So by this point, I'm sure everyone knows about BTvenger, and how nasty it can be. However, it has a few weaknesses. First, it requires close range, which also means it pretty much requires player 1. It also requires the use of your weapons team, so no gunnery teams. This results in a powerful single shot, but other shots are relatively weak compared to other ISDs. If we're being honest with ourselves, the primary advantage of the BTvenger is that you cannot spend your brace token. Redirects can be practically nullified via XI7s, you're not using BTs on anything that has scatter, you're at close range making evades useless, and contain is semi-useful but the goal is massive (deadly) damage, not a crit.

So why not just couple Sloane with the Avenger? Let's start with an ISD2, with Sloane, SA, ECM, EHB, GT, XI7, LS, and Avenger, totaling 182 points. Couple this with Maarek, 3 Defenders, Dengar, and a Jumpmaster. The Cymoon can activate all 5 of those, and the JM5Ks can ensure that all of the opponents fleet has heavy, allowing Maarek and the Defenders to attack your target. If you only get 3 defenders to attack (because you needed to activate both JM5K), and assuming you have a BCC nearby, you have an approx 87% chance of getting at least one accuracy (actually slightly higher - I'm ignoring Sloane's reroll crit effect and Maarek's set to crit effect, so realistically more like a 91-92% chance). If you get all three defenders plus Maarek, that goes up to 95%. And then your mid-ranged ISD can plop 4R/4B into the ship, without needing to get into close range. The best part? Unlike BT, you can continuously do this each round. The ISD plops 7-8 damage, with only 1 being redirected. Your ISD can then use GTs to take a shot at something else as well, and your squads are in position to do it again next turn. Now the exception to this would obviously be a MC80L with its double brace, but their lack of defensive retrofit likely means that you'll get at least 1 accuracy (95% chance with LS reroll). Next round you can do it all again, and push 13 damage to a ship (plus 2 shields to other hull zones, plus whatever the squads themselves do), leaving just the Aspiration, ISD, and Motti Interdictors as ships that can live. All the while taking two other shots with your front arc at other ships.

So, what am I missing? Or am I missing that this is already a thing? The Sloane lists I've gone up against all seem to have an ISD with the Avenger title, but they also seem to be pushed by a Quasar (and for some reason don't bring Intel).

The full list that I'm thinking of right now (though I'm not sold on Demo, but I don't know what else to fit in that space):
ISD2 w/ Sloane, SA, ECM, EHB, GT, XI7, LS, Avenger
Glad1 w/ SFO, OE, ET, APT, Demo
Gozanti w/ BCC
Maarek
Defender x3
Dengar
JM5K
398pts, Most Wanted, Fighter Assault, Superior Positions

You’re missing it’s already a thing.

The bonus to BTVenger is it’s Admiral Agnostic.

Once you build to Sloane, you were - pre nerf - better off going with Gunnery Teams instead of BT as you could easily clear out 2 brace tokens in your front arc before shooting.

Post Nerf, it’s an either/or.

or a “why not both?”

I don't think I've ever seen Avenger and Sloane apart.

12 hours ago, TaeSWXW said:

I don't think I've ever seen Avenger and Sloane apart.

Same here - every time I play against a Sloane fleet it includes a BTAvenger : /

I run 1+4 Sloan aces with isd1 avenger at london regionals with 20 point bid. Its nasty, trust me. It took a hit in the knee with the faq, but still can be viable with a bit of tinkering.

To answer the title question: because it adds multiple layers of redundancy to a single mechanic which leads to the list being one dimensional and prone to extreme failure in some circumstances.

9 hours ago, Ginkapo said:

To answer the title question: because it adds multiple layers of redundancy to a single mechanic which leads to the list being one dimensional and prone to extreme failure in some circumstances.

It’s a 5 point addition to a 110+ point investment that halves the work you need to do. *If* you are using an ISD with Sloane on the bridge, there’s no good reason not to use Avenger. Boarding Troopers is a different story.