So I'm whipping up a phantom and palp list and there's this back draft thing I've never tried.

Other than the title nothing is really standing out as the quintessential upgrades for that ship.

Just keep flipping through the binder and thinking..."meh...the usual stuff"

But if you were making back draft one of the palp-potatoes that lean into uncle wrinklies sofa and get lazy with their dice because you have a 100 dollar card to use...

How do you build it?

How much fat can you squeeze into back drafts...aft...?

I have run him a couple of times succesfully just using FCS and VI.

If you're going real fat, you probably need Sensor Jammer. SF defense is not that high. Missiles might not be a bad choice either. Generally, though, I think SFs need to be on the lean side of things.

Keep it cheap

Fcs and vi are the easiest way to go, tiemk2 or pthrusters in a pinch

Can also go crackshot because why not

I intend to try advanced sensors and PTL for the shenanigans.

wired+adv sensors+primed thrusters+title = 32pts

Can 1 hard and barrel roll. Next turn, barrell roll then move. Adv Sensors helps get your butt where it needs to be.

Missile SF's made top 16 at worlds, if that means anything to you.

Missile SF's made top 16 at worlds, if that means anything to you.

What was the list? I missed that one.

The upgrades that I typically use include (in no particular order):

-Pattern Analyzer

-Fcs

-Advanced Sensors

-TIE mk2

-Title (of course)

-Primed Thrusters

-Wired

-Veteran Instincts

-Out Maneuver

My personal favorite Backdraft build is:

Backdraft (32)

-Pattern Analyzer

-Fcs

-VI

-Title

Missile SF's made top 16 at worlds, if that means anything to you.

What was the list? I missed that one.

Yeah I really want to know this. I'm yearning for the SF to shake up the meta.

I like predator title and pattern analyzer pretty well for 32 points. Considering trying adding sensor jammer for 36 points of decent value.

Missile SF's made top 16 at worlds, if that means anything to you.

What was the list? I missed that one.

I couldn't find a single SF in any of the posted lists (out to 4-2a) so I'm not sure which list he means.

Missile SF's made top 16 at worlds, if that means anything to you.

What was the list? I missed that one.

I couldn't find a single SF in any of the posted lists (out to 4-2a) so I'm not sure which list he means.

I had a glance at it while watching the stream, it was something similar to this:

“Quickdraw” (38)

Special Forces TIE (29), Crack Shot (1), Fire-Control System (2), Homing Missiles (5), Primed Thrusters (1), Special Ops Training (0), Guidance Chips (0)

“Backdraft” (36)

Special Forces TIE (27), Crack Shot (1), Fire-Control System (2), Homing Missiles (5), Primed Thrusters (1), Special Ops Training (0), Guidance Chips (0)

“Omega Leader” (26)

TIE/fo Fighter (21), Comm Relay (3), Juke (2)

Crackshot could have been VI instead, but both backdraft and quickdraw had homing missiles teamed up with Omega leader.

Edit: And it was North Carolina Regionals, not worlds

Every time I flew Backdraft, the same thing happened as when my opponents bring ARC-170: They blow up really fast because they'd hurt if they wouldn't...

So, build it as light as possible indeed.

http://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Galactic%20Empire&d=v4!s!209:170,36,-1,204:42:-1:&sn=Unnamed%20Squadron

VI + FCS + Sensor Cluster and you're good to go. Try to rely on FCS for offensive mods and save that focus for defense. Always getting at least one evade is going to help that /SF stay alive longer. Only Barrel Roll when it would line up a sweet shot or take you out of harms way. The /SF loves to focus...

Also, with practice, you can put that rear arc on a lot of targets. Think about engagements laterally and go for the move that really makes use of that rear arc.

Missile SF's made top 16 at worlds, if that means anything to you.

What was the list? I missed that one.

I couldn't find a single SF in any of the posted lists (out to 4-2a) so I'm not sure which list he means.

I had a glance at it while watching the stream, it was something similar to this:

“Quickdraw” (38)

Special Forces TIE (29), Crack Shot (1), Fire-Control System (2), Homing Missiles (5), Primed Thrusters (1), Special Ops Training (0), Guidance Chips (0)

“Backdraft” (36)

Special Forces TIE (27), Crack Shot (1), Fire-Control System (2), Homing Missiles (5), Primed Thrusters (1), Special Ops Training (0), Guidance Chips (0)

“Omega Leader” (26)

TIE/fo Fighter (21), Comm Relay (3), Juke (2)

Crackshot could have been VI instead, but both backdraft and quickdraw had homing missiles teamed up with Omega leader.

