It’s Tournament season! Looking for a good squad to fly for the X-wing Miniatures game? Checkout the top 5 lists that’s tearing up the space curves now!
Looks like the new Scum and Villainy faction is still shaking up the previous ‘Phantom Menace’ meta from last year, with TWO IG88 builds in the Top 5 this go around. Let’s take a close look at the Tier One lists out there and what makes them tick!
X-wing Bonus – I typed up six lists because two of the top 5 seem to be IG-2000 builds.
The Rear Admiral
- Rear Admiral Chiraneau (Engine Upgrade + Gunner + Rebel Captive + Predator + Ysanne Isard)
- Soontir Fel (Stealth Device + Push The Limit + Royal Guard TIE + Autothrusters)
The first Decimator list on the top 5 features the one-two hammer and anvil punch of Chippy, and the Baron Soontir Fel. The truest starfighter of them all Soontir Fel can arc dodge swoop in and wipe out whatever the Decimator has already weakened from relative safety. This combo is not to be underestimated.
Fat Han on a Diet?
- Bandit Squadron Pilot x3 (Note not Tala)
- Han Solo ( Engine Upgrade + Millennium Falcon + Gunner + C‑3PO + Predator;)
Sometimes referred to as ‘Fat Han’ this build is good at deflecting shots, and maximizing the output using predator to adjust the dice before using Han’s ability or engaging a new shooting phase with the gunner crew!
Flying casual is once again the key to victory, keep those ships close, but not too close.
Rebel Spam
- Blue Squadron Pilot x4
- Bandit Squadron Pilot
Still the undisputed king of the tournament circuit, this is just a solid 5 ship build that’s strength lies in the stock stat line of the B-Wing.
Master formation flying with this squad and there isn’t much that can take 16 attack dice at range one. If there is it may not be able to deal 20 shields and 12 hull points of damage back. Protect the z-95 if the game looks close so you don’t give up 12 free points, but don’t hesitate to sacrifice him to direct traffic or hunt down wounded prey if the game’s heavily in your favor.
Bigger Fish
- Corran Horn (R2-D2 + Veteran Instincts + Fire Control System)
- Dash Rendar (Engine Upgrade + Heavy Laser Cannon + Push The Limit + Kyle Katarn + Outrider)
Still a deadly list, that a lot of players may not be ready for.
Use Corran at Pilot Skill 10 to flank blast anything that focuses on Dash for too long. This list is all about angles, so learn the space curves and apply the squad’s overwhelming firepower well. Don’t be afraid to double up Corran’s shots to kill off the early threats.
Ninja Destroyer Droids
- IG88-B (Veteran Instincts + Heavy Laser Cannon + Advanced Sensors + Autothrusters + Inertial Dampeners + IG-2000
- IG88-C (Veteran Instincts + Heavy Laser Cannon + Advanced Sensors)
The best of a lot of worlds here. This IG88 build combines a free gunner ability with higher pilot skill, the ability to scheme from activation, and a free 0 move mulligan. You opponent should go for the ‘C’ version first as those free evades are a game changer, use that to your advantage.
Build two is similar yet different;
- IG88‑B (Push The Limit + Advanced Sensors + Autothrusters + “Mangler” Cannon + IG‑2000)
- IIG88‑C (Heavy Laser Cannon + Push The Limit + Advanced Sensors + Autothrusters + IG‑2000)
There are still tons of good builds out there folks, and if history has shown us anything the top events are won by a bit of home brewing as well.
Don’t be afraid to try new things on the space mats, and may the force be with YOU!
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
