How to use the Decimator

[moodswing5537 1,415]

So, I just recently finished painting my decimators and I want to use them in a fleet. I really don't have any big combo ideas, but I did like something @CaribbeanNinja said about running them with Valen and I came up with the following:

 

jerry more experimental 
Author: moodswing5537

Faction: Galactic Empire
Points: 385/400  

Commander: Moff Jerjerrod

Assault Objective: Most Wanted
Defense Objective: Fighter Ambush
Navigation Objective: Superior Positions

 

Gladiator I-Class Star Destroyer (56 points)
-  Demolisher  ( 10  points) 
-  Ordnance Experts  ( 4  points) 
-  Engine Techs  ( 8  points) 
-  External Racks  ( 3  points) 
= 81 total ship cost

 

Raider-I Class Corvette (44 points)
-  Ordnance Experts  ( 4  points) 
-  External Racks  ( 3  points) 
= 51 total ship cost

 

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
-  Comms Net  ( 2  points) 
= 25 total ship cost

 

Raider-I Class Corvette (44 points)
-  Ordnance Experts  ( 4  points) 
-  External Racks  ( 3  points) 
= 51 total ship cost

 

[ flagship ] Raider-II Class Corvette (48 points)
-  Moff Jerjerrod  ( 23  points) 
-  Admiral Montferrat  ( 5  points) 
-  Disposable Capacitors  ( 3  points) 
= 79 total ship cost

 

2 VT-49 Decimators ( 44 points) 
1 Valen Rudor ( 13 points) 
1 Colonel Jendon ( 20 points) 
1 Maarek Steele ( 21 points) 

 

Pick it apart. Tear it up and start over if you see that it is ruined from the get-go. Just don't insult my family...that's....too far...

 

 

Edited October 18, 2017 by moodswing5537

[Undeadguy 5,749]

double post

Edited October 18, 2017 by Undeadguy

[Undeadguy 5,749]

You should be running HSA since you can deploy squads with Demo.

This is my pet peeve, but Demo needs a crit effect. A double arc with APT gives you the same average damage ER would give you, which is +2. ER can spike to 4, but I still think APT is better for the long run. That's up to you though so don't take it as "advice". I just needed to say something about it 

In regard to your squads, I'd like Ciena in that mix because at least she can try to kill Acc squads and complements the Decimators. I had very good success with Maarek, Ciena, Valen, and 2 Decimators. Jendon can have his uses and replace Ciena if you double tap with Maarek. Since you have so much anti-ship firepower in your squads, you could find some use with a Jumpmaster. Not sure where you can get the points though.

 

[moodswing5537 1,415]

Yeah, the points for the squads got eaten by the need for 5 activations. Otherwise I'd have cienna and the jumpmaster. They were both in a different version. I'll message it again to see if I can make a happy medium.

[Megatronrex 2,867]

I played around with your list a little bit. Tried to keep it pretty close to your original.

Jerry the Demolisher
Author: Megatronrex

Faction: Galactic Empire
Points: 391/400

Commander: Moff Jerjerrod

Assault Objective: Most Wanted
Defense Objective: Fighter Ambush
Navigation Objective: Solar Corona

Gladiator I-Class Star Destroyer (56 points)
-  Demolisher  ( 10  points)
-  Ordnance Experts  ( 4  points)
-  Engine Techs  ( 8  points)
-  Assault Proton Torpedoes  ( 5  points)
= 83 total ship cost

Raider-I Class Corvette (44 points)
-  Impetuous  ( 4  points)
-  Ordnance Experts  ( 4  points)
-  Flechette Torpedoes  ( 3  points)
= 55 total ship cost

Raider-I Class Corvette (44 points)
-  Instigator  ( 4  points)
-  Ordnance Experts  ( 4  points)
-  Flechette Torpedoes  ( 3  points)
= 55 total ship cost

