DEFENDER + MINI-SWARM Defender & 3x TIE Fighter 100 points

Rexler Brath (48) TIE Defender (37), Heavy Laser Cannon (7), Predator (3), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

Mauler Mithel (22) TIE Fighter (17), Veteran Instincts (1), Engine Upgrade (4)

Black Squadron Pilot (15) x 2 TIE Fighter (14), Crack Shot (1)

Rexler and the Black squaddies are pretty basic and obvious. With Mauler I had a light bulb moment and realized that EU instead of something like a Shield or Stealth would really help him do his job.

What do you folks think?

I would probably end up running something like this.

Brath

PTL

HLC

MK2

Epsilon Leader

Omega with Crack

black with crack.

but for a 1 point init you can drop both crackheads for a Maarek Stele with PTL mk2 and ATC

less of a swarm, but more crits. and who doesnt love criticals.

Is it bad that I don't like mixing types of Fighters? Now if I could do 3 equipped FOs that could give me the same output as Mauler and two Blacks.....

And, why PTL on Rexler? Is that really going to be consistently better than Predator?

Target lock will help save some seriously crap rolls when predator most times is only going to allow you to reroll one blank. This is why he's flying him with epsilon leader to remove stress each time. Imo I like ptl on something that is worth half your squad cost to make sure I get those punishing hits before he gets smoked. It just depends on how much you want to leave his rolls up to chance. Also ptl could allow him to possibly barrel roll out of some arcs and still be focused as well.

I've played Rex quite a bit, and in my experience he really needs some defensive help - hull or stealth - to go with predator. If you run him ptl then obviously you need mkII too, but I prefer something to help with all the shots that'll be directed at him. If only he had evade on the bar, he'd be the all round ptl fighter that his points suggest he should be.

I like the rest of the list, just take EU off of mauler and beef up your top gun, if you ask me.

Also really worth trying out lone wolf Rex with stealth sometime, along side a fellow ace or deci. He rocks.

I've run a Rex+TIE/ln miniswarm in the past, and have been messing around with a Rex+TIE/fo miniswarm recently. It's a good outline for a list, I think. Rex/Predator/HLC is just a really strong combo. Like banjobenito I like Hull Upgrade on mine, but if you need the points for something else, you need the points. I can't say I'm thrilled by a 3 TIE/ln miniswarm, though. I feel like that extra firepower will be gone so fast. I like the Mauler build. I run him with just VI sometimes, and I like the wrench it throws into the plans of PS8 super-ships like Brobots and Corran. He can maneuver around them at close range with Barrel Roll, get his shots off, and potentially do a ton of damage for a low price point. The Engine Upgrade seems pricey, but may work. 22 points is still pretty cheap for a maneuverable PS9 ship that can throw 4 dice up close. I guess my main issue is one of tactics. I like my swarm up in the enemy's face to block movement and threaten up close while Rex threatens from Range 3 with his HLC. That Mauler build doesn't really want to run straight at the enemy, he'll just get shot up before he can earn his keep, so I would take something else for how I play.

There's sort of an awkward point break, I'll admit. Trading Mauler for another Blackshot saves you 7 points, but what would you do with it? With 9 points you could upgrade Blackshots to 3 Omegas with Crack Shot, and lean a little heavier on your TIEs. You'd have to drop the Mk.II Engines and downgrade Predator to Lone Wolf, though, which isn't ideal. You could do Howlrunner/Crack Shot/Hull Upgrade instead of Mauler. I sort of like this, because it makes those Blacks downright scary in the opening turns, and provides a nastier early threat that might really make the other squad reconsider about going after Rexler first. Howl also has a chance to strip shields or tokens at PS8 before Rex fires, potentially making more use of his ability. I guess VI Mauler does that too, though. I don't know. Just some ideas, here.

I suggest playing this.

Vessary

VI

Royal Guard Pilot

Targeting Computer

Shield Upgrade

PTL

Royal Guard Tie Title

Bounty Hunter

If you are missing some components, just comment what you have, and I can TRY to help. This link might help you a bit. A lot of very nice people on there have been helping me with Interceptor/Defender squads.

