The UK Nationals were last weekend and a total of 75 players took part to compete for the title of UK Champion. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend, but I do have the data from the event. Thanks go to one of the judges, Steve Stewart, for giving this information to me.

For this tournament, the recently-released two-player decks would be legal. This creates a very short-lived meta (some have dubbed the ‘two-week meta’), as Empire at War is released in the UK on the 21st September and will completely change things.

As expected, the decks present were heavily-influenced by the new product (and rightly so; there are lots of good cards in that set).

In this article we have the full standings of the tournament and top 16 decklists, as well as some brief analysis of the information.

As there is a lot of information, to make it easier to navigate I have added some handy links below.

Standings After Swiss

Teams Used

Characters Used

Top Cut Results

Winning Decklist

Runner-Up Decklist

Top 4 Decklists

Top 8 Decklists

Top 16 Decklists

Summary

Standings After Swiss

The number after a character indicates which version of that character was used. For example, Vader1 refers to Darth Vader Sith Lord, and Vader2 refers to Darth Vader Dark Apprentice.

An asterisk next to the number of wins indicates that the player dropped before the end of the tournament.

Rank Team Wins 1st eVader1/Royal 6 2nd eQGJ/eRey1 6 3rd ePoe1/eMaz 6 4th eKylo2/eFN 6 5th ePoe1/eMaz 6 6th ePalpatine 6 7th eVader1/Phasma2 5 8th eVader1/Phasma2 5 9th eVader2/ePhasma2 5 10th eBala/FN/Phasma2 5 11th ePhasma2/Death/Storm 5 12th ePoe1/eMaz 5 13th eKylo2/ePhasma2 5 14th eVader1/Phasma2 5 15th eVader1/Phasma2 5 16th eKylo2/eFN 5 17th ePoe1/eMaz 5 18th eVader1/Phasma2 4 19th eKylo2/eFN 4 20th ePoe1/eMaz 4 21st eVader2/ePhasma2 4 22nd eVader1/Phasma2 4 23rd eKylo2/ePhasma2 4 24th eVader1/Royal 4 25th eKylo2/eFN 4 26th eUnkar/TIE/Phasma2 4 27th eVader2/Grievous 4 28th eVader2/ePhasma2 4 29th eVader1/Raider 4 30th ePoe1/eMaz 4 31st ePoe1/eRey1 4 32nd eBala/FN/Nightsister 4 33rd eJango/ePhasma2 4 34th eVader2/ePhasma2 4 35th ePalpatine 4 36th eVader2/eKylo1 3 37th ePoe2/eRey2 3 38th eBala/FN/Nightsister 3 39th ePoe1/eMaz 3 40th ePalpatine 3 41st ePalpatine 3* 42nd eRey1/Acolyte/Padawan 3 43rd eVader1/Phasma2 3 44th eVader1/Phasma2 3 45th eVader1/Phasma2 3 46th eLuke/Rey1 3 47th ePalpatine 3* 48th eVader2/eKylo1 3 49th eLuke/Rey1 3 50th eBala/FN/Nightsister 3 51st eKylo1/FN/Storm 3 52nd eJango/ePhasma2 3 53rd eLuke/Rey1 2 54th eVader2/ePhasma2 2* 55th eHan/eRey1 2* 56th ePoe1/eMaz 2* 57th eBaze/eSnap 2 58th eVader2/eKylo1 2 59th ePoe1/eMaz 2* 60th eLuminara/eRey1 2 61st ePoe1/eMaz 2* 62nd ePoe1/eMaz 2* 63rd eVader2/eKylo1 2 64th eAckbar/Hired/Hired 2 65th eBaze/eSnap 2 66th eMothma/Smuggler/Smuggler 1* 67th eBala/FN/Nightsister 1* 68th eVader1/Phasma2 1* 69th ePadme/Maz/Trooper 1 70th eBala/FN/Nightsister 0* 71st eKrennic/Death 0* 72nd eLuke/Rey1 0* 73rd eSnap/Maz/Rey1 0* 74th ePalpatine 0* 75th eVader1/Raider 0*

As you can see from the table above, in addition to the six players that were 6-1, there were eleven players on a 5-2 record. Since they’d announced that there would be a top 16 cut, this meant that one of the 5-2 players would miss out!

As it turned out, the player that finished 11th wasn’t able to stay for day two, so the 17th-placed player was bumped up into the top cut.

