Hey Y'all,

While responding to a post today, I realized how hard it is to make a good list when just starting the game. Many new players are flocking to X-Wing, and we have seen tons of "what should I buy?" posts on these forums. However, its hard to dig through all that advice and find something for a new player to really use. So my challenge to you, the X-Wing community, is to post your most effective and cheapest list of any faction. So that new players can get into the game quickly without having to fork over a lot of money and not get wiped off the board by those of us with every expansion.

Please list out what expansions your list requires, and the price point for them when posting your list. Happy posting!

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times...

1 Original Core Set

1 X-Wing Expansion

1 Millennium Falcon Expansion

Han + Luke crew + Chewie crew + Millennium Falcon title

2x Rookie X-Wing

Relatively cheap, somewhat competitive, and highly thematic (plus it comes with dice and templates and a damage deck). Done.

I think the best approach to new players is to not throw the top of the metagame at them. Don't pull your punches but don't turn up with a titanium rocket fist.

When I started out I had TFA core and the YT-2400. Dash can take up a chunk of points and be built relatively effectively out of the box: Lone Wolf, Heavy Laser Cannon, Lando Calrissian, Outrider, Experimental Interface.

I was thinking something like, Core Set 1 plus E-Wing and Y-Wing expansion.

Luke in an X-Wing

-r2d2, Determination

A'baht in an E-Wing
-r7-t1, outmaneuver, advanced sensors

Gold Squadron Pilot
-r5d8, ion cannon turret.

Honestly I like the Dash or Falcon idea's better. You could fly Luke with either of them and have a fairly competitive list for the same price as my squad. Also helps that those are two beautiful and thematic ships.

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times...

1 Original Core Set

1 X-Wing Expansion

1 Millennium Falcon Expansion

Han + Luke crew + Chewie crew + Millennium Falcon title

2x Rookie X-Wing

Relatively cheap, somewhat competitive, and highly thematic (plus it comes with dice and templates and a damage deck). Done.

*drops mic*

This. In fact I remember when this was a list... That was when the Falcon had just been released mind!

My friend has a great starter list, he calls The Hug:

3 rookie X-Wings

2 ps 1 A-Wings with hull upgrade

This isn't the answer you're looking for but it's the truth.

The 3-Step Program to Starting X-Wing Miniatures

New players should:

1. Hang out with their local group to find out what part of the meta they'd like to enter: Casual or Competitive

2. Study what ships in their chosen faction(s) fit their fancy.

3. Buy the expansions that make sense to fill in their wish-list and then head over to ebay.com for the remainder. Alternatively, there at any one time 500 different people selling their entire fleets for half of what they are purchased new over here: Star Wars Miniatures Swap and Sell (X-Wing, Armada, Imperial Assault) . If I was entering the game now knowing that these exchanges were happening I would have bought someone's old fleet for $200 and then pieced together whatever else I wanted. Would've saved a lot of money.

Last note about buying the most economic expansions: Most list builders and the X-Wing Wikia state what expansion every card/pilot/etc. comes with.

Use the resources around you!

Two TLT Ys and a K-wing.

1 core set. (Required to play the game) two Y-wings and a K-wing. The list itself will cost 50 US Dollars. While palp aces costs 160 US Dollars.

(1) $85, Rebel

Original Core set ($40)

3 x B-wing Expansions ($45)

Biggs w/R2-F2

3x Blue Squadron Pilots w/Fire Control Systems

(2) $70, Rebel

TFA Core Set ($40)

2x T-70 Expansions ($30)

Poe Dameron w/BB-8, Cool Hand, Integrated Astromech

Ello Asty w/Targeting Astromech, Cool Hand, Weapons Guidance, Integrated Astromech

Red Ace w/ Targeting Astromech

(3) Imperial, $70

TFA Core Set ($40)

TIE/FO Expansion ($15)

TIE Phaton Expansion ($15)

Omega Leader w/ Juke, Comms Relay

Zeta Leader w/Wired

Whisper w/Fire Control Systems, Advanced Cloaking Device

Epsilon Squadron Pilot

Edit: The aforementioned Dash list is good. I'd modify slightly:

(4) $70, Rebel

TFA Core set ($40)

YT-2400 Expansion ($30)

Poe Dameron w/BB-8, Lone Wolf, Weapons Guidance, Proton Torpedoes

Dash w/Outrider, Heavy Laser Cannon, Lando Calrissian, Stay on Target, Experimental Interface, Proton Rockets

Probably a little bit tougher list, but here's one for imperials. You need a TFA starter, TIE/FO, and Slave-1 expansion packs ($85 retail):

“Omega Leader” + Comm Relay + Juke (26)

Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)

Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)

Kath Scarlet + Veteran Instincts + Gunner (44)

You dive right into the best single one-on-one ship Omega Leader, and back it up with some basic stuff that doesn't really die too quick. Or put in Boba Fett...

Playing both sides:

Core Set $40.00

TFA Core x2 $80.00

Total $120.00

per faction $60.00

Poe - R2D2, Proton Torp

Blue Ace - BB8, Proton Torp

Biggs - R2F2

Mauler Mithral

Dark Curse

Epsilon Leader

Zeta Sq. Pilot x3

Top tier. Not even close. But it gets 2 full squads on the board, uses what you have, helps you learn formation flying, and does not overwhelm newer players.

P.S. I know that PTs are bad and WG not much better but might as well use them. If you like higher PS and no torps then:

Poe - R2D2

Luke - BB8, Marksmanship

Red Sq. Vet - R2F2, Wired, WG

P.P.S I've found this second reb list fairly tanky for a very basic build.