After a many games of getting my ass kicked, I accomplished winning many games with a build using the VCX. I think it can be very competitive. Lothal: FCS, Autoblaster turret, Hera, Zeb, Tactical Jammer. Jan Ors: Adaptability, TLT, Nien Numb. Biggs: R4-D6, Integrated. Imperial arc doggers were challenging to face. What builds would cause the most trouble against this list? Any other Rebel builds considered competitive against current meta? Are we going to see another faction win worlds this year??

I love the vcx. Beware of u boats. They'll really hurt you. Because they can guarantee 3 to 4 hits per volley and you can't evade anything.

Pretty much any ordnance is gonna be a problem because you can't really evade

I think Biggs w/ R4 is going to be a standard in Rebel builds, just because he can absorb the ordinance from U-boats which potentially saves the rest of the list to clean up. If Biggs can absorb 3 torp shots, on a typical U-Boat list that leaves 3 left. If they down one of the boats in the exchange, they only have to deal with two.

I think Scum is going to be a contender at Worlds this year. They have a lot of new things they can bring to the table, and I feel there is a lot more variety available in Scum than in the other factions.

As far as other builds that are competitive, I think anything flown well is competitive, but VCX combines power and maneuverability like no other Rebel ship. It can't dodge, but it can lay the hurt. So that's why I think you see it getting used a lot.

The VCX hits like a ton of bricks but melts like a snowball in a blast furnace. To make it work well you either need something else to act as a strong finisher once the Ghost goes down (Dash, Poe and Corran all have their merits) or you need some way to keep it alive longer so it can keep hitting (Biggs and/or Kanan as pilot).

So far I have gone with the first option. Use the Ghost aggressively but keep the rest safe to mop up the mess afterwards. This is because a typical cheap/punchy Ghost normally runs to about 42 points which leaves plenty for you other ships.

Building Ghost to be survivable takes more points and so more care. Kanan and Biggs (possibly with Reinforced Deflectors and Chewie crew) look like a good pairing but does result in a less aggressive build. Kanan cares about stress a lot more than the FCS-Lothal. Also, most of your fleet is running at PS5 meaning that Phantoms and high PS aces will run rings around you.

As for other lists, my Rebel Regen list is still kicking booty but Ordnance has not yet caught on in my area in a big way and I haven't faced triple U-boats with it yet.

As for other lists, one option is to build a counter-meta list. Wes Jansen messes with most ordnance carriers and can significantly blunt your opponent's alpha strike. Biggs helps to keep him alive while he works his magic and then another Ace of your choice to put pressure on the enemy can work well. A Wes/Biggs/Corran list took the Utah regionals a week or so back but probably relied in a big part on the skill of the player.

Green squadron A-wings with crack shot flown in a swarm are also looking promising. They have high speed and maneuverability, crack shot allows them to force some damage through, even with only 2 attack dice and they are durable enough that a single missile/torpedo is extremely unlikely to kill them. Taking 1 or 2 prototype pilots (or using adaptability to drop 1 or 2 Greens down to PS2) is also a good option because moving first with a fast, agile ship allows for good blocking options. Many current powerful lists rely on getting actions to perform. Blocking with a lower PS ship can hut these lists a lot.

I'm enjoying the VCX more and more. I've played a few builds so far, but just one that was truly competitive (Dash + Lothal Rebel). Here are the ones I've tried or theorized so far:

Dash (Push the Limit, Heavy Laser Cannon, Kyle, Outrider, Engine)

Lothal Rebel (Fire-Control Systems, Autoblaster Turret, Kanan)

100 points

Red Ace (R2-D2, Comm Relay, Autothrusters)

Kanan (Fire-Control Systems, Recon Specialist, Autoblaster Turret)

Prototype (Chardaan Refit, Autothrusters)

100 points - also a variant with Shield Upgrade on Red Ace instead of Autot. and no Autoblaster Turret on Kanan

Lothal Rebel (Fire-Control Systems, Autoblaster Turret, Han Solo, Hera, Tactical Jammer)

Red Squadron Veteran (Crack Shot, R2 Astromech, Integrated Astromech) x 2

100 points

Lothal Rebel (Fire-Control Systems, Autoblaster Turret) x 2

Green (Push the Limit, Chardaan Refit, Autothrusters)

Lothal Rebel (Fire-Control Systems, Dorsal Turret, Gunner, Tactician, Hull) x 2

100 points

Lothal Rebel (Fire-Control Systems, Autoblaster Turret, Gunner, Hera, Proton Torpedoes, Guidance Chips)

Lothal Rebel (Fire-Control Systems, Autoblaster Turret, Gunner, Han Solo, Proton Torpedoes, Guidance Chips)

99 points

So, I've played the first three only. I think the last two have potential and I will most likely try them soon.

