In case you missed it, Rebel A-Wings got all the buffs we predicted for them. Namely, extra talent slot for everyone, and a moderate points reduction for all but the base generic. Basically this means your old A-Wings builds can get Predator (or something) for free.

As RZ-1 A-Wings are my favorite ship (EVAR!!!) I’d like to discuss or new options with them here. Rather than posting whole lists (because there are too many to count!) Im simply going to post some of my favorite new builds for each pilot.

First, the creme de la creme, Arvel (Motha F@%#ing!!!) Crynyd, oh baby!

Beat stick: Arvel, Intimidation, Predator - 39 points.

This will probably be in every list I play forever. No missiles needed since he can’t shoot them at range 0 anyway. Just take a focus and then apply boost directly to the forehead of the opponent.

Budget option: Swap Crack Shot for one of the above Talents, but really, just cut points elsewhere.

Next, Jake (The Snake) Farrell, saw the most points cut going from 40 to 36.

The Support Flanker: Jake, Outmaneuver, Predator - 44 points

Jake runs around the outside of the board with a GSP and if the stars align perfectly, he gets double mods, passes a focus to his wingman, and double repositions, and then reduces the targets Agility.

The Lone Snake: Jake, Lone Wolf, Outmanuever - 47 points

This Jake does his thing by himself, acquiring double mods, repositions, and reduces Agility. Fit him with Prockets or a Concussion Missile for maximum (and pricey) hurting. Concussion missiles work with Outmaneuver, Prockets do not.

The mighty Green Squadron Pilot. Ah, how I used to love running the Green Arrow list back in 1.0. As such, I’m super excited to dump way too many points in to an A-Wing again and see how far I can take it.

The Flanking Wingman: GSP, Outmaneuver, Predator - 40 points on the nose

I really want to run 4 of these plus Beat Stick Arvel, zipping around in pairs and just makin a mess out of everything.

Budget Mini-Swarm: GSP, Predator, Crack Shot - 35 points

Four of these bad boys leaves you with 60 points left to spend. That much goes a long way in Rebels these days. Options I’ve looked at include, tricked out gunboat Nora (Y-Wing), Lowhhrick with cheap crew and Intimidation, decent Wedge, Kyle with kit, B-Wings of various configurations.

Finally, my least favorite, but probably one of the best in game, the Phoenix Squadron Pilot. My disdain for these guys comes from a combination of lacking talent slots, hating how awful the pilots were in Rebels, and hating the chubby version of the A-Wing they flew thanks to Disney’s artistic liberties. Yet even I have to admit, with the sudden inclusion of a talent slot, (didn’t see that coming) they became probably the best A-Wing around.

There are really only two variations I see as viable.

The Super Blocker: PSP, Intimidation - 33 points

You can fly SIX OF THESE at once! They’re I1, meaning they get in position first, and clog up all the lanes. Does Intimidation stack? I don’t know, but hot **** if it does! Even if you’re not running the swarm of Vader Fodder, you would be hard pressed to find and better way to spend 33 points in any faction. Hands down, best blocker in the game.

The Crack Head: PSP, Crack Shot - 31 points

Perhaps not quite so cheap as a Black Squadron TIE, but better health, dial, and a useful ship ability are easily worth the extra four points. Run 5x with a 45 point wingman of some sort. Cavern Angel w/ R2 Astromech to be an anchor?

Got any wild new A-Wing builds? I would love to hear them.

*forgot to note* I'm not sure I want to stick with PerCo as the crew option.

Here's what I've initially put together:

AAA-Arc-170

ARC-170 Starfighter - •Norra Wexley - 77
•Norra Wexley - Gold Nine (55)
Expert Handling (4)
Adv. Proton Torpedoes (6)
Perceptive Copilot (8)
R3 Astromech (3)
Munitions Failsafe (1)

RZ-1 A-wing - Green Squadron Pilot - 40
Green Squadron Pilot - (32)
Elusive (3)
Juke (5)

RZ-1 A-wing - Green Squadron Pilot - 40
Green Squadron Pilot - (32)
Elusive (3)
Juke (5)

RZ-1 A-wing - Green Squadron Pilot - 40
Green Squadron Pilot - (32)
Elusive (3)
Juke (5)

Total: 197/200

View in the X-Wing Squad Builder

If you're lining up Pred you're lining up Marks... Re-roll + Hit -> crit= yummy imho.

4 minutes ago, Hiemfire said:

If you're lining up Pred you're lining up Marks... Re-roll + Hit -> crit= yummy imho.

