*see title . Maybe ASTS, VI, or Adaptibility for EPT?

Anyone else had repeat successes with another build? Maybe autoblaster turret? Anyone have a Kestal centric build or will it always be a filler ship?

For some reason I keep thinking about this unique little ship. (TBH should been named Lt. Kestral tho, not Kestal).

Thanks!

I would say yes. Aggressors are fragile and I wouldn't rely on her to provide a crucial element for a squad. It's also a big investment to pay 5 points over a Seinar Specialist.

Autoblaster Turret is ok for the cheap guys, a bit suicidal for Kestal and her ability would be doing next to nothing.

Crack Shot to reliably get that ion hit on high agility people is my preferred EPT for her. Thread Tracers can also be useful for 1 point if your low-PS goons want target locks.

My typical Kestal build is ICT + LWF + Intensity.

Crack Shot is good for a clutch Ionization, but it is inside your firing arc which limits the benefit of CS with her turret.

I find Intensity is good for allowing the ship to barrel roll where you need to be to deny area and still be able to get the Focus token required to use the pilot ability.

I thought the commonly accepted best way was "don't"

the Aggressor is a ship I really wished had come with a TIE/Ag title that would make it stand out as more than just a Y-wing with barrel-roll, even just having a title that was literally Deadeye would've made it a fascinating little ship

I believe the intention with Kestal was to run her with Synched turret (which can do more than one damage, making it devastating against normally defensive targets; also leaves her mod open for LWF), but without providing her with the means to circumvent the target-lock requirement it gets super awkward to balance the targeting restriction with her ability

so you could do PTL, but then you have to contend with only four green maneuvers

if you run deadeye, you won't have any offensive modifiers out-of-arc (though it's "cheap" at 29 points with LWF)

if you run expertise, you get mods but you waste a crucial turn setting up the target-lock

perhaps if you hook her up with some Hux support or other means of flinging focus at her, the deadeye build could be solid?
needing the focus to fire is rough, though, so I see the ICT benefit

an idea:

Turret, not cannon - right?

What is the timing window for Kestal's ability? Right after the defender rolls and before they modify?

after thinking about it, the ICT version has a lot of merit since it opens up VI (miranda, dash, rey, kylo...)

Kestal (VI, ICT, unguided, LWF)
Lambda (sensors, fleet, systems)
QD (VI, fcs, optics, title, LWF; poons) or (Expertise, FCS, LWF + 2 point bid) with obvious title included

15 minutes ago, Boba Rick said:

Turret, not cannon - right?

What is the timing window for Kestal's ability? Right after the defender rolls and before they modify?

During the modification step. Attacker modify Defense dice first. Palp will trigger before Kestal.

Personally while I think the ship looks great it’s a completely uninteresting addition to the Imperial arsenal. It’s hard to believe it came in the same wave as the Azituck and Skuurg.

For a time Kestal was part of the Vader, Quickdraw alpha lists buy you get more value on Vader and Quickdraw with a Nu.

The other value build is just a low PS TLT carrier in 4 ship Imperial.

I dont think Kestal is run enough to have a commonly accepted.

Ive only flown her with missiles and it scares the pants off aces that rely on autothrusters. That was when they first came out. Took her to a store champs with Quickdraw and Backdraft and Kestal all with Cruise missiles. Had double Cruise on her, but woulda liked ABT more.

Looking at list juggler, She made top64 at birmingham system open (9th in hyperspace) with Harpoons + ABT. Most lists either have her with ABT+Missile+chips or else TLT+LWF.

Homing Missiles can be pretty nasty on her. Run it with deadeye and you've got a good chance to completely deny your opponent anyway to modify his defense dice. Certainly works better if you have another ship to support you with additional mods though.