So as part of the June writing prompt , I volunteered to write about the Assault Frigate under Sato. I touched on it in my own Sato article , but I figured I'd expand on it here. The reason I'm not writing this up on the blog itself is while this is a great ship with Sato and commanded under him, I can't figure out how to make any part of the rest of the list work with him. Yes, this ship is deadly. But the rest of the list is me doing this:

Which is really my problem with Sato more than anything. Anyways, the ship. I'll talk about using it after I post it all.

[ flagship ] Assault Frigate Mark II B (72 points)
- Commander Sato ( 32 points)
- Paragon ( 5 points)
- Flight Commander ( 3 points)
- Ordnance Experts ( 4 points)
- Rapid Launch Bays ( 6 points)
3 B-Wing Squadrons ( 42 points)

Inspired somewhat by @shmitty and the Garm list, I added on the Rapid Launch Bays and the B-wings. The basic gist is this:

Turn X: Reveal Squadron command but don't resolve it, fire on your opponent's ship and then sail up next to it. Vomit B-wings out to hit one side/shield zone.
Turn X+1: Reveal squadrons again. Fire everything into that side and then watch it die.

With this scenario, if you can get an A-wing or whoever painting the opponent's ship, that's two turns in a row of:

Assault Frigate Side (under Sato): 2 black dice (rerollable), a blue, and a red
Assault Frigate Front (under Sato): 3 black dice
3 B-wings at 1 Blue and 1 Black each.

All that for a grand total of (again, if you can tag it for 2 turns)
16 black dice, 8 blue dice, and 2 red dice. If you want, you can add on other things to make the Assault Frigate survivable or deadlier (ECMs, Dual Turbolaser Turrets), but here's the basic start of it. With some good damage rolls, you can theoretically crack an ISD into some serious damage.... which you can then follow up with a Hammerhead and Boarding Engineers!

Anyways, it's a pretty fun ship. As soon as I figure out the rest of the list, I'm sure I'll start running Sato for real.

I've found Sato to be more fun than good and that Assault Frigate build though would be a lot of fun. Based on my experience with RLB AFs I would try to squeeze in RBDs.

What to run with the rest of it? A pair of Hammerhead Torpedo variants would seem solid. Maybe with an STM! Pelta.

With Flight Commander and RLB, you won't be triggering Sato and OE on your first attack. Drop FC and RLB. Push Tycho and Shara into range so you can attack with black dice.

For other ships, I find CR90As to be quite effective. Torp HH would be another good choice. Try to maximize the amount of dice you change.

Just now, shmitty said:

I've found Sato to be more fun than good and that Assault Frigate build though would be a lot of fun. Based on my experience with RLB AFs I would try to squeeze in RBDs.

What to run with the rest of it? A pair of Hammerhead Torpedo variants would seem solid. Maybe with an STM! Pelta.

Oh, yeah, I left the Defensive Retrofit slot open for whatever people wanted to put in there. I would definitely think it would work, yeah.

1 minute ago, Undeadguy said:

With Flight Commander and RLB, you won't be triggering Sato and OE on your first attack. Drop FC and RLB. Push Tycho and Shara into range so you can attack with black dice.

For other ships, I find CR90As to be quite effective. Torp HH would be another good choice. Try to maximize the amount of dice you change.

I had mentioned throwing an A-wing forward, and that's the only way you CAN get it, I know. And I've tried your build (without those things), but this is for the June writing prompt, so I figured slightly crazy was the order of the day (hence why I added them in). My linked Sato article agreed with a lot of your points, and I did mention CR90As in there. My issue with running him like yours with the few times I've tried is just the fickleness of the Black dice on those CR90s. I do think HH are going to help, yes.

