Hello again everyone! In my last topic I wrote about building a Bro-HWK squadron. I managed to find a variant that I deeply love now. I already smashed two games with it and it feels like a list that really works for me. This is it:

Spice Runner (25)
HWK-290 (16), Twin Laser Turret (6), Zuckuss (1), Feedback Array (2)

Torkhil Mux (28)
HWK-290 (19), Twin Laser Turret (6), Dengar (3)

Palob Godalhi (27)
HWK-290 (20), Attanni Mindlink (1), Autoblaster Turret (2), Cloaking Device (2), Stygium Particle Accelerator (2)

Kaa’to Leeachos (20)
Z-95 Headhunter (15), Cluster Missiles (4), Attanni Mindlink (1), Guidance Chips (0)

Its pretty great. I love crazy combos and Palob and Kaa'to creating a bunch of focus tokens out of thin air. Rarely had more fun in X.WIng. However wave 9 is coming soon and you can't ignore new options when they are coming:

Spice Runner (23)
HWK-290 (16), Twin Laser Turret (6), Zuckuss (1)

Torkhil Mux (29)
HWK-290 (19), Twin Laser Turret (6), Dengar (3), Black Market Slicer Tools (1)

Palob Godalhi (27)
HWK-290 (20), Attanni Mindlink (1), Autoblaster Turret (2), Latts Razzi (2), Cloaking Device (2)

Kaa’to Leeachos (21)
Z-95 Headhunter (15), Cluster Missiles (4), Black Market Slicer Tools (1), Attanni Mindlink (1), Guidance Chips (0)

Latts is a pretty easy change, because thats 2 points less that fizzle (which in both games so far the Cloaking Device did on the first turn of use). She is a bit matchup-dependant, but I don't see self-stressers leaving soon and over the course of a game she probably will be at least as often as usefull as SPA with Defenders pulling one turns from time to time and others k-turning.

Swapping the Feedback Array for BMSTs isn't that easy. BMSTs aren't as reliable and they aren't good against every ship. They do however give Kaa'to something to do when his missiles are gone (then again, those make him a priority target, does he really need something to follow up?) and the area they cover is substentially larger. I'm not keen on blowing Torkils cost up even more. Maybe I'll swap his loadout with the Spice Dude? Sounds at least interesting.

So, community, I call you again for help! Which of these ideas seem smart and which don't? Is the Feedback Array better in my list since I already have a whole bunch of larger area ace hate? Did I miss any new upgrades that would make good additions?

The changes you propose are, in the grand scheme of things, relatively minor. I think though that BMST is definitely worthwhile, but I would put one on the spice runner instead of Torkhil since Torkhil will die first and therefore get less use out of it (perhaps none, depending).

As for Latts Razzi on Palob, I think this is a waste of 2 points. Its extremely situational (even more so if you are planning on using BMST!).

I think you'd get more use out of outlaw tech or gonk. Outlaw tech in particular can be useful with Mindlink, because you still get foci for your 2 ships (although both will be stressed) and you will probably surprise your opponent (and maybe even guarantee autoblaster range, situation depending) because no one expects those 3 banks on the hwk dial!

Latts and BMST actually aren't (too) contradictory. BMSTs remove stress before most ships where its relevant move. Latts removes stress after movement and her effect is more beneficial, so I don't mind her stealing the Slicers opportunity. Latts also isn't as situational as she seems at first glance. She ruins self stressers (thats U-Boats, Palpaces and Dengaroo!) singlehandedly. In other matchups she doesn't look as good until you think of the old Autothrusters/Shield Upgrade comparison. Most ships will take stress from manouvering, even Defenders. If then Latts saves even one hitpoint she has already payed for herself and becomes increased value from then on. Every hitpoint she saves is essentialy 5 points worth.

You are right that points are too stacked on Torkil, thats why I will swap his loadout with that of the Spice Runner. What you missed, though, is that BMST makes no sense on Zuckuss ship! Swapping the loadouts keeps all the upgrades working and gives the list a much nicer spilt of 26/26/27/21.

I could understand Latts on a ship that's tough, but this is a HWK we're talking about! Your chances of using it more than once per game is very small. 1 point upgrades that see occasional 1 per game use is not bad. A 2 point upgrade with the same situational usage? That's moving into 'not worth it' territory. Now a ship with 9-10 health, that's a different story. Its going to take multiple turns to kill that thing, so Latts will almost always get used multiple times per game and will end up saving a couple points of damage, extending the life of the ship by at least one more turn (maybe more). With only 5 health on the HWK, latts is unlikely to provide that same benefit (at least, not very often).

And your argument that most ships take a stress from maneuvering is being a bit overly optimistic. I fly Defenders A LOT (like 100s of games under my belt), and I can tell you they certainly do NOT stress themselves very often (and if they are, then the player is doing it WRONG!). I think I've pulled a red move maybe 2 or 3 times in my defender flying 'career', so that's about 1 per 80 games or so.

Just because other ships stress themselves here and there per game, doesn't mean that Latts will be making her points back. Palob could be dead before they need to k-turn, for example. Its still VERY situational.

At the end of the day, you should run it and see how its working for you, but personally, based on my experience with the game, I feel confident in saying that Latts is probably not the best use of 2 points on a HWK...

After running my first version where the Cloak and SPA fizzeled on the first turn every match I can imagine it not being too bad not to use these two points when they are ridiculous in quite a few meta matchups.