Help me fly T-65s better

By Conandoodle, in X-Wing

My favourite Batwedge list

BatWedge

PTL
BB-8
Integrated astro

Pony Damerony

R2D2

Autothrusters

Veteran Instincts

Stresshog

TLT
R3A2

BTL-4

98 points, you have a regening TLT-eater

an Ace-muncher Batwedge with 3 actions and no stress, always getting his shots off

and a stresshog aka "COME HERE, FILTHY PTLer!"

Posts like that make me believe you don't ever actually fly Wedge.

Hi Conan,

I can't get BB-8 to work either. Personally, I think he's fool's gold on Wedge. I know somebody posted somewhat recently that they won a tourney with that combo, but if you look at the list juggler, he's not showing up. That's a pretty good sign that it isn't just you and me having problems getting mileage out of them ;)

With that said all is not lost. I find XXXXZ to be a better list for me than BBBBZ. Green 2 turns with an R2 Astromech are really nice. For the higher PS pilots, less is more. You can run Luke with Predator and R4-D6 + IA for 30 points. That's a nice addition to any list. I wouldn't run any T-65 at over 30 points currently, including Wedge. Keep 'em lean, keep 'em mean.

For BB-8 Wedge to work at his best, you need to make sure he goes last (put VI on him) and make the other ships in the list an equal threat. Wedge needs to be a part of a 3 or 4 ship list to insure his defense can be a good offense. The greatest advantage an X-wing has is that 1 forward. Stress mechanics (or Ion) should be included in X-wing heavy lists. Take away your opponents dial, this way you can take advantage of the easy flying X-wing.

I get the theory of it, the biggest problem I have is you can only activate him on 4 very "meh" maneuvers. I just find that BB-8 really only triggers once, maybe twice in a match on a priority target like Wedge. In most instances the maneuver I set before hand gets me what I wanted without the barrel roll. I just rarely find him to be worth the extra point.

I get the theory of it, the biggest problem I have is you can only activate him on 4 very "meh" maneuvers. I just find that BB-8 really only triggers once, maybe twice in a match on a priority target like Wedge. In most instances the maneuver I set before hand gets me what I wanted without the barrel roll. I just rarely find him to be worth the extra point.

You're going to have to adjust your play style to get the most out of Wedge and BB-8. His 1 banks and 1/2 forwards are all he needs once he's in the thick of it. Take advantage of this dial and FORCE your opponent to move they way you want them to. You can do this through stress induction or ion. The harder (but cheaper) way of doing this is by blocking. Use ships to force opponents to movie where you want them to or suffer the consequences.

Some good points. To summarise:

1. Stick with reputable combos (Tarn + R7, Biggs + R4D6, Wedge + BB8, etc)

2. Give up on them

3. Throw in a lot of K-Turn surprises (consider Targ. Astro)

4. Use house rules

5. Give up on them

6. Don't fly them like Arc Dodgers

7. Use Z-95s to block for them

8. Combine them with other aces/threats

9. Use BB8 but must have VI. Combine with stress to force opponents position.

10. Perservere

I'll keep trying with them .. I'll also keep flying some T-70s

....

It's worth looking up actual dogfight tactics too. It helps you break out of the "all my pieces must be Queens" cycle. Compared to everything people want the X to be, it is a ship that trades agility for staying power and greater ability to escape a fight and return.

This needs to be restated again, very important. Know your ships strengths and weaknesses. Though I have only been playing months now, haven't been to a tournament yet, I have learned you can't fly this ship like that ship. Imperial swarms fly different that A-wing swarms... etc. I love the T-65 (go ahead and call me old school), yes there are other ships that have better abilities but the times I get torn apart is when I forget to fly the T-65 like a....T-65. My fault, not the ships.

The P-40 Flying Tiger, vs. Japanese Zero, is a real world example of this. If the P-40 got into a turning fight, they'd loose every single time. So, P-40's climbed and dived. Diving made them jousters while their wingman got a zero on their tail and climbed towards each other. The jousting would take out the zero then go get another to chase him into a climb. VERY SIMILAR to what Luke and Wedge did in ANH!!

1) Yes, study real dog fights to get ideas.

2) Fly the T-65 like a T-65

3) Get friends to cover your tail.

