For this tournament I decided to go with Kylo Ren and Darth Vader, Dark Apprentice. I assumed that there was going to be a lot of Poe/Maz at the tournament (and there was; more on that later!), and Kylo’s special ability has the potential to be particularly brutal against them due to the large number of high-cost cards they often have in their hand.

This is the list that I went with.

Character: (30/30)

2x Darth Vader (Spirit of Rebellion)

2x Kylo Ren (Awakenings)

Battlefield:

1x Rebel War Room (Awakenings)

Event: (14)

2x Doubt (Spirit of Rebellion)

2x Feel Your Anger (Awakenings)

2x Force Strike (Awakenings)

2x Intimidate (Awakenings)

2x Isolation (Awakenings)

2x Lightsaber Throw (Spirit of Rebellion)

2x Manipulate (Spirit of Rebellion)

Support: (2)

2x Meditate (Spirit of Rebellion)

Upgrade: (14)

2x Datapad (Awakenings)

2x Force Illusion (Spirit of Rebellion)

2x Force Speed (Spirit of Rebellion)

2x Force Training (Awakenings)

2x Immobilize (Awakenings)

2x Kylo Ren’s Lightsaber (Awakenings)

2x Vibroknife (Spirit of Rebellion)

Round One vs ePoe/eRey

I was expecting Poe Dameron, but definitely not Rey! This game had a fast and brutal opening; Kylo and Poe were defeated on the second round, which left Vader and Rey facing off, both of whom were armed with Vibroknife. In addition to that Rey also had two copies of Force Throw, making it very hard for Vader to keep any significant dice in the pool, leading to him losing that knife-fight. LOSS (0-1)

Round Two vs eHan/eRey

This game started off quite slowly, until on the second turn I received the biggest sucker punch I’ve ever received in a game of Destiny. My opponent had rolled a lot of +2 melee damage sides, but had no basic melee damage in the pool. Feeling somewhat safe, I was completely unprepared for a Planned Explosion killing Vader! I was actually sat there in shock for a few seconds, having completely forgotten about that card. Kylo got revenge, killing Rey the next turn, but Han was well-armed and shielded, and ended up killing Kylo off with a Riposte. LOSS (0-2)

Not exactly the start I’d hoped for to the tournament, but there were ten rounds of swiss, so still plenty to play for.

Round Three vs eJabba/eUnkar

This team was one I’d used myself quite a bit. Knowing how awkward Unkar is, I directed my damage towards him first, killing him turn two. Jabba did his best to fend off the Sith emos, but he died soon after as well. WIN (1-2)

Round Four vs ePoe/eMaz

I managed to kill Poe quite quickly with two uses of Kylo’s special (hit U-Wing both times) and a Lightsaber Throw. However, Kylo died shortly after, which left Vader against Maz. At first glance you might think it would be an easy fight for Vader, but when Maz is armed with a DL-44 she’s an absolute menace (not to mention a Planetary Uprising). Vader just managed to kill her, but he would have died on the first action next turn, as he only had two health remaining. WIN (2-2)

Round Five vs eVader/Raider

We both ruthlessly targeted each other’s Vader, but thanks to a decent amount of removal, they both lasted until turn three. That left a tooled-up Kylo against an unarmed Tusken Raider, who quickly died to Kylo’s Lightsaber and Vibroknife. WIN (3-2)

Round Six vs eHan/eRey

Vader died to a decent amount of unblockable melee damage just before I was about to resolve some of his damage. This meant that it took me too long to kill Rey with Kylo, by which time Han was ready for him. LOSS (3-3)

Round Seven vs ePoe/eMaz

This time, I killed Maz first, removing her very early during turn two. Poe kept rolling three damage, but luckily I’d drawn both of my Force Illusion and managed to keep Kylo alive long enough to hit Poe with a couple of specials. Vader then managed to finish him off. WIN (4-3)

Round Eight vs eHan/eRey

Another Han/Rey deck! This time, Rey died fairly quickly. That left Han against tooled-up Vader and Kylo. As my opponent was using Starship Graveyard, they managed to recur Second Chance many times. However, I was able to keep up a steady stream of damage, meaning that my opponent had to discard other upgrades just to be able to afford to keep playing Second Chance. Han had a lot of chances, but not enough! WIN (5-3)

