Put VI on Vader.

Decoy on the Phantom.

This was always possible but now that Vader will actually be good this might start becoming a thing.

Less scary than pre-Nerf Phantom, but still. Obviously your Phantom is on a range 1-2 tether to Vader, but it's not too hard to keep ships within range 2 of each other.

I think you answered this for yourself, when you notes that this was always possible.

If people really wanted to push the phantom to ps 9+, we'd have seen it paired with ships that started at ps 8. Frankly, it's just not that good of a combo.

It wasn't because you couldn't put decoy on any competitive ship without compromising its effectiveness, but it sorta-works on Vader since he can afford to use his EPT slot for VI without compromising too much. It does make the Phantom easier to block though.

It's not very awesome, but I bet it will get some local play. Saw a few ps10-firing Echo's after Chiraneau was released. It made echo pretty predictable.

Not new, and a Range 1-2 leash doesn't sound bad until you have two highly mobile ships trying to independently escape arcs and get their own shots, while also staying inside the Decoy radius.

And I think Vader being much better makes it less likely, not more. Before, Vader didn't really have anything important to do with his EPT. Now it's worth filling it, so the opportunity cost of running VI on him went way up.

I think you answered this for yourself, when you notes that this was always possible.

If people really wanted to push the phantom to ps 9+, we'd have seen it paired with ships that started at ps 8. Frankly, it's just not that good of a combo.

The RAC is pretty much the only Imperial pilot that's both, A.) Good, B.) has an 8-9 PS, and C.) Can (semi) afford to use its EPT on VI. All of the other high PS Imperial Aces like Rexler and Soontir either suck or take PtL as an auto include. So that leaves the RAC, and Vader once the Advanced is fixed. Howl would be too fragile, but if running your decoy 10 PS Phantom with a mini swarm anyways, maybe.

This could always be done, but Vader pre-buff is a huge waste of points, so a 30+ point PS boost to a Phantom isn't worth it. But when Vader becomes useful on his own it will be worth it because it will only cost Vader's EPT slot and 2 points as opposed to a 30 point dead weight just to give a phantom 11 ps, if you get what I mean.

I think you answered this for yourself, when you notes that this was always possible.

If people really wanted to push the phantom to ps 9+, we'd have seen it paired with ships that started at ps 8. Frankly, it's just not that good of a combo.

The RAC is pretty much the only Imperial pilot that's both, A.) Good, B.) has an 8-9 PS, and C.) Can (semi) afford to use its EPT on VI. All of the other high PS Imperial Aces like Rexler and Soontir either suck or take PtL as an auto include. So that leaves the RAC, and Vader once the Advanced is fixed. Howl would be too fragile, but if running your decoy 10 PS Phantom with a mini swarm anyways, maybe.

This could always be done, but Vader pre-buff is a huge waste of points, so a 30+ point PS boost to a Phantom isn't worth it. But when Vader becomes useful on his own it will be worth it because it will only cost Vader's EPT slot and 2 points as opposed to a 30 point dead weight just to give a phantom 11 ps, if you get what I mean.

I took this to a tournament. First hull damage RAC took was a crit (first turn) - Injured Pilot FML.

That's always the problem with Decoy - much like a lot of over-interacting abilities - knocking out one ship can leave another ship...not useless but severly compromised.

And Mux takes that PS down to a zero.

The problem with VI+Decoy with a Phantom is that you still have a lowish PS during the activation phase making it more likely that you'll end up in someone's arc.

And Mux takes that PS down to a zero.

I've never seen Mux in the wild. Does he get used enough to be worth planning around?

yep! I saw him in 3 list at SC and 2 list at RG. He gets used and so does greedo with him.

In my SC we have 18 people and 3 lists had him. At the regional we had over 60 people, so 2 list is not as bad. I think that may be due to the phantom nerf, but he is always around lurking. he is very annoying for any list with high PS.

"OMG have you guys seen Palpatine?! Phantoms can have one die be whatever they want per round. Now they're super broken again!"

"OMG have you guys seen Palpatine?! Phantoms can have one die be whatever they want per round. Now they're super broken again!"

Yep! But he is 8 points, and two crew, so only two ships can take him now.

Not new, and a Range 1-2 leash doesn't sound bad until you have two highly mobile ships trying to independently escape arcs and get their own shots, while also staying inside the Decoy radius.

And I think Vader being much better makes it less likely, not more. Before, Vader didn't really have anything important to do with his EPT. Now it's worth filling it, so the opportunity cost of running VI on him went way up.

That's why you bring a Black decoy bridge to extend the chain a lot more.

amirite?

Also, the PS 11 Decoy is only necessary when the Phantom wants to be cloaked to avoid fire from a higher PS ship.

In many cases, you do not have to fly Vader alongside the Phantom. Therefore, your Phantom/Vader can be just as unpredictable in a large number of matchups.

I think the combo is useful, though possibly less useful in the current meta where PS 11+ Han no longer sees play, and where the PS 10 Rear Admiral is probably already carrying Rebel Captive to negate the recloak anyways. It certainly helps for shooting before Soontir, if you get him in arc.

Put VI on Vader.

Decoy on the Phantom.

This was always possible but now that Vader will actually be good this might start becoming a thing.

Less scary than pre-Nerf Phantom, but still. Obviously your Phantom is on a range 1-2 tether to Vader, but it's not too hard to keep ships within range 2 of each other.

Decoying a PS11 is not PS11.

It's PS11 in the attack phase. It still activates to move at PS6 or 7.

The tether to Vader is pretty crippling too, without the uber-reactionary ability the new Phantom needs to be unpredictable.

Predator is really good on Vader, imo not worth dropping Predator and maneuvering flexibility for the few match-ups where Whisper wasn't already shooting first. I'd rather have Whisper move and shoot at PS 9 than have her move at PS 7 and shoot at PS 11.

"OMG have you guys seen Palpatine?! Phantoms can have one die be whatever they want per round. Now they're super broken again!"

Yep! But he is 8 points, and two crew, so only two ships can take him now.

Put VI on Vader.

Decoy on the Phantom.

This was always possible but now that Vader will actually be good this might start becoming a thing.

Less scary than pre-Nerf Phantom, but still. Obviously your Phantom is on a range 1-2 tether to Vader, but it's not too hard to keep ships within range 2 of each other.

Decoying a PS11 is not PS11.

It's PS11 in the attack phase. It still activates to move at PS6 or 7.

The tether to Vader is pretty crippling too, without the uber-reactionary ability the new Phantom needs to be unpredictable.

Post-decloak nerf, it's not as hyper important to move at a high PS with a Phantom. After it decloaks, it's about as easy to predict as a TIE Fighter.