Just remember that you can still actually fly slower than speed 3 every turn
Lol that is my problem, I'm always thinking to myself "ahh yeah free evade" as I usually run him with juke. Then I end up getting wiped out in a turn because he's the only one in range lol. It's okay to slow down.
Now imagine if all those 3 Defenders had Crackshot instead, that's even better!
Crack Shot doesn't interest me on Glaives. Juke sure as hell does. When comboed with the x7 title, you get offensive (Juke) and defensive (evade token) modification of your dice just for setting your dial, even if blocked or stressed.
Suck on that, R2-D2.
Nobody thinks Brath is good.... but with a bomb-shuttle with Fleet Officer, i think you might get more use out of him. Also PS10.
He's like A'Baht - his palace is in Epic, hunting space whales
But 100 points is too narrow for him and his HLK-addiction
Have you never used him against a Y-Wing or K-Wing? It's almost comical. Brath turns some of the tankiest ships the Rebels have into a point-and-click adventure.
Best Quote of the Internet 2016.
I actually laughed out loud.
I just think it's funny to dismiss Brath, coming from someone who has by their own mention had so much trouble with the Stresshog. In my experience with Y's and K's, you just keep them busy with your miniswarm, then bring Rexler out of nowhere and light them up. It's usually been one shot once shields drop, sometimes they need a TIE to finish them off.
Do you all think this could be better? Rexler Brath (37) Veteran Instincts (1) Tractor Beam (1) Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1) TIE/D (0) "Howlrunner" (18) Black Squadron Pilot (14) Crack Shot (1) Black Squadron Pilot (14) Crack Shot (1) Academy Pilot (12) Total: 100 View in Yet Another Squad Builder Or 5AP.
What are Brath's problems? High cost, hard ability to trigger. X7 helps with the high cost and makes him last longer. He doesn't have a way to modify both cannon and primary, and the Tie/D title just makes him more expensive with the cannon and squishier.
His ability is one where I don't think you should put a lot into making it trigger, just laugh maniacally when it does. One of Brath's strengths is his PS. Eight is a respectable place. I like him with predator, x7, and twin ion if you have the points. This clocks him in at 38/39, which is a Whisper with no crew and the standard build. However, I feel that he will be more reliable than everyone's favorite Phantom. That gives you enough points to replace the academy with an obsidian, or Wampa if you don't want to bother with the twin ion engines on Brath.
I definitely think Brath will be a strong contender in the high point cost Imperial ace slot with along with Whisper and Predator Vader. Tanky with x7, a good PS, basically immune to stress, and an ability that is tough to trigger, but HOLY CRAP does it hurt when it does. For the Empire!
Edited by Nhoj4
Now imagine if all those 3 Defenders had Crackshot instead, that's even better!
Crack Shot doesn't interest me on Glaives. Juke sure as hell does. When comboed with the x7 title, you get offensive (Juke) and defensive (evade token) modification of your dice just for setting your dial, even if blocked or stressed.
Suck on that, R2-D2.
I just don't want to buy a slack handful of TIE/FO's no matter how good you make it sound ¬_¬
I was thinking about a Brath build like this:
Rexler Brath (37)
Predator (3)
"Mangler" Cannon (4)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE/D (0)
Scimitar Squadron Pilot (16)
Fleet Officer (3)
Tactician (2)
TIE Shuttle (0)
Total: 66
View in Yet Another Squad Builder
Two opportunities for Brath's ability to trigger. Against low agility targets it will be a killer. Brath Focuses, then gets a focus from Fleet Officer. This gives you 34 points for a flanker of some kind. Carnor Jax might be a good fit.
I just don't want to buy a slack handful of TIE/FO's no matter how good you make it sound ¬_¬
Well, look at the bright side:
+ The FO is a good ship in its own right.
+ There's no way the Glaive will be costed to get more than 3 in a list (if that), so you only need a few FO's.
So magler cannon wouldn't benefit from the title as it cost more than 3 points.
Well Glaive Squadron will most likely be packing an EPT and cost 33/34 (latter more likely) points. So 2 VI x7's would cost what? 64/66 points?
Spending one point on Vessery's ability is worth it though. Wonder how well Vessery and two Glaves, all with VI, will perform.
Christ that's terrifying . Three PS8 x7 Defenders? One of which gets free TLs? Absolute madness. I love it.
Still don't think it's as scary as Juke - you get to hit before scary TLTs and get to hold all of your tokens for defense against IGs and such. It'll depend on cost and if it does in fact have an EPT (can't think of a reason they wouldn't but then again, the Starviper got through in it's crazy expensive form so who knows!).
Still, if it can work, EPT x7 defenders with juke paired with mean old carnor jax is going to make my local players super sad....
Well Glaive Squadron will most likely be packing an EPT and cost 33/34 (latter more likely) points. So 2 VI x7's would cost what? 64/66 points?
Spending one point on Vessery's ability is worth it though. Wonder how well Vessery and two Glaves, all with VI, will perform.
Christ that's terrifying . Three PS8 x7 Defenders? One of which gets free TLs? Absolute madness. I love it.
