Some of you may remember that i wrote this article way back in the day. While ARC-170s may be the newest flame for me, i still love T-70s. You may have noticed we have a lot of new toys available for just those ships. I'm not going to say anything i already said in the article i wrote, but we are going to update with all the new equipment and pilots.

PART 1: Pilots

Jess Pava:

(When attacking or defending, you may reroll one dice for every friendly ship at range 1)

Pilot Skill 3, 25 points

Hey, now this isn't a bad pilot at all. Good price point, Biggs being very popular in Rebel meta means that Rebel squads like to fly in formation, meaning that if you've got the points, Jess Pava is a great buy. A mere 26 points for R2 and IA, same points cost as Biggs. She's a lot like Poe in the sense that's she can be incredibly consistent.... if you fly her right. Just like Poe's weakness is being blocked and/or stressed, Jess's weakness is that if you want to take advantage of the T-70's maneuverability, you most likely lose her ability. But Jess Pava is one of the few abilities in the game that let you reroll defense dice, which is very powerful, especially for the cheap, Autothruster-less T-70. It's the Tarn Mison of the T-70. The only specific way to fly Jess is to fly her with a squad, obviously.

Recommended Loadout:

R2 Astro and IA

M9-G8 and IA

"Snap" Wexley:

(After you perform a 2-, 3-, or 4-speed maneuver, you may perform a free boost action."

Pilot Skill 6, 28 points

Easily the best new pilot by a mile. Just combining with the new Pattern Analyzer means you can Tallon Roll, immediately boost, then focus before gaining a stress. It's basically Ello Asty just BETTER. Combine that with Targetting Astromech and you also gain a TL at the same time. Stay on Target? React to maneuvers, always gain a TL, plus everything else. Thats just one build. This is a T-70 that takes full advantage of it's frame. This is a T-70 that can actually chase down targets and also do damage, because the boost is free, and you don't necessarily need to equip PTL to do it. Excellent action efficiency. But the best EPT is probably going to be VI, because at PS8 the free boost after maneuver actually works against the fleet-of-foot targets like the Inquisitor.

The great thing about Snap is that you can fly him how you want. He's easily the most flexible T-70 with regards to mobility, so get creative. Just remember, your dial doesn't have the 1 bank or 1 straight maneuvers anymore. I mean, it does, but youR goal with Snap unlike with most other T-70s is that your goal isn't to go slow anymore. Snap is all about speed, balls-to-the-wall aggression, and hitting hard and getting out harder. This was the pilot i think the T-70 needed the most, just because it takes advantage of the T-70's dial and maneuverability to the Nth degree and most importantly does it successfully, where pilots like Blue Ace failed due to low PS and no EPT slot.

Recommended loadout:

Great:

VI, R2 Astro, AT, PA

Good:

Stay on Target, Targeting Astromech, AT, PA

Nien Nunb:

(When you receive a stress token, if there is an enemy ship inside your firing arc at range 1, you may discard that stress token)

Pilot Skill 7, 29 points

The prodigal sullistan arrives in T-70 form, and he's certainly interesting. Unfortunately i don't personally think Nien Nunb is good enough at what you're thinking of using him for; To get as many actions as possible while running up into range 1. Because, see, the thing is the Snap already does that really well, getting a boost and another action on all but 3 of the T-70s dial, except it works every time and it doesnt give you stress. Nien only works at range 1 with an enemy in arc. And if you mess up or don't make it, welp, guess you're keeping that stress. Nien relies HEAVILY on getting hard reads and the best piloting you can muster, and unfortunately even when you nail it he only gives about as much reward as Snap would with less than half the effort. Sorry, i just don't think Nien is all that worth it. Probably the worst pilot in this expansion, unfortunately.

Recommended Loadouts, if you just HAVE to use Nien:

PTL, R2 Astro, AT, PA

Poe Dameron

(When attacking or defending, if you have a focus token, you may turn a focus result to a hit or evade result)

Pilot Skill 9, 33 points

It's Poe. It's Poe at PS 9.

