Guide: What ships should I buy for X-wing? Scum Edition

Note (January 17, 2018): This guide has been updated to include all ships announced through Wave 13.

Today we continue our foray into helping new players decide what ships to buy when getting into Fantasy Flight’s X-wing Miniatures game. Last time we took a peak at the Rebel and Imperial fleet. Today we’ll look at the Scum fleet. How will we rate each expansion?

We’ll look at a few things

• Max Squad– For the ship(s) in this expansion, what is the maximum that you could potentially fly in a 100pt squad. Very rarely will you ever have a reason to buy more than this number unless you are really into Epic play.
• Standard Squad– This will be the number of ships of this type that you will typically see wielded in a squad. This number will often be a range as some ships can be wielded well in a number of different formations.
• Unique Upgrades– What unique upgrades come with this expansion, and only this expansion? Many upgrades can be found in a few different packs so you will have different ways to obtain them. But some have only one avenue to acquire.
  • Note: Upgrades that are unique to ships only available in this pack are not listed.
• Notable Upgrades- While these upgrades aren’t necessarily unique to this ship, they are ones that are unique to the wave or having many of these is not a bad thing. Note, this isn’t a complete list of the upgrades that come with the ship, just ones that are worth noting.
• Suggested Buy: This is our recommendation for the most balanced amount to buy to gain the most benefit from the ship and upgrade cards it contains. We’ll give a little rationale behind it but this isn’t a full review of each ship so it won’t be very detailed. We tend to lean toward two copies of each ship on average to maximize squad options and access to upgrades. But sometimes you only really need one of a ship. Sometimes, you’ll definitely want more. And in reality, you’re probably good with just one.

Hound’s Tooth (YV-666)

• Max Squad- 3
• Standard Squad- 1
• Unique Upgrades
  • Crew
    • Bossk
• Notable Upgrades
  • Elite Pilot Talent
    • Stay on Target
    • Lonewolf
  • Crew
    • K4 Security Droid
    • Outlaw Tech
  • Modification
    • Engine Upgrade
  • Illicit
    • Glitterstim
• Suggested Buy: 1 (MSRP- $40)
  • This ship has a place as the scum’s only multi-crew carrier. There are a lot of interesting ways to use the ship. But the ship can be difficult to fly and a high point investment.

HWK-290

• Max Squad- 6
• Standard Squad- 1
• Unique Upgrades
  • Secondary Weapon
    • Blaster Turret
  • Crew
    • Saboteur
• Notable Upgrades
  • Crew
    • Recon Specialist
    • Intelligence Agent
  • Secondary Weapon
    • Ion Turret
• Suggested Buy: 1 (MSRP- $15)
  • While technically a Rebel ship, the Most Wanted Pack comes with a set of Scum HWK pilots. These are in many ways better than the Rebel version as they are more than just support. It’s worth getting one.

Guns for Hire

• Unique Upgrades
  • Illicit
    • Ion Discharger
  • Secondary Weapon
    • Harpoon Missile
  • Title
    • Starviper Mk II
    • Vaksai
• Notable Upgrades
  • Modification
    • Pulsed Ray Shield
    • Stealth Device
    • Vectored Thrusters
• Suggested Buy: 1 (MSRP- $30)
  • This set adds essential upgrades for the Kihraxz and Starvipers along with some good additional pilots. Like other aces packs, it comes with enough titles to pair with ships from the standalone packs. On top of that, it also adds the best, current, missile in the game and some other useful upgrades.

IG-2000 (Aggressor)

• Max Squad- 2
• Standard Squad- 2
• Unique Upgrades
  • None
• Notable Upgrades
  • Secondary
    • Mangler Cannon
  • Illicit
    • Inertial Dampeners
    • Feedback Array
    • Deadman’s Switch
  • System
    • Accuracy Correctors
• Suggested Buy: 2 (MSRP- $60)
  • The Aggressor is one of the few large ships I’d strongly recommend getting two of and that’s for one reason; IG-2000 Title. While this is a pretty nice ship on its own, flying two with the free title allowing them to share the pilot ability makes them really dangerous. It’s also worth it for getting more Illicit upgrades.

