Most believe Rebels are now at the bottom of the pecking order. Could a triple K list be their most 'competitive' post wave 8?

3- Guardian Squadron Pilots w/ autoblaster turret, extra munitions, guidance chips, 2 with homing missles; 1 with plasma torpedoes

27 total health at Pilot Skill 4 (ahead of dreaded scum u-boats)

SLAM actions (great for blocking)

Autoblaster turrets (helpful against arc dodgers)

Thoughts?

The winners of the last three Worlds don't look particularly bottom of the pecking order to me. They just don't have many good spam lists. And for some reason people seem to love spam lists over toolboxes.

UM, Rebels have won half of the regionals so far with a swarm. Let's pump the brakes here.

I did say most. It's more of a perception kinda 'thing'. I personally like flying rebels.

"Rebels have won 2 competitive events do you think this list I've just made up which is nothing like the ones that are winning could be their most competitive list?"

"No"

A-Wing swarm is their most competitive list at present.

The perception is also what I've heard on the latest NOVA squadron podcast. Heaver himself mentions how it's tough to fly rebels right now and that he's wanting to fly Palp + Aces

"Rebels have won 2 competitive events do you think this list I've just made up which is nothing like the ones that are winning could be their most competitive list?"

"No"

A-Wing swarm is their most competitive list at present.

I'm sorry I didn't see that. What is the A-wing list you're referring to?

Well that's because what Paul was running most often with Rebels is pretty much dead. Stresshogs and Regen just won't cut it anymore.

As for your list, I actually think K-wings are very good against a lot of the current meta choices (though TLTs and rec spec IMO). The problem is that it becomes a very maneuver and planning based list, which is hard for a lot of people because if you make one mistake you could lose a K-wing in one round against Scouts very easily.

5x Green pilot w/ adaptability crackshot chardaan and autothrusters won Albuquerque and Rochester

I saw Gerry fly it, and I must admit that might be what I start running as it just looked like so much fun to fly.

It's the rebel Crack Swarm 5x Green A-Wings with Crack and Autothrusters.

It's actually pretty compelling compared to the Imperial Swarm. You trade 1 less ship & Howl's ability for tougher ships with better dials and actions & autothrusters. No longer tied to flying in formation you can buzz about all over the shop, dancing in and our of range 3. Crack Swarm is really front-loaded, you need to hit hard in the first engage or your damage output rapidly tails off. The A-Wing swarm has less up front damage, but should be able to sustain ships into the late game, and should have a fair chance of a better MOV as it won't be throwing ships away so easily.

Takes a TON of packs to build, though. Multiple Rebel Aces, multiple Starvipers for Autothrusters, multiple Khiraxz for Crack Shots... not an easy list to assemble.

That is good news for rebels. (Bad news for me since I only have 4 a-wings) Lol

Ok. I shall now say the more 'affordable' competitive Rebel list. Lol

Yeah, the 5x A-Wing list is really appealing. I have flown it a few times since seeing the results and it is a blast. I am sad though because I am not good enough to fly T-70s against the current tournament going lists. I played a game with a stress hog and it got annihilated. It has been rough, but not impossible.

I was tempted to start a new thread but this is pretty much what I wanted to discuss. What are the best options for Rebels that can handle U-boats without punting against Imperial Aces or vice versa.

Option 1: Tala Swarm Mk2

Need to find ways to get crackshot that doesn't involved buying $100 CAD of useless ship

Need to find ways to get crackshot that doesn't involved buying $100 CAD of useless ship

YV-666 isnt useless. but EBay is an option

I was tempted to start a new thread but this is pretty much what I wanted to discuss. What are the best options for Rebels that can handle U-boats without punting against Imperial Aces or vice versa.

Option 1: Tala Swarm Mk2

Tala Squadron Pilot (13)

XX-23 S-Thread Tracers (1)

Guidance Chips (0)

Tala Squadron Pilot (13) x2

Concussion Missiles (4)

Guidance Chips (0)

Tala Squadron Pilot (13) x4

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Gives you 7 ships, all firing before the U-boats. Against low agility target, you fire with the Tracers first and hand out target locks and watch the world burn. Aces will be an issue but you have the bodies to win, if you fly better. I would need three more Rebel Z-95's though so probably only a proxy or borrow some cards for a tourney.

Option 2: ZZAXXon

Red Squadron Veteran (26) x2

Crack Shot (1)

R2 Astromech (1)

Integrated Astromech (0)

Green Squadron Pilot (19)

Adaptability (0)

Chardaan Refit (-2)

Crack Shot (1)

A-Wing Test Pilot (0)

Tala Squadron Pilot (13) x2

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

I think this list should murder U-boats if flown well. Can drop the A-wing down to PS2 and block. I've only flown it a couple times but Crack Shot on a 3-attack ship is scary. The Z-95 will *hopefully* require 2 torpedoes to kill and the T-70's are likely to require 3 with IA. I built this list because the points fit, I like 5+ ship lists, and I own all the pieces.

Personally, I am more than happy to see Rebel Regen dead and buried. Rebel control wasn't much more fun really. These two lists are mostly what I think might be fun to fly, not necessarily the objectively best options.

