How about this list?
New Squadron
(75) Onyx Squadron Ace [TIE/D Defender]
(4) Heavy Laser Cannon
(2) Fire-Control System
(7) Juke
Points: 88
(75) Onyx Squadron Ace [TIE/D Defender]
(0) Jamming Beam
(3) Daredevil
Points: 78
(32) "Scourge" Skutu [TIE/ln Fighter]
(1) Crack Shot
Points: 33
Total points: 199
Daredevil isn't a great upgrade for a TIE Defender, since they really want to go speed 3 or faster, but their blue moves are really limited.
If running Juke (pretty much the only ships where it's worthwhile are those with access to free Evade tokens), it's usually worthwhile to run as many Jukes as you can.
I'd do one of three things:
6 hours ago, theBitterFig said:Daredevil isn't a great upgrade for a TIE Defender, since they really want to go speed 3 or faster, but their blue moves are really limited.
If running Juke (pretty much the only ships where it's worthwhile are those with access to free Evade tokens), it's usually worthwhile to run as many Jukes as you can.
I'd do one of three things:
- Cut Heavy Laser Cannon and Daredevil, and put Juke on both Onyx Squadron Aces
- Cut Juke, and put Crack Shot, Heavy Laser Cannon (Crack Shot doesn't work on the HLC attack, but would work at Range 1 where HLC doesn't), and FCS on both Defenders.
- If you have a TIE Striker, I'd consider going two Crack Shot Defenders, and your choice of Duchess, Pure Sabacc, or Countdown, with Crack Shot.
Adding a Tie Striker works for me....but how about a tanky bomber? I think ion missiles could be better, but I see a lot of rebel swarms and boxes flying around here.
Firepower
(75) Onyx Squadron Ace [TIE/D Defender]
(4) Heavy Laser Cannon
(2) Fire-Control System
(1) Crack Shot
Points: 82
(75) Onyx Squadron Ace [TIE/D Defender]
(4) Heavy Laser Cannon
(2) Fire-Control System
(1) Crack Shot
Points: 82
(29) Scimitar Squadron Pilot [TIE/sa Bomber]
(5) Cluster Missiles
(1) Munitions Failsafe
Points: 35
Total points: 199
Striker aces probably see a bit more competitive play, but give it a go.
Ion missiles are one of the few things that are genuinely terrible, no matter how you use them. I suggest avoidance
2 Defenders +1 is a strange thing. There is definitely value in 2 stripped down Delta's plus a decent 1. Extra points you send the Defenders way have diminishing returns, they can only do so much, no matter how you load them.
With the I4 at 200pt, there are so many match ups where they might as well be I1. They're pretty predictable and generally don't like to reposition when engaged, so I1 is actually more useful in planning anyway. Less so in shooting ofc, but it is an area where the points saved are considerable.
Anyway, ship no.3 requires a certain level of investment or it's hard to balance the squad on the table. Whether it's pushing damage, taking a decent number of shots away from the Defenders, or buffing them in some tangible way, it has to be able to do a fair bit of it.
For me, that seems to be about 50pt. Or 2 basic Onyx. At which point, why bother with I4....
However, one pilot that can pull quite a bit more than their weight, at a very low cost, is 7th Sister. I've been tempted to try her with 2 Autoblaster, Marksman Onyx. Possibly hoping that the Onyx will drop to keep this playable past Jan, I won't get to it before.
There really isn't anything else that really holds me at that price point. If you want HLC, I'd put them on Delta's and invest the rest elsewhere.
Bombers are nice 3rd ships sometimes, APT Rhymer is an old fave, but they don't last long. You're unlikely to trade it for more than 1 of your opponents ships, no matter what list they're flying. Against aces, it'll likely be traded for nothing at all. 2 Defenders can only solo a list if they're both amped up past 95pt, so no.3 has to make a decent impact in every single game.