If you were forced to use underused pilots, what would you use?

By Kdubb, in X-Wing Squad Lists

So, there are a number of pilots that have struggled finding a way to be competitive. Here is a list of the pilots I feel have been falling short competitively.

A-wing

Gemmer Sojan

Arvel Crynyd

B-wing

Nera Dantels

Ibtisam

E-wing

Knave Squadron Pilot

Blackmoon Squaron Pilot

Etahn A'baht

Hwk-290 (not including rebel operative, Roark or Jan here as it seems to have been revitalized with the introduction of twin laser turrets)

Kyle Katarn

X-wing

Rookie Pilot

Red Squadron Pilot

"Hobbie" Klivian

Garven Dreis

Jek Porkins

YT-1300

Outer Rim Smuggler

Y-wing

Gray Squadron Pilot

Dutch Vander

Z-95

Lt. Blount

Airen Cracken

---------------------

Firespray (imp)

All pilots

Lambda Shuttle

All named pilots

Tie Bomber

All pilots

Tie Defender

All pilots

Tie Fighter

"Night Beast"

"Winged Gundark"

"Mauler Mithel"

Tie Interceptor

All pilots EXCEPT Soontir Fel and Carnor Jax

Tie Phantom

Sigma Squadron Pilot

Shadow squadron Pilot

---------------------

Firespray-31

Mandalorian Mercenary

Emon Azzameen

HWK-290

Dace Bonearm

M3-A Interceptor

All pilots

Starviper

Both generics

Y-wing

Hired Gun

Drea Renthal

Z-95 Headhunter

Kaa'To Leeachos

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, lets say you are entering a competitive 100 pt tournament, but there is a catch. You have won so many tournaments recently, that you are being given a handicap of sorts- You are being forced to run a list following these stipulations.

Your list must include two of the following:

1. A named pilot from the list

2. A generic pilot from a large base ship which is included in the list (Outer Rim Smuggler, Bounty Hunter, etc.)

3. two generic pilots from the list

(note: you may have a large base generic and a small base generic, and it will count as options 2 and 3).

Who do you pick to run, what build, and who with?

Here is my list.

Outer Rim BBBumper

I've actually used a lot of those pilots. There's something fun in trying to build around the underdogs. Heck, came third in a tournament once (still my best performance ever, because I'm terrible at this game) with a Z-95 swarm with Etahn A'Baht in it.

Lt. Lorrir is a blast to fly and is a cheaper alternative to PTL Royal Guards.

I've flown Jonus supporting TIE Bombers and Mangler Firesprays before, and it's surprisingly effective.

Rhymer... haven't got to use yet post W7, but I'm excited for it. PTL, TIE mkII, some explosives...

"Dutch" Vander? Love him. Great support ship, and can be cheaply equipped with a single turret if you want. Solid for supporting ordnance carriers.

Grey Squadron Pilot: Gold can't take the EPT droid, Grey can. Also, Grey shoots early enough to use the stressbot and let Eaden Vrill take advantage of it, which is exactly how I tend to use him.

Blount/Cracken: Seriously!? Blount with Deadeye is brutal and Cracken has an amazing ability.

Jek Porkins was actually in my first ever tournament list. Revolved around him getting a boost from Jan Ors, then ditching his stress from Opportunist to lay out silly damage and remain mobile. Actually won a few games, too. Poor Decimators weren't expecting Super-Porkins dumping six dice into them.

Dace Bonearm... criminal he's on here. He's so nasty at the head of a Scum control squad. Him and Kavil rocking ICTs together is a very formidable sight, and his PS is naturally high enough to give him VI and EU and turn him into an arc-dodgin' fool. Wave 7 has also given him some tools to do two extra damage per round, which just sounds fun.

My next goals are to mess with Lando and Arvel. Crynyd just strikes me as super fun. Also shocked that Kir Kanos hasn't gotten more love with the new releases. Fly him with a Colonel Jendon piloted Palpmobile, and let the good times roll!

"Fel's Wrath" still blows, however.

I get the impression that Turr Phennir probably gets as much, or more, time on tables than Carnor Jax does.