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/194017-imperial-aces-squad/#entry1901197

Ok. The EU on Mauler is more situational than I expected. Basically it's not all that hard to get a PS9 TIE into range 1 of something.

So....

Do I move those points into a Shield for Rexler or Mauler? On Rexler it would give me a 1 pt initiative bid.

Is there a better use for those points?

I could get silly and put Prockets on Rexler.

I would not bother with prockets on Rexler. I had them on him for about a dozen games with one list I was using back in the spring, and only fired them once...not a good use of 3 points! I just find it so rare that Rexler ends up in range 1 of anything...

Instead, I would go with Ion Pulse Missile. Its also situational (meaning you won't need it every single game), but its really handy for the few times you will need it. Like against a pimped out decimator, YT (of either variety) or perhaps even a pesky little y-wing that happened to get too close to the board edge or an asteroid...

If that doesn't float your boat, then I would lean towards the shield upgrade on Rexler since he's your most important ship. Although I guess there's something to be said for putting it on Mauler to keep him in the game a bit longer (since he's likely to die first). I think once you've played with the list a bit more, you will get a feel for who needs it the most...

I'd probably go with defenses for Rex as well. You want to protect that Predator HLC.

I didn't want to start a new topic, but I have played around with this list, and it is fun, but would love ideas/critiques.

https://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Galactic%20Empire&d=v3!s!71:-1,23,-1:-1:17:;79:27,36,-1:-1:9:;16::-1:-1:

Tie Defender, Rexlar with HLC, and Twin Ion (45)

Tie Phantom, Whisper with VI, FCS, & ACD (39)

Tie Fighter, Dark Curse (16)

I didn't want to start a new topic, but I have played around with this list, and it is fun, but would love ideas/critiques.

https://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Galactic%20Empire&d=v3!s!71:-1,23,-1:-1:17:;79:27,36,-1:-1:9:;16::-1:-1:

Tie Defender, Rexlar with HLC, and Twin Ion (45)

Tie Phantom, Whisper with VI, FCS, & ACD (39)

Tie Fighter, Dark Curse (16)

That can work

You might want Backstabber instead of Dark Curse. If you put Rex and Whisper together, your opponent cannot really afford to ignore them. Backstabber can get behind quite easily on a flank...

Right. Put the Shield Upgrade on Rexler which drops the squad cost to 99.

I'm taking them to a 4 round Toys for Tots tournament tomorrow and will report on their results.

One win and three modified losses. But I loved every minute of it. The losses were all right down to the wire. The final round was the best with Rexler stripping Poe shields and then a Black Squadron finished him with Crack Shotted two hits and a Crit. I almost had Poe's friend Han, but the bugger finished off Rexler with 4 hits and I rolled 4 blanks. The Falcon had a single hull point left. If I had rolled even 1 evade I would have had the chance to shoot back.

Would love to see an effect Tie Defender list what was your list overall???

I'm thinking about this modification;

Rexler gets Veteran Instincts instead of Predator

Mauler is replaced by Scourge with Predator

Mainly because while Mauler got several range 1 shots over the course of the day they were rarely early game and generally unmodified. Scourge with Predator is most likely to be able to turn the tables on the more heavily hulled Rebel ships or anything with a large base. And with Rexler firing first, at what should be a Target Locked ship, I've got a real chance of triggering Scourge's pilot ability regardless of range.

I'm thinking about this modification;

Rexler gets Veteran Instincts instead of Predator

Mauler is replaced by Scourge with Predator

Mainly because while Mauler got several range 1 shots over the course of the day they were rarely early game and generally unmodified. Scourge with Predator is most likely to be able to turn the tables on the more heavily hulled Rebel ships or anything with a large base. And with Rexler firing first, at what should be a Target Locked ship, I've got a real chance of triggering Scourge's pilot ability regardless of range.

