IntensityPoe is commonly built in one of two versions: fun or invincible

Poe Dameron (PS9) (33)
Intensity (2)
BB-8 (2)/R2-D2 (4)
Comm Relay (3)
Autothrusters (2)
Black One (1)

Total: 43/45

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Now with AdvancedOptics spoiled at 2points there are several people asking which one to take.

Advanced Optics: You cannot have more than 1 focus token. During the End phase, do not remove an unused focus token from your ship. (2 points)
Comm Relay: You cannot have more than 1 evade token. During the End phase, do not remove an unused evade token from your ship. (3 points)

I believe that the answer is very clearly CommRelay due to one main difference between focus and evade tokens:

Poe can use the focus many times AND use it to turn back intensity!
This means that a CommRelay-R2D2-Poetensity can boost+focus every turn. Even better: CommRelay-BB8-Poetensity can get barrelroll, evade and focus on every turn, even if he spends the evade! And three actions with boost or TL as the third if he already has an evade banked, which is the same as 4 actions per turn because CommRelay allows him to carry over an action into the next turn.

AdvancedOptics-R2D2-Poetensity can also boost+focus every turn. But he has to spend the focus anyway to recharge intensity! That means he won't use his advanced optics unless he gets more than one round where he can first recharge intensity, then store a focus, and then in following rounds use intensity for the evade. AdvancedOptics-BB8-Poetensity can get roll, evade and focus on one turn. But he will want to use both tokens, which leaves him without a stored focus anyway. So there is no way to get

So the clear answer is to use CommRelay on a Poe with Intensity.

That is not to say that AdvancedOptics is bad on him - a Poe with VI is clearly a great choice and he can only lose his focus with some special abilities (HSCP, Palob, ...). So this ensures an offensive and defensive option even on a Poe that bumps, which was not possible until now (again with the exception of special abilities like Operation Specialist, Jyn Erso, Kyle(Pilot) ...)

Optics gives you focus on bump or while stressed, especially after a k or troll

It does not combo with intensity, but intensity is clunky without bb8 and r2d2 offers the same if not superior durability

You also aren't locked to greens to double up on mods. Just bank focus and TL normally without having to bb8 roll into a free focus

2 minutes ago, ficklegreendice said:

Optics gives you focus on bump or while stressed, especially after a k or troll

It does not combo with intensity, but intensity is clunky without bb8 and r2d2 offers the same if not superior durability

Right, which is exactly what I said.

AdvancedOptics on Poe with Intensity = bad choice
AdvancedOptics on Poe without Intensity = good choice

I would argue Intensity/BB-8 Poe wants Primed Thrusters, but that more playstyle than anything objective. I don't think there's much of a question between Advanced Optics and Comm Relay on Intensity/R2-D2 Poe that you go Comm Relay.

Adv optics Poe doesn't need intensity. Take a different ept.

I think im going to use advanced optics as a means to seriously shed some points from Poe. If I can invest it in multiple ships then the shear number of end-gamers should take the heat off him. I’m thinking about this:

Poe Dameron (31)
Adaptability (0)
BB-8 (2)
Advanced Optics (2)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Black One (1)

a 36 point, 9 PS who can fully utilize his pilot ability and strip multiple target locks off of allies is nothing to sneeze at.

45 minutes ago, GreenDragoon said:

Right, which is exactly what I said.

AdvancedOptics on Poe with Intensity = bad choice
AdvancedOptics on Poe without Intensity = good choice

no, what I'm saying is AdvancedOptics on Poe without Intensity > Intensity Poe in general

You can spend a focus OR evade token to recharge Intensity - not just focus.

Intensity poe will still have a place given the evade token just like he didn’t totally eliminate Regen Poe. As far as I’m concerned, we now have 3 Poe builds that fit different needs.

12 minutes ago, ficklegreendice said:

no, what I'm saying is AdvancedOptics on Poe without Intensity > Intensity Poe in general

Depending on EPT. VI Advanced Optics Poe seems interesting, but unless paired with R2-D2 not as durable as BB8 Poetensity.

Just now, BlodVargarna said:

Depending on EPT. VI Advanced Optics Poe seems interesting, but unless paired with R2-D2 not as durable as BB8 Poetensity.

but of course it'd be paired with r2-d2

regen is absurdly powerful

Intensity imho always with prime thrusters.
Meanwhile Poe without R5-P9 or Intensity now always with Advanced Poetricks. Actually, maybe even with R5-P9. It still useful to keep the token when you going to KT or TR.

Lone Wolf if I'm somehow running 2 ship, may consider Predator as the EPT.

