I participated in a local tournament this weekend with 30 competitors.

We had people from all over the state plus a few connecting states drive in for it, so it was a mixed bag of players.

I was surprised that I didn't see a single Quadjumper in any lists. It made me wonder if they're really that non-competitive, or if it's just my local meta that learns more Imperial than the overall average.

I'm all bummed because I just picked up two of them and was hoping to have some fun if nothing else. It just doesn't seem that they're getting much play. What do y'all think?

I don't know because scum and villany is not my thing at all. I'd simply add the quadjumper to the imperial or rebel side and not care.

Having said that, while it looks like a kitchen sink of abilities, it did not seem that amazing to take, being basically not durable enough for what you're paying for. Especially since it looks like it needs upgrades.

An example: Things like moving backwards and moving speed 0 are not incredible abilites. They're sort of little things you add on. But I get the sense that somehow they jacked the price of the quad up severely.

They're pretty bad as direct combatants. The only way to really use them effectively is as disruption/control tools. In other words, they're trolls. You need to use upgrades and abilities like Unkar Plutt, Spacetug Tractor Array, Vizago + Cloaking Device, Intel Agent, bombs, and so on to block, tractor, explode, and otherwise mess with your opponents's ships.

Unfortunately, as small-base ships they aren't the best blockers, and Tractor Beams are only truly scary against small-base ships. Low-agility large-base ships, which are common enough in the current meta, don't really care that much about what Quadjumpers can do to them.

3 minutes ago, EdgeOfDreams said:

They're pretty bad as direct combatants. The only way to really use them effectively is as disruption/control tools. In other words, they're trolls. You need to use upgrades and abilities like Unkar Plutt, Spacetug Tractor Array, Vizago + Cloaking Device, Intel Agent, bombs, and so on to block, tractor, explode, and otherwise mess with your opponents's ships.

Unfortunately, as small-base ships they aren't the best blockers, and Tractor Beams are only truly scary against small-base ships. Low-agility large-base ships, which are common enough in the current meta, don't really care that much about what Quadjumpers can do to them.

Thanks, that's a pretty fair criticism. Do you think things like Cad Bane and Minefield Mapper will see them get a little more play?

1 minute ago, jwilliamson12 said:

Thanks, that's a pretty fair criticism. Do you think things like Cad Bane and Minefield Mapper will see them get a little more play?

Maybe. They can't equip Minefield Mapper, though (it's a Systems slot, not a Tech slot).

1 minute ago, EdgeOfDreams said:

Maybe. They can't equip Minefield Mapper, though (it's a Systems slot, not a Tech slot).

Oh, whoops. I always get those confused. Cad Bane would be nice to give you two bombs to make Zuvio's ability work a little more often.

I'm thinking Zuvio, Cad Bane, and bomblet generator so you can keep pushing bombs forward on your opponent. What I'm not sure of is if you're in range one after the drop. If so, you're risking damage on yourself unless you add PA and barrel roll farther away.

1 minute ago, jwilliamson12 said:

Oh, whoops. I always get those confused. Cad Bane would be nice to give you two bombs to make Zuvio's ability work a little more often.

I'm thinking Zuvio, Cad Bane, and bomblet generator so you can keep pushing bombs forward on your opponent. What I'm not sure of is if you're in range one after the drop. If so, you're risking damage on yourself unless you add PA and barrel roll farther away.

You would not be in Range 1 of the bomblet, because you drop the bomb forward 1 base length, then move backwards at least 1 base length. Add to that the 1 base length of your original position, and that's a total of 3 bases. Range 1 is 2.5 small bases.

2 minutes ago, EdgeOfDreams said:

You would not be in Range 1 of the bomblet, because you drop the bomb forward 1 base length, then move backwards at least 1 base length. Add to that the 1 base length of your original position, and that's a total of 3 bases. Range 1 is 2.5 small bases.

Good to know. Thanks. I'm not a bomb person at all, so I appreciate the help. PA wouldn't be a bad 2 point investment anyways.

That's a 26 point build on Zuvio. Still a little hefty for a ship with 5 health, but maybe it can work if flown well.

A guy at my local Store Championship took top 8 (out of 30 players) using Unkar, Ketsu Ono, and a Fang Fighter (Old Teroch, IIRC). So they're not complete garbage.

I use 2 in epic to threaten tractoring into the path of my croc. All of a sudden nobody wants to fly near it.

They're not obviously strong but they'll have a place in the right list in the right meta conditions. A local player to me runs this list:

Unkar + boshek + tractor array + primed thrusters

Mux + tlt

Y-wing + tlt + unhinged

Ruthless freelancer + ketsu + FCS + misthunter title

It's not going to win worlds but it's a great challenge to fly against. The quadjumper is by far the most interesting piece of the puzzle.

I've been playing them in a local, casual league for the past 4 weeks and they are lots of fun! Maybe not Tier 1, but definitely can be competitive.

Jakku Gunrunner: Vizago, Cloaking Device (swap for Scavenger Crane after cloaking), Cluster Mines, Pattern Analyzer, Spacetug Tractor Array (25 pts)

Sure, maybe 1/3 of the time it gets blown up without doing much. But then they aren't concentrating on your big guns.

This build has so many support options and ways to move. I've dropped cluster mines on multiple ships, multiple times, and gotten several kills. I've tractor beamed ships at least twice which resulted in them flying off the board.

My favorite move so far has been: decloak right, to the far side of a debris cloud; reveal and execute 1-reverse; drop cluster mines (using Pattern Analyzer), removing a shieldless A-Wing from the map. Scavenger Crane triggers, giving me the mines right back.

Running someone off the map seems like it should be amazing but I always feel a *little* bad about doing it.

