Not helpful.

Haven't lost with Poe [VI, AT, R2D2, Weapons Guidance] yet (9-0).

I don't like Predator. For the same points, you can get VI and Weapons Guidance while preserving your PS bid. WG is amazing on Poe... probably the best carrier for WG actually. Unless you roll 2+ blanks, you'll always roll 3 hit results.

True, his damage output is limited if you're spending actions on boosting. But half of the advantage of PS10 is that your opponent has to guess your maneuver. You'll often catch enemy aces in arc even without boosting.

The problem with not taking VI is that you're leaving the anti-ace burden with something else in your list. That's either a turret, control element, or something like Jake, Tycho, or EU Wedge - the latter three require an initiative bid. You might as well give those duties to the PS8(10) guy with natural boost.

As for how to fly Poe... I usually keep him in formation. Solo flanking is risky if he gets caught. He's not Soontir. He doesn't have the speed, maneuverability, or durability to handle concentrated fire.

Your #1 priority is to get him into late game. Ideally, if he can soak a few shots early game that's even better.

1v1 is where Poe excels. Poe vs Swarm (even with focus) is where he dies.

I play absolutely nothing but Poe. I fell in love with him instantly. Here's my $.02. Word wall incoming.

First, i'd like to personally vouch for Predator. In a tournament, i've got no clue if i'll be facing a 4BZ list, or palpmobile. Against the Palp list, VI is undeniably the better choice. No question about it. But Predator definitely is better against the 4BZ list where i need effective regen with R5-P9 and thus can't use Weapons Guidance, and need additional chance of damage that i can get from Predator. So it's a toss up, you know? I think the most general loadout you can put on him is VI, R5-P9/R2-D2, AT, WG. WG imo isn't as good on Poe because it takes away his focus, and thus, is only particularly usable if you know you're not gonna get shot at this round, but if you need a PS bid too, thats the best you'll get likely. Predator is superior imo because it's not tied to an action. WG MAY be a point cheaper, but Predator works every round, no matter what. You can use it off a T-Roll or a K-Turn, or if you get blocked. It also insulates you slightly against stress control, because you still have dice modification that you lose if you choose WG. My personally preferred loadout is Predator, R5-P9, AT. I make up for the lack of PS over some Aces by relying on deception to essentially get the opponent to do what i want them to, and thus, raising my chances that i will be able to accurately predict my opponents maneuvers, which i discuss a little here.

As for flying him, which not many have discussed, don't joust with him, if you can help it. Poe is great, and he's consistently good at defending, but he's still only got 2 greens. Like any other ace, if you give the enemy a chance to focus fire on him, you've lost him. One of the best things i do with Poe is bait with him. I deploy him off to the side with a Z-95 or some other ship, and set up a stresshog and another Z in a joust position with the enemy, and take Poe and Z up the side to project a flank to the enemy. The enemy either stays on target with the Y and the Z, and Poe subsequently makes them regret that decision, or they turn to engage an important target, at which time Poe immediately zooms by them and the Y turn in to hit them from the back.

This does two things. First, that's a round where the enemy isn't shooting at you. Those are good rounds. Second, it's preserving Poe for a couple rounds to secure a late-game resurgence so that a fresh Poe can seal the deal with any stragglers. As has been mentioned, the later in the game Poe lasts, the higher chance of your victory there is. This example is, of course, assuming that they're flying formation. Even if you're not, you can "force" the opponent to do what you want if you give them enough encouragement. Poe is a hot target, and offering him on a silver platter and then yanking him out of there and ambushing with the rest of your list is extremely effective. However, don't actually engage with Poe immediately like this. Until about 15-25 minutes in, Poe is psyops. His job is to entice the enemy with that juicy 37-40 points, and then yank him out before he gets hurt. This all ties into the core stratagem of X-Wing for most players, which is to divide the enemy while staying united. After a couple rounds of enticing the enemy to abandon the rest of your squad to go after Poe, turn him into the fight when hopefully one of their ships are gone or heavily damaged.

However, you dont ever joust with Poe. Just don't. It's suicide. If it looks like you're about to get into a joust, you turn him away from that fight, hopefully setting up for the rest of your squad to take his place in the joust while he gets a chance to renegotiate the terms of the engagement to better suit him. The thing to remember, is that unless you have, like, Wedge, or Horton w/ a TLT in your list, if you give the opponent a choice of who to shoot it, they will always shoot at Poe. So don't give the opponent a choice, or make the other choice just as good or better of an option than shooting at Poe, like moving a Z way ahead of Poe so that a range 2 shot at a Z with only a focus token is more appealing than a range 3 shot at Poe with AT. However, you probably shouldnt be in a situation like that with Poe anyways, because that usually means you're jousting, and you shouldnt be.

