The title says it all, is Biggs a must-have in the current meta if one is running with a small base ace?

Rebel aces seem to go down very quickly if focused on during the first round.

Depends on the ace. Arc dodgers like Jake and Tycho doesn't need him (or PTL-BB-8-wing). Wes and Wedge could need him

Speaking as a dedicated Imp player, I can't understand why more rebel builds don't have Biggs! I think too many people think they need to win every game 100-0. In this meta, just winning is huge! I personally hate playing against lists that have Biggs! And now with a good droid and Integrated astromech...yeesh! He's a beast. Will give a rebel player an early game edge.

My hats off to the dude who had the balls to fly to T-65s in Utah. People are still belly-aching about how they are underpowered, but try flying them first before you complain! and I mean a good list.

not really

he's freaking spiffy, don't get me wrong, but you could supplement your aces with just a prototype pilot and possibly do MORE without actually losing the little guy

but it's easier to formation fly biggs than block with a prototype, for sure. If you stack him with some shield re-generators, you can get an early game edge by flying aggressively that leaves your opponent in a painful late game state against your two regen aces

example:

Biggs (r4-d6, integrated)

Red Ace (comms, r2-d2, integrated) [36]

Poe (vi, r5-p9, thrusters) [37]

[99]

but if we're talking X-wing aces (either ship) aces that die horribly if you so such as cough with them downwind, then yeah you need biggs

Biggs is just over powered and has always been, his ability should never have been always on intercepting the first shot would still of been good.

Biggs is just over powered and has always been, his ability should never have been always on intercepting the first shot would still of been good.

no, biggs needs to be in the game

how else do you troll pwts?

If you're going fcs on Corran then yes. If you're running sensors then no.

It really depends on the ace and their build.

Biggs (r4-d6, integrated)

Red Ace (comms, r2-d2, integrated) [36]

Poe (vi, r5-p9, thrusters) [37]

[99]

Poe (VI, R5-P9, IA) 35

Red Ace (R2-D2, Comms Relay, IA) 36

Kyle (TLT, Jan Ors) 29

It trades the early-game ablation of Biggs for the ability to keep my aces fed with Focus and Evade tokens while the TLT harasses the enemy from any angle.

I think Biggs can easily be underestemiated. What's nice is with just a little luck he gives you several rounds to keep a fellow rebel ace or aces alive. This is very helpful. The problem is if that first round goes poorly you have a problem, and it can make some of your higher PS aces vulnerable since Biggs moves so early. Now one technique I use is actually breaking formation with Biggs a moment earlier than expected, letting and ace take a hit or 2 sparring Biggs and then forming up again for another protected well. This allows Biggs and your aces to last a bit longer. Or Biggs dies on that turned but your aces are still shooting uninterrupted. Just as good.

Biggs is the only way I have been able to keep Corran on the table. He is critical in certain matchups. He keeps Corran alive until there are enough threats off the back board to really shine. I give him draw their fire to help out Biggs, and it really is super annoying. Biggs with R4D6 helps against Uboats, and I have paired them with Ezra with autoblaster turret to help against aces.

That's what I like to do(break formation unexpectedly), I like to keep him alive a little longer. I'm currently running him with 2 regen T-70s, one with draw their fire. That along with R4-D6, he rarely gets more than 2 damage per shot. (4-2 in last regionals, with 3 of the wins 100-0)

I really like when I face someone that doesn't fly in formation, then I don't even start in formation. Then he protects while 8 regen later in the game.

Now if Biggs dies round 1 (which has never happened, yet) I think I would be ok with it, as that would have been one of my aces, so he served his purpose.

That's what I like to do(break formation unexpectedly), I like to keep him alive a little longer. I'm currently running him with 2 regen T-70s, one with draw their fire. That along with R4-D6, he rarely gets more than 2 damage per shot. (4-2 in last regionals, with 3 of the wins 100-0)

I really like when I face someone that doesn't fly in formation, then I don't even start in formation. Then he protects while 8 regen later in the game.

Now if Biggs dies round 1 (which has never happened, yet) I think I would be ok with it, as that would have been one of my aces, so he served his purpose.

Against me Corran always needs Biggs, else he gets bursted down immediatly. Hell, sometimes he does anyways with some well placed Nets and bombs! I hate that guy so much...

Biggs is so NEEDED for the game. Maybe OP, but his ship is UP. So it balances.

but if we're talking X-wing aces (either ship) aces that die horribly if you so such as cough with them downwind, then yeah you need biggs

He's a pretty good escort for B-wing aces, too. Yes, they've more shields, but they can't evade for Toffee. Nera Dantels is lethal, but likely to get shot down with a torpedo volley still in its tubes, because people will focus fire before she shoots at so-so pilot skill.

Yeah nera has yet to fire a torpedo in my area she splodes good.

Hence, Biggs on her wing.

Rebels have lots of good 'mutual support' ships, but over-synergistic builds tend to fall apart once ships get punched out. Forcing you to target a specific ship first makes a BIG difference. Being able, for example, to put Jan Ors in the back seat of a nearby B-wing makes Biggs a lot tougher.

Yeah nera has yet to fire a torpedo in my area she splodes good.

I ran her once (in a very casual 150 points game) with Biggs (so she wouldn't die immediatly), Deadeye, RecSpec, APTs, with Jan Ors piloting a HWK next to her.

One shot a full Rexler. Somehow the guy didn't want to play me ever since...

The title says it all, is Biggs a must-have in the current meta if one is running with a small base ace?

Rebel aces seem to go down very quickly if focused on during the first round.

That's like asking if the palp mobile is necessary for Imperial Aces. The answer is the same for either of them: technically no, but it sure helps to have him around!

I reached top 4 in a regional with jake, tycho and a greenie the other day, a friend reached top 8 with wedge, wes and poe which he also won a sc with. So it is possible, but our common enemy was the crack swarm.