Alright so the TIE Defender is my all-time favorite ship, but I'm too much of a min/maxer to have ever bought one. Everyone's really excited about Imperial Vets and that red Defender is looking **** sexy.
But what are we actually getting here? The titles are a clear improvement, but what builds will we be using when they're available for tournaments?
Delta Squadron Pilot (30) + TIE/x7 (-2)
28 points
What does this give us? A 3 attack, 3 Agi/6 HP small base that gets some action economy on 3-5 speed maneuvers.
As a single ship, I don't like this very much. Compare to ATC Darth Vader at only 2 points more. Vader has 1 less HP and no white-K, but more damage and astounding action economy.
The 3-5 speed maneuver restriction also feels extremely limiting. I know people are hot about, "it'll usher in a new era of speeding all over the map!" but is that actually competitive? Most of the time when I execute a 3-turn/bank in-game, I'm either disengaging or at least switching targets. It seems like /x7 Defenders will really have problems focusing damage except on turns they're able to use the 4K. This seems like a crippling disadvantage, since so much of high level play is about focusing down the right target faster than your opponent does yours.
Maybe an all-/x7 squad could do some form of new tactics where they zoom in for one round, then completely disengage and set up for another joust without receiving any fire. It's hard to imagine this actually playing out in-game, however. Does anyone have any examples/replays of such a strategy existing?
Glaive Squadron Pilot (33-34?) + TIE/x7 (-2)
31-32 points
Assuming Glaives get an EPT, is there one that would push them into "awesome" territory? Juke seems like a natural fit, but does it make the ship worth 34 points? Predator can give rerolls and works well with offensive focus. Lone Wolf, maybe, to give it better survivability as well? Like the Delta Squadron though I don't see how he'll be able to keep using 3-speeds while keeping damage on the right target every round.
Colonel Vessery (35) + TIE/D + Ion Cannon (3)
38 points
This is looking good, though expensive. A problem with /D is getting modifiers for both attacks. Vessery's ability might be the best way to do this, and might pair well with ATC Vader or maybe a Long-Range Scanners user. Free offensive modifiers also makes him very action-independent, offensively. He'll probably get to use the 1-turn much more frequently, and doesn't mind as much getting stressed, though shedding the stress is still an issue without TIE Mk. II.
What's the best EPT on him? He doesn't feel like a strong PtL user; even with TIE Mk. II - there's no hard greens and the lack of Evade/AT means he's not gaining much defensive capability from it. VI might be good if a new PS 7/8 meta arises from all the non-9 pilots FFG is adding and the Fel hate coming into the meta. Expose is hilariously a viable action if he's getting the free Target Locks, though the 4 points and reduced agility are still highly questionable. Crack Shot is always solid and could help getting critical ion tokens onto priority targets.
Best modifications? Engine Upgrade is solid as boost is awesome, but he won't be arc dodging like Fel or Vader, even with PtL. Does it play well with the white 4K for excellent repositioning, perhaps? TIE Mk. II does add a lot of greens for just 1 point, and might make the red 1-turn much more usable.
The ship is incredibly expensive, but the option of ioning out to range 3 and actually dealing damage has never existed before. Will it be worth the ~40 points?
TL;DR: Let's talk about TIE Defender builds that are desirable competitively, and how they fit into the Imperial player's squad lists moving forward.
could just default to the PS 1 I suppose