And relatively cheap too! Even one of these in a list could be a pest.

The first of many A-Wing lists I’ll be dreaming of. Luke tells Green Squadron where to be, and then attempts to live forever. Luke’s afterburners can be swapped for a shield upgrade, but I think the afterburners may actually keep him alive longer.

RZ-1 A-wing - Green Squadron Pilot - 40
Green Squadron Pilot - (32)
Outmaneuver (6)
Predator (2)

RZ-1 A-wing - Green Squadron Pilot - 40
Green Squadron Pilot - (32)
Outmaneuver (6)
Predator (2)

RZ-1 A-wing - •Arvel Crynyd - 39
•Arvel Crynyd - Green Leader (34)
Intimidation (3)
Predator (2)

T-65 X-wing - •Luke Skywalker - 80
•Luke Skywalker - Red Five (62)
•R2-D2 (6)
Afterburners (6)
Sense (6)
Servomotor S-foils (Open) (0)

Total: 199/200

View in the X-Wing Squad Builder

I suggest composure. It's only 1 point now. Especially on Arvel - take TL, then boost into someone, take your focus and use double mods.

13 minutes ago, Jedu said:

I suggest composure. It's only 1 point now. Especially on Arvel - take TL, then boost into someone, take your focus and use double mods.

The Boost will be red tho, meaning you won't be able to perform focus off Composure per failed red actions still give you stress.

This card is dead, just get over it. The only reasonable place I found for it is Sabine -> intentionally failed pre-maneuvre reposition -> focus -> regular action.

7 minutes ago, ryfterek said:

The Boost will be red tho, meaning you won't be     able to perform focus off Composure per failed red actions still give you stress. 

And that’s ignoring that Arvel can’t fail a boost into another ship... he resolves it as if he’s partially executing a manoeuvre instead!

My opinion on Rebel A-wings: They have two disadvantages over the RZ-2

1) Offensive strength: they dearly lack advanced optics
2) Time on target: they miss the rear arc

The 1) can be solved by two different approaches: give them a reroll (= Predator, Lone Wolf), or give them something to weaken the defense (= Crackshot, Outmaneuver).

The 2) is much harder to improve and relies on your maneuver choices. There is barely anything that can be done here with list building.

So focusing on the first, I think Jake wants Lone Wolf. The generics want - exactly as you outlined it @Phelan Boots - predator and one of the other two, depending on your available points. That would put them at 40 or 35 points.

What about an alternative, something that RZ-2 can't do? What about Selfless? They have 2 shields, they should be ok to spread damage around.

31 minutes ago, GreenDragoon said:

What about an alternative       , something that RZ-2 can't do? What about Selfless? They have 2 shields,  they should be ok to spread damage around.  

My first reaction is that I don’t want my A-Wings taking their own damage, let alone sucking damage off someone else. That may just be a thought trap caused by years of failed green dice.

Selfless has been amazing when I played it on massed B-Wings/X-Wings, but those ships have a lot more health to justify 3 points.

2 minutes ago, Phelan Boots said:

My first reaction is that I don’t want my A-Wings taking their own damage, let alone sucking damage off someone else. That may just be a thought trap caused by years of failed green dice.

Selfless has been amazing when I played it on massed B-Wings/X-Wings, but those ships have a lot more health to justify 3 points.

I get that. But you take that crit no matter what. I'd rather have it on a ship with shields than one without. And if I play 5, I have the points easily.

For example at 197:

Jake Farrell (36)
Lone Wolf (5)
Outmaneuver (6)

Arvel Crynyd (34)
Predator (2)
Selfless (3)

3x Green Squadron Pilot (32)
Predator (2)
Selfless (3)

View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0

Quote

2) Time on target: they miss the rear arc

I think about shuttle with Leia onboard. So you can make at least first K-turn or S-loop without getting stress.

Leia helps, and I’ve looked at running her on a Wookie Gunship with the budget Crack Shot + Predator GSPs, but A-Wings aren’t her ideal candidate. A-Wings tend to self induce stress tokens, so still end up stressed after pulling a flip. Unmodified shots are better than no shots though.

I've been thinking about a group of A-Wings with Lando (with Nien stapled on) and Leia to give the team extra actions so that they can get in some bonus actions. Sadly, I am not sure if three of the Crack Head A-Wings is sufficient to bring the pain.

44 minutes ago, Wildonion said:

I've been thinking about a group of A-Wings with Lando (with Nien stapled on) and Leia to give the team extra actions so that they can get in some bonus actions. Sadly, I am not sure if three of the Crack Head A-Wings is sufficient to bring the pain.

