I am looking to try this for a defender and wondering if it would be an efficient use of the slots. What ideas on this does everyone have? Thanks everyone.

Unfortunately, there is zero synergy between the title and Linked Battery. The TIE/D title requires a secondary weapon cannon, which Linked Battery is not, so your Defender is paying 4 points and giving up the free Evades from TIE/x7 for a worse version of Predator.

It does give 1 re roll on the primary. Lol

No, it's not. TIE/D and Linked Batteries costs 4 points more than a TIE/x7, and instead of getting a free Evade action on some moves, you get a single reroll (far less than a full TL). I don't really call that a good trade.

Here's the kicker: On a 3-dice attack, adding a single reroll to a focus token takes you from 2.25 hits per attack up to 2.68, so about 0.43 hits per attack more. However, against almost any ship, Flechette Cannon at the same points granting an extra attack will do more damage. Against 3 agility, with neither ship spending any Focus, you'll get at least one hit around 47% of the time, so that's more damage per attack. Agaisnt a lower-agility ship (like the Nyms and Mirandas the game is lousy with right now), you'll have around a 74% chance to deal damage.

Going with an actual cannon just adds more damage to the output of a Defender than Linked Batteries, and sometimes you'll apply Stress or Ion or so forth.

Save a point and go X7/Predator. Or take Vessery. Or... Really anything else is better.

Edit: @theBitterFig just said everything I did but better. Ninja'd!

Thanks everyone. it does sound great verses low agility ships but all in all not really worth doing.

Yea Tie/D just has better options unfortunately.
Maybe if you were trying to do a chunky monkey Rexler with VI or something, but I think you still want X/7 over it.

Now Linked Battery is a great choice on B-Wings, but thats a seperate thread.

2 hours ago, Flyingbrick said:

Thanks everyone. it does sound great verses low agility ships but all in all not really worth doing.

How is it better against low agility ships then say adding a cannon even a 2pt cannon (same cost as Tie d) a flechet does 1 damage (the most benefit you are getting out of the linked battery in best case) and can add a stress.

I really don't see any time it "sounds good"

4 hours ago, DR4CO said:

Unfortunately, there is zero synergy between the title and Linked Battery. The TIE/D title requires a secondary weapon cannon, which Linked Battery is not, so your Defender is paying 4 points and giving up the free Evades from TIE/x7 for a worse version of Predator.

Linked isn't a worse version of Predator. I'd actually say its a better version since you don't lose your EPT and it's cheaper.

On the TIE/d it is a waste of course since you actually want to use that cannon slot for a cannon, but Linked is good on other ships which have a cannon slot they don't want to use if they want some rerolls.

Sacrificing the second shot makes Linked Battery a lesser choice compared to it's competition.

Flechette Cannons, Tractors or Jamming Beams will give you more mileage, as they add a control element- especially tractor will most likely ensure the envisioned outcome of Linked Battery better than the Battery itself. Plus, you can most likely target lock, so it's not like there is no source of rerolls on the /D.

As the usual problem of cannon-toting ships is sacrificing your main armament, the Linked Battery fills a niche these ships need more than the /D, that can actually utilize both weapons at once. If you want rerolls, I'd go with the classic PtL or VI for double mods or shooting first (Rexler)- or, if action independency really tickles your fancy, pay more than linked for predator, maybe Expertise even. It's not that Linked Battery is a **** upgrade, it's that the /D is the single cannon ship that actually wants something else.

I should add: I've had pretty good success in a few games with some Rainbow TIE/Ds: Deltas each with TIE Mk.II and one each Ion, Flechette, and Tractor Beam. I'm not sure if it's a surprise factor, a "these hardcounter 1-agility ships" factor, or a seriously good squad, but I think it's worth experimentation.

I am curious if a Tie/D with tractor and Harpoons with Chips could make a showing. The Empire doesn't have a lot of ways of guaranteeing crits to trigger Harpoons.

I tried link battery on a B-wing in a recent epic match. it was OK

35 minutes ago, gamblertuba said:

I am curious if a Tie/D with tractor and Harpoons with Chips could make a showing. The Empire doesn't have a lot of ways of guaranteeing crits to trigger Harpoons.

A bit pricey. I couldn't find a way to have tie/d-s carry missiles and make it worth it in anything but epic.

/Ds that are carrying missiles are probably wasting points because a cannon then a primary should be as good as if not better than, a missile, even a Harpoon.

1 hour ago, thespaceinvader said:

/Ds that are carrying missiles are probably wasting points because a cannon then a primary should be as good as if not better than, a missile, even a Harpoon.

Agreed. The missile slot is just for show.

Really there should be more cards that let you swap X slot for another.

Repurposed Missile Bays: 0 points. Missile Upgrade. Limited. Your upgrade bar gains the Cannon or Torpedo upgrade slot.

System Upgrade: 0 points. Missile Upgrade. Limited. Imperial Only. Your upgrade bar gains either the System or Tech upgrade slot.

Enhanced Torpedo Launchers: 0 points. Torpedo Upgrade. Rebel Only. Xwing Only. Your upgrade bar gains the Torpedo upgrade slot. You may equip an additional modification upgrade costing 1 point or less.

Smuggling Compartment: 0 points. Missile or Torpedo upgrade. Scum Only. Your upgrade bar gains the Illicit slot.

Onyx Squadron with TIE/D and Linked Batteries rerolls a single die is PS3 for total 34 points.

Glaive Squadron with TIE/X7 and Predator rerolls up to 2 die is PS6 has the condition free evade for 35 points.

Conclusion: Inefficient use of points for TIE/D with Linked Batteries; will not try.

1 hour ago, chico2323 said:

Onyx Squadron with TIE/D and Linked Batteries rerolls a single die is PS3 for total 34 points.

Glaive Squadron with TIE/X7 and Predator rerolls up to 2 die is PS6 has the condition free evade for 35 points.

Conclusion: Inefficient use of points for TIE/D with Linked Batteries; will not try.

TIE/D does nothing with linked battery, what you're talking about is a title-less Defender. Spoiler Alert - There is never a correct time to take a Defender without a title.