Hi everyone,

I'll be playing my first game of x-wing in a few days. The sets I have available to build a squad include the original starter set, the Most Wanted expansion and the IG-2000 expansion.

I'm looking for some help in creating an effective squadron. I'm not even sure if a 100 point build is possible with what I own. Any and all help is appreciated.

Thanks!

Who are you playing against?

If it is really the absolute first time you are playing X-Wing, I would recommend against building a 100 point list.

The learn to play guide from the core set is the best way to dip your toes into the vast universe of X-Wing.

Play as the T-70 with your friend playing the TIe/FO ships. Then play again with the opposite sides. Then add in obstacles. Then add in upgrades.

Once you've gotten comfortable with the basics, try a game with 100 points.

I'm sure you have more than enough with your collection to play 100 points.

Also so long as you are not doing tournaments, you can always proxy your upgrades.

Use the squadron builder websites. They are great.

Enjoy!!!

Who are you playing against?

If it is really the absolute first time you are playing X-Wing, I would recommend against building a 100 point list.

The learn to play guide from the core set is the best way to dip your toes into the vast universe of X-Wing.

Play as the T-70 with your friend playing the TIe/FO ships. Then play again with the opposite sides. Then add in obstacles. Then add in upgrades.

Once you've gotten comfortable with the basics, try a game with 100 points.

I'm sure you have more than enough with your collection to play 100 points.

Also so long as you are not doing tournaments, you can always proxy your upgrades.

Use the squadron builder websites. They are great.

Enjoy!!!

THIS!!!! Not to say you will get discouraged, but the first 100pt game can be a lot to set-up and play. Hell I have a few hundred games in now I think and still get overwhelmed. Get in there slow, that is what the starter is for. If you want a little more after running one or two ships, try 60-75 points. Play around with list building yourself and see what works and doesn't the hard way, it'll make you a more competitive pilot, I promise! As you put things together post them for review and tweaking.

First game go with something simple but fun (just proxy cards you dont have):

Rebels:
Poe Dameron (31)
Predator (3)
BB-8 (2)
Integrated Astromech (0)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

Total: 60

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

You have a fun ace in Poe, you get to Barrel and boost to learn those maneuvers, predator for a little offense mods to make the game fun and not roll blank blank blank and get frustrated. Two Z95s (use binayre pirates).

VS

Imperials:
"Mauler Mithel" (17)
Veteran Instincts (1)

Academy Pilot (12)

Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)

Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15)

Total: 60

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Four ships, Mauler is your ace, and is PS9, so you can see how Poe works vs a lower PS pilot and gives you idea of PS importance in aces. The Eps and Academies are all PS1 to practice a little formation and get use to bumping and spacing.

My first game was a mess with Slave 1 and Ties and Falcon and Xwings. Large ships were just landing on asteroids, and it was a hot mess, lol. Stay simple first couple times to learn maneuvers.

I assume when you say the "original" starter set, you mean the one with red X-wing logo and a standard X-wing and 2 Tie Fighters.

I agree with these guys that your best bet is to play some initial games with the X-wing and Ties to get your bearings.

Based on what you have to get to 100 points, you can either try to run a Scum squad with the IG, Y-Wing, and 2 Z-95s or Proxy the Pilots and run a Rebel XYZZ build.

There are many things you could proxy to help build a good squadron, but here is one idea that only uses what you have now:

IG-88B + Mangler Cannon+ Accuracy Corrector+ Inertial Dampeners (44 pts)

2 x Z95 Binayre Pirates (12 x 2 = 24 points)

Ywing Drea Renthal + Proton Torpedoes+ Bomb Loadout+Autoblaster Turret+Unhinged Astromech+Proximity Mines (32 pts)

The goal would be to use the 2 Z95s out front as blockers, hopefully deny your opponent's actions and then follow up with IG88B and Drea to hit some long range attacks.

If you can proxy upgrades, I might run something like this:

IG-88B + Crack Shot+ Mangler Cannon+ Fire Control System + Autothrusters + Inertial Dampeners (46 pts)

2 x Z95 Binayre Pirates (12 x 2 = 24 points)

Ywing Drea Renthal + Proton Torpedoes+ Extra Munitions +Guidance Chips+ BTL-A4 Ywing + Unhinged Astromech (29 pts)

This gives you 99 points for an initiative bid and makes better use of Drea's ability. The target lock she gets can be used immediately to reroll your attack dice on the proton torpedoes.

Likewise, Fire Control System gives you a target lock for IG-88 to use immediately on the second cannon attack if the first attack is missed.

You can explore all the upgrades at the Wikia site below.

http://xwing-miniatures.wikia.com/wiki/X-Wing_Miniatures_Wiki

Thanks for the help.

My friend and I will likely do as you suggest and play a game or two using just the starter set. We're experienced gamers, however, and will likely work up a squad using some expansions, based on your suggestions, so if we should feel so inclined, we can see how a more complicated game goes.

That sounds like a good plan.

Get a few games in using the learn to play. It will teach you the rules incrementally. Then try building squads and learning how upgrades affect the normal game play.

Since it's just you and your friend, I can't recommend enough using one of the squadron builder websites to proxy your upgrade cards.