I was cooking up a similar list and decided to upgrade two A-Wings instead of trim three. Lando should be able to help the A-Wings squire target locks for the concussion missiles. Use the concussion missiles more as three dice attack that interacts with Outmaneuver, instead of a super turn 1 alpha strike.

RZ-1 A-wing - Green Squadron Pilot - 46
Green Squadron Pilot - (32)
Predator (2)
Outmaneuver (6)
Concussion Missiles (6)

RZ-1 A-wing - Green Squadron Pilot - 46
Green Squadron Pilot - (32)
Outmaneuver (6)
Predator (2)
Concussion Missiles (6)

Modified YT-1300 Light Freighter - •Lando Calrissian - 108
•Lando Calrissian - General of the Alliance (80)
Composure (1)
•Leia Organa (2)
•Nien Nunb (5)
• Millennium Falcon (6)
•Bistan (14)

Total: 200/200

View in the X-Wing Squad Builder

I was also looking at ways to integrate two super blockers in to a squad. I think this grey wall of death could be neat. Slow roll through with the Y-Wings, create predictable targets for blocks and proton bombs.

BTL-A4 Y-wing - Gray Squadron Bomber - 43
Gray Squadron Bomber - (31)
Ion Cannon Turret (4)
R4 Astromech (2)
Veteran Turret Gunner (6)

BTL-A4 Y-wing - Gray Squadron Bomber - 43
Gray Squadron Bomber - (31)
Ion Cannon Turret (4)
R4 Astromech (2)
Veteran Turret Gunner (6)

BTL-A4 Y-wing - Gray Squadron Bomber - 48
Gray Squadron Bomber - (31)
Ion Cannon Turret (4)
R4 Astromech (2)
Proton Bombs (5)
Veteran Turret Gunner (6)

RZ-1 A-wing - Phoenix Squadron Pilot - 33
Phoenix Squadron Pilot - (30)
Intimidation (3)

RZ-1 A-wing - Phoenix Squadron Pilot - 33
Phoenix Squadron Pilot - (30)
Intimidation (3)

Total: 200/200

View in the X-Wing Squad Builder

Ran Wedge with four Phoenix Sqdn with Outmaneuver last night for a lark. Note, that's 196 points. My builder had allowed me to put crack shot on the 4 A-wings and we discovered that on the fly and nixed them before a charge was spent.

Fun as all heck. I missed using A-wings. Deployed the A-wings in pairs on either corner and Wedge strategically somewhere near middle and initially it worked out wonderfully.

Sadly, it was vs a four ship list with Luke, and with Leia crew, and I did a lousy job staying out of arc. My take away is I enjoyed putting that many A-wings down, outmaneuver is great on them but so pricey, and why the heck am I not flying Luke freakin' Skywalker more!

22 hours ago, LagJanson said:

Ran Wedge with four Phoenix Sqdn with Outmaneuver last night for a lark. Note, that's 196 points. My builder had allowed me to put crack shot on the 4 A-wings and we discovered that on the fly and nixed them before a charge was spent.

Your builder is right - Phoenix squadron pilot got Talent.

UPD. I misread - crackshot is 2nd Talent.

I got to play a couple games with my buddy tonight. I ran the following Gavin plus A-Wings list:

E-wing - •Gavin Darklighter - 77
•Gavin Darklighter - Bold Wingman (61)
Outmaneuver (6)
Fire-Control System (2)
R4 Astromech (2)
Afterburners (6)

RZ-1 A-wing - •Jake Farrell - 44
•Jake Farrell - Sage Instructor (36)
Outmaneuver (6)
Predator (2)

RZ-1 A-wing - •Arvel Crynyd - 39
•Arvel Crynyd - Green Leader (34)
Intimidation (3)
Predator (2)

RZ-1 A-wing - Green Squadron Pilot - 40
Green Squadron Pilot - (32)
Outmaneuver (6)
Predator (2)

Total: 200/200

View in the X-Wing Squad Builder

During the first game, he flew Dengar w/ R3, Lone Wolf, and Punishing One Bossk with Lando and stuff, and the tractoring Mining Guild TIE. I set Jake and Gavin together on one corner and the GSP and Arvel towards the other. This game was over pretty quickly when the A-Wings jinked Dengar in to a bad position and then Arvel blocked while they swarmed. At the same time Jake did a 5 straight with a boost to get from one side of the board to the other, and join in on the Dengar beat down. He was left at one hull. The next turn the GSP and Jake SLooped and got behind Dengar, taking him down. While all this was happening, Gavin got behind the party bus and started laying the crits on. He had Bossk to half health while still behind it when Dengar died, that’s when we called the game.

