So it's been awhile now and we've all had a chance to play with the new hotness. What does everyone think of Rage? What are you using this EPT on and how do you think this card is going to fare in the long run? We've seen ships before that just don't care about stress and we've seen ways to mitigate stress easily, could Rage turn out to be a keeper or is it a dud?

Here is one idea I had. I thought well why not use it on something that has 3 red dice to reroll to begin with and can probably always use it when it's activated. How about a primary weapon turret? Sure, but who can tank those two stress? It seems insurmountable! Well, no, screw it. Ignore the stress and focus on making those two turns of green moves count. Hey Chewbacca. What's up? Meet your new pals, and then meet some more...

[post= https://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Rebel%20Alliance&d=v4!s!34:175,-1,29,32:-1:6:&sn=Unnamed%20Squadron] [/post]

So that's just a 50 point YT-1300 that can go into Rage with two TLs, which you can then save for use when you have no other choice but to Nien away.

Other useful options for crew include Kyle Katarn, whose impact should be obvious. He would pair well with Nien for a cheaper option. 3PO of course. Haha. Then if you want to take Gunner that gives you a Han-like attack during the turn you Rage, which is kind of scary if you think about it since Han is always a gamble and he doesn't get a focus token either... I'm sure there are more crew options, but one thing I think is for certain, Hull Upgrade. EU is usually the YT's go-to mod, but in this instance, I think the HU is justified. Chewie can stick around for a long time, especially when paired with 3PO, but even without Goldenrod, the Wookie has staying power. HU only accents that skill and is cheaper to boot. For me, in this build, HU is the way to go. And hey, maybe the angry wookie can live long enough to Rage multiple turns?

So there is my idea for a Rage worthy combo, what has been working for you or what have you been scheming about in regards to Rage?

Tycho is basically the only good use right now.

Keyan maybe, 4lom maybe, with Adv. Sens. but both probably have better ways to acquire stress and want to be built cheap.

Ryad I think has a strong argument for x7/rage/mk2, as she can get an evade token whilst stressed and she is wildly unpredictable in her stress reduction.

In w9 quickdraw with rage/baffles will be interesting.

I think Rage is a sleeper hit, and actually boost 3 dice mini-swarm jousters, to give them "mini"- alpha-strike capabilites.

Consider the following 4 Kihraxz build:

Black Sun Ace (23pt)
Rage (1pt)

Black Sun Ace (23pt)
Rage (1pt)

Black Sun Ace (23pt)
Rage (1pt)

Black Sun Ace (23pt)
Rage (1pt)

96pt total.

All ships are PS5 and fires before BBBBZ, Thug Life, 3 Uboats etc. Get in range 1-2 and arc with all four Kihraxz's, and tage Rage as actio, (assuming range 2) that is 4*3 attack dice with full modifiers (reroll and focus) that should deliver 10-12 hits (on attack dice). In comparison a 3 Uboat attack firing 3 proton torpedos delivers a (guaranteed) 12 hits (on attack dice). Not too bad in my book.

Downside is the double stress for sure, but the Kihraxz actually have a ok dial, and the point is to use the following round taking green manouvers and bump until you clear the stress. Then you can repeat (with the Kihraxzs you have left ).

FYI I am hoping the Vector Thrusters upgrade adds a barrel roll for 1pt. This Kihraxz list would love it

Unfortunately, there are no generic T-65 or T-70 x-wing pilot having the elite-pilot talent and R2-D6 is unique.

Tycho is a decent choice, but he's just not survivable enough, even with all those free actions. He needs to be able to double reposition and still have a defensive action in order to survive.

Personally, I prefer Ezra with Rage. Lets him get a really good shot off when the opportunity presents itself, and doesn't punish him quite as much as other pilots since it essentially acts as a defensive focus in the following rounds.

I once saw someone fly Kavil with Unhinged, TLT, and Rage.

I thought he was a lunatic until he saved it up and spent it to get Ace-kills that could punch through autothrusters, then careened around the board a couple turns before trying another shot at it...

I once saw someone fly Kavil with Unhinged, TLT, and Rage.

I thought he was a lunatic until he saved it up and spent it to get Ace-kills that could punch through autothrusters, then careened around the board a couple turns before trying another shot at it...

Would prefer Bossk here

I think Rage is great in the right place. For only 1 point is prvides a lot of bonuses. Yes 2 Stress tokens is a harsh penalty to pay but I think there are plenty of places it is worth it. Several pilots have abilities that ignore or actively benefit from stress tokens.

Ezra, Tycho, Keyan, Youngster, Epsilon Leader, Kanan (crew), Hera (crew).

I am sure there are other options but the idea of adding Raging Youngster and Epsilon Leader to a Black Crack swarm is currently distracting my attention.

Unfortunately, there are no generic T-65 or T-70 x-wing pilot having the elite-pilot talent and R2-D6 is unique.

Youngster is OUTRAGED

Youngster (15)
Rage (1)

Epsilon Leader (19)
Comm Relay (3)

Black Squadron Pilot (14)
Wired (1)

Black Squadron Pilot (14)
Wired (1)

Black Squadron Pilot (14)
Wired (1)

Black Squadron Pilot (14)
Wired (1)

Total: 98

Not a super competetive list, but it's fun to drop that many tokens

Other useful options for crew include Kyle Katarn, whose impact should be obvious. He would pair well with Nien for a cheaper option.

I think that Kanan (crew) would be a better option than Nien Numb. Allowing you to clear stress on Whites is better than adding a few more greens to your dial. And Kanan can use his ability on other nearby ships too if necessary.