Round Nine vs ePalpatine

My opponent used a No Mercy on the first turn, hitting Vader for seven damage! Despite the early big hit, I managed to keep Palpatine under control for most of the game. However, since we were using his battlefield, Otoh Gunga, he was constantly healing. Then it got to the crucial moment; if he didn’t play Rise Again as his first action next turn, he was going to die. Spoiler; he did! My opponent admitted afterwards that he top-decked it, but that’s how it goes sometimes! I’d managed to get Palpatine down to two health remaining before he finished Kylo off with another No Mercy. LOSS (5-4)

Round Ten vs ePhasma/TIE/Storm

This was my biggest beating of the day! Every time I activated Vader, I obligingly rolled one damage on his character dice, which were then easily removed by guardian. Meanwhile, I was getting shot to pieces. It culminated in a We Have Them Now, which led to an objectively filthy amount of damage. LOSS (5-5)

Which Cards Worked Well?

Vibroknife was excellent for me, and was great for my opponents too. I really think that this was probably the card of the tournament, rendering shields and other blocking mechanics (Force Illusion/Armor Plating) useless on many occasions.

Doubt saved me several times. While it isn’t the most reliable removal, it costs zero and doesn’t require you to have dice of your own in the pool (like Manipulate or Immobilize). It is definitely a last resort, but it’s a good one to have.

Isolation is still a solid removal card. Kind of obvious, but it’s great against Poe/Palpatine.

Manipulate was useful, especially if you blanked your Immobilize die (as Immobilize’s ability doesn’t care what you rolled on it’s die; only that it’s in the pool).

Which Cards Didn’t Work Well?

There wasn’t really anything that I thought, ‘that has to go’, but I was lacking a little ‘oomph!’. I think I was a bit conservative on some of the force powers, and would probably swap cards like Force Training and Force Illusion (which was useless against Vibroknife) for cards like Force Push or Force Throw.

More expensive force powers would also warrant the inclusion of Sith Holocron, for which I’d probably remove Datapad for (Meditate was often sufficient to help get specials).

I was also on the fence about Kylo’s Lightsaber, but on the occasions that I used it, it definitely helped close out games.

As for battlefield, I went with Rebel War Room as I didn’t want to use Emperor’s Throne Room because of Poe/Maz. Rebel War Room wasn’t bad, but I didn’t find myself claiming the battlefield often.

Summary

So with five wins and five losses, I was in the middle, finishing 78th out of 182. I kind of wish I’d played against more Poe/Maz, as both of the times I faced them I won, but I ended up playing against Han/Rey more than them (which can be hard to take down quickly).

The tournament was a lot of fun, and ran smoothly (which definitely helped, as with ten rounds it was already going to be a long day). Thanks to the judging team for a well-run event.

My only criticism would be of the structure itself; a top eight cut was perhaps a bit severe. However, this had been announced prior to the event start, so it isn’t as if they suddenly moved the goalposts.

The participation prizes were very welcome; the commemorative coin and alternate art Darth Vader are excellent! The atmosphere at the event was very good, and I would definitely like to go again next year!

That’s my personal report over, but I’ve got some data from the event. Below, I’ll be listing the standings after swiss, team compositions, and quantity of character appearances.

