Hi all, I'm just starting to dip my toes into Galactic Empire and was putting an aces list together to fly against a friend who is quite good so wanted to bring a decent list. I've got Vader and Soontir and was looking for a third ship. I've listened to a few podcasts and they seem to poo poo Maarek. I thought Maarek with FCS and Marksmanship seemed good but clearing I'm missing something. Please help this Imperial noob learn more.
Thanks
He is great with marksmanship, FCS and afterburners. Don't know who's downing him but I wouldn't listen to them. Vader, Maarek and space cow or reaper makes a great 3 ship list.
You really just need a ship to pull down shields first so he can do his thing. To that end redline is another good one to fly with him.
Maarek isn't bad, he just lacks an inbuilt ability to double-mod his initial attack like Vader. He also 'suffers' from being initiative 5, which could be a weakness if your opponent has higher initiative pilots or moves after you.
@KingmanHighborn has the right of it, that build gives Maarek all the tools he needs to do good work, and flying him alongside a coordination platform (Sai or Jendon are my preferred choices, Sai for action economy shenanigans, Jendon for being able to take locks beyond R3, very good for bullying aces into avoiding engagements) is Big and Clever.
Just something I'm curious about, but why does everyone put Marksmanship on Maarek?
I know it's only a point and you may as well, but Maarek already gets a guaranteed crit from ATC, so long as you have a lock. And because x1s basically live and die by those locks, you're going to want to lock as often as possible.
Why not put Crack Shot on him for the same cost? It's also bullseye dependent, and although it's single use only, it means if you land that bullseye at the right time, you all but guarantee his ability.
Alternatively, it's another point towards a bid.
I guess Marksmanship potentially lets you do it twice if you're lucky enough to get two uncancelled results, but surely the vast majority of times, the only result you get through will be the ATC crit? I just think maximising the chance that Maarek will move as late as possible and get his lock makes more sense than Marksmanship.
The x1 can be a little clunky, if you're not named Darth Vader or Ved Foslo, so you'll find some that don't really like it. But I'd say that's more their taste than a matter of strength.
Maarek is solid and cheap for what he brings. Not an ace you can base a list on, unless you bring a coord platform for him. But if you have higher priority, or more juicy targets in a list with him, whoever he gets a lock on needs to be afraid. Very afraid.
Maareksmanship and FCS is all he needs but Afterburners elevates him considerably, if you have the points. Personally, I rarely do have the points and like him as cheaper, more slow burning threat.
43 minutes ago, GuacCousteau said:Just something I'm curious about, but why does everyone put Marksmanship on Maarek?
I know it's only a point and you may as well, but Maarek already gets a guaranteed crit from ATC, so long as you have a lock. And because x1s basically live and die by those locks, you're going to want to lock as often as possible.
Why not put Crack Shot on him for the same cost? It's also bullseye dependent, and although it's single use only, it means if you land that bullseye at the right time, you all but guarantee his ability.
Alternatively, it's another point towards a bid.
I guess Marksmanship potentially lets you do it twice if you're lucky enough to get two uncancelled results, but surely the vast majority of times, the only result you get through will be the ATC crit? I just think maximising the chance that Maarek will move as late as possible and get his lock makes more sense than Marksmanship.
I also like Crack Shot, for that same reason and will drop him down to just FCS if need be.
Marksmanship helps if you've lost your locked target and are unable to get one on the new target. But mostly, I think it's because of what happens when Maarek gets 2 crits through.
Very bad things.
Particularly on a large or medium based ship, where it will happen much more frequently.
4 hours ago, Seaza said:Hi all, I'm just starting to dip my toes into Galactic Empire and was putting an aces list together to fly against a friend who is quite good so wanted to bring a decent list. I've got Vader and Soontir and was looking for a third ship. I've listened to a few podcasts and they seem to poo poo Maarek. I thought Maarek with FCS and Marksmanship seemed good but clearing I'm missing something. Please help this Imperial noob learn more.
Thanks
Maarek is a ship some folks fly sometimes. As to why some folks don't like him: ATC means you have to take Lock actions. 3 green dice means you really want to Focus.
3 hours ago, GuacCousteau said:Just something I'm curious about, but why does everyone put Marksmanship on Maarek?
