The Imperial-class Star Destroyer is arguably the most iconic ship in Star Wars, certainly from the Imperial side. It's definitely a powerful ship in Wave 2, with lots of great options. Is it essential? Of course not. But... is it good enough that you won't see competitive lists without one? I've seen people running Rebel lists without an MC80 post-Wave 2, but pretty much everyone Imperial is running at least one ISD, and many running two.

400pts leaves a lot of room for fun. 2 Vics, 2 Glads and a Raider, or 3 Vics and 2 Glads, or VGGRR, some with squadrons, some without. With an ISD we're almost always looking at 3-4-ship lists, mostly 3.

Do these seem viable or are the ISDs a superior replacement in almost all cases?

I think it is dependant on what your fleet is attempting to achieve each game. Your chosen objectives will be a big factor in that decision. I am currently running an ISD with 3 raiders.

My current favorite list consists of a GGRRR led by Ozzel.

The Imperial is fun and all, even pretty maneuverable, but good luck hitting me with it!

I think I'm just drunk on speed 4. Is this what it's been like to play Rebels all this time?

My current favorite list consists of a GGRRR led by Ozzel.

The Imperial is fun and all, even pretty maneuverable, but good luck hitting me with it!

I think I'm just drunk on speed 4. Is this what it's been like to play Rebels all this time?

I saw that in a photo the other day. I'm curious - what's it like to fly a RGRGR? Especially with Ozzel.

My current favorite list consists of a GGRRR led by Ozzel.

The Imperial is fun and all, even pretty maneuverable, but good luck hitting me with it!

I think I'm just drunk on speed 4. Is this what it's been like to play Rebels all this time?

I saw that in a photo the other day. I'm curious - what's it like to fly a RGRGR? Especially with Ozzel.

https://youtu.be/mk7VWcuVOf0?t=48s

One of my new favorite things.

It's incredible just how quickly these ships can encircle virtually anyone less maneuverable, and being able to go from speed 4 to speed 2 on the Raider means you can turn on a dime.

I really can't fathom these views that you'll "only" have 3 ships....I see getting 4+ ships as a massive hurdle. Then again, this mentality seems to go hand-in-hand with ignoring squadrons.

3 ships is, to me, standard. 4 is a substantial sacrifice towards squads or power, and 5 is a massive sacrifice...6 is a whole-cloth suicide to both with the hope that really good flying with amplify you're weak ships into powerful ones: a good thing to strive for of course (perfect piloting).

I really can't fathom these views that you'll "only" have 3 ships....I see getting 4+ ships as a massive hurdle. Then again, this mentality seems to go hand-in-hand with ignoring squadrons.

3 ships is, to me, standard. 4 is a substantial sacrifice towards squads or power, and 5 is a massive sacrifice...6 is a whole-cloth suicide to both with the hope that really good flying with amplify you're weak ships into powerful ones: a good thing to strive for of course (perfect piloting).

Depends on the ships. A Four ship build with an ISD is tight, but doable if you skimp (you can squeeze an ISD I, GSD I with Demolisher, two Raiders, and Ozzel for 284, leaving 116 for squadrons/upgrades/another commander). Start kitting them up, though, and you run out of space fast.

A four ship build that drops the ISD has an easier time, obviously. A Vic I, Motti, Gunnery Team, Corruptor, and Boosted Comms, a GSD I with Demolisher and Ordnance Experts, two Raider Is with Ordnance Experts, Rhymer, three TIE bombers, two TAs, and four TIE fighters (10 squadrons) is 378. Four ships (MC-80/AFIIs/MC-30s) with Ackbar and heavy squadrons is hard to squeeze in, as well.

Ironically, it does seem that Wave II lists (with Ackbar, ISDs, heavy squadron builds) are moving more towards durable 3 ship builds. I'm sure we'll still see Corvette Spam (Ackbar + TRCs?) and other similar lists, but three doesn't strike me as untenably small (though I would hope they'd be supported by squadrons).

Well... I like playing heavy Imperial ships. I enjoy the VSD-ISD setup with the flexibility for other equipment...

...which kind of makes the Ackbar lists a little distressing if it turns out to be the hard counter to the kind of list I especially enjoy running. I'm interested in a workaround simply to keep my favorite build valid.

I do have an ISD / GSD / GSD / RD / RD build drawn up to test, but I'm awaiting the arrival of my Wave 2 material.

The 2 Glad and 3 Raider list sounds really interesting for sure.

Here is a list I'm wanting to try soon.

Victory Star Destroyer Class I 73pts

Gunnery Team 7pts

Admiral Motti 24pts

Victory Star Destroyer Class I 73pts

Gunnery Team 7pts

Gladiator Star Destroyer Class II 62pts

Gladiator Star Destroyer Class II 62pts

Raider Corvette Class I 44pts

Raider Corvette Class I 44pts

Total 396pts.

My current favorite list consists of a GGRRR led by Ozzel.

The Imperial is fun and all, even pretty maneuverable, but good luck hitting me with it!

I think I'm just drunk on speed 4. Is this what it's been like to play Rebels all this time?

Yes, feel the speed flow through you! Hahahaha!

My current favorite list consists of a GGRRR led by Ozzel.

The Imperial is fun and all, even pretty maneuverable, but good luck hitting me with it!

I think I'm just drunk on speed 4. Is this what it's been like to play Rebels all this time?

I saw that in a photo the other day. I'm curious - what's it like to fly a RGRGR? Especially with Ozzel.

RGRGR, also known as the "battle droid" list.

RGRGR, also known as the "battle droid" list.