Still don't think it's as scary as Juke - you get to hit before scary TLTs and get to hold all of your tokens for defense against IGs and such. It'll depend on cost and if it does in fact have an EPT (can't think of a reason they wouldn't but then again, the Starviper got through in it's crazy expensive form so who knows!).
Still, if it can work, EPT x7 defenders with juke paired with mean old carnor jax is going to make my local players super sad....
It is also going to look fabulous on the table with all that red!
Still don't think it's as scary as Juke - you get to hit before scary TLTs and get to hold all of your tokens for defense against IGs and such. It'll depend on cost and if it does in fact have an EPT (can't think of a reason they wouldn't but then again, the Starviper got through in it's crazy expensive form so who knows!).
Still, if it can work, EPT x7 defenders with juke paired with mean old carnor jax is going to make my local players super sad....
I'm very interested in the Juke/x7 combo but I'm holding off on my excitement until I get some point costs for the Glaives and Countess Ryad. I need to know if I can fit three in 100 points!
I'm very interested in the Juke/x7 combo but I'm holding off on my excitement until I get some point costs for the Glaives and Countess Ryad. I need to know if I can fit three in 100 points!
Yeah, I really want them to give us costs for those.
Still don't think it's as scary as Juke - you get to hit before scary TLTs and get to hold all of your tokens for defense against IGs and such. It'll depend on cost and if it does in fact have an EPT (can't think of a reason they wouldn't but then again, the Starviper got through in it's crazy expensive form so who knows!).
Still, if it can work, EPT x7 defenders with juke paired with mean old carnor jax is going to make my local players super sad....
I'm very interested in the Juke/x7 combo but I'm holding off on my excitement until I get some point costs for the Glaives and Countess Ryad. I need to know if I can fit three in 100 points!
Agreed, that's the big question. Hopefully they're relatively cost efficient so we can squeeze in 3, though they'll still be monstrous if they can "only" be paired with Soontir. We've got some great options once this pack gets released.
Still don't think it's as scary as Juke - you get to hit before scary TLTs and get to hold all of your tokens for defense against IGs and such. It'll depend on cost and if it does in fact have an EPT (can't think of a reason they wouldn't but then again, the Starviper got through in it's crazy expensive form so who knows!).
Still, if it can work, EPT x7 defenders with juke paired with mean old carnor jax is going to make my local players super sad....
I'm very interested in the Juke/x7 combo but I'm holding off on my excitement until I get some point costs for the Glaives and Countess Ryad. I need to know if I can fit three in 100 points!
Agreed, that's the big question. Hopefully they're relatively cost efficient so we can squeeze in 3, though they'll still be monstrous if they can "only" be paired with Soontir. We've got some great options once this pack gets released.
Keep in mind, this is a similar situation to the A-wing in Rebel Aces. Both sets give us a cost reduction, which is an admittance from the designers that in the current meta climate, the ship is overcosted for what it delivers. With the Defender, we get 2 title options, but one requires a cannon, so its minimum investment is 3 points over the x7, including a Cannon Upgrade that cannot deal damage.
All things considered, the new pilots will be approximately 2 points overcosted, with the possible exception of Maarek Stele, because he doesn't gel particularly well with either title. In that regard, considering that Colonel Vessery is PS6 with a strong ability at 35 points, I would doubt seriously that the Glaive is below 34 points. Could be just me, but seems pretty close. With x7, they become 32 points, meaning that you can fit three in a list, but to fly them symmetrically, you can only use one point EPTs.
In short, because we have a title that reduces the cost, the new pilots will be overcosted by approximately that much. Otherwise, giving them the x7 title would make them quite overpowered.
Just a few thoughts. 33 is possible, but I'm betting 34 is far more likely.
I think I've mentioned this upthread, but I almost consider Glaives a lock at 34. 33 for PS6 and a probable EPT is way too good compared to the 32 point Onyx. 34 is very fair with the titles, and keeps it in line. I would have pegged Stele at 36, but I could see him at 35 because Vessery's ability is so good, and Stele's is more situational, so 35 points wouldn't really be unfair. Ryad is an interesting unknown. PS5 isn't super-appealing, but a good ability and price point (maybe 34 along with Glaives) could make her solid.
Is there any decent fluff on the Countess Ryad? I tried a quick Google search and was less than impressed. Seems to be a minor character dug out to help save the Defender.
Any theory on point/ability would be for her?
(Edit: Searching for Countess Ryad actually generates a lot of house marking sales information for Countess Road. . maybe on to something here. . )
Edited by Viktus106I'm very interested in the Juke/x7 combo but I'm holding off on my excitement until I get some point costs for the Glaives and Countess Ryad. I need to know if I can fit three in 100 points!Still don't think it's as scary as Juke - you get to hit before scary TLTs and get to hold all of your tokens for defense against IGs and such. It'll depend on cost and if it does in fact have an EPT (can't think of a reason they wouldn't but then again, the Starviper got through in it's crazy expensive form so who knows!).
Still, if it can work, EPT x7 defenders with juke paired with mean old carnor jax is going to make my local players super sad....
