How do you like to run him and what do his squadmates look like?

I myself just can't get past Wired for his EPT. It seems like such a wicked bargain. Killer offense, the chance to keep a focus for defense. Not caring about spending your focus on defending against higher PS attackers. Terrorizing lower PS pilots with a 3 attack dice TIE. The movement options afforded to you by both the EPT and his ability - people expect him to clear stress and you're not punished for carrying it! I wonder if it can get any better?

So, how do you like him and how can I get better using him?

You can really do him 3 ways:

Cheap:

21 Zeta Leader w/ Wired.

This slots in nice to any squad you have 21pts spare. He's pretty solid for his cost.

Juke-FO:

25 Zeta Leader w/ Juke, Comms.

I only like this build in a Juke-FO swarm, because unlike Omega Leader he's not that great without more juke.

Mini-Ace:

26 Zeta Leader w/ Predator, Comms.

This build is more expensive, but hits pretty hard for a 26pt ship. I like to run him with the Standard Omega Leader and HLC-Vessery.

I was thinking he could be great with a Stealth Device, Wired, and the Comms Relay if you had the points. If Zeta Leader is getting bullied by higher PS folks then he ought to have a dice mod either in the form of a token or Wired from a previous round right? Makes that SD seems a little less shaky. Throw in CR and suddenly the chances of hitting this guy become pretty slim... especially of you can mount an opening engagement with not only a focus token, but an evade as well. Couple this with the chance to keep your tokens via Wired and I think you have a PS 7 TIE pilot to write home about.

I was thinking he could be great with a Stealth Device, Wired, and the Comms Relay if you had the points. If Zeta Leader is getting bullied by higher PS folks then he ought to have a dice mod either in the form of a token or Wired from a previous round right? Makes that SD seems a little less shaky. Throw in CR and suddenly the chances of hitting this guy become pretty slim... especially of you can mount an opening engagement with not only a focus token, but an evade as well. Couple this with the chance to keep your tokens via Wired and I think you have a PS 7 TIE pilot to write home about.

I'd just leave off the stealth device, his main draw is that he's a cheap attack 3 PS7 ship. Comms is good as it essentially gives him +1 regenerating shield for 3pts, but stealth is overrated for it's cost.

The only ship I'd consider running Stealth on is Soontir, as he can guard it so well. On all other ships I'd much prefer hull for the guaranteed HP, or just spending that 3pts on the rest of the squad.

24 Zeta Leader w/ Wired, Comms.

Solid little ace for cheap, I like it.

How do you like to run him and what do his squadmates look like?

I myself just can't get past Wired for his EPT. It seems like such a wicked bargain. Killer offense, the chance to keep a focus for defense. Not caring about spending your focus on defending against higher PS attackers. Terrorizing lower PS pilots with a 3 attack dice TIE. The movement options afforded to you by both the EPT and his ability - people expect him to clear stress and you're not punished for carrying it! I wonder if it can get any better?

So, how do you like him and how can I get better using him?

You are saying that Zeta Leader is not punished for carrying stress. I am not sure I agree on that as carrying a stress from a previous round disables his ability to roll one extra die. He cannot activate his ability if already stressed. Wired still works though, but still I always try to find a good green move with Zeta Leader to remove the stress so I can use his ability next round and throw 3 (4) dice.

Zeta Leader /w Predator. Done.

2 X black cracks

Howl w/ crack

Omega leader w/ juke & comms

Zeta leader w/ juke/comms

I... don't. He's just not that amazing, and Imps have a tonne of amazing for that sort of points.

I ran him in a list with Veteran Instincts. Add in Scourge with VI, and Epsilon Ace, and you've got a nice little swarm of high-PS TIEs.

Honestly, he's really worth the 7 points over a crack-black sq. But just crackshot for him is enough. I think best in a swarm.

Trouble is that 5 Black Cracks and Howl Crack comes to 94 points. So 7 points is not what you have to spend...

Was part of Dallas' crack swarm that won the fresno regionals. Zeta with crack is great for 21 points.

Was part of Dallas' crack swarm that won the fresno regionals. Zeta with crack is great for 21 points.

Wasn't it just:

19 Howlrunner w/ Crackshot.

21 Zeta Leader w/ Crackshot.

60 (4x) Black w/ Crackshot.

I like him in the crackswarm, you're essentially paying +6pts for a shield and an extra attack dice (plus some other minor benefits). Points well spent.

I've run Zeta Leader with Wired/Comm Relay and Juke/Comm Relay. Both are great, but they're strongest against different things.

The Wired version is a brawler, strongest against massed lower PS shots. He can go into battle with an Evade, Focus, and rerolls on his eyeballs for every attack, which makes him crazy tough. It's also strong when he's blocked, because you can shoot, grab a stress you activate Wired, and still have some modification for attack and defense.