In fact, I've already made the list you're requesting a few times! Seriously:

Dace Bonearm

Veteran Instincts

ICT

Engine Upgrade

Kavil

Determination or VI

ICT

Unhinged Astromech

Cartel Spacer x2

"Heavy" Scyk Interceptor

Flechette Cannon

It's surprisingly effective and, I dare say, competitive. Maybe with the rise of the TLT swarms it'd struggle to kill anything fast enough, but against two ships or triple aces? It's amazing.

Sounds like a fun exercise :) Most of the pilots you mentioned are middle-of-the-road skill values with various other handicaps like being overcosted or lacking decent upgrades, but none of them are truly worthless, just kinda don't rock the world in a tournament setting where you either want really high skill values or low skill values but the middle is largely ignored.

I get the impression that Turr Phennir probably gets as much, or more, time on tables than Carnor Jax does.

Really? That's hardly been my experience. I've seen Carnor on tables in double digits. I think I've seen Turr Phennir twice.

Also shocked that Kir Kanos hasn't gotten more love with the new releases. Fly him with a Colonel Jendon piloted Palpmobile, and let the good times roll!

The problem with Kir Kanos is that you are spending so many points just to take advantage of his ability that you would usually be better off just having ships that work better independently. You are spending a minimum of 34 points on Jendon with Palpatine to support a 26 point ship (Kir Kanos w/Autothrusters). Whatever you fill the other 40 points of that list with is likely to be the real star of the list.

I'm just hoping that Kir Kanos gets the same treatment that Boba and Kath get and they release a better version of him for Scum as Kenix Kil.

I get the impression that Turr Phennir probably gets as much, or more, time on tables than Carnor Jax does.

Really? That's hardly been my experience. I've seen Carnor on tables in double digits. I think I've seen Turr Phennir twice.

When I play Interceptors I usually play Carnor Jax but it seems like Turr ends up in a lot of lists, usually as a second Interceptor with Soontir. With the Phantom waning in popularity Turr with VI might have also become less popular.

I have to say i use a lot of those pilots.

Blount and Cracken are the key to an assault missile Z95 swarm, semi chaining swarm tactics to either have three PS8 Z95s or two at 8 and two at 6. Using blount to knock out stealth devices and break up swarms.

Likewise Dutch and Garven synchronise well together and often go in my 'classic' rebel lists.

But i think the main one i'd disagree with is Nera Dantels.

Nera, is brilliant guarding the flank and rear with proton torps and advances protons along side keyan and a blue squadron... loads of people forget she's got a 360 arc and it really screws up anyone who gets behind you!

Also shocked that Kir Kanos hasn't gotten more love with the new releases. Fly him with a Colonel Jendon piloted Palpmobile, and let the good times roll!

The problem with Kir Kanos is that you are spending so many points just to take advantage of his ability that you would usually be better off just having ships that work better independently. You are spending a minimum of 34 points on Jendon with Palpatine to support a 26 point ship (Kir Kanos w/Autothrusters). Whatever you fill the other 40 points of that list with is likely to be the real star of the list.

I'm just hoping that Kir Kanos gets the same treatment that Boba and Kath get and they release a better version of him for Scum as Kenix Kil.

That said, I'll probably fly something similar with Carnor Jax and upgrades for the Lamda eating up the rest of the points just for the pure fluff of the two most badass Imperial Guards escorting the Emperor's shuttle.

Colonel Jendon (26)
Fire-Control System (2)
Emperor Palpatine (8)
Tactical Jammer (1)
Kir Kanos (24)
Autothrusters (2)
Stealth Device (3)
Royal Guard TIE (0)
Carnor Jax (26)
Push the Limit (3)
Autothrusters (2)
Stealth Device (3)
Royal Guard TIE (0)
Total: 100
Edited by WWHSD

I've been flying dual Sigmas with Soontir/Vader/Carnor and been having a lot of success (combined 17-5)

Prior to the cloaking changes, Sigmas were rightly overlooked for Whisper and Echo; but since then, people don't expect Phantoms anymore and the cloak change has even buffed Sigmas somewhat.

There's many ways to run them, but to give you an example:

Sigma [FCS, RecSpec, SPA]

Sigma [FCS, RecSpec, SPA]

with 36 points to spare....