Edit: And it was North Carolina Regionals, not worlds

I like that list. Everyone ignores an Evade token on the opening salvo.

Having flown some TIE/sf my advice is: don't fly TIE/sf.

But if you really have to fly TIE/sf then fly them as cheap as possible, because they're shockingly bad.

Having flown some TIE/sf my advice is: don't fly TIE/sf.

But if you really have to fly TIE/sf then fly them as cheap as possible, because they're shockingly bad.

I disagree, I've gotten some solid work out of Quickdraw on a number of occasions.

I've run him fat with Sensor Jammer and Lone Wolf before to decent effect, before PT and PA came out. It's not a bad build when you can just pootle around and take focus actions every turn without worrying too much, and the Sensor Jammer/Lone Wolf combo makes it a lot more resilient.

I've had some success (early days) with trickshot and FCS and title.

Trickshot is a lot easier to line up with your rear arc, as it doesn't neccessitate your ramming into a rock next turn.

The general idea is: peel off with a 3-bank and take a shot, normally without being shot back. Then try to maneuver behind a rock (normally using barrel roll) for your second: 3 dice with tl and a crit. The rock adds a dice to your defence, and discourages range-1 pursuit from those your shooting. Third round is usually a striaght 1 to maintain your advantage, and to tl/focus with your 3+crit attack.

The best thing is the price; 29pts.

I'm enjoying both Quickdraw and Backdraft, and I'm looking forwards to picking up a second /sf so I can fly them both in a list together. My go to builds are Rage and Electronic Baffle on Quickdraw (for a threat your opponent can't afford to ignore) and VI and FCS on Backdraft for hitting decently hard at PS 9. Two of them in a list together gives you 39 points to spend on other things - a heavily loaded Vader, for example.

I'm tempted to try putting Primed Thrusters on Backdraft, to make the most of the dial while still having some maneuverability.

I fly this:
Backdraft
title
Predator
Sensor Jammer
TIE Mark 2
Sensor Cluster/Primed Thrusters/Pattern Analyzer (to taste)

Put it in with a Defender or two and something like Omega Leader or a Phantom, and you can punch pretty well for a 3-TIE list (that's not all Defenders).

oo oo backdraft topic! mememe!

*ahem*

There are 2 main ways you can fly Backdraft, both are effective but one is deadlier while being a bit riskier.

Backdraft:

Trickshot

FCS

Primed Thrustors

Title

Total: 30pts

This is the budget build. You can swap trickshot for adapt if you really want but the way he flies its pretty common to be obstructed anyway. Most of the time after he does a red move all you really want to do is a barrelroll, hence PTs instead of PAs. FCS is just too good to not use.

Backdraft:

Outmaneuver

FCS

Pattern Analyzer

Mk2 Engines

Title

Total: 35pts

This is the heavy hitter build i usually use. Minus agility works out of the aux arc, and generally if he has aux arc they dont have arc on him if flown properly. Mk2 Engines gives you +4 greens, pattern analyzer so you can focus OR barrelroll after a red maneuver.

Dont fall bait into his durability problems and buy Jammers. Just...dont. Thats +2 points on an already pricy ship that also cuts a massive offensive bonus for a minor defensive bonus. The point is to fly SFs irregularly, they dont trade shots. Backdraft wants to look like hes jousting but then suddenly cut off to the side and end up with aux arc on his target and his target wondering where he went. A 3bank into a barrelroll to get behind your target is ideal, though kinda difficult to get the spacing right.

Backdraft has been my MVP since he came out. I friggen love that guy lol

edit: Oh, and unlike other SFs, backdraft doesnt care about the 2die out the front if he splitfires. He WANTS to shoot out his aux arc, which is unimpacted by the title. So if that ever pops up where you can splitfire, DO IT, while Quickdraw usually doesnt want to.

note, though, not to bother trying to engineer the title ever

unmodded 2 dice is just pathetic and nowhere near worth the investment. It's really only a niche a hell bonus not to forget when your maneuvering just so happens to afford two shots and your primary target is not in front of you (otherwise, roll +1 die out the front; splitting fire is bad)

the opportunity to split fire has occurred exactly once for me

rather predictably, manaroo suffered 0 damaged