterstim's got that Xizor effect of making your opponent not want to waste shots on a ship with guaranteed defensive abilities and enough agility to abuse them, albeit to a lesser degree (and for one turn).

I think the PS5 generic will probably have an EPT slot; the three lower PS pilots match the steps of the Scyk pilots, but we'll have to wait and see of course. I'm thinking a PS5 with appropriate EPT, missile, and illicit will nicely complement the PS5 TPVet with a cannon of choice. Put some points into the Kihraxz, and then a Heavy Cannon on the Scyk becomes a less attractive target. Fly them together, and put the rest of your points into a decent Large ship (and the PS5 Mando Merc is the first thing I think I'll reach for, personally). All comes down to points! And the new upgrades, of course.

I think the PS5 Kihraxz will have an EPT and cost 24. Sorry guys.

I think the PS5 Kihraxz will have an EPT and cost 24. Sorry guys.

Possible, but I'd be surprised. I think FFG understands the limitations of jousters at this point in the game.

I think the PS5 Kihraxz will have an EPT and cost 24. Sorry guys.

I'd put him at 23. Given where Cobra is sitting, 20 for PS2 seems about right and PS5 recently has not paid a tax for an EPT. However, I would also guess a worse than X dial.

I think the PS5 Kihraxz will have an EPT and cost 24. Sorry guys.

Possible, but I'd be surprised. I think FFG understands the limitations of jousters at this point in the game.

of jousters that can't even joust really well*

eh

glitterstim + cluster missiles is a fine combo at all (eat your heart out, lone wolf n'dru) but we're still wrestling with low pilot skill target-locks

I don't think Glitterstim is the silver-bullet that'll spare the fighter the fate of the x-wing (only an obscene PS 6 pilot, a very charitably priced generic, or a yet unseen upgrade can). It's a potent upgrade, but 2 points is going to take the assumed (X-wing) points inefficiency and jack it up further.

Glitterstim seems to be an upgrade that will syngerize more effectively with more elite pilots (imo) that can provide re-rolls to match the illicit's "focus" effect. Lone Wolf is an obviously potent candidate, as is scum Boba but even pilots with predator (or the K4) and 2+ agility can see very great use of it. I'm also paranoid enough to believe FFG didn't spoil Glitterstim below Cobra for no reason (four green dice at range 3 and 5 reds at range 1 being pretty good reasons, imo)

Plus, Glitterstim's got that Xizor effect of making your opponent not want to waste shots on a ship with guaranteed defensive abilities and enough agility to abuse them, albeit to a lesser degree (and for one turn).

I see Glitterstim as applicable to all ships, regardless of PS. You activate it at the start of the Combat Phase, so even if you're PS1, you know the board setting. It's usable when you're under stress, or blocked, or you've flown over an asteroid. At low PS, a full stim + Target Lock alpha strike is going to be difficult barring a few fortunate moves (a 5-straight would definitely be useful for this), but there's a few tactics you can employ that you hint on. You pick the 1 stimmer in the most vulnerable position and pop the stims. If they shoot at other targets, they're taking sub-optimal shots and you still get a Focus + TL shot. If they shoot at this turn's stimmer, you're making them muscle through someone tougher and cheaper than Luke Skywalker for a turn.

For my part, I think the Kirhaxz fit a role needed in Scum. Two build I want to try as soon as they come out is:

4 Cartel Spacer (Scyk)

2 Cartel ... (Kirhaxz)

2-4 points left for upgrades

or

2 Black sun Enforcer with Autothrusters

2 Cartel ... (Kirhaxz)

4-6 points left for upgrade (probably hotshot blasters on both Kirhaxz if there is 6 points left)

Regardless, that's definetly the ship I'm looking for the most from wave 7.

I say the scum needed a generic ship. Even these guys need something straightforward.

Note: There is one vital difference between the Kihraxz's stats and the X-Wing's:
With 4 hull and 1 shield, you can take a Hull Upgrade to become immune to the stress of the Flechette Torpedo.

With a greater concentration of Ordnance carriers coming out in this wave, that matters.

I Think the main reason for this craft to be good is because it's one of the best candidate for glitter stem, as most craft either can't take it ( generic starviper + m3a) or have lacking agility or are typically a support craft, with ig 2000, twin

Inked ywing and slave being the main ships it will more use out of it. Thus being able to tank shots really well for a turn can result in a much greater life expectancy than expected. The reliability of 5 wounds also speaks volumes, a reason why the m3a is a swarm or go home kind of ship.

I will wait though for the dial, that will make my mind up for me.

What could its dial possibly be though. With no BR or Bst. =/

It probably has a Sloop? And I'm going to guess some form of 1hard. Maybe even all the 1 2 3 's. plus 3sl 4f 4k?

Note: There is one vital difference between the Kihraxz's stats and the X-Wing's:

With 4 hull and 1 shield, you can take a Hull Upgrade to become immune to the stress of the Flechette Torpedo.

With a greater concentration of Ordnance carriers coming out in this wave, that matters.

Eh?

Attack [Target Lock]: Spend your target lock an discard this card to perform this attack. After you perform this attack, the defender receives 1 stress token if its hull value is "4" or less. Attack value: 3. Range: 2-3.

Note: There is one vital difference between the Kihraxz's stats and the X-Wing's:

With 4 hull and 1 shield, you can take a Hull Upgrade to become immune to the stress of the Flechette Torpedo.

With a greater concentration of Ordnance carriers coming out in this wave, that matters.

Eh?

Attack [Target Lock]: Spend your target lock an discard this card to perform this attack. After you perform this attack, the defender receives 1 stress token if its hull value is "4" or less. Attack value: 3. Range: 2-3.

With a Hull Upgrade it'll have 5 hull.

Ya I like the spot the krax fighter fills in scum. I just wish it had another shield. I can't say how many times I have flown the hwk and once that shield goes crits just seem to pop up on a regular. Especially now with mangler cannons and cards dealing crits aka greedo or calculation all over the place shields are more important than before. This is why I feel the krax fighter will have a hard time breaking into the competitive scene. Granted we havnt see the dial or all the cards but still that 1 shield scares me haha.

When I look at Talonbane, I keep thinking of Expert Handling. Talonbane moves at PS 9, which is good. If we expect it to move similar to an X-wing, then a Barrel Roll would be great for positioning. Also, I've used Barrel Roll to edge a little closer or further away from an enemy for slight advantage. With Talonbane, though, that advantage is not slight. Being able to just edge to R3 or R1 makes a big difference here. I think it's a slightly subtler way to fly Talonbane.

Note: There is one vital difference between the Kihraxz's stats and the X-Wing's:

With 4 hull and 1 shield, you can take a Hull Upgrade to become immune to the stress of the Flechette Torpedo.

With a greater concentration of Ordnance carriers coming out in this wave, that matters.

Eh?

Attack [Target Lock]: Spend your target lock an discard this card to perform this attack. After you perform this attack, the defender receives 1 stress token if its hull value is "4" or less. Attack value: 3. Range: 2-3.

Hull Upgrade

Increase your hull value by 1.

I really hope the PS2 generic is in fact 20 pts. My fear is it will be identical to a rookie pilot. A base Khiraxz at 20 pts seems downright superior to a mangler scyk: its got 2 more health at the expense of -1 agility and less actions on its bar. To justify a 20 point value, I think its dial would have to be noticeably worse than the x-wing's...