Triple Defenders Battle report (2 Local Tourneys)

By Tbetts94, in X-Wing Battle Reports

Posted at

100 Points

Colonel Vessery + Juke + TIE/x7 + Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (36)
Countess Ryad + Push the Limit + TIE/x7 + Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (36)
Delta Squadron Pilot + TIE/x7 (28)
1st Tournament
1st Game:
Opponent: (100 Points) The Inquisitor + Push the Limit + Autothrusters + Tie/v1

Rear Admiral Chiraneau + Veteran Instincts + Engine Upgrade + Thermal Detonators + Extra Munitions + Gunner + Emperor Palpatine
This matchup was difficult because I faced this opponent before with a different list of mine and got creamed. The player is a really good player and was 9th after Swiss at San Diego Regionals with the same list. I was able to take the Decimator down but it came at a cost. Vessery and the Delta died and the end game was Ryad versus the Inquisitor which I felt really good about. I felt that Ryad can outmaneuver the inquisitor who is mainly stuck to greens and a boost to move. However, the game didn't go that long when it came down to those two. The inquisitor was in a really bad spot with debris fields located where they were at and was double stressed from one earlier. Ryad just did a one bank and a Direct Hit on the Inquisitor ended the game. (Record 1-0)
2nd Game:
Opponent: (97 Points) Dengar + Punishing One + Push the Limit + R5-P8 + Feedback Array + Gonk + Stealth Device
Zuckuss + Mist Hunter + Tractor Beam + Veteran Instincts + Fire-Control System + Outlaw Tech + Glitterstim + Stealth Device
I wasn't too worried about this matchup. The player I played was also a really good local player and always has tricks up his sleeves with his lists. I targeted Zuckuss right away and killed him pretty fast. His dice weren't great, but they weren't bad either. With the mods on all of my guys they weren't going to get hurt too much. I trapped Dengar in a corner at a slight angle after a bump on the right side of the board. Since he needed to turn left to clear his stress and start gonking he never could because he'd be off the board. I took him down fairly quickly after that. (Record 2-0)
3rd Game:
Opponent: (98 Points) Nera Dantels + Veteran Instincts + Advanced Proton Torpedoes + Extra Munitions + Advanced Sensors + Guidance Chips
Keyan Farlander + Tractor Beam + Stay on Target + Intelligence Agent + Advanced Sensors + bwing/E2
Airen Cracken + Adaptability + Guidance Chips + Concussion Missiles
This opponent was also a local player and has been running this list for a while and knew it like the back of his hand. I always have trouble with Keyan no matter what list he's in. I just hate that pilot. I can kill Soontir or Whisper no problem but freaking Keyan... Anyways, I made a crucial mistake with Ryad bringing her in too close and she got blown up in the second round of combat. I did come back and the game was Vessery 3 hull and Delta 3 hull versus Keyan with 1 hull left. I had 2 range 1 shots and a couple range 2 shots at keyan to win the game and I rolled all banks. I didn't want to run and I just kept trying to kill Keyan, but Keyan eventually killed Vessery allowing my opponent to win on points (Record 2-1)
4th Game:
Opponent: (100 Points) Gold Squadron Pilot + Extra Munitions + Bomb Loadout + Twin Laser Turret + Cluster Mines
Gold Squadron Pilot + Extra Munitions + Bomb Loadout + Twin Laser Turret + Cluster Mines
Blue Squadron Pilot + Fire-Control System + Heavy Laser Cannon + Extra Munitions + Sabine Wren + Cluster Mines
Another good local player. I was afraid of this list because of the TLT's, so I targeting one of them with all three defenders and after the first round of combat I got lucky with a blinded pilot and then nuked him next turn before he could do anything with him. The B-Wing tried coming in to do some work after the second Gold Squadron went out of the fight for awhile. However, the B-Wing got stressed from debris and couldn't do much damage and the defenders made short work. The second Gold Squadron was just a matter of time before I pinned him down. He did make one mistake on forgetting about his cluster mines, but it wouldn't had made a difference. (Record 3-1)
Tournament Review
I placed 2nd and had the hardest SoS and was behind first place by only 33 MoV. My opponent from the first match actually ended up with a 3-1 record winning it through the Tie Breakers. I felt good about this tournament. Yes, I wish I would had won, but I felt like I outflew my opponents and knew this list had potential and a few dice rolls here and there I would had won.
2nd Tournament: [Lists aren't on List Juggler so my apologies if I get something wrong]
1st Game:
Opponent: (100 Points)
“Howlrunner” + Crack Shot (19)
“Omega Leader” + Comm Relay + Juke (26)
“Zeta Leader” + Crack Shot (21)
“Scourge” + Crack Shot (18)
“Backstabber” (16)
This player placed first in Swiss at San Diego Regionals with the same list I believe he said. He gave me initiative since it didn't matter too much. I lined up on the right side of the board that had the debris clouds I placed instead of the rocks which were all on the other side. He then lined up to joust me. First turn I did three hards, he did two straights. Next turn I did two straights and hid behind a debris cloud. He screamed forward with 5 straights and barrel roll and just barely got a range 3 shot on my delta with 2 maybe 3 of his ties, but were all unmodified and I took one damage. I was able to funnel his ties through the debris field and everything was on my terms. I picked off Howlrunner and then went down the line. The end game ended up being Omega Leader versus Ryad and Vessery, but with 2 on 1 its very easy to kill Omega Leader and I cornered him to close out the game. (Record 1-0)
2nd Game:
Opponent: (99 Points)
“Omega Leader” + Comm Relay + Juke + Stealth Device (29)
“Whisper” + Agent Kallus + Fire-Control System + Veteran Instincts + Advanced Cloaking Device (41)
Omicron Group Pilot + Emperor Palpatine (29)

