So, I have 3 ISDs (one is Chimaera), 2 Kittens, 1 Gonzo, 1 VSD, 1 Gladiator, 1 interdictor and several fighter packs. I can outfit a number of different fleets and I've been having a lot of fun with them over the last years.

My rebel counterpart is ordering the Starhawk and I'm on the fence about the Onager. Primarily its the money. The thing's a bit expensive for me at the moment and I'm wondering whether I need it to be able to play well against the Starhawk? So far we've been getting the waves pretty evenly (except I skipped on the Carrier since I didn't like it and the SSD because its prohibitively expensive). I'm worried I might fall behind in variety and options so an advice might help me make up my mind about the purchase.

the Carrier, a second fighter pack II, another gonzanti or even another VSD (I'm getting great results with disposable capacitors) are all more affordable options.

13 minutes ago, Hamanu1 said:

So, I have 3 ISDs (one is Chimaera), 2 Kittens, 1 Gonzo, 1 VSD, 1 Gladiator, 1 interdictor and several fighter packs. I can outfit a number of different fleets and I've been having a lot of fun with them over the last years.

My rebel counterpart is ordering the Starhawk and I'm on the fence about the Onager. Primarily its the money. The thing's a bit expensive for me at the moment and I'm wondering whether I need it to be able to play well against the Starhawk? So far we've been getting the waves pretty evenly (except I skipped on the Carrier since I didn't like it and the SSD because its prohibitively expensive). I'm worried I might fall behind in variety and options so an advice might help me make up my mind about the purchase.

the Carrier, a second fighter pack II, another gonzanti or even another VSD (I'm getting great results with disposable capacitors) are all more affordable options.

I think the Carrier is great for adding a new dimension to your fleet diversity, so I would definitely pick it up. If you are not interested in what is most competitive, I have found 2 VSDs and a Carrier to be a quite enjoyable fleet. A second Gozanti will never go amiss, though it is not necessary.

As for your primary question, whether you should get the Onager, I would say yes. It is not necessary, and you can defeat the Starhawk without it, but it is a very fun ship to fly. I grant that the cost is a bit off-putting, and I myself held off on it for a while for that reason, but having since flown it, I can say that I think it was worth it (though I obviously wish it were cheaper) as it adds a completely new element to the game (extreme range) and as such makes any game in which it takes part all the more interesting. Having access to Salvo is also useful, that is a very powerful defense token.

30 minutes ago, Hamanu1 said:

So, I have 3 ISDs (one is Chimaera), 2 Kittens, 1 Gonzo, 1 VSD, 1 Gladiator, 1 interdictor and several fighter packs. I can outfit a number of different fleets and I've been having a lot of fun with them over the last years.

My rebel counterpart is ordering the Starhawk and I'm on the fence about the Onager. Primarily its the money. The thing's a bit expensive for me at the moment and I'm wondering whether I need it to be able to play well against the Starhawk? So far we've been getting the waves pretty evenly (except I skipped on the Carrier since I didn't like it and the SSD because its prohibitively expensive). I'm worried I might fall behind in variety and options so an advice might help me make up my mind about the purchase.

the Carrier, a second fighter pack II, another gonzanti or even another VSD (I'm getting great results with disposable capacitors) are all more affordable options.

The Onager is actually the one ship that can take on a Starhawk and win consistently -- with help, of course. The Onager's long-range firepower is the perfect counter to the Starhawk's mighty offense and defense. You need to start draining the Starhawk's shields ASAP so that when it closes the distance, the Onager should still have its strong front shields whereas the Starhawk will be suffering most damage to its hull. And if you use an ISD or VSD to block, the Onager has an even better chance of destroying the SH before it destroys either the Star Destroyer or Onager.

IME if you don't bring an Onager to fight a Starhawk, your best strategy is simply to avoid it because it's too slow and unwieldy to turn around and chase its target(s). But those don't make for fun matches. I don't like running away from a fight -- but don't like losing more -- and its especially frustrating for the Rebel player. My friends genuinely regretted purchasing the Starhawk because it didn't perform how they expected. Whereas I absolutely love the Onager Star Destroyer!