Do i think people are going to use this Poe? I really, really don't know. I like the card art way better than PS 8 Poe, that much is true. But basically, if you wanted to take Predator, you're essentially paying 4 points for it. Just equipping Predator brings you to 36 points, which is what PS 8 Poe with VI AND R2-D2 costs. The good news is this: PS9 meta is basically just Dengar right now. Which Poe has a terrible matchup against anyways. So you might as well take this Poe, right? Predator, R2-D2, AT, and Sensor Cluster is actually really, really good. Swapping SC with PA isn't a bad call either, cause now you can T-Roll and still get a focus, which is awesome. I don't personally believe PS9 Poe to be better, in any way(cause you're literally just 2 points from Corran Horn, which basically = half your list), but this could be an advantage when you're talking about lists like DashPoe or something. Your EPT slot is free for offensive EPTs, which imo is PS8 Poe's biggest weakness, a lack of reliable offense. But that also means one very important thing: You CANNOT NOT have a regen droid on this ship. That's so many god**** points that you're literally throwing down the tube when you don't bring a regen droid. BRING. A. REGEN. MECH.

Recommended Loadout

Great:

Predator, R2-D2, AT, SC/PA, Black Leader

PART 2: EQUIPMENT

M9-G8

(When a ship you have locked is attacking, you may spend the target lock to choose an attack die. The attacker must reroll that die. You may acquire target locks on friendly ships.)

Astromech, 3 points

It's pretty neat.

Ok no for real, it's a pretty cool astromech. It turns any astromech carrier into a weird little support ship for only 3 points. I've found it to actually be pretty decent on Jess, because most of the time she's such a low priority target nobody cares to try and kill her anyways, so she can just TL to her hearts content on any friendly without an action, or a baddie with a good looking shot this turn. I like it.

Primed Thrusters

(Stress tokens do not prevent you from performing boost or barrel roll actions unless you have 3 or more.)

Tech, 1 point

This is definitely the tech upgrade for generic pilots. Cheap and effective. Now you can Tallon Roll and boost, no matter what! Getting cornered by something that deals stress? Boost out of harms way anyways! It's so cheap that the only reason you shouldnt put this on your generic T-70s is if you're doing 4 Blue Squad Novices. It and Pattern Analyzer solves the biggest problem for the T-70, which was actually getting actions out of it's T-Rolls and K-Turns, as well as mitigating just how ruined they get by stress. I love this upgrade, it reaaaaaaally expands the options available to the T-70. The real heroes of the resistance arent the pilots, but the upgrades.

Pattern Analyzer

(After you perform a maneuver, you may resolve the perform action step before the check pilot stress step, instead of after.)

Tech, 2 points

Ooooooooh god this one is great. It's great on EVERYTHING! I T-Rolled, sure, but imma grab a focus anyways. It's so good! The kind of flexibility this gives cannot be understated. It used to be that T-70s couldnt turn around without leaving themselves exposed and probably wasting a round missing with an unmodded shot.

No longer. Another significant weakness shored up. Poe can now aggressively turn in combat and still get the focus to activate his ability that turn.

Vectored Thrusters

(Add the Barrel Roll action to your action bar.)

Modification, Small ship only, 2 points.

Ok this is being mentioned because i'm still holding out hold for this being a thing. Perhaps Snap Wexley with PTL, R2 Astro, VT, and PA for a Soontir Fel level of mobility and action efficiency(albiet at a significantly lower Pilot Skill but you get the idea). I don't think this will matter, but a T-70 being able to boost AND barrel roll at their leisure with green turns sounds a lot like a completely different class of ship. The problem is that the T-70's high PS pilots are too expensive to utilize this very well because they want AT and also don't want PTL. But it's an option available to you as a T-70 pilot, so keep it in mind.

Black One

(After you perform a boost or barrel roll action, you may remove one enemy target lock from a friendly ship at range 1. You may not equip this upgrade if you are Pilot Skill 6 or less.)

Title, 1 point

I like this a lot. Omega Leader? *middle finger* Vessery's squad? *middle finger* Vader? *middle finger* Ordnance builds? *middle finger*

All of these things sucked for Poe. I mean, yeah it's only one target lock, but STILL. This is so huge. Yet another hurdle to T-70 dominance hopped. It boils down to "Don't even bother TL'ing me if you're not going to do it with every ship in your squad.", which is awesome. I mean, lots of ships use TL. Now you really don't have to worry about that anymore.

