Upsilon + Bombers

By WWHSD, in X-Wing Squad Lists

The concept for this squad is an Upsilon with T.Sync and Fire Control System that is the same PS as a pair of Bombers. Having the same PS as the Bombers lets the Upsilon pull some Target Lock tricks for the Bombers. Getting Target Locks for ordnance during the combat phase is also handy if you want to attack Manaroo or Black One is flying around.

- Get a combat phase target lock that the bombers can use to launch their Homing Missiles.

- If the Upsilon starts combat with a lock the bombers can attack with Homing Missiles and then the Upsilon can spend the Target Lock for its own rerolls.

- If the Upsilon starts the combat phase with a lock then a Bomber can use it to fire ordnance that spends the token, the Upsilon attacks getting new target locks which the second Bomber uses to launch ordnance.

Weapons Engineer adds a couple of other tricks:

- Upsilon can fire at a target in its arc to get a lock on a target out of its arc that the bombers can shoot.

- When the bombers can't focus fire it can provide locks on two separate targets.

- If the primary target pops, the second bomber can fire at a secondary target.

Operations Specialist shows up in the two lower PS versions of the squad. I'm going to need to get some games in with it to see if it triggers often enough to be worth keeping. Tactical Jammer is also on the lower PS versions of the squad. I had a point to play with and figured that if it lets a Bomber live to get off ordnance every few games then it is probably a point will spent. I'd be tempted to cut it on the PS4 version for an initiative bid against Mindlink squads with Manaroo. I don't usually consider a 1 point bid worth taking but Mindlink Squads seem to come in at 100 points fairly regularly. If I switch out Operations Specialist and Tactical Jammer, I can fit Hot Shot CoPilot, which may help the bombers push through more damage with their Homing Missiles.

The thing I'm really hoping for with Operations Specialist is being able to fire off a Homing Missile with a focus to modify it after pulling a 5 K-Turn.

Edited by WWHSD
Spoiler tags kept getting nested. Broke original post up into multiple posts.

The PS 2 version of this squad has enough points to splash around to put some action bombs on the Bombers. The Coordinate action from the Upsilon will allow a bomber to drop a bomb before it moves or after it moves and uses it's action to barrel roll. Clusters or Conners are both solid choices for the Bombs but if you take Prox Mines you can upgrade the Flechette Torps to something different.

PS 2
Starkiller Base Pilot (30)
Fire-Control System (2)
Weapons Engineer (3)
Operations Specialist (3)
Targeting Synchronizer (3)
Tactical Jammer (1)

Scimitar Squadron Pilot (16)
Extra Munitions (2)
Flechette Torpedoes (2)
Homing Missiles (5)
Cluster Mines (4)
Guidance Chips (0)

Scimitar Squadron Pilot (16)
Extra Munitions (2)
Flechette Torpedoes (2)
Homing Missiles (5)
Cluster Mines (4)
Guidance Chips (0)

Total: 100

At PS 4 the squad loses the bombs but gets some extra flexibility from Striden extending the range of T.Sync's effect to 3. This lets you spread out the bombers a bit more when you are up against really dodgey ships. Either IPM or Plamas can be taken as the second piece of ordnance for the bombers. I think that which one is better is really meta dependent. I'll probably try IPM on one and Plamas on the other.

PS4

Major Stridan (32)
Fire-Control System (2)
Weapons Engineer (3)
Operations Specialist (3)
Targeting Synchronizer (3)
Tactical Jammer (1)

Gamma Squadron Pilot (18)
Extra Munitions (2)
Plasma Torpedoes (3)
Homing Missiles (5)
Guidance Chips (0)

Gamma Squadron Pilot (18)
Extra Munitions (2)
Plasma Torpedoes (3)
Homing Missiles (5)
Guidance Chips (0)

Total: 100


Edited by WWHSD

At PS 6 I had to cut Operations Specialist and Tactical Jammer. I went with Trick Shot on Kylo because I'm too much of a scaredy cat to use 'A Score to Settle'. If you aren't concerned about its downside it should work well with Kylo's condition. One of the Gamma Vets can be switched to Jonus if you change the ordnance load out on him. Jonus can either bring just Homing Missiles or he can bring Flechettes and IPMs. Switch out Adaptability for Trick Shot on Jonus.

Kylo could also take Adaptibility to take his PS down to 5. If the Gamma Vets switched their Plasmas out for Flechette Torpedoes they could bring Crackshot or Deadeye as their EPT.

