Going Squad-less

I have never been a huge advocate of going squad-less. I just don’t generally like the thematic feel of a list with no squadrons, and especially after 1.5 I think a small screen is hard not to justify from a mechanical perspective. however, I have had a few ideas that have made me say “maybe” to squad-less. I also know there are a few players that just hate the squadron game, so I guess this one is for you.

The first thing that triggered this idea of squad-less play was actually when I was first testing out Luminara as a commander. I came up against a heavy squad list and had Local Fire Control giving me two salvos and every time s squadron attacked me I spent a salvo and that let me ready the other salvo if it was spent. This effectively let me salvo each squadron that was attacking me and with DBYs and Flak Guns, it was always at least one damage. So I’m Thinking why not dial this up to 11.

Venator II (100) • Luminara Unduli (25) • Local Fire Control (4) • Flak Guns (3) • Thermal Shields (5) • Ordnance Pods (3) • DBY-827 Heavy Turbolasers (3) • Tranquility (3) = 146 Points

Venator I (90) • Adi GAllia (3) • Local Fire Control (4) • Intensify Firepower! (6) • Flak Guns (3) • Ordnance Pods (3) • DBY-827 Heavy Turbolasers (3) = 112 Points

Venator I (90) • Local Fire Control (4) • Mercy Mission (0) • Flak Guns (3) • Ordnance Pods (3) • DBY-827 Heavy Turbolasers (3) = 103 Points

Consular Armed Cruiser (37) • Hondo Ohnaka (2) = 39 Points

Squadrons: = 0 Points

Total Points: 400

This list I think will just eat up squadrons. A Squadron comes in attacks you, then you spend your salvo. Another squadron comes in than you spend the green salvo then ready the other salvo repeat. If you have a big cluster of squads in one arc it might be worth flaking then drop ordnance pods after that most squadrons will be either dead or will die if they continue to attack you. I think with this list if you ran into 134 points of squadrons and they all gained upon one Venator to take it down, even if they do you will likely take a good chunk of that 134 with you. It can be risky to do your infinite salvo against Slone squads, as they could strip your spent token, but if you don’t spend any token you don’t have to worry about losing tokens to Slone Squads and save them for her ships attack you.

I think this next list borders on more of a “meme” Fleet, but after seeing PDICs in action several times I think it might be a thing worth checking out.

CR90 Corvette B (39) • Mon Mothma (27) • Point Defense Ion Cannons (4) = 70 Points

CR90 Corvette B (39) • Point Defense Ion Cannons (4) = 43 Points

CR90 Corvette B (39) • Point Defense Ion Cannons (4) = 43 Points

CR90 Corvette B (39) • Point Defense Ion Cannons (4) = 43 Points

CR90 Corvette B (39) • Point Defense Ion Cannons (4) = 43 Points

CR90 Corvette B (39) • Point Defense Ion Cannons (4) = 43 Points

CR90 Corvette B (39) • Point Defense Ion Cannons (4) = 43 Points

CR90 Corvette B (39) • Point Defense Ion Cannons (4) = 43 Points

GR-75 Medium Transports (18) • Toryn Farr (7) • Bright Hope (2) = 27 Points

Squadrons: = 0 Points

Total Points: 398

The big downside no long-range dice to get something that is getting away. However, you have a pretty insane amount of survivability up in close range your ships can force 3 dice to be re-rolled, or 4 if the attacker is larger than you, and are willing to discard the evade token. You also have 9 activations and that is insane. PDICs against squadrons is really nice to always force a re-roll and in a pinch, you could spend your evade after that re-roll a squad dice again if you still really don’t like the result. I have always wanted to try and get CR-90 Bs to work on the table and this might be just another pipe dream, but it’s at the very least an interesting one.

TF-1726 has been a bit of a hard commander for me to build for. However I have landed on a few builds I like with him and hope to get them to the table soon, and one goes without squadrons.

Providence Carrier (105) • TF-1726 (26) • Shu Mai (4) • Thermal Shields (5) • Jedi Hostage (3) • B2 Rocket Troopers (7) • Assault Concussion Missiles (5) • Point Defense Ion Cannons (4) • Linked Turbolaser Towers (7) • Lucid Voice (8) = 174 Points

Recusant Light Destroyer (85) • Ordnance Experts (4) • B2 Rocket Troopers (7) • Assault Concussion Missiles (5) • Linked Turbolaser Towers (7) = 108 Points

Hardcell Battle Refit (52) • B2 Rocket Troopers (7) = 59 Points

Hardcell Transport (47) • Tikkes (2) • Slicer Tools (7) = 56 Points

Squadrons: = 0 Points

Total Points: 397

In Essens this idea is pretty simple to use B2s to give out squadron raid tokens and have the Slicer tools transport to slice away anything that might harm the Jedi Hostage ships. I am still very skeptical about Jedi Hostage, but I do need to at least give it a try a few times. It is that simple. Now will that be enough to stop 134 points of squads, It depends on the opposing list’s ability to generate tokens to cancel the squadron raid tokens, and Slicers acts as insurance in that case.

Lastly the Empire they are the hardest faction for me to justify not taking at least a few squadrons, but I think it can be done even post 1.5. The Imperial lists that I saw do well without squads in 1.5 were generally ones that hit with ACMs twice. That is no longer a thing anymore in the world of 1.5. However I think we might be able to lean into the ACM idea, but with just a slight twist.

Onager Star Destroyer (110) • Admiral Screed (26) • Captain Brunson (9) • Gunnery Chief Varnillian (6) • Weapons Battery Techs (5) • DBY-827 Heavy Turbolasers (3) • Superheavy Composite Beam Turbolasers (7) = 166 Points

Gladiator I (56) • Assault Concussion Missiles (5) • Demolisher (10) = 71 Points

Raider II (48) • Disposable Capacitors (3) • Heavy Ion Emplacements (9) • Corvus (2) = 62 Points

Arquitens Light Cruiser (54) • Captain Needa (2) • Turbolaser Reroute Circuits (7) = 63 Points

Gozanti Cruisers (23) • Hondo Ohnaka (2) • Slicer Tools (7) = 32 Points

Squadrons: = 0 Points

Total Points: 394

We lean pretty heavily on the ACM, HIE, and SHCBTs idea to push damage through. The only squadron defense we have to speak of is Slicer Tools, but if triggered on the right turn and coordinated fire onto the main squadron pusher we can cripple a squadron list early with all our crit effects making us able to bring down even the toughest of carries very quickly. That is really what we are banking on and I hate doing that.

I think Squadron-less is still a thing even if it is not my thing. If you like running squad-less what are some lists you have had success with? Until next time have a great week!