Howdy, just purchased the original core set, the FA core set, a Millenium Falcon, rebel and imperial aces expansion. I am definitely a rebel faction, but need the community's help on a good build up path, that I can progress into as money becomes available. In the mean time what kind of fun and competitive squads can I build with what I currently have. I'm interested in 100pt builds, and although I'm rebel, I understand that to fully get 100% of this game I must play all factions. This will allow me to understand each one as opponent and as friend. But first I'd like to use whatever disposable income on building up a decent rebel collection.

Thanks in advance for all your help and guidance in this new arena for me.

I think Rebels is a good place to start because they are in a way easier to learn the game with.

Based on what you have, I would suggest running Poe. He's very popular, effective and interesting to fly.

There are two 'popular' builds for him:

push the limit, BB-8 & autothrusters

veteran instincts, R2-D2 & autothrusters

Both are 38 points. Now, you don't have autothrusters, so you can either leave him at 36, or toss on a hull (39) or shield upgrade (40).

An easy to fly list based on what you have would be:

Han Solo w/ determination, luke skywalker, falcon title & engine upgrade = 59

Poe w/ either of the above builds (minus autothrusters) = 36

95

With the last 5 points, I would go with either Chewbacca for Han or shield upgrade for Poe. Both leave you at 99 points. Just depends on who you want to protect more.

Actually R5-p9 is very popular with poe.

Not just R2d2

Personally in like it better, as I'm not tied down to green maneuver to regen

Yes it comes with the transport but you can get that at a good price if you keep your eyes open, and it comes with other great pilots for the xwing

Tarn being one of my favorite with R7, and r3a2 for stress bots

A pretty standard poe is

(this is the one I seem to see the most)

Poe

Veteran instincts

R5-P9

Autothrusters.

I took on 4 twin laser turrets with just poe. Turrets can't touch him, and when one does get through, you just spend the focus at end of round with the R5-P9 and gain a shield back

I've been running him with marinda and a ywing with btl title and r3a2 with great success

It's a good idea to get one of every ship.

Gives you tons of options and getting to play them will make you a better player.

Understanding each role in the squad will make you a better player.

Rebels are much more user friendly. Imperials are fun, but in a lot of cases with no shields on alot of their ships and few hull on some, very unforgiving if you make a mistake, but very powerful if flown well.

Scum I can't say much as I don't use it much. I'd say kind of in between rebels and empire.

Not as squishy as Imperials, but not as user friendly as rebels.

They are unique in their own way.

Scum is still kind of playing catchup with the other two factions as they were released until last year

Poe

Veteran instincts

R5-P9

Autothrusters.

I recommended what I did because I knew the OP would have those cards, and doesn't have autos or R5-P9

R2-D2 is actually better. First of all, the timing is more effective: you get the shield before shooting starts, so it helps keep a ship alive more effectively (with R5 it can die before getting to regen a shield). Secondly, R2-D2 cannot be countered. R5 can. Now admittedly, not a lot of players seem to understand this, and I think Poe w/ R5-P9 is popular because no one is using the counters effectively. Paul Heaver understood this, and that's why he went to Worlds with the real hero of star wars over the unknown droid.

R2-D2 can even regen a shield while flying over a rock or through debris (if you need to). The only downside is that being limited to greens makes you more predictable----but I believe that's more on the player's head than the ship's, frankly, because its not like having R2 chains you to green moves only...

So at start of combat I take a dmg

And at end of combat I use focus gain a shield

Or

Use R2d2 at start of round

I don't really see the difference

At the end of the round a ship will either be dead or it won't

If it isn't dead then I don't see any difference if he gets it back at the end of round or start really

Both have their upside and down side

Yes one can get blocked but the other also puts you into a predictable situation.

It comes down to preference and how one flies

I personally would rather have the option of being able to fly past my opponent not have a shot or get shot at and regen rather than do it and gain nothing, or get in a bad position

No r2 doesn't chain you into green moves but if your taking dmg and doing white moves your not gaining anything.

