Hello~

So, I'm heading into a larger tournament and would like some opinions on a couple builds. And possibly ask about ways to counter an opponent's build that has repeatedly stomped me into the ground in Store Tournaments.

So, first, his build. It's surprisingly simple (or to me it is, anyway):
1x Patrol Leader VT-49 Decimator, with Darth Vader crew card.

3x Scimitar Squad TIE Bomber, each equipped with 1 Proximity Mine secondary

Essentially this build bombards people with free critical damage from Vader, which the Decimator can tank because of its 12 hull and 4 shield points. It's extremely effective against un-shielded ships, like TIE fighters, interceptors, etcetera. Which sucks for me because I love interceptors. And always have to watch out for the bombers, because of their proximity mines. However, in the four games I lost to my opponent with this build, he only ever got to use one Prox mine on me (which I got lucky on the dice roll and rolled blanks for damage).

Some builds I've been considering:
Build 1:

Rear Admiral Chiraneau - Expose, Dauntless, Ysanne Isard, Mercenary Copilot, Experimental Interface

"Echo" - Tactician, Adv. Cloaking Device, Fire-Control System, Veteran Instincts

Basically a "Super-Crit" Rear Admiral with arc-dodging Echo. I like Echo better than I do "Whisper" since Echo has more versatility with the 2 bank maneuver template instead of the 2 straight; it's actually helped a lot when I was maneuvering.

Build 2:

Dash Rendarr - Heavy Laser Cannon, Outrider, Nien Numb, Experimental Interface, Marksmanship

Ten Numb - "Mangler" Cannon, Adrenaline Rush, Sensor Jammer, Engine Upgrade

Doughnut of Doom with a guaranteed crit-machine. I did this build last night and it worked okay. I'm thinking of replacing Sensor Jammer with Fire-Control System, and then doing some other Elite Pilot Talent, but unsure what to use. Probably Predator for a re-roll

Thoughts?

If you take a Phantom up against Vader that Phantom is going to hurt, Vader doesn't have to hit in order to strip away shields. Vader doesn't care.

At that point it'd be Chiraneau vs three Bombers and I think I have an idea how that'll turn out.

The Rendarr Numb build will see a lot of close quarters hugging. (at least, that's how I would try to defeat it, get in close, drop some mines, park the Patrol Leader in Dash's path and Vader Ten to pieces).

that particular build shouldn't be too hard to defeat, even with interceptors, provided you stick shield upgrade and autothrusters on them. The autothrusters ensure that the initial shot fails to deal damage and then if he wants to throw a crit at you, it goes on your shield (so not likely he will use it until the shield is gone).

For example (I think you have these ships based on your sig):

Shadow pilot w/ FCS, recon spec or rebel captive & ACD = 36

2 royal guards w/ PtL, RG title, autothrusters & shield upgrade = 31 x 2

98 pts

If you prefer Echo, you could swap him in and run him with tactician and no EPT (or VI and maybe intel agent, but that doesn't really help you in this specific matchup)

As for your first build, never run dauntless + ysanne isard unless you have some other combo in mind. The stress from dauntless stops ysanne from triggering. I'm not really a fan of the expose + EI build, but it does deal a lot of damage, and against that specific build, I think it would actually work well. I would drop dauntless and merc co-pilot in favour of rebel captive however. The reason is that if you hit his patrol leader with tactician stress (from Echo's shot) now he is forced to shoot at Echo. Echo and Chiraneau's damage will bring the patrol leader down fast, and even if echo dies, you have a significant advantage since Chiraneau should have little trouble dealing with the 3 bombers in the endgame. So I think it is a good list for that particular matchup.

Your second build has some problems: Ten numb simply does not work well with Dash. Because Dash is so maneuverable, it makes Ten an obvious target, and it will not be hard for your opponent to focus all of his guns at him. He will go down fast against your opponent's entire list. And without engine upgrade + Push the Limit, Dash will not be slippery enough to avoid all the hate coming his way once his wingman is gone. I would suggest going with the standard '58 Dash' since it works so well---the bombers will be utterly useless against it. A pair of rookie x-wings work well here, because they don't care too much about Vader and can help Dash burn down the patrol leader quickly. Corran Horn is also quite popular here (VI, r2d2 + FCS)

Hmmmm. Sounds good. Another build I was kinda considering was a Rebel build

Corran Horn: R2-F2, Fire-Control System, Push The Limit, Engine Upgrade

Biggs Darklighter: R2-D2

2x Bandit Squadron Pilots

The idea behind this is Corran is the heavy hitter with FCS, PTL and EU, and when he does his double tap with TLs, he can then use R2-F2's ability to help keep him alive when he has a turn where he cannot attack. Then, Biggs Darklighter flies in formation with the 2 Bandit pilots, acting as a small swarm. Biggs takes the damage and regenerates with R2, while they attack with the Bandits.

Hmmm, standard 58 Dash with Corran sounds great, so does 2 rookie pilots. Though, what is the 58 Dash? Not sure what it has.

Hmmmm. Sounds good. Another build I was kinda considering was a Rebel build

Corran Horn: R2-F2, Fire-Control System, Push The Limit, Engine Upgrade

Biggs Darklighter: R2-D2

2x Bandit Squadron Pilots

The problem with that is R2-F2 is generally inferior on Corran because he has the evade action. Gaining a gauranteed evade token is better defense than an extra green die unless you have 3+ enemies attacking you that round (and you shouldn't thanks to the e-wings decent dial)

The '58 dash' is: push the limit, heavy laser cannon, outrider title, kyle katarn and engine upgrade