What are some other strong Rebel options besides the 5 A-wing list?

I know the Ghost/Dash list is pretty good! I have seen it enjoy success and even know of a guy who claimed a SC with the list.

Crack shot comes with hounds tooth too I believe. So u could buy 5 of those and have a very young interesting epic game....lol

Made the cut in Atlanta with this.

Blount Force Trauma

(100)

Lieutenant Blount (19) - Z-95 Headhunter

Veteran Instincts (1), XX-23 S-Thread Tracers (1)

Tala Squadron Pilot (17) - Z-95 Headhunter

Concussion Missiles (4), Guidance Chips (0)

Tala Squadron Pilot (17) - Z-95 Headhunter

Concussion Missiles (4), Guidance Chips (0)

Tala Squadron Pilot (18) - Z-95 Headhunter

Homing Missiles (5), Guidance Chips (0)

Gray Squadron Pilot (29) - Y-Wing

Autoblaster Turret (2), Plasma Torpedoes (3), Extra Munitions (2), R2-D6 (1), Guidance Chips (0), Crack Shot (1)

Made the cut in Atlanta with this.

Blount Force Trauma

(100)

Lieutenant Blount (19) - Z-95 Headhunter

Veteran Instincts (1), XX-23 S-Thread Tracers (1)

Tala Squadron Pilot (17) - Z-95 Headhunter

Concussion Missiles (4), Guidance Chips (0)

Tala Squadron Pilot (17) - Z-95 Headhunter

Concussion Missiles (4), Guidance Chips (0)

Tala Squadron Pilot (18) - Z-95 Headhunter

Homing Missiles (5), Guidance Chips (0)

Gray Squadron Pilot (29) - Y-Wing

Autoblaster Turret (2), Plasma Torpedoes (3), Extra Munitions (2), R2-D6 (1), Guidance Chips (0), Crack Shot (1)

Dude, don't tease us like that! Give us a 'run down'! (Overall impressions, what lists you faced, etc.)

The perception is also what I've heard on the latest NOVA squadron podcast. Heaver himself mentions how it's tough to fly rebels right now and that he's wanting to fly Palp + Aces

Yes, but if you listen to him, there are only a few lists worth taking to Regionals at all. That's U-boats, Bro Bots, Palp Aces, Imp Aces, and maybe a Dash build. That's it. All other builds are just not worth it and should not be considered. If that's the way to view the tournament scene, I'm done with it. I want to see more than 5 lists at a Regional.

The perception is also what I've heard on the latest NOVA squadron podcast. Heaver himself mentions how it's tough to fly rebels right now and that he's wanting to fly Palp + Aces

Yes, but if you listen to him, there are only a few lists worth taking to Regionals at all. That's U-boats, Bro Bots, Palp Aces, Imp Aces, and maybe a Dash build. That's it. All other builds are just not worth it and should not be considered. If that's the way to view the tournament scene, I'm done with it. I want to see more than 5 lists at a Regional.

That's how he is, though. He has a very laser-edged view of the way things should be done, which obviously serves him very well but doesn't leave much room for everyone else.

Truth is that unless you're planning on being at the sharp end at Worlds it doesn't really matter that much if you're playing 'the best list' because your play errors are likely to make up for more than the increased power of an unfamiliar squadron. You'll probably do better with a Tier-II list you know well than a Tier-I list you don't.

The perception is also what I've heard on the latest NOVA squadron podcast. Heaver himself mentions how it's tough to fly rebels right now and that he's wanting to fly Palp + Aces

Yes, but if you listen to him, there are only a few lists worth taking to Regionals at all. That's U-boats, Bro Bots, Palp Aces, Imp Aces, and maybe a Dash build. That's it. All other builds are just not worth it and should not be considered. If that's the way to view the tournament scene, I'm done with it. I want to see more than 5 lists at a Regional.

I agree 100%. The meta seems Imperial Ace heavy at the moment. The Hoth Open was just sickening from a Rebel standpoint.

Paul is also not the omnissiah of X-Wing. He is very good and his advice should be heeded. But, he didn't forsee the Chihuahuas coming for example. People need to stop taking his word as gospel, and he is just a guy who likes to play X-Wing in the end. I am sure that he would agree.

I would also like to echo Stay above. In the end, your list is only going to take you so far. You NEED to have games in with it to be hyper competitive. an extra 10-20 practice games is well worth dropping to a tier 2 list IMO.

I got out of the tournament scene because I got sick of seeing the same lists repeated over and over again. I think it's sad that we now have more ships and upgrades than ever before, but see such a narrow number of lists make it to the top tables.

I got out of the tournament scene because I got sick of seeing the same lists repeated over and over again. I think it's sad that we now have more ships and upgrades than ever before, but see such a narrow number of lists make it to the top tables.

I think that to an extent that will inevitable. As a game and the associated infrastructure grows the community is able to find successful lists more rapidly and disseminate that information more widely, promoting homogeny.

But I think it only really matters if you are playing in big competitive events. Local events still show a bewildering array of squads and winners and you can win with almost anything.