My local meta is heavily "infested" with Imperial Aces of all flavors, so I need help building a reasonable Rebel build. I know that Rebels are facing an uphill battle in the current meta with Triple Jumpmasters, but I don't have a lot of time to switch to Imperials/Scum and sufficiently practice before Regionals. I am willing to accept a lot of risk against Jumpmasters if I have a good matchup against Aces and at least a chance against Jumpmasters. I originally started with 3 X-Wings (Poe, Wes, and Wedge) and while I like flying Poe and Wes, I have been less impressed with Wedge. What would you recommends as a 30-point complement to the following list:

38 Poe with R2D2, VI, and Autothrusters

32 Wes with VI, BB-8, and Integrated Astromech

I tried a couple of cheaper blockers (2 Protos and a Z with Proto) but was not able to fly them particularly well. Also, they just felt like dead weight against good Aces players. I think a couple of options that might be worth trying are:

Gemmer with Prockets, Autothrusters, and Push the Limit

Green Squad with Adaptability, Homing Missiles (or Prockets), Autothrusters, and Push the Limit

Biggs with R4D6 and Integrated Astromech (plus 4 points for Flechettes or other upgrades)

Any thoughts?

Iam running Poe with VI, R5P9, and auto thrusters. R5P9 really fits well with Poes ability. Wes I have VI, R2D2, and Engine Upgrade. Lastly I have a gold, with Ion Cannon, R3A2 and BTL-A4. The object is to deny actions, which many of the newer pilots need to use their special abilities and to block missile and torp fire by removing TL and focuses.

Maybe a gray squadron stressbot? Aces hate those, and at ps4 at least it can get some use even against a jump master list before it goes down.

Alternatively, maybe just a turret of some sort to add some firepower when you need it? An ace might be able to survive a round of shooting from Poe and Wes, but by then they will be out of dice modifications for sure. A gold or gray squadron tlt might do the trick. I don't use HWKs myself, but I've seen people use them to good effect with a turret and in a supporting role.

Biggs isn't a bad choice either. You could always put r2d2 on Biggs and r5p9 on Poe at that point, although it's hard to keep Biggs around long enough to regenerate much.

gemmer doesn't have EPT so no push the limit. I love Jake it's a great ace especially with push the limit and VI comes up to 28

gemmer doesn't have EPT so no push the limit. I love Jake it's a great ace especially with push the limit and VI comes up to 28

With the A-wing title he does.

How about a PS4 stressbot?

[28PT] Gray Squadron Pilot
BTL-A4 Y-Wing
R3-A2
Twin Laser Turret

You have Wes to help mitigate some of the Dead-Eye alpha strike.

gemmer doesn't have EPT so no push the limit. I love Jake it's a great ace especially with push the limit and VI comes up to 28

I love Jake (especially Procket Jake), but my issue is his lack of damage output. Gemmer only has the one EPT from the title, but at least she can block Aces and threaten things with Prockets.

Been trying different builds on the "Simulator" (3 U-boat attempt here: http://bit.ly/1X37ujO). I actually am beginning to like the Gray Stesshawg build...

I like this build. Everyone Bids in at PS9+, Torpedoes of various types give you your own Alpha Strike, while Airen passes out extra modifications when needed. TLT gives consistent damage, while BB8 gives Wedge some much needed maneuverability. Additionally, every ship is a threat in it's own way, meaning it's not easy for your opponents to pick a target to focus down.

Horton Salm —

Y-Wing 25

Twin Laser Turret 6

Extra Munitions 2

Ion Torpedoes 5

R2-D6 1

Veteran Instincts 1

Guidance Chips 0

Ship Total: 40

Airen Cracken —

Z-95 Headhunter 19

Veteran Instincts 1

Concussion Missiles 4

Guidance Chips 0

Ship Total: 24

Wedge Antilles —

X-Wing 29

Crack Shot 1

Proton Torpedoes 4

BB-8 2

Guidance Chips 0

Ship Total: 36

My vote would be for Biggs. Combined with Wes stripping away Focus he will give Jumpmasters fits, and with some careful flying can get the job done against Imperial Aces, too.

I played close to this list with a VI, TLT, Tactician Hera. Worked good.

You can swap VI out for Adaptability I'm both Wes and Poe, then switch R2-D2 to R5-P9. This gives you enough points for a full Procket Jake. All three are PS9, unfortunately you get no initiative bid.

do you guys think it's better to have (list is tight on points so no PTL)

poe, VI, R5P9

jake, VI, autothrusters

poe, adaptability, R5P9, autothrusters

jake, adaptability, autothrusters

poe, VI, R5P9, autothrusters

gemmer, autothrusters and adaptability or a 1 point EPT.

the increased PS with VI helps with high PS aces like phantoms, while jake has more repositioning than gemmer while also having higher PS, but gemmer lets Poe have AT, and has 1 extra die at range 1.

Double A-wings

Biggs and throw a plasma on Wes to strip Jumpmaster shields. Or toss a fletchette on Poe and Wes for aces. Double Awings with AT and crack and adaptability are always a good choice for wingmen as well.

I gave the PS4 Stresshawg a go at Regionals and went 2-4. I managed to beat a Dengar/Zuckuss/Bug-zapper and a Corran/Poe/Blount list. I lost to two Palp Aces and 2 double Jumpmaster lists. One double Jumpmaster list was pretty much a hard counter with double Recon Specialist Jumpmaster and a HWK. The other had Zuckuss, and even though I got the opening I wanted by double-stressing a Jumpmaster without taking a missile shot, I ended up losing in the middle to late game. One Palp Ace list was Jeremy Howard's and he picked me apart even though I made him chase Poe for 45+ minutes.

My latest thought is:

Poe, VI, AT, R2D2

Wes, VI, BB8, IA

Sabine, PTL, Nien Numb Autoblaster, Hull Upgrade

Ok crazy thought, but to beat aces stress ion messes them up so what about,

Poe Dameron: 36

R5-P9

Adaptability

Auto thrusters

Wes: 32

R3-A2

Veteran Instincts

Integrated Astromech

Keyan Farlander: 32

Push the Limit

This gives you some pretty good shots at range one and you should be able to pick off an ace before they get to fire, mitigating damage. You could drop VI on Wes and let him shoot bore Poe and Keyan could take Opprotunist, but that loses viability when Wes bites it.

You could also do a play on classic Rogue Squadron lists and run Hobbie Klivian with R2-D6 and Opprotunist plus some flèchette torpedoes, for a very stress filed open, or Ibtisam with advanced sensors and elusiveness for some more def from your B-Wing but a list like that likely doesn't care to much about Defending as much as proper placement and attacking.

I have also had great success with Poe and Wedge on a similar build with a gold squadron pilot, feel free to look up that build on my 3 Man Wedge Poe and Gold topic.