Paul is an excellent xwing player for obvious reasons, but because he uses something does not make it absolute.

Edit

R2 would be better if you anticipated a lot of stress builds. Doesn't matter if he has 10 stress he'll always get that shield back where as no action no focus

I assume that is why Paul choose R2d2.

I could be wrong. Just a guess

R5-P9 gets shut down by anything that denies actions (blocking, stress, flying over an obstacle, Carnor Jax at R1, Palob stealing your cookie, etc).

I'm not saying R5-P9 is a bad idea. Regen is powerful, and if you prefer it to R2, that's cool. I was just trying to show the reasons why R2-D2 is a bit better. He's also 1 point more expensive, though (and I think its reasonable).

And I think you are exactly right as to why Heaver went with R2. Lots of stress builds and lots of blocking in high level play.

Ya I see your points

I tried him with R2d2 and in the games I had him I found I was wishing for R5-P9

In the end for me (which isn't to say is the same for everyone) I got more milage from R5-P9 than I did with R2d2.

Maybe I'll give him a whirl again

One thing I liked about r5 instead of R2 in heaversv list is it gives ya that 1 pt int bid, so if you did run into Coran or jax with veteran instincts you can give int to your opponent

Jax without veteran instincts would be tough to catch poe with veteran instincts

As for flying over rocks if you play well that shouldn't be an issue

Lol flying over Rocks even with r2 or r5 is never good for anybody, except your opponent

Edit

Just to play Devils advocate if poe had 1-2 hull left and a Focus at the end of the round, wouldn't that be the same as using r2 at the beginning?

Not trying to disagree, but a valid question.

I guess in the case of action denial or something else like hitting a rock , but if not...

Back to the OP thread lol

Down the road the transport is a good buy if you do want to go more into rebels

Great xwing pilots and upgrades

Wes, and tarn is pretty good

(tarn is one of my favorite xwing pilots)

R7 and r3a2 are great droids.

R7 is obviously ment for tarn and it has worked amazingly well in games I've used it in, which is why tarn became one of my favorites

And really I can't fly a ywing anymore without having one sport r3a2.

It shuts down so many builds.

A build I've done really well with was tarn, R7, gold squadron r3a2, ion turret, 4 z95

Tarn late game is a beast. Z95 make great blockers and the ywing shuts down a lot of things

However every time I try to put a tlt on the ywing, I have 1 pt over so end up having to get rid of something and end up with Pauls build.

Because poe is better than tarn for sure

Probably my two favorite... Actually I have an idea lol

I wonder how poe,tarn,stressbot, and z95 would hold up

Basically switch out a tlt ywing for tarn

I'll have to try this

Edit

Just to play Devils advocate if poe had 1-2 hull left and a Focus at the end of the round, wouldn't that be the same as using r2 at the beginning?

Yeah my bad. I was rushing to get a post in before my wife noticed I wasn't helping her put the kids to bed! You're right its the same.

I'll quit derailing the thread and edit my post!

Haha no worries

Geez what you just said sounded very familiar lol

Welcome rebel pilot! I would suggest X-wing blister (for Wedge), E-wing (for Corran Horn), and YT-2400 (for Dash Rendar). Those are awesome pilots for the Alliance. Dash/Corran is still competitive and a blast to fly. As for the Transport, if you don't really have an interest in playing epic games, keep an eye out on eBay. Sometimes there's an auction for just the X-wing portion of the expansion.

All great suggestions, thanks so much. I will start with the budget friendly portion first and move on to the high end part.

Good stuff,

Thanks

I would recomend you to buy the models you like. Forget about original upgrade cards, if you have them, ok. If not, Copy - Paste - Print. The more you play, at your own pace, you will complete your collection.

Per example, if you like A wings you probably would like to equip ATs. Buying Star Vipers if you fly Rebel and own a dozen ships?.