@geek19 ,I had success adding salvation to a very similar build, (I've also seen yavaris or pelta or foresight added with a gr 75 -or a couple of- with a small intell/escort or aces screen)... just food for thought

Just now, Darth Sanguis said:

@geek19 ,I had success adding salvation to a very similar build, (I've also seen yavaris or pelta or foresight added with a gr 75 -or a couple of- with a small intell/escort or aces screen)... just food for thought

Yeah, I've used Salvation with him, it can be good.... but when you roll blanks, ohhh is it painful. Nothing worse than 70 odd points of Salvation firing and not a single damage coming up.

3 minutes ago, geek19 said:

Yeah, I've used Salvation with him, it can be good.... but when you roll blanks, ohhh is it painful. Nothing worse than 70 odd points of Salvation firing and not a single damage coming up.

Time to throw those dice out lol

For reference, this was the build I faced (close to it?), it beat me pretty hard.

Mildly successful

Faction: Rebel Alliance
Points: 397/400

Commander: Commander Sato

Assault Objective: Most Wanted
Defense Objective: Hyperspace Assault
Navigation Objective: Superior Positions

Assault Frigate Mark II B (72 points)
- Flight Commander ( 3 points)
- Ordnance Experts ( 4 points)
- Rapid Launch Bays ( 6 points)
- Electronic Countermeasures ( 7 points)
= 92 total ship cost

Nebulon-B Support Refit (51 points)
- Salvation ( 7 points)
- Slaved Turrets ( 6 points)
= 64 total ship cost

[ flagship ] MC30c Scout Frigate (69 points)
- Commander Sato ( 32 points)
- Foresight ( 8 points)
- Ordnance Experts ( 4 points)
- Assault Proton Torpedoes ( 5 points)
= 118 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- Bomber Command Center ( 8 points)
= 26 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points)
= 20 total ship cost

3 B-Wing Squadrons ( 42 points)
1 Tycho Celchu ( 16 points)
1 Jan Ors ( 19 points)

What about this?

Is Sato Getting Better?
Author: shmitty

Faction: Rebel Alliance
Points: 399/400

Commander: Commander Sato

Assault Objective: Precision Strike
Defense Objective: Hyperspace Assault
Navigation Objective: Superior Positions

Assault Frigate Mark II B (72 points)
- Paragon ( 5 points)
- Flight Commander ( 3 points)
- Ordnance Experts ( 4 points)
- Rapid Launch Bays ( 6 points)
- Reinforced Blast Doors ( 5 points)
= 95 total ship cost

[ flagship ] Modified Pelta-class Assault Ship (56 points)
- Commander Sato ( 32 points)
- Hondo Ohnaka ( 2 points)
- Assault Proton Torpedoes ( 5 points)
- Shields to Maximum! ( 6 points)
= 101 total ship cost

Hammerhead Torpedo Corvette (36 points)
- Task Force Antilles ( 3 points)
- Ordnance Experts ( 4 points)
- Assault Proton Torpedoes ( 5 points)
= 48 total ship cost

Hammerhead Torpedo Corvette (36 points)
- Task Force Antilles ( 3 points)
- Ordnance Experts ( 4 points)
- Assault Proton Torpedoes ( 5 points)
= 48 total ship cost

3 B-Wing Squadrons ( 42 points)
1 Tycho Celchu ( 16 points)
1 Shara Bey ( 17 points)
2 YT-2400s ( 32 points)

Maybe drop the 2 YT for Han. Gives you a bit of a bid, since you want to go first, and he allows you to paint your target. And has Grit.

2 minutes ago, shmitty said:

What about this?

