Dealing with Ace Squadrons: A New Imperial Solution

By Warlord Zepnick, in Star Wars: Armada Fleet Builds

I know that Raider-I/Ordinance Experts/Flechette Torpedoes kit has been the latest craze, but is the Raider-II now being overlooked as a strong anti-squadron solution against Ace Pilots?

Here is an additional kit, that may be worth testing:

Raider-II (1 black, 1 blue anti-squadron)

1. Impetuous (anti-squad clean up card)

2. Agent Kallus (for an extra blue, yes blue)

3. Sensor team (optional to deal with scatter?)

4. Quad laser turrets (not sure if they belong on the raider, but could help maximize damage)

5. Overload Pulse

With Kallus, you're rolling two blues against unique squadrons, whether attacking, or defending (with QLT). You have a reasonable chance of exhausting an Ace's defense tokens, and Sensor team provides you with the opportunity to pick on unique squadrons with scatter--- and even flotillas if need be.

I'm most interested in knowing what peoples' thoughts are on using Overload Pulse.

Thanks for the feedback!

Edit:

I would just add that you can sprinkle in a few cheap ties to help make those OP shots count, and really put pressure on Aces' defense tokens.

Edited by Warlord Zepnick

I've been mulling over this same build, haven't had a chance to fly it yet though

Only problem is I cant see an occasion where I would add this Raider before I would add a raider I, Instig, OE, Kallus, Flachette, and I also cant think of a time I would take 2 AS raiders.

This is a perfectly valid setup that is better against maybe Rieekan Aces or Mauler and Friends. The other setup is better at everything else and only for less points invested.

Can you resolve crit effects against squadrons?

7 hours ago, Warlord Zepnick said:

5. Overload Pulse

I'm most interested in knowing what peoples' thoughts are on using Overload Pulse.

My thought is you can't resolve crits vs. squads. So no OP.

My fav Raider-II AS build has Impetuous, Kallus and Ruthless Strategists.

This OC requires you to have some suitable squads.

if Raider II, then why not kallus-leading shots?

also, ill just Leave it here: Arq-trc-kallus

Just brainstorming here:

I think the idea is nice, but I am not sure if this does more for you than the Raider1-OE-Kallus-Impetuous combo against scatter squads.

The Sensor Team costs you one die to set one die to acc. So in that case you will do one damage with your remaining die and block scatter. You do this again for another damage with impetuous.

The Raider1 can confront the squad with 3 damage using the OE rerolls. It can scatter and you do the same again with the Impetuous attack. Suffer damage and save the token? This basically results in the same damage as above, but leaves the token exhausted. Scatter again and discard the token? All the better, in both cases it is time to bring in the cheap TIEs. Easy prey.

I guess the Raider2 variant only really starts rolling when you use Ruthless Strategists to increase the damage.

Sensor Team costs to much, since you basically loose two damage dice, maybe Intel Officer is the better Choice?

Edited by RocketPropelledGiraffe
Brainfart in first version...
4 hours ago, Green Knight said:

My thought is you can't resolve crits vs. squads. So no OP.

I see, but doesn't the squadron qualify as a "defender" as per the card?

15 minutes ago, Warlord Zepnick said:

I see, but doesn't the squadron qualify as a "defender" as per the card?

RRG specifically states that no crit for squads.

The Overload Pulse makes the ship better if you need to be shooting other ships with it but as mentioned you don't resolve critical effects against squads so it isn't the best choice if you're going anti-squad with the boat. That thirteen points for Sensor Team and OP gets you one of a generic TIE Advanced, Tempest Squadron, Valen Rudor, Saber Squadron, or a generic TIE Interceptor.