On your opening salvo, you'll have 1 evade + 2 focus per Sigma. And once that FCS cycle gets going, they become beasts.

I've been flying dual Sigmas with Soontir/Vader/Carnor and been having a lot of success (combined 17-5)

Prior to the cloaking changes, Sigmas were rightly overlooked for Whisper and Echo; but since then, people don't expect Phantoms anymore and the cloak change has even buffed Sigmas somewhat.

There's many ways to run them, but to give you an example:

Sigma [FCS, RecSpec, SPA]

Sigma [FCS, RecSpec, SPA]

with 36 points to spare....

On your opening salvo, you'll have 1 evade + 2 focus per Sigma. And once that FCS cycle gets going, they become beasts.

Along those lines, this could be a fun list:
Carnor Jax (26)
Push the Limit (3)
Autothrusters (2)
Stealth Device (3)
Royal Guard TIE (0)
Sigma Squadron Pilot (25)
Sensor Jammer (4)
Intelligence Agent (1)
Stygium Particle Accelerator (2)
Sigma Squadron Pilot (25)
Sensor Jammer (4)
Intelligence Agent (1)
Stygium Particle Accelerator (2)
Total: 98

I love Bounty Hunters. I use them all the time.

I've been flying dual Sigmas with Soontir/Vader/Carnor and been having a lot of success (combined 17-5)

Prior to the cloaking changes, Sigmas were rightly overlooked for Whisper and Echo; but since then, people don't expect Phantoms anymore and the cloak change has even buffed Sigmas somewhat.

There's many ways to run them, but to give you an example:

Sigma [FCS, RecSpec, SPA]

Sigma [FCS, RecSpec, SPA]

with 36 points to spare....

On your opening salvo, you'll have 1 evade + 2 focus per Sigma. And once that FCS cycle gets going, they become beasts.

Along those lines, this could be a fun list:
Carnor Jax (26)
Push the Limit (3)
Autothrusters (2)
Stealth Device (3)
Royal Guard TIE (0)
Sigma Squadron Pilot (25)
Sensor Jammer (4)
Intelligence Agent (1)
Stygium Particle Accelerator (2)
Sigma Squadron Pilot (25)
Sensor Jammer (4)
Intelligence Agent (1)
Stygium Particle Accelerator (2)
Total: 98

That's a pretty sweet list. Might have to try this out.

I love Bounty Hunters. I use them all the time.

Except they struggle, because "no disintegrations"...

I've been flying dual Sigmas with Soontir/Vader/Carnor and been having a lot of success (combined 17-5)

Prior to the cloaking changes, Sigmas were rightly overlooked for Whisper and Echo; but since then, people don't expect Phantoms anymore and the cloak change has even buffed Sigmas somewhat.

There's many ways to run them, but to give you an example:

Sigma [FCS, RecSpec, SPA]

Sigma [FCS, RecSpec, SPA]

with 36 points to spare....

On your opening salvo, you'll have 1 evade + 2 focus per Sigma. And once that FCS cycle gets going, they become beasts.

Along those lines, this could be a fun list:
Carnor Jax (26)
Push the Limit (3)
Autothrusters (2)
Stealth Device (3)
Royal Guard TIE (0)
Sigma Squadron Pilot (25)
Sensor Jammer (4)
Intelligence Agent (1)
Stygium Particle Accelerator (2)
Sigma Squadron Pilot (25)
Sensor Jammer (4)
Intelligence Agent (1)
Stygium Particle Accelerator (2)
Total: 98

That's actually what I started with when I was experimenting with dual Sigmas. I ran that list 8 times and had two rage quits on Vassal. It's extremely frustrating to play against and I don't recommend flying it against friends unless they owe you beer money or something.

The main problem I had with that list was lack of firepower. Unlike Soontir, Carnor often has to reserve his focus for defense. Furthermore, while you still throw out a ton of dice with the Sigmas, it's much less potent when you have no modifiers (and remember they don't have innate TL even if you wanted to). Sensor Jammer instead of FCS turns the list into more of a turtle list as opposed to alpha strike. Considering the fragility on the Sigmas, I've found that going for the alpha game works much better.

