Team Covenant Aces: Season Two, Week Six

By sozin, in X-Wing

(also published on Google docs)

Week Six is here!

Rankings

Challonge

Logfiles

Highlights

  • In the battle of World Champs, reigning WC pheaver took down first WC Hothie in an IG88/YV-666 versus VT/Punisher matchup. Paul took advantage of some early aggressive play by Doug’s “Kenny” Kenkirk to strip it down to 2 HP in 3 rounds of fire -- too much for Doug to overcome, and Paul successfully converted the endgame.

  • Both undefeated players lost this week in 100-0 whitewashes! WC-elect and Season One champ Morgan’s 4-0 run was halted by sozin, and then BlairBunke’s 4-0 run was halted by top ELO rated Matt-Shadowlord.

  • In battle of S&V podcasters, our Dread Pirate Lord Kelvan went turncoat, bringing his Rebel squad of Jake + Triple Gold TLT to victory over Theorist’s Chirpy+Echo build. It was a first time seeing Echo played this season; as Matt-Shadowlord put it: “I have never rooted for a Phantom before, or been so disappointed to see one explode. I even used to cheer if someone managed to finally kill my own Echo, it was such an event. How have the mighty fallen!” Amusingly, Morgan has been playtesting Kelvan’s list in secret for several months in preparation for the Australian National Championships (where he finished 3rd-4th), only to have Kelvan spring it on him last week in league play!

  • SideSlip beat Kinetic, and offered the following laconic post game commentary: "Gold dodges everything; Aaron needs new dice."

  • StarSlinger72 cleanly crushed Dom, with his Palpmobile ejabling some critical Soontir-saving defense rolls, and his Vader one-shotting Howlrunner before she could use her special ability

Week 6 Matchups

listjuggler

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Theorist

Syndicate Thug + Twin Laser Turret

Syndicate Thug + Twin Laser Turret

IG-88D + Expert Handling + Heavy Laser Cannon + Ion Bombs + Advanced Sensors + Autothrusters

(100)

Morgan

Soontir Fel + Push the Limit + Royal Guard TIE + Stealth Device + Autothrusters

Captain Oicunn + Predator + Engine Upgrade + Conner Net + Emperor Palpatine + Rebel Captive

(99)

Commentary: This is the match of the week. Soontir is incredible and can win this by himself. 1 bad roll tho and it’s over. That’s great! Morgan is a pro at Soontir and this style of list. I especially love palpatine on Oicunn, helping ensure that Morgan always has evades for the Baron. However If Jeff gets a round where he has HLC and tiny lasers on Soontir I think he can punch through. I’m surprised to see IG-88D over B but the K turn might be very helpful here.

sozin: I’m betting on Morgan here, simply because he can have Soontir shout “WITNESS ME!!!” at the Palpmobile when he goes in for a range one shot. Morgan: do this for me, and you can have my Ruger Vaquero!

Scum and Villainy Prediction

Ricky: Theorist

Lyle: Morgan

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SideSlip

Whisper + Veteran Instincts + Advanced Cloaking Device + Sensor Jammer + Recon Specialist

Howlrunner

Academy Pilot

Academy Pilot

Academy Pilot

(98)

Matt-Shadowlord

IG-88B + IG-2000 + Heavy Laser Cannon + Predator + Advanced Sensors + Inertial Dampeners + Autothrusters

Syndicate Thug + Twin Laser Turret

Syndicate Thug + Twin Laser Turret

(100)


Commentary: This is also an interesting match where each list has a counter for the other. TLT is a great counter to the Ace meta and swarms are great against TLT. Picking a list really is just a question of which counter you like. I tend to think TLT will be enough to wipe out Whisper.

Scum and Villainy Prediction

Ricky: Matt-Shadowlord

Lyle: Matt-Shadowlord

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pheaver

Poe Dameron + Predator + R5-P9 + Autothrusters

Red Squadron Veteran + Predator + R2-D2 + Autothrusters

Tala Squadron Pilot

Tala Squadron Pilot (100)

sozin

Miranda Doni + Twin Laser Turret + Chewbacca

Jake Farrell + Awing Test Pilot + Push the Limit + Veteran Instincts + Autothrusters + Proton Rockets

Gold Squadron Pilot + Twin Laser Turret + R3-A2

(98)

Commentary: A potential standard firepower 4 ship rebel list vs Speed and control. sozin’s list relies on TLT to grind a list down while arc dodging. Pheaver just wants to shoot stuff hard and regen. While I like the regen aspect I tend to think that sozin can arc dodge enough to win those trades.

Scum and Villainy Prediction

Ricky: Sozin

Lyle: pheaver (I do better when I bet against myself)

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BlairBunke

Tempest Squadron Pilot + Accuracy Corrector + TIE/x1

Tempest Squadron Pilot + Accuracy Corrector + TIE/x1

Backstabber

Whisper + Veteran Instincts + Advanced Cloaking Device + Sensor Jammer + Intelligence Agent

(100)

Kelvan

Tempest Squadron Pilot + Accuracy Corrector + TIE/x1

Tempest Squadron Pilot + Accuracy Corrector + TIE/x1

Tempest Squadron Pilot + Accuracy Corrector + TIE/x1

Darth Vader + Predator + Engine Upgrade + Advanced Targeting Computer + TIE/x1 (100)

Commentary: Well then, hello there mirror. What a handsome list you are. I’m glad I thought of that! While I like accuracy corrector vs sensor jammer this game will likely be won or lost at initiative. Unless I win initiative and then blair has a 50/50 shot to beat me anyway.

