It is strong, it might be a point or two too good, but it sure as hell isn't nerf-worthy. Palpatine and Manaroo are the most worthy candidates there at the moment, just because strong, rangeless abilities have proven to be somewhat problematic, but even they don't break the game. It is in a fine state right now.

X7 plus palp means 3dice with focus/evade(/better evade). If the mid-tier defenders didn't have better action efficiency than most pilots (ryad with the most green moves in the game, and Vessery's Target Lock shtick); it wouldn't make as massive a difference. Aces with autothrusters do the "I'm Untouchable" thing so much better. Besides that, 3 defenders beats 2 defenders and palp. Rebel regen has a great matchup versus any palp build (typically only 2 combat effective ships after the first pass). Stress the defenders and they lose their focus so attacking is completely rng, till they can go straight (or bank if mk2). Conner Nets trivialize them just as well as any other ship. Cluster mines are easy to set up against predictable 4 k-turns. No autothrusters means Tlt and 360 primary actually hit. I'm really not seeing an issue, unless you're flying tie swarm, but they would have trouble against 3 old defenders cause 2 dice misses 3 agillity typically. I've played alot of defenders, with and against, I promise the sky isn't falling. They die to most all the same things that killed ace ships before and some things that can't even touch aces can blow them away (turrets).

The x7 nerf mongers are cute. I don't even play imperial as much as I use to, but man, as soon as anything gets to a point of usefulness and sees play... OMGS NERF. I can't wait for people complaining about strikers and how they needed nerfing. Or that they need a fix, cause knowing the forums it's one or the other, never neither.

Lets talk about making /D a viable option instead
Time to give it the -2 treatment so there is actually a reason to take it over the x7

"After you execute a 3, 4, or 5 speed maneuver where you didn't overlap an obstacle or another ship , you may perform a free Evade action .

Your upgrade bar loses the cannon and missile icons."

I don't think this would debuff them so much. They would be inherently the same if the defenders' player knows how to move and predict its opponent.

However, it would enable a way to reduce their damage mitigation by blocking or stressing them.

The x7 nerf mongers are cute. I don't even play imperial as much as I use to, but man, as soon as anything gets to a point of usefulness and sees play... OMGS NERF. I can't wait for people complaining about strikers and how they needed nerfing. Or that they need a fix, cause knowing the forums it's one or the other, never neither.

The only reason I expect X7 to get nerfed is because of the precedent set by FFG and the Deadeye nerf. That nerf was done because apparently FFG has specific goals for X-wing meta and U-boats were not part of that. X7 is so good that it limits your options as an Imperial player cause why would you take anything else other than the Imperials most competitive ship?

If FFG nerfed Deadeye for U-boats, why won't they just eventually nerf all sorts of things?

X7, Zuckuss, Palpatine, R2-D2

All these upgrades excessively warp the meta.

For cryin out loud, Tie swarms aren't even viable anymore.

Homing Missiles.

Homing Missiles.

When the defenders fly 2 times 5 straight the almost NEVER have to fear that.

The x7 nerf mongers are cute. I don't even play imperial as much as I use to, but man, as soon as anything gets to a point of usefulness and sees play... OMGS NERF. I can't wait for people complaining about strikers and how they needed nerfing. Or that they need a fix, cause knowing the forums it's one or the other, never neither.

Agreed. I have played x7s and found them to be good but not in the least OP. And for those who don't belive me look at the top 4 of Worlds. 0 x7s, 0 Palps, 0 Soontirs and 1 Fat Han. So this shows that good flying trumps the 'meta'. What we have with the nerf cries is a bunch of players who get beaten time and time again and do not adapt and use a different strategy. X7s are very predictable and normally 6 ps or less and do not corner well. So instead of shouting nerf try to outfly them first before jumping to conclusions.

Didn't Duncan Howard make top 4 with x7 vessery and palpatine?

I don't have a problem with it per se, although I really don't like that there are no simple tactics like blocking or stress that can counter it. The ship absolutely, positively needed some love though and while I'll never use one myself I'm happy they took an old ship and made it good.

It's kind of like r5p9 versus r2d2. I don't have an issue with regen in theory, but I think r5p9 is a better design as it can absolutely be countered by denying actions through blocking (which any list can do), token stripping, or stress mechanics.

When you bump or go through obstacle, you do not have you focus. The title is efective when you have both tokens. Just one evade is not a game changer. I have player some games with this list and got top4 with 3xGlaives in PL nationals. Stress and bumps are issues, because not having focus is luck only green dice plus one evade. That is a game changer if opponent is playing with only 2 ships and only one can shoot at a target and if that is the situation then probably he is better (and using his ships effectively).

Honestly, I'm good with them as they are now. They're the strongest thing in the meta, but that's hardly reason to nerf them. They don't warp the meta in the same way that the triple U-Boats list did.

If FFG nerfed Deadeye for U-boats, why won't they just eventually nerf all sorts of things?

You already know the answer, but you refuse to accept that it's correct. So you keep asking for a different answer. You're not going to get one. U-boats invalidated huge chunks of otherwise viable ships in a way that x7 do not. In a way that Zuckuss does not. Palpatine...might, but his presence is less dramatic than "You must have Biggs or Poe dies in one turn". Particularly given the proliferation of tools that make Soontir's life much less pleasant.

But, sure. If I'm a betting man I'm not putting money on the prospect that Palpatine (or perhaps the JM5K, or Zuckuss, or x7) isn't at least being looked at .

