Some upgrades see a lot of play and some NEVER get used. Some are very useful in most situations and some are so situational you are left scratching your head and asking why would anyone waste points in that?

OK i know this is very subjective and probably ship dependent with a sprinkling of player preference but how would you rank the upgrades in X-Wing?

Lets look specifically at Elite Pilot Talents and Ship Upgrades first and then Secondary Weapons (Cannons, Turrets and Missiles). No astromechs allowed - ' Your droids will have to wait outside, we don't serve their kind here'

Here are my personal rankings based on how useful I find them in the game AND how cost effective I think they are.

BEST Elite Pilot Talents/Ship Upgrades (My Top 10)

1. Push the Limit

2. Swarm Tactics

3. Stealth Device

4. Marksmanship

5. Shield Upgrade

6. Engine Upgrade

7. Squad Leader

8. Veteran Instincts

9. Draw Their Fire

10. Expert Handling

WORST Elite Pilot Talents (My bottom 5)

1. Deadeye

2. Expose

3. Daredevil

4. Elusiveness

5. Determination

Cannons and Turrets (My best to worst rankings)

1. Heavy Laser Cannon

2. Ion Cannon

3. Blaster Turret

4. Auto Blaster

5. Ion Turret

Missiles and Torpedoes (My best to worst rankings)

1. Assault Missiles

2. Homing Missiles

3. Proton Torpedoes

4. Adv. Proton Torpedoes

5. Cluster Missiles

6. Concussion Missiles

How is deadeye a bad option? I use it on bombers frequently. Not being restricted to a single target for your next attack is wonderful. Maybe the TL'd opponent knows it's gonna get hit with a PT/missile, so they fly outside your arc? Well, with Deadeye, that doesn't matter, because now you can hit his friends that weren't smart enough to move.
Granted, I wouldn't likely put it on anything but a bomber, but it doesn't deserve the title "Worst Upgrade"

Not to be critical, but Shield Upgrade, Engine Upgrade are Stealth Device are Modifications, not Elite Pilot Talents.

Playing imps I assume?

How is deadeye a bad option? I use it on bombers frequently. Not being restricted to a single target for your next attack is wonderful. Maybe the TL'd opponent knows it's gonna get hit with a PT/missile, so they fly outside your arc? Well, with Deadeye, that doesn't matter, because now you can hit his friends that weren't smart enough to move.

Granted, I wouldn't likely put it on anything but a bomber, but it doesn't deserve the title "Worst Upgrade"

On b...b...b...bombers? Which bombers? Do you really mean Jonus and Rhymer? ...

In my eyes deadeye is only useful on Greens with a missile.

Assault missiles are fantastic when you get a hit, but utterly useless otherwise, for the 5 points. Too inconsistent for my taste, same for the homing. If the target has focus, it's useless. The missiles which allow modification (PT and CM) are slightly better, are 1 pt cheaper and have the same number of attack. Not sure why you have concussion as the worst, as that's the most forgiving (and is the best when used with a focus).

I quite like elusiveness, it can be handy in a pinch, doesn't use up your action for that turn and is only 2 pts. I often put in on any X-wing that has R2-D2 since the green will clear the stress you get and get a shield back.

edit - not sure about engine upgrade, there are much better ones for the whopping 4 points.

Not to be critical, but Shield Upgrade, Engine Upgrade are Stealth Device are Modifications, not Elite Pilot Talents.

edit made. i did link these in the intro but then not in my original list title.

Playing imps I assume?

i play both, mostly rebels tho.

Assault missiles are fantastic when you get a hit, but utterly useless otherwise, for the 5 points. Too inconsistent for my taste, same for the homing. If the target has focus, it's useless. The missiles which allow modification (PT and CM) are slightly better, are 1 pt cheaper and have the same number of attack. Not sure why you have concussion as the worst, as that's the most forgiving (and is the best when used with a focus).

I quite like elusiveness, it can be handy in a pinch, doesn't use up your action for that turn and is only 2 pts. I often put in on any X-wing that has R2-D2 since the green will clear the stress you get and get a shield back.

edit - not sure about engine upgrade, there are much better ones for the whopping 4 points.

engine upgrade is rather ship specific - it really complements PTL well, one reason it is really strong on vader. I am also seeing it appear in the shuttle and slave1 ships quite a bit.

How is deadeye a bad option? I use it on bombers frequently. Not being restricted to a single target for your next attack is wonderful. Maybe the TL'd opponent knows it's gonna get hit with a PT/missile, so they fly outside your arc? Well, with Deadeye, that doesn't matter, because now you can hit his friends that weren't smart enough to move.