Kihraxz

• Max Squad- 5
• Standard Squad- 1-3
• Unique Upgrades
  • Elite Pilot Talent
    • Lightning Reflexes
• NotableUpgrades- 
  • Elite Pilot Talent
    • Predator
    • Crack Shot
  • Illicit
    • Glitterstim
• Suggested Buy: 1 (MSRP- $15)
  • Without Guns for Hire this is a very “meh” ship. With the Vaksai title it becomes a unique building experience. It does come with several very useful upgrades though and Talonbane is a good pilot to have.

M-3A Scyk Interceptor

• Max Squad- 8
• Standard Squad- 2
• Unique Upgrades
  • Secondary Weapon
    • Flechette Cannon
• Notable Upgrades
  • Modification
    • Stealth Device
  • Secondary Weapon
    • Mangler Cannon
• Suggested Buy: 1 (MSRP-  $15)
  • This is still an odd ship. The best pilots come in the C-ROC expansion as well as the title that makes them cheap. The Heavy title gives them a lot of build flexibility but they would really like to have an Illicit slot.

M12-L Kimogila

• Max Squad- 4
• Standard Squad- 1
• Unique Upgrades
  • Illicit
    • Contraband Cybernetics
  • Salvaged Astromech
    • R5-TK
  • Secondary Weapon
    • Scrambler Missile
• Notable Upgrades
  • Elite Pilot Talent
    • Saturation Salvo
  •  Illicit
    • Deadman’s Switch
  • Secondary Weapon
    • Plasma Torpedo
• Suggested Buy: 1 (MSRP-  $20)
  • The Kimogila is an odd duck. It brings a lot of new features to Xwing, Reload and the Bullseye arc. Reload is done better by the Gunboat. Bringing the Bullseye arc to bear can be rather difficult but the ship’s pilots make good use of it.

Mist Hunter (G1-A)

• Max Squad- 4
• Standard Squad- 1
• Unique Upgrades
  • Elite Pilot Talent
    • Adaptability
  •  Crew
    • 4-LOM
    • Zuckuss
  • System
    • Electronic Baffles
  • Illicit
    • Cloaking Device
• Notable Upgrades
  • Cannon
    • Tractor Beam
• Suggested Buy: 2 (MSRP-  $40)
  • This ship is the Scum’s version of a B-wing. It has a lot of potential build options and a very red maneuver dial.  The named pilots do have some nice tricks but the upgrades are the primary appeal of this pack. Adaptability is useful in almost every squad and Electronic Baffles can be surprisingly effective if used right.

Most Wanted

• Unique Upgrades
  • Crew
    • Greedo
  • Secondary Weapon
    • Autoblaster Turret
  • Title
    • Andrasta
• Notable Upgrades
  • Crew
    • K4 Security Droid
  • Crew
    • Outlaw Tech
  • Illicit
    • Hotshot Blaster
• Suggested Buy: 1 (MSRP-  $40)
  • This set is a must buy for scum. It comes with three ships (Y-wing, 2x Z-95’s) but also has cards/pilots/dials for an extra Y-wing, HWK-290 and Firespray.  I almost recommended getting two of them so that you have a source of swarms from more Z-95’s. While you could buy the independent Z-95 packs, you can’t use the pilots or face plates from those, just the ship and dial. That means you can’t fly more than two of the same type of Z. But unless you want to do that you’ll only need one of these.

Protectorate Starfighter Expansion (Protectorate Starfighter)

• Max Squad- 5
• Standard Squad- 1-2
• Unique Upgrades
  • Elite Pilot Talent
    • Fearlessness
• Notable Upgrades
  • None
• Suggested Buy: 2 (MSRP- $30)
  • This expansion offers almost nothing in terms of upgrades. But it adds something new to Scum, a real knife fighting interceptor. A pair of these work well together. And Fenn Rau is one of the scariest pilots to face off against. It is a great arc dodging ship that, thanks to the title, actually can hold it’s own when it can’t avoid the arc.

