Core Only Lists

By Eyegor, in X-Wing

The recent surge of T70 and FO write-ups has inspired me to ask a similar but different question:

Using only the ships and upgrades available in either (or both) of the Core Sets, what is the most competitive list you can come up with for Rebs, Imps, or both?

No PTL, no Predator, no VI, etc.

No limits on the number of core sets though.

8 Academies is the obvious one.

Biggs, R2-F2

Luke, BB-8, Wired

Poe, R2-D2, Determination

8 Academies is the obvious one.

It's is EXTREMELY hard to argue with the classic eight TIE Swarm in various incarnations. Now AP x8 does leave a 4 points off the table which could be used for something...

For the Rebels I'm thinking you'll need 4 X-Wings to although perhaps you could survive a while with Luke and Poe and a third ship.

Poe + BB8, Biggs, Rookie x2

Poe, Luke, Blue Ace plus Astromechs for each still leaves you short of 100 points.

Try running the Zeta squadron:

5X Zeta Squadron pilot

Epsilon leader

At PS3 they shoot before most other swarms. Plus they are very versatile blockers and can focus fire fat turrets. Stresshogs mean nothing to them when flown right.

Of course, if other expacs are available you can opt to go on the offensive and field 5X Omega Squadron pilot with Crackshot and Weapons guidance. Consistent 10 red dice hits.

Edited by Grivoire

You're going to pretty much wind up with an interesting variety in TIE swarms. This is because TIE swarms are good, and are still good, especially because they don't require much in the way of upgrades to still be interesting.

X-wings have balance issues that want their patches; T-70s were built with a much broader set of upgrades in existence. BB-8 Poe is not bad, but he really wants VI or Lone Wolf or PTL to get the most out of him; and he'd love some filler that wasn't simply More Xwings where the upgrades there are distinctly limited.

The recent surge of T70 and FO write-ups has inspired me to ask a similar but different question:

Using only the ships and upgrades available in either (or both) of the Core Sets, what is the most competitive list you can come up with for Rebs, Imps, or both?

No PTL, no Predator, no VI, etc.

No limits on the number of core sets though.

I presume rebels won't cut anything better than This one

super-limited choices, bro

I can see four 'core box only' TIE swarms:

  1. Academy Pilot x 4, Epsilon Pilot x 4
  2. Omega Squadron Pilot, Wired, Weapons Guidance x 5
  3. Zeta Squadron Pilot x 5, Zeta Ace, Wired
  4. Epsilon Squadron Pilot x 4, Epsilon Leader, Zeta Ace, Wired

Number 1 is tried and tested - having won national tournaments even fairly recently.

Number 2 is remarkably good fun - I flew it this week. Wired is an unbelievably good talent for a single point, especially when your opponent turns up with R3-A2 and doesn't realise until halfway through the game that he's essentially handing you free rerolls whenever he shoots at you!

Number 3 should work. PS3 gives you an edge over generic pilots, as does the 6th TIE - I'm not sure if it mitigates the loss of the toys though.

Number 4 works in theory but not in practice. Epsilon leader's ability is awesome but not for generic TIE/fo pilots, who don't really have a problem with stress anyway given their amazing dial - nailing yourself to flying in a block probably ruins any benefit you gain from keeping yourself stress-free.

What do you think about:

Poe

-BB-8

-Proton Torpedoes

-Weapons Guidence

Red Squadron Veteran

-proton torpedoes

Red Squadron Veteran

-proton torpedoes

Epsilon My Epsilon

"Epsilon Leader" (19)
Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)
Weapons Guidance (2)
Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)
Weapons Guidance (2)
Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)
Weapons Guidance (2)
Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)
Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)
Total: 100
Are there better tools than Weapons Guidance? Probably so, but in a Core Only World, they help put more damage through. And six TIE/fo pilots are actually a lot of fun to fly together.

it's already been covered, but

X-wing --> needs integrated. Only reasonable with Luke; r2-d2

T-70 --> needs integrated or thrusters. Only reasonable with Poe; r2-d2 from other core

Tie/FO Fighter --> not bad; certainly better off than the T-70 or X-wing. Still, it's no Tie Fighter and it really gets a kick out of Juke + Relay (individual expac)

Tie Fighter --> Tie Swarm

The recent surge of T70 and FO write-ups has inspired me to ask a similar but different question:

Using only the ships and upgrades available in either (or both) of the Core Sets, what is the most competitive list you can come up with for Rebs, Imps, or both?

No PTL, no Predator, no VI, etc.

No limits on the number of core sets though.

I presume rebels won't cut anything better than This one

super-limited choices, bro

I'm confused. Why would you put two upgrades on Luke that both require an action? Oh wait. I think I see it now. You use Marksmanship until Biggs is down and then you use R2-F2 after that. Hmmm. Interesting.