Hey guys!

I felt like posting a T-65 thread because of the new Saws Renegades, and also because I'm not sure I've ever seen one (recently at least).

Like most of the Rebel players, I love the T-65, and I'm really hoping this new expansion makes it actually viable. I know the T-65 is decent right now, but even with the new astros that have been released, I still find it to be struggling against anything involving some even kinda meta based stuff. (Though the thing absolutely destroys in random casual games).

I really don't know what to expect from the new expansion. I'm not sure if it is going to launch the T-65 back up to the top and be an absolute beast in competitive play, or if it is just going to improve it a fair margin and at least bring it into the periphery of being currently playable.

Whichever way it goes (excepting complete failure because that would be very sad), what are your guys' favorite builds? I honestly have 0 idea what "the standard" x wing was (not counting Biggs) or is. For any of the pilots! So whats the craziest, most successful, least successful, jankiest most T-65 stuff you've come up with?

And as the title suggests, no T-70s please. I love the T-70, but it already has a bazillion lists and build threads. Poe is cool and I love him, but he can move over for Wedge (considering he was the role model...)

Best,

Cow

My favorite list right now with a T-65 is a Fat Han with Lone Wolf Luke. You get to trigger Luke’s ability quite a bit with the reroll, which paired with RDD2 keeps him around a bit longer. Still susceptible to taking major hits from harpoons, though.

Theres a few ways to build it. You can go VT with R2D2 or flight assist astromech/IAand throw on a Torp.

The best list I’ve flown lately was three rookies with FAA, Braylen, R3A2 and gunner. I really miss my old Wes Wedge Hobbie opportunist build though

i either play 3 rookies with integrated astromech (r3a2, r4d6, m9g8) and wedge (faa, vi, ia) or 3 "aces": Wedge (bb8, ptl, ia), Luke (vi, r2d2, ia) and wes (vi, faa, ia).

both are viable lists, currently i like the second one better because of their strong pilot abilities and luke's regen.

I'm very excited for some T-65 improvements. I've run this list a couple times. I used to use BB8 on Wedge before flight assist, but switched when I got the new card. Works well in casual, but the high ps is key for it. So the current PS 11 meta is not kind to it.

X-Wing: •Luke Skywalker (35)
Vectored Thrusters (2)
Veteran Instincts (1)
•R2-D2 (4)

X-Wing: •Wes Janson (33)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Veteran Instincts (1)
•M9-G8 (3)

X-Wing: •Wedge Antilles (30)
Integrated Astromech (0)
Adaptability (+1) (0)
Flight-Assist Astromech (1)

Total: 98/100

Are there any ridiculous builds for someone like Tarn besides the R7 astro? I was thinking that if you have the points (and hopefully improved by the upcoming expansion), he could be rediculous with Talentbot and Expertise. A more manuverable, less impact something with FCS. Technically the upgrades come out cheaper by one point, and obviously you can just get a blue squadron b wing, but I like the idea. Most of the b-Wing uniques (who have EPTs) have to be built a certain way. None of them are really good Expertise carriers so I was thinking Tarn could be a good replacement (and dodges predator).

Best,

Cow

Wedge - Expertise/Flight Assist/IA

so much fun, so much power! so much frailty.

@Cow-of-Doom Tarn works great with M9-G8. When someone shoots you you get a target lock and can force them to reroll any hit. Works several times a turn.

So for a point extra you get unlimited use. Thats really cool I didn't think of that! (I tend to think of using M9 only as an offense boost). Thats smart too because you can lock your ace to give them the offensive buff, and then swap it to yourself when you take fire. 2+ uses of a target lock in a single turn! Awesome idea!!

Best,

Cow

Yeah, it's pretty handy. You trade a potentially big damage reduction from one attack for a small amount of damage mitigation from several attacks, so it's better against a TIE swarm/TLT's whereas R7 is better against a 2 ship list such as Dash/Poe or double Shadowcasters.

I had been planning on starting a thread like this myself, specifically for 3 T-65's in the same vein as the Triple T-70 thread, but was waiting for more details of the Saw's Renegades pack to be confirmed as I expect that will change things significantly. Nothing wrong with getting the ball rolling though!

Needless to say I love my T-65's and have kept playing them in spite (or perhaps because of) their relative uncompetitiveness. I don't think T-65's are as bad as many people make out, they are just a bit overpriced and unfortunately to many people anything that can’t compete top tier is rubbish. I tend to use 3 T-65’s or none, Luke partnered with Han being the main exception. Luke/Wedge/Biggs or Wedge/Wes/Tarn are my favourite combinations. I also used T-65's in an escalation tournament last year and came second, starting with Luke & Biggs for 60pts, then Wedge at 90pts, Garven at 120pts and finally Porkins at 150pts.

