Rogue Squadron- On Meta-Decking

There was a discussion on the Reddit XwingTMG subreddit about the merits of Meta-Decking. This is a term that originates from competitive Magic the Gathering and refers to the act of using a deck build that is a copy of a currently competitive deck. The discussion revolved around whether it’s better for players to follow the meta and bring squadrons to tournaments that have already been shown to be competitive or to develop their own unique squadrons.

I’m of two minds on this question. On one hand, competitive lists are competitive lists for a reason. They have been designed to combat other popular lists and have been shown to be effective when put on the table. This blog started as a way to share lists with the X-wing community. While not all of them are top tier meta defining lists, we have spotlighted many of these. So we’re in the habit of sharing and talking about “meta-decks” so to speak.

But, on the other hand, there is a reason many of the lists we talk about here are more fun combos than meta winners. Much of my personal enjoyment of the game comes from theory crafting new lists. Exploring new combinations of cards and finding ways to make them work together in unexpected ways keeps the game fresh and exciting. For me at least.

I have a tendency to avoid playing the popular lists. When Phantoms came out I played them frequently and had a lot of fun with them. But when they took over the meta I stopped flying them. I really wanted to fly Dash/Corran but since they were all over the place I never got around to it. I’ve only ever flown Palp + two aces once despite how effective the combo is. I love showing up to a tournament with an unexpected combo that, surprisingly, tears up one of the meta lists. In fact, I don’t think I’ve flown a list at more than two tournaments.

Personal preference aside, what is the best choice? Going with a proven list allows you to focus your attention on flying. You know its weaknesses and you know it’s capable of winning. You can be confident that the list you drop on the table is ready to fight and capable of winning.

You also know that your opponent is ready to face it. The meta lists have been discussed and they’ve been played against frequently. It’s a good bet, especially at premier tournaments, that your opponent has played at least a few games against your exact list. They also know your weakness and are ready to exploit it.

Alternatively, if you bring a custom list that no one is expecting you’ve put your opponent at a disadvantage. They have to develop strategies on the fly to counter you. Anytime you can do something unexpected it increases the odds that your opponent will make a bad choice.

Of course, the downside is that you are also needing to think on your feet more. New and unusual lists might prove capable of crushing other lists in defiance of all convention. Or they might collapse in a pitiful fire of inept floundering. That’s the risk with new things.

So which is better? Neither really. It all depends on your preference as a player. Do you enjoy list building and trying new ships? Or do you prefer focusing on flying by using something you know can work? In the end, whichever one gives you the most enjoyment out of the game. Any list can win and any list can lose. But if you don’t enjoy the game, it’s always a loss.

And remember, as we say in Houston’s Apollo Squadron, “Fly Casual.”.