How about this:

Wedge + BB-8 + PTL

Poe + R2D2 + PTL (or R2D2 + VI + AT)

Luke

I've now played 15 games in a row with Dash and 2 Rookie X-Wings, winning 11 and losing 4.

I treat them as the simple beasts they are. Always focus unless no one has a shot on you and make good use of the K turn! I basically try to set up a strafing run for them both where they can cover a wide angle and have no trouble K turning to continue shooting. I've found IA helps a lot and generally gives them another round (maybe 2) of shooting.

My opponents also have to choose between Dash with his HLC skirting around or the 2 Rookies coming in directly.

T65s are pointless if not named Biggs. The game should really be renamed to "Turrets: The Game," given the relative success of the turret versus the X-Wing. T65s haven't been effective or relevant since Wave 3. Don't kid yourself that a real fix is coming any time soon. FFG hasn't given a **** about the ship for YEARS now.

Edited by R2ShihTzu

It shouldn't get a barrel roll. The t-70 can't do it, and that's supposed to be the upgraded model.

Why not? Luke BRs in ANH during the Battle of Yavin IV.

Pretty sure Poe does one during the battle at Maz' Cantina.

I do Ok in tourneys, but mostly a casual player. Did alright in a vassal championship with 4 T-65s. I agree that everyone is spoiled by post maneuver shenanigans that have become the norm instead of the exception. HOW you fly them is more important than who you fly, and astromechs are awesome.

I fly them slow, like a net, or sometimes in a group with one in the back to discourage flanking. being able to fly slow makes it hard for tie fighters and the like to stay behind you. A staggered formation can also discourage arc dodging. flying 2 lines toward eachother in a pincer type movement can help them scratch eachother's backs as well.

load up the stressbot, tarn and r7, and fill out the rest to taste. you might be surprised at how well you do, but they have to support each other, they don't stand alone very well.

I also like the "valley of death" if you are jousting line on line, send 2 deep to k-turn and 2 pull up short. if it works right, you've got them trapped between you, and on the following turn you pass through your own line, picking up targets as you go.

Is this uber competitive, probably not, but it is rewarding to play, I think. YMMV

Posts like that make me believe you don't ever actually fly Wedge.

believe it or not, but it's currently one of two rebel lists I fly at all, the other being K-K-2400 :P

because after all the time Wedge and Eaden Vrill finally work!

I love the T-65 but I have struggled with them. I have tried the usual suspects without much success. Because of this I am looking to try something a bit out of the box like this:

Jek Porkins (26)
Elusiveness (2)
R5-D8 (3)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Tarn Mison (23)
R7 Astromech (2)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Rookie Pilot (21)
R2 Astromech (1)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Rookie Pilot (21)
R2 Astromech (1)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Total: 100

Posts like that make me believe you don't ever actually fly Wedge.

believe it or not, but it's currently one of two rebel lists I fly at all, the other being K-K-2400 :P

because after all the time Wedge and Eaden Vrill finally work!

Congratulations on being the one person that gets mileage out of that Wedge configuration. It's weird that it isn't showing up in championship lists despite it being so awesome. Store champions could learn a thing or two from you, am I right?

In case it isn't clear, this is me basically calling you a liar. Stone for example detailed how he builds around getting Wedge shots through blocking and stress. I suspect the effort isn't worth the results, but I believe him.

You however continue to push a configuration that initially excited people, but after actually playing it people discovered that it was an inefficient waste of points. But hey, if trolling Jimmius gives you that much pleasure, who the hell am I to judge?

No no, keep doing your Batwedge bit, it's really not getting old, you think it would be, but it isn't.

Posts like that make me believe you don't ever actually fly Wedge.

believe it or not, but it's currently one of two rebel lists I fly at all, the other being K-K-2400 :P

because after all the time Wedge and Eaden Vrill finally work!

Congratulations on being the one person that gets mileage out of that Wedge configuration. It's weird that it isn't showing up in championship lists despite it being so awesome. Store champions could learn a thing or two from you, am I right?

In case it isn't clear, this is me basically calling you a liar. Stone for example detailed how he builds around getting Wedge shots through blocking and stress. I suspect the effort isn't worth the results, but I believe him.

