In fairness, you are comparing the current availability of alpha strikes to that of 7 months ago. I'm certainly not as hyped on Tycho as I once was (BMST).
Talkin' 'Bout Tycho
OK been meaning to try this A-wing squad... maybe it's already been tried... against taking down Pap/Shuttle
Tycho: Adaptability, Thread Tracers, A-wing Test Pilot, Guidance Chip, Veteran Instincts... puts him up at level 11,
Prototype A-wing: Prockets, A-Wing Test Pilot, Guidance Chip, Rage
Green Squadron: Wingman, Cluster Missiles, A-Wing Test Pilot, Guidance Chips, Rage
Green Squadron: Wingman, Prockets, A-Wing Test Pilot, Guidance Chips, Rage.
Tycho gives everyone a target lock early... trying to get a Green Squadron to deliver a set of Cluster Missiles... then finishing off the Shuttle with the other Green and Prototype. I'm afraid Prockets needing range 1 is too hard to do early in the game. I know Tycho isn't powered up and may use him as a blocker early while the other A-wings set up to finish off the Shuttle... if I'm lucky I'd have 3 A-wings left without stress to take on whatever is left. Maybe having both rage and guidance chip is overdoing it to get hit and I'm open on exchanging guidance chips with something better.
Psycho tycho and most a wings for that matter are fun to fly and hit hard with that procket...once. that's why you don't see them more. There are a lot of ships that even at range one can almost guarantee 2 or 3 evades, and it's just not worth it in my experience, sadly.
OK been meaning to try this A-wing squad... maybe it's already been tried... against taking down Pap/Shuttle
Tycho: Adaptability, Thread Tracers, A-wing Test Pilot, Guidance Chip, Veteran Instincts... puts him up at level 11,
Prototype A-wing: Prockets, A-Wing Test Pilot, Guidance Chip, Rage
Green Squadron: Wingman, Cluster Missiles, A-Wing Test Pilot, Guidance Chips, Rage
Green Squadron: Wingman, Prockets, A-Wing Test Pilot, Guidance Chips, Rage.
Tycho gives everyone a target lock early... trying to get a Green Squadron to deliver a set of Cluster Missiles... then finishing off the Shuttle with the other Green and Prototype. I'm afraid Prockets needing range 1 is too hard to do early in the game. I know Tycho isn't powered up and may use him as a blocker early while the other A-wings set up to finish off the Shuttle... if I'm lucky I'd have 3 A-wings left without stress to take on whatever is left. Maybe having both rage and guidance chip is overdoing it to get hit and I'm open on exchanging guidance chips with something better.
May want to take another look at A-Wing Test Pilot. I believe you'll see there is a PS limit on it which happens to keep it off of the A-Wing Prototype.
He likes Rage + Daredevil with ExpInt
I think tycho can do something with the a wing list now swarm leader is out, 5 shot primary at range 1 or 4 shot outside of range 1 means he may actually do some damage