Punishing One Expansion (Jumpmaster 5000)

• Max Squad- 4
• Standard Squad- 1
• Unique Upgrades
  • Elite Pilot Talent
    • Rage
    • Attanni Mindlink
  • Crew
    • Gonk
    • Boba Fett
    • Dengar
  • Salvaged Astromech
    • R5-P8
    • Overclocked Astromech
• Notable Upgrades
  • Modification
    • Guidance Chips
  • Illicit
    • Feedback Array
• Suggested Buy: 1 (MSRP- $30)
  • This ship has taken X-wing through the ringer. For a long time, Jumpmasters dominated the meta. Nerf after nerf did not bring them down, they only changed the build. Finally, the ship’s stats themselves got changed. No longer can the ship carry torpedoes or salvaged astromechs. Yet the box still comes with some decent salvaged astromechs and Guidance Chips, which modifies torpedo and missile attacks. The ship is still worth getting. Dengar is still a beast to fight. And the dial is still amazing.

Quadjumper

• Max Squad- 6
• Standard Squad- 2
• Unique Upgrades
  • Elite Pilot Talent
    • A Score to Settle
  • Crew
    • Unkar Plutt
    • BoShek
  • Illicit
    • Scavenger Crane
• Notable Upgrades
  • Secondary Weapon
    • Thermal Detonator
  • Tech
    • Hyperwave Comm Scanner
• Suggested Buy: 2 (MSRP- $30)
  • The Quadjumper is the first ship to be able to move backwards. Until this one, you could always count on your target ending up in the same spot or somewhere in front of where it started. It also comes with a few interesting upgrades, Scavenger Crane for instance, which make it a worthy pickup. But what really makes it shine is the Space Tractor Array upgrade. A pair or more of these can really wreck someone’s day.

Scurrg H-6 Bomber

• Max Squad- 4
• Standard Squad- 1
• Unique Upgrades 
  • Crew
    • Cad Bane
  • Secondary Weapons
    • Cruise Missile
    • Bomblet Generator
  • System
    • Minefield Mapper
  • Salvaged Astromech
    • R4-E1
• Notable Upgrades
  • Secondary Weapons
    • Synced Turret
    • Seismic Torpedo
• Suggested Buy: 1 (MSRP- $20)
  • This ship adds a lot of fun toys for Scum and really brings them into the bombing game. Because of its array of upgrades you are unlikely to fly very many of them in a single squadron, as the upgrades raise the cost very quickly.

Shadow Caster (Lancer Class)

• Max Squad- 3
• Standard Squad- 1
• Unique Upgrades
  • Crew
    • Latts Razzi
    • Ketsu Onyu
    • IG-88D
  • Illicit
    • Rigged Cargo Shute
    • Black Market Slicer Tools
• Notable Upgrades
  • Elite Pilot Talent
    • Veteran Instincts
  • Modification
    • Countermeasures
    • Tactical Jammer
• Suggested Buy: 1 (MSRP- $30)
  • This ship comes with a unique firing arc and some pretty compelling upgrades. The Mobile Arc is a great feature and something it would be nice to see more of. Asajj Ventress is the standout pilot for the ship, however. You can really make her incredibly tanky.

Slave-1 Expansion (Firespray-31)

• Max Squad- 2
• Standard Squad- 1-2
• Unique Upgrades
  • Elite Pilot Talent
    • Expose
• Notable Upgrades
  • Elite Pilot Talent
    • Veteran Instincts
  • Secondary Weapon
    • Heavy Laser Cannon
• Suggested Buy: 1 (MSRP- $30)
  • Unlike the Imperial Firespray, the lowest scum pilot for the Firespray costs 35pts, meaning you’ll never fly more than two; but still most likely only one.  But you’ll probably want to fly one as the scum Kath and Boba Fett are awesome.

