First time building a Decimator

By Wiredin, in X-Wing Squad Lists

Posted at

I normally play rebels, but I thought I may want to try something Imperial...

Rear Admiral Chiraneau (46)
Ruthlessness (3)
Kylo Ren (3)
Emperor Palpatine (8)

"Quickdraw" (29)
Ruthlessness (3)
Fire-Control System (2)
Harpoon Missiles (4)
Lightweight Frame (2)
Special Ops Training (0)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Came up with this. I'm thinking it should rip apart any formation flying, and then still mess up other 2 ship lists pretty good...

I also thought of swapping the EPT's for VI because PS matters.

Posted at

The less ships you run and the more high PS ships you see in your local meta, the more important it will be to put VI on your ships. Kylo/Palp on a decimator is incredibly strong, and it keeps your decimator occupied on actions for most of the early turns, but without the Dauntless title, getting blocked is a real problem. Dropping ruthlessness on RAC for VI and Dauntless would do you a lot of favors by making your ISYTDS impossible to stop, aside from just running out of range, and by almost guaranteeing you get to shoot first and put that blinded pilot crit to good use. QD is a bit more open ended on what she can run for her EPT. PS 9 is usually good enough to shoot first, especially if you can fit in a bid, but PS 10 or 11 is mandatory if you're going up against other high PS aces. You do need one throughput upgrade on her, either a strong missile or EPT that can help you punch through a ship on your first joust. So either adaptability/VI with a cruise or harpoon is a good setup, or an aggressive EPT like marksmanship or ruthlessness (bonus points if you hit yourself to trigger your second attack, then hit a different ship with it on your next shot. Ballsy and really riding that knife edge).

Posted at

I love flying RAC-VI-Kylo-Palp-Dauntless-engine upgrade. Pair him with vader or QD as Ace in the Hole at 36 or under and your good to go. RAC can last two turns against a 2 ship list easy if he plays his cards right with dauntless. Leave QD or Vader back for endgame. RAC fly in and bumps one, dauntless to kylo blinded pilot the other and shoot the other with a double crit. You hit them they can't touch you. It's a blast but requires dauntless. And after the blinded pilots are gone a PS10 Decimator with boost for an action is scary... prioritizing arc dodging over a kylo if you can avoid all shots. I highly recommend Vader or QD with VI. Nym is here to stay and without VI on these two they are in trouble.

Edited by Kckid
Posted at

Darth Vader(35) [Darth Vader(29), Veteran Instincts(1), Engine Upgrade(4), Advanced Targeting Computer(5), TIE/x1(0)]

Rear Admiral Chiraneau(64) [Rear Admiral Chiraneau(46), Veteran Instincts(1), Engine Upgrade(4), Dauntless(2), Emperor Palpatine(8), Kylo Ren(3)]

There is my usual setup ^

With QD I'd do this:

"Quickdraw"(35) ["Quickdraw"(29), Fire Control System(2), Adaptability(0), Special Ops Training(0), Pattern Analyzer(2), Lightweight Frame(2)]

Rear Admiral Chiraneau(64) [Rear Admiral Chiraneau(46), Veteran Instincts(1), Engine Upgrade(4), Dauntless(2), Emperor Palpatine(8), Kylo Ren(3)]

I dropped VI to adaptability because RAC really wants to win the bid if there is an enemy PS10 on the board. Where as QD isnt as 100% reliant as Vader is in winning the PS.

Posted at

I end up using almost all of the ISYTDS pilot crits with Kylo by the end of a game, so I have actually dropped engine upgrade for anti-pursuit lasers on RAC. Leaves me 3 points for an EPT on QD, and running VI with a 2 point bid for initiative has been pretty solid for me. Just a playstyle adjustment since I love to bump and keep RAC in the thick of things. I'm actually considering dropping VI for adaptability and fitting cruise missiles on QD, but there is exactly 1 other player in my local group that plays with a pilot over PS 9. Not something I'd recommend to everyone. You should try flying your list and see if it works well with your local meta and give us some details about your experience. The best way to learn is by doing after all!

Posted at

I like the idea of APL > EU, as I do like going for the bumps. I'm for sure gonna play with this and see what happens.

Posted at

With RAC's ability, I don't think you really need Palp, especially since the nerf. HSCP/Gunner is a savage combo on him, but he has lots of choices. I do agree with VI on him, however. Quickdraw with VI could be good, but so could Expertise, a build against which I've flown many times.

