How to best run Operative Vader?

By Darth Challenger, in Army Building

Posted at

I am 100% in this game to get to run the really awesome centerpiece units such as Vader. Whether or not Operative Vader is better than Commander Vader is up for debate, but i ask you: How to best run the dark lord?

My current (but untested) lines of thought have been this:

1. Vader as a center piece, but without the army built around him

ie - take a standard list that has ~200 points where you would normally place an AT-ST, two deluxe corps, a kitted out boba etc and just substitute in Vader. Vader puts a lot of fear into the hearts of the enemy who don't want to advance anywhere near a sith lord with relentless, a scatter ranged attack, force push, and who can move 2 twice into melee.

example list:

List: Don't Choke on your Ambition

799/800
Director Orson Krennic (90 + 0 = 90)

Darth Vader (Operative) (170 + 15 = 185)
--Force Choke (5), Force Push (10)

Stormtroopers (44 + 24 = 68)
--DLT-19 Stormtrooper (24)

Stormtroopers (44 + 24 = 68)
--DLT-19 Stormtrooper (24)

Stormtroopers (44 + 43 = 87)
--DLT-19 Stormtrooper (24), FX-9 Medical Droid (19)

Stormtroopers (44 + 43 = 87)
--DLT-19 Stormtrooper (24), FX-9 Medical Droid (19)

Imperial Death Troopers (76 + 42 = 118)
--DLT-19D Trooper (34), E-11D Focused Fire Config (8)

Scout Troopers (Strike Team) (20 + 28 = 48)
--DLT-19x Sniper (28)

Scout Troopers (Strike Team) (20 + 28 = 48)
--DLT-19x Sniper (28)

Commands:
Voracious Ambition (1), Vaders Might (1), Deploy the Garrison (2), Fear and Dead Men (2), Darkness Descends (3), Annihilation Looms (3), Standing Orders (4)
*=it may be better to drop one of the medical droids to sit on 20pts, that can be well spent on Endurance for Vader, Aggressive Tactics for Krennic, and then you have 4pts leftover for bid, or for some very minor gear upgrades
2 - Vader as a combo piece.
Basically, using vader's strong command cards for multi wound units to get work done. this one is all about a dewback rush, with vader going in after they do to clean up. Other strong choices are snowtroopers, Imperial royal guard, bounty hunters etc. anything that benefits from New Ways essentially.
List 2 - Are we blind!? Deploy the Dewbacks!
Director Orson Krennic (90 + 0 = 90)

Darth Vader (Operative) (170 + 15 = 185)
--Force Choke (5), Force Push (10)

Stormtroopers (44 + 24 = 68)
--DLT-19 Stormtrooper (24)

Stormtroopers (44 + 24 = 68)
--DLT-19 Stormtrooper (24)

Stormtroopers (44 + 24 = 68)
--DLT-19 Stormtrooper (24)

Scout Troopers (Strike Team) (20 + 28 = 48)
--DLT-19x Sniper (28)

Scout Troopers (Strike Team) (20 + 28 = 48)
--DLT-19x Sniper (28)

Dewback Rider (90 + 25 = 115)
--Comms Jammer (5), CR-24 Flame Rifle (20)

Dewback Rider (90 + 20 = 110)
--CR-24 Flame Rifle (20)

Commands:
Voracious Ambition (1), Vaders Might (1), New Ways to Motivate Them (2), Deploy the Garrison (2), Darkness Descends (3), Annihilation Looms (3)
Finally - What special tactics do you think Op. Vader will be using? I think he will be very disruptive, imagine a relentless move into his ranged attack, allowing you to use scatter to place the heavy weapon within range 1 of vader to be choked. Sounds like a lot of fun the things he could pull off, especially with Vaders Might