I have been at it in X-wing for about 10 months now. Wave 8 was my first wave to drop. In that time I have amassed a fleet and played a bunch of games. I have listened to a ton of podcasts and chatted with players much better than me.

At this point I need to decide where I am going but I am too competitive to just scrap the "tourney" scene and go all in casual. One thing that always comes up when discussing lists is play what you know, something that suits your play-style and success will come from that. So how do I determine my play-style? My normal approach is PLAY ALL THE SHIPS! I haven't done anything with enough regularity to have a style. That being said the first thing I played was Imperials. My first ever store champ list was Soontir, Royal Guard, and a doom shuttle. When I first found out that bumping doesn't give damage like I thought it should, I immediately bought a Decimator. I try to get fancy and fly all over, but I am a bit to aggressive and end up trying to line up and shoot I believe the community calls it "jousting." So is that it? Jousting is my style? Does that mean TIE swarms? I have played it, and I do enjoy it. Even won a few games. I am pretty sure it isn't tier 1, but let's be honest neither am I. I know in the right hands it can win, and that's why I listen to Mynock Squadron all the time for tips from the inscrutable Dallas Parker. So is that it, have I discovered it? Am I missing something?

TL:DR

If you like to joust and play Imperials is TIE swarm your only list?

Thanks guys, you all rock.

EDIT: I tried to include my collection in my signature, but the four line limit capped me and am too lazt to try again. Suffice to say I own everything except the CR-90 and I can build every competitive list. Although I just noticed that I only have 1 of those Twin Ion Engine Mk 2 cards, stupid Punisher.

Best play style ever: PLAY ALL THE SHIPS!

I'd say play style is that happy overlap of what I like flying and what I'm good at flying. I bounce around the factions and ships a fair bit, but also tend to do better in a "jousting" roll, though a prefer jousters with a few tricks up their sleeves.

As for jousting with Imps, x7 defenders are your friend. They are tough, fast, and can pack a punch. Triple Defenders have been doing well of late, and using ships like the TIE/sf with them seems to be working well.

I pick ships I like. So I've been in the hobby the same length of time as you, and with a few exceptions, I've only played Corran/Poe/A-wing - it works for me and regen is a good crutch.

Now I really want to fly Rey, so I'm list building around her, even though i don't think she's top tier competative.

I second Sabine's recommendation that you try some TIE Defenders with the /x7 title — and maybe some TIE/sf thrown in — if you like jousting and want to play Imperials.

--Palp on a shuttle + 2 X-7 defenders

--Dengaroo

These are the easiest jousting lists in the game right now. Just don't joust with the shuttle or manaroo. The dice will take care of themselves such that even if you make mistakes or have no idea what you are doing, its unlikely bad dice results will really 'punish' you.

I'm in for eleven months. I started with Wave 8 too and having very limited budget, I only had few T-70 x-wings. And I loved it. Tried other ships too but the T-70 wen't to the perfect fit of "I like flying them" and "I can win with them". Then my situation improved and I was able to buy more ships but still I am the happiest when three or four grey-blue (and now black-orange) X-Wings are under my control. That's it to define my playstyle. But I am not very competetive so I'm afraid I don't help you a lot.

--Palp on a shuttle + 2 X-7 defenders

--Dengaroo

These are the easiest jousting lists in the game right now. Just don't joust with the shuttle or manaroo. The dice will take care of themselves such that even if you make mistakes or have no idea what you are doing, its unlikely bad dice results will really 'punish' you.

I like Dengaroo, but have a bit of that "ethical" dilemma to play them. Like he said in Jurrasic Park, people are so busy asking whether they could, no one stopped to ask themselves if they should (paraphrasing of course). Is Dengaroo "too good" and suck the fun for the opponent? Or, who cares play what is good?

--Palp on a shuttle + 2 X-7 defenders

--Dengaroo

These are the easiest jousting lists in the game right now. Just don't joust with the shuttle or manaroo. The dice will take care of themselves such that even if you make mistakes or have no idea what you are doing, its unlikely bad dice results will really 'punish' you.

I like Dengaroo, but have a bit of that "ethical" dilemma to play them. Like he said in Jurrasic Park, people are so busy asking whether they could, no one stopped to ask themselves if they should (paraphrasing of course). Is Dengaroo "too good" and suck the fun for the opponent? Or, who cares play what is good?

You may be right, but beating Dengaroo with Rainbow Dash/Poe is soooooo satisfying

Tie Swarms still a tier 1 list

If you like to joust and play Imperials is TIE swarm your only list?

Thanks guys, you all rock.

EDIT: I tried to include my collection in my signature, but the four line limit capped me and am too lazt to try again. Suffice to say I own everything except the CR-90 and I can build every competitive list. Although I just noticed that I only have 1 of those Twin Ion Engine Mk 2 cards, stupid Punisher.

