About a year ago, when I was starting playing X-wing it was quite simple: you either chose to go with low PS ships and spamming them (TLT's, Swarms) or you go for high PS aces (Soontir, Poe, Vader). The only mid-PS list were Brobots at PS6. Besides that there was nothing between PS5-7 to play with... Now, that changed some time ago - I think with release of Imperial Veterans and popularity of low ps scum lists. It was not that difficult to out-PS them, hence there was no need to race for it and (mostly?) Defenders joined the PS range of 5-7.

And that was good in my opinion, because that gave a chance for other named pilots that were not that popular and useful before.

Now, when the scouts were nerfed and due to the release of HoTR with their Pilot skill range of 8 to 11 (with Veteran Instincts) and Protectorate who gives an ace for Scums as well, are you expecting another race for out-PS them all? I think that Brobots will get back to tables, Defenders will defend themselves somehow, but in the end the Imperial aces will be going down as not able to avoid the arc of Rey or getting pinned down by Han or even by their mate Admiral... I think that again, it will be a game of who has the highest PS?

Whhat's ypur opinion? IF you agree, do you think it is good or bad?

I think Ashoka in a TIE Fighter will push the PS war up. I think Poe w/ Black One will be annoying, and may see an answer or two, but I don't think he alone will bring back the hefty PS requirements of yesteryear.

The PS war is over. FFG has given mid tier pilots great abilities. HotR and Poe are entering into a different game and will not have cause a PS stir. As it stands, Rebels need more viable aces anyway.

Don't forget, HotR includes Snap Shot and Nien Nunb, both preferring to be lower PS.

The ps war isn't over and never will be. It's been that way since the beginning. You either run swarms or elites. Abilities are great and all but don't mean jack when you never get shots with them. The ability to dodge arcs and kill before getting shot is insanely good and will never go away.

It's kinda weird, but having these powerful mid-PS Defenders actually makes other mid-PS ships more useful—bidding up to 6 or 7 can actually accomplish something.

In my limited experience, PS is now just another tool in the box. Like the EPT slot. Is it worth paying for to you? I choose more guns over more PS. Just like some players choose more HPs over PS. Others will always want to win the PS war. If you go for PS you almost have to invest in multiple actions and re-positioning as well, IMO.

As always I think mid-PS struggles, but it is in a better place than before.

Dash disagrees with your notion of low ps.

The ps war isn't over and never will be. It's been that way since the beginning. You either run swarms or elites. Abilities are great and all but don't mean jack when you never get shots with them. The ability to dodge arcs and kill before getting shot is insanely good and will never go away.

Well, no, the PS war ended. It used to be THE thing that mattered, when everyone was bringing Phantoms or, for a longer span, Soontir Fel. You had to run a VI Darth Vader if you wanted to matter at all.

Turrets began to lower this, but didn't kill it off. TLTs brought it down, but couldn't kill it. The fantastic mid-tier pilots are what really brought it down.

You're likely to see a lot of PS 8 ships, more than you'll see PS9. And I've not seen a PS 11 in AGES. That you don't feel motivated to put VI on Dengar is a far cry from the metas of old.

The PS arms race has been done for a while. PS will always be important, but it's certainly not the same.

Remember, PS is a double-edged sword. High PS helps with arc-dodging, but opens you up to being blocked. Lower PS is hard to block, but has a tougher time getting a shot. This is one of the reasons quad-TLT Y-wings is such a pain. Low PS means you can block if you want to(you can leave your friends behind), but you don't care about getting them in your arc. I guess dependable damage and a solid body don't hurt either.

Personally, I find the middle ground intriguing. If you can play it well, you should be able to block aces AND dodge blockers. Getting better mid-tier pilot abilities is definitely a step in the right direction.

Remember, PS is a double-edged sword. High PS helps with arc-dodging, but opens you up to being blocked.

Not according to the internet. High PS always dodges arcs, never gets blocked and a high PS shot always destroys a low PS enemy before it can shoot.

However, you still get a like for the safety dance reference

As long as X7 Defenders are THE driving force in the meta, the PS war will be in a ceasefire.

Mid PS ships will be common in the meta for the near term future.

In addition to the Defenders with PS 5-8:

PS5 Kanan & Biggs

PS6 Brobots (TLT's are back and they have autothrusters)

PS6 Asajj Ventress

PS7 Dash

PS7 Norra

PS7 Bossk

PS8 Rey with Finn

PS8 Omega Leader

Except for Dengar, all the PS9 aces are weaker than they have ever been because of R3-A2, Asajj, Conner Nets, BMST, Zuckuss, and so on...

As long as X7 Defenders are THE driving force in the meta, the PS war will be in a ceasefire.

Mid PS ships will be common in the meta for the near term future.

