Just got guns for hire. Is this any good?

By Gamer4000, in X-Wing Squad Lists

Guri (30)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
Autothrusters (2)
StarViper Mk. II (-3)

Talonbane Cobra (28)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
Pulsed Ray Shield (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Stealth Device (3)
Vaksai (0)

Thweek (28)
Advanced Sensors (3)
Glitterstim (2)
Autothrusters (2)
StarViper Mk. II (-3)
Virago (1)

Total: 97

Maybe too many points on Thweek? I think the community is leaning towards a leaner Thweek. Cut points and you have room for the almighty harpoon, though I question whether TBC is a good carrier for it. This still affords a decent bid to ensure Thweek moves last if that is what you go with.

Guri (30)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
Autothrusters (2)
StarViper Mk. II (-3)

Talonbane Cobra (28)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
Harpoon Missiles (4)
Autothrusters (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Stealth Device (3)
Vaksai (0)

Thweek (28)
Fire-Control System (2)
Autothrusters (2)
StarViper Mk. II (-3)
Virago (1)

Total: 97

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Edited by Rolotamasi

I don't like the Kihraxz much. Mine always die so easily... But I like the idea, as I already had this in mind:

Guri (30)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
Autothrusters (2)
StarViper Mk. II (-3)

Manaroo (27)

Attanni Mindlink (1)

K4 Security Droid (3)

Countermeasures (3)

Thweek (28)
Advanced Sensors (3)
Autothrusters (2)
StarViper Mk. II (-3)
Virago (1)

Glitterstim (2)

Total: 97

I wanted to try Thweek, Guri and Manaroo. I don't know if nerfed Manaroo has a place in this meta, but I've played Ahsoka a lot, so I think that R1 won't be too much trouble. Thweek has Ad Sensors to avoid being blocked, and Manaroo can still provide the tokens needed. If Manaroo dies, GS can save me for a turn. If my opponents go for Manaroo maybe she can do her token passing shenanigans, and mess up with enemy TLs... If not, she can still provide TL+Focus to either Thweek or Guri. I'm trying the list tomorrow...

15 hours ago, Rolotamasi said:

Maybe too many points on Thweek? I think the community is leaning towards a leaner Thweek.

I think a beefed Thweek can be a pain in the end game, the more points it costs, the better chances of winning (if you can survive, of course)

I don't like the Stealth Device on Talonbane. I just don't think extra green die is as effective as other options. Off the top, Autothrusters is probably just better, if he's already got Engine Upgrade.

Putting some sort of missile on TBC is nice, particularly Cruise. If you mess up and get a Range 1 Primary instead of Range 2 for Cruise, you'll still be at 5-dice due to his pilot ability. The more I think about it, a missile might be mandatory. I think it'll be a hard task to win with three ships on only 5 HP each if you don't have some serious damage acceleration, such as from a missile.

Also, if you're going Pulsed Ray Shield, I think Ion Dischargers are a must-have. Either your opponent lets you discard ion freely, and Talonbane gets to keep his full dial, or else they ionize themself, and you know exactly where your opponent will land, making it easier for Guri to set up a sweet Range 1, so that both her and Talonbane can take TLs and use her ability for focus for Attanni.

Here's my version, 98 points. If you want a bigger bid, I'd cut stuff from Thweek. Swapping AdvS for Fire Control System could work, or perhaps moving Virago over to Guri, switching to FCS, and dropping Glitterstim for Contraband Cybernetics (it just pairs better with Attanni).

Talonbane Cobra [Vaksai, Attanni Mindlink, Cruise Missiles, Ion Discharger, Pulsed Ray Shield, Guidance Chips, Engine Upgrade] (35)

Thweek [StarViper Mk. II, Autothrusters, Virago, Advanced Sensors, Glitterstim] (33)

Guri [Attanni Mindlink, StarViper Mk. II, Autothrusters, Millennium Falcon (Evade Version)] (30)

On 1/2/2018 at 2:48 AM, Rolotamasi said:

Maybe too many points on Thweek? I think the community is leaning towards a leaner Thweek. Cut points and you have room for the almighty harpoon, though I question whether TBC is a good carrier for it. This still affords a decent bid to ensure Thweek moves last if that is what you go with.

Guri (30)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
Autothrusters (2)
StarViper Mk. II (-3)

Talonbane Cobra (28)
Attanni Mindlink (1)
Harpoon Missiles (4)
Autothrusters (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Stealth Device (3)
Vaksai (0)

Thweek (28)
Fire-Control System (2)
Autothrusters (2)
StarViper Mk. II (-3)
Virago (1)

Total: 97

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Just tried this and beat Vader, Quickdraw, and a Bomber Shuttle. One thing people were suggesting was to put crack shot on Guri, and VI on Talon instead of the mind links. Is this a good idea?

