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X-Wing: How Good Will They Be? New Tie Defenders

By Barclay Montgomery | May 4th, 2016 | Categories: Star Wars, X-Wing 2.0

Star Wars X-Wing TIE Defender Expansion Pack 1

The hotly anticipated Imperial Veterans pack is sure to be released soon! Come see the new Imperial Aces that will change the meta game for the evil Empire. 

Checkout the recently released info in the new pilots of the amazing TIE Defender.

swx52-glaive-squadron-pilot

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The new generic Defender pilots clock in at Pilot Skill 6 and have the ever crucial Elite slot as well. Add in Adaptability and the TIE/x7 title and you can keep your ships cheap and still  be effectively brutal on the table. Also important is the Twin Ion Engine Mk. II that really opens up the Defenders dial with all banks being green.

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You loved Maarek Stele in the TIE Advanced, now you can love him in the Defender! His brutal pilot ability is best utilized with the TIE/D title, which allows you to fire an equipped cannon (1-3 points only) and then fire your primary weapon. Slap the Marksmanship Elite on Maarek, and he can effectively cripple a ship in one turn of firing!

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The other Defender pilots pale in comparison to the lovely Countess Ryad. Her Pilot Ability is one of a kind and is super tricksy. She is allowed to treat all straight maneuvers as Koiogran turns if you wish. This ability triggers after you reveal your maneuver dial, so this ability makes sure that the Countess can outmaneuver her foes at a moment’s notice.

Also interestingly, all straight maneuvers on a Defender’s dial are green, effectively granting this ship the first green Koiogran turns in the game! Countess Ryad is one of the only Defender pilots that would benefit from the Push the Limit Elite talent, and with the Twin Ion Engine Mk. II upgrade, the Countess will run through your foes in no time!

That’s it for now folks! Don’t get too used to the U-Boats because they are sure to be swept aside by the Defender rush! The meta game continues to evolve, and savvy pilots must evolve with the game to stay on top.

How would you build your TIE Defender pilots?

About the Author: Barclay Montgomery

I'm a weird guy wargamer and hobby enthusiast. I'm like the Thing, I can take many forms. I could be a bounty hunter looking for Rebel prey, a commander of an Imperial fleet, or the Hive Mind of the Great Devourer of Worlds.