Granted, I wouldn't likely put it on anything but a bomber, but it doesn't deserve the title "Worst Upgrade"

if i could put Deadeye on Garven Dreis it would rank higher on my list. i agree its probably not the worst but imo is one of the worst upgrades because it is so situational. As u say, u only use it on bombers.

Determination is far from being a bad upgrade. If I need a 1 point EPT, I will almost universally choose it over VI - unless VI brings the PS into harmony with my other ships.

I also think Ion Cannon Turret is significantly better than Blaster Turret, since you can still use dice modifications without relying on support skills.

And Deadeye's sort of wasted once the missiles are spent. It opens up the flexibility of choosing a target but also increases the investment into the 'please let this be a good role' missile strike (now at 5 to 6 pts).

Would you put engine upgrade on the YT-1300?

Slightly off topic, but the best way to use Assault Missiles is with Jan supporting.

"Jan Ors: When you absolutely, positively got to kill every TIE fighter in the galaxy. Accept no substitutes." - Mace Windu

Elite Pilot Talents (my updated rankings)

1. Push the Limit

2. Swarm Tactics

3. Marksmanship

4. Squad Leader

5. Veteran Instincts

6. Draw Their Fire

7. Expert Handling

8. Determination

9. Elusiveness

10. Daredevil

11. Expose

12. Deadeye

Elite Pilot Talents (MY top 10)

1. Push the Limit

2. Push the Limit

3. Push the Limit

4. Push the Limit

5. Push the Limit

6. Push the Limit

7. Push the Limit

8. Swarm Tactics

9. Veteran Instincts

10. Elusiveness

I also think Ion Cannon Turret is significantly better than Blaster Turret, since you can still use dice modifications without relying on support skills.

Lol...Last tournament I got my y-wing behind wdge, stopping him from recovering shields with R2D2:)

2B 2Y, all with Ion. I dont know if it is the best, but it sure is fun:)

Just see the other players face when he understads that, for much of this game, he will not have controll over his ships....

Elite Pilot Talents (MY top 10)

1. Push the Limit

2. Push the Limit

3. Push the Limit

4. Push the Limit

5. Push the Limit

6. Push the Limit

7. Push the Limit

8. Swarm Tactics

9. Veteran Instincts

10. Elusiveness

haha. good call. PTL is amazing. imo the best EPT. Its undercosted by at least a point. even if it cost 4-5 ppl would probably use it.

im thinkng FFG knew what it was doing when they put it exclusively in the A-Wing expansion

YES i know PTL is also included in the upcoming Imperial Aces expansion but this is a little too late for most peoples wallets.

Squad Leader in my opinion should not use up the action, it should only grant a free action.

Squad Leader in my opinion should not use up the action, it should only grant a free action.

yeah that would be awesome. maybe up the cost to 3?

actually thats given me an idea for my local playgroup.

House Rule - alter one upgrade cost or effect of ur choice. all players can use it.

hmm could be a new thread altogether.

2 points only. Its unique anyway and should encourage players to actually have a Squad leader. Its more drama, more style and one action more. Even Wedge could be a superb squad leader if he wouldnt need to use his action.

Squad Leader both looks and feels like it was specifically designed to complement Vader, so it makes sense that he gets to share one of his actions. Making it free would require a serious increase in points, I think.

This may be the designers initial thought when designing this card. But at the end, Vader with only one action is just a extremely overpriced mess, unless the action is really used to maximize a power 4 or higher attack.

So still on Vader its usability is very limited only - which is a shame - because I really like the idea of having a leader in my squad. Concerning the point cost ... well its unique, meaning you could go for only 1 point, to make sure that it will be used. Or you could go for like 4 points, to make sure that it won't be used. Its up to the designer's gusto in the end.

It hasn't come out yet but what do you guys think of Opportunist? Could this be a real game changer? I imagine sticking these on a Black Squadron TIE would make for a potent ship at 18 pts.

Imagine Wedge with this equipped

It hasn't come out yet but what do you guys think of Opportunist? Could this be a real game changer? I imagine sticking these on a Black Squadron TIE would make for a potent ship at 18 pts.

Imagine Wedge with this equipped

but Wedge shoots at 9... wouldn't it make more sense on Wedge's Wingman for after Wedge shoots?

maybe Ibtisam, Ten Numb or Chewie... or Green Squadron.

This might be where the Empire gets back at the Rebels for forcing them to buy A-Wings for PTL

Opportunist is just like made for a Saber pilot, following a PS5+ squint

Imagine:

Wedge + PtL

Luke + Opportunist + R2D2

Biggs + stuff

Jonus + Opportunist + Homing Missiles + Homing Missiles

Rhymer + Opportunist + Cluster Missiles + Cluster Missiles

Carnor Jax