The way I see it, Sensor Jammer doesn't enhance 2 agility all that much whereas FCS enhances 4-5 attack dice mightily.

Edit: As an aside, I highly advocate for Imp Kath [Mangler, RebCap, VI, EU]. She's expensive, but absolutely shuts down Soontir, Vader, Superdash, Corran, etc.

Edited by zerotc
Something like this:

Horton Salm (25)
Twin Laser Turret (6)
"Dutch" Vander (23)
Twin Laser Turret (6)
Nera Dantels (26)
Decoy (2)
Sensor Jammer (4)
Advanced Proton Torpedoes (6)
Extra Munitions (2)
Total: 100
View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Fly in formation, plink away at things with your TLT's and Nera's primary weapon. Woe to any ship who strays into range 1 of Nera, as she can focus and then acquire a target lock from Dutch.

(I know Horton's not on the OP's list, but I never see him used. The alternative I'd use in his place would be Kyle with Jan Ors crew, or Garvin. Both would be to hand out tokens to Nera.)
Edited by Daniel Beaver

I think with the tracer missile coming out, Blount will definitely be seeing a lot of play

Vessery (crackshot, HLC) is a god **** offensive nightmare if you have the list to enable him with

getting free TLs really frees that ept slot from Predator ^_^

Krassis with HLC and recon spec.

Bounty hunter with gunner

Scimitar squadron pilot

Mandalorian Mercenary [Tactician, Predator] (40)


Drea Renthal [Proton Torpedoes, Extra Munitions, Twin Laser Turret, R4-B11] (37)


Syndicate Thug [ion Cannon Turret, BTL-A4 Y-Wing] (23)


It would be interesting to see if I could get Drea's ordinance to go off. Mandal and thug would have to take point, of course. Drea's Proton Torps with TLs for days and R4-B11 rerolling opponent's defense dice...scary.


×

New Squadron (100)

"Dutch" Vander — Y-Wing 23

Twin Laser Turret 6

Ship Total: 29

Gray Squadron Pilot — Y-Wing 20

Twin Laser Turret 6

Ship Total: 26

Gray Squadron Pilot — Y-Wing 20

Twin Laser Turret 6

Ship Total: 26

Airen Cracken — Z-95 Headhunter 19

Ship Total: 19

Okay the Gray Squadron wastes 4 poimts for essentially nothing at all but if it has to be Hrays so be it. This list definitely has thepote tiak to spit out accurate TLT fireandgood HP total.

I like running the M3-A Serissu with Guri equiped with Bodyguard and have both of them buffing one big ship. Here is a list I plan on running in a tournament.

Full Stop list

Guri- Bodyguard, Virago Title, Advanced Sensors - 36pts

Serissu- Wingman -22pts

Moralo Evol- Mangler Cannon, Tactical Jammer, Outlaw Tech - 41

The thought is to have Moralo out infront of Guri and Serissu acting as a shield. Guri can bodyguard Moralo or Serissu and Serissu's ability works on both at the same time. Moralo can do his red 0 and gain a stress and a focus from Outlaw tech then Wingman on Serissu will take away the stress allowing Moralo to do the same thing next turn.

I would also like to point out that the Tassarii point vets make good replacements for Guri at almost half the cost and they can take Bodyguard.

Edited by Arcana57

Arvel Crynyd is a little expensive, but is a great blocker with Test Pilot, Stay on Target and Chaardin Refit. Moves after the chaff ships, and loses nothing for running headlong into the elites. 3 dice bump-plinking is good plinking. You can lose the SoT/bump stress easily with your dial, but can pretty much always run into someone and fill them full of lasers while doing it. Not bad for 23pts.

Even nicer with Proton Rockets, but it's pricey at 28pts, even though the 5 dice attack is great when you fall a tad short of a proper bump.

Also works surprisingly well with 3 Blue Squadron Bs if you've kitted them out a bit. You'll be close to them when they're furballing while you bump anyway, so using Swarm Tactics against plebs, or even the occasional Squad Leader free action when you're not bumping doesn't hurt. There's not too many elite talents that aren't handy alongside Bs with Arvel. Even VI pushes him up near proper elites if you like playing PS wars.

But SoT bump-plinking is my favourite.