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Teams Used

Rank Team Frequency 1st ePoe1/eMaz 11 2nd eVader1/Phasma2 9 3rd ePalpatine 6 4th eBala/FN/Nightsister 5 eVader2/ePhasma2 5 6th eKylo2/eFN 4 eLuke/Rey1 4 eVader2/eKylo1 4 9th eBaze/eSnap 2 eJango/ePhasma2 2 eKylo2/ePhasma2 2 eVader1/Raider 2 eVader1/Royal 2 14th eAckbar/Hired/Hired 1 eBala/FN/Phasma2 1 eHan/eRey1 1 eKrennic/Death 1 eKylo1/FN/Storm 1 eLuminara/eRey1 1 eMothma/Smuggler/Smuggler 1 ePadme/Maz/Trooper 1 ePhasma2/Death/Storm 1 ePoe1/eRey1 1 ePoe2/eRey2 1 eQGJ/eRey1 1 eRey1/Acolyte/Padawan 1 eSnap/Maz/Rey1 1 eUnkar/TIE/Phasma2 1 eVader2/Grievous 1

Poe/Maz being the most popular team will probably surprise no one, but Vader (Sith Lord) and the new Phasma being the second most popular might do. Being able to activate Vader multiple times in one turn via Leadership and The Price of Failure must have been too tempting!

Palpatine being more popular than Rainbow Nines was also interesting to see (one of them made the final as well!).

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Characters Used

Rank Character Frequency 1st Phasma2 22 2nd Vader1 14 3rd Maz 13 4th Poe1 12 5th FN-2199 11 6th Rey1 10 Vader2 10 8th Bala-Tik 6 Kylo2 6 Palpatine 6 11th Kylo1 5 Nightsister 5 13th Luke 4 14th Snap 3 15th Baze 2 Death 2 Hired 2 Jango 2 Raider 2 Royal 2 Smuggler 2 Storm 2 23rd Ackbar 1 Acolyte 1 Grievous 1 Han 1 Krennic 1 Luminara 1 Mothma 1 Padawan 1 Padme 1 Poe2 1 QGJ 1 Rey2 1 TIE 1 Trooper 1 Unkar 1

The new Captain Phasma was the most-used character at the tournament, with nearly one-third of the players using her. She is most likely going to feature in a lot of villain teams going forward, thanks to her cheap points cost and good dice.

The rest of the top ten characters were no great surprise, but this close to Empire at War we weren’t really expecting any.

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Top 16

eVader1/Royal defeated ePoe1/eMaz eVader2/ePhasma2 defeated eVader1/Phasma2 eKylo2/eFN defeated eVader1/Phasma2 eKylo2/ePhasma2 defeated ePoe1/eMaz eKylo2/eFN defeated eQGJ/eRey1 eVader1/Phasma2 defeated eBala/FN/Nightsister ePoe1/eMaz defeated eVader1/Phasma2 ePalpatine defeated ePoe1/eMaz

Top 8

eVader2/Phasma2 defeated eVader1/Royal eKylo2/eFN defeated eKylo2/ePhasma2 eVader1/Phasma2 defeated eKylo2/eFN ePalpatine defeated ePoe1/eMaz

Top 4

eKylo2/eFN defeated eVader2/ePhasma2 ePalpatine defeated eVader1/Phasma2

Final

eKylo2/eFN defeated ePalpatine

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Winning Decklist

eKylo2/eFN by Danny Adlem Battlefield – Mos Eisley Spaceport Upgrades (14) Supports (0) Events (16) 1x Captain Phasma’s Blaster 2x Boundless Ambition 2x Crossguard Lightsaber 2x Clash 1x Force Illusion 1x Deflect 2x Holdout Blaster 2x Doubt 2x Lightsaber 2x Enrage 2x Rocket Launcher 1x Imperial War Machine 2x Vibroknife 2x Isolation 2x Z6 Riot Control Baton 2x Lightsaber Throw 2x Logistics

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Runner-Up Decklist

ePalpatine by Simrandeep Pone Battlefield – Otoh Gunga Upgrades (11) Supports (0) Events (19) 2x Force Illusion 2x Deflect 1x Force Lightning 2x Doubt 2x Force Push 2x High Ground 2x Force Speed 2x Isolation 1x Force Throw 2x Mind Trick 1x Mind Probe 2x No Mercy 2x Sith Holocron 1x Now You Will Die 2x Overconfidence 2x Rejuvenate 2x Rise Again

