Hi,

I would want to know how could i beat the new modern dual IG with crackshoots.

I have seen this list several times, and its really dificult to defeat using empire.

Which empire lists would be great to play agains those crackshoot brobots?

This was already asked very recently:

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/198597-how-to-defeat-2-ig-list-using-empire/

This has worked fine for me:

"Echo" (30)

Veteran Instincts (1)

Sensor Jammer (4)

Recon Specialist (3)

Advanced Cloaking Device (4)

Omicron Group Pilot (21)

Darth Vader (3)

Carnor Jax (26)

Push the Limit (3)

Autothrusters (2)

Stealth Device (3)

Royal Guard TIE (0)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Rush into R1, if echo gets behind them game is yours, feel free to sacrifice Carnor in order to make that happen.

Knife fight all day long.

VI Brobots should do the trick.

This was already asked very recently:

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/198597-how-to-defeat-2-ig-list-using-empire/

Thank you for your answer!

But that is a general question about brobots.

Here i am asking about new crackshot brobots, which are really difficult to beat them (in my opinion) using empire...

I have lost soontir in the first shoots round against this lists... Crackshots are anti-interceptors here :-)

Thank you!

But i am asking how to beat them using empire.

Alright, I'll take a stab at a detailed 'how to beat crackbots'.

So the IG88s have crack shot, FCS, HLC, glitterstim & autothrusters.

Let's see what that gives them:

crackshot + HLC + FCS = a potent alpha strike. If these guys shoot a ship, they do damage. Period. You can't stop it, so might as well accept that from the get-go.

Autothrusters + HLC = excellent R3 engagement. Their damage output is maxed and their defensive mitigation is at its best. So don't engage at R3! Ever! Bad idea! Conversely, HLC only works at R2 or R3, so that means IG88B's ability cannot activate at R1. So R1 is where these IG88s are at their weakest in terms of firepower and damage mitigation (because your ships have +1 red die too).

Glitterstim = 1 turn of invincibility, BUT they take a stress for it. Why are they invincible? Because they likely take an evade token as well. Most often, an IG88 will pop this when enemies are in close and they expect to take heavy fire. When you expect an IG88 to pop their stims, you want to plan your movement carefully. Ideally you get all of your ships out of arc, but with a shot (ha! I know, not likely, but its still ideal!) Failing that, position your ships so your k-turns are open. One ship is your blocker. You have to get a block to deny that evade token. Makes a big difference.

I face dual Aggressors a lot because a buddy of mine loves them and has flown a ton of different builds and I've faced them all numerous times. I play mostly Imperials too, btw.

Here's a few general rules I try to do whenever I see Aggressors on the other side of the table:

1) create the Triangle of Suck! What's a triangle of suck? Its your asteroid placement. IG88s hate dense asteroid fields, so the IG88 player typically places his spread out or in corners. You get to place 3 rocks though, so make them count! To create the Triangle of Suck, place your first rock close to the centre of the table but a bit to your side and a bit to either the left or right (approximately R1 away from the centre). Place your 2nd rock about R1.5 away from that rock, so both are almost parallel with your deployment edge (offset them a bit so one rock is closer to you and the other a bit closer to your opponent). Your last rock goes on your opponent's side of the board, right in the between your other two rocks fairly close to R1 from both. Now you should have a triangular pattern with the 'point' facing your opponent.

2) Keep the Triangle of Suck in between your ships and the IG88s as much as possible! Do this and you will make their life very difficult. You see, the IG88s want to focus fire. They want to shoot the same target, so they can kill it quick, but with the rocks interposed, they have to make a choice: get the shots they want but fly into the triangle of suck, or else go around it and not get to shoot at the same target. To help you with this, I suggest deploying your ships in the middle of the board (if lower PS). Then the IG88s will either plop down together on one side or split up in either corner. If they split up, you won't be able to keep the Triangle of Suck in both their paths, but you will be able to avoid focus fire: pick one and 3 bank towards it. It will either come forward or hard turn towards the middle of the board (in their own deployment. If he hard turns, don't chase him or he'll draw you away from your triangle. If he turns towards you, he'll have to fly straight toward the triangle of suck, so its fine.

