So I've definitely decided to fly RAC with a defender wing man. I'm down to two pilots, Maarek, or Ryad.

My RAC loadout is VI, Engine, HS co-pilot, gunner.

My defenders would be -

Ryad - PTL, Twin Ion, x7 or

Maarek - Juke, x7, twin ion

Either way that leaves me at 96 points. Which means I can put another crew on RAC.

I'm leaning toward either Rebel Captive or Darth Vader. What do you guys think?

Should I go with Maarek, or Ryad? Ryad is so mobile, but with the HSCo synergy and juke on Maarek I could land that crit that could be game changing.

Which crew would you guys use in Chirpy?

Much as I like Ryad, I think that Juking Maarek is better in this list as the synergy with HoCo Pilot is clear. Plus the PS of 7 means you will be above both Vessery and Ryad which will be helpful when you run into multi-defender lists (and we both know you will ).

Both Vader and Rebel Captive bring something to this list so it is hard to choose. Given the number of stress-ignoring mechanics available now, I would lean slightly towards Vader. Tokened-up Aces are still a thing and being able to force crits through shields and token stacks at times will be valuable, no to mention finishing off a ship that is clinging on to its last point of health.

Just posting to agree with the above (mostly). I will always take PTL Ryad because she suits me better but juking Maarek definitely has better synergy.

Just to throw in my .02, Lone Wolf > PTL when you're using a Deci. Most often, Ryad will push for a TL, which isn't necessary with LW. The defensive re-roll is just gravy, along with stress you don't receive, allowing you to take Stealth instead of Twin Ion as well as being less predictable in general.

My list:

RAC: Adaptability, Palp, Gunner, Engine (63)

Ryad: Lone Wolf, x7, Stealth Device (37)

RAC is pretty standard, except for the lack of VI, which I don't really think is needed anymore since Fenn is the only true PS9 ace in the meta right now and this Ryad can give Fenn a run for his money, while RAC mops up Manny.

This Ryad is incredibly tanky and reminds me very much of a Soontir in his prime, soloing my opponents squad by herself on more than one occasion after RAC took too much heat and had to run away. If you don't have Palps, Hotshot and Vader seems like a proven combination that should do pretty well. I might go with Juke on Ryad if you're using Hotshot, but then you're losing all the mods you'd get with LW. I'd still go with Palp+Gunner over any other crew combo though, just to make Ryad almost untouchable without a hard counter like Ol' Terry.

Just to throw in my .02, Lone Wolf > PTL when you're using a Deci. Most often, Ryad will push for a TL, which isn't necessary with LW. The defensive re-roll is just gravy, along with stress you don't receive, allowing you to take Stealth instead of Twin Ion as well as being less predictable in general.

My list:

RAC: Adaptability, Palp, Gunner, Engine (63)

Ryad: Lone Wolf, x7, Stealth Device (37)

RAC is pretty standard, except for the lack of VI, which I don't really think is needed anymore since Fenn is the only true PS9 ace in the meta right now and this Ryad can give Fenn a run for his money, while RAC mops up Manny.

This Ryad is incredibly tanky and reminds me very much of a Soontir in his prime, soloing my opponents squad by herself on more than one occasion after RAC took too much heat and had to run away. If you don't have Palps, Hotshot and Vader seems like a proven combination that should do pretty well. I might go with Juke on Ryad if you're using Hotshot, but then you're losing all the mods you'd get with LW. I'd still go with Palp+Gunner over any other crew combo though, just to make Ryad almost untouchable without a hard counter like Ol' Terry.

This is actually the other version of my list. I seriously considered it but for some reason I'm just not that big of a fan of having Palp on my Deci. Not sure why....just doesn't suit me I guess.

Just to throw in my .02, Lone Wolf > PTL when you're using a Deci. Most often, Ryad will push for a TL, which isn't necessary with LW. The defensive re-roll is just gravy, along with stress you don't receive, allowing you to take Stealth instead of Twin Ion as well as being less predictable in general.