Gozanti-class Cruisers (23 points)
= 23 total ship cost

[ flagship ] Raider-I Class Corvette (44 points)
-  Moff Jerjerrod  ( 23  points)
-  Admiral Montferrat  ( 5  points)
= 72 total ship cost

1 VT-49 Decimator ( 22 points)
1 Maarek Steele ( 21 points)
1 Valen Rudor ( 13 points)
1 Colonel Jendon ( 20 points)
1 Morna Kee ( 27 points)

[Undeadguy 5,749]

12 hours ago, moodswing5537 said:

Yeah, the points for the squads got eaten by the need for 5 activations. Otherwise I'd have cienna and the jumpmaster. They were both in a different version. I'll message it again to see if I can make a happy medium.

Drop the bid to pick up a Jumpmaster. Drop the Goz for another Decimator. I view Decimators and Goz as interchangeable since they have similar attack dice and point cost. If you need a 5th activation, swap it back. 

[BrobaFett 4,209]

The Decimator/Gozanti comparison is valid. I hate having to choose between a Decimator and an activation, i mean, a Gozanti. Cactusman (for some reason I can't find his tag, must be typing something wrong but brain is too broken, someone else tag him?) Used a Decimator fleet that absolutely stomped me in the Vassal Tournament. He in turn got chewed up by Sloane, but I guess that is the trade off with them. They are en masse terrible against scatter aces, shut down hard by jamming field, and awesome at hunting small base ships.

Personally, I have been using Morna and only her. Maarek, Morna, Valen, Jendon, and Howlrunner + Saber + 2x Interceptors has been what I have been using at the moment (ships are Quasar, Demo, 3x gozanti) but IMO jury is still out on whether Morna is worth losing essentially 2 more standard aces. Howl + interceptors get flight controllers to delete any scatter aces/intel. Jendon with valen and morna can just batter through a scatter ace per turn if need be, which is usually what ends up happening. It is nice to have valen double tap to discard scatter and then have Maarek and Morna take them off the table. It's definitely the club approach and not the scalpel, but it works when you just need to get annoying peices of poo like Shara out of your life.

[Megatronrex 2,867]

5 minutes ago, BrobaFett said:

The Decimator/Gozanti comparison is valid. I hate having to choose between a Decimator and an activation, i mean, a Gozanti. Cactusman (for some reason I can't find his tag, must be typing something wrong but brain is too broken, someone else tag him?) Used a Decimator fleet that absolutely stomped me in the Vassal Tournament. He in turn got chewed up by Sloane, but I guess that is the trade off with them. They are en masse terrible against scatter aces, shut down hard by jamming field, and awesome at hunting small base ships.

Personally, I have been using Morna and only her. Maarek, Morna, Valen, Jendon, and Howlrunner + Saber + 2x Interceptors has been what I have been using at the moment (ships are Quasar, Demo, 3x gozanti) but IMO jury is still out on whether Morna is worth losing essentially 2 more standard aces. Howl + interceptors get flight controllers to delete any scatter aces/intel. Jendon with valen and morna can just batter through a scatter ace per turn if need be, which is usually what ends up happening. It is nice to have valen double tap to discard scatter and then have Maarek and Morna take them off the table. It's definitely the club approach and not the scalpel, but it works when you just need to get annoying peices of poo like Shara out of your life.

There's a "The" in his name cause there's one and only one@thecactusman17

Edited October 19, 2017 by Megatronrex

[BrobaFett 4,209]

of course, silly me

[Undeadguy 5,749]

7 minutes ago, BrobaFett said:

The Decimator/Gozanti comparison is valid. I hate having to choose between a Decimator and an activation, i mean, a Gozanti. Cactusman (for some reason I can't find his tag, must be typing something wrong but brain is too broken, someone else tag him?) Used a Decimator fleet that absolutely stomped me in the Vassal Tournament. He in turn got chewed up by Sloane, but I guess that is the trade off with them. They are en masse terrible against scatter aces, shut down hard by jamming field, and awesome at hunting small base ships.