StarViper

• Max Squad- 4
• Standard Squad- 1
• Unique Upgrades
  • Elite Pilot Talent
    • Bodyguard
    • Calculation
• Notable Upgrades
  • Modification
    • Hull Upgrade
  • System
    • Accuracy Corrector
  • Illicit
    • Inertial Dampeners
  • Modification
    • Autothrusters
• Suggested Buy: 1 (MSRP- $20)
  • This ship has some useful upgrades, mainly the Autothrusters, which are incredibly useful on many ships (A-Wing, TIE Interceptor, IG-2000). The ship itself is hard to pin down. Due to the unique nature of the Virago Title, you can only ever fly one of these nicely equipped, which is what you’ll often want to do. Two could be useful to have as flankers paired with a big ship or a mini-swarm. With the Starviper Mk II title from Guns for Hire this becomes affordable and worthwhile as the unique barrel roll makes flying them ridiculously fun.

Y-Wing

• Max Squad- 5
• Standard Squad-  1
• Unique Upgrades
  • None
• Notable Upgrades
  • Secondary Weapon
    • Ion Turret
• Suggested Buy: 1 (MSRP- $15)
  • While the Most Wanted pack comes with a Y-wing, you’ll want to get one of the individual packs because it comes with gear to fly two of them. And this pack comes with Ion Turrets which Most Wanted does not.

Z-95

• Max Squad- 8
• Standard Squad- 4
• Unique Upgrades- 
  • Elite Pilot Talent
    • Wingman
    • Decoy
• Notable Upgrades
  • Modification
    • Munitions Failsafe
• Suggested Buy: 0 (MSRP- $15)
  • The main reason to get an individual Z-95 pack is if you wanted to fly one of the named Scum Z pilots alone with a pair of basic pilots. Otherwise, buy a second Most Wanted.

C-ROC

• Max Squad- 2
• Standard Squad- 1
• Unique Upgrades- 
  • Crew
    • Cikatro Vizago
    • Jabba the Hutt
  • Title
    • Light Scyk Interceptor
  • Secondary Weapon
    • Arc Caster
• Notable Upgrades
  • Modification
    • Pulse Ray Shield
• Suggested Buy: 0-1 (MSRP- $70)
  • Confession, this was the first expansion I decided not to buy. At least right away. That being said, it does have some good things going for it. The Scyk pilots are pretty good and the Pulse Ray Shield can really give some Scum ships a boost. The crew are kind of so-so though. Vizago can create a lot of sneaky situations by switching out upgrades. Jabba can be great for your illicit use IF you want to fly a YV-666 in standard play.

Missing Upgrades

Below is a list of the upgrades (that you can use) that you will not have access to by solely buying Scum ships. The ones that are bolded are the most useful for Scum ships, though all have their place.

