So lately with Scum I've been flying what I'll call the "No Escape" build for Kath, but I've been struggling to figure out what to fly alongside her. The Kath build is:

· Kath Scarlet (38)

Opportunist (4)

Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

Engine Upgrade (4)

K4 Security Droid (3)

For a total of 56 points. The general idea is that a 4-dice attack is the best-case scenario for my opponent, often spilling into 5 dice, with plenty of target locks after clearing my Opportunist stress. But I'm really torn on how to spend the rest of the 44 points. I feel like my best idea so far was 2 Syndicate Thug Y-Wings with Autoblaster turrets, BTL-A4, and Unhinged Astromech, with Inertial Dampeners added to Kath. The problem I worry about here is whether they'll be able to pull their weight.

I ran one game with Palob and N'Dru amd failed miserably with both the HWK and the Z-95, probably due to my own lack of experience with both ships, but still. Not once did I manage to keep N'Dru at Lone Wolf range when he wanted to shoot, and the HWK got drilled into the ground, as my opponent recognized the combination I was trying to use with Opportunist. I also thought about two M3-As with Mangler Cannons, but I'm worried they'll be focus-fired just the same way.

So I'm looking for suggestions, comments, critique, or any feedback. What would you pair with this Kath build?

If you're sticking with Opportunist, stick with Palob. It's an excellent combo when it works out, but I'm not a huge fan of Opportunist without having means to set it up myself.

Ndru was the real weak link there, as he offers nothing to a team that'll need protection. I usually see Palob/Kath run with a pair of Binyares as blockers.

I personally love slapping Outmaneuver on Kath and daring people to risk staying in her arc. I actually run this with a second Firespray, but despite my success people think I'm a loon for it half the time. I think a pair of Ion Warthog Ys could be a good addition, as people will be forced to choose between chasing Kath or removing the double tap, freeing up Kath to catch them with outmaneuver or the Ys to line up ions.

Predator can also work well, but I'm not personally a fan of the redundancy it can have with K4. Still? Others will swear by it.

I have been enjoying great success with Starvipers paired with Kath. I call my list Kath's Cross:

Kath+Predator+K4 (You could also exchange Predator for Expert Handling or Lone Wolf)

2x Black Sun Enforcer+Autothrusters

The following forum topic talks about a few lists and maneuvers with Kath:

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/137397-the-scarlet-cross-with-pictures/?hl=%20kath

I advise against a cannon on Kath. It puts too many points into a single ship. When Kath is flying with equal threats it becomes harder for your opponent to focus fire on her without serious losses. Other variations I've done is replacing K4 with Recon Spec or Tactician.

I really like Kath too.

MY build though is a bit different. I used lone wolf, recon specialist, engine upgrade and Inertial dampeners.

Well actually it was used against me, but this is my reasoning:

Kath starts out wanting to stay at a bit of a range when the rest of the squad moves forward, then either k turns or moves past the engagement with a turn and a boost.

I use the engine upgrade to get out to range 3 when needed or boost out of arc, or maintain a arc if I've chosen a poor maneuver.

I use recon specialist for the focus on defense and allows me to get a focus for all of those attack dice.

Lone wolf is used to get an extra evade, and the extra attack dice is nasty. Once you've made a 6 dice attack you don;t want to go back!

Inertial dampeners when you just want to stay exactly where you are.

It worked very well.

I also agree that the HLC is better left off and spent elsewhere. You can't use your HLC in a rear arc..

The same can be said with Opportunist. If you don't have a way to strip the token and you are attacking at PS 7 many things will still have their tokens.

K4 is nice.

Right now I'm trying to put some filler for kath as well. I want to try the starviper so I've made this. (no results yet to speak of)

Black Sun Enforcer with autothrusters

and a syndicate thug with btl a4 unhinged and a blaster turret.

good luck.

If you're sticking with Opportunist, stick with Palob. It's an excellent combo when it works out, but I'm not a huge fan of Opportunist without having means to set it up myself.