My list:

RAC: Adaptability, Palp, Gunner, Engine (63)

Ryad: Lone Wolf, x7, Stealth Device (37)

RAC is pretty standard, except for the lack of VI, which I don't really think is needed anymore since Fenn is the only true PS9 ace in the meta right now and this Ryad can give Fenn a run for his money, while RAC mops up Manny.

This Ryad is incredibly tanky and reminds me very much of a Soontir in his prime, soloing my opponents squad by herself on more than one occasion after RAC took too much heat and had to run away. If you don't have Palps, Hotshot and Vader seems like a proven combination that should do pretty well. I might go with Juke on Ryad if you're using Hotshot, but then you're losing all the mods you'd get with LW. I'd still go with Palp+Gunner over any other crew combo though, just to make Ryad almost untouchable without a hard counter like Ol' Terry.

This is actually the other version of my list. I seriously considered it but for some reason I'm just not that big of a fan of having Palp on my Deci. Not sure why....just doesn't suit me I guess.

I cringe at the 8 points lol RAC is already expensive as it is

Just to throw in my .02, Lone Wolf > PTL when you're using a Deci. Most often, Ryad will push for a TL, which isn't necessary with LW. The defensive re-roll is just gravy, along with stress you don't receive, allowing you to take Stealth instead of Twin Ion as well as being less predictable in general.

My list:

RAC: Adaptability, Palp, Gunner, Engine (63)

Ryad: Lone Wolf, x7, Stealth Device (37)

RAC is pretty standard, except for the lack of VI, which I don't really think is needed anymore since Fenn is the only true PS9 ace in the meta right now and this Ryad can give Fenn a run for his money, while RAC mops up Manny.

This Ryad is incredibly tanky and reminds me very much of a Soontir in his prime, soloing my opponents squad by herself on more than one occasion after RAC took too much heat and had to run away. If you don't have Palps, Hotshot and Vader seems like a proven combination that should do pretty well. I might go with Juke on Ryad if you're using Hotshot, but then you're losing all the mods you'd get with LW. I'd still go with Palp+Gunner over any other crew combo though, just to make Ryad almost untouchable without a hard counter like Ol' Terry.

This is actually the other version of my list. I seriously considered it but for some reason I'm just not that big of a fan of having Palp on my Deci. Not sure why....just doesn't suit me I guess.

I cringe at the 8 points lol RAC is already expensive as it is

If you pump 60-70 points into one ship - as RAC usually is- 8 points for a crewman is not an issue.

I myself am runnig pretty similar list lately:

RAC - VI, EU, Gunner, Hot-Shot, Vader

Ryad - PtL, Mk2, X7

And having a blast with it

I vote for maarek and Vader crew. Reason being, to keep RAC alive, besides boosting away, will be to out damage your opponent. Maarek will shoot before most other defenders in the meta and juke will push through targets with HScoP or help strip tokens, which will save on damage. Vader has helped me kill a ship at key moments before so I didn't take damage and also helped put useful cries down when I didn't kill a ship.

Little fresh experience:

Used this yesterday in 9 man event (RAC,VI,EU,Gunner,Vader,HotShot + Ryad,Juke,Hull,X7 - little variation on Ryad) came out second - list is ultra strong.

Game 1 - 2xNamed Strikers, 2xBlacks, Tie Shuttle - Even strikers had hard time keping up with EU Deci. Plus Vader found his lack of shields to be disturbing

Game 2 - vs 4x A wings (Jake, PsychoTycho, 2x Prot) - HotShot for the win , prockets were so blocked there wasnt even a signle attempt to fire them. But this game exposed this list biggest disadvantage - if you roll cold you loose. I had coldest dice ever in this game (short to say: if Decimator dies when all you did was 3dmg to Tycho...you know you rolled bad). I would swap that Vi to Pred..but then Jake for example would move after me :/

Game 3 - vs 2xbomb K-wing. 15 minutes. It was just a slaughter.

Thoughts:

- hull on Ryad was bomb failsafe - my meta is bomb heavy.