Is Sato Getting Better?
Author: shmitty

Faction: Rebel Alliance
Points: 399/400

Commander: Commander Sato

Assault Objective: Precision Strike
Defense Objective: Hyperspace Assault
Navigation Objective: Superior Positions

Assault Frigate Mark II B (72 points)
- Paragon ( 5 points)
- Flight Commander ( 3 points)
- Ordnance Experts ( 4 points)
- Rapid Launch Bays ( 6 points)
- Reinforced Blast Doors ( 5 points)
= 95 total ship cost

[ flagship ] Modified Pelta-class Assault Ship (56 points)
- Commander Sato ( 32 points)
- Hondo Ohnaka ( 2 points)
- Assault Proton Torpedoes ( 5 points)
- Shields to Maximum! ( 6 points)
= 101 total ship cost

Hammerhead Torpedo Corvette (36 points)
- Task Force Antilles ( 3 points)
- Ordnance Experts ( 4 points)
- Assault Proton Torpedoes ( 5 points)
= 48 total ship cost

Hammerhead Torpedo Corvette (36 points)
- Task Force Antilles ( 3 points)
- Ordnance Experts ( 4 points)
- Assault Proton Torpedoes ( 5 points)
= 48 total ship cost

3 B-Wing Squadrons ( 42 points)
1 Tycho Celchu ( 16 points)
1 Shara Bey ( 17 points)
2 YT-2400s ( 32 points)

I definitely think when I get back to Sato, I'd play something very much like this. If you can spare the points for a Veteran Captain somewhere, you can actually get Shields to Max going from turns 2-5. Turn 1 take a token, top of 2 spend it. Turn 2 vet captain, spend top 3. Hondo on top 4, spend on top 4 (thanks, double start of ship phase effects!). Discard on 5. If you can find a way to get either one more token you've got it all 6 turns. And that would be super fun.

1 minute ago, geek19 said:

I definitely think when I get back to Sato, I'd play something very much like this. If you can spare the points for a Veteran Captain somewhere, you can actually get Shields to Max going from turns 2-5. Turn 1 take a token, top of 2 spend it. Turn 2 vet captain, spend top 3. Hondo on top 4, spend on top 4 (thanks, double start of ship phase effects!). Discard on 5. If you can find a way to get either one more token you've got it all 6 turns. And that would be super fun.

4 minutes ago, Undeadguy said:

Maybe drop the 2 YT for Han. Gives you a bit of a bid, since you want to go first, and he allows you to paint your target. And has Grit.

Drop the 2 YT-2400s for Han, add in a Vet Captain, profit?!?

You could also swap to Task Force Organa for better chances at the crits. In that case I might switch to Entrapment Formation on the Pelta. That would also free some points for ACM over APT which I prefer for Sato.

1 minute ago, shmitty said:

Drop the 2 YT-2400s for Han, add in a Vet Captain, profit?!?

Actually, with only 4 ships and so few squadrons, you might want to try out Objectives that hurt deployment. Solar Corona, Fleet Ambush (I realize this is a potentially very reckless choice, yes), and Blockade Run maybe? Maybe Opening Salvo? You need something that's going to make deploying and waiting you out harder, I think

I almost never take odd squadrons. I'll change things so I have an even amount.

Sato is all about the A-wings.

It's hilarious to toss in Tycho when your Assault Frigate paragon is dual arcing.

Or yeah run spinal...always spinal.

4 minutes ago, geek19 said:

Actually, with only 4 ships and so few squadrons, you might want to try out Objectives that hurt deployment. Solar Corona, Fleet Ambush (I realize this is a potentially very reckless choice, yes), and Blockade Run maybe? Maybe Opening Salvo? You need something that's going to make deploying and waiting you out harder, I think

Maybe, but I think you can also force deployment by dropping the RLB Frigate first and making them respond.

