My LGS finally has a bit of a skirmish community starting to form, and I'm trying to come up with a solid list to run. I'm aware that the 4x4 (4 regular Imperial Officers and Royal Guards) has pretty much been the top meta list before the rule change. Even with the rule change, I think 4x4 will remain a strong list just because its pieces are so efficient and synergistic. So I want to build something at least kind of like that. The problem is that without either proxying or trading with friends, getting the 4 regular Royal Guards is hugely expensive. I already split a core set with a friend (I got the non-unique Imperials and Mercenaries from it, he got the Rebels and Vader, plus the IG-88, Royal Guard Champion, and General Weiss cards, plus all of the general materials), so I have 4 regular Imperial Officers and 2 regular Royal Guards. That leaves me with 16 points to fill, and I have a few ideas:
- Royal Guard Champion and Rule By Fear (optional): The RGC would be a powerful centerpiece for the list, but I just don't know if he's better than 2 mid-range groups. Keeps command card synergy with the Royal Guards.
- Boba Fett, Temporary Alliance, Explosive Armaments (on Boba Fett) and Rule By Fear (optional): Much like RGC, it's a powerful centerpiece but a question of value. Loses command card synergy.
- 2 regular Trandoshan Hunters, Temporary Alliance, and Rule By Fear (optional): I know they aren't as good as Royal Guards, but I still really like Trandoshan Hunters. They lose a little bit of basic damage but gain Relentless and Scattergun, as well as the option to shoot from farther away. Brawler trait keeps some command card synergy.
- 2 elite Tusken Raiders, Temporary Alliance, and Rule By Fear (optional): They bring great basic damage to fights and an OK ranged option. Unfortunately, I'd need to trade with or buy the second elite from a friend. Keep some command card synergy.
- 2 elite Heavy Stormtroopers: They have good damage and accuracy, and Blast 2 is great, although they won't be able to use it often with their attack pool. The main problems are their poor speed and the fact that I only have 1 of them, same as the Tuskens. They also lose command card synergy.
- 2 elite Probe Droids and 1 regular Stormtroopers: It would bring lots of figures, all with at least decent attacks, and elite Probe Droids kind of force your opponent to play around Self-Destruct. Loses command card synergy.
- 1 regular Stormtroopers, 1 elite Stormtroopers, and Rule By Fear (otpional): It's similar to the previous option, bringing more, slightly lesser threats to the map. Loses command card synergy.
- I could also mix-and-match, any 2 of the Trandoshan Hunters, Heavy Stormtroopers, or Tusken Raiders.
What do you think? What is the best substitution in a pseudo-4x4?
Also, does anyone know if the elite Tusken Raiders' passive +1 damage counts as an ability? If it is an ability, that really weakens their ranged attack.