VCX could be competitive with a prototype A-wing handling the JM5k match-up (hint: block like a bastard)

really, if you ever wield a glass cannon (which the VCX assuredly is), you always use a blocker to keep enemies in place, reduce incoming damage (denying offensive actions) and make sure your shots hits home (denying defensive actions)

Prototype Pilot

-refit

[15]

Lothal Rebel

-autoblaster turret

-FCS

-hera

-ezra

[43]

Lothal Rebel

-autoblaster turret

-FCS

-Leebo (dem blocks, son!)

-chopper (your obstacles will be 3 debris, due to hera ghost; chopper can pull off some insane blocks with leebo)

[41]

[Grand Total: 99]

problem is I'm cursed as **** and therefore cannot do well with the list. Cursed here meaning 0 hits on TLed auto-blaster turret (4 red dice, 37.5% of a fatal hit per die; not even a crit) and obstructed range 3 Ghost with focus rolling 0 evades 3 times in a row losing me what should've been an easy game v palp aces (Stupid 1 hull inquisitor)

but if you didn't kill a gypsy in a past life and therefore were not cursed for seven generations of dice-related woe, it might work out well for you

I played against the vcx with Biggs, I had a decimator and phantom. First round of combat I dished out heavy damage then rammed him to kill him. I think he had r2 d2 though, planning to regenerate.

I've played against a VCX a few times and massacred it every time. Maybe the person flying it just didn't know what they were doing, I don't know. With no evade dice you can just lay down so much damage on it so quickly.

For example, I sent a TIE/D Vessery after a Lothal once. Got into the hull after the first round of shooting and then crits just crippled him and he died quickly. I feel like the VCX needs to have a docked attack shuttle to make it threatening enough. If it's just got it's primary arc, it's just too easy to outmaneuver it and blast away.

5x crackshot A-Wings is a very strong list right now.

vcx is very viable. i play kanan with kyle and zeb in the shuttle. In 4 games i only lost him once. you could either put two recon specialists on him or 1 and jan ors. add kyle to that w/recon spec and you significantly reduce your opponents attack power (ESPECIALLY IMPS). if they are close enough to get the range bonus then they are right where i want them. They throw 3 dice max at me (excluding talonbane zuckuss etc.) then, i throw FIVE dice at them. at the end of combat i throw 2-3 more target locked (fcs). all while kyle is plinking away at you with tlt. after having some games under my belt, i think people just need to play with the ghost more!

its a great ship!

My friend has a good VCX set up, can't remember it right now but basically it has a cheap shuttle docked and a second shuttle as the 3rd ship. The roving shuttle has c3po and a few other things which make it tough to hit. The VCX has auto blaster turret and accuracy corrector, any aces that get in R1 die from 4 hits that can't be cancelled. Sorry I can't remember all his upgrades, he won a mini tourny of 11 players at my house a couple weeks back with it.

As the VCX gets close to death he can then launch and still have 2 ships with 3 attack, he should have dished out some decent pain by this point too.

Sadly, I've only really had the chance to play it in a 200-point game - but I really like it. I want to try Hera & Corran with a setup like this:

Corran Horn (47)
E-Wing (35), BB-8 (2), Sensor Jammer (4), Push the Limit (3), Stealth Device (3)

Hera Syndulla (53)
VCX-100 (40), Fire-Control System (2), Dorsal Turret (3), Navigator (3), Nien Nunb (1), Engine Upgrade (4)

Corran Horn is a nigh-untouchable super-jousty action machine if you plan your moves right, and Hera combined with Nien Nunb and Navigator means that with careful maneuver choices, you can change to almost any maneuver you want on any given turn. Part of me was also thinking of trading in Nien Nunb and Engine Upgrade for Lando and Hull upgrade or Stealth Device. I ran the Phantom int hat 200-point game as Sabine with Lando, PTL, and Dorsal turret, adn let me tell you something - it turned into a little monster! Heck, I've been tempted to run the Phantom by itself in regular games!

I don't think the VCX is the solution. I really think it's part of the problem.

The VCX has lots of hit points, it hits her but, it a large ship, not a small base arc dodger so, with it's zero evade dice, it melts in 2 or 3 rounds.