I don’t have much experience with 4 T-65’s outside of Escalation or Epic but thought this list might be worth a try:

Rookie Pilot - R3-A2, Integrated Astromech
Rookie Pilot - R4-D6, Integrated Astromech
Rookie Pilot - Plasma Torpedoes, Flight Assist Astromech, Integrated Astromech
Garven Dreis - R2-D6, Integrated Astromech, Predator

100pts

Wasn't sure what EPT to give Garven but Predator seemed a solid choice so he can continue to focus each turn without the need of target locks for some re-rolls.

15 hours ago, Cow-of-Doom said:

So for a point extra you get unlimited use. Thats really cool I didn't think of that! (I tend to think of using M9 only as an offense boost). Thats smart too because you can lock your ace to give them the offensive buff, and then swap it to yourself when you take fire. 2+ uses of a target lock in a single turn! Awesome idea!!

Best,

Cow

And, as far as my little gaming experience goes, you can combo M9G8 Tarn with Capt. Rex to totally shut off that huge ghost TLT shots: he attacks you with 2 dice and rerolls one hit, making it super-easy to evade. The best part is it works multiple times a turn (just try to keep targeting the ghost with that small tie).

11 hours ago, JudgeDeath said:

Yeah, it's pretty handy. You trade a potentially big damage reduction from one attack for a small amount of damage mitigation from several attacks, so it's better against a TIE swarm/TLT's whereas R7 is better against a 2 ship list such as Dash/Poe or double Shadowcasters.

I had been planning on starting a thread like this myself, specifically for 3 T-65's in the same vein as the Triple T-70 thread, but was waiting for more details of the Saw's Renegades pack to be confirmed as I expect that will change things significantly. Nothing wrong with getting the ball rolling though!

Needless to say I love my T-65's and have kept playing them in spite (or perhaps because of) their relative uncompetitiveness. I don't think T-65's are as bad as many people make out, they are just a bit overpriced and unfortunately to many people anything that can’t compete top tier is rubbish. I tend to use 3 T-65’s or none, Luke partnered with Han being the main exception. Luke/Wedge/Biggs or Wedge/Wes/Tarn are my favourite combinations. I also used T-65's in an escalation tournament last year and came second, starting with Luke & Biggs for 60pts, then Wedge at 90pts, Garven at 120pts and finally Porkins at 150pts.

I don’t have much experience with 4 T-65’s outside of Escalation or Epic but thought this list might be worth a try:

Rookie Pilot - R3-A2, Integrated Astromech
Rookie Pilot - R4-D6, Integrated Astromech
Rookie Pilot - Plasma Torpedoes, Flight Assist Astromech, Integrated Astromech
Garven Dreis - R2-D6, Integrated Astromech, Predator

100pts

Wasn't sure what EPT to give Garven but Predator seemed a solid choice so he can continue to focus each turn without the need of target locks for some re-rolls.

This list looks nice, i'd use as EPT, instead of predator, Swarm tactics, so you have 2 X wing shooting at PS6, which is not bad. Or, thematically, Squad Leader, which isn't a good choice per se, but it is so thematic with Garven Dreis i'd even include an experimental interface so he can keep focusing, passing one action and one focus to other X Wings.

Luke Skywalker (28)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Flight-Assist Astromech (1)
Integrated Astromech (0)

Total: 30

A PS10 30pts ace that can move and always has defense mod turned on. Stood Toe to Toe with Soontir and PTL Kylo 1v1.

Problem is, this 30pts is fighting with Lowhhricks 30pts in the meta.

Biggs Darklighter (25)
R2-D6 (1)
Selflessness (1)
Integrated Astromech (0)

Total: 27

Basically just Biggs again. Selflessness one round, Biggs another round. That buys a ship, a regen ship like Miranda/Poe etc. 2 rounds to regen. Also, with Stress Ezra and HSCP Fenn around, Biggs can force them to attack him instead of your 40+ pt ship that you dont want double stressed or hot-copped. Can also make ghost waste a round TLTing Biggs instead of like a range 1 shot on Miranda, etc. Biggs is always meta

So am I right in guessing that FFA is pretty much the "go to" astromech now for the T-65?