- this list needs more dice mods. I seriously consider coming back to PtL+Mk2 on Ryad (Juke+HotsShot was rellevant once yesterday). Vi on deci is soo good but on the other hand 63 points of just a focus stripped that can deal only dmg by Vader...not tempting.

Other than that? Very strong solid list (but a bit hard to play).

I'd probably go with a juke x7 Stele and run Predator over VI so you can boost every time and not care at all. I'd probably run Palp over Gunner+Vader. Dice modification is amazing and Gunner might not even do anything most of the time with Chiraneau's ability and Predator.

I'd probably go with a juke x7 Stele and run Predator over VI so you can boost every time and not care at all. I'd probably run Palp over Gunner+Vader. Dice modification is amazing and Gunner might not even do anything most of the time with Chiraneau's ability and Predator.

I think you misconcept why gunner is here at all.

He is not there to trigger Vader twice or make your shots better, in Juke list his primary use is to trip tokens of 2 ships , thats why ps10 is important here also.

I'd probably go with a juke x7 Stele and run Predator over VI so you can boost every time and not care at all. I'd probably run Palp over Gunner+Vader. Dice modification is amazing and Gunner might not even do anything most of the time with Chiraneau's ability and Predator.

I think you misconcept why gunner is here at all.

He is not there to trigger Vader twice or make your shots better, in Juke list his primary use is to trip tokens of 2 ships , thats why ps10 is important here also.

No, I get it, a lot of people are trying to run Vader + Gunner + HSCP too. With 2 ships you really only need to strip one of the enemy ships of tokens for your other ship to clean up. The other strip is only a defensive strip so they can't use the tokens offensively, but from what I've seen there are rarely situations where you need to strip 2 for defense. On top of all of that, you have to miss the first shot to begin with, which doesn't happen all the time. Palp is more consistent while Gunner + ______ has higher variance and can therefore be way better or way worse depending on dice.

“Quickdraw” (37)
Special Forces TIE (29), Wired (1), Accuracy Corrector (3), Pattern Analyzer (2), Special Ops Training (0), Lightweight Frame (2)

Rear Admiral Chiraneau (63)
VT-49 Decimator (46), Lone Wolf (2), Emperor Palpatine (8), Rebel Captive (3), Engine Upgrade (4)

This seems reasonable to me. Rebel Captive should help force shots to Quickdraw which will let you get extra shots from her (hopefully) once tokens have been stripped off from your regular offensive output between PS 9 and PS 8 ships. Use Palpatine to help Quickdraw only lose 1 shield at a time so you get the most mileage out of her ability.

I'd go with Maarek and Vader on Decimator. I tried this very list in last tournament and was very surprised how well it performed.

In my opinion, there are some notable benefits from choosing Maarek over Ryad as RAC sidekick. Maarek has PS7. Higher PS means he more often reacts to enemy ship's position and may use Juke offensively before spending his evade token for defense. His ability is only a bonus, but when he crits, it hurts. With HSCo stripping focus defence, it hurts even more.

Of course, he is not as maneuverable as Ryad, nor has her action economy. Depends on you, if PS advantage and synergy between HSCo and Juke outweighs this or not. I'd say it does, but I'd also say you should try both to find the one that suits your playstyle better.

Vader crew is in my opinion more useful then rebel captive, for reasons other already stated before me. Scum builds and non-Ryad Defenders do not care much about adding 1 stress, but Vader may still find some use, if only for finishing some ace/expensive ship limping on its last hull or scaring unshielded aces away.

Why not use Predator on RAC? With no actions needed for a modded offense you can abuse the snot out of EU.

Also i second the Vader Crew. Between him and Gunner you can really ruin an aces day.

Why not use Predator on RAC? With no actions needed for a modded offense you can abuse the snot out of EU.

Also i second the Vader Crew. Between him and Gunner you can really ruin an aces day.

I like vi because at 10 your gonna be using hotshot to strip them defensively And at 8 ships like fenn can unload on you before you get a chance to strip focus, same with dengar and vi ketsu and vi bossk. Pilot skill is still a thing.