Ndru was the real weak link there, as he offers nothing to a team that'll need protection. I usually see Palob/Kath run with a pair of Binyares as blockers.

I personally love slapping Outmaneuver on Kath and daring people to risk staying in her arc. I actually run this with a second Firespray, but despite my success people think I'm a loon for it half the time. I think a pair of Ion Warthog Ys could be a good addition, as people will be forced to choose between chasing Kath or removing the double tap, freeing up Kath to catch them with outmaneuver or the Ys to line up ions.

Predator can also work well, but I'm not personally a fan of the redundancy it can have with K4. Still? Others will swear by it.

Huh, I'll have to try the list with two Binaryes. That could work, and might be just what I'm looking for. The Ion-Ys are another serious contender, but I'm concerned about having to cut something to make it work. The Engine Upgrade and HLC are the only things I could see dropping or swapping out, and I don't like losing either one, but I do like the idea that none of the ships in the list go down easy.

I have been enjoying great success with Starvipers paired with Kath. I call my list Kath's Cross:

Kath+Predator+K4 (You could also exchange Predator for Expert Handling or Lone Wolf)

2x Black Sun Enforcer+Autothrusters

The following forum topic talks about a few lists and maneuvers with Kath:

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/topic/137397-the-scarlet-cross-with-pictures/?hl=%20kath

I advise against a cannon on Kath. It puts too many points into a single ship. When Kath is flying with equal threats it becomes harder for your opponent to focus fire on her without serious losses. Other variations I've done is replacing K4 with Recon Spec or Tactician.

Star Vipers are an interesting suggestion, and I'll definitely have to try that out. But I'm really hesitant to remove the cannon. I know it's sinking a ton of points in one ship, but isn't that basically what people do with Dash? Not entirely comparable, but you get the idea. I love Kath's ability, but to me the idea was that both firing arcs are just as deadly. I have wondered lately if I could make the front arc just as threatening using a Mangler, though.

But in either case, thank you for the maneuvers link, I'll have to try that out!

I really like Kath too.

MY build though is a bit different. I used lone wolf, recon specialist, engine upgrade and Inertial dampeners.

Well actually it was used against me, but this is my reasoning:

Kath starts out wanting to stay at a bit of a range when the rest of the squad moves forward, then either k turns or moves past the engagement with a turn and a boost.

I use the engine upgrade to get out to range 3 when needed or boost out of arc, or maintain a arc if I've chosen a poor maneuver.

I use recon specialist for the focus on defense and allows me to get a focus for all of those attack dice.

Lone wolf is used to get an extra evade, and the extra attack dice is nasty. Once you've made a 6 dice attack you don;t want to go back!

Inertial dampeners when you just want to stay exactly where you are.

It worked very well.

I also agree that the HLC is better left off and spent elsewhere. You can't use your HLC in a rear arc..

The same can be said with Opportunist. If you don't have a way to strip the token and you are attacking at PS 7 many things will still have their tokens.

K4 is nice.

Right now I'm trying to put some filler for kath as well. I want to try the starviper so I've made this. (no results yet to speak of)

Black Sun Enforcer with autothrusters

and a syndicate thug with btl a4 unhinged and a blaster turret.

good luck.

I have to ask, how did you get 6 dice? That sounds brutal! And with a second recommendation for Star Vipers, I'll have to see if I can squeeze that in, or possibly the Viper/Y-Wing idea you put forth.

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys.

Six attack die with Kath can be achieved by having Opportunist and catching them at range one inside her rear arc. I've seen it happen before, resulting in an Academy Pilot getting vaporized.

I think its why I'll often advocate for flying Palob alongside Kath, as it's an incredibly lethal combination when it works. Flown right, you can pretty reliably throw nine attack die between two ships nearly every turn, assuming Palob is also packing Opportunist.

But without Palob, as I've said before, Kath is better off with a different EPT. Regardless of who you fly with her, she's one of the best pilots in the game right now. She's so popular I almost feel bad for planning to use her at my next tournament. Almost.