This opponent was obviously newer to the game. I overheard in his previous matchup asking about how decloaking works. So I was pretty confident going in. However, he played fairly well and picked off Vessery right after I picked off his shuttle. He should have brought the shuttle into the fight, but he ran and the shuttle never played a big part of the game. I then did some K-Turns and barrel rolls that trapped Whisper in a bad spot. The opponent did a barrel roll with Whisper and then when he realized he still didn't have a shot with Whisper and he tried to back out of the barrel roll and asked to do another action. This is after continuously bumping the ships, being pretty sloppy, and me reminding him of Kallus and cloaking, so I kind of got fed up with it and said no to his request. I killed Whisper because of it. I do believe once he gets going with the game and becomes more precise and gains those instincts on what actions are best, that he'll be a really good player. Omega Leader then took forever to kill and was kinda ridiculous lol, but eventually I killed him. (Record 2-0)

3rd Game:

Opponent: (100 points)

IG88-B + Crack Shot + Fire-Control System + Heavy Laser Cannon + Glitterstim + IG-2000 + Autothrusters (50)

IG88-C + Crack Shot + Fire-Control System + Heavy Laser Cannon + Glitterstim + IG-2000 + Autothrusters (50)

This opponent was very good. He was 8th after Swiss at San Diego Regionals, but he was flying Howard Aces during regionals and today was one of the first days he was flying BroBots. I thought I planned the diagonal joust through the debris perfectly to block IGG88C, but he did a 3 Sloop behind all three of my defenders and I thought after that the game was gonna go quick. He only ended up doing one damage to Ryad after everything was said and done in that round. I let the damage go through to not allow the gunner effect to kick in. How the board state was though benefited me for the future turns because the sloop on IG88B ended up on the debris and stressed him twice. The next turn I put all guns on IG88C because I had the TL from the Delta still on him from when I thought I was going to get the delta to block him. I took him down to half points and he was on the run after that. He also ended up getting the PS0 crit and I was able to barrel roll my delta just barely not overlapping a debris to get a shot and that ended up being the kill shot on IG88C. During those rounds I split Ryad off to hunt the double stress IG88B she did half damage but took some damage in the process. She had one hull left, but in the meantime Vessery and the Delta came back into the picture and finished him off. (Record 3-0)

4th Game:

Opponent: (100 points)

Keyan Farlander + Advanced Sensors + Advanced Proton Torpedoes + Extra Munitions + Veteran Instincts + Guidance Chips (41)

Luke Skywalker + R2-D2 + Veteran Instincts + Integrated Astromech (33)
Biggs Darklighter + R4-D6 + Integrated Astromech (26)