4 hours ago, Gamer4000 said:

Just tried this and beat Vader, Quickdraw, and a Bomber Shuttle. One thing people were suggesting was to put crack shot on Guri, and VI on Talon instead of the mind links. Is this a good idea?

It might not be bad. VI on Talonbane will make it easier for him to get Target Locks on high PS targets like Vader or Quickdraw, or a VI/Black One Poe. Crack Shot on Guri... my first thought was "meh" but it's growing on me. It will help the first-turn spike damage she can do, and it'll be easier and cheaper than a torpedo.

The downside is that giving up Attanni gives up Talonbane having focus-modification on his Harpoon turn. Maybe swap Harpoon for Cruise and take Glitterstim? It won't actually decrease the bid, due to Vaksai decreasing the cost of Glitters to 1 point. OH! If you don't take Glitterstim, be sure to add Black Market Slicer Tools, Contraband Cybernetics, or Inertial Dampeners on Talonbane Cobra. Vaksai makes them free, and they might come in handy some time. Might not, but they were free. (bah, over-bolded...)

VI/Crackshot won't hit as hard, but it'll hit easier. Attanni will hit harder when it does hit, but there's a bigger chance you wiff on your TLs and can't get your missile shot off. I can't say which would be better for you, but both would probably work reasonably well.

18 hours ago, theBitterFig said:

Crack Shot on Guri... my first thought was "meh" but it's growing on me. It will help the first-turn spike damage she can do, and it'll be easier and cheaper than a torpedo.

The downside is that giving up Attanni gives up Talonbane having focus-modification on his Harpoon turn. Maybe swap Harpoon for Cruise and take Glitterstim? It won't actually decrease the bid, due to Vaksai decreasing the cost of Glitters to 1 point. OH! If you don't take Glitterstim, be sure to add Black Market Slicer Tools, Contraband Cybernetics, or Inertial Dampeners on Talonbane Cobra. Vaksai makes them free, and they might come in handy some time. Might not, but they were free. (bah, over-bolded...)

VI/Crackshot won't hit as hard, but it'll hit easier. Attanni will hit harder when it does hit, but there's a bigger chance you wiff on your TLs and can't get your missile shot off. I can't say which would be better for you, but both would probably work reasonably well.

What about switching to Intensity on Guri? The token ability allows for more re-flipping opportunities. Also, good idea on the free illicit. I would go with contraband if not taking attain. BMST if you do. Both for action economy reasons and the obvious stress reasons. I am starting to come over to PS11 TBC as well. Too many 11s out there now and with a decent bid it will negate Poe's TL shredding.

7 hours ago, Rolotamasi said:

What about switching to Intensity on Guri? The token ability allows for more re-flipping opportunities. Also, good idea on the free illicit. I would go with contraband if not taking attain. BMST if you do. Both for action economy reasons and the obvious stress reasons. I am starting to come over to PS11 TBC as well. Too many 11s out there now and with a decent bid it will negate Poe's TL shredding.

I haven't put Intensity Guri on the table. I'm a fan of Intensity on /x7 Defenders, but their free tokens are a bit easier to get, and more often go unused (if your opponent doesn't shoot, you don't spend the Evade). With Guri... I'm worried about the lower PS making it hard to reliably get position, but that's all on paper. If it feels good on the table, go for it. I didn't think Intensity would work on /x7 Defenders, but thought it worked well on the table, for and against. It certainly seems like something worth testing.

While I think VI is probably a fine idea, Contraband would work very well with Attanni. Imagine: Guri moves, either focuses or gets in position for a known free focus, then Talonbane pulls a 5-K, and uses Contraband to take a TL. He'll still get a focus from Guri. Meanwhile, even if Talonbane was already stressed pulling the 5-K and is now triple stressed, Guri only has one stress, since Attanni doesn't share over the first stress. And while TBC might be without his own action for a few turns, Guri's focus is still passed over to him. It's all a moot point, since VI is probably better. But in general, I'm not too worried about Contraband Cybernetics with Attanni.

I like the pilot combos. I would switch Thweek to FCS and maybe drop Glitter. He tends to need offensive mods.

Guri is bomb.

I think Mr. Cobra, if he has PRS, should have Ion Dischargers. I also think VT is more valuable on him than EU, unless you can get both.