I've been holding off on wave 3/4 purchases while my finances settle (and because the increase in online prices from Asmodee have, honestly, put the brakes on my previous "buy first ask questions later" approach) but I just wanted to ask:

Can you remain competitive without wave 3/4? I think this question got asked way back in the wave 1 vs wave 2 days and the answer was "it would be tough..." but primarily because wave 1 there weren't so many ways to dish out a lot of damage. I still remember guppies passing each other spamming repairs being a not too uncommon game!

I eventually stopped playing a lot of other mini games because my wallet/paintbrush/patience ran out with power creep and new purchases. I think FFG is doing a smashing good job so far with Armada, save for a few cards that are a tad undercosted (OE... why would I ever not take them?), but this is a genuine long term concern for me: I like new options, I don't like new de facto necessities in my mini games.

It really depends on what you feel is lacking in your playstyle...

I picked up an Interdictor for a Card Set, even though I play rebels - because I'm certainly mostly Wave-2 with my Rebels Setup...

Eventually I'll get more Bomber Commands, though...

I feel that the minimal-purchases of Wave 3 is a good idea, just to give you the feeling and flexibility - but "multiple purchases" can certainly wait until you feel you'r emissing it - and Wave 4 is the same way... If my liberty wasn't payment for some Painting Work, I probably wouldn't have gotten one for a good long while, despite being a rebel player.

Yes you can

Liberty and Interdictor definitely fall into the "options but not necessities" category.

Flotillas are so cheap and useful, especially if you like using bombers at all, that I'd really recommend getting one for your faction of choice if you plan on playing competitively at all

I think flotillas are more important than the other two. But you can still be competitive without them

Wave 3 is not optional. Not if you want to play/counter the squadron game.

I'd say there is a lot of wave 2 stuff that is improved by the addition of wave 3 & 4.

In any case, flotillas are too good to not get. You may only ever own one, but that will bring you so much more flexibility in list design that you will never regret it.

Wave 3 is pretty nearly a mandatory upgrade in my book. It does specifically enhance my preferred fleet types (squadron lists and MSU lists), so there's that, but the options it gives any type are huge.

The Interdictor is good, opens up whole new options for Imperial list types, and has fantastic upgrades to boot. Worth getting, but I wouldn't call it "mandatory."

The Liberty is bad and it should feel bad.

Was not going at Wave 3 and 4 at first. Love the old trilogy, however, so the Libery was somewhat mandatory for me, always wanted an Interdictor (would have preferred a non-Rebels one but have most certainly gotten used to the new looks) and in the end also ended up getting Wave 3, 2x each.

BUT are they mandatory? Don't think so, one can do pretty well with Wave 1 and 2 which both offer a great heap of classic Star Wars goodness for both sides.

Interdictor never appeared in the old trilogy, the Liberty is (for me) a Home One with heavy front arc instead of side arcs and the Wave 3 flotillas... hm. Could have done without but the rebel transports are really canon for me and I got to love the Gozanti in X-Wing, so yeah, ended up getting both.

Wave 3 yes. Wave 4 not so much. Save all your $$$$ for Wave 5.

It's the People's Game... you can win without Wave 3/4.

Neither 3 or 4 are mandatory. They provide benefits to wave 1/2 lists but do not make them obsolete.

Rhymer is still amazing.

Demolisher is still amazing/OP/broken/just-fine.

Yavaris did get a boost from wave 3/4, but not a necessary one.

The new commanders are not required.

ISDs are still good. Home Ones are still good.

Wave 3 brought high activation fleets and bombers a boost. They provide a way to counter heavily command dependant fleets. Very helpful, but not needed.

Wave 4 brought a super-VSD and the Interdictor

You do not need an Interdictor, but you cannot ignore its effect on the game and will beed to adjust accordingly.

It did not bring a super vsd. It brought a super neb.

Had a wave 3/4 fleet lose to a ISD and demo build. For imperials a good build arou d Demolisher will give most of wave 3 or 4 a run for it money. Liberty is in trouble if demo gets into it side arc.

At local tournament the top three players had no wave 3 or 4.

"Wave 3 is mandatory."

Six months ago it was "Wave 3 is BS. They do nothing for the game. Armada is dead." :chuckles:

Anyway, yes, it depends on your fleet and how it works. Flotillas add a lot to the fighter game if you are playing it. The upgrades that move squadrons when a ship moves and allow the squadron command to go off after the move are also great, but again, only for your fighter game. If you play Ackbar there is nothing for you till Wave 5. Same for Tarkin and Vader, I think. But Motti loves himself a tanky interdictor!

If you play Ackbar there is nothing for you till Wave 5.

Man, Ackbar's Weaknesses are Enemy Bombers and The Fickle Red Dice...

Wave 3 and 4 Gives him the ability to really play the Squadron game, and Reroll Red Dice on Assault Frigates.......

Fishy Dude got everything he needed...

I think a 3 ISD list could be considered a Wave 2 list.

But considering that many Imperial lists have 1 ISD I would not call Wave 2 Obsolete. Be patient Armada only has 3 waves with a 4th one coming out, and yes I am counting Wave Thore as the 3rd wave. But Armada has finally become a true miniature game in its own right. I think by FFG Wave model it takes at least 3 waves before there are enough options on the miniature list to get the real table top miniature game experience.

If you play Ackbar there is nothing for you till Wave 5.

Man, Ackbar's Weaknesses are Enemy Bombers and The Fickle Red Dice...

Wave 3 and 4 Gives him the ability to really play the Squadron game, and Reroll Red Dice on Assault Frigates.......

Fishy Dude got everything he needed...

I just use Defiance and TRC vettes with Snackbar.

Nothing from wave 3 and 4 is needed, nice to have, sure, needed, no. I bought them because that's just me, however, I am still having success with my wave 2 VSD builds (exception is I love Fire Control Teams on VSD-I's), my wave 2 Gladiator builds and my wave 2 ISD builds.

There is no reason you cannot play and win without 3 and 4.

Fun fact: at the italian nationals held on september 3rd I still hadn't got my gozantis, but strangely I got my interdictor.

I decided to go for the fun, thus bringing a very simple fleet with 2 ISDs and 4 squadron aces just for the lulz of it. I ended up 5th, losing badly the final game at table 1 after winning the first 2 games by a large margin.

I am supposed to say that in my experience wave 3 and 4 don't matter so much, but really, this is just not true: transports open up whole new possibilities for fleet composition and for the squadron mini game, and I'd have loved to have a couple of them hanging behind my gunline. Wave 4, I think it's still early to judge because people need to get used to it, but it will have a great impact as well, providing new interesting options for both factions. Of couse, nothing is mandatory but still I recommend buying at least one ship for each wave.