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Yesterday, versus my regular opponent, I played my first two games using the Decimator.

Rear Admiral Chiraneau (pilot level 8)
- Gunner
- Moff Jerjerrod
- Navigator
- Expose
- Engine Upgrade

(2) Black Squadron Pilot (pilot level 4)
- Out Maneuver

V.S.

Han Solo (pilot level 9)
- Luke Skywalker
- Predator
- Shield Upgrade
- Assault Missile (?)
and same other things that I can not remember

(2) Head Hunters pilot level 2
- Assault Missiles

The short the Empire won both games.

The general theory behind the Decimator list, is that the opponent would focus on the big and scary Decimator and the Ties would be free to use their Out Maneuver upgrade. While the Decimator used Expose to roll 4 to 5 attack dice, using navigator to get out of the arc of missiles and possibly the engine upgrade to further that cause.

The board was setup the same for both battles. Seven asteroids and 3 of the new debris, must were heavily concentrated in the center of the board. Over the course of both games 1 point of damage was done to the Decimator and another to a Headhunter.

The Decimator weathered two Assault Missile hits the first game the third was destroyed with the Headhunter caring it. In return, the Decimator focused on the Headhunters, while the Ties with Outmaneuver focused to the Falcon. For the first half of the games the rebel's attention focused on the Decimator largely ignoring the Ties. The Ties were able to knock out the Falcon's shields and strip a couple of hull points before the rebels switch their attention and removed them both from the game. With the Headhunters gone the Decimator and the Falcon faced off. The Falcon stripped two hull but the Exposed Decimator's 4 dice ended the game.

The second game with the same setup the Decimator fared slightly worse, but one Tie survived. Pressed for time we threw our ships at each other with suicidal zeal, again the Rebels focused on the Decimator and in turn the Decimator slaughtered a Headhunter with Expose and heavily damaged the other who the next turn ate an asteroid neither fired their missiles. Luke took out a Tie in one shot, and damaged the other not before they took their toll again stripping the shields and some hull. Luke was the star of the show but he could not keep up with the Decimator using Expose at range one two hit three crits (one crit is thanks the Admiral's special ability) ended his exploits. The Moff Jerjerrod did play a roll by dropping the never used Navigator flip over a Direct Hit crit.

I have never been a fan of the large ships and still do not like Slave One or the Lambda, but the Decimator is definitely going to be in my book of lists. Expose worked every well having 4 to 5 dice carried the game for me. Gunner was used maybe once or twice per game, but every turn that I had a ship in range, the Decimator did at least one point of damage that is hard to beat. The Navigator only helped when I need a sacrifice for Moff Jerjerrod, but the terrain was the determining factor in his lack of use. Like the Navigator, the Engine upgrade never played apart in the games, Expose was just so much better use of the action.

I will not change the list till I face some different opponents and different lists but the engine upgrade is on the short list.


Edit proof reading.

I agree that Expose is a great Elite Talent, given it's naturally low Agility already. I like the combination of Commander Kenkirk and Ysanne Isard too, but they are counter intuitive to the nature of Expose.

Focusing on using the Decimator strictly as an offensive tool seems to be the best way to use it.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Follow up question: Did adding the Boost action from the Engine Upgrade prove to be useful? Negligible?

I did not use it at all in both games. The terrain was just to dense and Expose was by far more useful. While the Engine Upgrade is one of my favorite mods (Stealth is by far my favorite), I cannot recommend spending the points on it.

While the idea of ramming ships, has a certain amount of appeal. Not being able to fire on ships that are touching is in my opinion a waste of attack dice.

I am considering replacing the Navigator with Ysanne, but one Evade is only good for one attack. On something like the Decimator, that draws a lot of fire, one Evade is a drop in the bucket.

I'm starting to feel the same about Ysanne, actually. I'm thinking Rebel Captive may be a good one, but that only works on the first ship that attacks, and if it's someone that specializes in ignoring Stress tokens (Tycho or Keyan), that's negligible too.

Mara Jade wouldn't be as bad, since she affects every enemy ship in Range 1, but then that could be negligible depending on who you're facing (again).

Either a Tactician, Mercenary Copilot, or Weapons Engineer would probably benefit it the most. A Tactician or Merc Copilot would make it more threatening from a distance, and a Weap Eng would save you a turn from having to use Target Lock every turn.

I am thinking of going double decimator for the tourney this week

captian Oicunn with dauntless and mara jade

Chiraneau expose rebel captive

so ram and shoot. try to stress out to limit movement.

I'm wanting to try out Chiraneau with Expose alongside 2 Royal Guard each with PTL.
Big shooty tank with a pair of annoying biting flies buzzing around.