Avoiding the Rebel Meta Trinity

By Rakaydos, in X-Wing Squad Lists

So with all the talk of potential attani/jumpmaster nerfs, the palp nerf, and biggs being brought up as a counterpoint, I was thinking... how many competitive rebels lists do we see without biggs? The other big architype we see is Rebel regen of course, but that usually means R2D2 or Miranda.

So, Biggs, Miranda, and R2D2. Without these three, I think rebels best trick is generic spam. (BBXXZ, Trick/crack Awings, ect)

Poe and Luke can still use R5P9, but that's generally considered a "Fit R2D2 or R2Dcrew elsewhere in the list" option. I dont know how well it would hold up independantly.

What kinds of compeetitive lists for Rebels can you think of that doesnt use those 2 pilots and that upgrade card?

I came 2nd (lost in the final after the cut) with the following list:

Braylen with R2-A2, Gunner, VT and title

T-65 Rookie with R2 and IA x 3

I flew in a tight pinwheel with Braylen at the back. Pick a target, Braylen would opt to not use the additional die and stress the target hopefully missing so gunner kicks in and he'd use the additional dice to stress again and hopefully do a bit of damage. The T-65's would gang up on that same target and hopefully delete it.

With IA the Rooks are surprisingly tanky (everyone is surprised how long they can last) and Braylen is......well he's bloody marvellous.

There is a lot going on in the Triple T-70 thread that doesn't always use R2-D2 (though no promises).

Otherwise, I'm a big fan of this:

U-Wing: · Cassian Andor (27)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Collision Detector (0)
Hotshot Co-pilot (4)
· Baze Malbus (3)
Pivot wing (0)
X-Wing: · Wes Janson (29)
Adaptability (Increase) (0)
· R3-A2 (2)
Integrated Astromech (0)
X-Wing: · Wedge Antilles (29)
Push The Limit (3)
· BB-8 (2)
Integrated Astromech (0)
-- TOTAL ------- 100/100p. --

Is it going to win anytournaments? Probably not. But it's still a decently good and competitive list.

On the other hand, I saw a friend win our tournament with this list:

Y-Wing: · "Dutch" Vander (23)
Twin Laser Turret (6)
TIE Fighter: · Captain Rex (14)
TIE Fighter: · Sabine Wren (15)
Push The Limit (3)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
ARC-170: · Norra Wexley (29)
· Swarm Leader (3)
· R2-D2 (4)
· Nien Nunb (1)
Alliance Overhaul (0)
-- TOTAL ------- 99/100p. --

While it does feature R2, you can replace him with a different Droid, and regain much of the viability of the list. BB-8 perhaps, or a more expensive crew and another Droid.

Edited by Kreen

I'm not buying the Rebel holy trinity concept.

Dash is competitive in multiple configurations. When I started playing X-wing there was only one Dash build. Euro Championship proved Dash isn't even the only YT-2400 pilot that can win a game.

Norra does well with PtL, Kyle, BB-8 and either Vectored Thrusters or Engine Upgrade. She pairs well with Dash.

There are plenty of other good Rebel ships that are under-utilized because Biggs is a thing. Too many Rebel players don't know how to make a list that requires their opponent to make a threat assessment, because they take Biggs to force that decision.

Stresshog and StressBraylen are both useful in the Mindlink meta. Fly one of them with Jess Pava. Add a heavy hitter with higher pilot skill and you have a solid 3-ship list.

Ahsoka can replace a K-wing to carry Sabine in a bomber list. Less spammy, and with a Thermal Detonator she can punish Mindlink. Fenn with an initiative bid is her bane, but if he's chasing Ahsoka, then he's vulnerable to the K-wings.

I think a player won a regional this year with Rey and Jan Ors.

A friend of mine has a winning record in the local scene with Ezra instead of Biggs in a Kanan list.

Time for breakfast.

Poe with R5P9 and Expertise is great, and may be better on Poe than R2D2 due to his ability. You go for target locks for fully modded attacks when not taking hits, or get a focus that you can dedicate to defense. You then can use the focus to mod defense dice if his ability won't mod them enough, or if not needed you get back a shield. You also won't have to do predictable green maneuvers when you need to regen.

Edited by Joe Censored
7 hours ago, BCooper85 said:

I came 2nd (lost in the final after the cut) with the following list:

Braylen with R2-A2, Gunner , VT and title

T-65 Rookie with R2 and IA x 3

I flew in a tight pinwheel with Braylen at the back. Pick a target, Braylen would opt to not use the additional die and stress the target hopefully missing so gunner kicks in and he'd use the additional dice to stress again and hopefully do a bit of damage. The T-65's would gang up on that same target and hopefully delete it.

With IA the Rooks are surprisingly tanky (everyone is surprised how long they can last) and Braylen is......well he's bloody marvellous.

Why put the double stress on the ship you're going to kill that turn?

I got a pair of lists I'm really enjoying flying right now, with pretty good w/l ratios

Wedge Antilles (29)
Swarm Leader (3)
R7-T1 (3)
Integrated Astromech (0)

Wes Janson (29)
Adaptability (0)
R3-A2 (2)
Integrated Astromech (0)

Captain Rex (14)
Tactician (2)
Sabine's Masterpiece (1)

Sabine Wren (TIE Fighter) (15)
Snap Shot (2)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Jess Pava (25)
R2-D6 (1)
Swarm Leader (3)
Integrated Astromech (0)

Green Squadron Pilot (19)
Juke (2)
Chardaan Refit (-2)
Snap Shot (2)
A-Wing Test Pilot (0)

Green Squadron Pilot (19)
Juke (2)
Chardaan Refit (-2)
Snap Shot (2)
A-Wing Test Pilot (0)

Jan Ors (25)
Trick Shot (0)
Dorsal Turret (3)
Nien Nunb (1)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Squad one is all about control. Use Sabine as a annoying blocker, Wes always fires first stripping a token, Wedge fires a 6 die attack with swarm leader @ range 1 to a hopefully tokenless, and easier to hit (and stressed) opponent. Rex double stresses the same ship if it lives.

Squad one throws a lot of damage and can function pretty well even after Jess or Jan dies. Jan keeps the A-Wings offensive in Jess's death, Jess still throws 6 dice at range 1 with swarm leader. Juke/Snap A-Wings are very effective. There is a lot of fun here for sure, and these ships are surprisingly tanky.