Personally, I have been using Morna and only her. Maarek, Morna, Valen, Jendon, and Howlrunner + Saber + 2x Interceptors has been what I have been using at the moment (ships are Quasar, Demo, 3x gozanti) but IMO jury is still out on whether Morna is worth losing essentially 2 more standard aces. Howl + interceptors get flight controllers to delete any scatter aces/intel. Jendon with valen and morna can just batter through a scatter ace per turn if need be, which is usually what ends up happening. It is nice to have valen double tap to discard scatter and then have Maarek and Morna take them off the table. It's definitely the club approach and not the scalpel, but it works when you just need to get annoying peices of poo like Shara out of your life.

Totally agree. You need to run support for your Decimators so they get the most value. I find 2 to be enough, mainly because of their cost. I have not tried them with Squall yet, but I can see them being very good when pushed with 4 other squads, like Valen, Howl, and 2 Tie/I. Valen throwing 5 dice is extremely nice. 

[BrobaFett 4,209]

Hit the nail on the head. It's all about command flexibility and reliable ship damage without being reliant on the neutered bomber command center which is a point sink on a fragile ship everyone and their mother has their fleet teched to kill now. Decimators give you that with an average 1.5 ship damage and a good chance at an acc too. I just wish they didn't have rogue. Actually I will all the empire squads had an option to lose rogue and get 1-2 points back.

[Megatronrex 2,867]

9 minutes ago, BrobaFett said:

Hit the nail on the head. It's all about command flexibility and reliable ship damage without being reliant on the neutered bomber command center which is a point sink on a fragile ship everyone and their mother has their fleet teched to kill now. Decimators give you that with an average 1.5 ship damage and a good chance at an acc too. I just wish they didn't have rogue. Actually I will all the empire squads had an option to lose rogue and get 1-2 points back.

I would absolutely love that.

[Ginkapo 9,321]

4xDecimator, Rhymer, Valen and Dengar.

Sure you may be down an activation, but you can pop at least 1 flotilla turn 1..... So you know, kinda even from that respect.

[PT106 2,316]

34 minutes ago, Ginkapo said:

4xDecimator, Rhymer, Valen and Dengar.

Sure you may be down an activation, but you can pop at least 1 flotilla turn 1..... So you know, kinda even from that respect.

3xDecimator + Jendon is almost always better than 4xDecimator.

 

[Ardaedhel 10,844]

16 minutes ago, PT106 said:

3xDecimator + Jendon is almost always better than 4xDecimator.

Seems like it'd be sort of a side-grade, no?  I'm sure it's one of those on-paper vs on-table things, and I don't have enough time in the cockpit of either to know.

- You lose rogue, but gain relay, and the range of his effect means he often doesn't need rogue unless it's a flat-out chase
- Lose some hull but gain the two braces
- Can double-tap from a safe distance to decrease the threat from flak
- Can pivot Jendon to use the most appropriate squadron in a given scenario, but his value is dependent on those other squadrons living
- Save a point with Jendon

I guess relay to keep the other support ships (Rhymer/Valen) effectively carrier-independent with the rogues would be Jendon's advantage?

Edited October 19, 2017 by Ardaedhel

[Ginkapo 9,321]

26 minutes ago, PT106 said:

3xDecimator + Jendon is almost always better than 4xDecimator.

 

Is it? How so?

[Undeadguy 5,749]

I would guess it let's your ship activations be more powerful. Relay 2 Decimators and get a ship attack. I think using Relay to activate Rogue squads is way too expensive. Morna+Jendon would be a more effective combo if you didn't want to take a Raider. 

Not sold on Rhymer with Decimators since the nerf. Squall gives you greater range so you can get them into attack, rather than using Rhymer to mitigate their speed 3. 

