Hey guys, just reading through some information on different cards and came across the TIE X1 title for the Advanced..

So this one allows what is essentially a free systems upgrade (-4 pts to cost of card to a min of 0)... using this you can buy a free Accuracy Corrector upgrade whuch essentially is a garenteed 2 dice damage thats not modifiable...

With this combination, im actually surpridsed that i havent seen these popping up in more lists. I guess thus may have been part of some previous meta and im just late to the party but a garenteed 2 damage still seems as if it should be relevant now..

I must be missing something important when it comes to these ships... i mean when you can use a PS4 ship with 3H/2Sh autohitting for two all fir the low price of 23 points...

I guess i might just be seeing this through rebel eyes however as this seems more of a brawler than alot of other Imperials... its either that or its just too late at night and im just not getting the point.

Whatever the reason, can someone please give me a run down on the Advanced/X1 and why its not seeing much table time?

It is, but in the form of Darth Vader. Veteran Instincts, TIE/x1, Advanced Targeting Computer and Engine Upgrade is the name of the game on him.

The other TIE/x1 pilots are good, but they suffer from Soontir Syndrome: the points to go to Vader, who, like Soontir, has a pilot ability that's hugely synergic with the ship's main card (ATC and PTL respectively) are so low that in high level competitive they just don't see use. Juno Eclipse is one pilot in particular that's struggled to find a place.

As for the Tempest, there was talk of making an Imperial generic heavy fighter squad with four Tempests with TIE/x1 and Accuracy Corrector paired with either Dark Curse or Backstabber. It never really took off though.

It is, but in the form of Darth Vader. Veteran Instincts, TIE/x1, Advanced Targeting Computer and Engine Upgrade is the name of the game on him.

The other TIE/x1 pilots are good, but they suffer from Soontir Syndrome: the points to go to Vader, who, like Soontir, has a pilot ability that's hugely synergic with the ship's main card (ATC and PTL respectively) are so low that in high level competitive they just don't see use. Juno Eclipse is one pilot in particular that's struggled to find a place.

As for the Tempest, there was talk of making an Imperial generic heavy fighter squad with four Tempests with TIE/x1 and Accuracy Corrector paired with either Dark Curse or Backstabber. It never really took off though.

Really? I don't have any TIE Advanced myself, and haven't seen any played, but I assumed Juno Eclipse's incredible maneuver dial would mean that you would see her a lot accompanying Vader. So, why not?

I've found that the Advance dial suffers somewhat, in my opinion. They are pretty easily outmaneuvered by Interceptor types of aces, and there isn't enough green to reliable clear stress without then getting your ass shot off, unless you take the MKII engines, in which case you don't get the engine upgrade.

The TIE Advanced fix, like many other fixes, only really fixed the top pilot (Vader in this case). The reason for that is, I believe, that FFG prices aces much more competitively than generic pilots (in the earlier expansions, at least, it might be less true today). When they later buffed ships that were out of favor (like the TIE Advanced), they had to reign it in a little bit to avoid making the aces overpowered. That meant that the generics didn't get as much buff as they would have needed in order to make them competitive at the top level.

It's true you don't see a lot of advanced in play anymore but I find certain lists very strong with them. The fix was a lot more generous than people think, Vader did get a huge buff but all the named pilots have great abilities and the generics are among the best you can field for their price point now. I've done quite well with three tempest with AC and Soontir Fel as well as four Tempests with AC, Cluster and guidance chips. They are probably my most flown ship at this point.

Tempest with title and accuracy corrector is a solid ship, just not good enough for competitive play.

The named pilots (except Vader), not so much. Most of them have pretty gimmicky abilities that can be neat when they trigger but not worth building around.

I had just one Tie Advanced -just to get Vader- but never flew it when I really wanted a win. Being also slow in the $$ category, I just got the Raider today. I now get the "free sensor" and wonder if this is going to possibly mothball my interceptor squad? Can you guys see an inquisitor led squad of Tie Advance pilots do well?

I love the advanced, after buying my raider, I've got six of them. As it turns out it is an awesome ship. I fly a squad of four advanceds casually fairly often, and Vader may be my most flown pilot (competitively).

I really really want to like juno eclipse and Maarek Steele. Maarek's abillity is just highly situational. Juno is an awesome pilot, but she's going to be edged out by Vader all her life for 1 point extra. Maybe a build on Juno can work without engine upgrade (unlike my typical vader). That would be about the only way to justify flying her.

Now, what about after vader is in a list? If you already have him then can one of them work as a wingman? Sadly there are just better options. It goes without saying Soontir Fel, or the inquisitor. However there are still other ships with more relevant abillities than juno at her point level (Carnor Jax springs to mind).

Add that tie advanceds just can't stand up to a tlt and munitions are more frightening to them than autothruster ships, and it just leads to them being barely edged out of the current meta of competitve play. Of course, this is just my opinion.

I do love the ship though. Against other arc locked ships it can be super tanky. Either the super reliable tank with acurracy corrector and an evade action every turn, or a frightening attacker with ATC and a focus.