Posted at

RACs ability is Nice but two crits is nastier than one, and when you kylo your probably not getting a target lock. So RAC ability allows you to change 1 eye to a crit and Palp allows you to change one blank to a crit. Often ending up with 2 crits and a hit. And if RAC somehow finds himself at range 3 of a fully primed cruise missile you will be very glad for Palp to push through the blinded pilot as RACs ability is no good at range 3. Don't get me wrong RAC is extremely viable without Palp. Palp just makes him a different version of scary and is refreshing for long time gunner users.

Edited by Kckid
Posted at

@Wiredin - Seeing this Imperial post from you made me throw up in my mouth a little bit! Jess and the Jukes does not like seeing RACLO!

Probably VI on both of them. It's practically stapled on RAC and with Quickdraw firing so early with his revenge shot later for a kill shot makes him devastating.

Posted at

Jess and the jukes murders RacoLO @gennataos !!! I havent' had an issue flying against it. I focus on the snap-shots more than the brutal alpha strike.

4 snap A-s with Prockets do wonders too :)

Posted at
Just now, Wiredin said:

Jess and the jukes murders RacoLO @gennataos !!! I havent' had an issue flying against it. I focus on the snap-shots more than the brutal alpha strike.

4 snap A-s with Prockets do wonders too :)

Really? Hmm...I'd figure Jess being blinded for two rounds of firing would be a big hit, but I guess RAC eating a lot of A-Wing shots could burn him down quickly.

Posted at
1 hour ago, gennataos said:

Really? Hmm...I'd figure Jess being blinded for two rounds of firing would be a big hit, but I guess RAC eating a lot of A-Wing shots could burn him down quickly.

exactly. Even if he blinds Jess, the 2 A-Wings, and in my usual case Jan Ors will still deal 5-8 damage a turn depending on how the snap shots go. I once had him blind Jan... yea okay bud. lol

My fav tho is the 4 pocket rocket special against Han/Poe or Raclo

Posted at

Well, I flew a different squad than original posted.

RAC - Kylo/Papl/Predator

Echo - VI/ACD/Rebel Captive/FCS

Rebel captive is gonna go away and I'm going to put dauntless on RAC. Thinking of dropping Predator for Engine Upgrade. I'm sure if I remembered captive it wouldn't have gone so bad. Keep in mind I fly imperials very rarely.

First round: I attempt to decloak Echo in the way I wanted, bump into RAC, only two options I have left put me a) into a very bad situation, or B) put me out of the fight. I choose B. I corrected course with Rac to help setup a pincer with the two. I erased a Rex with Echo. Echo then met Dash's HLC, rolled 4 blanks against 4 hits, and well...we know what happens then. (Dash was not in range to Kylo). moral of the story: I forgot Rebel Captive, Predator, and to Palp an evade. git gud.

Second game: more rebel scum. This went a bit better. I got some damage through on Nein and Rex before I landed (stupidly) on a debris cloud with Echo. I really need to practice those decloaks. RAC proceeded to get shields down on Miranda after finishing off the other two rebels. Then Miranda dropped a Connor Net which forced me off the board with 1 shield and full hull.

I really liked the squad, but I think Engine upgrade on RAC would be very beneficial...that and more phantom practice.

Edited by Wiredin
Posted at

Rear Admiral Chiraneau (46)
Predator (3)
Kylo Ren (3)
Emperor Palpatine (8)
Tactical Jammer (1)

"Echo" (30)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Fire-Control System (2)
Agent Kallus (2)
Advanced Cloaking Device (4)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Rear Admiral Chiraneau (46)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Kylo Ren (3)
Emperor Palpatine (8)
Tactical Jammer (1)

"Whisper" (32)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Fire-Control System (2)
Agent Kallus (2)
Advanced Cloaking Device (4)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

I think it will be between these two. Got a tournament next weekend, and I'm leaning towards this setup vs my rebel squads. I feel I will want the re-rolls more with Predator, and I like having both at PS8. I know Nym will still crush me, but I think I know how I can deal with that if/when it comes up. I love the unpredictability of Echo more than Whisper and find her a lot more interesting and entertaining to fly. Tac Jammer and Kallus should help the phantom live a little bit longer if I play my approach right too.

The third option below is another one I'm thinking off. Intel triggers before cloak correct?

Rear Admiral Chiraneau (46)
Predator (3)
Kylo Ren (3)
Emperor Palpatine (8)
Dauntless (2)

"Echo" (30)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Fire-Control System (2)
Intelligence Agent (1)
Advanced Cloaking Device (4)

Total: 100

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Posted at

because predator's better

Posted at

i see no reason why it should be better ... with the Decimator you are only getting 1 Stress for useing it (with Experimental interface you dont lose your "other" action)

beeing able to roll 5! dies on range one with RAC ability and Palp ... IS better then 1 reroll