3) block whenever possible. Especially k-turns/s-loops! If you can block one of those, that particular IG88 is screwed big time (stressed and pointing in the wrong direction). Also if they get drawn into the Triangle of Suck, try to block in such a way that the robot will get stuck on a rock. Blocked IG88s lose their token which they use for defense mostly, and so without that token, you can actually deal some damage on them.

4) take the 1 damage! If an IG88 shoots you and deals one damage, take it, even if you have a token to stop it! If you don't, he'll shoot again with a TL (possibly focus) and deal 3 or 4. Remember that taking the 1 damage might become 2 if he has crack shot, but that's okay (the crack is spent at least). It could've been worse! Obviously, the only time you don't take the damage is when it means destruction, or its against the 2nd shot (because the first already missed).

5) Focus fire. You really really need to kill one IG88. It doesn't matter which. Ideally you want to get IG88B first, but if your opponent is being cautious with that one, take the other one out. Once one IG88 dies, its MUCH easier to take out the 2nd one. Getting that first kill can be tricky though: sometimes you have to switch targets to draw the wounded one back into the fight, but as soon as it comes back, go for it!

Listbuilding:

Imperial ships with low health are generally weak against IG88s. Fighters and Interceptors mainly because they die too easily. Yes this means Soontir is not a good choice against IG88s because his vaunted mitigation from autothrusters + stealth is easily smashed by HLC + IG88B's ability + Crack shot. Not saying Soontir can't beat these guys, but you really have to be super cautious and keep soontir out of arcs at all costs. For that reason, I think stealth is a big waste of points. Its not going to help against them, so don't bother taking it. I much prefer target comp, but YMMV.

I find the TIE/fo to be quite good. Vader is really good too, but you still have to be careful with him. He can afford to get shot up once thanks to his shields, but after that, you need to stay out of arcs or risk losing him. His crits from ATC are really handy too once an IG88s shields are down. Phantoms are pretty good too since they deal a lot of damage, but they are easily killed. I think Whisper or Echo are the best choices thanks to high PS and ACD. For crew, rebel captive is excellent. IG88s HATE being stressed.

Speaking of which, take stress dealing cards if you can. Rebel Captive is strong, Mara Jade can work (even if it doesn't stress anything, it creates area denial which can be handy), and tactician is good if you can get into R2.

The list I use that my buddy fears the most is:

Vader w/ lone wolf, x-1, ATC & engine = 36

Whisper w/ VI, FCS, rebel captive & ACD = 42

Omega pilot w/ comm relay & juke = 22

100

No easy target and all are capable of good damage. I stick to the triangle of suck and use the omega for blocking.

Hope that helps!

Blocking and Stress are pretty good against them.

Maybe some Tie Swarms or Rebel Captives for you, yes? Yes.

Zippy aces has been good against it . I use soontir/carnor/vador to good effect on brobots . I crumble quickly if i make a mistake though. But in general agile arc dodgers seems effective.

*snipped*

Hope that helps!

I just wanted to say that, as brand-new Imperial player, your post is stupendously helpful. Thanks :-)

A list i have fallen in love with that deals with quite a few builds is.

Carnor Jax

Ptl

Thrusters

Dark Curse

Omega Leader

Juke

Com Relay

Zertik Strom

Title

Sensor Jammer

Mk2 Engine

You would just have to be very careful about getting in arc of those IGs. I think the possible die modification denial will annoy the IGs to no end (they loves their die mods).

............

Hope that helps!

Thank you for that great message!

Anyway, i see that it is REALLY difficult to beat this list using empire...

Because i see a lot of recommendations but when you talk about lists there is no easy list to beat those crackshot brobots.. :-(

What about using a punisher and whisper?

Zippy aces has been good against it . I use soontir/carnor/vador to good effect on brobots . I crumble quickly if i make a mistake though. But in general agile arc dodgers seems effective.

Have you played against this crackshot list?

Interceptors die really fast against this crackshot list... Its not easy.

A list i have fallen in love with that deals with quite a few builds is.

Carnor Jax

Ptl

Thrusters

Dark Curse

Omega Leader

Juke

Com Relay

Zertik Strom

Title

Sensor Jammer

Mk2 Engine

You would just have to be very careful about getting in arc of those IGs. I think the possible die modification denial will annoy the IGs to no end (they loves their die mods).

Thank you.

Have you tried this lists against this exact list of crackshot brobots?