This player was 16th after Swiss at San Diego regionals with this same list, but he realized there was a scoring error and told the TO about the error and the MoV change dropped him to 17th. He is very respectable player by everyone and even is mentioned on Mynock Squadron Radio a few times. I've played him 4 times in tournaments, he won the first two and I won the last one just the week before which really helped my confidence going in. This game was one of the most fun games I played, both of us were trash talking, he was playing mind games and trying to get in my head. It was a ton of fun and I couldn't imagine a better opponent to face in the final round. He had Keyan which like I said earlier I hate Keyan with a passion. I ended up barely not killing Biggs with integrated astromech kicking in and then he Advance Proton Torpedoed Vessery to death in just the second round of combat. I came back and ryad was able to snipe Biggs and took some pot shots at Keyan, the Delta also did some pot shots and Keyan. Ryad ended up also getting Advance Proton Torpedo to the face but survived with a PS0 Crit and Keyan at the time had 1 hull left. He maneuvered Keyan directly onto a debris field Ryad was hiding behind to get the Range 1 shot, Keyan survived the debris roll and it looks like it the game would be sealed right then because Luke also had a TL shot at Range 1 onto Ryad. He rolled with Luke, and got blank, focus, focus, and hit. He re-rolled the blank and forgot he didn't have a focus for the shot. Ryad evaded the one hit he ended up having and Keyan rolled but the debris cloud obstructed the Range 1 shot and Ryad rolled out. It was the break I needed to come back in the game. The Delta took Keyan out that round and now I was up on points. I didn't run with Ryad, but I tried to put her in the best spots for getting her actions and be at Range 2-3. I ended up pulling the move of the tournament by doing a one bank with Ryad and Barrel Rolling and blocking Luke's K turn. He was now stressed and both defender behind him. I took some shots but it wasn't enough to kill him. The delta was double stressed from debris and nothing to modify the shots with. Luke cleared the stress and did a K-turn for one last shot before time ran out, but I three banked Ryad and barrel rolled to just barely get out of range and I won on time. (Record 4-0)

Tournament Review

I placed first in the tournament and had a real blast. I feel like after this tournament that I am ready for Regionals. This will be my first regional season and after beating these top players recently and also getting more practice before November that I'll be ready for a real chance at earning a Top 16 spot during this next regional season.





Edited by Tbetts94
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Nice Report. This is a good list. I flew the same list for a couple of weeks and placed 1 at German Nationals after Swiss (5th in the end). Only loss (Top8 match)was against Carnor, Palp and Inquisitor with prockets.

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Congratulations mate, well played.

Will you take the same list to regionals?

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Yes, but i would add another MK II Engine to the Delta.

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Yes, but i would add another MK II Engine to the Delta.

What would you change to fit that in? Replace juke with crack shot?

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Lol, looking back at my threads that I started and this came up. Oh how this list got nerfed. Kinda crazy how lists that you come up with on your own can be overpowered and how everyone else can come up with the same thing too. FSR was like this. I know I'm gonna try to find the thread that I started on that too lol.

Posted at
10 hours ago, Tbetts94 said:

Lol, looking back at my threads that I started and this came up. Oh how this list got nerfed. Kinda crazy how lists that you come up with on your own can be overpowered and how everyone else can come up with the same thing too. FSR was like this. I know I'm gonna try to find the thread that I started on that too lol.

See, you say that, but I took 3 x Defenders against meta lists only 2 weeks ago. Finished with a 3-1 record and 3rd place overall. 2 x x7 Deltas and an Expertise, TIE/D Tractor Beam Vessery.

1st match was against Imperial high PS alpha strike (Vader, Inquisitor and Quickdraw). Wasn't playing for initiative, won losing Vessery.

2nd match vs Dengar/Fenn - Fenn managed to (barely) avoid being blocked by the x7's and ended up range one in arc of Vessery in the first turn of combat as a result. Dengar did his thing with K4/Expertise, then Fenn (who'd barrel rolled/boosted) rolled two natural hits/crits, Vessery whiffed both his defense rolls and died straight away. Lost 100-0.

3rd match vs 2 Wookiee Gunships & Braylen, won losing Vessery (pattern forming)

4th match vs Inaldra/Dengar/Fenn Mindlink list, won losing an x7.

Despite the nerf the x7 Defender is still a very difficult ship to take down, especially if you are lower PS than your opponent, which is often in the current meta. You know the state of the board prior to moving so you should always be getting your free evade plus action unless you're looking for a guaranteed shot. Fly to block with your fast moves, set up killboxes, pretty straightforward but still very effective tactics.

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25 minutes ago, FTS Gecko said:

Despite the nerf the x7 Defender is still a very difficult ship to take down, especially if you are lower PS than your opponent, which is often in the current meta. You know the state of the board prior to moving so you should always be getting your free evade plus action unless you're looking for a guaranteed shot. Fly to block with your fast moves, set up killboxes, pretty straightforward but still very effective tactics.

Agreed. I play my Tripple x7 deltas + Tie fighter in a very similar fashion. The key to flying defenders these days, at least in my book, is to understand that they are not "the beatdown" but rather benefit a lot more from playing a dodge game. Even today, a range 3 shot against a focus-evade 3 Agi ship can not assume to do a lot of damage and the defenders are still very fast and manuverable.

However, against the real top lists they still struggle.