• Elite Pilot Talents
  • Adrenaline Rush (TIE Bomber/ARC-170)
  • Cool Hand (T-70 X-wing)
  • Draw Their Fire (Millenium Falcon)
  • Daredevil (TIE Interceptor)
  • Deadeye (A-Wing)
  • Debris Gambit (TIE Silencer)
  • Elusiveness (Millenium Falcon/TIE Interceptor)
  • Expert Handling (TIE Advanced/X-wing)
  • Expertise (U-Wing)
  • Intensity (TIE Aggressor)
  • Intimidation (VT-49/Auzituck Gunship)
  • Juke (TIE F/O)
  • Opportunist (Imperial Aces)
  • Push the Limits (Imperial Aces/A-Wing)
  • Snap Shot (Heroes of the Resistance/Upsilon Shuttle)
  • Swarm Leader (TIE Striker)
  • Swarm Tactics (TIE Fighter/TIE Advanced)
  • Squad Leader (TIE Advanced)
  • Trick Shot (Heroes of the Resistance)
• Crew
  • Bombardier (K-Wing)
  • Flight Instructor (Lambda Shuttle)
  • Hotshot Co-Pilot (Heroes of the Resistance)
  • Inspiring Recruit (U-Wing)
  • Maul (Phantom II)
  • Navigator (Lambda Shuttle)
  • Operations Specialist (Upsilon Shuttle)
  • Tactician (TIE Phantom/Auzituck Gunship)
  • Tail Gunner (ARC-170)
  • Weapons Engineer (Lambda Shuttle/Millenium Falcon)
• Illicit
  • Burnout SLAM (Heroes of the Resistance)
  • EMP Device (Sabine’s TIE)
• Secondary Weapons
  • Advanced Homing Missile (K-Wing/TIE Punisher)
  • Cluster Bombs (TIE Punisher)
  • Conner Net (K-Wing)
  • Extra Munitions (K-Wing/TIE Punisher)
  • Flechette Torpedoes (E-Wing/TIE Punisher/Rebel Transport)
  • Ion Bombs (K-Wing/TIE Punisher)
  • Ion Torpedo (VT-49)
  • Plasma Torpedoes (K-Wing/TIE Punisher)
  • Proton Rockets (Rebel Aces/YT-2400)
  • Proton Bombs (TIE Bomber/VT-49)
  • Seismic Torpedo (ARC-170)
  • Thermal Detonator (Ghost)
  • Twin Laser Turret (K-Wing/TIE Aggressor)
  • XX-23 Thread Tracer (Inquisitor TIE)
• System
  • Advanced Sensors (Lambda Shuttle/E-Wing)
  • Collision Detector (Special Forces TIE)
  • Enhanced Scopes (Rebel Aces/TIE Punisher)
  • Fire Control System (B-Wing/TIE Phantom)
  • Sensor Jammer (Lambda Shuttle/U-Wing/TIE Silencer)
• Tech
  • Comm Relay (TIE/FO)
  • Pattern Analyzer (Heroes of the Resistance)
  • Sensor Cluster (TIE/SF)
  • Targeting Synchronizer (Upsilon Shuttle)
• Modification
  • Anti-Pursuit Lasers (Lambda Shuttle)
  • Experimental Interface (YT-2400)
  • Shield Upgrade (Imperial Aces/Millenium Falcon)

Summary

Total suggested cost for released content at MSRP is ~$440 for your Scum Fleet. For unreleased content plus suggested non-faction ships with the most valuable upgrades is another ~$195. Those are some big numbers, but DON’T PANIC.

First, unless you can afford it, don’t buy all these ships at once. This guide is just your goal of where to aim for your fleet. Second, you can often get these ships 30% cheaper if you buy online. This article makes no judgment on buying online vs at your FLGS.

Second, this faction was developed under the assumption that most people would have a good mix of the other factions’ ships. It’s missing a lot of upgrades so even the suggested non-faction ships only scratch the surface of what you’re missing. On the plus size, the purchase price for suggested ships is by far the lowest of the three.

Third, remember this is just a GUIDE, a suggestion. It’s like the Pirate Code. Take from it what you will. Above all else, X-Wing is a fun game, so buy the ships you most want to put on the table.

With the ships and quantities listed above, you’ll be able to make almost any Scum squad you might want. Fringe lists (like 7 Scyks) will be out unless you stock up more on particular ships. But most good lists use a mix of ships so you never need more than a few of each type.

Suggested Buy Order

Here is my suggested buy order (not including unreleased content). It includes non-faction ships in italics which have the most useful upgrades.

1. 1x Most Wanted
2. 1x Slave-1 Firespray
3. 1x Guns for Hire
4. 1x StarViper
5. 1x Scurgg H-6
6. 1x Kihraxz
7. 1x Y-wing
8. 1x HWK-290
9. 1x K-Wing (Twin Laser Turret/Various Munitions)
10. 1x Punishing One
11. 1x Shadow Caster
12. 2x IG-2000
13. 2x Protectorate Starfighter
14. 1x A-Wing (Push the Limits)
15. 1x TIE Phantom (Fire Control System/Tactician)
16. 1x Hound’s Tooth YV-666
17. 2x Quadjumper
18. 1x Heroes of the Resistance (Illicit/EPT’s/Tech)
19. 1x U-Wing (Inspiring Recruit/Expertise)
20. 2x Mist Hunter
21. 1x M-3A Scyk
22. 1x C-ROC

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