So getting time for a new league season. Thankfully the meta here is for the most part fairly tame. So with certain matches I could comfortably take chances like getting Echo back on the table.

question is: what is the best way to go about it? Lots of new upgrades and ideas to try and think about. I will probably only get one of the Alpha class ships as I am not sold on them personally. Thoughts from the community to have a solid list that gets Echo back out?

Ah Echo. Such great times with those banked decloaks...

The biggest issue for Echo is all the stuff at Pilot Skill 9+. He can dodge arcs great and all against anything moving first, but he just falls a part when up against the higher pilot skill aces with lots of re-position. So if you consider PS 9+ aces as Echo's achilles heel, you just need something else in the list that can reliably wreck those things and let Echo go to town on the things he can handle safely:

Oicunn w/ predator, palpatine*, vader & engine = 60

Echo w/ VI, FCS, rebel captive* & ACD = 40

100

Here's a list that covers its bases. Lists with 4+ ships don't fear that decimator, but such lists are all low Pilot Skill and Echo just eats them for breakfast. But high PS stuff are going to get steam-rolled when you throw Oicunn right in their faces. They'll be so busy fleeing that wrecking ball, that Echo should be able to pick off enemies from a safe distance.

* you could also run recon spec on Echo and drop palpatine in favour of Gunner + Rebel captive on oicunn. That would be good too.

But! I ALSO think that the gunboat can help Echo out. Thing is, its a super glass cannon (just like Echo) that cannot be ignored. So you can throw some Gunboats in your opponent's face and safely bring Echo on a flank. And thanks to his funky decloak, he can just stay flanked all day long, regardless of what happens with the Gunboats.

Echo w/ lone wolf, sensor jammer, rebel captive & ACD = 43

Nu w/ XG-1, HLC, linked battery & LRS = 28

Nu w/ XG-1, HLC, linked battery & LRS = 28

99

This list doesn't cover its bases quite as well, since there's a risk the high PS arc-dodgers can escape your HLC gunboats. But that's part of the game. If you are really good at trapping your opponent, this list can wreck face, thanks to the incredible firepower. And its quite safe to flank with Echo here, because only an utter fool would ignore those gunboats...

But of course, if you don't like that particular Echo build (its designed purely for flanking and 1v1 duelling), you could go with a more traditional VI+FCS and have enough points left over to switch the LRS on the gunboats to advanced SLAM.

3 minutes ago, blade_mercurial said:

Echo w/ lone wolf, sensor jammer, rebel captive & ACD = 43

Nu w/ XG-1, HLC, linked battery & LRS = 28

Nu w/ XG-1, HLC, linked battery & LRS = 28

I'd replace Captive with Kylo, and switch the HLCs to Manglers.

4 minutes ago, Celestial Lizards said:

I'd replace Captive with Kylo, and switch the HLCs to Manglers.

That would be a mistake, imho.

Captive + Sensor Jammer is a nice defense against the higher PS stuff that would otherwise walk all over Echo.

And mangler doesn't cut it. Think about it: you see this list across the table from you. He's got 2 gunboats with 3 attack each on one side and Echo on the other. What do you do? No brainer! You kill Echo and worry about the gunboats later. That's ABSOLUTELY NOT what you want your opponent to be thinking!

Alternatively, you see 2 gunboats with HLCs on one side and Echo on the other. You CAN'T ignore the gunboats because they will cause much greater carnage while you try to take out Echo. And that's EXACTLY what Echo needs to be effective...a safe way to flank!

Thanks @blade_mercurial For the suggestions, I was looking at an Echo/ Duchess list and then a 3rd nasty Ace with a bit of staying power, but not sure best options. QD, X-7 Maerek, **** even Vessery or something else?

Quickdraw is one of the best pilots Imperials have (competitively speaking), but unfortunately, his ability sometimes acts as an 'anti-biggs' effect (thus putting more focus on Echo). I think Backdraft is the better choice alongside Echo. He's pretty scary and will draw heat. Another good choice is Vessery with TIE/D title (X-7 title is less ideal since that makes Echo higher target priority). And if you have FCS on Echo, its easy to keep Vessery well fed with TL's. Its a 'super glass cannon' list though and you'd have to fly it really well!

3 hours ago, blade_mercurial said:

Quickdraw is one of the best pilots Imperials have (competitively speaking), but unfortunately, his ability sometimes acts as an 'anti-biggs' effect (thus putting more focus on Echo). I think Backdraft is the better choice alongside Echo. He's pretty scary and will draw heat. Another good choice is Vessery with TIE/D title (X-7 title is less ideal since that makes Echo higher target priority). And if you have FCS on Echo, its easy to keep Vessery well fed with TL's. Its a 'super glass cannon' list though and you'd have to fly it really well!

The issue I am running into is with Duchess and a VI/ACD/Fcs/Kallous build is 35 points remaining. So Vessery has to X-7 or not at all?

20 hours ago, Ronu said:

The issue I am running into is with Duchess and a VI/ACD/Fcs/Kallous build is 35 points remaining. So Vessery has to X-7 or not at all?

Well if you really want duchess in there, than yeah. Just keep in mind the opponent is most likely going to gun for Echo first...

Love this thread....

So what are you thinking then with Vessery @blade_mercurial ?

Echo is probably around 37-40

TIE D Vessery is also in that price point so not a whole lot left to work with for another wingman?

I think possibly the best list is the first one I posted, with Oicunn. Although I am thinking Gunner + Captive on Oicunn (and recon spec on Echo) is the better way to go...

If you want to run a Striker though, how about Countdown?

Echo w/ VI, FCS, recon spec & ACD = 40

Vessery w/ VI, TIE/D & Tractor Beam = 37

Countdown w/ AA & LWF = 22

99

Super glass cannon list and prone to falling to pieces at the first mistake. But if you enjoy that sort of thing, its pretty scary in its own right...

I think you could run Duchess though if you prefer. X-7 Vessery would give you a tanky ship, but the thing is, once Echo dies, you have nothing to get target locks, so its kinda better to have Vessery die first (hence why I think this list would work better)