Scum and Villainy Prediction

Ricky: Whoever wins Initiative (BlairBunke)

Lyle: I never bet against My Dread Pirate Liege Lord, Kelvan Tiberius

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Dom

Wild Space Fringer + Heavy Laser Cannon

Miranda Doni + Twin Laser Turret

Jake Farrell + Chardaan Refit + Push the Limit + Autothrusters + Wired

(100)

Hothie

IG-88A + IG-2000 + Heavy Laser Cannon + Veteran Instincts + Fire-Control System + Glitterstim + Autothrusters

IG-88B + IG-2000 + Heavy Laser Cannon + Veteran Instincts + Fire-Control System + Glitterstim + Autothrusters

(100)

Commentary: Robots can’t do drugs. This doesn’t make any sense.

sozin: that sounds like a wonderful science fiction concept. (Speaking of which, allow me to highly recommend A Long Way To A Small Angry Planet; think: Guardians of the Galaxy meets Firefly.) Hothie continues to explore unusual list concepts, this time taking on the under-utilized IG-88A (which, given the new M.O.V. rules, might start seeking more play!). Built-in gunner+HLC+FCS can deal out a ton of hurt, and if Hothie manages to get a round of focus firing it, it could go badly for Dom. The WSF makes a great blocker, and A-Wing plus PTL + Wired is a great combo (I can’t wait to try it with Greens). I prefer VI on Jake, and this match up shows why: with VI, Jake can hunt the robots; without it, he’s hunted. The Brobot's auto thrusters should enable some good evading of Miranda's TLTs. Jake hunting + Miranda dodging + HLC blasting == Hothie takes a close one.

Scum and Villainy Prediction

Ricky: Dom

Lyle: Hothie

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StarSlinger72

Kath Scarlet + Push the Limit + Engine Upgrade + K4 Security Droid

Syndicate Thug + Twin Laser Turret + R4 Agromech

Syndicate Thug + Twin Laser Turret + R4 Agromech (100)

KineticOperator

Colonel Vessery + Heavy Laser Cannon + Veteran Instincts

Maarek Stele + Push the Limit + Twin Ion Engine Mk. II + Advanced Targeting Computer + TIE/x1

Commander Alozen + Advanced Sensors + TIE/x1

(100)

Commentary: So Heavy laser cannon into the worst of 3 crits. That sounds annoying as hell. Starslinger72 can have a shot if a Y wing lives to fire. He needs to put a lot of damage on a high priority target, enough that he can kill it. Kath, while great might have some issues keeping arcs although she is underused for how good her ability is.

Scum and Villainy Prediction

Ricky: KineticOperator

Lyle: KineticOperator

Edited by sozin

This week looks great!

My game with Theorist should be a nail biter and I suspect Matt vs SideSlip will be an excellent match featuring a combination of cat and mouse between the Aces and full throttle sacrifice from the plebs. Looking fwd to it!

I'm particularly interested with the small resurgence of Whisper in the US of late after some good showings at Nova and now building a bit of momentum in the League. I'll forever cheer for her but I'm just not sure she is reliable enough anymore against the field.

Looking fwd to seeing her fate this week as she has a couple of good tests.

Edited by MorganR

sozin: I’m betting on Morgan here, simply because he can have Soontir shout “WITNESS ME!!!” at the Palpmobile when he goes in for a range one shot. Morgan: do this for me, and you can have my Ruger Vaquero!

Oh and Sozin... Pack up that Ruger and get ready to hand it over at Worlds mate!! Soontir shall be witnessed.. (If he lives long enough to make Range 1 that is!)

Edited by MorganR

Can we watch this anywhere?

Already had Long Way on my reading list. Glad to see it's up to the hype.

Seems like half the community suddenly decided SJ phantoms are the thing to bring.

I'll post the match times here as they come up.

first: paul and I are playing on thursday at 8:30 pm CST.

Can we watch this anywhere?

If you have Vassal, yes, when the replays out or while they are live. Otherwise, I know someone has been recording a match here or there and posting on YouTube.

last game from w5 is happening now on vassal (starslinger v dom)

Already had Long Way on my reading list. Glad to see it's up to the hype.

Seems like half the community suddenly decided SJ phantoms are the thing to bring.

Suddenly? This is, point-for-point, my Wave 4 list.

Looks like a good week, gents! Great lists for all!

Here are some videos of the past couple weeks games...

Paul Heaver vs Doug Kinney





thanks Tender!

the final round 5 match completed last night, with StarSlinger defeating Dom 100-14.

Dom and I are scheduled for 8PM Central time on Friday.

Theorist and I are scheduled for 9pm EST on Friday

I hate Jake.