Not sure if anyone posted the Lists for the Australian Nats top-cut, but in case they didn't, here they are in final rankings. There was 126 players in total.

Winner (Congrats ):

Ben Doyle (5th in swiss, 5-1)

35 Vessery w/ Juke, X7.

36 Ryad w/ PtL, Mk2, X7.

29 Omnicron w/ Palp.

Runner-up:

Jaren Foss (6th in swiss, 5-1)

35 Soontir w/ PtL, Stealth, Royal, AT.

31 Inquisitor w/ PtL, AT, V1.

32 Omnicron w/ Deflectors, Palp.

Top 4:

Matt Goodman (10th in swiss, 5-1)

31 Wes w/ VI, R4D6, IA.

39 Miranda w/ HomingM, EM, C3P0, LRS.

30 (2x) Prototypes w/ Refit.

Trystan Foss (8th in swiss, 5-1)

54 Dengar w/ LW, Zuckuss, OCR4, Stims, CounterM, Title.

44 Manaroo w/ PtL, PlasmaT, Gonk, R5P8, Feedback, Engine.

Top 8:

Gary Noack (2nd in swiss, 6-0)

33 Scout w/ Deadeye, ProtonT, EM, OCR4, Chips.

32 Scout w/ Deadeye, PlasmaT, EM, OCR4, Chips.

34 Slaver w/ Dengar, Zuckuss, 4-LOM.

Geoff Gartland (1st in swiss, 6-0)

41 Whisper w/ VI, FCS, Kallus, ACD.

35 Vader w/ Crack, Engine, X1, ATC.

24 Zeta Leader w/ Crack, Comms.

David Side (3rd in swiss, 5-1)

59 Dengar w/ LW, PlasmaT, Zuckuss, R5P8, Stims, CounterM, Title.

39 Manaroo w/ PtL, PlasmaT, EM, Recon, Unhinged, Chips.

Luke Kein (4th in swiss, 5-1)

31 Inquisitor w/ PtL, AT, V1.

36 Ryad w/ PtL, Mk2, X7.

33 Omnicron w/ SensJ, Palp.

Top 16:

Thomas Dobson (7th in swiss, 5-1)

49 IG88B w/ Crack, FCS, HLC, Dampeners, AT, Title.

49 IG88C w/ Crack, FCS, HLC, Dampeners, AT, Title.

Lachlan Moore (9th in swiss, 5-1)

53 Tel w/ PtL, Dengar, R4B11, Stims, Title.

47 Bossk w/ Deadeye, ConcussionM, K4, Zuckuss, 4-LOM, Feedback, Chips.

Paul Thornton (11th in swiss, 5-1)

42 Corran w/ VI, FCS, R2D2.

37 Poe w/ VI, R5P9, AT.

21 Airen w/ VI, Tracers, Chips.

Josh Brown (12th in swiss, 5-1)

56 Kanan w/ FCS, TLT, FletchetteT, Recon, Recon, TacJ, Title.

26 Biggs w/ R4D6, IA.

18 Zeb w/ Chopper, Title.

David Leslie (13th in swiss, 5-1)

40 Lothal w/ FCS, ABT, Zeb.

39 Lothal w/ FCS, ABT, Chopper.

21 Gold w/ ABT, R4D6.

Jamie Saxon (14th in swiss, 5-1)

29 Omega Leader w/ Juke, Comms, Stealth.

33 Vessery w/ Adapt, X7.

36 Ryad w/ PtL, Mk2, X7.

Vladimir Piscetek (16th in swiss, 4-2)

56 Miranda w/ TLT, HomingM, EM, C3P0, ProtonB, Conner, AdvSLAM.

44 Warden w/ TLT, EM, Sabine, Conner, Prox, Seismic, AdvSLAM.

Rhett Eldred (15th in swiss, 4-2)

57 Dengar w/ LW, PlasmaT, Zuckuss, OCR4, Dampeners, CounterM, Title.

42 Manaroo w/ PtL, Gonk, R5P8, Feedback, Engine.

Imperials: 5

Rebels: 5

Scum: 6

Is Australia bringing balance to the Force!?

Imperials: 5

Rebels: 5

Scum: 6

Is Australia bringing balance to the Force!?

Imperials: 5

Rebels: 5

Scum: 6

Is Australia bringing balance to the Force!?

That was pretty reflective of the overall event, too. From memory Scum had a small lead but it was remarkably close to an even split.

Yeah, overall there was a lot of diversity in the lists taken. There were quite a few X7 defenders, Jumpmasters, and VCXs, but they didn't flood the field or anything.