I think 2 Juke/x7/TIE Mk2 Defenders with Carnor could be a nasty build and more likely to be able to fit into 100 points with a few to spare for Carnor's upgrades.
My guess is the Glaives will be 34 points each which means you will not be able to triple them with Juke/x7. If they are 33 points then happy days! But that would mean for only 1 point more than a Onyx Squadron pilot, they would be getting +3PS and an EPT. I will keep my fingers crossed but it sounds too good to be true.
EDIT - Ninja'd more times than I can count in the time it took to type this.
Yes. but the current non-unique Defenders are relatively garbage. They're going to be made obsolete either way so I wouldn't see a problem with Glaives being competitively costed against the uniques.
Yes. but the current non-unique Defenders are relatively garbage. They're going to be made obsolete either way so I wouldn't see a problem with Glaives being competitively costed against the uniques.
not necessarily.
for 28 points the PS 1 3/3/3/3 ship with a constant evade is pretty good.
Considering I don't see how the titles make title-less builds less viable, I don't see it making other Defenders even less viable.
Yes. but the current non-unique Defenders are relatively garbage. They're going to be made obsolete either way so I wouldn't see a problem with Glaives being competitively costed against the uniques.
While that's part of why I think the Glaives, Ryad, and Stele can all be costed a bit lower than expected, I have absolutely no issues with the x7 Delta. It might be my favourite ship in the game right now (that isn't tourney legal yet).
x7 Deltas and Onyxes seem solid to me, too. Tough, hard hitting up close, and pretty okay with no action. I think of them as the hounds you send after game to flush it from its den while your hunter waits for the right moment.
2 Onyx Squadron Pilots with x7 and Mk2 engines is 62 points, leaving 38 for a closer (like Fel plus a 3 point bid). That doesn't really work with Glaives, for whom the same build probably costs 66 points, and really likes more points in an EPT on top of that. Both the Onyx and the Delta can do the TIE/fo trick of blocking to avoid a shot and using their action to Target Lock, then turning around and getting TL+Focus on what they just blocked. Of course the Defenders do it better, because their K-turn is white and they have bigger guns (and they cost more points).
At the extreme end, you could do 2 Deltas with x7 Title for 56 points. 44 points allows for some solid Firespray or Phantom builds. They would be a nice counterpart to a well-equipped Whisper. Whisper is very good at taking out lower PS stuff, and the Defenders add some solid beef that won't go down while Whisper is working her way into position.
I should probably qualify my thoughts by playing more than a dozen game sin the past 6 months and actually flying a Defender ¬_¬
I've been flying Deltas with Whisper since the wave dropped. I am beyond excited to throw x7s in with an even better Phantom. Those four points open up the invaluable Rebel Captive or even a Gunner.
Edit: Or upgrading the FCS to a Jammer, but I tend to prefer the free Locks round to round.
Edited by Tsiegtiez
Now imagine if all those 3 Defenders had Crackshot instead, that's even better!
Not sure that's what I'd pick for PS6 pilots though. I feel being able to BR after Dash and IG-88 is worth the, what, three extra damage? I love Crack Shot on a bunch of PS3-4 pilots, but the real strength is in numbers. VI won't impact every match, but I'd feel a lot more comfortable playing 4-8 games in a row with the three of them at PS8
Crackshot is worth it even when not spammed in a swarm. That extra damage dosen't seems like a lot, but it can be a game changer:
-Just having Crackshot can force your opponent to overspent tokens to prevent that damage, leaving it open for subsequent shot.
-That damage can be the one needed to finish of your target, allowing your other ships to target someone else instead of 'losing'' his shot to finish that one hull ship.
-It can allow you to push that crit through the shield. Happened to me once with Poe, the opponent gave me just enough damage to remove all my shield but also rolled a crit. Used Crackshot to give it to me. It sucked.
-It can allow you to push that damage on Soontir to remove that Stealth Device.
You can see crackshot as just 3 extra damage, but the trick with it is to give that damage when it counts.
Now, I'm not saying there is no value with all Defenders being PS8, because there is, but if I was going that route, I would personally favor another kind of Hatful Eight build, something like this:
Vessery with Tie/D title, Ion Cannon, Veteran Instinct
Omega Leader with Juke, Comm Relay
Tie Inquisitor with Push the Limit, Tie/v1 title, Autothrusters
4 point left for a missile with Guidance chip on Vessery or a Stealth Device on Omega Leader, or anything that fit your fancy. I think this build is more versatile and pack just as much of a punch, with added control.
Now imagine if all those 3 Defenders had Crackshot instead, that's even better!
Crack Shot doesn't interest me on Glaives. Juke sure as hell does. When comboed with the x7 title, you get offensive (Juke) and defensive (evade token) modification of your dice just for setting your dial, even if blocked or stressed.
Suck on that, R2-D2.
Well, I certainly agree that Juke on a X7 Defender will be nice. But unless the Glaive cost 33 pts, it's not possible to fit three in a list like it was suggested with the Vessery with 2 Glaive list which was the basis of my first comment.