Hello All,

Just been reading this forum for a while and I am a new player for sure, but love this game! They have done a great job engineering all of it! Its just a huge plus that it is also Star Wars. Anyway I was reading how many people are having trouble with squad builds. I was just thinking though with the new wave that I would run a bunch of Decimators and Ruthless Strategist. They got some serious hull and could out hull the rebels while also taking a big bites our from their own attack. Again I am a newb so what do you guys think? Thoughts?

I have used this to good effect, a gladiator with 2 Blue AA using demo title can put some serious hurt on a bomber wing with 2 attacks. Don't use decimator though, the bomber is 9 pts for 5 hull. Use 2 of them as they will be harder to pin down.

The single hardest part about encouraging people to use Ruthless Strategists is getting them to wean themselves of Gunnery Teams.

Oh and drop Mauler in after you have done 4 blue AS ruthless strat for 1 extra damage for each unit and you have yourself a fairly decent anti bomber wing attack.

The single hardest part about encouraging people to use Ruthless Strategists is getting them to wean themselves of Gunnery Teams.

It's also tricky to get your ships into position for RS. Demolisher really is the best option, because it can move and then use it. That, or a dedicated Raider that can forgo shooting at ships to focus on squads. I tried RS with a triple VSD bomber list, and it just didn't work. If your squadrons fly out of your AA range, they get bogged down. And by the time your AA guns get close enough, the enemy ships are right there demanding your attention.

While Decimators do for sure have a lot of hull, they don't have a lot of hull for the points you spend (22 points for 8 hull = 2.75 points per hull). If you want to run Ruthless Strategists more cost-effectively, I'd recommend TIE Bombers (9 points for 5 hull = 1.8 points per hull).

While Decimators do for sure have a lot of hull, they don't have a lot of hull for the points you spend (22 points for 8 hull = 2.75 points per hull). If you want to run Ruthless Strategists more cost-effectively, I'd recommend TIE Bombers (9 points for 5 hull = 1.8 points per hull).

TIE Defenders are also slightly more cost efficient than Decimators at 2.667, if you still want native AA firepower from your squadrons and decent AS firepower when you're done.

While Decimators do for sure have a lot of hull, they don't have a lot of hull for the points you spend (22 points for 8 hull = 2.75 points per hull). If you want to run Ruthless Strategists more cost-effectively, I'd recommend TIE Bombers (9 points for 5 hull = 1.8 points per hull).

TIE Defenders are also slightly more cost efficient than Decimators at 2.667, if you still want native AA firepower from your squadrons and decent AS firepower when you're done.

If your going to use RS any expensive squadron just isn't worth it, their job is to die. If you combo Demo as an example with 2 AA if you hit a bomber pack he can be applying 6/7 damage across the pack if you have timed it right, just sit 2 bombers at the back of your fleet and fly them in when you have the chance to hit. If they don't get used send them up against ships.

While Decimators do for sure have a lot of hull, they don't have a lot of hull for the points you spend (22 points for 8 hull = 2.75 points per hull). If you want to run Ruthless Strategists more cost-effectively, I'd recommend TIE Bombers (9 points for 5 hull = 1.8 points per hull).

TIE Defenders are also slightly more cost efficient than Decimators at 2.667, if you still want native AA firepower from your squadrons and decent AS firepower when you're done.

Would have to agree with both points... I think the nexus is tie defender shots along side ruthless strat is going to be especially tasty, and bomber for the after party will be juicy as well...But the most important part is bang for activation buck... With the best ruthless platforms able to activate at best 3 squads, defenders give you the best anti squad damage with the highest hull not counting the uber slow yv666 with it's anemic anti ship dice...