The bad news is that none of this new equipment makes any of the old, neglected pilots like Blue Ace better. But i kind of expected that. Besides, these new pilots are better anyways.

It's a whole new world for T-70s.

At least until Wave 10 drops and Kylo Ren becomes a thing and T-70s are forced out of the meta again in like, a month.

Enjoy your T-70s while they last, friends.

Pattern Analyzer

(After you perform a maneuver, you may resolve the perform action step before the check pilot stress step, instead of after.)

Tech, 2 points

Ooooooooh god this one is great. It's great on EVERYTHING! I T-Rolled, sure, but imma grab a focus anyways. It's so good! The kind of flexibility this gives cannot be understated. It used to be that T-70s couldnt turn around without leaving themselves exposed and probably wasting a round missing with an unmodded shot.

No longer. Another significant weakness shored up. Poe can now aggressively turn in combat and still get the focus to activate his ability that turn.

"Snap" Wexley:

(After you perform a 2-, 3-, or 4-speed maneuver, you may perform a free boost action."

Pilot Skill 6, 28 points

Easily the best new pilot by a mile. Just combining with the new Pattern Analyzer means you can Tallon Roll, immediately boost, then focus before gaining a stress. It's basically Ello Asty just BETTER. Combine that with Targetting Astromech and you also gain a TL at the same time. Stay on Target? React to maneuvers, always gain a TL, plus everything else. Thats just one build. This is a T-70 that takes full advantage of it's frame. This is a T-70 that can actually chase down targets and also do damage, because the boost is free, and you don't necessarily need to equip PTL to do it. Excellent action efficiency. But the best EPT is probably going to be VI, because at PS8 the free boost after maneuver actually works against the fleet-of-foot targets like the Inquisitor.

The great thing about Snap is that you can fly him how you want. He's easily the most flexible T-70 with regards to mobility, so get creative. Just remember, your dial doesn't have the 1 bank or 1 straight maneuvers anymore. I mean, it does, but youR goal with Snap unlike with most other T-70s is that your goal isn't to go slow anymore. Snap is all about speed, balls-to-the-wall aggression, and hitting hard and getting out harder. This was the pilot i think the T-70 needed the most, just because it takes advantage of the T-70's dial and maneuverability to the Nth degree and most importantly does it successfully, where pilots like Blue Ace failed due to low PS and no EPT slot.

Recommended loadout:

Great:

VI, R2 Astro, AT, PA

Good:

Stay on Target, Targeting Astromech, AT, PA

Glad I'm not the only one falling in love with Snap. It's a bit boring, but I'm actually finding he makes a wonderful platform for R2-D2. You can straight-3 and boost to get out to range 3 while still hiding behind Focus & Autothrusters, and you do so without stress so you're free to come about with a K-turn or Tallon Roll the following round.

I agree 100% that Snap is beyond powerful. I've found him to be better than Poe, since the PS War isn't as critical right now given the weird meta. I think we'll see Snap start to ramp up in Regional appearances pretty quickly when people figure him out.

I used Nien effectively with Snap Shot and R3-A2. I plan to try him with Stay on Target and Targeting Astro. That combo should give him moderate repositioning and a reliable way to have Target Lock and Focus.

Nien is fantastic! I don't know what you are smoking.

T-70 X-Wing: · Nien Nunb (29)

Push The Limit (3)

Targeting Astromech (2)

Vectored Thrusters (2)

Pattern Analyzer (2)

Tall +boost + barrel roll should end you in range one and receive no stress, if not then you are flying very badly.

In my opinion nien is the best ship of the pack! You cannot pull off the same stuff with snap every turn like is possible with nien. What to piss off a ryad? That nien build above will piss her right off.

2pts for 1ps on poe is too expensive for me the lists I have him in are too tight for those 2 points.

