After using Mercenaries for varying degrees of success, I am changing to Imperials and thinking of the following.

6 - Agent Blaise

7 - ISB Infiltrator (Elite)

7 - ISB Infiltrator (Elite)

9 - Stormtrooper (elite)

9 - Stormtrooper (elite)

(1 - Cross-Training)

1 - Zillo Technique

Or do I drop 1 set of elite ISB Infiltrator to regular (losing out on the 'Deadly' ability and get Vader's Finest for the other set of Stormtroopers?

or, Drop 1 unit of Elite Stormtroopers to Regular Troopers, Give them Vader's Finest for the focus ability (or Cross-Training) and then get 'Rule by Fear' for the extra starting card?

Cross-Training is to have 4 sets of spy units.

Nice list, similar to the Nationals winner (though that had eHeavies for Blast instead of eISB). Also might want to consider 1 Royal Guard for defense and 5-movement (for objectives). But maybe a list with this much offensive power doesn't need as much defense? Only way to find out is testing.

Thinking all out attack and hide for defence from either surge or cards.

I have a regional next month so have about 2 weeks to practice. Don't get many games though. Maybe 4-5

Yeah, id rather go Royal Guards > Blaise and the two skirmish upgrade cards.

~D

_{6 - Agent Blaise}

_{8 - Heavy Stormtrooper (Elite)}

_{1 - Targeting Computer}

_{5 - ISB Infiltrator}

_{9 - Stormtrooper (elite)}

_{9 - Stormtrooper (elite)}

_{(1 - Cross-Training)}

_{1 - Zillo Technique}

_{Something like this nickv?}

_{Still have 3 spy units so no redundancy for opponents cards. ie Son of Skywalker.}

_{Not bothered about the RG. (yet)}

6 - Agent Blaise

8 - Heavy Stormtrooper (Elite)

1 - Targeting Computer

5 - ISB Infiltrator

9 - Stormtrooper (elite)

9 - Stormtrooper (elite)

(1 - Cross-Training)

1 - Zillo Technique

Something like this nickv?

Still have 3 spy units so no redundancy for opponents cards. ie Son of Skywalker.

Not bothered about the RG. (yet)

Here's the winning list from Nationals.

I like regular Royal Guards a lot. Give them a shot: Sentinel defense ability does a lot of work.

That would mean swapping out a unit of Stormtroopers to add the RG + Rule by Fear as have 1 point left. Or just run a 39 pt list.

I would recommend at least 2 regular Imperial Officers, if this is for tournament play. Without any officers, your objective game is going to be weaker. On Reprogrammed (Training Grounds), Battlefield Engineering (Mos Eisley Cantina), and Fallout (Nelvaanian Warzone), you'll find yourself having issues contesting objectives that are equidistant to each deployment zone. The additional movement can also help you get your guys in position for an attack, or move them out of danger. Plus, they make great units to sit on a terminal since it is a very low point investment.

The Imperials best feature is consistency in rolls and movement outside of activation.