So, FFG has graced is with a new article discussing advanced use of Padmé . There isn't much most list builders wouldn't have already thought of by now, after all we've been toying with this expansion for a while already.

What I've found particularly interesting in this publication however is that all 3 of the example lists discussed contain a triple of ARC Strike Teams. There's been a lot of discussion going on in this sub about whether or not the Strike-Spam is an issue for the game or not and a lot has been said about how little FFG does to acknowledge and / or address this concert.

Well, now there's an article out there aiming at teaching people how to play this game right on and effectively and it sort of leaves a clear message - whatever you do, do it with a bunch of Strike Teams in there!

Thoughts?

Those articles are community-written. I don't know what guidance was given to Mike Barry, but it looks like he wasn't told to make non-competitive lists. ARC Strike Teams are good, but unlike their Rebel and Imperial counterparts the full units are also pretty good.

I think this last wave of SF units are quite good and although BX droids and ARC troopers have strike teams, I think you'll see a lot of lists don't really take triple strike teams and opt for full units too. GCW strike teams are especially fragile in legions current wave of releases, with mandos having speed 3 with rockets, STAP riders are the first real competitive speeder unit that can hunt strike teams very well, and the ISF alpha strike with Iden is really good. Strike teams are still nice to have because they are a cheap activation that bumps up your lists activation count, but taking 3 seems to be a bit of a gamble that you will have a table to hide them all effectively. Before this wave the other SF options for the GCW factions weren't very good so there was no reason to take anything else, but now that there are other very effective options available to the factions it might actually be a hinderance to take 3 strikes teams.

They did a small point increase on the classic strike teams. However unless you want to use 2 or more expensive special forces units you can't go wrong with 2-3 strike teams since they are so powerful for the point cost even after the increase.

Promoting 3 strike teams is a great move though. It would be great for ffg if every clone player buys 3 arc trooper boxes.

Do you need to go with max strike teams to be successful?

No, but it sure helps you add activation to any lists. Range 5 attacks with pierce that is probably the strongest weapon keyword in the game (lethal for the newer once ofc) and the trooper unit type to hold objectives. It's a great deal for any list.

In my analysis of a prime championship there was 21 strike teams for 20 players. An average just above 1 per player, despite half the armies being clone wars era before arc troopers and bx. Only one tournament ofc, but 2 strike teams for me feels like auto include unless I really want to play with something special in the special forces slot.

they want to sell as many strike team as they can before theyre forced to nerf them because its ruining the game

1 hour ago, jocke01 said:

They did a small point increase on the classic strike teams. However unless you want to use 2 or more expensive special forces units you can't go wrong with 2-3 strike teams since they are so powerful for the point cost even after the increase.

Promoting 3 strike teams is a great move though. It would be great for ffg if every clone player buys 3 arc trooper boxes.

Why 3 boxes? 2 Boxes get you 2 full teams, Fives, Echo, and a strike team (out of the Fives and Echo Model).

Strike teams have always been great at padding activation counts and providing Pierce where it was needed. It shouldn't be surprising in any way that GAR lists will take 3 of their most cost effective units, especially when they're pretty much the only cheap, effective filler the faction has. I personally don't like strike teams, as they've always been too squishy for my tastes, but I don't see anything wrong with an article about Padme relying on the current meta for list building.

1 hour ago, Bigbboyd said:

Why 3 boxes? 2 Boxes get you 2 full teams, Fives, Echo, and a strike team (out of the Fives and Echo Model).

Because to legally field 3 strike teams you need 3 strike team unit cards. Though that only really matters in tournaments (or against really nitpicky opponents).

ARCs are funny, because a full ARC team really is better than a strike team. It’s usually better to flip things on their head for GAR and take naked corps units to pad your army, that way you can take a couple full ARCs who have Impervious and so are slightly better at staying alive. The full ARC unit also hits harder (especially at range 2) and also have Sharp Shooter 1. If you also include a couple of corps units with heavies, you can get max value for Fire Support too. Having naked corps troops, allows you to do what Strike Teams did, and cap back objectives (with a bit more health on the cappers). R2 could also help with padding your list, so if you have to include Padme (not really worth it imho) you could have something like the list below. With this list, you still have 4 mainstay type units (with heavy), but as a mix you get a better use of keywords. My personal opinion on Padme is that she looks like a great unit, but is completely useless to GAR (probably why no one is using her). All of her command cards give low activation count and her main deal is token sharing. Padme may be better than R2 in doing the Secret Mission (Padme is faster and can dish out better damage with Sharpshooter 2), but as far as token sharing goes, clones have that covered and R2 is not even half her price. Now I’m not saying Padme isn’t priced well for what she does, Padme is priced quite well and is a great unit, but isn’t too great for GAR. What I am trying to say, is that Padme doesn’t do much that other units can do well enough, and since GAR is so expensive, a lot of units have to do a kind of double duty instead of having a very specialized unit like Padme. That being said, I’m sure FFG requested an article about Padme, so the choice to include her or not, wasn’t there. As far as list building goes, I’m sorry but, I’d have to say the writer did only ok, but could have done much better creating competitive lists. Also dropping Padme for R2 will get you to 10 activations. So as far as teaching new players about snipers, I wouldn’t worry about GAR, new players may realize that a full unit is just better (especially if they play in any competition).