Here is a Sato list I have been wanting to try out with the Assault Frigate:

Sato's Phoenix Squadron
Author: itzSteve

Faction: Rebel Alliance
Points: 392/400

Commander: Commander Sato

Assault Objective: Most Wanted
Defense Objective: Hyperspace Assault
Navigation Objective: Solar Corona

[ flagship ] Assault Frigate Mark II A (81 points)
- Commander Sato ( 32 points)
- Paragon ( 5 points)
- Intel Officer ( 7 points)
- Ordnance Experts ( 4 points)
- Electronic Countermeasures ( 7 points)
- Spinal Armament ( 9 points)
= 145 total ship cost

CR90 Corvette A (44 points)
- Jainas Light ( 2 points)
- Enhanced Armament ( 10 points)
= 56 total ship cost

CR90 Corvette A (44 points)
- Enhanced Armament ( 10 points)
= 54 total ship cost

CR90 Corvette A (44 points)
- Enhanced Armament ( 10 points)
= 54 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points)
= 20 total ship cost

1 Shara Bey ( 17 points)
1 Tycho Celchu ( 16 points)
2 Lancer-class Pursuit Crafts ( 30 points)

3 minutes ago, itzSteve said:

Here is a Sato list I have been wanting to try out with the Assault Frigate:

Sato's Phoenix Squadron
Author: itzSteve

Faction: Rebel Alliance
Points: 392/400

Commander: Commander Sato

Assault Objective: Most Wanted
Defense Objective: Hyperspace Assault
Navigation Objective: Solar Corona

[ flagship ] Assault Frigate Mark II A (81 points)
- Commander Sato ( 32 points)
- Paragon ( 5 points)
- Intel Officer ( 7 points)
- Ordnance Experts ( 4 points)
- Electronic Countermeasures ( 7 points)
- Spinal Armament ( 9 points)
= 145 total ship cost

CR90 Corvette A (44 points)
- Jainas Light ( 2 points)
- Enhanced Armament ( 10 points)
= 56 total ship cost

CR90 Corvette A (44 points)
- Enhanced Armament ( 10 points)
= 54 total ship cost

CR90 Corvette A (44 points)
- Enhanced Armament ( 10 points)
= 54 total ship cost

GR-75 Medium Transports (18 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points)
= 20 total ship cost

1 Shara Bey ( 17 points)
1 Tycho Celchu ( 16 points)
2 Lancer-class Pursuit Crafts ( 30 points)

I've done the Enhanced Armament plan, and while it works , I'll fully say you could save 30 points by just concentrating fire at the right time. I do like the Lancer choice with him, though. They seem like a great choice, bombing and triggering his ability.

1 minute ago, geek19 said:

I've done the Enhanced Armament plan, and while it works , I'll fully say you could save 30 points by just concentrating fire at the right time. I do like the Lancer choice with him, though. They seem like a great choice, bombing and triggering his ability.

The rogue ability + bombing is just a bonus for me. I have included them mainly for the speed 4 + grit.

This has worked very well for me so far. Admo is great at drawing enemy fire, so Paragon and the flotillas don't take nearly as much damage up front as you would expect. I use the naked flotillas to pour supporting flak into the furball to assist the X-Wings and Shara, who engage the enemy squadrons aggressively. Tycho procs Sato, and the VCXs hang in reserve in case a juicy target slips past Tycho (or the X-Wings need help). Once the popularity of Rieekan Aces dies down, I'll switch my red objective back to most wanted, because it is a thing of beauty with Sato.

20 hours ago, geek19 said:

With some good damage rolls, you can theoretically crack an ISD into some serious damage...

Whats the point of all of this? We all make lists thinking on destroying the whole universe with a single super-combo blow and then all we see in the other side is gozantis, raiders and demolishers .

Sure you can combo out a raider, ok, thats 15% of his points, good luck with the rest!

17 hours ago, xerpo said:

Whats the point of all of this? We all make lists thinking on destroying the whole universe with a single super-combo blow and then all we see in the other side is gozantis, raiders and demolishers .

Sure you can combo out a raider, ok, thats 15% of his points, good luck with the rest!

The long range reroll blacks are only one facet of the Sato assault frigate ( which you can build for 76 points) the true joy is the ability to modify an arc to your target, need accuracies throw out up to 4 blues, damage spike go black.....add H9s If you want . As a ship it's a great general purpose damage dealer, the issue as always is getting your Sato out........