Personally, I don't think the x7s need a nerf. I think they are perfect right where they are at. I have never played them, but I've faced them plenty. I have lost exactly two games against triple x7s or Palp x7s. I don't want to see them nerfed because then everyone will stop playing them.

Agreed. The Defender is finally not garbage, and I hope it stays that way.

Defenders weren't played at all before their titles. Defenders are played now. Seems working as intended.

X7 and /D titles are fine. Each one have their uses. X7 is more all-round, hence more popular. /D is for specialist builds.

It's good for imperial to have one small ship -not named Soontir- that doesn't disintegrates just by sneezing at it.

We have to see what happens with wave 10, remember ffg have been play testing all of this with other unreleased cards

the fact that the quad jumper comes with so many tractor beam tokens leads me to think that it is going to be the ultimate in troll blockers, get an x7 or ace to bump you and dump a load of tractor tokens into it means palp, focus or the free evade isn't going to help much

I think x7 is fine at the moment (my rebel lists actually struggle more vs tractor tie/d than x7)

And this is from someone who hates extreame damage mitigation

I think that the title is fine and does not need a nerf.

You have seen what certain rebel builds can do to these Defenders. Regen Aces, Bombs, they perform fine against Defenders. If now these builds would not be invalidated by Kylo, we would be fine...

If FFG should feel like nerfing it, then i agree that the evade should become a free action after the movement. No need to make the Defender as bad as it once was.

Additionally to that, if X7 gets nerf then please same treatment for Dengaroo. Precisely Zuckuss.

But to make it clear. If these things get nerfed, then the next best stuff will fill the vacuum. So maybe instead of nerfing, balance the game by giving Rebels a tiny bit more competitive options, don't ruin anyone's top builds completely and we will probably have a very well balanced meta.

I'm really not seeing an issue, unless you're flying tie swarm, .

That's me. A swarmer. Didn't have a problem with palp aces, uboats, rebel regen, or 4 TLTs. Now, with X7 my swarms are shelved. I fly phantoms. Because f*** defenders.

I will legit be sad if x7 gets nerfed though

Theyre like the only imp that will accept me

Apart frpm dfire conners ofc

Nerf? The FFG designers issued the fix. Are you nuts? I took this thread pretty much as young-n-cheek; but now I'm thinking the OP is serious....weird and illogical.

What the Imps need is more synergy builds between ships and crew; I'm hoping Kylo and Hux start a more diverse imperial trend in the top squads so they're not forced to be so one-dimensional. That will be awesome! Bomber Squad with Hux? Yes!

X7 defenders are solid yes, they don't warp the meta as did U boats did so leave them as is please

That's me. A swarmer. Didn't have a problem with palp aces, uboats, rebel regen, or 4 TLTs. Now, with X7 my swarms are shelved. I fly phantoms. Because f*** defenders.

I refuse to shelve them, but I must admit my main problems at the moment are Mindlinked Concord Dawn Protectorates and X-7 Defenders - because whilst both are broadly different, the problem is the same; both can essentially outclass me in a close range face-off, and blocking (my usual response to better ships) has next to no effect.

I'm not giving up with the swarm, but I'm not sure how to engage them (as tactics, not as in "change your list").

Nerf? The FFG designers issued the fix. Are you nuts? I took this thread pretty much as young-n-cheek; but now I'm thinking the OP is serious....weird and illogical.

What the Imps need is more synergy builds between ships and crew; I'm hoping Kylo and Hux start a more diverse imperial trend in the top squads so they're not forced to be so one-dimensional. That will be awesome! Bomber Squad with Hux? Yes!

Your calling me weird but your the one who wants synergy in imperial builds, synergy sucks you wreck lists like that buy killing one ship.

I don't think defenders need a nerf but given how much belly aching there's been I thought it'd be an interesting topic.

That's me. A swarmer. Didn't have a problem with palp aces, uboats, rebel regen, or 4 TLTs. Now, with X7 my swarms are shelved. I fly phantoms. Because f*** defenders.

I refuse to shelve them, but I must admit my main problems at the moment are Mindlinked Concord Dawn Protectorates and X-7 Defenders - because whilst both are broadly different, the problem is the same; both can essentially outclass me in a close range face-off, and blocking (my usual response to better ships) has next to no effect.

I'm not giving up with the swarm, but I'm not sure how to engage them (as tactics, not as in "change your list").

Defenders - fire first. My high PS TIE Swarm does pretty well against Defenders - usually remove Ryad before she fires, and that takes Vessery's TL away as well.

Protectorates - harder, as you can't outclass them on PS so easily.

I still woulnd't run my swarm in a tournament though. TIEs are dead for now, time to play something else.

Nerf? The FFG designers issued the fix. Are you nuts? I took this thread pretty much as young-n-cheek; but now I'm thinking the OP is serious....weird and illogical.

What the Imps need is more synergy builds between ships and crew; I'm hoping Kylo and Hux start a more diverse imperial trend in the top squads so they're not forced to be so one-dimensional. That will be awesome! Bomber Squad with Hux? Yes!

Your calling me weird but your the one who wants synergy in imperial builds, synergy sucks you wreck lists like that buy killing one ship.

I don't think defenders need a nerf but given how much belly aching there's been I thought it'd be an interesting topic.

I agree. Synergy is not worth it. Part of the story why Rebels have so many midrange pilots that just don't work. Dutch, Esege, Garven, all the HWKs, Etahn, Shara and Thane. It all seems worthwile on paper, but then taking one ace with good action economy is way better most if the time.

Inhave high hopes for the Rebel Tie however. Too cheap to focus on and can probably give different forms of support via Crew, Ahsoka, illicits, Captain Rex... Could be great!