Standings After Swiss

Rank Team Wins 1st ePoe/eMaz 9 2nd ePalpatine 9 3rd eUnkar/FN/Storm 8 4th eVader(awk)/Tusken 8 5th ePhasma/Guavian/Storm 8 6th ePoe/eMaz 8 7th ePoe/eMaz 8 8th eBaze/eSnap 8 9th eDooku/eAsajj 8 10th ePhasma/Guavian/Storm 8 11th ePoe/eMaz 7 12th ePalpatine 7 13th ePalpatine 7 14th Unkar/Kylo/FN 7 15th eVader(sor)/eKylo 7 16th eVader(awk)/Tusken 7 17th eUnkar/FN/Storm 7 18th eJango/eFN 7 19th eVader(awk)/Tusken 7 20th eUnkar/FN/Storm 7 21st ePoe/eMaz 7 22nd ePhasma/Guavian/Storm 7 23rd ePoe/eMaz 7 24th Palpatine/Royal 7 25th eJango/eFN 7 26th eVader(awk)/Tusken 7 27th eFN/Bala/Royal 7 28th ePalpatine 7 29th eVader(awk)/Tusken 7 30th eVader(awk)/Tusken 6 31st ePoe/eMaz 6 32nd eVader(sor)/eFN 6 33rd eVader(awk)/Tusken 6 34th ePoe/eMaz 6 35th eJabba/eUnkar 6 36th ePalpatine 6 37th ePalpatine 6 38th ePoe/eMaz 6 39th ePoe/eMaz 6 40th ePoe/eMaz 6 41st ePoe/eMaz 6 42nd ePoe/eMaz 6 43rd eVader(awk)/Tusken 6 44th ePoe/eMaz 6 45th ePoe/eMaz 6 46th eVader(sor)/eFN 6 47th eUnkar/Death/Storm 6 48th eAurra/Jango 6 49th ePoe/eMaz 6 50th eUnkar/Death/Storm 6 51st eHan/eRey 6 52nd ePalpatine 6 53rd Dooku/FN/Royal 6 54th ePhasma/Krennic 6 55th eVader(awk)/Tusken 6 56th ePhasma/TIE/Storm 6 57th ePalpatine 6 58th eJabba/eUnkar 6 59th eQui-Gon/eRey 6 60th ePoe/eMaz 6 61st ePoe/eMaz 5 62nd ePoe/eMaz 5* 63rd eVader(sor)/eKylo 5 64th eHan/eRey 5 65th ePalpatine 5 66th eHan/eRey 5 67th eJango/eFN 5 68th ePalpatine 5 69th eVader(awk)/Tusken 5 70th eJango/eFN 5 71st ePalpatine 5 72nd eHan/eRey 5 73rd ePoe/eMaz 5 74th ePalpatine 5 75th eLuke/Rey 5 76th eBaze/eSnap 5 77th eVader(sor)/eKylo 5 78th eVader(sor)/eKylo 5 79th eVeers/Guavian/Guavian 5 80th eQui-Gon/eRey 5 81st eJango/eFN 5 82nd eFN/Guavian/Royal 5 83rd eQui-Gon/eRey 5 84th ePhasma/Guavian/Storm 5 85th ePalpatine 5 86th eQui-Gon/eRey 5 87th eJango/eVeers 5 88th ePoe/eMaz 5 89th eUnkar/Death/Storm 5 90th ePoe/eMaz 5 91st ePoe/eMaz 5 92nd eVader(awk)/Royal 5 93rd ePoe/eMaz 5 94th Unkar/Death/Death 5 95th eJabba/eUnkar 5 96th eVader(awk)/Tusken 4* 97th eAurra/Jango 4* 98th eJango/eFN 4* 99th ePalpatine 4* 100th eSnap/HiredGun/Commando 4 101st ePoe/eMaz 4 102nd Unkar/Kylo/FN 4* 103rd eGrievous/FN 4 104th Death/Death/Death 4 105th ePalpatine 4 106th eJyn/Rey 4 107th eChewbacca/eRey 4 108th eVader(awk)/Tusken 4 109th eVader(sor)/eKylo 4 110th eVader(awk)/Tusken 4 111th ePalpatine 4 112th eVader(awk)/Tusken 4* 113th FN/Death/Death 4 114th ePoe/eMaz 4 115th eBaze/eRey 4 116th eRey/Padawan/Padawan 4 117th Jabba/Unkar/Royal 4 118th eJyn/Padme 4 119th eLuke/Maz 4 120th eQui-Gon/eRey 4 121st eJango/eVeers 4 122nd Jango/Death/TIE 4 123rd ePoe/eMaz 3* 124th ePalpatine 3* 125th eUnkar/Guavian/TIE 3* 126th ePoe/eMaz 3* 127th eBaze/eSnap 3* 128th eVader(sor)/eFN 3* 129th ePalpatine 3* 130th eHan/eRey 3 131st eJango/eKylo 3 132nd eLuke/Maz 3 133rd eAurra/Jango 3* 134th eVader(sor)/eKylo 3* 135th eVader(sor)/eKylo 3* 136th eMaz/Snap/Commando 3 137th ePoe/eMaz 3* 138th ePoe/eMaz 3 139th ePhasma/Storm/Storm 3* 140th Jango/Veers/Storm 3 141st eJabba/eAsajj 3 142nd eRey/Padawan/Padawan 3 143rd eIG88/FN 3 144th eVader(awk)/Tusken 2* 145th eGrievous/Fett 2* 146th eJyn/Ackbar 2* 147th eVader(sor)/eKylo 2* 148th eVader(sor)/eKylo 2* 149th eAurra/Death 2* 150th ePalpatine 2* 151st eDooku/eAsajj 2* 152nd ePoe/eMaz 2* 153rd eJango/eFN 2 154th eVader(sor)/eFN 2 155th eHan/eRey 2* 156th Maz/Finn/Trooper 2 157th eVader(sor)/eFN 1* 158th eVader(sor)/eKylo 1* 159th ePoe/eMaz 1* 160th eAckbar/eLeia 1* 161st eQui-Gon/eRey 1* 162nd eRey/Maz/Snap 1* 163rd eJabba/eUnkar 1* 164th ePalpatine 1* 165th eVader(sor)/eKylo 1* 166th eLuke/Padme 1* 167th eVader(awk)/Tusken 1* 168th eDooku/eJabba 1* 169th eRey/eLuminara 1* 170th Jango/Death/TIE 1* 171st eVader(awk)/Royal 1* 172nd eQui-Gon/eRey 1* 173rd ePoe/eRey 1* 174th eIG88/Death 1 175th eQui-Gon/eRey 1* 176th eDooku/eKylo 0* 177th eHan/eRey 0* 178th ePalpatine 0* 179th eJyn/Commando 0* 180th eVader(awk)/Tusken 0* 181st eAckbar/eLeia 0* 182nd eObiWan/Rey 0*