PS6
Kylo Ren (34)
Trick Shot (0)
Fire-Control System (2)
Weapons Engineer (3)
Targeting Synchronizer (3)

Gamma Squadron Veteran (19)
Adaptability (0)
Extra Munitions (2)
Plasma Torpedoes (3)
Homing Missiles (5)
Guidance Chips (0)

Gamma Squadron Veteran (19)
Adaptability (0)
Extra Munitions (2)
Plasma Torpedoes (3)
Homing Missiles (5)
Guidance Chips (0)

Total: 100

Edited by WWHSD

A few versions of Jonus that can be swapped out for one of the Gamma Vets in the PS6 version of the squad.

The basic two shot Homing Missile version:

Captain Jonus (22)
Trick Shot (0)
Extra Munitions (2)
Homing Missiles (5)
Guidance Chips (0)

A little more accurate than the Homing Missile Version against most targets (assuming that T.Sync doesn't permit spending the Target Lock to reroll):

Captain Jonus (22)
Crack Shot (1)
Extra Munitions (2)
Concussion Missiles (4)
Guidance Chips (0)

Total: 29

With more shots and a load-out for control:

Captain Jonus (22)
Trick Shot (0)
Extra Munitions (2)
Flechette Torpedoes (2)
Ion Pulse Missiles (3)
Guidance Chips (0)

Edited by WWHSD

All of the versions of this squad seem like they'll have the same problems being competitive. When they can come in and and smash face the squad should be able to bring some shock and awe but once it gets into a close in maneuvering game they'll get whittled down without being able to put up much of a fight. If one of the bombers can get burnt down before it shoots, it's not likely to end well. Even though I think that I like the PS4 and PS2 squads the best, it seems like the PS6 version might be the most competitive because a lot of popular lists that bring a lot of firepower have ships at PS6 or below.

Edited by WWHSD

Love the work you've obviously put into this. I've been toying with dual bombers and a Lambda, but haven't managed to make it work to my satisfaction. Also tried Bomber/Lambda/TIE blockers. I haven't picked up an Upsilon yet, but have been tempted, much for the utility you are exploring above. If you get a chance to try them out, please let us know.

I've been generally considering Deathfire and a Scimitar, for reference.

This combination caught my eye as well, this is what I have come up with so far as kind of an all-in build to maximize the two bombers.

Starkiller Base Pilot (30)
Fire-Control System (2)
Fleet Officer (3)
Targeting Synchronizer (3)
Total: 38

Tomax Bren (24)
Crack Shot (1)
Plasma Torpedoes (3)
Extra Munitions (2)
Guidance Chips (0)
Total: 30


Major Rhymer (26)
Adaptability +1 (0)
Cluster Missiles (4)
Extra Munitions (2)
Guidance Chips (0)
Total: 32

Under ideal conditions, it'll throw 14-15 heavily modified dice. Getting the FCS bouncing on the SBP is crucial so you can Fleet Officer every turn and keep locking with the bombers.

I to have been investigating the use of Stridan with two bombers namely Tomax Bren and a Scimitar Squadron Pilot.

https://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Galactic Empire&d=v4!s!227:43,218,209,211,-1:-1:13:;49:126,-1,-1,17,-1:-1:25:;190:140,126,136,-1,-1,-1:-1:25:&sn=Hux Bombers ver2

Striden can take two actions before he moves preventing blocking (using advanced sensors and experimental interface). I would use Hux and the target lock action which allows targeting synchronizer to work for anyone with in range 1-3. Also lest not forget Striden can Coordinate Action at range 1-3. Inspiring Recruit allows him to shed the stress immediately if he performs a green maneuver.

Fanatical devotion pairs well with both Plasma Torp and Bren w/ Crack Shot. I also love Homing Missiles with Hux on the Scimitar you can ensure at least one focused hit goes through also blocking those pesky evade tokens.

https://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Galactic Empire&d=v4!s!227:36,183,209,211,-1:-1:-1:;190:140,-1,126,17,-1,-1:-1:25:;192:126,58,-1,-1,181:-1:25:&sn=Hux Bombers ver 1

This list is a bit less optimized but I like it because you can do some nice Coordinate Actions with Deathfire and her bomb shenanigans. Think about it, Deathfire can move first to position and Target lock and then Stridan can move and Coordinate Deathfire to do a barrel roll and drop a bomb for a hit as per her pilot text. It may not come up much but it is an option in the tool box. There are more bomber list bouncing around in my head I just need to work them out and test them all. Any opinions?

I like your write-up here. I've been toying with a similar idea of bombers and an Upsilon, all with the same pilot skill. What are your deployment thoughts?