So 'Canadian Defenders' are now 'Commonwealth Defenders'.

Has a certain ring to it...

So 'Canadian Defenders' are now 'Commonwealth Defenders'.

Has a certain ring to it...

To be fair, the list I used at Canadian Nationals was inspired by MajorJuggler.

Ssh, you're spoiling a decent bit of empire rebuilding with unwanted factual accuracy!

So 'Canadian Defenders' are now 'Commonwealth Defenders'.

Has a certain ring to it...

To be fair, the list I used at Canadian Nationals was inspired by MajorJuggler.

Hehe, as was the one I used.

So I guess it should be 'The Major's Commonwealth Defenders', or something.

Imperials: 5

Rebels: 5

Scum: 6

Is Australia bringing balance to the Force!?

Everything is OP/needs help. FFG, Please nerf everything/ fix everything.

So 'Canadian Defenders' are now 'Commonwealth Defenders'.

Has a certain ring to it...

To be fair, the list I used at Canadian Nationals was inspired by MajorJuggler.

Hehe, as was the one I used.

So I guess it should be 'The Major's Commonwealth Defenders', or something.

Major's Countess, Colonel & Emperor.

LMAO! I almost died laughing just now. The lists DO look very similar to most top lists and Canadian Nationals. Looks like people really know how to use the internets.

Geoff Gartland (1st in swiss, 6-0)

41 Whisper w/ VI, FCS, Kallus, ACD.

35 Vader w/ Crack, Engine, X1, ATC.

24 Zeta Leader w/ Crack, Comms.

Can we talk about this?!

Geoff Gartland (1st in swiss, 6-0)

41 Whisper w/ VI, FCS, Kallus, ACD.

35 Vader w/ Crack, Engine, X1, ATC.

24 Zeta Leader w/ Crack, Comms.

Can we talk about this?!

Zeta leaders is a banger pocket ace that has the moves to clear its stress and punches way outside its weight class. Good pilot.

So are the major's defenders the new baseline? They seem to be winning a bit, all over.

Geoff Gartland (1st in swiss, 6-0)

41 Whisper w/ VI, FCS, Kallus, ACD.

35 Vader w/ Crack, Engine, X1, ATC.

24 Zeta Leader w/ Crack, Comms.

Can we talk about this?!

Zeta leaders is a banger pocket ace that has the moves to clear its stress and punches way outside its weight class. Good pilot.

I've tried triple aces, and even these 3 should have some difficulty facing anything with Zuckuss/crackshot.

Looking through the results, Geoff faced his first 4 competitors and none of them made top 16 so we don't know their lists. Then he beat the overall winner in round 5, only losing Zeta Leader but killing Palpshuttle and Ryad. Round 6 he lost Whisper and got 100 points on Poe/Corran/Airen.

In elimination he beat 2 TLT K-wings with bombs to advance to top 8, then was finally taken down by a Dengaroo list (he got half MOV on Manaroo).

Was it just that his first 4 opponents didn't bring or field a Dengaroo list effectively? I must admit, those 3 aces are good! But that must have been some amazing flying to beat out TLT K's without Autothruster aces. Would have loved to see these!

Interesting to only see ptl x7 mk2 countess here and no lone wolf stealth device versions. Is it just a points thing or without a heavy meta of weaponized stress is ptl just considered better than lone wolf on her?

So are the major's defenders the new baseline? They seem to be winning a bit, all over.

I'm not sure about them being a baseline, but they're very good. And they combine being FOTM and currently not having the stigma of being 'urgh you're playing Palpaces/Jumps/Dengaroo' so they're spreading fast.

At the moment I think they benefit from the fact that Defenders are easier to learn to play with than to learn to play against, and people will catch up.

But, yeah, the raw action economy is incredible. Both ships can K-turn with Focus, Target Lock and Evade... that's nuts. The main discussion we're having is whether the 29pts is better spent on a 3rd Defender and TIE MkII for Vessery (came close to winning UK Nats). Personally I'm backing the shuttle but I don't think it's a clear choice.

Geoff Gartland (1st in swiss, 6-0)

41 Whisper w/ VI, FCS, Kallus, ACD.

35 Vader w/ Crack, Engine, X1, ATC.

24 Zeta Leader w/ Crack, Comms.

Can we talk about this?!

Zeta leaders is a banger pocket ace that has the moves to clear its stress and punches way outside its weight class. Good pilot.

I've tried triple aces, and even these 3 should have some difficulty facing anything with Zuckuss/crackshot.

