Recently I've been running the following:

Major Vynder (41)
Fire-Control System (2)
Adv. Proton Torpedoes (6)
Advanced SLAM (3)
Xg-1 Assault Configuration (0)
Ion Cannon (5)

Ship total: 57 Half Points: 29 Threshold: 4

Rexler Brath (81)
Juke (7)

Ship total: 88 Half Points: 44 Threshold: 4

Soontir Fel (53)
Predator (2)

Ship total: 55 Half Points: 28 Threshold: 2


Total: 200

View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0: https://raithos.github.io/?f=Galactic Empire&d=v8ZsZ200Z161XW113W134WW104W144W11Y196X123WWWY179X127WW&sn=Unnamed Squadron&obs=

It was doing alright for me, better than 50/50 win rate, but the recent points changes have pushed it all the way to 200 points. It wasn't much of a bid before, but it was often enough and after playing a couple of games last night and the week before, I think it's falling apart without Vynder being able to move after other I4s (which do turn up quite frequently where I play). Rexler shooting first is nice with the Juke interaction and his ability, but I think overall the ability to assess after other I5s move ultimately helps him survive more.

I'm not sure if there's anything that can be done to salvage or improve the list, so I'm looking for something with similar elements that might work a little better.

If you can keep the same pilots, amazing but it's not a requirement. If you can keep the same ships, that would be nice (they're my three favourite Imperial ships) but again, I won't say no to a better alternative.

Maybe Vader instead of Rexler? He'd be cheaper, hit harder and if I only give him Afterburners I'd be able to swap Vynder over to the ProTorps OS-1 version and still have a decent bid. FCS on Vader would still give me 5 free points, which might be enough.

I'm just worried that the list might get a bit fragile, but I suppose the offence would be way higher so it might not matter.

You could drop to a juking onyx defender.

Another option other than Vader is Whisper:

“Whisper” (57)
Juke (7)
Passive Sensors (3)
Fifth Brother (9)
Shield Upgrade (6)

Gives you a 6pt bid with Soonts and Vynder.
Total: 194

Apart from that, fcs afterburner vader is probably your best bet. He is tanky and hits freakin hard. Could add sense to vader with intimidation vynder. Vynder can get places quick and setup nice blocks if you do lose the bid.

Major Vynder (41)
Intimidation (3)
Fire-Control System (2)
Adv. Proton Torpedoes (6)
Advanced SLAM (3)
Xg-1 Assault Configuration (0)
Ion Cannon (5)

Soontir Fel (53)
Predator (2)

Darth Vader (67)
Sense (5)
Fire-Control System (2)
Afterburners (6)
Total: 195

Fel Rexy Vynder

(53) Soontir Fel [TIE Interceptor]
(2) Predator
Points: 55

(81) Rexler Brath [TIE/D Defender]
Points: 81

(41) Major Vynder [Alpha-class Star Wing]
(0) Os-1 Arsenal Loadout
(2) Fire-Control System
(3) Advanced SLAM
(6) Adv. Proton Torpedoes
(6) Ion Torpedoes
Points: 58

Total points: 194

Don’t laugh at the ion torps. They’re a sneaky killer. Still 4 dice at 2-3 and sets up an amazing shot with the adv torp if you ion a ship.

Rexy Vynder + Support

(81) Rexler Brath [TIE/D Defender]
(7) Juke
(2) Fire-Control System
Points: 90

(41) Major Vynder [Alpha-class Star Wing]
(0) Os-1 Arsenal Loadout
(2) Fire-Control System
(3) Advanced SLAM
(6) Adv. Proton Torpedoes
(6) Ion Torpedoes
(6) Outmaneuver
Points: 64

(46) Colonel Jendon [Lambda-class T-4a Shuttle]
Points: 46

Total points: 200

Also very fun to watch them turn their back on Rexy and the shuttle just to shoot at Vynder. If not, Rexy can tank the damage and Vynder hits HARD with outmaneuver up.

8 hours ago, JBFancourt said:

Fel Rexy Vynder

(53) Soontir Fel [TIE Interceptor]
(2) Predator
Points: 55

(81) Rexler Brath [TIE/D Defender]
Points: 81

(41) Major Vynder [Alpha-class Star Wing]
(0) Os-1 Arsenal Loadout
(2) Fire-Control System
(3) Advanced SLAM
(6) Adv. Proton Torpedoes
(6) Ion Torpedoes
Points: 58

Total points: 194

Don’t laugh at the ion torps. They’re a sneaky killer. Still 4 dice at 2-3 and sets up an amazing shot with the adv torp if you ion a ship.

Ooh, I like this one a lot.

I recently played a friend who was using two Rho squadrons with ion torps and they bullied the **** out of my Wedge, Arvel and Lando list (granted, my list sucked but we were both experimenting). I think switching over to OS-1 makes way more sense with the way I fly Vynder, and the ion torps will then do the same job as my current build, but better and only for one point more. Dropping Juke on Rexler is sad, but I think that's just the way those points have gone. It does partially solve the issue where Fel wants to move last but Rexler wants to shoot first though, I guess.

Given the way people spend at my local club, I might stretch to include Predator on Rexler as well. I've always felt he struggles for re-rolls, and that might help out a little. 196 should still be just about enough of a bid that Vynder gets to move after other I4s, so the locks should work.

20 hours ago, wurms said:

Apart from that, fcs afterburner vader is probably your best bet. He is tanky and hits freakin hard. Could add sense to vader with intimidation vynder. Vynder can get places quick and setup nice blocks if you do lose the bid.

Major Vynder (41)
Intimidation (3)
Fire-Control System (2)
Adv. Proton Torpedoes (6)
Advanced SLAM (3)
Xg-1 Assault Configuration (0)
Ion Cannon (5)

Soontir Fel (53)
Predator (2)

Darth Vader (67)
Sense (5)
Fire-Control System (2)
Afterburners (6)
Total: 195

Yeah, basically my thoughts.

I know Defenders are strictly speaking a better platform than the TIE Advanced, but it's kinda crazy how much better I know Vader will be on offence than Rexler while still coming in cheaper. I think this is probably a more competitive list.

I'll give Rexler a couple more goes without Juke and with the list above, and if it's still not working I'll switch to Vader.

This is currently my favorite defender list. Everyone is basically double modded on attack if Shuttle coordinates a focus and Fel has bullseye. It hits really hard with a double modded HLC and Rexy ability. I stall the shuttle a couple rounds in the corner at a 45 degree placement with 0s and bumping the white 4K from Rexy.

Brath Wrath

(81) Rexler Brath [TIE/D Defender]
(4) Heavy Laser Cannon
(2) Fire-Control System
(7) Juke
Points: 94

(53) Soontir Fel [TIE Interceptor]
(2) Predator
Points: 55

(47) Lieutenant Sai [Lambda-class T-4a Shuttle]
(4) ST-321
Points: 51

Total points: 200

Soonts with Predator and the classic Hatchetman (Vynder with OS-1, AdSLAM, FCS, APTs, and PTs) leaves 80 points.

Whisper with Juke, 5th Bro, and PS is a brutal filler in that range, leaving a 4 point bid.

Alternatively, you could still have Rex with Juke and a 6 point bid if you take your original Vynder with no torps, just the cannon.

But I like the trade to Whisper more, the list will hit way harder