Nien Nunb:

(When you receive a stress token, if there is an enemy ship inside your firing arc at range 1, you may discard that stress token)

Pilot Skill 7, 29 points

The prodigal sullistan arrives in T-70 form, and he's certainly interesting. Unfortunately i don't personally think Nien Nunb is good enough at what you're thinking of using him for; To get as many actions as possible while running up into range 1. Because, see, the thing is the Snap already does that really well, getting a boost and another action on all but 3 of the T-70s dial, except it works every time and it doesnt give you stress. Nien only works at range 1 with an enemy in arc. And if you mess up or don't make it, welp, guess you're keeping that stress. Nien relies HEAVILY on getting hard reads and the best piloting you can muster, and unfortunately even when you nail it he only gives about as much reward as Snap would with less than half the effort. Sorry, i just don't think Nien is all that worth it. Probably the worst pilot in this expansion, unfortunately.

Recommended Loadouts, if you just HAVE to use Nien:

PTL, R2 Astro, AT, PA

Or, for a completely different take on his ability - Snap Shot, R3-A2.

You parked yourself in my Arc of Fire at range 1? Pew, Pew....take a stress token and lose your action (so now you're not boosting or barrel rolling away and are taking a range 1 shot with no tokens).

"Snap" - if you really want to show people up with manoeuvrability, consider Daredevil. With a native boost you can use it without risk, and with R2 Astromech and Pattern Analyser, you can pull a speed 2 turn, then boost, then do a speed 1 turn...and then clear off the stress. That's near TIE Phantom levels of "where the bloody hell did he come from?".

Blue Ace is - I will admit - low PS. But he's a long way from bad, especially with the new upgrades. I would suggest primed thrusters and either BB-8 (for extra silly manoeuvres) or R2-D6 and Predator (meaning you can always use your action to boost). Being able to talon roll and still 90 degree boost gives some ridiculous tricks that can essentially drop you in at point blank range on the flank of someone who foolishly thought they were chasing you .

Blue Ace is - I will admit - low PS. But he's a long way from bad, especially with the new upgrades. I would suggest primed thrusters and either BB-8 (for extra silly manoeuvres) or R2-D6 and Predator (meaning you can always use your action to boost). Being able to talon roll and still 90 degree boost gives some ridiculous tricks that can essentially drop you in at point blank range on the flank of someone who foolishly thought they were chasing you .

Exactly this.

Blue Ace is one of those pilots I love but was hesitant to include in lists because of the middling PS and lack of EPT. Now with the superb Tech upgrades I'll be fielding this one a lot more.

I have 3 wins now with Poe, Snap and Nien list variants. Each win is by the skin on my nose, but pretty fun games. Nien with PTL and stressbot or R2 astromech is quite good. Snap is nice and zippy. And Poe is Poe, gotta keep that dirty regenerating game going on.

"Snap" - if you really want to show people up with manoeuvrability, consider Daredevil. With a native boost you can use it without risk, and with R2 Astromech and Pattern Analyser, you can pull a speed 2 turn, then boost, then do a speed 1 turn...and then clear off the stress. That's near TIE Phantom levels of "where the bloody hell did he come from?".

Oh, I like that. it would make him a very dangerous pilot to try and tail because if you were to try the standard aim-to-land-right-behind-the-target's-base move, you're going to lose arc on him and get hit from the side.

I can tell you this, PS9 Poe with Black One, R5-P9, PTL, Pattern Analyzer and Vectored thrusters is beastly. Played a tournament this weekend and I didn't lose Poe a single time. He could duck and weave like crazy all while throwing off target locks and more often than not having a focus for attack/defense/regen.

Nien is fantastic! I don't know what you are smoking.

T-70 X-Wing: · Nien Nunb (29)

Push The Limit (3)

Targeting Astromech (2)

Vectored Thrusters (2)

Pattern Analyzer (2)

Tall +boost + barrel roll should end you in range one and receive no stress, if not then you are flying very badly.

In my opinion nien is the best ship of the pack! You cannot pull off the same stuff with snap every turn like is possible with nien. What to piss off a ryad? That nien build above will piss her right off.

2pts for 1ps on poe is too expensive for me the lists I have him in are too tight for those 2 points.

