If all others are dead, Zixor with WL will shine.

Would you play Guri like this next to Xizor?

38 points! Holy crap, why should I shoot at Xizor first?

Yeah, seems contradictory, but you make others want to kill xizor before he becomes the end game solo ship. Your opponent is glad for the loss in offense while xizor is alone, and makes them not want to shoot six ors escorts, to turn it on. Both scenarios are bad.

It works a little better when the xizor escorts are fewer, say 2 y wings, or 2-3 z's. It also works better when you have feedback or deadman z's which will naturally want to seperate, and can threaten to do so early, making the opponent think, will he, or won't he.

Would you play Guri like this next to Xizor?

38 points! Holy crap, why should I shoot at Xizor first?

Would this work out?

Prince Xizor (40)
StarViper (31), Push the Limit (3), Advanced Proton Torpedoes (6)

Guri (36)
StarViper (30), Advanced Proton Torpedoes (6)

Binayre Pirate (12) x 2

Back on topic ... why would anyone put lone wolf on xizor? They are mutually exclusive at range 1 and 3+ and neither work at range 2 from a friendly.

It was an experiment. The idea was that it would help in the late-mid to end game; once the escorts had thinned or been eliminated. Xizor's ability is worthless if he has no escorts. In my match, there was only one opportunity to use Lone Wolf. Having played with it, I think Predator is a much better choice as increased damage throughout the match is better than a defense and offensive boost for fewer turns; plus it is easier to remember since it applies on every attack.

The Starviper is a great ship in certain roles, at least for the named pilots. Guri is very fun to play and can be a great knife fighter, but she is somewhat hampered by her pilot skill. Xizor's superior PS makes him a great ace, and his ability can keep him alive a long time, even with poor evade rolls.

I have used Xizor (VI, Virago, FCS, autothrusters, dampeners) and 5 pirates in 3 tournaments so far with a good track record. First time was at a store championship, where I went 5-0 through qualifying and then lost in top 8. Next one I went 4-1 through qualifying and then won. This past weekend I went 5-0 through qualifying and then made top 4 at a regional.

Xizor at PS9 with the above upgrades is a force to be reckoned with. He is hard to hit with 3 AGI and autothrusters, and if he gets hit, he has plenty of other ships to shrug off the damage to. With FCS, he doesn't have to clear stress right away (as was mentioned above), keeping his movement unpredictable. It also helps keep offense up when Slooping. Inertial dampeners save him from certain death 1-2 times on a typical tournament day. They are also great at helping you get him behind an enemy ship, most commonly an IG-2000 that has just K turned or Slooped.

With the list at only 98 points, you usually get to choose whether you want initiative, which is great for blocking with the pirates (TIE swarm players are always blown away when their initiative gets stolen) or forcing an opposing PS9 ace to move first so they can't arc dodge and run from Xizor.

I have used this list to beat TIE swarm, double YT, 5 ship rebel, double interceptor + Firespray, Robots (3 games), Corran/Han, Soontir/Chirpy, and several other lists. I have seen other solid lists that use StarVipers but this one is probably the best IMO. Just don't try to use the StarViper like an interceptor. It's much more like a B wing with engine, at least how I fly it.

I'd love to hear more from this guy.

I've got a great bunch of local guys who don't play with the internet meta, but it makes it hard to go to Regionals and do well. I need to figure out approaches for things like BBBBZ. RAC w/ Soontir...who to go after first?

Would you play Guri like this next to Xizor?

38 points! Holy crap, why should I shoot at Xizor first?

Because she's running next to serissu and a 39 point xizor? Or guri's up in your face, bumping, and you only have a legal target of xizor.

most likely, you wouldn't shoot that guri only out of sheer pity

A few of the builds FFG posts are questionable...but this is just clownish

Just give her Predator & thrusters, Jammer is you're keen on a 40 point PS 5, and go to town. Don't try going through hoops to make her ability less useful than it actually is: giving you a focus on the offense and defense or given you fully modified attacks even if you bump into an enemy.

The problem with LW Xizor is that VI Xizor is too good. If you build in an initiative bid he can threaten the toughest targets in the game.

As mentioned, I added flechette torps to my xizor and 5 z list, so I'm at 100, but can nicely threaten anyone running ptl and even aggressors (they dont like being stressed).