You've taken your first step into a larger world.

Hi again everyone,

I have a few games using the starter set under my belt and am back looking for advice once again on building a 100 point scum squad. I would like to stick to the ships I have instead of proxying cards. I have IG-2000, Most Wanted and a Firespray-31 available. I will likely be playing against a rebel squad with a beefed up k-wing (Miranda Doni) and Corran Horn's E-wing. My friend has more ships than I do, so I'm a little outclassed I believe.

Thanks everyone!

The Firespray is an excellent ship for newcomers, as are the Y's and Z's.

Here's what I came up for you with the components you listed:

Boba Fett (Scum) — Firespray-31

Seismic Charges + K4 Security Droid + Proton Torpedoes + Slave I Title

Ship Total: 48

Binayre Pirate — Z-95 Headhunter

Homing Missiles + Dead Man's Switch

Ship Total: 19

Kavil — Y-Wing

Autoblaster Turret + Proton Torpedoes + Bomb Loadout + Unhinged Astromech Seismic Charges

Ship Total: 33

100 Points.

These ships aren't super maneuverable, but the Slave-1 & Y can take a few hits. Keep the Z out of the first round of combat if possible (fly him as Kavil's wingman).

Boba can hold his own for a while so you don't have to fly him in formation or sweat those first few shields you're going to lose.

The bombs are going to make Corran think twice about getting on your tail.

Both Miranda and Corran with R2-D2 can regenerate shields, so it's going to be an uphill battle. Your Z won't last long up against Corran, so stay out of arc, get a Target Lock and shoot that Homing Missile when Kavil gets his Proton Torpedo off on his target. The idea is to concentrate your fire and knock their shields off with one missile or torp shot and dig into their hull with the other. After you Z gets his missile off, use him to obstruct your opponent's flight path. Fly up his nose.

Choose a target and focus your fire.

Don't try and be cute with your movements, shots, or abilities. That stuff comes later, when you know your Pilots & upgrades backwards and forwards. Right now, you're learning to fight with a cudgel. Get in his face and get some hits in. You're going to get bloodied, but so will he. Figuratively.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

Tremendous help, especially with the strategy tips, thanks. I'll be in touch.

Sorry to pester, but I now have a Hound's Tooth and a Kirahzx Fighter available to me. How would that affect my squad, if at all?

You're just starting and he's throwing MirandaCorran at you? Tell him to chill.

Hounds tooth is a great ship, kihzrax is mediocre. I wouldnt look at them to see if they affect your one squad, you just have a larger pool, so you can create more diverse list of squads. Try out talonbane cobra and bossk list for example.

My buddy is a power gamer. Chilling is not in his vocab.

So go full power gaming too in this case. You can't have fun when you always are on losing position. You would get bored of the game after some time. Play party bus (hounds tooth build with zukkus and 4lom, look for builds in google), get jumpmaster4000 for more crew and midlink and dengar. And proxy a lot now, dont let him beat you with his collection.

If you can get it all squeezed in (pretty sure I have played against it) a "BumpMaster, PartyBus, and Kavil TLT (borrow our buddy's extra card) can be really fun and effective.

Gotta put the breaks on some of these suggestions.

1.) You're new, so getting more ships and using lists off the net isn't going to guarantee you any wins.

2.) More ships do mean more upgrades, which are always handy--but you don't know your play style yet. You don't want to invest too heavily into a faction or kind of ship that doesn't suit you.

3.) Learn how to build lists with what you have.

I'm very visually minded so I used Squadron Builder at first http://xwing-builder.co.uk/build#
But now that I've tried a few, I like (Yet Another) X-Wing Squad Builder best https://geordanr.github.io/xwing/

4.) Test the list.

You can use Squad Benchmark to try out some of your builds. https://xws-bench.github.io/bench/#

You can play against the computer. The AI is rudimentary, but it's good to try a few builds out before going "Live". Read the manual first (in the drop down menu on the upper right).

5.) Tweak your list and re-test it.

6.) KNOW YOUR LIST!

Don't overload your ships with upgrades, right off the bat. There are going to be crew abilities and actions that you miss; it just happens when you're new.

Keep your ships lean, to start and memorize the pilot abilities of the ships you're flying. For example, you don't want to miss being able to re-roll Boba's dice if there's an enemy inside Range 1. It could be the turning point for a game after all. With your Power Gamer friend, I wouldn't expect him to go easy on you.

7.) Ask a lot of questions. Especially if you are unclear about sequence of actions and the like. Or to clarify your opponent's actions "Why did Corran shoot twice last time, but not this time?"

Finally, if your friend is cool with you, switch lists. You take his and he takes yours. Do this for the second game, assuming you have the time. It will help you see the strengths & weaknesses in both your lists.

Be forewarned. You're going to lose many, many times in the beginning. Don't get discouraged. Set small goals and you'll enjoy the game more despite not winning. Like knocking out just one of his ships before the game is over.

Eventually you'll get better and he'll be coming to you for advice.

Good luck and have fun.

With your new components I'd try dropping the torps from Boba and give him Engine Upgrade. Then drop Deadman's Switch to give both Boba and Kavil Crackshot to help them punch through Corran's evades.

Beautiful.