[Ginkapo 9,321]

29 minutes ago, Undeadguy said:

I would guess it let's your ship activations be more powerful. Relay 2 Decimators and get a ship attack. I think using Relay to activate Rogue squads is way too expensive. Morna+Jendon would be a more effective combo if you didn't want to take a Raider. 

Not sold on Rhymer with Decimators since the nerf. Squall gives you greater range so you can get them into attack, rather than using Rhymer to mitigate their speed 3. 

Squall with Decimators, as in rogues in a quasar list?

[Undeadguy 5,749]

Just now, Ginkapo said:

Squall with Decimators, as in rogues in a quasar list?

Why not? Works with YT-666.

[PT106 2,316]

6 hours ago, Ginkapo said:

Squall with Decimators, as in rogues in a quasar list?

I ran it and its a very good fit. Speed 5+ Decimators are strong in general and for an alpha strike in particular. You don't even need to activate Decimators with Squall, you just need to move them.

[moodswing5537 1,415]

16 hours ago, PT106 said:

3xDecimator + Jendon is almost always better than 4xDecimator.

 

I think once you get into this realm though, wouldn't 2xDecimators+Jendon+marek be better than 3xDecimator + Jendon and 4XDecimators? 

I like the squall idea with the decimators though, but my problem there is that a paper mache ship just for activations seems like I could do better with a Gozanti and a Raider I that can serve double duty for AA and even nose punch with the raider if I needed it on small-medium ships. 

Edited October 20, 2017 by moodswing5537

[Megatronrex 2,867]

1 hour ago, moodswing5537 said:

I think once you get into this realm though, wouldn't 2xDecimators+Jendon+marek be better than 3xDecimator + Jendon and 4XDecimators? 

I like the squall idea with the decimators though, but my problem there is that a paper mache ship just for activations seems like I could do better with a Gozanti and a Raider I that can serve double duty for AA and even nose punch with the raider if I needed it on small-medium ships. 

I agree with you on 2 Decimators + Steele/Jendon being better. Don't underestimate the survivability of the Quasar. If you can keep it at long range of the big threats and feed it repair tokens from a comms net Goz they can take quite a few hits.

[Undeadguy 5,749]

1 hour ago, moodswing5537 said:

I think once you get into this realm though, wouldn't 2xDecimators+Jendon+marek be better than 3xDecimator + Jendon and 4XDecimators? 

I like the squall idea with the decimators though, but my problem there is that a paper mache ship just for activations seems like I could do better with a Gozanti and a Raider I that can serve double duty for AA and even nose punch with the raider if I needed it on small-medium ships. 

Quasar is just for the 6 squad alpha strike. While it is a glass cannon, with enough squads it can wipe an equal amount of points off the table.

[moodswing5537 1,415]

I will admit, I've only played against it, and I did focus on the Quasar in order to counter the alpha, so I completely see where you guys are coming from on it. I need to try it out, but I think I would lean toward the 2Xdecimator+jendon/Marek plus support (valen, Ciena and dengar maybe, this is the lego "pick a piece and replace" part of the fleet...lol)

 

You guys, as usual, are a huge fountain of knowledge and I appreciate the discussion. Mucho respect for the folks in this community. 

[Undeadguy 5,749]

11 minutes ago, moodswing5537 said:

I will admit, I've only played against it, and I did focus on the Quasar in order to counter the alpha, so I completely see where you guys are coming from on it. I need to try it out, but I think I would lean toward the 2Xdecimator+jendon/Marek plus support (valen, Ciena and dengar maybe, this is the lego "pick a piece and replace" part of the fleet...lol)

 

You guys, as usual, are a huge fountain of knowledge and I appreciate the discussion. Mucho respect for the folks in this community. 

I think 2 Decimators, Maarek, Jendon, plus another 2 squads is stronger than 4 Decimators. Plus it is slightly cheaper. 

I have not played the Quasar either, but I have been hit by a 6 squad FC alpha and it really messed my fleet up. I have no guidance on how to fly that brick, only how to kill your opponent by smashing them in the face with said brick.