With the approach of the Imperial Veterans expansion, I like many of you have been looking towards some builds that utilise the TIE Defender. Specifically, I was planning to use Vessery and Rexlar together with a.n.other to complete the list and this is where I've come up with the following options:

Colonel Vessery (35)

Veteran Instincts (1)

Tractor Beam (1)

Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

TIE/D (0)

Rexler Brath (37)

Juke (2)

Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

TIE/x7 (-2)

Which leaves 24 remaining points to fill (or 26 if you wish to drop juke on Rexlar Brath). I'm interested in how people would complete this list and these are the options I have come up with so far:

Baron of the Empire (19)

Juke (2)

Autothrusters (2)

TIE/v1 (1)

24

Academy Pilot (12)

Academy Pilot (12)

24

"Zeta Leader" (20)

Wired (1)

Comm Relay (3)

24

"Wampa" (14)

Stealth Device (3)

17, but synergy with Rexlar's ability. And a massive bid! (I'm pretty confident there are better options here!)

Scimitar Squadron Pilot (16)

Extra Munitions (2)

Concussion Missiles (4)

Ion Bombs (2)

Guidance Chips (0)

24

"Omega Leader" (21)

Adaptability (0)

Comm Relay (3)

24 (or 26 with Juke instead of Brath)

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

I think Omega Leader probably has the best chances of being included in the list, but I do like the alpha strike potential and hit points of the TIE bomber (unless it dies b4 it can shoot!). It's likely to be primaried before the Defenders which should allow one or two rounds of shooting for them.

The TAP Baron is more effective than it looks, but the PS is too low to help juke the enemy's evade tokens away for Vess and Rex. That said, they may be ignored which could be a mistake as they are decent ships for 24 points.

The TIEs would ofc just do their blocking thing and hopefully be a general nuisance!

All this said, would people just run one defender with other aces and or palp shuttle?

I love TIE defenders even without the titles (and I'm definitely getting Veterans when it comes out). I'm not, however, sure that Brath is the right choice. He wants to be focusing to use his ability, but Vessery wants a wingmate that can target lock, and honestly unless you're running HLC on him his ability doesn't come up that often. I'd possibly downgrade to a Glaive Squadron pilot; since they're probably going to cost 34 points, it gives you an extra 3 points to play with for wingmates. I'd also reccomend Ruthlessness on Rexler Brath instead of VI; it's amazing with that tractor beam build.

If you make those changes, it gives you 25 points for wingmates. You probably want a ship that can target lock to give Vessery more chances to use his ability. Bear in mind that I don't have a lot of experience playing competitively, but the Baron and possibly the Bomber look good.

OL will naturally have a tgt lock which is likely to stay unused for the most part, as it forms the basis of both its attack and defence.

The TIE/x7 title gives the opportunity to take an evade for free which allows a TL or focus action (or even a second evade if required if about to get clobbered by multiple attacks). Juke can reduce the opponents defensive roll on possibly a tractored (-1 agility) target from Vessery.

Your point is valid but 3 natural attack dice with mods and debuffs should be enough to get some Damage through. 4 dice at rng1 of course. I guess you could drop juke for ptl on Brath in order to ensure the focus and TL as required.

The bomber is also not likely to help Vessery either given the liklihood that it's TL will be spent for ordinance.

Scimitar Squadron Pilot — TIE Bomber 16

Systems Officer 2

Fleet Officer 3

Twin Ion Engine Mk. II 1

TIE Shuttle 0

Ship Total: 22

The perfect support ship for duel defenders trust me I've used it.

I would drop the Mk2 engines on both Defenders. That gives you 26 points for a fully functional Omega Leader with Juke and Comms relay. While the extra greens are nice, neither Brath nor Vess really need them. Their bonuses are action-independent which means they do not suffer too badly if they get stressed.

I would drop the Mk2 engines on both Defenders. That gives you 26 points for a fully functional Omega Leader with Juke and Comms relay. While the extra greens are nice, neither Brath nor Vess really need them. Their bonuses are action-independent which means they do not suffer too badly if they get stressed.

I am with Death ToJarJar on Rexler. His ability is so situational that it is not worth paying the points for. A Glaive would do the job just as nicely.

Vessery's ability is really nice, but it does need a friend to supply the target lock. Omega Leader and Vader are your best choices here. Why not both? OL with Juke and CR, Vader with ATC, EU and Predator and Vessery with TIE/x7, Juke and TIE mk2 comes in at 99 points.

I would drop the Mk2 engines on both Defenders. That gives you 26 points for a fully functional Omega Leader with Juke and Comms relay. While the extra greens are nice, neither Brath nor Vess really need them. Their bonuses are action-independent which means they do not suffer too badly if they get stressed.

26 pt Omega Leader is pretty good, and in this list, is useful because your opponent wants to kill Vessery first anyway.

Alternatively, if you want to make getting a TL to feed Vessery on that first turn of shooting even easier, you can take a bomber:

Gamma w/ proton torpedo, extra munitions & long-range scanners = 24

Or if you want to maximize damage on the bomber, trade the torps for homing missiles at the expense of 1 mk 2 Engine off of a defender (probably Vessery, since he'll likely die first)

Thanks for the suggestions. I hadn't bothered with glaive pilots as we still don't know how many points they will cost, but they will undoubtedly provide more options for this list.

With regard to the tie bomber shuttle, I wasn't sure the systems officer would be that useful as I didn't think it would be in range 1 that often. The long range scanners could be a possibility but I initially discounted it because I think it limits the dmg output of the bomber too much, though

since your suggestion I realised you can use deadeye to fire the ordinance and keep the TL if needed for Vessery.

Its largely irrelevant right now for me as I don't possess any TIE Bombers (or punisher) as yet! I will pick some up when I finally get my hands on the imperial veteran pack!

Scimitar Squadron Pilot — TIE Bomber 16

Systems Officer 2

Fleet Officer 3

Twin Ion Engine Mk. II 1

TIE Shuttle 0

Ship Total: 22

The perfect support ship for duel defenders trust me I've used it.

Captain Jonus (22)

Wired (1)

Systems Officer (2)

Fleet Officer (3)

Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

TIE Shuttle (0)

Jonus doesn't help a non-cannon Defender.

I like the shuttle Hobo describes. It feeds Rex a Target Lock, which triggers Vessery's ability, and it gives both Defenders an extra Focus. Rex himself gets a free Evade most of the time, and both will get a Focus from the Fleet Officer.

You could be blocked all game long, and still have fully modified attacks.

The long range scanners could be a possibility but I initially discounted it because I think it limits the dmg output of the bomber too much, though

since your suggestion I realised you can use deadeye to fire the ordinance and keep the TL if needed for Vessery.

Mathematically speaking, LRS + homing missiles gives better damage than proton torpedo + guidance chips (or concussion missile). The reason is because you take a TL early, and then you have a focus token on the turn that you shoot, and since homing missiles doesn't require expenditure of the TL just to fire, you still have it to possibly re-roll attack dice.

Fleet Officer + Systems Officer is good too, but lacks the damage output of an ordnance carrying bomber...

It's not there to damage but buff and act as a protobiggs, ignore it you'll face highly accurate fire with reduced agility and see your aces drop fast, go after it you're facing a full health Rexler end game.

What about a doom shuttle with the last 24 points?

What about a doom shuttle with the last 24 points?

Certainly not a bad option. You may still find getting a TL for Vessery on that first turn of shooting a bit awkward though...