I'm still trying to decide which is better, but I feel that even moving after fel when he's turtled up won't do much unless I'm extremely lucky.

Why not fly Xizor with Serissu and possibly Laetin, with some other Scyks as mooks to soak damage?

I enjoyed flying Xizor with 3 Z's and a Warthog Ion Y last night.

Why not fly Xizor with Serissu and possibly Laetin, with some other Scyks as mooks to soak damage?

If the Scyks are run bare I could actually see that happening. Creates targets that are similarly tricky to hit which I like. The main problem I see is that they don't have the sheer wounds, and is the only scum ship that currently lacks any access to an illicd slot (the only other being the starviper). That being said, otherwise strictly speaking they should be a superior craft (much more actions, and an agility instead of a shield is a pretty good trade). Might have a crack at building a list later. Just Serissu can be disappointing.

Why not fly Xizor with Serissu and possibly Laetin, with some other Scyks as mooks to soak damage?

tie fighter stats and they're not terribly efficient (+2 points per mook over the Z-95 adds up fast)

poor bastards already die to a wrong look, last thing they need is to get a direct damage shunted onto them

I liked the list posted with just Laetin, Xizor and some Z-95s. It's an interesting departure and should leave Xizor with enough expendables allies to help him survive

People seem to judge the Scyks really harshly on this forum. They're one of my favourite ships in the game and I think they can be pretty great.

Though, you are right regarding the direct damage since the green dice won't help them.

Why not fly Xizor with Serissu and possibly Laetin, with some other Scyks as mooks to soak damage?

Also scyks just aren't very effective. At the moment.

I personally love flying Xizor with Y-wings. They have lots of room to soak up damage. You can run two of them (and a Z-wing) with Ions or three with Autoblasters. Makes for a nasty build.

Why not fly Xizor with Serissu and possibly Laetin, with some other Scyks as mooks to soak damage?

They have less hit points. I think thugs are a better option that scyks. Certainly Binayre Pirates are the best points per damage absorbed option.

Also scyks just aren't very effective. At the moment.

Kinda disagree, Leatin really pisses me off. Also at larger games where you can afford a snyper or two they can do a good job.

I might just try out the Syck approach then for a game and see how that does. Because part of my concern in regards to Xizor is that I want him to be hard to kill, but not impossible to kill either as otherwise no one would shoot at him. At least give the impression that they could kill him with focused fire (e.g. they might not necessarily be able to do that.)

Laetin, oh Laetin

wherefore art thou so green dice dependent

Xizor and swarm is very fun. Until you meet a Coran. That shield regeneration and maneuverability is just to good in this match up.

Not really. Corran does same as anything if you get a proper block off. Just don't pussyfoot around him; make sure he dies

I really like Scyks and do believe they are effective.

I don't think they are good with Xizor en mass. They already can be one shot like a Tie Fighter or Tie Interceptor...with one bad roll. Now, you want to shift damage from Xizor to them? I love the maneuverability that they get to go with him (and always stay in range), but Scyks over Z-95's just mean they die sooner.

Maybe just Serrisu added, but that's also less Z's.

I really like Scyks and do believe they are effective.

I don't think they are good with Xizor en mass. They already can be one shot like a Tie Fighter or Tie Interceptor...with one bad roll. Now, you want to shift damage from Xizor to them? I love the maneuverability that they get to go with him (and always stay in range), but Scyks over Z-95's just mean they die sooner.

Maybe just Serrisu added, but that's also less Z's.

Serrisu is worth 8 points more then a Z-95. So for a list consisting solely of z95's you could run 7 + her and a select few upgrades. That actually sounds insanely duriable.

Running 3 Z-95 (36), her (20) and Xizor (31 for the moment, lets say) comes to about 87. That's five ships with potential mods and isn't actually going to turn out much smaller. Sure, Xizor can't be too expensive unless the Z-95 and Serri is going mostly bland, but considering the defensive rerolls she could keep swarms and Xizor going for longer then expected. Plus skill 8 pilots (skill 10?) is a rarity for Scum, so on the off chance that she survives the early game she can be a really annoying flanker.

It's not quite so durable, as like howlrunner, serissu becomes Biggs in that situation, and you'll likely not get her ability to go off very much, if at all