Try Defenders, they have high agi, hit points, and decent damage output. Perfect for the "jousting" playstyle. Palp and two x7 Defenders are a tough list. Tie Swarms are always tough if flown right. Dont ever count them out. 12-18 red dice in a single round does damage!

Finding your playstyle is important. My brother for instance, flies everything in formation, hates splitting his forces or even flanking. He flew double YVs like it was a Tie swarm, didnt work for him as you just get behind both of them and its game over. He sucks with phantoms, where as that ship is right up my play style. Having a lone ship is a splinter in his mind, he wants to fly everything in formation. He loved Bwings, and BBBBZ is his dream list.

Me on the other hand, just wants the most damage I can possibly do with a single ship. Also, im not one to peck away damage, fly away, then come back and peck away, so Soontir and such dont fit me too well. Formations dont work for me as I love flanking and attacking from different angles, giving the opponent difficult decisions to make. Phantoms hit hard, and just bounce around. Freakin love that ship. xD Defenders are my favorite ship in the game right now.

--Palp on a shuttle + 2 X-7 defenders

--Dengaroo

These are the easiest jousting lists in the game right now. Just don't joust with the shuttle or manaroo. The dice will take care of themselves such that even if you make mistakes or have no idea what you are doing, its unlikely bad dice results will really 'punish' you.

I like Dengaroo, but have a bit of that "ethical" dilemma to play them. Like he said in Jurrasic Park, people are so busy asking whether they could, no one stopped to ask themselves if they should (paraphrasing of course). Is Dengaroo "too good" and suck the fun for the opponent? Or, who cares play what is good?

Personally i havent played against dengaroo a ton but ive beat it several times and only lost to it once, so it doesnt bother me a ton. Its good certainly, but not unbeatable

If you like to joust and play Imperials is TIE swarm your only list?

Thanks guys, you all rock.

EDIT: I tried to include my collection in my signature, but the four line limit capped me and am too lazt to try again. Suffice to say I own everything except the CR-90 and I can build every competitive list. Although I just noticed that I only have 1 of those Twin Ion Engine Mk 2 cards, stupid Punisher.

Try Defenders, they have high agi, hit points, and decent damage output. Perfect for the "jousting" playstyle. Palp and two x7 Defenders are a tough list. Tie Swarms are always tough if flown right. Dont ever count them out. 12-18 red dice in a single round does damage!

Finding your playstyle is important. My brother for instance, flies everything in formation, hates splitting his forces or even flanking. He flew double YVs like it was a Tie swarm, didnt work for him as you just get behind both of them and its game over. He sucks with phantoms, where as that ship is right up my play style. Having a lone ship is a splinter in his mind, he wants to fly everything in formation. He loved Bwings, and BBBBZ is his dream list.

Me on the other hand, just wants the most damage I can possibly do with a single ship. Also, im not one to peck away damage, fly away, then come back and peck away, so Soontir and such dont fit me too well. Formations dont work for me as I love flanking and attacking from different angles, giving the opponent difficult decisions to make. Phantoms hit hard, and just bounce around. Freakin love that ship. xD Defenders are my favorite ship in the game right now.

Triple Defenders can have some bite too, and is about as jousty as you can get. (Sure, Palp makes them even better, but it's still worth noting in case he dislikes having a 'support' ship.)

If you like to joust and play Imperials is TIE swarm your only list?

Thanks guys, you all rock.

EDIT: I tried to include my collection in my signature, but the four line limit capped me and am too lazt to try again. Suffice to say I own everything except the CR-90 and I can build every competitive list. Although I just noticed that I only have 1 of those Twin Ion Engine Mk 2 cards, stupid Punisher.

Try Defenders, they have high agi, hit points, and decent damage output. Perfect for the "jousting" playstyle. Palp and two x7 Defenders are a tough list. Tie Swarms are always tough if flown right. Dont ever count them out. 12-18 red dice in a single round does damage!

Finding your playstyle is important. My brother for instance, flies everything in formation, hates splitting his forces or even flanking. He flew double YVs like it was a Tie swarm, didnt work for him as you just get behind both of them and its game over. He sucks with phantoms, where as that ship is right up my play style. Having a lone ship is a splinter in his mind, he wants to fly everything in formation. He loved Bwings, and BBBBZ is his dream list.

Me on the other hand, just wants the most damage I can possibly do with a single ship. Also, im not one to peck away damage, fly away, then come back and peck away, so Soontir and such dont fit me too well. Formations dont work for me as I love flanking and attacking from different angles, giving the opponent difficult decisions to make. Phantoms hit hard, and just bounce around. Freakin love that ship. xD Defenders are my favorite ship in the game right now.

Triple Defenders can have some bite too, and is about as jousty as you can get. (Sure, Palp makes them even better, but it's still worth noting in case he dislikes having a 'support' ship.)

