The empire is the best, just go all in and you won't regret it.

Get Decimator, 1 Z.

Additionals: You probably want Kwing for TLT. And Starviper for Auto thrusters.

Then you're totally set.

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You don't need raiders or things like that. Proxy it. Save your money for when you CAN actually buy those.

Tie Int + Decimator is great.

Xwings + 2 Ys + 1Z is great.

Falcon + Y Z is great.

etc.

Where do you play? At home with friends or at your FLGS?

Both. Home with friends (who are new to the game) and will be playing casual at my FLGS.

I have to give you props for wanting to get the proper upgrade cards to go with the ships you are running. However, unless its a tournament, I have yet to meet a player that isn't ok with proxying a couple upgrades if you don't have the ship they come with (like Autothrusters from *only* the starviper). Thus I would only buy ships that interest you for the time being while you figure out what you like. Once you figure out if you like the ship, then start investing in the upgrades for it (starviper for Interceptors, Raider for Tie Advanced, etc.). If you have the money and don't mind getting those ships now instead of something else, then more power to ya!

Note that all the rules for any card can be printed out off one of the common online squadbuilders (Voidstate, Yet Another Squad Builder, etc.). That will give the opponent all the info they need to know how much each ship is worth, and what the exact wording is for the rules of each card.

For my thoughts on which ships would be next, I think the Decimator would balance the Falcon nicely, and a phantom is super fun to figure out. However, if you don't have Vader in his Tie Advanced, he is probably the next buy (while you proxy the X1 title and ATC cards). For Rebels, I would recommend the Rebel Aces box, have all 4 of the main movie rebel fighters available for friends if they wanna try the game (I have a couple friends who LOVE the A Wing, and a couple who always grab a B-Wing when they can, especially with the new Rebels show).

Thank you to everyone for the feedback. After reading everything and making my purchases, this is my inventory:

5 x TIE (Core, FA Core, Expansion)

1 x Phantom

3 x Interceptors (Aces, Expansion)

1 x Slave I

3 x X-Wing (Core, FA Core, Expansion)

2 x Y-Wing

1 x K-Wing

1 x Z-95

1 x Millennium Falcon

1 x StarViper (for Autothrusters)

I'm looking forward to some great casual play and introducing friends to the game