If you want a VCX to last a bit longer on the table, you need to play with biggs and that makes a lista around 60/70 points with 2 ships and around 30 points to figure something else to give you a win. A job that's not easy with rebels.

Yes, we see a lot of VCX on tournaments but, only once in a while you see one get to the top 4 and event pretty occasionally you get a list with VCX to win a tournament.

I think the way with rebels is ignoring for now the VCX and playing anti-imperial aces lists that can also act as blockers for the U-boats lists.

VCX is not an option for now. Right now is a easy target for the 3 dominante lists in the meta (U-boats or the variant with zuckuss, Imperial aces/Palpmobile and friends and Crack swarms).

playing anti-imperial aces lists that can also act as blockers for the U-boats lists.

What sort of liste it could be?

playing anti-imperial aces lists that can also act as blockers for the U-boats lists.

What sort of liste it could be?

That's the million dollar question.

Unfortunately, don't know.

Both Imp Aces and U-boats are susceptible to control aspects of the game such as stressing and blocking. Both lists rely heavily on token generation and interfering with that hinders them strongly.

Rebels do not have an easy time of it against these meta-lists but low-PS A-wings for blocking combined with anything that causes stress or can remove enemy tokens looks like a good place to start. Find a space for an Intel Agent and practice your blocking moves.

There were at least 3 rebel lists in the top 16 at Toronto Regionals this past weekend. I was one of them.

I ran:

There were at least 3 rebel lists in the top 16 at Toronto Regionals this past weekend. I was one of them.

I ran:

Wes Janson (29)

Veteran Instincts (1)

R3-A2 (2)

Integrated Astromech (0)

Biggs Darklighter (25)

R4-D6 (1)

Integrated Astromech (0)

Lothal Rebel (35)

Fire-Control System (2)

Autoblaster Turret (2)

Hera Syndulla (1)

Han Solo (2)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

One of the other rebel list in the top 16 was pretty much the same as mine except he replaced Han with Dash.

I used Han in every game I played and finished 4-2 with the an MOV of 799 - the highest of the 4-2 group making 13th in swiss. The other guy just made 16th spot by 3 points at 737 MOV just beating out 17th spot who had 734 MOV.

Not sure what the 3rd list was but I don't think it had a vcx in it.

I had 2 100-0 wins during the day. First one was against Echo, Inquisitor and Palpmobile. Second 100-0 win was against triple toilet seats.

Congrats on your score but... we don't see a VCX list goes 6-0 on Swiss or even win a tournament. Until that happens...

There were at least 3 rebel lists in the top 16 at Toronto Regionals this past weekend. I was one of them.

I ran:

Wes Janson (29)

Veteran Instincts (1)

R3-A2 (2)

Integrated Astromech (0)

Biggs Darklighter (25)

R4-D6 (1)

Integrated Astromech (0)

Lothal Rebel (35)

Fire-Control System (2)

Autoblaster Turret (2)

Hera Syndulla (1)

Han Solo (2)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

One of the other rebel list in the top 16 was pretty much the same as mine except he replaced Han with Dash.

I used Han in every game I played and finished 4-2 with the an MOV of 799 - the highest of the 4-2 group making 13th in swiss. The other guy just made 16th spot by 3 points at 737 MOV just beating out 17th spot who had 734 MOV.

Not sure what the 3rd list was but I don't think it had a vcx in it.

I had 2 100-0 wins during the day. First one was against Echo, Inquisitor and Palpmobile. Second 100-0 win was against triple toilet seats.

Congrats on your score but... we don't see a VCX list goes 6-0 on Swiss or even win a tournament. Until that happens...

http://lists.starwarsclubhouse.com/get_tourney_details?tourney_id=1674

http://lists.starwarsclubhouse.com/get_tourney_details?tourney_id=1620

There were at least 3 rebel lists in the top 16 at Toronto Regionals this past weekend. I was one of them.

I ran:

Wes Janson (29)

Veteran Instincts (1)

R3-A2 (2)

Integrated Astromech (0)

Biggs Darklighter (25)

R4-D6 (1)

Integrated Astromech (0)

Lothal Rebel (35)

Fire-Control System (2)

Autoblaster Turret (2)

Hera Syndulla (1)

Han Solo (2)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

One of the other rebel list in the top 16 was pretty much the same as mine except he replaced Han with Dash.

I used Han in every game I played and finished 4-2 with the an MOV of 799 - the highest of the 4-2 group making 13th in swiss. The other guy just made 16th spot by 3 points at 737 MOV just beating out 17th spot who had 734 MOV.

