Decisions on Decimator list

By DropItLikeItsHoth, in X-Wing Squad Lists

I'm having some trouble deciding which way I want to build this Decimator list and I'm looking for opinions.

RAC

Swarm Leader

Darth Vader

Ysanne Isard

Tactical Jammer

Howlrunner

Academy Pilot x2

...Or if I want to replace the Academy Pilots and Howlrunner with...

Tempest Squadron Pilot x2

TIE/X1

Accuracy Corrector

I thought maybe the TIE Advanced would have more consistent damage output along with more hit points. Plus I can still take an Evade action for RAC to trigger Swarm Leader. Thoughts?

Either are fine, but none are great.

My reasoning is this - you don't have questionable target priority. Almost every list is going to kill your supports first, and do so rather quickly. This leaves you with a RAC that has an EPT that is eating up valuable points and an incredibly valuable slot for, possibly, most of your game.

You either need to make your supporting ships stronger, OR you need to have a way to buff them up. A good example would be dropping Isard and Tac Jammer (it looks good on paper, but won't trigger more than once, if that, and is probably going to cause you to make mistakes trying to keep it going) so you can put Hux (and Dauntless, if you can fit it) onto RAC.

Hux lets you give your wingmen focus for defense, which is clutch since they are feeding you their Evade tokens. It also increases their offense, which is something they'd otherwise lack due to constantly spamming Evade actions.

IMO, if you have Hux, you don't need Darth Vader as much, as you can give RAC Fanatical Devotion to help sneak hits through on the tricksy aces... and you really NEED RAC to live as long as possible (so maybe sneak Isard back on there if you can, or Rebel Captive, or something).

I'm not sold on Swarm Leader Decimators, but I do think there is definitely some room for testing.

Those are some very good points. Good food for thought.

13 minutes ago, DropItLikeItsHoth said:

Those are some very good points. Good food for thought.

Was looking more into it -- Hux and Isard do NOT play well together, so scratch Isard entirely if you do end up taking Hux. Rebel Captive could be good, or maybe Hot Shot Copilot, to help strip tokens before some enemies shoot at your support. My quick toss together, though I'd like to review wingmen options some more (Titled TAPs come to mind, just need to run the points):

DECI-SWARM TEST V1

100 points

PILOTS

Rear Admiral Chiraneau (64)
VT-49 Decimator (46), Swarm Leader (3), General Hux (5), Emperor Palpatine (8), Dauntless (2)

Omega Squadron Pilot (18) x 2
TIE/fo Fighter (17), Crack Shot (1)

I do really like the Crack Shot TIEs. Just one problem... don't have Hux or Palpatine. Haven't got the new expansions yet and I don't play Epic, so really no point to buy a Raider.

Ok, so I have found that the TIE Advanced really kicks ass only if you have the
Title card for it, the Title ships with the Raider Epic expansion I think but you
can get it as a single from a few places. If you want to run TIE Advanceds
(and that is a good idea imo) this might be a good plan:

=================== Advanced Decimation ===================
100 points Pilots
------
Commander Kenkirk (53) VT-49 Decimator (44), Veteran Instincts (1), Ysanne Isard (4), Engine Upgrade (4)
Storm Squadron Pilot (24) TIE Advanced (23), TIE/x1 (0), Advanced Targeting Computer (1)
Storm Squadron Pilot (23) TIE Advanced (23), TIE/x1 (0), Accuracy Corrector (0)
The reason for Commander Kenkirk is that when paired with Ysanne I have found that his survivability surprises the crap out of people & who doesn't like Engine Upgrade on a Decimator.
The Storm Squadron guys are pretty solid non-unique TIE Advanced pilots, the Advanced Targetting Computer adds a crit when you have a target lock and the Accuracy Corrector on the other TIE levels it's damage output.

If you want to play deci + ties try this:

Patrol Leader + Vader

Omega Leader + Juke + Comms + Hull

Zeta Leader + Juke/Wired (your fitting) + Hull

I call this list "clear conscience" cause only while playing it im not having remorses about vadering my decimator. Plus it works pretty well - deci is just expendable gunplatform, Omega is Omega locking aces down, and such fat Zeta dished suprisingly much damage.

Or try :

2x Storm/Tempest Squad + Clusters Missles + Acuraccy Corrector + Chips.

50 deci of your choice

Advanceds got hell of alpha this config and they solid later - constant damage and free actions for defence.

Edited by Vitalis

3 hours ago, UberMunchkin said:

Ok, so I have found that the TIE Advanced really kicks ass only if you have the
Title card for it, the Title ships with the Raider Epic expansion

I was able to get the titles for the TIE Advanced with the Advanced Targeting Computer off of a friend.

CritList is:

RAC ps8

Expose + Experimental Interface + KyloRen + Gunner + Mercenery Copilot

Vader ps 9

Lone Wolf + Tiex1 + ATC + EU

> in this list its simpely scenario: move decimator, action Expose to get 4th dice and than get stress for action KyloRen - Pilot Ps0 for any 8-9 pilot Or Blinded Pilot on problematic Ship. Then attack with DV for sure crit or you can give crit from R3 Decimator / R2 Decimator, your gunner helps with dice roll's.

This list is builded with HI-Aggresive Crit result.

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