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Top 4 Decklists

eVader2/ePhasma2 by Leighton Pointer Battlefield – Emperor’s Throne Room Upgrades (12) Supports (0) Events (18) 2x Z6 Riot Control Baton 2x All In 2x Force Illusion 2x Deflect 2x Holdout Blaster 2x Clash 2x Mind Probe 1x The Best Defense… 2x Force Speed 1x New Orders 2x Sith Holocron 2x Dug In 2x Tactical Mastery 2x Doubt 2x Logistics 2x High Ground

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eVader1/Phasma2 by David Payton Battlefield – Obi-Wan’s Hut Upgrades (11) Supports (0) Events (19) 1x Z6 Riot Control Baton 2x Boundless Ambition 2x Force Illusion 2x The Price of Failure 2x Force Speed 2x Leadership 2x Praetorian Guard 2x Force Strike 2x Vibroknife 2x Trust Your Instincts 2x Dark Counsel 2x Doubt 2x The Best Defense… 1x Dug In 1x Sound the Alarm 2x Isolation 1x New Orders

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Top 8 Decklists

ePoe1/eMaz by Robert Kane Battlefield – Cargo Hold Upgrades (8) Supports (6) Events (16) 2x Cunning 2x U-Wing 2x Hit and Run 2x Thermal Detonator 2x Millenium Falcon 2x Retreat 2x DL-44 Heavy Blaster Pistol 2x Planetary Uprising 2x Hyperspace Jump 2x Rocket Launcher 2x Smuggling 2x Field Medic 2x Dug In 2x Loth-Cat & Mouse 1x Electroshock 1x Defensive Position

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eVader1/Royal by Chris Marooth Battlefield – Cargo Hold Upgrades (8) Supports (2) Events (20) 2x Force Illusion 2x Emperor’s Favor 2x Deflect 2x Kylo Ren’s Lightsaber 2x Feel Your Anger 2x Vibroknife 2x Isolation 2x Force Speed 2x No Mercy 2x Rejuvenate 2x Lightsaber Throw 2x Trust Your Instincts 2x Manipulate 2x The Price of Failure 2x Force Strike

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eKylo2/eFN by Miles Tamplin Battlefield – Mos Eisley Spaceport Upgrades (14) Supports (0) Events (16) 2x Lightsaber 2x Logistics 2x Crossguard Lightsaber 2x Isolation 2x Rocket Launcher 2x Doubt 2x Z6 Riot Control Baton 2x Enrage 2x Holdout Blaster 2x Clash 2x Vibroknife 2x Boundless Ambition 1x Captain Phasma’s Blaster 2x Lightsaber Throw 1x Force Ilusion 1x Deflect 1x Imperial War Machine

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eKylo2/ePhasma2 by Mat Webb Battlefield – Obi-Wan’s Hut Upgrades (15) Supports (0) Events (15) 2x Force Illusion 2x Overconfidence 2x Vibroknife 2x Doubt 1x Captain Phasma’s Blaster 2x The Best Defense… 2x Imperial Discipline 2x Isolation 2x Promotion 2x Enrage 2x Crossguard Lightsaber 2x Trust Your Instincts 2x Force Choke 1x Deflect 2x DH-17 Blaster Pistol 2x As I Have Forseen

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Top 16 Decklists

eVader1/Phasma2 by Chris Drew Battlefield – Moisture Farm Upgrades (16) Supports (2) Events (12) 2x Force Illusion 2x Imperial Inspection 2x Doubt 2x Force Speed 2x Force Strike 2x Force Throw 2x Leadership 2x Makashi Training 2x Overconfidence 2x Praetorian Guard 2x Rise Again 2x Sith Holocron 2x Sound the Alarm 2x Vibroknife 2x Z6 Riot Control Baton

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eBala/FN/Nightsister by Mark Gibson Battlefield – Secret Facility Upgrades (14) Supports (4) Events (12) 2x Captain Phasma’s Blaster 2x Aftermath 2x Bait and Switch 2x F-11D Rifle 2x Salvage Stand 2x Friends In Low Places 2x Holdout Blaster 2x He Doesn’t Like You 2x IQA-11 Blaster Rifle 2x Imperial War Machine 2x Vibroknife 2x Logistics 2x Vibroknucklers 2x The Best Defense… 2x Z6 Riot Control Baton

