I'm debating jumping on the Ghost/Fenn bandwagon for an upcoming tournament. Actually, I've been running Ghost +1 lists for a long time, but generally when the meta zigs, I zag. I've never run Kanan/Biggs, for instance. So now that everyone is playing my beloved Ghost, I've gone away from it.

But it was mine first and I want it back, dammit!!!

However, my (often frustrating) originality complex dictates that I can't just directly copy the hot-ticket version of the list, so then I started crafting the version that would be good in the mirror match.

List 1: Better than Ezra

"Chopper" (37)
Reinforced Deflectors (3)
Ion Cannon Turret (5)
Finn (5)
Rey (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Ghost (0)

"Zeb" Orrelios (18)
Courier Droid (0)
Phantom (0)

Fenn Rau (Sheathipede) (20)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Tactician (2)
M9-G8 (3)

Total: 100

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How to kill a Ghost in the mirror match? Stress it to shut off Maul, walk it off the board with ion, or throw more dice at it than it throws at you. This could also be good against all the expertise that might be getting more and more popular as an answer to Fenn.

List 2: Fine, I'll take hot-cop

Lothal Rebel (35)
Reinforced Deflectors (3)
Ion Cannon Turret (5)
Finn (5)
Rey (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Ghost (0)

"Zeb" Orrelios (18)
Courier Droid (0)
Phantom (0)

Fenn Rau (Sheathipede) (20)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Hotshot Co-pilot (4)
M9-G8 (3)

Total: 100

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This list is nearly identical, but trades the stress capability for hot-cop on Fenn. Slightly more soulless, but with more general utility. Weaker against passive mods, therefore weaker in the mirror match.

List 3: **** you, Fenn!

"Chopper" (37)
Reinforced Deflectors (3)
Ion Cannon Turret (5)
Finn (5)
Rey (2)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Ghost (0)

"Zeb" Orrelios (18)
Autoblaster Turret (2)
Courier Droid (0)
Phantom (0)

Airen Cracken (19)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Harpoon Missiles (4)
Guidance Chips (0)

Total: 100

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PS 11 coordinated boosts are good, this is known. This is similar, but more hilarious. The idea is to block a small base ship with Chopper, stress it, and then boost past it after Cracken shoots and blast the poor bastard with 6 dice. Fenn's got nothing on that! More offense, less defense. More charm.

So what say you?

Bravo, good sir - taking the meta and twisting it for yourself. You want to counter the Meta with the meta? Here's my take:

Fenn

VI

R2 Astro

Pulsed Ray Shield

HotCop

Chopper

Sensor Jammer

Maul

Ezra

Ion Cannon Turret

Ghost

Zeb

ABT

Phantom

You have Ion control, stress control, token control, passive mods, regen on Fenn. I'm kind of ashamed to have brainstormed it lol. It takes the best of classic Ghost/Fenn and twists it sadistically

The lack of engine upgrade is the only thing that makes me sad (which combos with the feeling of self-loathing quite nicely).

Dropping pulsed ray shield and the autoblaster turret (which I do hate to give up as it has won me many games) would make room for it. I'm somewhat concerned about Maul on the ion cannon though. Maul on TLT has double the chances of clearing the stress. If someone dodges my ion shots, I could be in a bad way.

I could certainly see you prioritizing the EU, but I would prefer regen/ABT.

You still have the end of round shot, which is unlikely to miss. You can ditch the stress there.

After hours of deliberation, I think I'm going with this list:

"Chopper" (37)
Reinforced Deflectors (3)
Ion Cannon Turret (5)
Maul (3)
Finn (5)
Engine Upgrade (4)
Ghost (0)

"Zeb" Orrelios (18)
Autoblaster Turret (2)
Courier Droid (0)
Phantom (0)

Ezra Bridger (Sheathipede) (17)
Snap Shot (2)
Tactician (2)
R3-A2 (2)

Total: 100

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No Fenn, which automatically makes it cooler. Ezra has a build that can theoretically clear stress and coordinate when necessary. And I managed to keep Finn for maximum ***-kickery.