I am back! I really dropped the ball during the holiday weekend totally spaced writing material and the week after that was a bit crazy with some family medical emergency and school so I ran out of backlog at just the wrong time, but we are back so here is this week AMM. I have recently had this weird fixation on dedicated bomber squadrons: Y-wings, Tie Bombers, Hyenas. I like to break out of a mold I find myself in from time to time and I just don't see these squads on the table so here are a few of the lists I have tried out with them and why you should consider taking dedicated bombers.
My rebel list was the weirdest but it did okay. I think rebel Y-wings are pretty solid and I think they are probably the best squadrons point for point with yavaris getting 3 blue with Toryn far for anti-squadron and 2 blacks for anti-ship for only 10 points is a pretty solid deal. While this list is not squad heavy the squadron wing is surprisingly versatile and relatively cheap. Black bomber dice are also risky to re-roll with evades and PIDCs unless is a hit+crit, you don't have BBC but two blacks with Yavaris is pretty reliable.
Assault Frigate Mk2 A (81)
• Garm Bel Iblis (25)
• Ruthless Strategists (4)
• Electronic Countermeasures (7)
• Paragon (5)
= 122 Points
Pelta Command Ship (60)
• Ahsoka Tano (2)
• Intensify Firepower! (6)
• Boosted Comms (4)
= 72 Points
Nebulon-B Escort Frigate (57)
• Toryn Farr (7)
• Yavaris (5)
= 69 Points
Nebulon-B Support Refit (51)
• Dual Turbolaser Turrets (5)
• Salvation (7)
= 63 Points
Squadrons:
• 4 x Y-wing Squadron (40)
• Shara Bey (17)
• Tycho Celchu (16)
= 73 Points
Total Points: 399
Hyenas are a really fun squadron, but it can be a bit difficult to have enough anti-squadron firepower and enough bombing power to be very threatening. In addition, Hyenas are probably the most bomber command center hungry squadron in the game with two red dice, and the CIS has a really high cost of entry for BBC at 55 points minimum. I have had some success with Hyena but a list that did weirdly well was a grievous list with a heavy investment in Hyenas.
Providence Dreadnought (105)
• General Grievous (20)
• Tikkes (2)
• Flight Controllers (6)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5)
• External Racks (4)
• Quad Battery Turrets (5)
• Invincible (5)
• Thermal Shields (5)
= 157 Points
Munificent Star Frigate (73)
• TI-99 (4)
• Thermal Shields (5)
• Linked Turbolaser Towers (7)
= 89 Points
Hardcell Transport (47)
• Bomber Command Center (8)
= 55 Points
Squadrons:
• 6 x Hyena Droid Bomber Squadron (66)
• 2 x Belbullab-22 Starfighter Squadron (30)
= 96 Points
Total Points: 397
Yes very weird I know but flight controllers gives the Hyenas 3 blue no re-rolls but not terrible you have TI-99 that makes attacking unactivated Hyenas pretty appealing. In addition to that killing, your Hyenas will get your ship's defense tokens back making it even less appealing to attack. The Belbullabs keep enemy squadrons tied up and almost always have doge 3 so they are pretty durable, and provide some more anti-squadron firepower, in addition, the relay can be clutch in the late game. The providence can be a little dicey probably this list's biggest weakness but it seems to work and I weirdly found a place that I kind of like generic Belbullabs.
With the Empire, I have really started to like what I am going to call QMSU just an MSU list with a Quasar and a lot of squads so this seemed like a good way to try out tie
bombers.
Quasar Fire II (61)
• Flight Controllers (6)
• Ruthless Strategists (4)
• Boosted Comms (4)
= 75 Points
Gladiator II (62)
• Ordnance Experts (4)
• External Racks (4)
• Demolisher (10)
= 80 Points
Arquitens Light Cruiser (54)
• Admiral Ozzel (20)
• Director Krennic (8)
• Slaved Turrets (6)
= 88 Points
Gozanti Cruisers (23)
= 23 Points
Gozanti Cruisers (23)
= 23 Points
Squadrons:
• Colonel Jendon (20)
• Maarek Stele (21)
• Valen Rudor (13)
• Captain Jonus (16)
• 3 x TIE Bomber Squadron (27)
• Gamma Squadron (10)
= 107 Points
Total Points: 396
The choice of the Quasar Fire II mostly came down to being able to take both ruthless and flight controllers and being able to use ruthless without putting itself in too much danger. The GSD II has great flack support in addition the red die out the side is really nice with Captain Jonus. Jonus can also help your Krennic Slaved Arquitnes damage really stick as well. Ozzel gives your ships some command flexibility JJ might be an okay pick but the quasar loves Ozzel for speed flexibility. You probably notice no BCC again and my big issue is that a tie bomber averages 1 damage per attack BCC when re-rolling blacks ups that average to 1.25. Tie bombers cost 1 point more than BCC so your fleets overall damage is helped more by adding in another tie bomber once you reach 4 tie bombers that changes, however, because black dice are so consistent and tie bombers are so cheap if you can activate another bomber I think that is worth it over taking BCC because you are not only increasing your average damage but your ceiling as well. that is probably a controversial opinion, but it is my preference with reliable black dice from tie bombers generally for every miss you will get a hit crit and things average out particularly the more dice you roll hence my preference of more Tie bombers over BCC.
Okay, let's end where we started Y-wings but this time republic style.
Venator I (90)
• Admiral Yularen (24)
• Ruthless Strategists (4)
• Intensify Firepower! (6)
• Ordnance Pods (3)
• Tranquility (3)
= 130 Points
Acclamator I (66)
• Clone Navigation Officer (4)
• Flight Controllers (6)
• Boosted Comms (4)
• Expanded Hangar Bay (5)
• Nevoota Bee (5)
= 90 Points
Pelta Transport Frigate (45)
• Hondo Ohnaka (2)
• Comms Net (2)
= 49 Points
Pelta Transport Frigate (45)
• Munitions Resupply (3)
= 48 Points
Squadrons:
• 8 x BTL-B Y-wing Squadron (80)
= 80 Points
Total Points: 397
This list does have one big weakness your opponent can ignore your squads because heavy. However, 1 black 2 blue with re-rolls from a flight-controlled Nevoota bee adds up really fast. Add in blue-black flak from the peltas your opponent is in trouble if they go after the ven well their squads will melt really fast there is just no good target and if they go after your squad’s peltas will heal them right back up. Ship damage is consistent thanks to IF and once your y-wings start bombing and that really should not be too long with all the support they have things just come together and you win. The Acclamator is a key piece to the list but it should be in the middle of the fleet meaning if they really go after it they should be in a deadly killbox.
What are your thoughts on dedicated bombers? Why do you think we might not see them on the table as much? How have you had success with them until next time have a great week!