1 hour ago, Cow-of-Doom said:

So am I right in guessing that FFA is pretty much the "go to" astromech now for the T-65?

It's hard to argue with free actions, particularly ones which help a ship with no native repositioning get arc.

I guess I'd call it "go-to." At least for a generic astromech, it's surely the best pick ahead of R2 or R5 (which was probably never bad, just unloved), and cheaper than BB-8 or R7-T1 if you want to add nimbleness. Other mechs still probably have niche rolls: R3-A2 always does something handy, Targeting on Hobbie, R7 on Tarn, M9-G8 is good support on anyone, R2-D2 for thematics and regen. But if there's no reason to take a different mech, FAA is probably the standard.

//

That said, I really dig the "three different mechs" approach to a 3x Rookies + Wedge list from @AlCranio . A toolbox is sometimes handy.

At this point the only one we need are Whistler and Mynock!!

Do any speed maneuver in any direction, gain a target lock on every ship, and get a focus for your ship and the number of enemies on the board.

I think thats pretty balanced!!

Best,

Cow

This list is currently 104 points, but there is a good chance that the new title/whatever reduces points costs by at least one. Which will make this an even 100.

Red Squadron (104)

•Garven Dreis (27) - X-Wing
Flight-Assist Astromech (1), Integrated Astromech (0)

•"Hobbie" Klivian (27) - X-Wing
Targeting Astromech (2), Integrated Astromech (0)

•Tarn Mison (26) - X-Wing
•M9-G8 (3), Integrated Astromech (0)

Red Squadron Pilot (24) - X-Wing
Flight-Assist Astromech (1), Integrated Astromech (0)

So I'm interested (I feel like the reporter asking stuff about everybody's posts) in Garven. It seems like he's decently popular in multi ship T-65 lists (or at least the ones posted here). Is this just because of points or more because of actual utility (I know he has a good ability just seems that he's overshadowed by other pilots, thus the question).

Best,

Cow

Wedge is still fairly hot, and Wes sees his place.

However, especially now that Renegades is coming, I like this list:

2x Blue Squadron Pilot

Linked Battery

Adv. Sensors

2x Rookie Pilots (perhaps soon Cavern Angels Zealot)

FAA

IA

That is 4 ships for a respectable HP total, and the Xs have decent agility. FAA makes them wicked fast, even to turn around, and they can take a nice little focus action.

The Bs ALWAYS have a reroll and essentially always have their action, which is just bomb.

Its a little weak to Fenn, but he can only mess with one of them at a time lol.

This list doesn't have any tricks that will win for you - but if you fly it well, it is insanely capable.

If the Cavern Angles is cheaper, where will you spend the extra points? Might as well because I have a sneaking suspicion you may not be winning any initiative bids. FAA will stay, and there aren't really too many other slots to fill other than torpedoes... (or a crew or something on B-Wing)

Best,

Cow

Probably B crews! Who knows?!

On ‎14‎/‎03‎/‎2018 at 10:51 PM, Cow-of-Doom said:

So I'm interested (I feel like the reporter asking stuff about everybody's posts) in Garven. It seems like he's decently popular in multi ship T-65 lists (or at least the ones posted here). Is this just because of points or more because of actual utility (I know he has a good ability just seems that he's overshadowed by other pilots, thus the question).

Best,

Cow

I think it's a mixture of the 2. If you are building a 4 T-65 list it is difficult to find the points for a decently equipped Wedge or Wes, and Garven has more general utility than Porkins, Hobbie or Biggs (since the nerf). Actions are limited for ships that can't take EPT's and several other types of upgrade, so passing a focus to a lower PS ship so it has one for defence AND attack is pretty useful.

@Greebwahn Nice list, I'd probably stick with the Rookie X-Wings myself just so you can swap the activation order with the B-Wings, which will be important with their limited dials and bonus move options.

Just slap Bo-Shek on a B-Wing and watch your list win worlds

Best,

Cow

That's true, I do like the PS match!

Having used Garven a few times, before FAA came out, I found that his firing arc was far too easily avoided and he wasn't threatening enough for him to be targeted. Therefore his ability rarely processed. Would FAA make him significantly better? I doubt it.

Hobbie with Targeting Astromech is far better, being one of the few pilots who wants to k-turn. His problem is cost vs effectiveness, compare him to a Tie Defender x7...but if the cost comes down far enough to be able to fit him into a decent 4 ship list, then he might see more play.

If you can find a way to put several focus tokens on Garven he can spend them all and distribute them to his friends.