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ePoe1/eMaz by Jack Westaway Battlefield – Cargo Hold Upgrades (11) Supports (6) Events (13) 2x Lone Operative 2x U-Wing 1x Dug In 2x Rocket Launcher 2x Millenium Falcon 2x Hit and Run 2x Thermal Detonator 2x Planetary Uprising 2x Field Medic 2x Second Chance 2x Long Con 2x DL-44 Heavy Blaster Pistol 2x Negotiate 1x Cunning 2x Our Only Hope 2x Hyperspace Jump

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eVader1/Phasma2 by Simon Smithson Battlefield – Obi-Wan’s Hut Upgrades (8) Supports (0) Events (22) 2x Vibroknife 1x Clash 2x Force Speed 2x Dug In 2x Z6 Riot Control Baton 2x Doubt 2x Force Illusion 2x Boundless Ambition 2x Deflect 2x The Best Defense… 2x Force Strike 2x Leadership 2x Tactical Mastery 2x Lightsaber Throw 2x Feel Your Anger 1x Trust Your Instincts

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eVader1/Phasma2 by Kayne Harrison Battlefield – Maz’s Castle Upgrades (12) Supports (0) Events (18) 2x Vibroknife 1x The Price of Failure 2x Lightsaber Pike 2x Isolation 2x Captain Phasma’s Blaster 2x Trust Your Instincts 2x Rocket Launcher 2x Leadership 2x Holdout Blaster 2x Feel Your Anger 2x Force Speed 2x Doubt 2x Take Cover 1x Sound the Alarm 2x Deflect 1x I Have You Now 1x Recon

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ePoe1/eMaz by Lee Taylor Battlefield – Emperor’s Throne Room Upgrades (9) Supports (7) Events (14) 1x Maz’s Goggles 2x Millenium Falcon 2x Defensive Position 2x Thermal Detonator 2x U-Wing 2x Hit and Run 1x Bowcaster 1x Launch Bay 2x Let the Wookiee Win 1x Cunning 2x Planetary Uprising 2x Field Medic 1x DL-44 Heavy Blaster Pistol 2x Electroshock 1x Poe Dameron’s Blaster 2x Dug In 1x Rocket Launcher 1x New Orders 1x Fast Hands 1x Friends In Low Places

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eQGJ/eRey1 by John Paul Stevens Battlefield – Cargo Hold Upgrades (11) Supports (2) Events (17) 2x Jedi Robes 2x Luke’s Protection 2x Caution 2x Force Speed 2x Willpower 2x Vibroknife 2x Distraction 2x Makashi Training 2x Close Quarters Assault 2x Rey’s Lightsaber 2x Overconfidence 1x One With The Force 2x Riposte 2x Synchronicity 2x Guard 1x Force Misdirection

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ePoe1/eMaz by Chooi Oh Battlefield – Emperor’s Throne Room Upgrades (7) Supports (8) Events (15) 2x Thermal Detonator 2x U-Wing 2x Dug In 1x Rocket Launcher 2x Launch Bay 2x Defensive Position 2x DL-44 Heavy Blaster Pistol 2x Millenium Falcon 2x Field Medic 2x Fast Hands 2x Planetary Uprising 2x Hit and Run 2x New Orders 2x Electroshock 1x Loth-Cat & Mouse 1x Our Only Hope 1x Friendly Fire

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Summary

The winning deck was Kylo Tormented One and FN-2199, beating Palpatine in the final. Congratulations to Danny Adlem (of the Three Man Meta podcast) on becoming UK Champion!

New Kylo is a force to be reckoned with, and although being paired against a mono-blue deck in the final makes his ability seem stronger, it is nonetheless very good.

FN-2199 continues to show what a powerhouse he is. He’s now featured in the winning team of three major tournaments (UK Nationals – Kylo/FN, Gencon – Bala/FN/Nightsister, European Championships – Unkar/FN/Storm). I know there is talk of an errata/nerf. We’ll have to see what effect Empire at War has on FN’s supremacy.

Hero Villain Top 16 5* 11* Overall 27 48

[*After the swiss portion of the tournament, there was one extra villain player that made it through. However, they dropped from the tournament, which meant that the 17th-placed player (a hero player) was bumped up into the top 16 portion of the event.]

As you can see from the table above, it was about two-thirds villains in overall attendance and top 16 placings. This isn’t unexpected, as so far in Destiny, villains have had the greater number of viable character combinations. Empire at War is looking like it might redress the balance, but only time will tell.

Anyway, I hope that you have found this information interesting. It has been nice to see that easily-available starter decks cards and characters were being used to good effect; it’s an encouraging sign to new players that they can quickly start using higher quality decks.

Cheers,

Tim