Rage always needs to be compared to PTL though. Rerolling 3 attack dice and gaining a Focus token provides a similar level of action economy but at the cost of an extra stress token. You will have to determine whether that is worth the 2 points of saving it costs.

Black Squadron Pilot (14)

Wired (1)

Trouble with wired is that it only allows you to reroll Focus results while you are stressed. If you are Raging, you have 3 rerolls and a Focus token. I would prefer the following list.

19 Epsilon Leader (19)

16 Youngster (15), Rage (1)

19 Howlrunner (18), Crack shot (1)

15 Black Squadron Pilot (14), Crack shot (1)

15 Black Squadron Pilot (14), Crack shot (1)

15 Black Squadron Pilot (14), Crack shot (1)

99 Total

Crack shot is independent of any tokens and can be used whenever it will help to make more damage stick.

Black Squadron Pilot (14)

Wired (1)

Trouble with wired is that it only allows you to reroll Focus results while you are stressed. If you are Raging, you have 3 rerolls and a Focus token. I would prefer the following list.

Wired works both when attacking and defending, that's why I prefer it to Crack Shot

Corran horn is pretty good when ragging!! just dont forget that you double tapped the previous round... DOH... learned that the hard way..

Tycho is a decent choice, but he's just not survivable enough, even with all those free actions. He needs to be able to double reposition and still have a defensive action in order to survive.

I'm going to have to disagree with you there. Tycho does surprisingly well with his three dice. Give him PtL, EI and Rage and you will always have either boost+focus+evade or 2xfocus+evade. I haven't had any issues with keeping him alive anytime I've played him.

Black Squadron Pilot (14)

Wired (1)

Trouble with wired is that it only allows you to reroll Focus results while you are stressed. If you are Raging, you have 3 rerolls and a Focus token. I would prefer the following list.

Wired works both when attacking and defending, that's why I prefer it to Crack Shot

It's a nice trick - it'll help you through the stressed turn(s).

To be honest, I quite like just 7 academies and youngster with rage. The trick is not to mass rage all at once.

It's essentially 8 academy pilots - instead of spending 4 ponts to upgrade 4 to obsidians, you're spending 4 points to upgrade 1 to youngster/rage. It's not going to make that much difference either way, but I prefer not having half my squad at a different Pilot skill as the fixed move order is annoying in a furball, and as far as I'm concerned, if I use rage twice I've probably got my point's worth out of it...

Quickdraw is going to be fun with rage. Especially with baffles and mk2 engines. We need clarification from FFG if TIE/sf's count as TIE fighters for youngster.

Quickdraw is going to be fun with rage. Especially with baffles and mk2 engines. We need clarification from FFG if TIE/sf's count as TIE fighters for youngster.

Given that the TIE f/o Fighter counts, there's no RAW reason why the TIE s/f Fighter wouldn't.

super situational, will see use only on pilots not completely screw over by it. This is basically only tycho, maybe ezra, and the quickdraw baffle combo though only if the dial is solid (otherwise, it'll be ptl all day every day)

I think Rage is a sleeper hit, and actually boost 3 dice mini-swarm jousters, to give them "mini"- alpha-strike capabilites.

misspelled "crackshot"

super situational, will see use only on pilots not completely screw over by it. This is basically only tycho, maybe ezra, and the quickdraw baffle combo though only if the dial is solid (otherwise, it'll be ptl all day every day)

I think Rage is a sleeper hit, and actually boost 3 dice mini-swarm jousters, to give them "mini"- alpha-strike capabilites.

misspelled "crackshot"

****.. I always get those two confused

Youngster is OUTRAGED

Youngster (15)

Rage (1)

Epsilon Leader (19)

Comm Relay (3)

Black Squadron Pilot (14)

Wired (1)

Black Squadron Pilot (14)

Wired (1)

Black Squadron Pilot (14)

Wired (1)

Black Squadron Pilot (14)

Wired (1)

Total: 98

Not a super competetive list, but it's fun to drop that many tokens

Interesting, but until the TIE SF hits, it's a little problematic to get all those copies of Wired. That is if you were going to play in a tournament.

at that point, though, you're just flying a far inferior version of the crackswarm

I dunno whether the defensive benefits of Wired might actualy make it competitive - but I doubt it; the standard tie swarm doesn't have a lot of problem rolling lots of hits, it has a problem forcing them through with only two dice.

The real problem with the RAGE swarm is just that - with only two dice, you can roll all the two dice you want, but you still don't get three or four hits.

Youngster with Rage and everyone else with Crack (Rage younster, 4 black crack, 2ap) might be a way to get a more efficient swarm, but I doubt it - it's essentially a way to change Howlrunner out for a different, less reliable way of getting rerolls that makes your movement more predictable in exchange for not needing to stick to range 1, and a focus token every other round.

The fact that youngster lets you split up might be an argument in his favour, but I don't feel like it's a huge one, especially given how predictable stress makes l/ns.

I tried it on Keyan with FCS and a Proton Torpedo. I never actually used it. When I took the proton shots I generally already had stress and a lock from FCS. I suppose I could save the two points from FCS but then I'd probably never have a lock when I needed one. And the torps do manly work on those targets that think extending to avoid my guns is a good idea.

Anyone try this? I've been toying with the idea for a while but haven't put it to table yet:

Keyan + Rage + Bwing/e2 + Jan Ors, 33 points.

Thing with Keyan is whether Rage and 2 spare points is better than the flexiblity that PTL offers, both in terms of movement (as long as you're shooting, you won't be stressed when you set your dial) and in terms of the combinations of actions that you can take.