My version of this list type

Rac, vi, hotshot, eu, gunner vader ion bomb

Ryad juke x7 twin ion engine

Good point

Yeah I say with gunner, RACs ability and vader, you will get the damage you need. And you don't need to eu all the time. I okie target locking and saving it for the gunner shot, then if your at range three already then focus and use it for defense since any dodges help when you are already using vader, unless you can kill a ship of course

The ion bomb is a new add on for me, but it helps against other imperial lists and helps ditch ships that are after you so you can once again gain positional advantage

Just to throw in my .02, Lone Wolf > PTL when you're using a Deci. Most often, Ryad will push for a TL, which isn't necessary with LW. The defensive re-roll is just gravy, along with stress you don't receive, allowing you to take Stealth instead of Twin Ion as well as being less predictable in general.

My list:

RAC: Adaptability, Palp, Gunner, Engine (63)

Ryad: Lone Wolf, x7, Stealth Device (37)

RAC is pretty standard, except for the lack of VI, which I don't really think is needed anymore since Fenn is the only true PS9 ace in the meta right now and this Ryad can give Fenn a run for his money, while RAC mops up Manny.

This Ryad is incredibly tanky and reminds me very much of a Soontir in his prime, soloing my opponents squad by herself on more than one occasion after RAC took too much heat and had to run away. If you don't have Palps, Hotshot and Vader seems like a proven combination that should do pretty well. I might go with Juke on Ryad if you're using Hotshot, but then you're losing all the mods you'd get with LW. I'd still go with Palp+Gunner over any other crew combo though, just to make Ryad almost untouchable without a hard counter like Ol' Terry.

Just to throw in my .02, Lone Wolf > PTL when you're using a Deci. Most often, Ryad will push for a TL, which isn't necessary with LW. The defensive re-roll is just gravy, along with stress you don't receive, allowing you to take Stealth instead of Twin Ion as well as being less predictable in general.

My list:

RAC: Adaptability, Palp, Gunner, Engine (63)

Ryad: Lone Wolf, x7, Stealth Device (37)

RAC is pretty standard, except for the lack of VI, which I don't really think is needed anymore since Fenn is the only true PS9 ace in the meta right now and this Ryad can give Fenn a run for his money, while RAC mops up Manny.

This Ryad is incredibly tanky and reminds me very much of a Soontir in his prime, soloing my opponents squad by herself on more than one occasion after RAC took too much heat and had to run away. If you don't have Palps, Hotshot and Vader seems like a proven combination that should do pretty well. I might go with Juke on Ryad if you're using Hotshot, but then you're losing all the mods you'd get with LW. I'd still go with Palp+Gunner over any other crew combo though, just to make Ryad almost untouchable without a hard counter like Ol' Terry.

This is really close to the list I ran at the Georgia Regional (I placed 17th or 18th, can't recall). I only swapped lonewolf for juke and palp for Vader+hotshot copilot. I may have done better with lone wolf ryad, a few times my dice crapped out on me (tlt matchups..). Engage quad tlt correctly guys, don't be like me in my second round matchup. Final record was 4-2 with the losses being my first 2 games. Rallied hard but bled MoV with half the deci down in every match.

What did you do against the tlts I alway try to flank into range one with the deci and head right into range one with anything else.

Oh I was on tilt lol. I lost my round one matchup against a superbly flown Miranda Dash list. Then I was matched against quad tlt. Everything went according to plan, my approach worked and I was in range one of 3 y- wings with my decimator. It's just too bad that they have a primary arc! Lol it was baaad. However I was matched against another tlt squad immeadiately after that in round 3 and this time I played like I had practiced this matchup before. Honestly just hanging back with the decimator while ryad tears your enemies apart for the opening rounds is the way to go. If you can remove at least one from the table it should be gravy from there.

Tested with Vader and Steele the other night. Went 2-1. Made a huge mistake the first game and didn't get an attack with Steele. Deci almost made the comeback though. Won the second game against Corran and Poe in like 15 minutes. Won the third against BXX list. Vader definitely helped finish off some ships. Maareks ability never kicked in but I liked the PS 7 shooting before most ships I faced.