Be careful with boosting with Poe. Yes, there are times when you gotta boost. You just have to. But that's gonna be a round where you're not focused. If you boost, thinking you'll be out of arc or range and it turns out you're actually not, thats a round where your defense isn't modified, and you can't regen with R5-P9 because no focus.

On the flip side, don't be afraid to boost. Or T-Roll, for that matter. I've found that in a game, if you don't T-Roll very much(or at all), the enemy stops expecting you to do it. By luring them into a sense of security, and then unleashing a T-Roll out of nowhere, you can quickly seal a game from an excellent range 1 shot out of a T-Roll.

If you're playing against Aces with Poe, that usually means your squad is 4 ships or less. In an example squadron of Poe, 2 Zs and a Stresshog, the open ground near the edges will be your friend against Aces. They will be able to get around the center of the map with the asteroids easier than you can, and will be able to use the asteroids as cover. Use Poe as bait to draw them to the outsides where your squad can catch them without cover and hit them easier. Against a 4B, TLT Y list, or really any squad that flies in formation, the opposite is true. Pull them into the center where on average you will be able to maneuver easier and get close ranges shots for higher damage.

Oh, right. When placing Poe, unless your opponent sets most of their squad directly across from here, set Poe in the center. Play into his general versatility by giving him versatile maneuver choice.

VI is garbage due to restricting Poe's options. Predator's probably my go to (Lone Wolf if you can make it work) which keeps his options open, but PtL is ok

I like the world 'garbage' applied to a choice that was made by both World Championships finalists ! It's probably a good indicator to take things you read about 'how to fly' with a bit of skepticism.

Yes indeed. but i would say VI Poe really works best when coupled with the Stresshog. It worked so well in Heaver's list because he could stress a Soontir (for example) out and then go get him with Poe while he is actionless.

When flown onhis own and not at the top of the meta, or in combination with Miranda or Corran, i prefer Predator, Lone Wolf or even Push the limit in some cases. I also take P9 mostly on him unless i have a spare point and dont need R2 anywhere else!

I have flown Poe with PTL, R2 Astro and AT with two K-wings full of bombs, no TLTs. Poe was used as a flanker and with PTL was always with his Focus plus either Target Lock or Boost depending on need with plenty of green options from R2 to get rid of stress.

It's a different build but one I enjoy using. Just have to paint him up now.

anyone have a poe build that isn't a variation off of the worlds 1 and 2 lists?

Also, VI for poe. Imo.

here, a nice little "howto":

Depends on Which Poe you Fly and what you fly with Poe....

No Poe likes to be on the receiving end of an entire enemy list, especially at range 1-2. So kite and flank with him - Bring him in behind your main force, or from an angle. Make sure you have other strong threats in the list, and fly them a bit more offensively to take pressure off of Poe.

Regen Poe (R5-P9 and R2-D2) function similarly , it's good to get the opponent to take the occasional pot shot, so you can regen. It's ok to trade shots with Regen Poe, you can fly head on into an enemy ship, but don't expose him to the entire force of the opponent.

PTL - Poe - R5-P9 - nearly always takes a focus, is often stressed, and uses boost to dodge arcs, set up positioning frequently. You must plan to be unblocked - so don't fly too predictably, and don't let him get too close to the enemy, Can survive focused enemy fire at range 3, but prefers to avoid it.

VI - Poe - R2-D2 - Often takes focus for his ability, uses full dial, can Tallon roll safely, will use boost to dodge arcs or get shots on enemy aces. Very much an ace killer - but will often be more vulnerable to being pounced upon by enemy fire, without the focus for defense.

PTL- Poe - BB8 - Almost always focuses, and can rarely be blocked - loses regen, but gains super repositioning. (VI is an option too) Can use his whole dial - just don't PTL on non green turns, unless you can safely disengage and skip multi-action turns to re-activate BB8. This Poe can't afford to take the hits the other Poes can - and flies much more corran/soontir like, relying on arc dodging to avoid damage.


When facing TLT's - don't stray into the range 2 firing arc of death - where Thrusters will become inactive - instead make sure to have a focus and engage from range 3, or out of arc. If possible, avoid being in the BTL-A4 arc at Range 2-3. Even with Thrusters.

There are other variants of Poe, Lone Wolf functions well, but only when you're not within range 1-2 - so you need to bring a smaller force. Predator Poe needs to avoid being blocked to take focus - as without focus, you lose the real predator synergy - so Predator Poe tends to rarely target lock or boost.

anyone have a poe build that isn't a variation off of the worlds 1 and 2 lists?

Also, VI for poe. Imo.

Yes.... Just - Hate hard on TLT with other parts of your list... like a sensor jamming E-wing / Autothruster A-wing.

BB8 + Daredevil + Experimental Interface. (He may or may not be flown with Green Wingmen...)