I've won two 24+ people store tournaments with a Quadjumper in my list. They are excellent against small base ships as the tractor beam has its greatest effect. Against large base ships they become a slightly overcosted filler ship.

Jakku Gunrunner with Spacetug Tractor Array is all you need. Adding a single upgrade can be worthwhile. Intel Agent, Tactician, and Pattern Analyzer are the three best choices.

My base build for any quad is spacetug array, pattern analyzer and outlaw tech ...

I've found cloaking device to be invaluable for allowing you to close to range 1 quickly and threaten a larger area (approach until just outside of range 3, cloak, use decloak move to rush 1)

I think the main factor keeping them out of the meta is that they pair poorly with Attanni Mindlink - Quads work best at low PS but those pilots dont have access to Mindlink. So then you have a ~20 point un-linked ship which means your options for the rest of the squad are: 2 mindlinked ships (fragile), 3 mindlinked ships (hard to squeeze in with only ~80 points), or dont run Mindlink (generally less points efficient).

They're good at what they do.

Unkar Plutt is my favourite scum ship and, built right, he can be devastating for 21 points. I normally fly him with:

Fenn Rau (34)
Protectorate Starfighter (28), Push the Limit (3), Concord Dawn Protector (1), Autothrusters (2)

Unkar Plutt (21)
Quadjumper (17), Cikatro Vizago (0), Cloaking Device (2), Spacetug Tractor Array (2)

Asajj Ventress (45)
Lancer-class Pursuit Craft (37), Push the Limit (3), Latts Razzi (2), Feedback Array (2), Inertial Dampeners (1)

Fenn and Asajj are pretty standard, but with PTL instead of attani they're better game closers. Unkar cloaks, then swaps his cloaking device for an EMP device. Now you have a AGI 4, 5 health ship that, combined with the rest of the list, will tractor you (in front of rock, hopefully), Ionise you and then stress you. All for 21 points of filler. The only downside is you've got a 2-gun list, but Fenn makes up for that.

Mindlink is definitively better in this scum meta than anything without it, but I like to think the dice gods gift me good rolls for my bravery.

I love my 3 Quadjumpers! I fly them all the time especially when I fly to have way too much fun screwing people over. My current list as Follows:

Jakku Gunrunner: x3
- Spacetug Tractor Array
- Tactician
- Pattern Analyzer

21 Points

Binayre Pirate: x3
12 points

Total points 99 points.

It's too much fun with 6 ships on the board it's hard to punch through all of them and with current meta lists being 3 ships you can pretty much pop on of them on the first round of combat while likely only losing one of your own ships. 5 on 2 is my kind of odds. The game is practically over at that point. I managed to tractor Old Teroch 3 times on the first round of combat. With 0 agility my Z-95s took him out leaving me open to take a few pot shots at the other ships. The next round I managed to tractor his remaining 2 ships to land on astroids effectively canceling Attanni Mindlink and leaving me free to shoot without fear of return fire.

Needless to say the list is great! The Quadjumper is worth it. Most games I only lose 1 Quadjumper on a bad round I lose 2 or 1 Z-95 and 1 Quadjumper. Fly it! They work great in numbers and the ability to tractor again after backing up (Pattern Analyzer) makes them a force to be reckoned with.

7 hours ago, Vargas79 said:

They're not obviously strong but they'll have a place in the right list in the right meta conditions. A local player to me runs this list:

Unkar + boshek + tractor array + primed thrusters

Mux + tlt

Y-wing + tlt + unhinged

Ruthless freelancer + ketsu + FCS + misthunter title

It's not going to win worlds but it's a great challenge to fly against. The quadjumper is by far the most interesting piece of the puzzle.

Interesting. Is tlt on Mux better than a named G1-A?

They are surprisingly potent in the right hands. Keep them cheap though since they pop really easily.

This looks fun:

Unkar Plutt (17)
Cikatro Vizago (0)
Cloaking Device (2)
Spacetug Tractor Array (2)

Guri (30)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
Fire-Control System (2)
Autothrusters (2)
StarViper Mk. II (-3)
Virago (1)

Fenn Rau (28)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
Autothrusters (2)
Concord Dawn Protector (1)

Inaldra (15)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
"Light Scyk" Interceptor (-2)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

The generic/ Unkarr with tug array is actually surprisingly efficient at disruption.

I will try this tonight:

Y-Wing: Syndicate Thug (18)
Twin Laser Turret (6)
R4 Agromech (2)
Y-Wing: Syndicate Thug (18)
Twin Laser Turret (6)
R4 Agromech (2)
Z-95 Headhunter: Binayre Pirate (12)
Quadjumper: Jakku Gunrunner (15)
Spacetug Tractor Array (2)
· Unkar Plutt (1)
Quadjumper: Jakku Gunrunner (15)
Spacetug Tractor Array (2)
Intelligence Agent (1)
-- TOTAL ------- 100p. --

Quad's main issue is on the first engagement. With maximum speed of 3, the maximum travel for tractor coverage is ~6.5 small base (less than range 3, which is 7.5 small base) They almost always take the aggro and died within the first couple exchanges. If you can handle the engagement well and deliver the tractor beam at least one, things' a beast. Killed a corran mercilessly with 2 quads, 2 ion hwk and a missile Z before.

Quadjumper is one of the single best control pieces in the game. Jakku with Tug Array, Intel Agent, and Pattern Analyzer at 20 points gives you a blocker with a barrel roll and a tractor beam. Block large base ships, ruin small base ships flight paths, remove their actions/shots by forcing them over and onto rocks, and just generally be a disruptive, trolly *******. People will either concentrate fire on it, giving your remaining 80 points a chance to get something more valuable in return, or they'll ignore it, giving you a chance to completely disrupt their game plan.