Wave 7 appears to have removed bomber lists from my local meta. With the new rules for flotillas, the Gallant Haven nerf, relay nerf, cards like EWS, and the Rhymer nerf from a while back, I feel it’s really hard to build a true bomber list these days that’s competitive. I used to have a B-wing list utilizing a Pelta with AFFM that was pretty competent, but now I feel like it would probably be tabled before the Bs get a chance to sting more than once or twice. Is anyone still having luck using bombers as their main means of dealing damage? I’m actually seeing a lot of people either taking no squadrons at all or taking the Ciena/Valen or Tycho/Shara combo as a light screen. This would have likely been suicidal before the recent wave and FAQ. It got me thinking about reworking a new bomber list to try and catch people off guard, but I just can’t seem to come up with one I’m not afraid will be tabled too quickly now that flots don’t count. Perhaps a hybrid fleet would work best? Is this happening everywhere, or are you still seeing dedicated bomber lists? I’d appreciate any thoughts or fleet builds anyone has to share.

Keep in mind I’m not really complaining about the changes. I actually have been enjoying seeing what people come up with when they’re not paranoid about being bombed into oblivion. I just want to know if/how people are still having success with bombers.

B Wing minefields are the only way I drop Doubke ISDs

This is a pretty hilarious counterpoint to the threads complaining about the World's top 4.

20 minutes ago, SmogLord said:

are you still seeing dedicated bomber lists?

I'm interpreting this has lists that have something like only bombers and no anti-squadron fighters, or intel with 1 or 2 measly escorts, or no intel at all. I have seen very little of these dedicated bomber lists, but I have seen a lot of lists with hybrid squadron wings (see Worlds top 4 cut, 3/4 lists had squadron wings that were a mix of squads with barely any bombing potential and and squads with great bombing potential). I think the game is in a good place where your squadron composition (and ship support) needs to be well thought out and diversified between good ship bombers and good anti-squadron squads. I think the days are gone where you just take a billion bombers, an intel squadron, one or two escorts and bomb away mindlessly.

15 minutes ago, SmogLord said:

Wave 7 appears to have removed bomber lists from my local meta. With the new rules for flotillas, the Gallant Haven nerf, relay nerf, cards like EWS, and the Rhymer nerf from a while back, I feel it’s really hard to build a true bomber list these days that’s competitive. I used to have a B-wing list utilizing a Pelta with AFFM that was pretty competent, but now I feel like it would probably be tabled before the Bs get a chance to sting more than once or twice. Is anyone still having luck using bombers as their main means of dealing damage? I’m actually seeing a lot of people either taking no squadrons at all or taking the Ciena/Valen or Tycho/Shara combo as a light screen. This would have likely been suicidal before the recent wave and FAQ. It got me thinking about reworking a new bomber list to try and catch people off guard, but I just can’t seem to come up with one I’m not afraid will be tabled too quickly now that flots don’t count. Perhaps a hybrid fleet would work best? Is this happening everywhere, or are you still seeing dedicated bomber lists? I’d appreciate any thoughts or fleet builds anyone has to share.

Keep in mind I’m not really complaining about the changes. I actually have been enjoying seeing what people come up with when they’re not paranoid about being bombed into oblivion. I just want to know if/how people are still having success with bombers.

While there are some effective bombers in the game(B-wing, X-wing, norra wexley, firesprays, defenders) most bombers just aren't worth the points investment imo. I can't really justify spending 10 points on a tie bomber, especially with sloane, when I'm so dedicated to winning the squadron fight beforehand.

3 minutes ago, Truthiness said:

This is a pretty hilarious counterpoint to the threads complaining about the World's top 4.

"Everything is broken, Why can't I win this game".

Honestly it's just a situation of different people having different experiences. I don't fault this poster and I semi have sympathy with the people whining about worlds(though not much, it was literally the top tier of the gaming community and they'll field what they want). I hate the term "meta" but it says a lot to me about this games balance when I see different groups complaining about different things because it suggests that those difficulties are more related to players being able to field things successfully instead of imbalanced lists or broken units. I love this game, I wish it got the same love from its company.

@dominosfleet

TIE bombers are 9 points. Ys are 10.

58 minutes ago, TallGiraffe said:

@dominosfleet

TIE bombers are 9 points. Ys are 10.

Not if he fields 10 gamma squadrons ?

