Pilot Abilities Worth Thweeking

[kempokid 868]

I've been using Thweek a lot this past week. I've been trying to determine when it's best to go for Pilot Skill and when to steal a good Pilot Ability. I've paired Thweek with Scum Nym with Autoblaster, Harpoon missiles, and genius/bomblets. So, with that given build, which abilities would you take over pilot skill? (this is based on the opponent running ships over PS 4. Obviously, I would take the ability over their PS in cases where 4 or less is their highest)

So far, here are the pilot skills I would consider taking over the PS: 

• Rey (for defensive rerolls)
• Rebel Nym
• Tycho
• Viktor Hel
• Shara Bey
• Revel Sabine
• Miranda
• Serissu
• Nien Numb
• Wedge
• Luke
• Cassian
• Kanan
• Dash
• Bossk

Am I missing any good ones? Or are there any on this list you would say "no way" to and go with the high PS?

[Icelom 3,385]

You are missing lots of good ones, but that is besides the point. (darth vader? quick draw just to name a few high tier abilities you ignored tons more i can think of)

Its really on a case by case basis based on my list and the enemies list on what i want. Sometimes a **** ability is better then a ps change. 

Edited December 4, 2017 by Icelom

[Jo Jo 4,663]

It really depends on how your list is made and how their list is made up. I'd always tend to lean taking the PS, but if you already have an "ace" like Nym, then you can probably get away with taking an ability.

I find you list lacking Imperial abilities disturbing

• Omega Leader
• Vader
• Carnor
• Ryad
• Vessery (probably not if you are packing FCS)
• A bunch of the Tie Pilots are good. Mauler Mithel, Howlrunner, etc.
• Quickdraw would be funny if you ran Pulse Ray Shield
• Pure Sabaac
• Best of all I think is the Inquisitor. Gives Thweek an HLC (might be the best you can steal period).

Edited December 4, 2017 by Jo Jo

[kempokid 868]

1 minute ago, Icelom said:

You are missing lots of good ones, but that is besides the point. (darth vader? quick draw just to name a few high tier abilities you ignored tons more i can think of)

Its really on a case by case basis based on my list and the enemies list on what i want. Sometimes a **** ability is better then a ps change. 

Didn't think of Vader. I had trouble with Imperials off the top of my head since I don't use them much. I did think of QuickDraw, but eh. I would only be able to use it once because the Viper only has one shield. I'd rather have the PS9 all game.

[FTS Gecko 23,148]

2 minutes ago, Jo Jo said:

It really depends on how your list is made and how their list is made up. I'd always tend to lean taking the PS, but if you already have an "ace" like Nym, then you can probably get away with taking an ability.

I find you list lacking Imperial abilities disturbing

• Omega Leader
• Vader
• Carnor
• Ryad
• Vessery (probably not if you are packing FCS)
• A bunch of the Tie Pilots are good. Mauler Mithel, Howlrunner, etc.
• Quickdraw would be funny if you ran Pulse Ray Shield
• Best of all I think is the Inquisitor. Turns Thweek into an HLC platform (might be the best you can steal period).

Anything that boosts your action economy or offence is probably worth it.  Backstabber. Scourge, Vader as mentioned... but yeah, the Inquisitor is an awesome choice.

[Vineheart01 6,403]

theres honestly very few abilities that arent special condition related unique to that ship or a condition card i wouldnt take.

Obvious ones like Deathrain/Deathfire, aint got a bomb so dont care

Abilities that give an alternate use for a focus token eg Kestal, Brath, or Kanan. Reason being: lack of EPT means no expertise to not screw yourself over by using said focus.

i usually run Thweek with PRS so Quickdraw/Sabaac are awesome victims for stealing abilities. Its surprisingly easy to get PRS off without being shafted, you just have to have a constant conscience thought about it. Sabaac is great because his ability specifically says 2 damage cards, so essentially until Thweek is almost dead hes got +1 die, and PRS means he can theoretically never take 2 damage cards.
Sadly i never get to do the Sabaac one as i swear i am the only guy that likes him around here. Which is weird, last time i used a pilot every single list and made people learn to hate his guts (backdraft) he started getting used all over the place, this time? i never see enemy strikers.

