That's the problem with the majority of EPTs. They are viable on like 2 or 3 pilots.

Personally I don't see that as a problem. There are a crap ton of pilots (and EPTs) in the game, and more coming with every release. If every card has a few good homes, that works for me.

Then there are a few EPTs in the 1 point category that would benefit from a token similar to Extra Munitions. In other words, if you chose those EPTs then you put one EPT token on top of each, and when you first use that ability you remove the token and then flip the card after the second use. This would make their point value much more reasonable. That category includes:

• Crack Shot

I don't think people have grasped the power of this card yet. It's a FREE HIT OR CRIT. It's an anti-Hull or anti-Shield FOR ONE POINT. And you want it to be used TWICE for 1/3 or 1/4 of the cost of those cards? HELL NO.

It is death to 3PO or Ysanne.

I think something important to note about Predator at least is how the card ALWAYS gives some benefit. This provides insurance, just like how PTL on Dash and Ints practically always give a second action due to their dial or the inclusion of EU.

I think we'd see more lonewolf and others if they weren't all or nothing. Say a lonewolf that gives a blank reroll when beyond range 2 but also gives some lesser effect when at range 1.

While I agree with the idea that PTL on Soonts is good because Soonts, you also have to consider whether or not another EPT (current or future) that gives stress would ever be taken over PTL

PtL on an Interceptor, especially a PS9 Interceptor is so strong it's hard to imagine anything that could take over the efficiency of two actions that reposition you and give you a focus.

Then there are a few EPTs in the 1 point category that would benefit from a token similar to Extra Munitions. In other words, if you chose those EPTs then you put one EPT token on top of each, and when you first use that ability you remove the token and then flip the card after the second use. This would make their point value much more reasonable. That category includes:

• Crack Shot

I don't think people have grasped the power of this card yet. It's a FREE HIT OR CRIT. It's an anti-Hull or anti-Shield FOR ONE POINT. And you want it to be used TWICE for 1/3 or 1/4 of the cost of those cards? HELL NO.

It is death to 3PO or Ysanne.

You can use Crack Shot to kill C3P0????! I'll take 8 please!!!!

You can use Crack Shot to kill C3P0????! I'll take 8 please!!!!

Take 5 on BSP's and a Howlrunner. Have fun.

Crackshot forces your opponent into making a decision and whenever you force your opponent to do something, that is a good thing.

If I have the ability to kill your evade you might not want to spend that token or even take that action, or trigger 3PO. Or do, and have it negated.

Just a quick note in defence of Outmanouver, I see it used a fair amount, but almost always as the second EPT on an A-Wing with the title. Nippy ships with low ATT can get a lot of value out of it. But it could definitely do with being a point cheaper, the only reason it's usually only on double EPT A-Wings is it'll VERY rarely be the first one you reach for.

Outmaneuver on Green Squadron A-wings is an excellent choice as a second EPT. I included a pair of these in a recent tournament list and they worked extremely well.

While predator is the same cost, it has the downside that your damage is still capped on A-wings - essentially you're still only going to get two or three attack dice, with a maximum of two or three hits against your opponent's defence dice.

Outmaneuver though increases the maximum damage potential of your dice (when you fly well). You're still only getting two or three hits, but versus one less defence dice for your opponent. It's less reliable than predator, but has the potential to be better. Against targets with a focus token you also reduce the opportunity for that to come into play with as much effectiveness. It's also the best way you're going to get through things like a turtled Soontie Fel with a stealth device!

Finally, it rewards good flying on my part, and in my book that makes it an excellent (and fun) choice right there...

Swarms just suffer from tournament point counting mechanism.

The biggest things Swarms suffer from is just people not playing them/not wanting to play them. They are harder to fly than a 2 ship build and it also requires a bit more put into buying all the ships needed but a TIE swarm is still probably one of the most effective lists in the game. They EAT turreted ships alive.

If you consider all the ships required for the upgrades in some of those two ship builds the added ship cost of a TIE Swarm really starts to go down except that many people already have those additional ships for other things. Swarms will sufferer because of scoring and also because of an increase in mental fatigue that is mentioned here. When you get these cut throats who believe everything needs to be played completely by the book and will only mention something if it benefits themselves the mental stress of remembering everything for six or seven ships as opposed to two can really add up.

Back on topic I don't believe you can ever make everything useful in every situation. If an upgrade finds a home with a few builds and/or as a counter to some specific build then it really should be seen as good enough. When it comes to EPT if there are going to be winners that see a lot of play then there are going to be losers which are never seen.

Looking at the EPTs discussed here I'll certainly agree that Predator may be the single best EPT in the game because of how it works and what shuts it down, or more specifically doesn't shut it down. PtL may also be extremely useful but it is far more situational that Predator as Stress normally should hinder a ship with it and because some ships really don't have the action bars to take advantage of it. When your ship's actions are TL and Focus I'd say the choice between Predator and PtL is a no-brainer unless you really need an actual TL for something.