I just got into X-wing a couple months ago and have a sizable collection, but i don't know what to get next. I have: The force awakens core set, imperial veterans, imperial aces TIE interceptor, TIE defender, TIE punisher, TIE phantom, and the TIE adv. prototype. I don't want to buy rebels or scum & villainy, as I am going for imperial and am on a budget. Also, what do you think a good list for what I have right now/stuff I might get would be?

First Order TIE expansion; easily the best value for money in a single Imperial Ship.

What of your current collection is your favorite to fly? Are you trying to build a collection for casual play or for tournaments? These are important differences. You don't have any large base ships, do any of them interest you?

If it were me, I would probably buy another imp veterans for a triple X7 list of some variety, but that is based on my play style and the fact that I love the look of the defender and the way the X7 title made them playable. Otherwise, I would say something different like the decimator or the shuttle.

Looks like you don't have any copies of Autothrusters which are extremely valuable upgrades for both the Interceptor and Prototype. Even if you don't want to play Scum, picking up a Star Viper will give you 2 copies of this card so is worth considering.

First Order Tie is a great buy as it nets you Omega Leader, Comms Relay and Juke which is a ready-made pocket-Ace in a box.

As for good lists, I love running a pair of Defenders backed up by a Bomber to pack some punch. Deathfire is probably my favourite bomber due to his ability to drop bombs before or after moving as a free action. This is my usual list.

36 Countess Ryad (34), Push the Limit (3), /x7 (-2), TIE Mk2 (1)

36 Colonel Vessery (35), Juke (2), /x7 (-2), TIE Mk2 (1)

28 Deathfire (17), Homing Missiles (5), Cluster Mines (4), Extra Munitions (2), Long Ranged Scanners (0)

100 points

The only thing you are missing for the above list (I think) is Juke which you can pick up with the First Order Tie. This list is pretty easy to fly but packs a solid punch. The Defenders should stick to speed 3 manoeuvres or higher where possible to ensure they get their free Evade tokens. Vessery will normally want to Focus as his action. Ryad has Push The Limit so she can Focus and Target Lock for her actions. Her K-Turn rule and Mk2 engines means she has a whopping 14 green manoeuvres with which to shed stress from PTL. Deathfire wants to creep up slowly and get a Target Lock on Turn 1 using LRS so he can fire his homing missile at a valuable target on turn 2. Vessery should aim for the same target as one of his wingmen so that he can effectively get a free target lock whenever he shoots.

After the initial joust, both Defenders can K-Turn without stress and keep repeating the above pattern while Deathfire can switch to dropping cluster mines in front of the enemy and keeping an eye open in case he gets an opportunity to fire his second Homing Missile.

15 hours ago, Needa_fix said:

I just got into X-wing a couple months ago and have a sizable collection, but i don't know what to get next. I have: The force awakens core set, imperial veterans, imperial aces TIE interceptor, TIE defender, TIE punisher, TIE phantom, and the TIE adv. prototype. I don't want to buy rebels or scum & villainy, as I am going for imperial and am on a budget. Also, what do you think a good list for what I have right now/stuff I might get would be?

Are you interested in playing competitively, or do you want something more fun and thematic?

12 hours ago, DagobahDave said:

Are you interested in playing competitively, or do you want something more fun and thematic?

More for fun and thematic, but eventually I want to play competitively.

23 hours ago, Segmentvs said:

What of your current collection is your favorite to fly? Are you trying to build a collection for casual play or for tournaments? These are important differences. You don't have any large base ships, do any of them interest you?

If it were me, I would probably buy another imp veterans for a triple X7 list of some variety, but that is based on my play style and the fact that I love the look of the defender and the way the X7 title made them playable. Otherwise, I would say something different like the decimator or the shuttle.

The defender is my favourite. What the better support ship, The lambda or the upsilon?

On it's own, the Upsilon. The Lambda only really shines once you stick Emperor Palpatine on it, and he only comes with the Imperial Raider which might be more than you're willing to spend at this point.

I'll echo jmswood above and recommend the individual TIE/fo as your next purchase. Omega Leader is one of the better "pocket aces" for Imperials, you get her optimal setup (Juke + Comm Relay) straight out of the box, and she makes the perfect compliment for a couple of Defenders. Something like this:

Colonel Vessery + Outmaneuver + Twin Ion Engines MkII + TIE/x7 [37]
Countess Ryad + Push the Limit + Twin Ion Engines MkII + TIE/x7 [36]
Omega Leader + Comm Relay + Juke [26]

Would be a very solid build. You could also swap Vessery & Outmaneuver for Maarek Stele & Predator.

27 minutes ago, Needa_fix said:

The defender is my favourite. What the better support ship, The lambda or the upsilon?

Well, that is a loaded question. Most of the support would be with a Lambda with Emporer Palpatine. The problem is that Palpatine is only available from the Raider, an epic ship.

here is a list I have had some success with.

100 points Pilots

Glaive Squadron Pilot (33) x 2

TIE Defender (34), Adaptability (0), TIE/x7 (-2), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

Countess Ryad (34) TIE Defender (34), Veteran Instincts (1), TIE/x7 (-2), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

Unfortunately, adaptability is from the Mist Hunter expansion, and veteran instincts comes from mostly large base ships, Slave 1 being the only imperial one. However, those aren't needed to try this out.

I have also had fun with defenders and Captain Jonus. And I mean fun, not necessarily victory.

100 points Pilots

Countess Ryad (38) TIE Defender (34), Ion Cannon (3), Veteran Instincts (1), TIE/D (0)

Colonel Vessery (38) TIE Defender (35), Ion Cannon (3), Adaptability (0), TIE/D (0)

Captain Jonus (24) TIE Bomber (22), TIE Shuttle (0), Adaptability (0), Systems Officer (2)

For this list you would need the Tie Bomber expansion. And some of my upgrade choices are the same issue as the other list.

Check out out the latest X-Wing article as well. There is an interesting list to give you additional ideas.

I am really liking my Upsilon. It's actually usable when escorting ties are dead.