The Juke version punches a lot harder against higher PS ships, and works well as the lowest PS in your trio or quartet of Imperials. More expensive, more dangerous ships can herd can drain actions from the target (via making the target spend tokens or arc dodge), then Zeta Leader can hit them with an attack that can be as strong as 4 dice with Focus/TL and knocking one Evade down to a Focus. That's a hell of a hit for a 25 point ship.

OK you guys, I don't need so much peer pressure OK? My collection is through Wave 7 and it's extensive (addict am I) but I don't have any Force Awakens miniatures as of yet.

.....geeeeze, thanks alot!

Was part of Dallas' crack swarm that won the fresno regionals. Zeta with crack is great for 21 points.

Wasn't it just:

19 Howlrunner w/ Crackshot.

21 Zeta Leader w/ Crackshot.

60 (4x) Black w/ Crackshot.

I like him in the crackswarm, you're essentially paying +6pts for a shield and an extra attack dice (plus some other minor benefits). Points well spent.

I have everything here (ordered a TIE FO) but I have but (2) Crackshot modifications; what's the easiest/best way to get these cards?

So far, I've played Zeta Leader in this build only:

Rexler Brath (VI, HLC, Hull)

Omega Leader (Juke, Comm Relay)

Zeta Leader (Wired, Hull)

100 points

I really like this list. Opponents usually go after OL or Rexler first, then they get a taste of ZL... mwah-ha-ha!

Was part of Dallas' crack swarm that won the fresno regionals. Zeta with crack is great for 21 points.

Wasn't it just:

19 Howlrunner w/ Crackshot.

21 Zeta Leader w/ Crackshot.

60 (4x) Black w/ Crackshot.

I like him in the crackswarm, you're essentially paying +6pts for a shield and an extra attack dice (plus some other minor benefits). Points well spent.

I have everything here (ordered a TIE FO) but I have but (2) Crackshot modifications; what's the easiest/best way to get these cards?

Kihraxz or ebay.

Or with Imperial Veterans when that draops, which if you're an imperial player, you WILL want.

keep getting him mixed up with Zeta Ace for some reason lol.

I could see Zeta Leader with either Juke or Wired. Juke because of comms relay, but then again he isnt PS8+ so he could get that sniped off him pretty easy. Wired would be better imo because then you arent forced to take the evade every turn if you keep losing it, allowing you to barrelroll or *gasp* targetlock and still be stressed for Wired to kick in.

Hes one of the tie/fos i generally try to stick in my list, but i always find them to be too pricy unless its Omega Leader.

The nice thing about Juke on Zeta Leader is that if he's the target of the enemy, they're not shooting at something else. He's cheap and punchy, but he's not your key ship, so if they shoot at him first, it's a net win for your squad. Comm Relay FOs are pretty tough for the points, as well.

just crackshot and he's glorious

keep him cheap, his ability prevents him from being flown defensively. He's a cheap, incredibly efficient 3 dice platform with a stupid good dial (FO)

Was part of Dallas' crack swarm that won the fresno regionals. Zeta with crack is great for 21 points.

Wasn't it just:

19 Howlrunner w/ Crackshot.

21 Zeta Leader w/ Crackshot.

60 (4x) Black w/ Crackshot.

I like him in the crackswarm, you're essentially paying +6pts for a shield and an extra attack dice (plus some other minor benefits). Points well spent.

I have everything here (ordered a TIE FO) but I have but (2) Crackshot modifications; what's the easiest/best way to get these cards?

First.

You must sacrifice acrylic promos under the light of a waning moon.

Second.

You must draw the sacred octagon of perpetual blanks.

Third.

You must chant these words until your desires are fulfilled.

eBay. eBay. eBay!

http://xwing-miniatures.wikia.com/wiki/Crack_Shot

Linking website rather than telling you. Abuse this site to figure out what you want and where its from.

Crackshot isnt very easy to get right now. Really dont get how people can justify 6 of those kits for the 6tie swarm/crack lol

Maybe I'm crazy, but I like running ZL with wired and Weapons Guidance. Fly in, focus, and attack with 3 (or 4) dice. Depending on what you roll you have a lot of flexibility on how to modify your attack dice. No eyeballs and at least one blank? Use weapons guidance. A bunch of eyeballs? Reroll them with wired, then if needed spend your focus token to change any eyeballs or 1 blank to hits.

I haven't done the math but it gives you really good odds of ending up with all hits/crits. And you can run ZL alongside howl runner for even more reroll shenanigans.

That's a really decent ship with excellent offense and decent defense for only 23 points.

I bought one YV and three Khiraxzes; consequently I lend a friend of mine who likes to play crack swarms my crack shots pretty frequently.