Posted at
2 hours ago, FTS Gecko said:

See, you say that, but I took 3 x Defenders against meta lists only 2 weeks ago. Finished with a 3-1 record and 3rd place overall. 2 x x7 Deltas and an Expertise, TIE/D Tractor Beam Vessery.

1st match was against Imperial high PS alpha strike (Vader, Inquisitor and Quickdraw). Wasn't playing for initiative, won losing Vessery.

2nd match vs Dengar/Fenn - Fenn managed to (barely) avoid being blocked by the x7's and ended up range one in arc of Vessery in the first turn of combat as a result. Dengar did his thing with K4/Expertise, then Fenn (who'd barrel rolled/boosted) rolled two natural hits/crits, Vessery whiffed both his defense rolls and died straight away. Lost 100-0.

3rd match vs 2 Wookiee Gunships & Braylen, won losing Vessery (pattern forming)

4th match vs Inaldra/Dengar/Fenn Mindlink list, won losing an x7.

Despite the nerf the x7 Defender is still a very difficult ship to take down, especially if you are lower PS than your opponent, which is often in the current meta. You know the state of the board prior to moving so you should always be getting your free evade plus action unless you're looking for a guaranteed shot. Fly to block with your fast moves, set up killboxes, pretty straightforward but still very effective tactics.

Yep they’re still good. I took them to Top 8 at a 60 person store Champ this season. Not saying they aren’t still good, just they did get nerfed and obviously were broken before.

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I gave Triple Defenders another run out on Saturday. After the previous competition and the inevitable focus on Vessery I decided to drop the TIE/D and double down on the nuisance factor of the TIE/x7:

Colonel Vessery - TIE/x7, Intensity, Stealth Device
Delta Squadron Pilot - TIE/x7, Stealth Device x 2

The first game was against 4 x T-70's with Integrated Astromech, which was a fun game which went hilariously wrong in the first turn when shoddy maneuvering on my part left Vessery at range one, in arc of a pair of T-70's and range two, in arc of the others. The first T-70 rolled natural hit-hit-crit-crit, Vessery blanked out with only his evade for comfort. The second range one T-70 finished him off! Only myself to blame for that one, but excellent formation flying from my opponent set up the trap. Then however, the Deltas did what they usually do - make a total nuisance of themselves and all the heavy lifting. They managed to take down two T-70's before time was called, with my opponent rolling a hit-hit-crit on a 1 health Delta, only to see a triple evade on the green dice in the final round of combat. In return, an exploding astromech saved the T-70 in a very close match. I won by the skin of my teeth.

Second game was against Kylo/Palp RAC and Soontir Fel. this was a cagey encounter; I knew I had little chance of damaging Fel unless I got multiple shots on him in the same turn, so I focused on RAW instead. I managed to do a fair bit of damage, but Engine Upgrade meant I was rarely able to get multiple shots on him a turn. Soontir took Vessery down, but eventually RAC got caught in a bad position in a corner, and a block from a Delta sent the limping Decimator off the board. With twenty minutes left on the clock and Soontir facing two full-health Defenders, my opponent conceded.

Third round was against Dash and Chopper. This match was a real uphill struggle, as Chopper had a combination of Intelligence Agent, Navigator, Autoblaster Turret and Accuracy Corrector, and Dash was well, Dash. Dash popped Countermeasures early so I tried to focus shots on the Ghost instead, but due to a combination of the obstacles and the two large based ships I just couldn't focus enough firepower in the following turns to finish it off. Vessery went down under pressure from the Ghost, a Delta quickly followed and although the Ghost was below half health, the Outrider was untouched so I conceded with a couple of minutes left on the clock.

Final round was against Imperial Alphastrike - Quickdraw, Vader and the Inquisitor again, same list as the previous competition but a different opponent. The same result as well - managed to isolate Quickdraw again in the first round of combat while the Inquisitor overshot my ships. Quickdraw went down quickly in the second turn, Vader managed to finish off Vessery but was taken down himself by the Deltas. The Inquisitor needed to take down both Deltas to win, but found himself caught at range one and a combination of no paint and a Direct Hit ended the game.

So, final score won 3, lost 1, finished 7th out of 21 though due to poor MoV. Vessery unsurprisingly continued to be public enemy number one, but - game one aside - was also unsurprisingly much more resiiient with the change in title and the ability to barrel roll and double down on Evades. The Deltas defence and ability as blockers carried the squad. This list has the staying power, but you really need to focus fire on a single target and take it down as quickly as possible to take the advantage.

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Well done! Glad to see the T-70s getting an outing, too.

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Nice work! :)