I guess Marksmanship potentially lets you do it twice if you're lucky enough to get two uncancelled results
This is why. Personally, I think I'm more of a Crack Shot Maarek guy. I want to make sure the first crit gets through green dice.
However, Crack Shot is only a once-per-game effect, and Marksmanship can trigger multiple times. It also strikes me that, against something low-agility and high-hull, Marksmanship Maarek might be able to just Focus-Roll for bullseye and skip ATC. Forcing crits without ATC can allow Maarek to be a bit more opportunistic, even if his red dice get a bit worse in the process.
Hrm. Range 1 Maarek with just Lock has a 76% chance to push 2 crits through against 2 green dice without focus. Adding also a Focus token to Maarek, that'll go up to like 96%, with a 74% chance of three results getting through. That seems like it might not be too bad. Even with just Lock against 3 focused green dice, Maarek there's like a 40% chance of 2 uncancelled results.
http://xwing.gateofstorms.net/2/multi/?d=gwAAAAAAAAAA&a1=QwAAAAAQBAAA
Have I just talked myself into being a Marksmanship Maarek player? It'd certainly be fun to beat up on any Vultures and Hyenas and Torrents out there...
//
As to other talents, I'll sometimes even run Elusive Maarek, if I'm playing him with coordinate support for Focus tokens.
I'd say that Marksmanship and Crack Shot are both perfectly sensible options on Maarek, as they both bolster his desire to crit things in the face. How lucky we are that they cost the same, so it really does become a matter of personal choice.
You've think maarek is all fun and game, until he get you in a bulleyes lock and deals 2 crits to you, and gets to choose hull breach, and then direct hit, which then reveal another direct hit, and another, and finally a fuel leak.
Yes, it's something that will only happens once in a blue moon, but the ability to choose crits is amazing, and so more crits can only make it better!
Thanks for the advice, I'll be flying him tonight so will give it a go. My thought with marksmanship was that for large ships that usually have high health but low agility and are easier to get in bullseye arc and so could punish them with a couple of crits. I'll try the 3 aces list then a list with a support ship, I think the support ship is a good idea and can bring a lot to the table. Do you go Reaper or Lambda?
Maarek is a great endgame piece. Crits are brutal in this edition.
Here's a 5 ship list that made the cut at a 40 player hyperspace event:
Maarek Stele (46)
Fire-Control System (2)
Major Vermeil (49)
Death Troopers (6)
“Wampa” (30)
Academy Pilot (23)
“Pure Sabacc” (44)
Total: 200
View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0
Set up Academy and Wampa in the middle, they're your blockers. Place Vermeil to their side, so he can join them in the first engagement. Sabaac sets up to flank, and Maarek tails Vermeil to benefit from possible coordinates. Opponents have a tough time picking targets against this list, and whoever they choose to leave unmolested will punish them for it.
1 hour ago, ENesbit said:Maarek is a great endgame piece. Crits are brutal in this edition.
Here's a 5 ship list that made the cut at a 40 player hyperspace event:
Maarek Stele (46)
Fire-Control System (2)Major Vermeil (49)
Death Troopers (6)“Wampa” (30)
Academy Pilot (23)
“Pure Sabacc” (44)
Total: 200View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0
Set up Academy and Wampa in the middle, they're your blockers. Place Vermeil to their side, so he can join them in the first engagement. Sabaac sets up to flank, and Maarek tails Vermeil to benefit from possible coordinates. Opponents have a tough time picking targets against this list, and whoever they choose to leave unmolested will punish them for it.
The x1 lacks boost action and hard one turns. It’s only a good end game piece if your opponent doesn’t have anything too slippy on the table. In a 1v1 knife fight, the x1 really struggles.
Edited by RollingSwarmMaarekt.
Only happens at home. Where it seems to always happen.
He's a great component to "Imperial 5's" - he basically needs to be equal to or lower initiative than the bulk of your squad (so he's firing at shieldless targets) and to be flying alongside either someone able to grant him a free target lock or else threatening enough to draw fire off him during the 'vulnerable' turn where he locks his target.
I've been using him alongside Vader and Fel, with an 11 point bid.
He usually moves after the other I5 pilots, and is usually seen as the third threat in the build.
He's usually not the main focus of my opponent, which leaves him more able to do his thing.
