The ONLY way to play Thrawn....at least until someone figgures out something hyper-competetive.

About a month ago I finished reading the new Thrawn book by Timothy Zahn where he is reinvented a bit but nontheless canon. (I think)

Towards the end of the book where the Admiral is finally promoted to Admiral and given command of the Chimeara, there is a battle where he commands also a trio of Architens.

I plugged this all into the fleet maker and came up with something balanced and possibly worthwhile to take to a tourney if you got good with it.

Thrawn Tsunami (393/400)
=======================
Imperial I-class Star Destroyer (110 + 49)
+ Grand Admiral Thrawn (32)
+ Strategic Adviser (4)
+ Leading Shots (4)
+ Chimaera (4)
+ Entrapment Formation! (5)
Arquitens-class Light Cruiser (54 + 5)
+ Dual Turbolaser Turrets (5)
Arquitens-class Light Cruiser (54 + 5)
+ Dual Turbolaser Turrets (5)
Arquitens-class Light Cruiser (54 + 5)
+ Dual Turbolaser Turrets (5)
Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 + 2)
+ Comms Net (2)
4 x Tie Fighter Squadron (4 x 8)

Havent really worked on missions yet. I was just tickled that I could come up with something that looks halfway playable if not ultra-competetive that is SO canon based. Even Eli Vanto is here as a Strategic Advisor, the most fitting officer card for him.

You 'could' upgrade Chimaera itself but she is supposed to be an Imperial 1 class. I added the Gozanti and some fighters because such an escort is a no brainer. Who knows...maybe that Gozanti is Blood Hawk herself.

The only other additions that look interesting to me are either a Tractor beam or Boarding parties (more cannon) to make the ISD more dangerous. You could add Vader but the Canon sort of goes out the window at that point. Still, you could if it produced an interesting trick.

Tactics basic. Utilise LC's to isolate threat or draw out Raddus early. Move in with the big pizza slice. Thrawn allows more maneuverability of LC's and possibly more firepower at a key point.

Thats about it for now...thanks for reading my ramble!

PS-fleet title is even relevant. Read the book, its an easy and worthwhile read!

Thrawn Tsunami (400/400)
=======================
Imperial I-class Star Destroyer (110 + 56)
+ Grand Admiral Thrawn (32)
+ Strategic Adviser (4)
+ Boarding Engineers (2)
+ Leading Shots (4)
+ Quad Battery Turrets (5)
+ Chimaera (4)
+ Entrapment Formation! (5)
Arquitens-class Light Cruiser (54 + 5)
+ Dual Turbolaser Turrets (5)
Arquitens-class Light Cruiser (54 + 5)
+ Dual Turbolaser Turrets (5)
Arquitens-class Light Cruiser (54 + 5)
+ Dual Turbolaser Turrets (5)
Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 + 2)
+ Comms Net (2)
4 x Tie Fighter Squadron (4 x 8)
Most Wanted
Contested Outpost
Solar Corona

....because a 5 pt bid at tournement is meh.

Most wanted because reasons.

Contested Batonn

Solar Corona is better choice here than superior positions...even though if Thrawn shows up to a battle, wherevet he is....is....the Superior Position.

Did very similar.

saved a bit on Chimaera, no Gozanti, had more TIEs...

Absolutely 100% leverage the Arqs... because the ties will let you down and then it’s all on Thrawn’s back

If you're looking for a competitive Thrawn list, this helped me table my buddy who placed 4th at our regional (WHO I ALMOST NEVER BEAT) and achieved 170 MOV the second time I tried it. You get a lot of versatility, and Grint+X depending on the opponent - if it's max squads, I Grint Repair and Thrawns extra dials are all repair...that's 6 damage removed / 9 shields recovered over three rounds on the ISD. If he has no/little squads you can Grint+Squad and use the ISD for squads, Thrawn dials up Squads, freeing those flotillas for more of a combat fashion, giving them ConFires.

The Grand Admiral v1.3

Faction: Galactic Empire
Points: 400/400

Commander: Grand Admiral Thrawn

Assault Objective: Advanced Gunnery
Defense Objective: Planetary Ion Cannon
Navigation Objective: Minefields

[ flagship ] Imperial Star Destroyer Kuat Refit (112 points)
- Grand Admiral Thrawn ( 32 points)
- Avenger ( 5 points)
- Taskmaster Grint ( 5 points)
- Darth Vader ( 3 points)
- Electronic Countermeasures ( 7 points)
- Leading Shots ( 4 points)
= 168 total ship cost

Arquitens-class Light Cruiser (54 points)
- Captain Needa ( 2 points)
- Turbolaser Reroute Circuits ( 7 points)
= 63 total ship cost

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
- Boosted Comms ( 4 points)
- Comms Net ( 2 points)
= 29 total ship cost

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
- Boosted Comms ( 4 points)
= 27 total ship cost

1 Colonel Jendon ( 20 points)
1 Saber Squadron ( 12 points)
1 TIE Interceptor Squadron ( 11 points)
1 "Howlrunner" ( 16 points)
1 Soontir Fel ( 18 points)
1 "Mauler" Mithel ( 15 points)
1 Valen Rudor ( 13 points)
1 TIE Fighter Squadron ( 8 points)
= 113 total squadron cost