Double-Ghosts and ARCs

By Astech, in X-Wing Battle Reports

First, a foot note, I played a scum list for the first time last night:

2 x Black Sun Aces (24)

Crack Shot

2 x Concord Dawn Aces (25)

Fearlessness

Protector Title

I went up against two ARCs and a B-wing, and lost very heavily due to some poor planing (I should have done a 4 straight...). Lesson learned: those ships are fragile without buffers.

Onto the real topic.

I'm a Rebel player. Always have been, always will be. I've bought into the other factions for cards and fun, but for every single tournament I've defaulted to my most played faction. And almost every time, my list has involved Corran.

I went through the phases with Corran like everyone who uses him does:

1. Corran Horn (45)

R2-D2

Push The Limit

Advanced Sensors

2. Add Engine Upgrade

3. Swap Sensors for F.C.S.

4. Corran Horn (45)

R2-D2

Stealth Device

Fire Control System

Veteran Instincts

This last iteration is fantastic. Corran will just about always win a 1v1 endgame situation, and who in their right mind attacks a full health, AGI 4 Corran with evade token when there's a perfectly good Y-wing at range 1 of the enemy?

Over the weekend, I narrowly lost the victory on a store championship with a Ghost as the major prize. Last night, I fought against that almost-my-ghost ghost, and its twin. My opponent's list was along the lines of:

Lothal Rebel (50)

Fire Control System

Plasma Torpedoes

Dorsal Turret

Guidance Chips

Extra Munitions

Recon Specialist

Jan Ors

Lothal Rebel (50)

Fire Control System

Plasma Torpedoes

Dorsal Turret

Guidance Chips

Extra Munitions

Recon Specialist

Han Solo

And I was running:

Corran Horn (45)

R2-D2

Stealth Device

Fire Control System

Veteran Instincts

Nien Numb (35)

Targeting Astromech

Stay On Target

Vectored Thrusters

Black One

Green Squadron Pilot (19)

Snap Shot

Adaptability

A-wing Test Pilot

Chaardan Refit

Round 0:

I chose to have the A-wing at PS 2 for blocking shenanigans. The Lothals deployed in a more or less jousting position on the left side of the board, while I had my ships interspersed throughout the middle of the board. I knew that the 4-die primaries would tear me apart if I let them.

The game began with a semi-joust, where Nien faced off against both Ghosts, while the A-wing blocked and Corran flew around looking for mid-game positioning. Nien died, as he should but managed to take out 6 shields on a lothal and deal the Major Hull Breach damage card (all damage cards dealt face-up).

The a-wing continues its bumping shenanigans, causing a ghost to double stress itself, and eventually fly off the board (a 2-bank to clear one stress put him too close to the edge to pull out). At that point he had 3 damage cards (including major hull breach), and Corran's only target on the next round would have been a double-tap to the face, so it wasn't long for the world anyway. At some point the A-wing was hammered by the remaining ghost (with Han Solo), and left Corran vs a single ship in the endgame.

I think he did 2 shield damage - which I regenerated - before the second ghost bit the dust. Because of Corran's far superior maneuverability and damage potential (if he blocked me, I would just double-tap him next round), he could hardly ever land a shot.

Overall, I'm satisfied with the list. I think my mistake came in having Vectored thrusters and Black on on Nien Numb. Autothrusters would have been so much better, and the point from black one could have been better used on primed thrusters (or hyperwave comm relay, once it comes out).

I think this list would be beast if the T-70 had Autothrusters and Expertise. Expertise gives him a constant attacking focus even if he is stressed. The pilot ability lets you do Talon roles any time you want so you can line up those perfect shots. Auto thrusters AND expertise mean you don't have to use an action for anything but arc dodging, making him hard to take of the board. Does seem like you got this list down pretty tight, but these two changes mean you have three very hard to kill ships. I am otherwise impressed by this list. :-)

Re-read Expertise.

8 hours ago, BCvalor said:

I think this list would be beast if the T-70 had Autothrusters and Expertise. Expertise gives him a constant attacking focus even if he is stressed. The pilot ability lets you do Talon roles any time you want so you can line up those perfect shots. Auto thrusters AND expertise mean you don't have to use an action for anything but arc dodging, making him hard to take of the board. Does seem like you got this list down pretty tight, but these two changes mean you have three very hard to kill ships. I am otherwise impressed by this list. :-)

1 hour ago, BlodVargarna said:

Re-read Expertise.

Yeah, Expertise is shut down by stress.

I really want to love expertise, but it's such a painful trigger condition that I can't find a decent location for it outside of Rey, and maybe Whisper if she didn't love VI so much.

1 hour ago, Astech said:

I really want to love expertise, but it's such a painful trigger condition that I can't find a decent location for it outside of Rey, and maybe Whisper if she didn't love VI so much.

I keep trying it on Corran, which seems like a natural fit, but I keep getting him blown up before I can make try use of him. :\

1 hour ago, Astech said:

I really want to love expertise, but it's such a painful trigger condition that I can't find a decent location for it outside of Rey, and maybe Whisper if she didn't love VI so much.

It's great on backdraft .

I almost always use Expertise with my heavy hitters. If I'm throwing three die or using Backdraft (Great combo Spamdex!), you won't see me without that card equipped. It's beautiful to use with Rexlar Brath too

On 2/15/2017 at 8:45 AM, BlodVargarna said:

Re-read Expertise.

I don't see a problem with the expertise trigger. Its not hard to keep from being stressed, I have flown whole matches without certain ships being stressed when I have the build or ship that needs to be stress free. And what I meant was that you essentially get a constant attacking "focus" effect with expertise. I mean, executing a focus action still requires you to be un-stressed unless you combo out other upgrades. But honestly, you shed stress with Nein Numb anyway if you fly him well. You could also trade Numb out for Ello Asty and get stressless talon roles too. You can keep the build the way you have it for sure (its a great looking build); I just presented what I would fly it with.