Which Soontir Fel would you choose and why?

By iPanterra, in X-Wing Squad Lists

Hi Guys

I just played an In store tourney on the weekend and it was a blast however I found that my soontir fel didn't do as well as I would like in terms of

getting damage in. Currently this is my Soontirs build as per normal Soontirs

Build A

Soontir Fel PS9

-Push the Limits

-Royal Guard Tie

-Auto Thrusters

-Stealth Device.

Now I was thinking of changing Stealth device to Targeting Computer so it would look like this

Build B

Soontir Fel PS9

-Push the Limits

-Royal Guard Tie

-Auto Thrusters

-Targeting Computer.

What do you think? which would you choose to use?

Typically, Stealth Device is the way to go. With a full compliment of defensive tokens, even a 4-dice turret will have difficulty hitting Fel. That said, if your defense seems fine for what you're facing and it's your offense that's lacking, Targeting Computer is still good. I used to fly Soontir like that long before Autothrusters came out, and I love him. The prevalence of turrets has made defensive measures (like Stealth Device) that much more appealing, but with TC he's kind of the best of both worlds (offense and defense).

It depends on what you are running along with Fel.

If its a decimator + Fel, or some other 2 ship list, then you want stealth device because losing Fel early can cost you the game (and with only 2 ships, he will get shot at eventually, regardless of how well you fly or whatnot).

However, its true that his damage can be 'unreliable' (although this is true of any imperial 3 attack ship with only focus available to modify attack dice). I personally LOVE targeting computer on Fel. Its a bit of a risk against certain opponent lists (like stress lists, 'buzzsaw' phantoms or gunner + HLC, like IG88B). While most of those can be arc-dodged, if you don't pull it off, its not hard for 4 modified attack dice to push damage through 3 green (stealth actually doesn't help much here, but it reduces the chances of being one-shot if nothing else).

Having said that, I would mainly use TC on Fel in fun matches, or in a list where there are more compelling targets than Fel (not easy though, since if anyone gets a chance they will try to kill Fel since no one in their right mind wants to face him endgame with only 1 or 2 ships...)

One list I'm particularly looking forward to once the Raider hits is:

Fel w/ PtL, title, AT & TC = 34

Vessery w/ VI + HLC = 43

Tempest w/ title + Acc Corrector = 21

98 pts

Vessery takes most of the opponent's attention early on which helps Fel get shots in without having to worry as much about taking a lot of heat (although you still have to be careful about getting blocked). The Tempest is handy though as a blocker and 'spotter' for Vess (laying down TL when not getting much attention) and he's not really that squishy, which is nice. Once in the endgame, Fel with TC can deal some pretty solid damage although you still have to be careful about taking TL too often (you want to make sure you have enough tokens for defense if you're gonna get shot at).

Of those two I'd take Stealth Device -- anything to mitigate the one-shot risk. But my preferred Soontir uses Shield Upgrade,to provide some insurance against things like Vader and Feedback Array.

So it seems people seem to prefer survivability than having the best of both attack and defense

So it seems people seem to prefer survivability than having the best of both attack and defense

So survivability is not the best defense?

cant argue with that... I just feel that there was several occasions where target lock would have been extremely handy

cant argue with that... I just feel that there was several occasions where target lock would have been extremely handy

**** right! And in the right list, I think its a great idea. However, there's also the argument that if Soontir is nigh unkillable, he can always take another shot next turn (and hope its not so bad as this turn). Unless of course you run out of time in a tourney setting...

I'd go for Stealth Device every time. It lets you put yourself in positions where you trade shots instead of dodging arcs and getting no shots, and that alone is worth more than Targeting Computer. Plus, when you do get shot at, it lets you weather the storm and live to shoot another round, which again is worth more than a TL as far as I'm concerned. And SD also means that you don't have to panic as soon as you see Wedge across the table -- he'll melt a two-agility Fel, but a three-agility Fel can stand up to him.

One guy played feel with TC on our store local some time ago....BUT he was fielding vessery too. So it was justified.

Other than that? Stealth all the time. Myself I'm particular fan of this card. This 4th (usually its 4th) dice is awesome.

I prefer TC.

Many times you will be on the flank with Soontir anyways, meaning there are plenty of times where he will be taking unanswered shots. TC lets those shots actually be reliable. Also, if you can set up to not boost or barrel roll when engaging, then TL + E + free Focus means solid hits and something saved back for defense.

But also, nothing makes me angrier than when Soontir rolls bad reds when I need him to hit.

With the current trends, SD is probably the better call, but one of more annoying things to me is when one positioning action is all that's needed to arc dodge, and the next action has to be a useless evade token or a redundant focus token. When paired with Vessery though, TC is auto-include for me.