Shows how seldom i field them

I run Ywings at over half of my tournaments. I frequently catch players with few squadrons. Oh, you brought a token screen of 5 Tie fighters? That’s a tabling.

My Bomber lists are still doing well, but my meta usually is no squadrons or an ineffective screen. Wave 7 led to everyone just taking big ships.

I have been thinking of a good thrawn bomber list that uses VSDs as support. I think he is one admiral that can really help them

15 hours ago, ripper998 said:

I have been thinking of a good thrawn bomber list that uses VSDs as support. I think he is one admiral that can really help them

Yes, yes, yes!

Yeah, mass Y-wings (with Toryn Farr support, of course) are still very effective for me. It's just so many hull points for the enemy to chew through!

I suppose it it helps that I never used Yavaris or Gallant Haven in those fleets...

17 hours ago, Tyrant1919 said:

I run Ywings at over half of my tournaments. I frequently catch players with few squadrons. Oh, you brought a token screen of 5 Tie fighters? That’s a tabling.

Newbie question, but why do you say that? Sorry if this is a dumb question or has an obvious answer.

One of my opponents only brought 5x tie fighters and ran straight through my bomber cloud at one tournament. I normally run 8 ywings, 2-3 awings, and a hwk or vcx. If I’m able to get 8 ywing bombing runs uncontested w/bcc support, whatever I’m bombing is dying.

If there is a bomber list going up against a no squadron list I would bet on the bomber list winning.

17 minutes ago, Tyrant1919 said:

If there is a bomber list going up against a no squadron list I would bet on the bomber list winning.

I would be more careful with that bet

Nothing is guaranteed of course. Have you played many no squad lists lately PT? I know you had great succes a while back with ISDs and raiders.

1 hour ago, Tyrant1919 said:

Nothing is guaranteed of course. Have you played many no squad lists lately PT? I know you had great succes a while back with ISDs and raiders.

I keep playing the archetype (it evolved into 2ISD Raider 2 Gozanti and stayed that way since Wave5) and generally it works out rather good, especially after FAQ. I feel that with a current fleet composition I should have a very good chance against bomber-heavy fleets (as I can either go for tabling or go for squadrons). I do invest in AS defence though.

2 hours ago, PT106 said:

I would be more careful with that bet

There are dozens at least two of us!

I quite enjoy my no squadron builds.

They are very viable.

OLD bomber lists are probably dead, but adapting new ones works. We have one other Rebel who hates squads at our store, and after a large quantity* of Chicago showed up to World's and did fine without them, he jumped on the Squadronless bandwagon last night.

However, I now get to be the inner contrarian and start playing squadrons again, and one of our other players is trying to learn squads. You CAN do a 2+2, or a 3+2, and you can even do a super cheap YGH and friend (hammerhead). It's just a lot trickier, which is what I like about squads, personally. The risk of tabling IS there, but squads are still worth it in my opinion.

*I will of course point out that World's was won by the only Chicagoan running squads. I will also point out that Nathan is ours now. If you want him, Minnesota (draws Arwen's sword), come and claim him.

(Summons giant river horses)

30 minutes ago, geek19 said:

OLD bomber lists are probably dead, but adapting new ones works. We have one other Rebel who hates squads at our store, and after a large quantity* of Chicago showed up to World's and did fine without them, he jumped on the Squadronless bandwagon last night.

However, I now get to be the inner contrarian and start playing squadrons again, and one of our other players is trying to learn squads. You CAN do a 2+2, or a 3+2, and you can even do a super cheap YGH and friend (hammerhead). It's just a lot trickier, which is what I like about squads, personally. The risk of tabling IS there, but squads are still worth it in my opinion.

*I will of course point out that World's was won by the only Chicagoan running squads. I will also point out that Nathan is ours now. If you want him, Minnesota (draws Arwen's sword), come and claim him.

(Summons giant river horses)

What are you doing with those Hippopotami?

8 minutes ago, Drasnighta said:

What are you doing with those Hippopotami?

After last night? Making them Rogue with Hera and rolling them for 3 bomber damage. Scurrg, hippopotamus, whatever.

I mean, I used a list with defiance and 4 b-wings plus Norra without yavaris. Now by watching worlds, I realize Yavaris is more potent than the pelta i originally ran, and now my bombers can still easy table. but even before I used yavaris, I'm still able to easy take out ISDs with my B-wings and a defiance double arc.

I always run bomber heavy lists at tournaments. Sure, I often lose, but I'm always awesome.