Wired + Glitterstim

By Tsiegtiez, in X-Wing

Yes it sounds redundant at first, but given how great 'Stim is this actually feels like a half-step up from Crack Shot and Lightning Reflexes. Consider the following:

With the advent of the Twin Laser Turret, and the use of Swarms to counter them, one ship has to defend against multiple attacks pretty frequently. Upgrades like Autothrusters and Lone Wolf that react to each attack independently are very useful in mitigating the wave of low-power attacks, but the Black Sun Ace can't take one and probably won't take the other. Glitterstim is the go-to here, but it's single-use only. And it leaves you stressed.

And that's where Wired kicks on. The turn you pop your 'Stim, the BSA isn't going to bother with any Wired rerolls since all those eyeballs just flip. But the following turn, you aren't committed to a green manoevre. Heck, you can get away with anything except a K-Turn. The Kihraxz has a solid dial, especially that 1-Turn, and being able to get some Attack and Defense rerolls for free is nothing to sneeze at, especially if you're worried about your PS5 pilot getting blocked. And of course, before and after your use of Glitterstim, it helps your K-Turns and punishes stressful upgrades lile Tactician and Rebel Captive.

This seems like a decent (and cheap!) combo right? It isn't self-stress the same way the A-Wing pilots can use the PtL/Wired combo but I've been looking for ways to use the new Elite upgrade.

Yes it sounds redundant at first, but given how great 'Stim is this actually feels like a half-step up from Crack Shot and Lightning Reflexes. Consider the following:

With the advent of the Twin Laser Turret, and the use of Swarms to counter them, one ship has to defend against multiple attacks pretty frequently. Upgrades like Autothrusters and Lone Wolf that react to each attack independently are very useful in mitigating the wave of low-power attacks, but the Black Sun Ace can't take one and probably won't take the other. Glitterstim is the go-to here, but it's single-use only. And it leaves you stressed.

And that's where Wired kicks on. The turn you pop your 'Stim, the BSA isn't going to bother with any Wired rerolls since all those eyeballs just flip. But the following turn, you aren't committed to a green manoevre. Heck, you can get away with anything except a K-Turn. The Kihraxz has a solid dial, especially that 1-Turn, and being able to get some Attack and Defense rerolls for free is nothing to sneeze at, especially if you're worried about your PS5 pilot getting blocked. And of course, before and after your use of Glitterstim, it helps your K-Turns and punishes stressful upgrades lile Tactician and Rebel Captive.

This seems like a decent (and cheap!) combo right? It isn't self-stress the same way the A-Wing pilots can use the PtL/Wired combo but I've been looking for ways to use the new Elite upgrade.

Looks like it might work, but my big concern would be not having any way other than K-Turns to give Wired the stress it needs.

Yes I would take it on me, it's a grand idea, predator was my EPT of choice before but if I want the points then wired seems good (And popping my stims to get wired is my normal Friday night anyway)

Well that's the thing, originally I was hesitant to go with Wired on anything besides the TIE/fo and T-70 generics because their Sloops and TRolls respectively seemed like a solid way to use Wired to maintain offensive potency. But since the Kihraxz is getting the Stim stress anyway, you're in control of it that way, and in a pinch a K-Turn still works, but probably isn't the main way you're going to use it. I'm seeing a turn or two after Glitterstim where I pull white manoevres to hang onto Wired and make better moves than just a 1- or 2-Bank (unless one of those is the ideal block/kill move).

I know Wired isn't as good as a Focus token, but it isn't limited to a single use per round either. I'd be curious what the break-even point would be where the quantity of attacks received actually has Wired provide more benefit than one Focus token could. With TLTs around that seems a likely possibility.

Main problem: The dial has too many greens.

Never thought I'd say that, but there you go. :P

I like the idea. I had the same reservations about not having a reliable way to generate stress. Glitterstim (and to a lesser extent Inertial Dampeners) gives a nice option for use.

edit: You can also get some nice use out of it by popping Glitterstim after a K-turn for 2 stress to get a super-action K-turn round, and not care about your two stress tokens in subsequent rounds.

Edited by Biophysical

No joke, the 1- and 2-Bank greens are almost counterproductive for using Wired. That's why I think following up with a 1- or 2-Turn for attacking (or a 3-Bank / 4-Straight to get out of Dodge) is a nice option in lieu of hoping your greens don't get blocked and your PS5 3ATK pilot is left without combat modifiers.

Also IDs is another good option, I hadn't thought of that for a point cheaper. Except then you're using the Dampners and profiting from Wired immediately. That's a nice 25 point ship right there.

seems far too situation for me (the wired, not stims; stims are amazing) for the same reason people have already pointed out: green manuevers

you'd need something like PTL or EI to get that stress after whichever maneuver (or just red maneuver into stress) to enable the EPT reliably

the other option is a pilot ability that stresses the ship (Jan Ors) or some other upgrade (r3-a2)

maybe 8 will have one or two. There is a disgusting number of new crew cards coming out, after all.

Edited by ficklegreendice

I've been known to open with all K-turns when I've flown my XXXX and 4 R7's build before. I'm not a stranger to doing funky openings and initial engagements, like flying away from something and K-Turning as it chases you. So the idea of opening an engagement with a K turn or just doing one right off the bat and keeping the stress is fine with me.

By the way, if you face a small ship pointing towards your edge, but as far forward as it can go, you can make a hard 1 turn.

Edited by ParaGoomba Slayer

I suppose you still would be Wired the turn after doing space crack.