Trying to Get Competitive

By Calaith, in X-Wing Squad Lists

Hi Guys,

I got into X-wing about a year ago but have only recently been able play regularly so am still pretty new. While I prefer casual play to competitive play I want to remain viable at my local club and so am trying to build more competitive lists. One friend in particular keeps kicking the spit out of me with his 2x ARC 1x Roark (or 1x Biggs) regen list and I know I'm coming up against it next week. I have three main lists below I've put together from reading around that I'd like some general advice on, and which I should run against the arcs.

List 1 - Smuggler's Run

- Rey w/ Predator, C-3PO, Kanan Jarrus, Millenium Falcon (Sloop), Shield Upgrade

- Jan w/ Expertise, TLT, Nien Nunb, Engine Upgrade

99pts

Did really well with this against the same friends B, B & Biggs list yesterday although it went back and forth. Rey's ability is handy when the enemy is in arc (and pairs well with Predator) and the pilot skill parity lets me think out who I want to move/shoot first so there's lots of synergy with Jan. I didn't find Slooping that useful though so I might swap to the other Falcon upgrade and R2-D2/Chewbacca for more resilience? Thoughts welcome.


List 2 - Bro Dameron's Bros

- Poe w/ R5-P9, Cool Hand, Autothrusters

- Kyle w/ TLT, Moldy Crow

- Jake w/ VI, PTL, Prockets, ATP, Autothrusters

100pts

This is a really fun list to run and it did well the other week. Kyle keeps Poe resilient while Jake makes himself impossible to pin down. Cool Hand was thrown in to ensure Poe could pull off a clutch focus if he needed to but I'm open to other overall list suggestions.


List 3 - Imperial Aces

- Soontir w/ PTL, RGT, Stealth Device and Autothrusters

- Jax w/ PTL, RGT, Stealth Device and Autothrusters

- Turr w/ VI, RGT, Stealth Device and Autothrusters

Pretty straight forward what this list is meant to do. I love everything about Interceptors and wish they were a bit more competitive. Am I better off swapping Turr for a Vader or Grand Inquisitor, however?

Appreciate and Advice and in particular what I should run against those Arcs!!

Hi Guys,

I got into X-wing about a year ago but have only recently been able play regularly so am still pretty new. While I prefer casual play to competitive play I want to remain viable at my local club and so am trying to build more competitive lists. One friend in particular keeps kicking the spit out of me with his 2x ARC 1x Roark (or 1x Biggs) regen list and I know I'm coming up against it next week. I have three main lists below I've put together from reading around that I'd like some general advice on, and which I should run against the arcs.

List 1 - Smuggler's Run

- Rey w/ Predator, C-3PO, Kanan Jarrus, Millenium Falcon (Sloop), Shield Upgrade

- Jan w/ Expertise, TLT, Nien Nunb, Engine Upgrade

99pts

Did really well with this against the same friends B, B & Biggs list yesterday although it went back and forth. Rey's ability is handy when the enemy is in arc (and pairs well with Predator) and the pilot skill parity lets me think out who I want to move/shoot first so there's lots of synergy with Jan. I didn't find Slooping that useful though so I might swap to the other Falcon upgrade and R2-D2/Chewbacca for more resilience? Thoughts welcome.

How do you not find Slooping with Rey useful? It's pretty much what she does. Predator seems little redundant with her ability, since you're already rerolling two blanks. With your inclusion of C-3PO, it looks like you want a more tanky Falcon, which Rey isn't...she's more of a buzzsaw doing damage and scary to face head-on.

Hi Guys,

I got into X-wing about a year ago but have only recently been able play regularly so am still pretty new. While I prefer casual play to competitive play I want to remain viable at my local club and so am trying to build more competitive lists. One friend in particular keeps kicking the spit out of me with his 2x ARC 1x Roark (or 1x Biggs) regen list and I know I'm coming up against it next week. I have three main lists below I've put together from reading around that I'd like some general advice on, and which I should run against the arcs.