In addition to the Defenders with PS 5-8:

PS5 Kanan & Biggs

PS6 Brobots (TLT's are back and they have autothrusters)

PS6 Asajj Ventress

PS7 Dash

PS7 Norra

PS7 Bossk

PS8 Rey with Finn

PS8 Omega Leader

Except for Dengar, all the PS9 aces are weaker than they have ever been because of R3-A2, Asajj, Conner Nets, BMST, Zuckuss, and so on...

the pilot race is over

Kylo ren, aka Damaged Cockpit dispenser, has already won

the pilot race is over

Kylo ren, aka Damaged Cockpit dispenser, has already won

Do love me some Mux

PS war is (mostly) over because meta has shifted. At some point, when most of the imperial lists were either interceptors (mostly Soontir) or phantoms (mostly Whisper) it was an all-or-nothing battle where you either got a shot and managed to evaporate the enemy or got evaporated yourself and could do little about it.

These days the most popular imperial ships are defenders and those are mid-PS and not arc-dodged easily due to their white k-turns. ARCs are much harder to dodge than traditional rebel fighters as well. There are also more anti-ace tools than there used to be - more mines, more ships carrying autoblasters (Ghost anyone?), more stress mechanics (Asajj, Rigged Cargo Chute, stressbot ARCs), BMST, soon-to-be-realeased snap shot, fanatical devotion and captured TIE shenanigans.

Frankly, I'd be afraid to fly an interceptor list again. Some folks in my area are really good with minelayer k-wings or Deathfire and it's pretty much an auto-loss if you encounter one of those lists while flying old school Soontir.

Besides, at least to some extent the main question was never about high PS vs low PS but about ace vs generic. After all, high PS aces were used successfuly even if the player in question could not be absolutely sure he would move last. It was more that when designing pilot cards FFG would give great abilities to the highest PS pilots, mediocre abilities to mid PS pilots and no abilities to low PS generics. The result was that you were either willing to pay for the high PS pilot with a great ability or you just went cheap and got a generic. Mid PS was just not worth the points. The rare mid PS pilots with great skill such as Biggs, Dash or Palob were used all the way during the so-called PS war.

Now that FFG have got us some great 8s (Inquisitor, Omega Leader), 7s (Norra), 6s (Vessery) and 5s (Ryad) it appears that PS is suddenly no longer so important. Pilot abilities are.

As long as X7 Defenders are THE driving force in the meta, the PS war will be in a ceasefire.

Mid PS ships will be common in the meta for the near term future.

PS8 Rey with Finn

Rey needs PS10, especially if you are running her with Finn.

Although there are attempts to have high PS pilots, it is not a "PS war " anymore.

So many good pilots at mid-PS level and a lot of anti-ace tools bring balance to the (PS) force. Fortunately.

I've used Vessery and Ryad at mid PS to absolutely devastating effect. /x7 for Ryad and use her to TL whom ever you want Vess to maul with his /d Ion/primary double tap with a target lock to burn for each weapon.

Give Vess a TL buddy, have him focus and I've never had an enemy ship get away without damage, no matter what tokens or how many evade dice they have. The only catch is that it does make him an easier target without the x7 evades just rolling naked green dice. But given the Defenders 6 HP, he's really only weakness is several ships focus firing on him.

I've used Vessery and Ryad at mid PS to absolutely devastating effect. /x7 for Ryad and use her to TL whom ever you want Vess to maul with his /d Ion/primary double tap with a target lock to burn for each weapon.

Give Vess a TL buddy, have him focus and I've never had an enemy ship get away without damage, no matter what tokens or how many evade dice they have. The only catch is that it does make him an easier target without the x7 evades just rolling naked green dice. But given the Defenders 6 HP, he's really only weakness is several ships focus firing on him.

I've used Vessery and Ryad at mid PS to absolutely devastating effect. /x7 for Ryad and use her to TL whom ever you want Vess to maul with his /d Ion/primary double tap with a target lock to burn for each weapon.

Give Vess a TL buddy, have him focus and I've never had an enemy ship get away without damage, no matter what tokens or how many evade dice they have. The only catch is that it does make him an easier target without the x7 evades just rolling naked green dice. But given the Defenders 6 HP, he's really only weakness is several ships focus firing on him.

I like that combo. What's the rest of your squad, if you don't mind me asking?

I've used both Omega Leader who pairs really well with Vessery or the Inquisitor. Using OL gives you the points to go with the /d and Ion cannon on Vess, but with Inquisitor I usually go double x7.

High PS will always have perks but its gotten vastly less appealing as of late since a lot of 5-7 skills have some pretty gnarly abilities.

Heck, i dont even consider the PS9 of Quickdraw remotely as powerful as the autocritting fart from PS7 Backdraft.

I've used Vessery and Ryad at mid PS to absolutely devastating effect. /x7 for Ryad and use her to TL whom ever you want Vess to maul with his /d Ion/primary double tap with a target lock to burn for each weapon.

Give Vess a TL buddy, have him focus and I've never had an enemy ship get away without damage, no matter what tokens or how many evade dice they have. The only catch is that it does make him an easier target without the x7 evades just rolling naked green dice. But given the Defenders 6 HP, he's really only weakness is several ships focus firing on him.

I like that combo. What's the rest of your squad, if you don't mind me asking?

I've used both Omega Leader who pairs really well with Vessery or the Inquisitor. Using OL gives you the points to go with the /d and Ion cannon on Vess, but with Inquisitor I usually go double x7.