Edited December 4, 2017 by Vineheart01

[Reiver 2,238]

Dark Curse could end up accidentally potent too, but always be cautious - being able to out-PS the opponent is huge, and should be the default unless you're confident you don't need it.

If so, though, bonus attacks, bonus actions, and dice manipulation are probably your best bets. Just... be really sure you needed it.

(Stealing Jess's ability is unlikely to leave you disappointed though... )

[Crimsonwarlock 382]

Omega Leader's ability combined with FCS is brutal.  Enemies will refuse to take defensive mods since you have them locked.  Then you can spend the TL to get more hits vs naked green dice.

 

Note  that if you spend the TL you don't get it back until after the attack.

[kempokid 868]

10 minutes ago, Reiver said:

Dark Curse could end up accidentally potent too, but always be cautious - being able to out-PS the opponent is huge, and should be the default unless you're confident you don't need it.

If so, though, bonus attacks, bonus actions, and dice manipulation are probably your best bets. Just... be really sure you needed it.

(Stealing Jess's ability is unlikely to leave you disappointed though... )

This is kind of what I've run into. It's hard to use the ability at times. I decided to steal Rey's ability last time I played because it was PS 8 Poe/Rey build and they had the point bid on me. So I would be moving first anyways. So I went with Rey's ability to keep the Viper alive longer. Worked out well.

[PhantomFO 8,979]

Fenn Rau's ability is also a lot of fun to steal. Five red dice at range 1 with FCS is brutal, as are four greens on defense with Autothrusters.

Being able to give your Scum squad their own Biggs also seems really good, especially since Thweek can pair the ability with Autothrusters and Glitterstims.

[Ailowynn 1,723]

I thought the same thing about Biggs originally, but the real power of his ability comes in at squad creation. Biggs lists use him to protect higher-value targets, and in particular help your formation close and deal damage effectively. Thweek lists are generally quite different; they’re not often formation flyers, and each part is fairly self-sufficient. Plus, Thweek costs about a third of your list; having him tank isn’t always a good thing. 

[skotothalamos 3,626]

starting this week, stealing Kylo Ren's pilot ability is going to be hilarious!

[MegaSilver 2,762]

19 minutes ago, skotothalamos said:

starting this week, stealing Kylo Ren's pilot ability is going to be hilarious!

Not going to work. Cant steal abilities that use conditions 

[skotothalamos 3,626]

34 minutes ago, MegaSilver said:

Not going to work. Cant steal abilities that use conditions 

whoops!

That seems like an odd restriction caused only by the lack of an extra set of condition components. weird.

[JudgeDeath 139]

3 hours ago, jwilliamson12 said:

This is kind of what I've run into. It's hard to use the ability at times. I decided to steal Rey's ability last time I played because it was PS 8 Poe/Rey build and they had the point bid on me. So I would be moving first anyways. So I went with Rey's ability to keep the Viper alive longer. Worked out well.

If your mimicking Rey's ability for this reason you could consider Scum Boba as well.  Pretty much the same effect just triggers under different conditions.

Surprised no-one has mentioned Jake Farrell yet, that seems like it could be a good ability on a Starviper.  Keyan Farlander and Epsilon Leader would also be great for their abilities to shed their own stress. 

Quite a few of the weaker ships actually have reasonably strong named pilot abilities to compensate for their deficiencies.  The TIE Fighters mentioned above are good examples, but Thweek with Palob's or Torkil Mux's abilities sounds strong on paper. 

[FlyingAnchors 4,470]

Horton isn’t a bad choice, Fenn Rau, OT Han, OT Chewie, etc 

In fact I can think of more that you wouldn’t want: karsabi, any condition pilot, Tel (useless because you assign 4 damage cards after popping his ability regardless) Kath scarlet(imp),  deathfire/deathrain. 