I have him flying in a custom painted crimson red X1, so together with the crimson red interceptor and the crimson red defender minis, I call them the Crimson Crit Conclave :
Soontir shoots first, clears shields, Maarek goes second, clears rest of shields and pushes crits, Rexler shoots last and flips regular damage cards up.
Edited by LUZ_TAKOn 7/22/2019 at 8:59 PM, AceDogbert said:I'd say that Marksmanship and Crack Shot are both perfectly sensible options on Maarek, as they both bolster his desire to crit things in the face. How lucky we are that they cost the same, so it really does become a matter of personal choice.
If he's supporting a swarm of expendables, Ruthless isn't bad either. I'll trade a face-down damage card on an academy pilot for inflicting maarek stele-modified critical in a heartbeat.
On 7/23/2019 at 5:04 AM, Magnus Grendel said:He's a great component to "Imperial 5's" - he basically needs to be equal to or lower initiative than the bulk of your squad (so he's firing at shieldless targets) and to be flying alongside either someone able to grant him a free target lock or else threatening enough to draw fire off him during the 'vulnerable' turn where he locks his target.
- Maarek Stele (Fire Control System, Marksmanship/Crack Shot/Ruthless)
- Duchess (Predator)
- Howlrunner (Crack Shot)
- Mauler Mithel (Crack Shot)
- Scourge Skutu (Crack Shot)
I've played that list two or three times. It's great in casual games but I got my face wrecked last night now that the Galactic Republic meta is trending toward the same "3 I5-6 aces with a 5-10 pt. bid" lists that the Imperials could rock when 2e launched. It's little better than a TIE swarm where you remove two or three of your Academies from the board during deployment.
ObTopic: Maarek can be strong, but only if you give your opponent other, higher-priority ships to shoot at first. Otherwise he just dies.
Edited by QuarrelA list I've been tossing around is:
-Major Vermeil (49):
Director Krennic (4)
Seventh Sister (9)
Shield Upgrade (4)
-Darth Vader (67):
FCS (2)
Afterburners (6)
-Maarek Stele (46):
FCS (2)
Afterburners (6)
Marksmenship (1)
Points 196/200
Put Optimized Prototype on Maarek to be able to use eye results if needed. Krennic and Seventh Sister for double mods (whether through raw force or using it to jam) on Vermeil. Shield upgrade also puts his 1/2 threshold to 5 and not 4. Last is Vader because he's Vader. This list is also Hyperspace leagal.
Edited by AegisAngel
Maarek Stele (46)
Marksmanship (1)
Fire-Control System (2)
Academy Pilot (23)
Seyn Marana (30)
Marksmanship (1)
Captain Oicunn (74)
Intimidation (3)
Darth Vader (14)
BT-1 (2)
Dauntless (4)
Total: 200
View in Yet Another Squad Builder 2.0
I got absolutely wrecked by this last week. It wasn't even a game. I focused on Oicunn, but I should have unloaded into Seyn, Maarek, then Oic... even that I'm not 100% sure of to be honest.
Edited by WiredinOn 7/23/2019 at 12:10 PM, underling said:I've been using him alongside Vader and Fel, with an 11 point bid.
He usually moves after the other I5 pilots, and is usually seen as the third threat in the build.
He's usually not the main focus of my opponent, which leaves him more able to do his thing.
What do you use with them?
Vader w/FCS, Shield (77)
Fel w/ Predator, Shield (63)
Stele w/ FCS, Marksmanship (49)
Total = 189
I haven't run Vader with Passive Sensors or Hate yet, but those certainly are options. He might also work with Brilliant Evasion
I believe the x1s really work the best with FCS, but after that you can kind of tailor these guys as you see fit.
My main emphasis has been the bid.
6 hours ago, underling said:Vader w/FCS, Shield (77)
Shield over Afterburners? Que?
Love Maarek! Here's something fun:
- Maarek Stele (Marksmanship, Fire-Control System)
- Rexler Brath (Juke)
- Seyn Marana (Marksmanship)
- Del Meeko (Crack Shot)
199 points
You could also replace Del Meeko with Gideon Hask for a more offensive list. But Del is nice and helps everyone at range 0-2.
Maarek just won a 10 player kit tournament at the FLGS.
A bunch of hard-hitting Init 5s.