List 1 - Smuggler's Run

- Rey w/ Predator, C-3PO, Kanan Jarrus, Millenium Falcon (Sloop), Shield Upgrade

- Jan w/ Expertise, TLT, Nien Nunb, Engine Upgrade

99pts

Did really well with this against the same friends B, B & Biggs list yesterday although it went back and forth. Rey's ability is handy when the enemy is in arc (and pairs well with Predator) and the pilot skill parity lets me think out who I want to move/shoot first so there's lots of synergy with Jan. I didn't find Slooping that useful though so I might swap to the other Falcon upgrade and R2-D2/Chewbacca for more resilience? Thoughts welcome.

List 2 - Bro Dameron's Bros

- Poe w/ R5-P9, Cool Hand, Autothrusters

- Kyle w/ TLT, Moldy Crow

- Jake w/ VI, PTL, Prockets, ATP, Autothrusters

100pts

This is a really fun list to run and it did well the other week. Kyle keeps Poe resilient while Jake makes himself impossible to pin down. Cool Hand was thrown in to ensure Poe could pull off a clutch focus if he needed to but I'm open to other overall list suggestions.

List 3 - Imperial Aces

- Soontir w/ PTL, RGT, Stealth Device and Autothrusters

- Jax w/ PTL, RGT, Stealth Device and Autothrusters

- Turr w/ VI, RGT, Stealth Device and Autothrusters

Pretty straight forward what this list is meant to do. I love everything about Interceptors and wish they were a bit more competitive. Am I better off swapping Turr for a Vader or Grand Inquisitor, however?

Appreciate and Advice and in particular what I should run against those Arcs!!

Looking at Rey the shield upgrade is largely a waste of points when you factor in the cost as against how easily it will be lost. I would definitely take Engine Upgrade instead and take it off the HWK. The Rey sloop is potentially really good, particularly with Kanan. I agree with a lot of what gennatoas says and would do the following with her:

Swap out Predator for VI - now you can sloop and you will now where those pesky PS9 aces will be and can turn/boost accordingly

Swap shield upgrade for engine upgrade - it is so much more beneficial to large ships and the extra ground they cover make a big difference

If you can get confident keeping the opponent in arc I would swap C3-PO for Finn. If the opponent is in arc it is effectively an extra agility point for defence and an extra attack point as well.

As a wingman I would drop Jan and go for someone like Corran but with VI to keep the PS the same as Rey. At 42 points you can have Corran, FCS, VI and R2-D2. Not as tanky as the PTL build but the double tap is still there and the barrel roll at PS10 should help you keep out of arc and your dial will also open up as not tied to green manoeuvres.

I'm by no means any sort of expert, but Rey is probably my favorite ship/pilot, and I outfit her with the standards:

Rey

Finn

Kanan

Sloop title

I'll then either use VI or Expertise for the EPT and with or without EU, depending on who I want as her wingman. I basically want to make anyone deathly afraid of being caught in her arc. I've found the biggest challenge is to not become too predictable with her sloop.

Edited by gennataos

Message received, don't go any tankier on Rey. :lol:

I've found the biggest challenge is to not become too predictable with her sloop.

This was my biggest problem. I got utterly trounced in my first three games with Rey (with engine upgrade and Finn) because I was trying too hard to keep the enemy in arc. I ended up being overexposed and promptly outgunned. My one real opportunity to Sloop in my previous match I instead right turned 1 and caught my opponent by surprise, who was expecting me to use the Impressive title card. Sure I was only firing with 4 shots (w/Jan) and one re-roll, but I wasn't in his arc at all.

Never-the-less I appreciate the advice and will keep Rey Slooping until I improve my piloting. Will try her a bit more with 3PO until I get my confidence up and then try going full "Buzz-saw".

I'm assuming the other lists were either rock solid, too poor to bear mentioning or less contentious? :D

EDIT: Side note; what about swapping Expertise and Predator in that first list? Jan gets the re-role while Rey takes full advantage of her re-rolls?

Also, point taken about Corran, I just don't own an E-wing.

Edited by Calaith

On the other lists, I don't fly imperials, so I can't comment on the third one. On the second one, I feel like there's not enough there to push through damage. It's a weakened version of Poe without a typical PtL build with R2-D2 or BB-8. Jake is always fun to fly, but after those Prockets fire, he'll likely just be a nuisance to your opponent, not a threat.