I had a few take away from this game:

1) Predator is easy to line up on large bases.

2) The combination of Outmaneuver and Intimidation really allowed the A-Wings to put some damaged in quick.

3) A-Wings are at least better than the JumpMaster and YV-666.

Second game was against Oicunn, Turr Phenirr and Echo. In the end it was just an untouched Echo finishing off the last A-Wing. I don’t remember all the specifics of this game, except that I beat on Oicunn for a lot longer than I wanted to. I should have focused on the small ships first. Oicunn with Death Troopers really messes with Arvel in particular and A-Wings in general.

What would folks think of an Init 1 Phoenix A-Wing with Squad Leader? 34 points with a red coordinate. More expensive than AP-5, and without a rear arc, but a nice dial. I dunno. On the plus side, the Squad Leader drawback will rarely be an issue, since A-Wings have all 5 of the most common actions (Focus, Evade, Lock, Boost, Barrel Roll).

I might have to play it, just to put some A-Wings on the table. I'm sure the list is kinda bad, but it's got a lot of things I want to try out.

• Phoenix Squadron Pilot (Squad Leader) 34
• Jake Farrell (Outmaneuver, Crack Shot, Concussion Missiles) 49
• Arvel Crynyd (Intimidation, Predator) 39
• Corran Horn (Predator, Advanced Sensors) 78
  • I think Advanced Sensors Corran looks like great fun in general, but I do kinda want a droid... R3 for double locks to keep options on the approach open. R2 for regen on post-double-tap turns. R4 seems particularly cool on AdvS, for the white hard turns.

Hrm. Might need to think on the list some. I really want to try Outmaneuver/Concussion Missiles on Jake, though.

On ‎1‎/‎31‎/‎2019 at 12:21 PM, Phelan Boots said:

I got to play a couple games with my buddy tonight. I ran the following Gavin plus A-Wings list:

E-wing - •Gavin Darklighter - 77
•Gavin Darklighter - Bold Wingman (61)
Outmaneuver (6)
Fire-Control System (2)
R4 Astromech (2)
Afterburners (6)

RZ-1 A-wing - •Jake Farrell - 44
•Jake Farrell - Sage Instructor (36)
Outmaneuver (6)
Predator (2)

RZ-1 A-wing - •Arvel Crynyd - 39
•Arvel Crynyd - Green Leader (34)
Intimidation (3)
Predator (2)

RZ-1 A-wing - Green Squadron Pilot - 40
Green Squadron Pilot - (32)
Outmaneuver (6)
Predator (2)

Total: 200/200

Had an inspired thought, you talked about stressed A-wings. Dropped Gavin, who I really love the builds with him and did a thing...

My list for now:

Ala-A RZ-1 - •Arvel Crynyd - 35
•Arvel Crynyd - Capo Verde (34)
Colpo da Maestro (1)

Ala-A RZ-1 - •Jake Farrell - 37
•Jake Farrell - Istruttore Esperto (36)
Colpo da Maestro (1)

Ala-B A/SF-01 - •Braylen Stramm - 48
•Braylen Stramm - Capo Blade (47)
Colpo da Maestro (1)
Raggio Disturbatore (0)

Ala-A RZ-1 - Pilota della Squadriglia Verde - 33
Pilota della Squadriglia Verde - (32)
Colpo da Maestro (1)

Ala-B A/SF-01 - •Ten Numb - 47
•Ten Numb - Blu Cinque (46)
Colpo da Maestro (1)
Raggio Disturbatore (0)

Total: 200/200

View in the X-Wing Squad Builder

in english:

RZ-1 A-wing - •Arvel Crynyd - 35
•Arvel Crynyd - Green Leader (34)
Crack Shot (1)

RZ-1 A-wing - •Jake Farrell - 37
•Jake Farrell - Sage Instructor (36)
Crack Shot (1)

A/SF-01 B-wing - •Braylen Stramm - 48
•Braylen Stramm - Blade Leader (47)
Crack Shot (1)
Jamming Beam (0)

RZ-1 A-wing - Green Squadron Pilot - 33
Green Squadron Pilot - (32)
Crack Shot (1)

A/SF-01 B-wing - •Ten Numb - 47
•Ten Numb - Blue Five (46)
Crack Shot (1)
Jamming Beam (0)

Total: 200/200

View in the X-Wing Squad Builder

It sounds way cooler in Italian.