Edit: spelling

There was a guy who won one of our Store Championships running 3 Tempests with the title and Accuracy Corrector and Vader kitted out with Predator, Engine Upgrade, Title and Advance Targeting Computer. He went 4 - 0 and won in the final round. People seem to either love or hate the Advanced. It has always suffered from a poor dial, though that can be fixed with the MkII Ion Engine Upgrade. But, 6 guaranteed hits from Accuracy Corrector, and the guaranteed Crit from Vader's ATC can deal out some hurt if you concentrate fire. I personally find the biggest problem with the Advanced is the lack of being able to reposition effectively. If I had 4 Advanced (I only have 2 and 2 titles/ATC's), I would run a similar list to what I just posted, but swap out Predator for Squad Leader. Vader is one of the few pilots who can make really good use of it, and with the 3 Tempests likely running pretty close with Vader in a swarm, he can pass off an action to at least one of them if they need to reposition.

Commander Alozen always gets that target lock when he's at range 1. He's a bit like a bulkier Mauler Mithel, super dangerous when he gets in close, and cheap enough that you can fit some more aces.

And even if you don't have a shot, a free target lock against a ship out of your arc at range 1 can help out Colonel Vessery.

So with the Vader+3Tempest build, would this be alot of close formation flying or just trying to remain in close range without a constant (if you understand what i mean)...

I guess in this case im asking "How do i effectively Swarm?" so if anyone has an example of how the Vader+3Tempest would be flown or a link to a how to swarm post that would be greatly appreciated.

Im not great at this game so please treat me as moron until proven otherwise.

Thanks for all your replies so far guys. I am a big fan of the Advanced and im glad to read theyre getting used still with what seems like decent enough results.

Edit with ex.

When i mentioned formation flying vs swarming, what i meant is the simply the difference between independent maneuvers within proximity (eg. Ship B and C move anywhere within range 2 of A) and formation maneuvers (Ships A performs a bank 2 whereas ship B performs a Bank 3 to stay in the same formation after executing the turn)

Commander Alozen always gets that target lock when he's at range 1. He's a bit like a bulkier Mauler Mithel, super dangerous when he gets in close, and cheap enough that you can fit some more aces.

And even if you don't have a shot, a free target lock against a ship out of your arc at range 1 can help out Colonel Vessery.

With ATC he is 26 points. What else can you get for 26 points? That's right, Omega leader. He does everything you list above and more. Easy choice in my opinion.

So with the Vader+3Tempest build, would this be alot of close formation flying or just trying to remain in close range without a constant (if you understand what i mean)...

I guess in this case im asking "How do i effectively Swarm?" so if anyone has an example of how the Vader+3Tempest would be flown or a link to a how to swarm post that would be greatly appreciated.

I would fly the tempests in formation and have Vader go solo (but don't venture too far from the pack).

It perfectly viable to swarm without keeping formation. The ships support each other as long as they stay together.

But the benefit of flying in formation is that you don't have to worry about bumping into your own ships (as long as your formation is loose enough). But in most games there comes a time when you have to break formation, usually because of asteroids or enemy ships.

Commander Alozen always gets that target lock when he's at range 1. He's a bit like a bulkier Mauler Mithel, super dangerous when he gets in close, and cheap enough that you can fit some more aces.

And even if you don't have a shot, a free target lock against a ship out of your arc at range 1 can help out Colonel Vessery.

With ATC he is 26 points. What else can you get for 26 points? That's right, Omega leader. He does everything you list above and more. Easy choice in my opinion.

Omega Leader doesn't add an auto crit, and requires an action to use target lock. Alozen can acquire a range 1 target lock during the combat phase, even if he was blocked.

He has 1 fewer shield, mitigated by comm relay, but spending it means you have to spend a turn getting it back or else your offense takes a dip.

He won't have a focus token on the turn he acquires that lock so he will roll unmodified dice using the Juke and Comm Relay combo. Juke does nothing against ships rolling 0 defense dice.

More importantly, you can't take 2 of him, you've gotta fill the rest of the list up with something and this is just one idea. And it can hit pretty hard for this point value on Imperial side, and it has shields unlike Backstabber or Mauler. Who I also recommend.

Zeta Leader is a closer match, but he has to take stress to get that extra die.

The "everything and more" wasn't literal. My point is that OL is superior in defense (against one ship) and has more consistent offense. He doesn't get his evade and target lock for free, but as long as you don't rush into the jaws of the enemy on turn one, they are easy to set up.

I would never take Alozen over Omega leader.

AC advanced are good enough to be competitive. I really liked colzet for 23 points, I just got sick of that dial.

For awhile I was running Soontir, Carnor, and Maarek. It was nice because by the time Maarek would fire shield would be gone. I like all the named pilots but I do have a hard time fitting most of them into lists.

Zeta Leader is a closer match, but he has to take stress to get that extra die.

I like Zeta over OL most days. I throw on Wired, Weapons Guidance, Twin Ion Mk II. 24 pts, on a ship that can use the stress with Wired, clear it with Twin Ion. Weapons makes it so if I take a focus, I get a pretty consistent two hit attack.

I like Colzet with AC or ATC. With AC, once those hits start going through, you can drop your TL to flip damage. With ATC, you can crit, and then if it's an auto turn down (like with stress crit) spend the TL to flip again. Double stress with one damage . I think at 21 pts, Tempest with AC is a good buy. It's not winning games, but there's something to be said about consistent hits.