Mirhanda - why never a thing

By Rich P, in X-Wing Squad Lists

2 individually strong end game ships. Both powerful in early and mid game too. Why don’t we see the Han plus Miranda pairing on tables? Possible load out below ... tell me why it’s stupid?

Mirhanda (100)

•Miranda Doni (46) - K-Wing
Twin Laser Turret (6), Extra Munitions (2), Harpoon Missiles (4), Sabine Wren (2), •Bomblet Generator (3), Long-Range Scanners (0)

•Han Solo (54) - YT-1300
•Lone Wolf (2), Rey (2), •C-3PO (3), •Millennium Falcon (1)

As to why, folks are probably used to running bigger versions of both Han and Miranda, and LW/Rey Dash probably does more damage than Han, although Han might live longer. Maybe? Two agility + LW + focus is great on Dash/Leebo. C-3PO and Evade is also great, though. Hrm. I know I've seen more traditional fat-Han builds paired with a cheaper Warden K-Wing bomber. It'd be 37 for a full EM/Cluster/EI/Sabine/Bomblet build, which would snuggle in nicely beside a Gunner Han.

For the specific list, I'm mixed on Harpoons. You won't be able to trigger them the turn you shoot them, since Miranda is shooting second, and you don't have any upgrades which can grant crits--just natural rolls. I'm not sure that's enough. Perhaps put Engine Upgrade on Han? It's a well-proven card on high-PS large base ships. That'd leave an awkward 2 points left which I don't know how to spend, so it might not really work out right. Dropping Lone Wolf for VI, and turning those 2 points into either a Plasma Torpedo or Cruise Missile could work maybe...

I really like the concept of Lone Wolf Han, however. He doesn't need offensive rerolls as much as Dash due to his pilot ability, so there's a smaller penalty if your ships drift too close together. While LW on one die isn't as good on two, and you'll be much less likely to have focus for defense, it's still a defensive boost, and I think I like it more than Predator. Predator has always seemed iffy to me on Han, despite it's popularity. If you're going all-out to trigger a Gunner shot, I can almost understand, but it doesn't add as much damage as Expertise if you're trying to get hits, and it doesn't have the defensive side that Lone Wolf does. That's kind of a general off-topic Han rant...

They both crumble to focus fire. Especially given their need to be separate, they can be pinned down while apart.

While not the exact same, I flew Han/Norra at regionals last year, and they are just too squishy compared to the dice most lists can throw these days. Of course I might just be a terrible pilot.

Rey would be a more viable friend to Miranda I think.

It’s really hard to fit a decent Rey with a decent Miranda. Lone Wolf Han is surprisingly resilient. With c-3po one of your opponents attacks around is being reduced by at least 2, and maybe 3. Add that he hits hard to the mix.

As with Miranda - I think the list rewards careful, defensive flying. I think I’ll try it out this week at club night and see how it fares.

On Harpoons - the condition is a secondary benefit. It’s a 4 dice torp that doesn’t spend TL. It plus scanners gives a long range threat that make people want to stay away from her arc ... theoretically they have nowhere good to be as behind is bomblets and Sabine.

Rey with Finn, Kanan, and HOR title comes in at 54, so you could just toss on a Trick Shot or A Score to Settle and keep the same Miranda... drop Harpoon to Plasma Missiles for VI Rey... or Crack Shot! That'd be some nasty arc damage.