7 hours ago, Bigbboyd said:

Why 3 boxes? 2 Boxes get you 2 full teams, Fives, Echo, and a strike team (out of the Fives and Echo Model).

If you go with 3 strike teams, you would want 3 boxes. However I think 2 boxes is the more practical option

3 hours ago, jocke01 said:

If you go with 3 strike teams, you would want 3 boxes. However I think 2 boxes is the more practical option

Esspecially if 2 boxes is all you could get during the release and now out of stock.

On 10/20/2020 at 2:54 PM, JediPartisan said:

ARCs are funny, because a full ARC team really is better than a strike team. It’s usually better to flip things on their head for GAR and take naked corps units to pad your army, that way you can take a couple full ARCs who have Impervious and so are slightly better at staying alive. The full ARC unit also hits harder (especially at range 2) and also have Sharp Shooter 1. If you also include a couple of corps units with heavies, you can get max value for Fire Support too. Having naked corps troops, allows you to do what Strike Teams did, and cap back objectives (with a bit more health on the cappers). R2 could also help with padding your list, so if you have to include Padme (not really worth it imho) you could have something like the list below. With this list, you still have 4 mainstay type units (with heavy), but as a mix you get a better use of keywords. My personal opinion on Padme is that she looks like a great unit, but is completely useless to GAR (probably why no one is using her). All of her command cards give low activation count and her main deal is token sharing. Padme may be better than R2 in doing the Secret Mission (Padme is faster and can dish out better damage with Sharpshooter 2), but as far as token sharing goes, clones have that covered and R2 is not even half her price. Now I’m not saying Padme isn’t priced well for what she does, Padme is priced quite well and is a great unit, but isn’t too great for GAR. What I am trying to say, is that Padme doesn’t do much that other units can do well enough, and since GAR is so expensive, a lot of units have to do a kind of double duty instead of having a very specialized unit like Padme. That being said, I’m sure FFG requested an article about Padme, so the choice to include her or not, wasn’t there. As far as list building goes, I’m sorry but, I’d have to say the writer did only ok, but could have done much better creating competitive lists. Also dropping Padme for R2 will get you to 10 activations. So as far as teaching new players about snipers, I wouldn’t worry about GAR, new players may realize that a full unit is just better (especially if they play in any competition).

798/800

Clone Captain Rex (90 + 12 = 97) --Recon Intel (2), JT-12 Jetpacks (5)

Padme Amidala (90 + 5 = 95) --Looted E-5 Blaster (5)

Phase II Clone Troopers (60 + 40 = 100) --Fives (36), Offensive Push (4)
Phase II Clone Troopers (60 + 31 = 91) --Z-6 Phase II Trooper (27), Offensive Push (4)
Phase II Clone Troopers (60 + 0 = 60)
Phase II Clone Troopers (60 + 0 = 60)

ARC Troopers (72 + 45 = 117) --DC-15x ARC Trooper (31), Overwatch (4), JT-12 Jetpacks (10)
ARC Troopers (72 + 54 = 126) --Echo (40), Overwatch (4), JT-12 Jetpacks (10)
ARC Troopers (Strike Team) (21 + 31 = 52) --DC-15x ARC Trooper (31)

http://tabletopadmiral.com/legion/galactic/p32uEMuEMu3au9duEMp3cuEMuEMuEMu9cp33ua3uEMu81uEMuEMp33u8cuEMu81uEMuEMp33uEMuEMuEMuEMuEMp33uEMuEMuEMuEMuEMp3eu9eu48uEMu9duEMuEMp3eua4u48uEMu9duEMuEMp3du9euEMuEMuEMuEMuEMc08

not keen on the jetpacks myself, too expensive

this is the list that i took to a tourney last week and won with (only 6 players so not too competetive but still if there had been more then i would not have won, I won all 3 games but only had 4 victory points total, payload twice and breakthrough with no scoring units)

Clone Captain Rex (90 + 12 = 102)
--Aggressive Tactics (10), Recon Intel (2)

Padme Amidala (90 + 0 = 90)

R2-D2 (35 + 0 = 35)

Phase II Clone Troopers (60 + 35 = 95)--Z-6 Phase II Trooper (27), Overwatch (4), Targeting Scopes (4)

Phase II Clone Troopers (60 + 35 = 95)--Z-6 Phase II Trooper (27), Overwatch (4), Targeting Scopes (4)

Phase II Clone Troopers (60 + 35 = 95)--Z-6 Phase II Trooper (27), Overwatch (4), Targeting Scopes (4)

Arc Troopers (72 + 44 = 116)--Fives (36), Overwatch (4), Targeting Scopes (4)

Arc Troopers (72 + 48 = 120)--Echo (40), Overwatch (4), Targeting Scopes (4)