* indicates that the player dropped from the tournament prior to the end.

Team Compositions

Rank Team Qty 1st ePoe/eMaz 32 2nd ePalpatine 21 3rd eVader(awk)/Tusken 17 4th eVader(sor)/eKylo 10 5th eQui-Gon/eRey 8 6th eHan/eRey 7 eJango/eFN 7 8th eVader(sor)/eFN 5 9th eJabba/eUnkar 4 ePhasma/Guavian/Storm 4 11th eAurra/Jango 3 eBaze/eSnap 3 eUnkar/Death/Storm 3 eUnkar/FN/Storm 3 15th eAckbar/eLeia 2 eDooku/eAsajj 2 eJango/eVeers 2 eLuke/Maz 2 eRey/Padawan/Padawan 2 eVader(awk)/Royal 2 Jango/Death/TIE 2 Unkar/Kylo/FN 2 23rd Death/Death/Death 1 Dooku/FN/Royal 1 eAurra/Death 1 eBaze/eRey 1 eChewbacca/eRey 1 eDooku/eJabba 1 eDooku/eKylo 1 eFN/Bala/Royal 1 eFN/Guavian/Royal 1 eGrievous/Jango 1 eGrievous/FN 1 eIG88/Death 1 eIG88/FN 1 eJabba/eAsajj 1 eJango/eKylo 1 eJyn/Ackbar 1 eJyn/Commando 1 eJyn/Padme 1 eJyn/Rey 1 eLuke/Padme 1 eLuke/Rey 1 eMaz/Snap/Commando 1 eObiWan/Rey 1 ePhasma/Krennic 1 ePhasma/Storm/Storm 1 ePhasma/TIE/Storm 1 ePoe/eRey 1 eRey/eLuminara 1 eRey/Maz/Snap 1 eSnap/HiredGun/Commando 1 eUnkar/Guavian/TIE 1 eVeers/Guavian/Guavian 1 FN/Death/Death 1 Jabba/Unkar/Royal 1 Jango/Veers/Storm 1 Maz/Finn/Trooper 1 Palpatine/Royal 1 Unkar/Death/Death 1

Character Appearances

Rank Character Qty 1st Maz Kanata 37 2nd Poe Dameron 33 3rd Rey 25 4th FN-2199 23 5th Palpatine 22 6th Darth Vader, Sith Lord 19 7th Jango Fett 17 Tusken Raider 17 9th Darth Vader, Dark Apprentice 15 Unkar Plutt 15 11th Death Trooper 14 First Order Stormtrooper 14 Kylo Ren 14 14th Guavian Enforcer 8 Qui-Gon Jinn 8 16th Captain Phasma 7 Han Solo 7 Jabba the Hutt 7 Royal Guard 7 20th Temmin “Snap” Wexley 6 21st Count Dooku 5 22nd Aurra Sing 4 Baze Malbus 4 General Veers 4 Jyn Erso 4 Luke Skywalker 4 TIE Pilot 4 28th Admiral Ackbar 3 Asajj Ventress 3 Rebel Commando 3 31st General Grievous 2 IG-88 2 Leia Organa 2 Padawan 2 Padme Amidala 2 36th Bala-Tik 1 Chewbacca 1 Director Krennic 1 Finn 1 Hired Gun 1 Luminara Unduli 1 Obi-Wan Kenobi 1 Rebel Trooper 1