PSA: Kill Deathrain first

By PhantomFO, in X-Wing

So you've deployed your squads, look across the table, and see your opponent has deployed their units. There's some scary stuff there. There's Soontir, yeah, alright, cool. And Darth Vader with the X1, always a pain.

But then you see him, with those four oversized ordinance pods: DEATHRAIN. Do you realize why they call him that? It's because he RAINS DEATH. There is no more disruptive unit in Wave 7. He'll drop unavoidable bombs in your face, then barrel roll to maintain firing arc. He will absolutely ruin your day if you let him.

Don't be lulled by the lowly PS6, attack value of 2, or the lack of an EPT. There is no deadlier ship in Wave 7 than this one. Bow to your ridiculously huge overlord.

star_wars_x_wing_death_rain_by_anthonyde

ALL HAIL DEATHRAIN

So you've deployed your squads, look across the table, and see your opponent has deployed their units. There's some scary stuff there. There's Soontir, yeah, alright, cool. And Darth Vader with the X1, always a pain.

But then you see him, with those four oversized ordinance pods: DEATHRAIN. Do you realize why they call him that? It's because he RAINS DEATH. There is no more disruptive unit in Wave 7. He'll drop unavoidable bombs in your face, then barrel roll to maintain firing arc. He will absolutely ruin your day if you let him.

Don't be lulled by the lowly PS6, attack value of 2, or the lack of an EPT. There is no deadlier ship in Wave 7 than this one. Bow to your ridiculously huge overlord.

Absolutely - in my view Deathrain - or as I've myopically been calling him, DeathTrain , is the standout pilot of wave 7.

I see some lovely short range / long range comboing with him(her) and Ryhmer

The faster you kill death rain, the more ordinance he dies with, the better off you are.

The faster you kill death rain, the more ordinance he dies with, the better off you are.

So killing him reduces overregulation?

The knee-jerk is strong in this one.

Enhanced Scopes or Advanced Sensors?

Experimental interface?

Being able to boost, bomb / mine drop, and barrel roll before moving is tempting - especially if I pull a green and clear the stress when I reveal my dial - but am I going to get any more utility from that than I will from moving at ps0 ?

Clusters to left of me seismics to the right here I am,

Stuck with my missiles in tubes.

Stuck with my missiles in tubes.

Ode to Deathrain by Major Rhymer

This is very surprising. He looks lame on paper.

The faster you kill death rain, the more ordinance he dies with, the better off you are.

So killing him reduces overregulation?

As rebels that's exactly the type of big government we fight against.

This is very surprising. He looks lame on paper.

In what respect ?

This is very surprising. He looks lame on paper.

He is able to shove automatic control and damage out of his nose.

Last night, I watched as an FCS and EI-equipped Deathrain acquired a target lock, used EI to drop bombs, barrel rolled out of his target's firing arc, then fired a salvo of FCS-enhanced cluster missiles. It was just beautiful, and he should never have been allowed to survive long enough to do it.

This is very surprising. He looks lame on paper.

He is able to shove automatic control and damage out of his nose.

Last night, I watched as an FCS and EI-equipped Deathrain acquired a target lock, used EI to drop bombs, barrel rolled out of his target's firing arc, then fired a salvo of FCS-enhanced cluster missiles. It was just beautiful, and he should never have been allowed to survive long enough to do it.

“Deathrain” (38)

TIE Punisher (26), Advanced Sensors (3), Extra Munitions (2), Cluster Mines (4), Experimental Interface (3)

Soontir Fel (35)

TIE Interceptor (27), Royal Guard TIE (0), Push the Limit (3), Autothrusters (2), Stealth Device (3)

Omicron Group Pilot (25)

Lambda-Class Shuttle (21), Darth Vader (3), Intelligence Agent (1), Ion Projector (2)

---

Mmmmm, OGP rushes in to block and possibly Ionize, using IA as needed. Deathrain, a safe distance away can, on the next turn, boost in, use EI to forward drop CM, move, then fire. Fel does what Fel does.

I'm just not sold on Deathrain. The Cutlass Squadron Pilot can do basically the same thing and it's 5 points cheaper. The Cutlass just flies by the higher PS pilots and drops a bomb from it's rear right on top of the pilot. Sure he can't barrel-roll afterwards, but is that worth 5 points?

Deathrain has always appeared to be the best Punisher pilot. He gets a free barrel roll, action efficiency anyone? He also doesn't have barrel roll, so it is even better, especially paired with dropping bombs out the front. If anything Redline is still very dubious looking to me, getting up there with Major Rhymer.

He's cool but not really "most disruptive"

That title goes to Int agent a-slam kwings

I'm just not sold on Deathrain. The Cutlass Squadron Pilot can do basically the same thing and it's 5 points cheaper. The Cutlass just flies by the higher PS pilots and drops a bomb from it's rear right on top of the pilot. Sure he can't barrel-roll afterwards, but is that worth 5 points?

I also enjoy Deathrain. He has been a shining star already, "netting" kills in record time on ships like Corran Horn with liberal use of Conner Nets and Prox Mines. With Advanced Sensors, it is very difficult for your opponent to avoid the mines being dropped. Best you can do is force them onto non-priority targets.

Edited by phild0

I'm just not sold on Deathrain. The Cutlass Squadron Pilot can do basically the same thing and it's 5 points cheaper. The Cutlass just flies by the higher PS pilots and drops a bomb from it's rear right on top of the pilot. Sure he can't barrel-roll afterwards, but is that worth 5 points?

A Cutlass Squadron pilot cannot drop a mine on a target and still keep them within their firing arc. They also don't have as many positional options for dropping mines as Deathrain carries.

BTW - we're referring to Deathrain as "him" - maybe maybe not

But Redline is clearly the female bomber pilot from TIE Fighter

tf-20.png?w=580&h=315

Skip to the sequence that starts about the 4:05 mark and you'll see what I mean :)

Edited by Funkleton

Experimental Interface is a good idea!

I love the enhanced sensors build because 1) It's an underused card getting some deserved love, and 2) It's 1 point. Anything to keep this big target economically priced would be a bonus in my eyes.

I love the enhanced sensors build because 1) It's an underused card getting some deserved love, and 2) It's 1 point. Anything to keep this big target economically priced would be a bonus in my eyes.

You mean enhanced scopes right

Edited by Funkleton

I love the enhanced sensors build because 1) It's an underused card getting some deserved love, and 2) It's 1 point. Anything to keep this big target economically priced would be a bonus in my eyes.

You mean enhanced scopes right

Bah yeah I meshed them together.

Can anyone explain: if you're a higher ps pilot and you get ion from Conner net or ion bomb before you move when does the ionization take effect?