Back to the Rey list, the problem with a HWK is it's a non-threat and can't keep up with Rey. You opponent would either ignore it and burn down Rey or (more likely) just burn down Jan, which will happen quickly.

Message received, don't go any tankier on Rey. :lol:

I've found the biggest challenge is to not become too predictable with her sloop.

This was my biggest problem. I got utterly trounced in my first three games with Rey (with engine upgrade and Finn) because I was trying too hard to keep the enemy in arc. I ended up being overexposed and promptly outgunned. My one real opportunity to Sloop in my previous match I instead right turned 1 and caught my opponent by surprise, who was expecting me to use the Impressive title card. Sure I was only firing with 4 shots (w/Jan) and one re-roll, but I wasn't in his arc at all.

Never-the-less I appreciate the advice and will keep Rey Slooping until I improve my piloting. Will try her a bit more with 3PO until I get my confidence up and then try going full "Buzz-saw".

I'm assuming the other lists were either rock solid, too poor to bear mentioning or less contentious? :D

EDIT: Side note; what about swapping Expertise and Predator in that first list? Jan gets the re-role while Rey takes full advantage of her re-rolls?

Also, point taken about Corran, I just don't own an E-wing.

Corran is great but any other e-wing is just a waste of points unless you're playing epic when Etahn becomes pretty good

List 3 - Imperial Aces

- Soontir w/ PTL, RGT, Stealth Device and Autothrusters

- Jax w/ PTL, RGT, Stealth Device and Autothrusters

- Turr w/ VI, RGT, Stealth Device and Autothrusters

Pretty straight forward what this list is meant to do. I love everything about Interceptors and wish they were a bit more competitive. Am I better off swapping Turr for a Vader or Grand Inquisitor, however?

Appreciate and Advice and in particular what I should run against those Arcs!!

I really like Squints. Really, really like them. I brought that exact same list to my first ever tournament last year, but didn't do so well. As you probably know, Interceptors are quite a challenge to fly effectively. Personnally, if you are particularly keen on sticking to Interceptors, you could perhaps keep Soontir and Jax and maybe bring along the Inquistor with his standard build (PTL, V1 title and Thrusters) or, alternatively, Omega Leader. He fits nicely with Juke, Comm Relay and Stealth Device (98pts total).

Might also think about bringing a Striker? Duchess possibly? Might leave you with too wide of an init bid, but that might be useful as well.

I kept to this third list, as I don't play Rebels that often (or not at all...) :)

I really like Squints. Really, really like them. I brought that exact same list to my first ever tournament last year, but didn't do so well. As you probably know, Interceptors are quite a challenge to fly effectively. Personnally, if you are particularly keen on sticking to Interceptors, you could perhaps keep Soontir and Jax and maybe bring along the Inquistor with his standard build (PTL, V1 title and Thrusters) or, alternatively, Omega Leader. He fits nicely with Juke, Comm Relay and Stealth Device (98pts total).

Might also think about bringing a Striker? Duchess possibly? Might leave you with too wide of an init bid, but that might be useful as well.

I kept to this third list, as I don't play Rebels that often (or not at all...) :)

There's some things to think about... I thought about doing a typical Soontir/Vader build as I think I mentioned in my first post. However I'm put off by the fact that Vader doesn't come with the title cards the Tie Adv kinda needs. I'm leaning more towards grabbing the Inquisitor, but is he or Omega Leader generally seen as the more competitive? Thematically I'd probably go with the Inquisitor anyway but I'm also curious about being able to do a Tie/FO swarm in future...

What is his two Arc and Roark list because I can see that getting it's ass lit up in a tournament. The Arc is good but without Biggs, they die.

I couldn't tell you exactly... I think he's using Nora with PTL to punch through his damage with the target lock and focus tokens. She also has R2-D2 to keep her alive and Roark to ensure they can shoot first. Rear Arc becomes dangerous with an automatically added crit result (using the title).

I think he was running Braylen with R3-A2 which was causing me to take more stress than I could shed with Kanan, but I feel like he swapped that out in our last game. I also didn't have Nien Nunb in the HWK at that point so Kanan was keeping Jan's ability alive.