Alright kids, I'm having a dilemma here choosing between Ackbar and Sato as commanders. As I read it, you can say have 5 shots potentially with either but due to the shenanigans between the 2, Ackbar will give you 2 additional red dice but Sato would give you the chance to change to powerful hits. Of course card conditions need to be met. So with that in mind, would you choose power of the hit coming or chance to make more hits?

Sato relies on squadrons to make powerful (preferably double arc) shots.

Ackbar relies on masses of red dice, exclusively from broadsides.

Which sounds more appealing?

Sato is good with any ship, plain and simple, but you need to have squadrons near your target and sometimes that's not always possible.

Ackbar will always be there for you and give bigger damage potential, but he pigeonholes you more in what you'll want to do.

Ackbar has a higher alpha strike (big side arc), while Sato gives you more constant damage (can double arc).

Ackbar doesn't fit with Neb-Bs, Sato does.

Having the same dilema. Liberty and Neb B love sato Salvation with Black dice can be great (if he crits)

My point is: both can work, but are very different. What do YOU want to play? Decide, then build the best list you can for that Admiral.

Sato works well with AFs with OE and Paragon. Also with CR90s and Nebs.

Ackbar works well with AFs with GT and MC80s.

Both can work with MC30s.

Don't know if I'd use either with the MC80L. Sato maybe, but that becomes your beat stick and it's easy to avoid the beat stick, and it has low squad value, which means you can't swarm a target.

Here is some numbers to help you.

Ackbar 80 (Assault) at medium:

Avg Damage: 6

Avg Acc: 1.25

Ackbar AF (72 point version) at medium:

Avg Damage: 4.5

Avg Acc: .875

Sato CR90A at medium double arc:

Avg Damage: 4.75

Avg Acc: .25

Sato Paragon (72 point version) at medium double arc with OE on both attacks:

Avg Damage: 7.66

Avg Acc: .375

Sato Liberty (Battle Cruiser) at medium double arc:

Avg Damage: 8.5

Avg Acc: 1.125

For these calculations, I changed reds for blacks since that's what I do, and the likely choice anyone will make. There are a number of choices you can make to influence these numbers, but I'm going off my own builds for these ships. Also, Sato may have more firepower, but he does needs squads to activate. I do think at long range, Ackbar deals more damage.