Poe Dameron T-70 X-Wing:

• Veteran Instincts
• R2-D2
• Autothrusters

Wedge Antilles X-Wing:

• Push The Limit
• BB-8
• Integrated Astromech

Gold Squadron Y-Wing:

• Twin Laser Turret
• R3-A2
• BTL-A4

I'm thinking of taking this to a store championship in my area. I'm pretty set on the list, but I'm not sure about some of my optimal flying strategies. All three of these guys are really nasty against enemy aces such as Soontir and Vader, but I'm not so sure how I'll fare against swarms and jousters. I'm worried that Wedge is liable to get focus-fired first, as the biggest offensive threat on the table. Of course, if that does happen, then I'll have plenty of time to toss out stress and keep Poe alive into the endgame.

The question now is, what is my deployment and initial engagement strategy against various types of lists? Obstacle choices?

Do I dare joust with a Howlrunner or Crackshot swarm? Or do I need to get fancy and try to out-fly them even on the first pass?

Well it really does depend on what the other side of the table is looking like from the start. However, as a default deployment i would place your y wing in the middle and your other two on each side about range 1 from the board edge. What this does is helps you see what your opponent is going to go after. Most likely it's going to be wedge or your stress y wing( I would drop him first personally) and because the T-70 can move pretty quick with boost action you can get around to the flank. All three of your ships and pretty fair by themselves so if he/she splits their squadron up too in the end it will help you focus on them being as your y wing in the middle and can get where he needs to be. I am by no means a master of this game and like I said this will also depend what the other squadron is looking looking like but this is what I would do. Hope it helps.

Well it really does depend on what the other side of the table is looking like from the start. However, as a default deployment i would place your y wing in the middle and your other two on each side about range 1 from the board edge. What this does is helps you see what your opponent is going to go after. Most likely it's going to be wedge or your stress y wing( I would drop him first personally) and because the T-70 can move pretty quick with boost action you can get around to the flank. All three of your ships and pretty fair by themselves so if he/she splits their squadron up too in the end it will help you focus on them being as your y wing in the middle and can get where he needs to be. I am by no means a master of this game and like I said this will also depend what the other squadron is looking looking like but this is what I would do. Hope it helps.

That all sounds pretty reasonable.

So, let's break it down into a few specific opponents:

• Traditional Howlrunner TIE Swarm
• Soontir+Vader+Palpatine
• Brobots
• Super Dash + Corran Horn

How might my opening moves differ against each of those?

Tie swarm- you will win the deployment because most ties will be lower pilot skill and you know Howlrunner will be with them.

For this I would make sure I have the largest obstacles I could pick and be sure to try and place them all together. Then I would deploy across the field from them on the other side of the obstacles and bate then into them flanking with ether wedge or Poe. Bumping and obstacles are a nightmare for most swarm players which is why they will most likely choose the smallest ones.

Soontir and Vader - if this is a typical build depending on who has the initiative you will be able to see most of their deployments. I deploy directly across from them in a y pattern. Soontir should be your first target. And most likely your y wing will be theirs.

Dash horn- deploy so you can try for horn as fast as you can and to keep stress on dash as much as possible. You could even to a faint deployment looking like you are gonna go one way and swing for the other. Make it look like you are gonna make a run for dash and switch it up. The horn player will be trying to flank waiting for the right moment. If you catch him off guard that could be the end for him. I feel this would be your toughest match up.

Brobots- this would be your easiest . If they are running PTL you would really mess them up. I would deploy across from them and then fly into the obstacles being as they are two large ships and need to concentrate fire you will end up messing that plan up. After weather the fire one turn then let lose.

personally id switch out Wedge for Ello+BB8+IA+VI. gives you initiative bid, Ello's ability makes a talon roll/boost in effect a white 1 bank k-turn. that with BB8 makes you really unpredictable and gives you many options after youve seen your opponent move al his pieces

personally id switch out Wedge for Ello+BB8+IA+VI. gives you initiative bid, Ello's ability makes a talon roll/boost in effect a white 1 bank k-turn. that with BB8 makes you really unpredictable and gives you many options after youve seen your opponent move al his pieces

Yeah, I suddenly realized Ello+Veteran Instincts was an option last night. I'm torn on his droid and modification options, though. BB-8 is highly maneuverable, but not as big a deal without PTL. The alternative is double shield regen with R2-D2 on Atsy and R5-P9 on Poe.