Keyan + Maul = LFE

[nitrobenz 1,369]

22 hours ago, tsondaboy said:

I was referring to Fenn`s ability in combination with sensor Jammer.

Fenn plus Sensor Jammer is indeed a tough defense! Many a ghost is making frustrating use of that in my area.

The part that I'm still unclear on: how is Ezra used with Fenn? The only way I can think of to get both in the same round is if you're using his ability against a higher PS ace; against lower PS he'll either be unstressed when attacking (no Ezra) or be stressed at the start of combat (no Fenn).

[tsondaboy 793]

I used adaptability to drop his PS to 8. Its a compromise that I am not sure if it’s actually beneficial because at PS 10 he can give Keyan an action and barrel roll after all other PS9 have. 

[Atacus 3]

You gave me ideas....

 

https://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Rebel Alliance&d=v4!s!88:27,-1,-1,136,126:-1:11:U.250;275:170,165,252:59:25:;222:27:46:29:U.-1,U.-1;224::-1:1:&sn=New Squadron&obs=

[Phelan Boots 541]

While I see the synergy with Maulander, I’m not sure it’s worth the extra two points plus forcing Ezra into your list over running Linked Battery on Keyan.

BAE (100)

•Keyan Farlander (31) - B-Wing
Trick Shot (0), Collision Detector (0), Linked Battery (2)

•Jake Farrell (27) - A-Wing
Veteran Instincts (1), Chardaan Refit (-2), A-Wing Test Pilot (0), Autothrusters (2), Intensity (2)

•Corran Horn (42) - E-Wing
Expertise (4), Flight-Assist Astromech (1), Fire Control System (2)

Certainly not a meta breaking list, but it illustrates the first thing I chose to do with the new cards.  Glue Keyan’s *** to a piece of debris and work those obstructed shots.

 

I can see the argument for running him with Maul if you want to run VI, opening up your option to barrel roll every turn.

 

**Bonus B-Wing**

•Ibtisam (32) - B-Wing

Trick Shot (0), Collision Detector (0), Linked Battery (2), B-Wing/E2 (1), Hera Syndulla (1)

2K-Turn yo-yos through debris with two offensive rerolls.

[tsondaboy 793]

Even though debris are Keyans friend, they still deny him an action flying over them, since you need to have his ark on the debry in order to triger trick shot. And even if you get to fire and clear the stress this turn, you will get a stress next turn no matter what move you do and lose another action too. At PS 7 that makes keyan a slow moving target.

The main benefit of Maul is that you can choose if you want to use him or not and do not have to plan your move so that Keyan ends stressed after he moves. You can be unstressed at the beginning on the combat phase, roll 3 eyeballs, reroll one with Maul and get 2 hits guaranteed + the reroll result.  

[Phelan Boots 541]

I understand how it works and the advantages, I’m just pointing out a similar build that’s two points cheaper.  Five points cheaper when you include the minimum cost of Ezra crew in your list.

 

You could just as easily put VI on Linklander.  Any additional points on a B-Wing need to be very carefully evaluated.  I’m not saying Maul isn’t awesome with Keyan from a game mechanic perspective, I’m just questioning the economy of the build.

[nitrobenz 1,369]

3 hours ago, Phelan Boots said:

I understand how it works and the advantages, I’m just pointing out a similar build that’s two points cheaper.  Five points cheaper when you include the minimum cost of Ezra crew in your list.

How about Strezra? Ezra pilot enables Maul as well and that is a solid member of any rebel squad. Then Maullander is back to only a 2pt premium over Linklander (plus opportunity cost for the mod slot), and in my two games so far I'm pretty impressed with the additional reroll and the additional stress clearing that Maul enables.

I'll give the linked battery variant a try since I've been looking for somewhere to cut points for a bid.

[nitrobenz 1,369]

On 2/1/2018 at 4:27 AM, tsondaboy said:

I used adaptability to drop his PS to 8. Its a compromise that I am not sure if it’s actually beneficial because at PS 10 he can give Keyan an action and barrel roll after all other PS9 have. 

That is the conundrum I can't quite gloss over in the theory crafting stage. What if you made the third into a lower PS (maybe green squaddie) with decoy? I don't know, I've been trying to craft a list with Ezra crew and I just can't find a home for him aside from sitting tandem with Maul. 

Ezra pilot with R3-A2 on the other hand, that's something that's been working for me! It might be a bit delayed, but concentrated stress denies mods about as well as a Fenn shutdown. Plus with that pilot ability he's more durable too!

[Sekac 3,506]

Can we all just appreciate that, for whatever reason, we're all flirting with decoy?

It's like we're speed dating in a dimly lit bar. 

[tsondaboy 793]

Ok so last weekend I tried the Keyan-Fen-Poe squad mentioned above and it performed great as expected.
What was unexpected was the following version I tried that performed even better!

• Fenn Rau + Adaptability + Ezra Bridger + M9-G8

• Keyan Farlander + Sensor Jammer + Veteran Instincts + B-Wing/E2 + Maul

• Kyle Katarn + Juke + Twin Laser Turret + Jan Ors + Moldy Crow + Vectored Thrusters

The millage I got from M9-G8 on Fenn was unbelievable and I am tending to think that's one of the best astromechs on him.
Early game I locked Kyle so every turn he was TLT + Juke + reroll + focus. Late game when Kyle died, since my opponent rightfully made him a priority target, I locked on his remaining Alpha so not only Fen was depriving the use of focus tokens but also was forcing rerols on hits. That in combination with sensor Jammer on Keyan meant he could not put any damage on him most of the attacks!