Vessery and Ryad remain the most popular Defenders despite being PS 5 and 6. Sure, their abilites are very useful and it helps their offense to use the EPT slot for something other than Veteran Instincts. Defenders do have the Barrel Roll ability however, so they are able to reposition after their dial move which can make a big difference when moving last in the round. Killing things first is helpful too.

I think a PS7 Maarek started popping up in an occasional list at the big tournaments lately, but a VI-Maarek or Rexler are rare.

Is high PS not that important when you can "only" barrel roll, or are Ryad and Vessery (or their abilities) simply amazing?

It's that Ryad and Vessery have great synergy with each other. You see Maarek or Rex pop up a little more often if there's a single Defender in a list.

In my opinion, their repositioning isn't a significant part of their play style. Their real power comes from being focus/evade and have a shot. The lower pilot skill allows for you to hopefully not get blocked so you get your action to token up. With flying as predictable as they do, getting blocked can be very easy. These ships are tanks. With 6 health, an evade, and maybe focus/palp they don't die very fast, so it's not often that you need to be firing first to get off some key shot before getting shot at. You're not a phantom so you don't need to shoot to recloak. There's really nothing pushing you to go first. Personally, I like firing last. It lets you use anything you need as far as tokens and abilities on defense then punishing them with whatever is left. i find too often that Soontir players fire weak shots in favor of saving tokens. Firing later lets you say "well i'm done getting shot at, I'll focus and Palp a crit".

On the counter side, I've been flying Maarek lately and I have to think completely opposite. Getting blocked is much more common, and when I shoot, using palp to get that Maarek crit is a huge gamble if i'm going to be getting shot at by more ships. Please blinded pilot, please blinded pilot! On the positive side, I usually still have my evade token for Juke.

I was planning to fly this next, just because Ryad and Vessery are so popular. We will see how it goes. All PS 7, to try and gang up on a Defender and get it down before it shoots. May not work without a juke in the list to push thru damage.

TIE Defender: · Countess Ryad (34)

Veteran Instincts (1)

TIE/x7 (-2)

TIE Defender: · Colonel Vessery (35)

Adaptability (Increase) (0)

TIE/x7 (-2)

TIE Defender: · Maarek Stele (35)

Crack Shot (1)

TIE/x7 (-2)

1. Low PS ships have the better abilities, BY FAR.

2. Lower PS means you can afford to be slightly more predictable, and hopefully not get blocked.

3. You're likely going to use something other than barrel roll, anyways.

The only real enemy of substance, for the low PS Defenders, is Dash. And even then, it's not THAT bad.

I think it's because you don't have the boost-BR combo to allow you to dodge arcs quite as much, and because you don't melt when shot more than once or twice, like an Interceptor. And also, the abilities on Vess and Ryad are better. And Rexler is a tad overpriced.

I only use Stele now. I tried Rhyad and found she is to predictable. Vessery works better with the D title IMHO.

Although I don't use them that often anyways. I tend to like swarms more. Or Decimator builds so only have room for another ship usually.

PS is less useful because the kturn as of now cant be blocked when head to head battle. Aces have to hard 2 then turtle up, or go straight and boost out of range then turn around the following round. We all know what the defender is going to do and can do nothing about it. Inquisitor is probably the best ace to go against defenders with those 1 greens, he can get arc. All the times I have flown defenders, he is the ace that gives me most of the problems, and the reason I now prefer ps8 defenders like VI vess and Rex.