So I highly recommend buy the Onager... if you can find one. Unfortunately, it might be a while until they're restocked.

Onager does very well against the Starhawk, but not needed to defeat it. By no means don't break your self to get one, but you do have pieces to make a mean fleet with one when ready. does pair very will with an ISD, a pair of vsds, my favorite a trio of aquitens and a pair of Onagers and a aquiten escort seems to work pretty well too.

I'd probably go back and get the the carrier and probably a second VSD (you can find VSD's very cheap) before grabbing an Onager simply because of the upgrade. Boarding troopers and Dcaps are stupidly useful and the carrier and Sloan might surprise you. From the Onager Gunnery Chief Varnillian, Reeva Demesne and Local fire control are its contribution to the fleet, but the Onagers upgrades are a bit more spot use than the carriers.

I hate picking on the Onager cause I do love the ship. Its amazing and a lot of fun to play (blowing up Jaina's light and a hammer head corvette in one shot each then running away from a mc 75 the rest of the game was just incredibly satisfying) , but it just needs so much to work well. She's a siege engine though and though and has to be protected like one.

2 minutes ago, Spectre8174 said:

does pair very will with an ISD, a pair of vsds, my favorite a trio of aquitens and a pair of Onagers and a aquiten escort seems to work pretty well too.

A great fleet I flew recently was the Onager, Demo, Corvus, and a Gozanti with Screed. Loved it.

With out even reading this...

Yes.

Haha

I was very skeptical when I saw it, but I have played it in almost every game since I bought it. It is really good fun.

13 hours ago, GhostofNobodyInParticular said:

A great fleet I flew recently was the Onager, Demo, Corvus, and a Gozanti with Screed. Loved it.

I've been using Screed with a Testbed, a Kuat, a Gozanti, and Demolisher.

Great fun.

Based on overwhelming support I'll bite the bullet and order the Onager. 😄

Onager ordered. Soon the rebel scum shall witness the firepower of this fully armed and operational GUNship!

1 hour ago, Hamanu1 said:

Onager ordered. Soon the rebel scum shall witness the firepower of this fully armed and operational GUNship!

Out of curiosity:

Where did you order an Onager from?

1 hour ago, Reavern said:

Out of curiosity:

Where did you order an Onager from?

At the time of this posting, there are three on Amazon (below the retail price, I might add).

6 hours ago, Admiral Calkins said:

At the time of this posting, there are three on Amazon (below the retail price, I might add).

I live in Canada so the shipping and import fees are $40.

Besides, my LGS sells Armada expansions below MSRP -- it's only $63.74 CAD, but $55 USD is $76 CAD -- so it's the better deal for me.

I only order Armada expansions from Amazon.com when they're around $10 -- like last year when I got VSDs for $10 and Interdictors for $12.

Onagers are currently still available from many stockists in the UK. Cheapest right now is £40.

In my experience it pairs well with an Interdoctor and Romodi. I got hit with a somewhat heavy Rebel squadron build and both survived to the end.

To be honest, while I've had a great deal of fun with the Onager, the Commander is the real prize of this expansion. I've had a blast running Onager lists with Kittens and attack gozzers using their ships and the obstacles to throw hordes of red dice. I still can't believe he's only 20 points.

1 hour ago, Darth Sanguis said:

To be honest, while I've had a great deal of fun with the Onager, the Commander is the real prize of this expansion. I've had a blast running Onager lists with Kittens and attack gozzers using their ships and the obstacles to throw hordes of red dice. I still can't believe he's only 20 points.

Yes, Romodi is great. I think the main reason he's only 20 points is because Kyrsta Agate (Commander) is 20 points. Romodi should probably cost 25-30 points. But as long as Dodonna is only 20 points, I think it's "fair" the Romodi is 20 points too.

22 hours ago, Reavern said:

Out of curiosity:

Where did you order an Onager from?

Austria. I'm afraid it won't help you much. I even ordered y the German version as it's about 12 Euro cheaper than r he English one.

Why stop at one? I use two.. fun ship to snipe with and it can frustrate your opposition into doing something that they cannot recover from because they are getting pelted while they are trying to get in range