Arc Troopers (Strike Team) (21 + 31 = 52)--DC-15x ARC Trooper (31)

Commands:
Call Me Captain (1), Blast Off! (1), Take That, Clankers! (2), Aggressive Negotiations (2), Were Not Programmed (3), Diplomatic Cover (3), Standing Orders (4)

Deployments: Danger Close, Advanced Positions, Hemmed In, Major Offensive
Objectives: Hostage Exchange, Intercept the Transmissions, Breakthrough, Payload
Conditions: War Weary, Hostile Environment, Fortified Positions, Supply Drop

http://tabletopadmiral.com/legion/galactic/p32u68uEMu3auEMuEMp3cuEMuEMuEMuEMp38uEMuEMp33u8cuEMu48u0fuEMp33u8cuEMu48u0fuEMp33u8cuEMu48u0fuEMp3eua3u48uEMu0fuEMuEMp3eua4u48uEMu0fuEMuEMp3du9euEMuEMuEMuEMuEMc40c3fc41c56c3ac4ec08o06o04o05o08z06z05z07z01t08t04t06t07

only real issues with it are the lack of a bid and not too good against armour, may need to increase its anti-armour capabilities for next time maybe drop a P2 Z6 and put in an P1 RPS6,

4 hours ago, 5particus said:

not keen on the jetpacks myself, too expensive

this is the list that i took to a tourney last week and won with (only 6 players so not too competetive but still if there had been more then i would not have won, I won all 3 games but only had 4 victory points total, payload twice and breakthrough with no scoring units)

Clone Captain Rex (90 + 12 = 102)
--Aggressive Tactics (10), Recon Intel (2)

Padme Amidala (90 + 0 = 90)

R2-D2 (35 + 0 = 35)

Phase II Clone Troopers (60 + 35 = 95)--Z-6 Phase II Trooper (27), Overwatch (4), Targeting Scopes (4)

Phase II Clone Troopers (60 + 35 = 95)--Z-6 Phase II Trooper (27), Overwatch (4), Targeting Scopes (4)

Phase II Clone Troopers (60 + 35 = 95)--Z-6 Phase II Trooper (27), Overwatch (4), Targeting Scopes (4)

Arc Troopers (72 + 44 = 116)--Fives (36), Overwatch (4), Targeting Scopes (4)

Arc Troopers (72 + 48 = 120)--Echo (40), Overwatch (4), Targeting Scopes (4)

Arc Troopers (Strike Team) (21 + 31 = 52)--DC-15x ARC Trooper (31)

Commands:
Call Me Captain (1), Blast Off! (1), Take That, Clankers! (2), Aggressive Negotiations (2), Were Not Programmed (3), Diplomatic Cover (3), Standing Orders (4)

Deployments: Danger Close, Advanced Positions, Hemmed In, Major Offensive
Objectives: Hostage Exchange, Intercept the Transmissions, Breakthrough, Payload
Conditions: War Weary, Hostile Environment, Fortified Positions, Supply Drop

http://tabletopadmiral.com/legion/galactic/p32u68uEMu3auEMuEMp3cuEMuEMuEMuEMp38uEMuEMp33u8cuEMu48u0fuEMp33u8cuEMu48u0fuEMp33u8cuEMu48u0fuEMp3eua3u48uEMu0fuEMuEMp3eua4u48uEMu0fuEMuEMp3du9euEMuEMuEMuEMuEMc40c3fc41c56c3ac4ec08o06o04o05o08z06z05z07z01t08t04t06t07

only real issues with it are the lack of a bid and not too good against armour, may need to increase its anti-armour capabilities for next time maybe drop a P2 Z6 and put in an P1 RPS6,

Not a bad list. I totally agree about the Jetpacks, they are overpriced. They should probably drop to 5 or 6 points and Rex’s should be 3 or 4 points. The stupid thing is that ARCs have 2 Gear slots so they can take Environmental Gear and Grappling Hooks for 4 points cheaper or even Ascension Cables and have very similar effect to the Jetpacks, and EV will even work twice (or more) per round where a Jetpack only works once. But there is something to be said for the ability to jump over a building and get into melee or fire with a range 2 weapon at a hidden target, so maybe even if they lowered Jetpacks to 6 or 7. Really I haven’t seen a lot of the high level players with Jetpacks, but I have seen them, so if you only have 1 or 2 in your list, the waste of the extra points (from overpriced cost) isn’t horrible. Not like something like the BARC or even the AT-RT (republic only - just my opinion).

On 10/19/2020 at 7:03 PM, arnoldrew said:

Those articles are community-written. I don't know what guidance was given to Mike Barry, but it looks like he wasn't told to make non-competitive lists. ARC Strike Teams are good, but unlike their Rebel and Imperial counterparts the full units are also pretty good.

Indeed, and Mike is himself well known for use of Full ARCs (though admittedly not in the same list as Padme): https://thefifthtrooper.com/the-road-to-worlds-part-vii-victory-and-death/