While I think Scourge is a good replacement for Mauler in this list, I don't see why you need to bother with Vet Instincts on Brath. At PS8, he already shoots before Scourge's PS7, so there's likely going to be damage there to trigger Scourge's ability. Plus, Predator increases damage output. Veteran instincts does not. So with VI, rex actually has less chance of making damage stick. I could understand wanting PS10 back when Phantoms were king, but now adays, I just don't see the need on a defender (especially considering its a ship that does not really struggle to get enemies in arc, regardless of their pilot skill).

I'm thinking about this modification;

Rexler gets Veteran Instincts instead of Predator

Mauler is replaced by Scourge with Predator

Mainly because while Mauler got several range 1 shots over the course of the day they were rarely early game and generally unmodified. Scourge with Predator is most likely to be able to turn the tables on the more heavily hulled Rebel ships or anything with a large base. And with Rexler firing first, at what should be a Target Locked ship, I've got a real chance of triggering Scourge's pilot ability regardless of range.

While I think Scourge is a good replacement for Mauler in this list, I don't see why you need to bother with Vet Instincts on Brath. At PS8, he already shoots before Scourge's PS7, so there's likely going to be damage there to trigger Scourge's ability. Plus, Predator increases damage output. Veteran instincts does not. So with VI, rex actually has less chance of making damage stick. I could understand wanting PS10 back when Phantoms were king, but now adays, I just don't see the need on a defender (especially considering its a ship that does not really struggle to get enemies in arc, regardless of their pilot skill).

any Meta i'm in Phantoms are king.

(only lost one game running any amount of Phantoms... it was 2 against a Bossk with 2 TLT's) Bosks ability tore my shields up then green dice did the rest.

I'm thinking about this modification;

Rexler gets Veteran Instincts instead of Predator

Mauler is replaced by Scourge with Predator

Mainly because while Mauler got several range 1 shots over the course of the day they were rarely early game and generally unmodified. Scourge with Predator is most likely to be able to turn the tables on the more heavily hulled Rebel ships or anything with a large base. And with Rexler firing first, at what should be a Target Locked ship, I've got a real chance of triggering Scourge's pilot ability regardless of range.

While I think Scourge is a good replacement for Mauler in this list, I don't see why you need to bother with Vet Instincts on Brath. At PS8, he already shoots before Scourge's PS7, so there's likely going to be damage there to trigger Scourge's ability. Plus, Predator increases damage output. Veteran instincts does not. So with VI, rex actually has less chance of making damage stick. I could understand wanting PS10 back when Phantoms were king, but now adays, I just don't see the need on a defender (especially considering its a ship that does not really struggle to get enemies in arc, regardless of their pilot skill).

If it doesn't work I could give Scourge Crackshot and a Hull Upgrade at the cost of my Initiative bid.

VI on Rexler was mainly to avoid his being outmaneuvered by the large number of PS8-9 aces I see every game. Since I was losing a PS9 pilot I fugured I need to upgrade Rexler. And with him at PS10 I'm betting on a guaranteed lock-on chance.

If it doesn't work I could give Scourge Crackshot and a Hull Upgrade at the cost of my Initiative bid.

With predator though, you should never be taking target lock as your action unless you have no shot and nothing better to do. Predator means that you take focus as your action, and now you get at least 1 re-roll from predator (2 if their pilot skill is 2 or less) and you also have the focus token. That gives very high odds of 4 hits (or at least 3 in almost every other case). Damage of that magnitude gets through defenses most of the time. Veteran instincts on the other hand lets you get a target lock for sure, but you don't have a focus token, so your overall damage is less. Unless you save the target lock, but then you could've done the exact same thing at PS8 just in the reverse order (take target lock a turn later and save it).

Anyway, if you are having trouble getting PS9 aces in arc, then yeah, I can see the value of veteran instincts. Just keep in mind that your damage output is superior with predator (and you at least have a chance of activating Rexler's ability on occasion, whereas without predator, the opportunity to use his ability is even less).

It's sort of like economics isn't it? If I spend the dollar now (VI), I won't have it later (Predator).

I'll just have to try it both ways. Which is basically my way of saying 'I know you're right, but....'. And it really doesn't matter till the Gozanti comes out anyway. And I doubt I'll be lucky enough for it to show up before next week's monthly tournament.