You however continue to push a configuration that initially excited people, but after actually playing it people discovered that it was an inefficient waste of points. But hey, if trolling Jimmius gives you that much pleasure, who the hell am I to judge?

No no, keep doing your Batwedge bit, it's really not getting old, you think it would be, but it isn't.

I love the T-65 but I have struggled with them. I have tried the usual suspects without much success. Because of this I am looking to try something a bit out of the box like this:

Jek Porkins (26)
Elusiveness (2)
R5-D8 (3)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Tarn Mison (23)
R7 Astromech (2)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Rookie Pilot (21)
R2 Astromech (1)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Rookie Pilot (21)
R2 Astromech (1)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Total: 100

I ran the same list this week except swap Porkins for Hobbie with Targeting Astromech and bump the Rookies to Reds. It was super fun to fly and I would definitely use it again.

I love the T-65 but I have struggled with them. I have tried the usual suspects without much success. Because of this I am looking to try something a bit out of the box like this:

Jek Porkins (26)

Elusiveness (2)

R5-D8 (3)

Integrated Astromech (0)

Tarn Mison (23)

R7 Astromech (2)

Integrated Astromech (0)

Rookie Pilot (21)

R2 Astromech (1)

Integrated Astromech (0)

Rookie Pilot (21)

R2 Astromech (1)

Integrated Astromech (0)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

I ran the same list this week except swap Porkins for Hobbie with Targeting Astromech and bump the Rookies to Reds. It was super fun to fly and I would definitely use it again.

4 integrated astromechs though. In a casual game that's fine but i'm not keen on buying 4 T-70s to get the cards. I bought a 2nd T-70 just for the IA. Now I have about 8 X-Wings (T-65s and T-70s) but only 2 IAs. It's a shame they didn't give us 2 IAs in each pack or 1 in the TFA core.

I'm honestly glad I haven't run in to anything but Poe in my matches. I'm a huge fan of Red Vet with predator and R3-A2. He really messes up my opponent's plans. And there are plenty of points left over for Wedge and Poe.

Do you run the red vet with AT or IA? Just wondering if Porkins would fill that role... interesting.

I love the T-65 but I have struggled with them. I have tried the usual suspects without much success. Because of this I am looking to try something a bit out of the box like this:

Jek Porkins (26)
Elusiveness (2)
R5-D8 (3)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Tarn Mison (23)
R7 Astromech (2)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Rookie Pilot (21)
R2 Astromech (1)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Rookie Pilot (21)
R2 Astromech (1)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Total: 100

I ran the same list this week except swap Porkins for Hobbie with Targeting Astromech and bump the Rookies to Reds. It was super fun to fly and I would definitely use it again.

I went Porkins because of the stress meta (stressbot/tactician)

I'm honestly glad I haven't run in to anything but Poe in my matches. I'm a huge fan of Red Vet with predator and R3-A2. He really messes up my opponent's plans. And there are plenty of points left over for Wedge and Poe.

Do you run the red vet with AT or IA? Just wondering if Porkins would fill that role... interesting.

I'm tempted to trade out Predator on the Red Vet for Wired and then equip him with AT. I often keep him at R3.

Edited by Stone37

It shouldn't get a barrel roll. The t-70 can't do it, and that's supposed to be the upgraded model.

Why not? Luke BRs in ANH during the Battle of Yavin IV.

Pretty sure Poe does one during the battle at Maz' Cantina.

The TIE punisher is an upgraded TIE bomber.

It shouldn't get a barrel roll. The t-70 can't do it, and that's supposed to be the upgraded model.

Why not? Luke BRs in ANH during the Battle of Yavin IV.

Pretty sure Poe does one during the battle at Maz' Cantina.

The TIE punisher is an upgraded TIE bomber.

Wrong, it's just a heavier bomber. Kinda like the X-wing is a lighter ARC-170.

If you want boosting bombers then add EU.

T-65s either need free BR from a title or reduced cost, maybe both, similar to the Defender titles. BR on a speed 1 or 2 maneuver, lose torpedo slot, -1 cost. Another title can ditch the Astro for a system slot, -2 cost. Stuff like that. Rebel vets shouldn't be far behind.

But I'm still much more excited about imp vets!