DP20s are hornets from hell
I’ve tried a handful of fleet compositions for AotR on expert, and feel like I’ve hit on my favorite so far. Buddy let me tell ya, DP20 wolfpacks paired with Braha’tok gunships is like Hell’s Hornets for the Imperials.
In my first few Rebellion playthroughs, I was way too.. respectful to the Imperials, like I was trying to save some planets for a special occasion, and all that did was get me curb-stomped by multiple SSDs and Bellators. My current strategic philosophy is: “cause as much trouble as possible for everyone everywhere, all the time.”
To that end, let me tell you about this setup:
DP20s
- The Imp ion cannons and hypervelocity guns can’t hit DP20s
- They repair over time by themselves without a repair ship
- They can get away quick (strong enough to even break tractor beam.. I think) with power to engines
- Their burst assault missile launchers take out hard points really fast
The only real downside is they can get swarmed by fighters, or shot down by enemy missiles. And that’s why we bring the Braha’tok
Braha’tok gunships
- Great hit and fade fighters— go aggravate a fighter swarm, let them chase you, and find opportunities to pick off isolated squadrons
- Concussion missiles can take out some hardpoints
- Flare ability keeps enemy guided munitions off-target and protects the DP20s
10 Braha’tok and 5 DP20s is the baseline for me— adding more just helps shorten the battles. I’ve pitted them against both Imperial and Black Sun fleets alike.
Perhaps the most important part is this: I’m able to destroy whole fleets instead of letting them get away. Jumping in a small gunship heavy fleet makes the computer think it can win. Then the starfighters are gone, then the capital ship engines, and then.. they can’t leave.
These fleets also work well to ambush an invading fleet— often, I’ll have them as part of a larger fleet that jumps in early, but you don’t get that benefit on defense. So if you know you’re going to get attacked somewhere, just position this fleet with a dockyard, then slug it out.
Happy hunting, commanders!