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I've been mostly flying a triple Tie Defender /x7 list lately, and I'm trying to change things a bit with a gunboat :

Rho Squadron Veteran (32) Alpha-class Star Wing (21), Crack Shot (1), XG-1 Assault Configuration (1), Linked Battery (2), Heavy Laser Cannon (7)
Glaive Squadron Pilot (34) x 2 TIE Defender (34), Crack Shot (1), TIE/x7 (-2), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

It's about as straight forward a list as can be. No special tricks, just pure damage. Any C&C ?

I am planning on running something similar, except I'll be using 2 Delta tie/d`s with ion cannons. From what few games ive managed to play, gunboats seem to work very well with either flavour of defender. I just personally prefer the double tap variety (played them even before the slight nerf to x7 title. cant see you going too far wrong and is pretty good against low ag high hp stuff like oooo say the scurrg.......

I've been thinking on that too, but I don't own any Mk. IIs so I have to do something a little different:

https://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Galactic%20Empire&d=v4!s!267:18,-1,-1:56:16:U.144,U.247;195:27,-1,-1:33:-1:;194:170,-1,-1:33:-1:&sn=777%20Jackpot&obs=

Or
https://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Galactic%20Empire&d=v4!s!268:151,-1,-1:56:16:U.110,U.247;195:140,-1,-1:33:-1:;194:140,-1,-1:33:-1:&sn=Karsabi%20Ryad&obs=

Funny thing is, one of my friends has refused for a long time to buy a K-wing for his rebels as he thinks its an awful looking ship, but after facing my gunboat for the first time and seeing how powerful slam is he is now getting one

Slightly more on topic, an additional thought hit me after reading the new faq earlier today. Would lightning reflexes be a good idea on a rho? I think it could be surprising to advance slam into a 180 turn far enough away to set you up for future hlc shots and while i do love crackshot I`ve found that linked battery generally helps getting enough dice results. Although it may be better used with a cannonj that could actually fire after slamming, say a flechette?

I don't have a star wing yet, but I've done some pretty good stuff with double defenders and a support ship.

I run 2 glaives with tie/D, ion cannons, and predator paired up with a bomber shuttle with tie mk.ii and fleet officer. If i had enough points for lightweight frame I would definitely use it, but points are a problem with D defenders. You could also swap a glaive for ryad if you want k-turn options and don't care about pilot skill.

Well, I did ponder swapping the HLC for a Ion cannon, or Ion missiles... Less damage, more control.
The mk II engines are there to keep some mobility if I get stressed, which can really shut down the x7.

The PS problem persists, however. High PS ships will be able to react to your position, and really punish their first target.

Maybe invest in pricier EPTs?

Alright, after much thinking, here's a new version, with 3 variants !

Version A
Lieutenant Karsabi [Deadeye, Extra Munitions, Homing Missiles, Guidance Chips] (32)
Glaive Squadron Pilot [Crack Shot, TIE/x7, Twin Ion Engine Mk. II] (34)
Glaive Squadron Pilot [Crack Shot, TIE/x7, Twin Ion Engine Mk. II] (34)
Still very straightforward.

Version B
Rho Squadron Veteran [Deadeye, Extra Munitions, Homing Missiles, Guidance Chips] (29)
Countess Ryad [Crack Shot, TIE/x7, Twin Ion Engine Mk. II] (34)
Rexler Brath [Crack Shot, TIE/x7, Twin Ion Engine Mk. II] (37)
Something a little more showy...

Version C
Rho Squadron Veteran [Deadeye, Extra Munitions, Homing Missiles, Guidance Chips] (29)
Countess Ryad [Push the Limit, TIE/x7, Twin Ion Engine Mk. II] (36)
Maarek Stele [Veteran Instincts, TIE/x7, Twin Ion Engine Mk. II] (35)
The Countess can go hunt the smaller stuff with her mobility, and stress shouldn't be much of an issue. Maarek is PS9, "Hello Myranda".

Ugh, I can't believe I am going to say this...

'poons instead of Homing Missiles?

 Mathieu Raymond wrote:
Ugh, I can't believe I am going to say this...

'poons instead of Homing Missiles?

Well, that's an excellent question, for starters, I don't have harpoon missiles, and I'm not buying a whole box for the cards. Since I can't guarantee I'll be able to borrow some each tournament (I hear they're in short supplies), and the price/delivery times on Ebay are "Nope", I'm looking at alternatives...
Secondly, on paper, if you ignore the harpoon effect, Homing missiles are the same, with the added bonus of preventing evades, and I expect ships with evades. Then, speaking of Harpooned, I like going real close with my Defenders, and since the gunboat shoots last, I'm concerned I may end in situations where finishing the target the next turn could splash my own guys.
Lastly, well... I can say I'm playing without Harpoon. Style matters

That it does.

But good points, all of them.

If you want 2 Defenders and a Boat I'd go with:

Glaive Squadron: TIE/D Predator, Ion Cannon
Glaive Squadron: TIE/D Predator, Tractor Beam
Nu Squadron: Harpoon, LRS

It doesn't have too much resilience but the damage output is very scary and the control very useful in the current meta. If you want even more control you can swap out the Harpoon for an Ion Cannon on the Nu.