Nien's ability is great, but to make it count, you HAVE to fill the ept slot with ptl or sot and take pattern analyser. Which caps him to that middle-ground PS7, that is not enough for an ace that pricy.

Great write up and agree with your comments regarding the pilots and builds. What I am interesting to read now though, what do you pair with these ships?

The main problem I have found with Nien is that in order to use his ability you have to be range one of something. T-70's at range 1 of just about anything melt faster than a snowball in the desert.

Great post. Definitely a lot of stuff I'm looking forward to trying out!

I'm worried about Poe R5-P9 and the focus strippers like hotshot copilot or wes or any other focus stealing mechanics.

What do you guys think about that?

I'm worried about Poe R5-P9 and the focus strippers like hotshot copilot or wes or any other focus stealing mechanics.

What do you guys think about that?

Legitimate concerns, and have been since Poe first came out. They are, IMO, why R2-D2 should be your choice of droid if at all possible, so that you keep your ability to regen and "only" lose Poe's ability to these cards. R5-P9 is the backup in case R2-D2 is already spoken for (ie. on Corran or another T-70), or you really, really need that extra 1 point somewhere else.

Some of you may remember that i wrote this article way back in the day. While ARC-170s may be the newest flame for me, i still love T-70s. You may have noticed we have a lot of new toys available for just those ships. I'm not going to say anything i already said in the article i wrote, but we are going to update with all the new equipment and pilots.

........lots of amazing info deleted here due to time........

It's a whole new world for T-70s.

At least until Wave 10 drops and Kylo Ren becomes a thing and T-70s are forced out of the meta again in like, a month.

Enjoy your T-70s while they last, friends.

Wow, you are quite the analyst; you should be FFG's go-to guy if not work for them directly. In a word: amazing.

Thanks!

I can tell you this, PS9 Poe with Black One, R5-P9, PTL, Pattern Analyzer and Vectored thrusters is beastly. Played a tournament this weekend and I didn't lose Poe a single time. He could duck and weave like crazy all while throwing off target locks and more often than not having a focus for attack/defense/regen.

What else did you run with him?

I know that Nien, compared to a lot of other rebel pilots, is good, but unfortunately as we've seen with Ello Asty and Red Ace, "Good" just isn't quite enough. Even still, he's the hardest to use out of the new pilots and on average gives the least amount of returns. Any dedicated user could EASILY make Nien work, but it requites so much set up and hard, hard effort whereas Snap is like "Oh, i did a 2 turn. Lemme boost real quick. Oh this time i did a 3 bank. Boost." and he doesn't end up with any stress anyways.

I feel like Nien could have been 40x better if they just hadnt added the "in arc" stipulation.

i think Nein would have been rather OP if it wasnt in arc. Even if it was range1-2 in arc i think he'd be a bit crazy.

Probably the most hilarious thing ive done with Nein is made him look like a heartless bastard. Had him chasing Oicunn with a Rebel captive on board....i was range1 every time. No stress for me, i dont care about no rebel captive!! lol

I really enjoy the new T-70s and really enjoy the tech upgrades they received. I have flown Poe and Snap to good success up to this point. I typically VI my Snap and add Black One title to him and even tried him with BB8 last time to shed the locks. Nein I was a little disappointed with. I did not use him in his stress outfit, so maybe something to do. I find they have a bit more survivability and the Pattern analyzer really helps maximize my lethality without paying for per the green move-check stress.

The one thing I have struggled with is finding a good team for them to fly in. Typically I runt he 2x T-70s with a stresshog, but some of the points totals are a little weird for example. Not sure I trust them enough to fly at regionals but I am certainly practicing for it!

I can tell you this, PS9 Poe with Black One, R5-P9, PTL, Pattern Analyzer and Vectored thrusters is beastly. Played a tournament this weekend and I didn't lose Poe a single time. He could duck and weave like crazy all while throwing off target locks and more often than not having a focus for attack/defense/regen.

What else did you run with him?

Rey with the new title, Adaptability, Kanan, Finn, Smuggling compartment and Glitterstim. Quite tanky and could really lay on some hurt.