Looking through the results, Geoff faced his first 4 competitors and none of them made top 16 so we don't know their lists. Then he beat the overall winner in round 5, only losing Zeta Leader but killing Palpshuttle and Ryad. Round 6 he lost Whisper and got 100 points on Poe/Corran/Airen.

In elimination he beat 2 TLT K-wings with bombs to advance to top 8, then was finally taken down by a Dengaroo list (he got half MOV on Manaroo).

Was it just that his first 4 opponents didn't bring or field a Dengaroo list effectively? I must admit, those 3 aces are good! But that must have been some amazing flying to beat out TLT K's without Autothruster aces. Would have loved to see these!

That's insanely impressive. I can only assume he got great match-ups and solid dice his way. I'm sure he's also a seasoned pilot, because that list would be tough to use in this meta.

So are the major's defenders the new baseline? They seem to be winning a bit, all over.

I'm not sure about them being a baseline, but they're very good. And they combine being FOTM and currently not having the stigma of being 'urgh you're playing Palpaces/Jumps/Dengaroo' so they're spreading fast.

At the moment I think they benefit from the fact that Defenders are easier to learn to play with than to learn to play against, and people will catch up.

But, yeah, the raw action economy is incredible. Both ships can K-turn with Focus, Target Lock and Evade... that's nuts. The main discussion we're having is whether the 29pts is better spent on a 3rd Defender and TIE MkII for Vessery. Personally I'm backing the shuttle but I don't think it's a clear choice.

They DEFINITELY have the "ugh you're playing THEM" stigma in Atlanta.

They DEFINITELY have the "ugh you're playing THEM" stigma in Atlanta.

I think they'll definitely get there real fast, Atlanta may just be ahead of curve.

So are the major's defenders the new baseline? They seem to be winning a bit, all over.

I'm not sure about them being a baseline, but they're very good. And they combine being FOTM and currently not having the stigma of being 'urgh you're playing Palpaces/Jumps/Dengaroo' so they're spreading fast.

At the moment I think they benefit from the fact that Defenders are easier to learn to play with than to learn to play against, and people will catch up.

But, yeah, the raw action economy is incredible. Both ships can K-turn with Focus, Target Lock and Evade... that's nuts. The main discussion we're having is whether the 29pts is better spent on a 3rd Defender and TIE MkII for Vessery. Personally I'm backing the shuttle but I don't think it's a clear choice.

They DEFINITELY have the "ugh you're playing THEM" stigma in Atlanta.

Birmingham's hatred of Palpfenders grows stronger every day...Defenders feed on their hatred!

Top lists based off of nothing but my own thoughts-

1- Palp + Defenders

2- Dengaroo

3- 2 Uboats + Party Bus

4- Uboats

5- Imp Aholes

6- Crack Swarm

7- Howard Aces

8- Wes, Biggs, Corran

9- Mynock Special

10 through 15- other Palp + 2 variants

16- Brobots

17- Straight up x7 Defenders

18- VCX stuff

19- TLT Ys

20- Imperial Aces, no Palp

Honorable mentions-

Kwing bombing shenanigans

Autoblaster stuff

Decimator + Whisper

Top lists based off of nothing but my own thoughts-

1- Palp + Defenders

2- Dengaroo

3- 2 Uboats + Party Bus

4- Uboats

5- Imp Aholes

6- Crack Swarm

7- Howard Aces

8- Wes, Biggs, Corran

9- Mynock Special

10 through 15- other Palp + 2 variants

16- Brobots

17- Straight up x7 Defenders

18- VCX stuff

19- TLT Ys

20- Imperial Aces, no Palp

Honorable mentions-

Kwing bombing shenanigans

Autoblaster stuff

Decimator + Whisper

Now Wave 9 gets to come in and shake things up!

We should start predicting best lists post Wave 9

I'be got a 50% win rate against palp defenders with asajj and fangs in tow. Manaroo/Rau/teroch deserves note too.

So are the major's defenders the new baseline? They seem to be winning a bit, all over.

I'm not sure about them being a baseline, but they're very good. And they combine being FOTM and currently not having the stigma of being 'urgh you're playing Palpaces/Jumps/Dengaroo' so they're spreading fast.

People who stigmates other players for playing "this" or "that" are not worth even a slightest notice - most of them instead of focusing on actually playing the game focus on constant whining how game doesn't looks how it should look in their "oh so important" opinion, or how one doesn't play how this game should be played. You know this kind of gamers - in their own view their opinion is so important but in reality they are completely inept and unimportant whiners who should be ignored and ridiculed at every ocassion.

So I doubt that was the reason players picked Defenders in the lists - it is just the fact that it is really good ship.