Scyker Swarm- 5 mangler cannons

By Rakaydos, in X-Wing Squad Lists

A really simple list, but one that casual dice-testing shows can go even with even heavilly shielded opponents (though it, like everything else, does have problems with Soont...)

I'm looking foward to trying out the list once I grab a 5th scyk.

Cartel Spacer 14

-Heavy Scyk 2

-Mangler cannon 4

Cartel Spacer 14

-Heavy Scyk 2

-Mangler cannon 4

Cartel Spacer 14

-Heavy Scyk 2

-Mangler cannon 4

Cartel Spacer 14

-Heavy Scyk 2

-Mangler cannon 4

Cartel Spacer 14

-Heavy Scyk 2

-Mangler cannon 4

It's a bit light on hull, but it's a decently sized swarm armed with nasty weapons with high agility and evade tokens.

Thoughts?

Assuming you run them as a swarm, Serrisu's ability will actually help a bit by upping the green dice. You will burn 30 points+/- for him though.

Theoretically you could run a naked Seresu with 4 cartel manglers, But the 5th mangler feels like it would be more worthwhile.

In an epic game, however...

I don't know if Serious would be a better option than just another Mangler.. They will shoot at Serious first anyway, but at PS 8 he might be able to shoot before he dies. Otherwise one of your PS 2 Spacers might die before it gets to shoot. Without Serious you don't have to fly in formation though. Its a tough call.

Agreed. Serissu is nice, but she's essentially like Biggs - she's only really when bodyguarding something worth more than she is. A bog standard scyk with a mangler cannon isn't really much more impressive than most generic fighters. A heavy laser scyk, maybe, but you won't afford that many of them.

If she's the only defensive boost, she's not that great - essentially one extra agility die against any incoming fire; so essentially an uncancellable stealth device. Nice, but not exactly game-winning. Where she really shines is where she's protecting something very valuable - flying bodyguard to something expensive and heavy (like a named, loaded-for-bear firespray)

Depending on how much you want to mix up the weapons layout, you can work in a decent amount of control and also handling of high-agility by swapping the 5 Mangler cannons to:

1 HLC, 2 Mangers, 1 Ion, 1 Flechette

That lets you land a possible Ion/Stress combo on someone at range 3, as well as throwing a 4-dice shot at someone like Fel.

Just ran 5 manglers vs a han(3po, falcon, VI)/Corran(R2D2, FCS, PTL, Engine Upgrade) list over vassal. unfortunately for him he left "fat han" at the mercy of a swarm that didnt care about range while Corran tied to flank- 3 turns of mangller fire, 2 direct hits and 2 other crits later I traded 1 Scyk to corran to finish off Han.

PTL corran is pretty predictable, and the Scyks are maneuerable enough to keep him in arc, despitee the possibilities of boosting and barrelrolling- at least with my opponent. I got some good rolls 2 turns after killing han- one mangler dropped corrans shields completely, and a second finished him off.

Cartel Spacer x3

Heavy Scyk (Cannon)
Mangler

Stealth Device

Serissu

Heavy Scyk (Cannon)
Mangler

Stealth Device

Wingman

These guys flying in formation will be hard to hit and hit harder

I'm going to give this incarnation a try

Z-95 HEADHUNTER: · Kaa'to Leeachos (15)

· Squad Leader (2)

Homing Missile (5)

M3-A INTERCEPTOR: Cartel Spacer (14)

Hull Upgrade (3)

"Heavy Scyk" Interceptor (2)

Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

M3-A INTERCEPTOR: Cartel Spacer (14)

Hull Upgrade (3)

"Heavy Scyk" Interceptor (2)

Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

M3-A INTERCEPTOR: Cartel Spacer (14)

Hull Upgrade (3)

"Heavy Scyk" Interceptor (2)

Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

While it lacks the Biggs effect of Serissu, it has better action economy with Kaa'to fueling one of the Sycks each turn. He in turn can slow roll and grab an evade if needed. The extra hulls help the pack survive initial encounter.

I think the list needs more Scyks and more cannons

One thing to consider with this fleet: There are two lists that mirror it very closely.

5x Alphas + Autothusters

5x Avengers

Both lists are faster than you, having 5 forwards, 3 turns, more greens, and Boost, to your Target Lock and 1 banks.

The Alphas + Autothrusters, being 1 PS less than you, can block you superbly, and neutralize your Range 3 advantage without needing to boost/roll into 2 or 4.

The Avengers, being 1 PS more than you, can arc-dodge you superbly.

What key advantage does your fleet have over either of them?

You punish Critical Vulnerabilities by generating them far more often than the norm.

You have an advantage vs most fleets at Range 3

You can slow-play.

You have more 1 speed Options

You have Green 1s

You can Target Lock.

You are PS 2, and so can block the Avengers, and can dodge the Alphas.

If those are skills worth the sacrifice, then fly well and true.

It looks like an Interceptor. If you fly it like an Interceptor, then the Interceptor would have been a better choice. Figure out how to fly it like itself, and you'll have achieved list nirvana.

I made a few similar swarms last week haven used them yet though

Serissu
M3-A “Scyk” Interceptor
Swarm Tactics, “Heavy Scyk” Interceptor, Heavy Laser Cannon

Cartel Spacer #1
M3-A “Scyk” Interceptor
“Heavy Scyk” Interceptor, Heavy Laser Cannon

Cartel Spacer #2
M3-A “Scyk” Interceptor
“Heavy Scyk” Interceptor, Heavy Laser Cannon

Cartel Spacer #3
M3-A “Scyk” Interceptor
“Heavy Scyk” Interceptor, Heavy Laser Cannon


Or with an extra hit and a mangler canon


Serissu
M3-A “Scyk” Interceptor
Swarm Tactics, “Heavy Scyk” Interceptor, Hull Upgrade, “Mangler” Cannon

Cartel Spacer #1
M3-A “Scyk” Interceptor
“Heavy Scyk” Interceptor, Hull Upgrade, “Mangler” Cannon
Cartel Spacer #2
M3-A “Scyk” Interceptor
“Heavy Scyk” Interceptor, Hull Upgrade, “Mangler” Cannon
Cartel Spacer #3
M3-A “Scyk” Interceptor
“Heavy Scyk” Interceptor, Hull Upgrade, “Mangler” Cannon

In both lists Serissu costs 31 point and the Cartel Spacer cost 23 so you can mix and match between the lists if you want