I didn't start this thread.... but the subject is the best INTENSITY Poe, not "What is the best EPT for Poe?"

2 minutes ago, Skargoth said:

Lone Wolf if I'm somehow running 2 ship, may consider Predator as the EPT.

I agree, Predator/AO/R2D2 would be the build I'd probably lean towards.

10 minutes ago, ficklegreendice said:

no, what I'm saying is AdvancedOptics on Poe without Intensity > Intensity Poe in general

allright, but that's a point for another topic

6 minutes ago, Boba Rick said:

You can spend a focus OR evade token to recharge Intensity - not just focus.

Yes, but what's your point? Because my point was that AdvOptPoe then has to decide between using the evade for its effect or to turn over the card, while a focus can be used for both.

VI Advanced Optics R2-D2 build will be better than comm link R2-D2 Poetensity.

VI BB8 Advanced Optics Poe will be less tanky than BB8 Poetensity. What I like about VI AO Poe VIAOPOE (tm) is that with B1 and initiative he’s not going to get target locked.

Then the answer for me is neither. Poetensity wants Primed Thrusters.

So as not to completely derail the topic, I created this one...

3 minutes ago, GreenDragoon said:

allright, but that's a point for another topic

Yes, but what's your point? Because my point was that AdvOptPoe then has to decide between using the evade for its effect or to turn over the card, while a focus can be used for both.

The point is to take an evade ones and afterwards always take a focus and use the focus to pay up. Making the evade one HP extra against alpha strikes. In turns when you don't need a focus because nobody is shooting, you can than refresh your evade token, take a normal focus next turn and have this way another extra HP on top of your annoying regen.

I still rather have a focus token after a k-turn, so prime thruster all the way for me. It a shame that you don't have room for autothrusters + vector thrusters on the T-70

4 minutes ago, GreenDragoon said:

allright, but that's a point for another topic

Yes, but what's your point? Because my point was that AdvOptPoe then has to decide between using the evade for its effect or to turn over the card, while a focus can be used for both.

If given the choice between Perma-Focus or Perma-Evade, Poe will take Perma-Focus anyday. I mean, if he gets blocked or something and CAN'T boost to get that token, he'll sure be glad he already has it.

5 minutes ago, SEApocalypse said:

The point is to take an evade ones and afterwards always take a focus and use the focus to pay up. Making the evade one HP extra against alpha strikes. In turns when you don't need a focus because nobody is shooting, you can than refresh your evade token, take a normal focus next turn and have this way another extra HP on top of your annoying regen.

But that's no different from CommRelay, so I don't see why that helps when comparing the two?

8 minutes ago, Boba Rick said:

If given the choice between Perma-Focus or Perma-Evade, Poe will take Perma-Focus anyday. I mean, if he gets blocked or something and CAN'T boost to get that token, he'll sure be glad he already has it.

The case of a bump is the only one where advanced optics is better though. All other times you are better off with focus+evade

Well, I think it comes to disposability. The evade token is more disposable than the focus token, and I won't always use it. If I don't use the evade token, I don't care about discarding it to refresh Intensity.

Also, I don't want to be locked into ALWAYS having to focus. If I go with Comm Relay, then I always have to be getting a focus token (whether it through Intensity or not). Comm Relay's Poe has a real problem with offense - but if I can choose to TL instead of focus that's pretty sweet.

And it's one point less!

4 minutes ago, Boba Rick said:

Well, I think it comes to disposability. The evade token is more disposable than the focus token, and I won't always use it. If I don't use the evade token, I don't care about discarding it to refresh Intensity.

Then we have very different experiences with him. 2 green dice mean that he spends his evade almost every turn because 3 hits are so very common, for both in all those twoship lists.

6 minutes ago, Boba Rick said:

Also, I don't want to be locked into ALWAYS having to focus. If I go with Comm Relay, then I always have to be getting a focus token (whether it through Intensity or not). Comm Relay's Poe has a real problem with offense - but if I can choose to TL instead of focus that's pretty sweet.

Which is why 186th Oli flew Bb8Poe to quite some success because this build is not only more fun but also more balanced, allowing four actions per round!

Spending the evade every turn is mainly the case with the BB-8 builds, meanwhile with R2-D2 there is no reason to spend an evade when you are only getting hit by one 3 hit attack. Now don't get me wrong, the BB-8 build is great, but having that focus might still be better, because if you don't need that evade and took it, you pay intensity with the evade and actually need that evade, you pay it with focus, get a new evade next turn and focus again. For the BB-8 build you really should be better off with the one point cheaper option.