Palp makes them DIFFERENT, but not always better. Triple defenders gives you three really hard to kill ships instead of two, a blocker (if your third is a delta), and even a delta can be a pretty good closer if the other two die first

At this point I need to decide where I am going but I am too competitive to just scrap the "tourney" scene and go all in casual.

Just for devil's advocate, going "casual" doesn't mean you don't try to win. It just means you try things beyond the 100/6 game. I'm very competitive, but I like playing Casual games.

As for finding something you like....it's a matter of asking what ships you like to fly a lot. If you are trying to get good in the tournament setting, it means you have to play one list over and over and over again. So, finding something you like and learning how to play it is the real trick. When you get a list, you first need to learn how it works and the combos it likes to do. Next, you need to try your list against the meta of the moment. The meta shifts at times, but you will need to learn how to play against the lists that people take to tournaments. You need to learn how your list defeats those lists. Once you do that, then you should be ready for a tournament.

So, that's one thing about playing in a competitive environment that I dislike: the repetition. You play one list for a long time. You play against the same 3 lists a lot. It gets monotonous, but it's required to do well in tournaments. You need to learn the strengths and weaknesses of your list and the meta lists. The monotonous nature of it is really what drove me away from tournaments.

Also, you don't have to take the same lists that everyone else does. Find a ship/list that you like and build a list around it that works for you. Sometimes you can take something that isn't being played by the general tournament scene, but it works for you. If you build a list that you get good with...and you learn to fly against meta lists and you win...then it's a valid list. I find the tournament scene gets a bit too locked into standard netlists and don't really experiment enough. I'm sure there are people who disagree with me. Sure, maybe at the top tables of Worlds you can't play some list you come up with, but are you actually planning on being at Worlds? I also find that you get an edge on some of the competitive people as they might not have played against something they have never seen before.

No matter what, have fun!

Your playstyle basically just means you are actually trying to play the game the way that gives you the most enjoyment. Whether thats your favorite ship, your favorite strat, or just what you feel gives you the best chance is up to opinion.

Im an underdog player. I love tie/sfs, xwings, bombers, defenders, phantoms, awings, the falcon, bwings, arcs, and decimators. Almost all of my lists are made of those ships, with a sprinkle of tie fighters if i feel like it. Of those ships, only defenders are considered amazing, with phantoms/arcs/awings/bombers being situationally awesome but generally average. Im known for doing some off the wall shenanigans that people just cant adapt to quick enough to beat me with because theyre used to meta lists, and i dont play meta lol.

Also if you like to joust you play defenders. Theyre probably the only imp ship that doesnt really try to arcdodge. It can, but lack of a boost makes it much less likely to work. Especially with x7 title they have the bulk to just weather the joust and bite back with a vengeance. Their only real drawbackk is the PS

+1 to all the "playstyle" comments above, its just your best preferred way to fly. As for your love of jousting with imperials you might try Hothie's list:

That's Not in Your Action Bar
Patrol Leader with Isard
2 Delta x7s

This seems to work pretty good against large based ships and includes a decimator! You could change up Ysanne Isard to 4 points of anything else. As noted in his tread in the battle reports forum, vader + intel agent might work pretty good too.

To the OP; I don't find that "Play Style" has anything to do with a ship or wave or meta, and it will evolve over time. For me my play style precludes me from doing well with Palp Aces. Why you might ask? Basically because I suck at rolling green dice. Anything that relies completely on green dice will be kind to me just enough to get my hopes up and then dash them completely. I have a saying: "Green dice are an illusion. I disbelieve!"

Now that being said I love the Imps. I always have. I love bombs and ordinance. So my Play Style is bombers. I am happiest flying something that has bombs, missiles, or torpedoes, or best a combination of all three. Strangely that has be flying K-wings a lot. But it works so there we go.

Just about anything in the game CAN work or will be fixed at some point to work. Pick a ship that you just like and fly it over and over again until you are better at it than anyone else around you. You will start to win. But bear in mind that a lot of losing may come first.

What I understand by playstyle: Find a group of similar lists that employ a similar playstyle, which is to my liking, and play them again and again (squishy aces, palp aces, defenders, tie-swarms etc.)

Your actual 'playstyle' will have to change accordingly to the list you phase. Every match is different, and that is what you need to figure out. If you insist on having a particular style (defensively, agressive, slow, fast etc.), your opponent will know this, and you become predictable (either from prior matches or from the first rounds of the game). Know how your list(s) deal with a lot of archtypes, and determine a matching counter-playstyle afterwards.

Personally I have played a ton of Dash Rendar in a lot of variations, a ton of b-wing swarms and other generics. I've recently picked up 2xK-wing bombers, and I play around a lot with them because they are a very unique list. I don't believe there to be any playstyle there is 'my style', but rather that I need to adopt a playstyle that counters my opponents list... Playing vs. palp aces and playing vs Bro-bots or playing vs a Tie-swarm requires a totally different approach to my playstyle.