Alpha Squadron Pilot: 34 pts

Planetary Sentinel: 34 pts

If I want a 1 Initiative, 3 Attack filler for a list, these both come in at the same cost naked. At first blush, the TIE/in should make a much better blocker with no forced movement and a doubling repositioning option, so I'm leaning in that direction even though it's more likely to get one-shotted on a bad throw of the greens.

Does anyone have any first-hand experience?

I have no experience with the PS 1 striker, but I ran this tonight.

TIE/in Interceptor - Alpha Squadron Pilot - 34
Alpha Squadron Pilot - (34)

TIE/in Interceptor - •Soontir Fel - 62
•Soontir Fel - Ace of Legend (52)
Predator (2)
Shield Upgrade (8)

TIE/in Interceptor - Alpha Squadron Pilot - 34
Alpha Squadron Pilot - (34)

TIE/in Interceptor - Alpha Squadron Pilot - 34
Alpha Squadron Pilot - (34)

TIE/in Interceptor - Alpha Squadron Pilot - 34
Alpha Squadron Pilot - (34)

Total: 198/200

View in the X-Wing Squad Builder

Was amazingly fun and quite strong, hard to tell to much as it was only a single game but I only lost a single interceptor (round 1 of combat) and after that there speed maneuverability and extremely flexible action linking just allowed me to be where I needed to be.

I was worried going in as i faced 2x ion turret y-wings with seismic and 2x x-wings with proton torpedos. But the interceptors are just to **** slippery, thought the ions would ruin me but I focused down 1 of the y-wings first and then the other one had a very hard time getting me in arc and having any kind of mods to make it hit.

Long story short interceptors rock and i am madly in love with them after the game. PS1 ships with essentially first edition PTL is bonkers good fun.

7 hours ago, Quarrel said:

Alpha Squadron Pilot: 34 pts

Planetary Sentinel: 34 pts

Does anyone have any first-hand experience?

Yes. If you are taking the ship SPECIFICALLY to be a blocker, then the Alpha is the superior choice. I use one in a 5-ship list, and while I don't always block with it (because sometimes that means getting hit by multiple range 1 shots from other ships, and that is a bad spot to put your 3 hull ship). Another thing to consider is the rest of the list. If you are planning on running ships that are either slow or do not have a lot of reposition, then again the Alpha is the better wingmate because it is more flexible on the approach (Strikers do not 'slow-roll' easily).

I would say the Sentinel is the better choice against a lot of 3 attack dice, however. 4 hull + 2 agility protects slightly better against higher number of attacks than 3 hull + 3 agility. So against most enemies, the Sentinel is slightly more durable. So that really is the trade-off...