This will be the last time you hear from me before I switch over to 2.0. I’ll have a brand new blog set up for that, centered around Imperials for all your solar panel needs. However you’re probably wondering what Deathrain has been up to? So would I. I cleaned up my room (by that I mean I reorganised my X-Wing stuff and nothing else) and threw out my notes from the last 3 tournaments. Details are gonna be a bit sketchy.

After IBuyWarGames tournament I was itching for more so I went back to Chaos Cards for another 5 rounds in the ring. Used the same list comprising of Deffers, Quicky and Vermin. Did well in the first round against a unique Ghost/U-Wing/Resistance Bomber list. Next round was a rematch against the Onyx Squadron Aussie. When last we met I was doing well until Quicky got a bit reckless late game. This time will be different. This time it’s gonna be so much worse.

Bully

‘Emperor’s New Jam’ is the name of this Vermin/Inqy/Yorr build and I’d place it in the category of Ghost/Fenn, Nym/Miranda in a sense that you need to practice against it to beat it. I didn’t spot the trap until it was too late and was obliterated without making so much as a dent in Yorr. Was kinda embarrassed at myself for not putting up a better fight. Round 3 was another loss against Scum Alpha with a difference. Unkar Plutt had Cikatro aboard. Activate cloaking device then switch it out to make a permanently cloaked tractor beaming ship. Deathrain died to double harpoons which hasn’t happened since…ever? Maybe he’s just lucky. Turned things around in round 4 against the Nym/Emon bomb squad by the narrowest of margins. Then squeezed out a 3–2 for the day against quad Wookies.

Achtung Minen

If there was a lesson to take away from the day it was this: Watch out for Reapers and Nym. They are currently the ships of choice in the game so I need to adapt to PS10 and Jam tokens. My next tournament sends me over to The Mug and Meeple and I plan to adjust my list for the inevitable.

*concern*

Ya know, I’ve always wanted to fly a 2 ship list. Sure I’ve played the odd Rey/Poe with friends but never taken it to the competitive scene. The Decimator looks like a good candidate. Without any practice I turn to Reddit for advice. Got plenty of tips on how to fly RAC + Ace. Yes… the Ace… about that…

Introducing Deathrain’s bigger brother

RAC DEATH

RAC with Title, Palp, Kylo, EU, VI

DEATH with Rockets, Trajectory, Bomblet, LWF

It doesn’t care about jam and it’s PS10 with a 2 point bid. Perfection. The visit to Gravesend netted me 2 wins against Rey/Poe and Vader/Vermeil/Sabacc. It also sent 2 losses my way fighting QuickDraw/Vermeil/Nu and Dengar/Asajj. Mistakes were made along the way with this unfamiliar beast but I’ll remember for next time. Concerning Kylo, It’s kind of a dick but at the same time it’s absolutely necessary. Blinded QuickDraw twice, only slipping the one damage under the shields twice. Upon the third volley it dealt a shield damage in addition to the fatal crit. Before the PS10 Quickdraw died she knocked RAC down from 12 hull to 6. Without Klyo RAC would be dead by now. With Deathrain instead of your typical Vader or Soontir he offers RAC another defensive buff in the form of area control. Not only is a large ship with engine hard to pin down but when you do finally have a chance to spring a decent killbox, there he is. Sitting where you want to be, with a live grenade in hand and grin on his face.

Gentlemen, start your engines!

Our third and final event takes me back to DarkSphere. Home of the 186th Squadron and where I played my first tournament almost 2 years ago. Back then as a newbie I’d get paired up in the first round against one of the boys in blue, then get sent to the bottom tables where I’d fight tooth and nail to crawl back to the middle of the room.

They have no idea what’s coming. >:-D

Round 1 was against 186th member Paul who not only won the tournament at Gravesend, but also made it to top 4 at this year’s UK Nationals. AND he’s running Nym/Miranda, Deathrain’s least favourable matchup. Paul begun the match rocking back and forth at the prospect of having to fight RAClo. Apparently RAClo eats Nymanda for breakfast. I did not know this.

WHY ARE YOU RUNNING?

The Rebel Bombers kept their distance. RAC took the inside lane and blinded Miranda twice, denying that regen and once the shields shut down it went hit,direct,direct dead. Nym tried some evasive maneuvers but there was no escaping the bigger brick. Deathrain cheered on his bigger brother after being ionised, stressed and called rude names.

Round 2 was against 186th member Alex who hosts the Squadron Podcast when he’s not busy taking names and making cuts. As a side note, I came last at my first tournament and it was Alex who offered up a card he’d won as way of welcoming me to the hobby. What better way to reward this act of generosity than to pound his fleet into the dirt.

Pretty banging paint job

Vermeil/Palp Reaper/Inqy. First target was Vermeil, double blinded naturally to reduce the incoming damage early. Vermeil is now on the run with RAC behind him out of his arc, which kinda works out as RAC can shoot other targets while pressuring Vermeil to keep running at the same time. Deathrain meanwhile was throwing bombs at Inqy and Palp to force a Palp on the bomb dice, denying that extra crit thrown my way. In the end there just wasn’t enough arcs on either of my ships to seal the deal.

Round 3 was against 186th member Tom who I’ve played once before. That’s Tom’s claim to fame. Tom is running with QuickDraw/Vermeil/Krennic Reaper, so I’m already salivating at the carnage about to unfold.

1 hull and a dream

And unfold that carnage did. RAC took out QuickDraw again but not before taking 10 damage in the trade. RAC is brought down to 1 and flees the scene. Things were looking up when he came back around as Deathrain had cornered Krennic’s Reaper, allowing RAC to take on Vermeil in a joust. I Kylo’d for a blinded pilot. We looked through the deck. It wasn’t there. Press F to pay respects.

Round 4 was against Ben(I think?) who wasn’t sporting the blue and gold pyjamas but there’s no doubt in my mind that he earned the fabric this day. He was flying Bumpmaster/Thweek/Fenn.

Within a few turns I can usually tell if someone has practiced their list and this game was no exception. Nearly every round of shooting I took way too long to decide who to shoot at. Because nearly every round there were no good targets. The longer the game went on the more it swung in my opponents favour. Game went to time with RAC on a few hull trying to punch a full health Fenn. It wasn’t to be and Fenn had Expertise to account for the jam and got the win by a few points. Another 2–2 result to add to the collection.

Like I said, a new 2.0 Imperial Blog coming soon. If there is anything in particular you wanna see then let me know in the comments. Toodles.