Not sure what the 3rd list was but I don't think it had a vcx in it.

I had 2 100-0 wins during the day. First one was against Echo, Inquisitor and Palpmobile. Second 100-0 win was against triple toilet seats.

Congrats on your score but... we don't see a VCX list goes 6-0 on Swiss or even win a tournament. Until that happens...

http://lists.starwarsclubhouse.com/get_tourney_details?tourney_id=1674

http://lists.starwarsclubhouse.com/get_tourney_details?tourney_id=1620

...by winning a tournament of 91 guys and another of 16, in a universe of more than 200 tournaments since the ship came out, you're saying that the VCX is really a dominant force in the rebel side?!?

Compare the number of VCX tournament wins with the ones of Imperial Aces, Crack Swarms and U-Boats and tell me that the VCX is in pair with those lists.

I have been enjoying this Ghost build:

VCX/Ghost- 50 points

Chooper, with Hera and Ezra, dorsal turret and FCS, engine upgrade.

Attack Shuttle/Phantom- 18 points

Zeb

B-wing -32

Keyan with rage and FCS

That is 7 red dice, with re-rolls, at range 3 and 12 red dice at range one. Keyan is commonly getting full house of hits due to rage and FCS. I fly the Ghost as a fighter, WANTING stress with Ezra and Hera on board. When Keyan falls, or Ghost is down to 3 life, the Phantom is deployed.

Have to stay aggressive, using Enigne Upgrade to stay in close.

I've been quite enjoying the following lately:

VCX-100 (Kanan Jarrus) [51]

Ghost Title

Ion Cannon Turret

Reinforced deflectors

recon specialist

Jan Ors

Attack shuttle ("zeb" orellios) [18]

Phantom Title

A-wing (Jake Farrel) [28]

a-wing test pilot

push the limit

veteran instincts

chardaan refit

autothrusters

Total - [97]

Triple Jumpmasters is just about the only major list I've not had chance to fly it against yet, and it feels reasonably solid against everything I've flown it against.

It actually gets quite a lot of mileage from the two "halves" of the list being so different in their strengths & weaknesses. There's quite a few squads where you can make their day much worse by forcing them to engage the part of your squad they're weakest against first.

Ghost should be flown aggressively; keep the enemy in close & use all your arcs. The ion cannon turret is really handy for denying shots (a ship you can tag with an ion token is a ship that most likely won't be able to shoot you next turn).

Jake should be flown like he's pretending to be soontir (because he pretty much is).

The attack shuttle should (in an ideal world) never have to be placed on the table. If it does get launched then it's your blocker.

There were at least 3 rebel lists in the top 16 at Toronto Regionals this past weekend. I was one of them.

I ran:

Wes Janson (29)

Veteran Instincts (1)

R3-A2 (2)

Integrated Astromech (0)

Biggs Darklighter (25)

R4-D6 (1)

Integrated Astromech (0)

Lothal Rebel (35)

Fire-Control System (2)

Autoblaster Turret (2)

Hera Syndulla (1)

Han Solo (2)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

One of the other rebel list in the top 16 was pretty much the same as mine except he replaced Han with Dash.

I used Han in every game I played and finished 4-2 with the an MOV of 799 - the highest of the 4-2 group making 13th in swiss. The other guy just made 16th spot by 3 points at 737 MOV just beating out 17th spot who had 734 MOV.

Not sure what the 3rd list was but I don't think it had a vcx in it.

I had 2 100-0 wins during the day. First one was against Echo, Inquisitor and Palpmobile. Second 100-0 win was against triple toilet seats.

Congrats on your score but... we don't see a VCX list goes 6-0 on Swiss or even win a tournament. Until that happens...

http://lists.starwarsclubhouse.com/get_tourney_details?tourney_id=1674

http://lists.starwarsclubhouse.com/get_tourney_details?tourney_id=1620

...by winning a tournament of 91 guys and another of 16, in a universe of more than 200 tournaments since the ship came out, you're saying that the VCX is really a dominant force in the rebel side?!?

Compare the number of VCX tournament wins with the ones of Imperial Aces, Crack Swarms and U-Boats and tell me that the VCX is in pair with those lists.

No. You said there were no wins with a vcx. I showed there was. Simple as that. It is a good ship if you know how to fly it right and put some good ships with it.

I beat a palp aces build 100-0 as well. If you have a good build with good strategy and flying you can win.