Edited December 5, 2017 by FlyingAnchors

[VanderLegion 4,939]

4 hours ago, Vineheart01 said:

Abilities that give an alternate use for a focus token eg Kestal, Brath, or Kanan. Reason being: lack of EPT means no expertise to not screw yourself over by using said focus.

Honestly, most thweek builds use FCS, so you can still quite effectively use stuff like kestal or brath if you don't have to spend it on defense.

[MasterShake2 4,676]

Obviously you thweek the most OP ability in the game, Arvel Crynyd.

[HanScottFirst 297]

Fel's Wrath of course!

[HanScottFirst 297]

But for reals, Old Chewie would be a good one - no crits! Horton Salm and Luke are decent.

But vs PS 11 Vader: do you go for 2 actions at low PS, or since you are likely taking a large bid, put Thweek up to 11? If he already has FCS and I'd say take him to 11.

[Reiver 2,238]

32 minutes ago, HanScottFirst said:

But for reals, Old Chewie would be a good one - no crits! Horton Salm and Luke are decent.

But vs PS 11 Vader: do you go for 2 actions at low PS, or since you are likely taking a large bid, put Thweek up to 11? If he already has FCS and I'd say take him to 11.

In general, and especially against arc dodgers, if you outbid them, the PS is almost certainly the way to go: Thweek's statline is potent, and FCS and his funky bank-rolls let him get arc on opposing ships really well, so it's almost always the better bet.

But if the PS bid isn't in your favor, or something else in one list or the other negates the concern about PS (Some scummy equivalent of 'leaving Soontir to the Patrol Leader with Vader', for instance), then it's fun to think about which abilities are worth nicking instead.

I note in passing if your opponent has the bid with a Poe/Rey build, nicking Poe's ability is fabulous too: A little less rerolly, but great if you get caught out of arc.

[ObiWonka 7,040]

Seems like it'd be quicker to make a list of abilities NOT worth stealing (though those tend to be on lower-PS pilots anyway... curse you FFG).

[RuusMarev 1,770]

Personally,  I'm looking forward to Theeking Inquisitor, Talonbane Cobra, Sunny Bounder could be fun... heck, half the game might be good... shame about that EPT..

[Herowannabe 4,314]

Most people seem to be saying FCS is the default for thweek’s system slot, but I prefer AS. Being able to do that funky barrel roll before you move allows some incredible repositioning, and goes a long way of mitigating the ion token if you took Pulsed Ray shields. 

 

Also, I can attest to the awesomeness of Tweeking Quickdraw’s ability. I took Thweek, Fenn, and Talonbane against an imperial alpha strike list. I quickly lost Fenn and Talonbane and only managed to strip a couple shields off of Vader. Quickdraw/PRS Thweek then went on and nearly solo’d the entire list by himself. He took out Vader and the Inquisitor and had QD down to 1 or 2 hull before QD got a lucky shot in and Thweek blanked out on defense and died. 

[PhantomFO 8,979]

14 minutes ago, Herowannabe said:

Most people seem to be saying FCS is the default for thweek’s system slot, but I prefer AS. Being able to do that funky barrel roll before you move allows some incredible repositioning, and goes a long way of mitigating the ion token if you took Pulsed Ray shields. 

 

Also, I can attest to the awesomeness of Tweeking Quickdraw’s ability. I took Thweek, Fenn, and Talonbane against an imperial alpha strike list. I quickly lost Fenn and Talonbane and only managed to strip a couple shields off of Vader. Quickdraw/PRS Thweek then went on and nearly solo’d the entire list by himself. He took out Vader and the Inquisitor and had QD down to 1 or 2 hull before QD got a lucky shot in and Thweek blanked out on defense and died. 

Ion tokens actually work against Advanced Sensors. You're not revealing a dial, so there's no trigger for AS.