Comparing the Advanced and X Wing showed us two ships with fairly balanced but quite different personalities. Now we can look at the Scum Khiraxz against it’s Rebel peer the X Wing.
Points;
XW 21 to 29 (39 max) vs 20 to 28 (36 max) Kxz
The Kihraxz is sightly cheaper. Both factions can field a solid 3-4 ship squad, or the Scum a 5 ship “expendables” squad.
Base Stats;
XW 3 2 3 2 vs 3 2 4 1 Kxz
Same total, but again the factional differences can again be summed up in this one line. They both hit equally hard, but the Scum trade off shields for hull (a common thread). Shields are slightly better than hull, so the Rebels have a very slight edge here.
Actions;
XW Focus, Lock vs Focus, Lock Kxz
The Kihraxz is again living up to it’s reputation as the Scum X Wing.
Upgrades (BB style);
XW Torpedoes, Droid vs Missiles, Illicit Kxz
Same but very different. The Droid vs Illicit slots really highlight the difference in the factions. The Scum go for dirty tricks over team work. Illicit does not directly benefit the Missile upgrade, but does add some re-positioning benefits. In BB only Scum can have the nasty Harpoon Missile, so they tend to gravitate towards Kihraxz fit-outs.
Moves;
XW 8 White, 6 Green vs 8 White, 5 Green Kxz
XW Speed 4, 4/K-Turn vs Speed 4, 5 & 4/K-Turn Kxz
Fitting with the slippery feel of Scum, two K-Turns, in exchange for one less green move is a good trade off, especially with some Illicit tricks like Inertial Dampeners or Contraband Cybernetics. Both ships can be a bit boring to fly, but the Kihraxz less so and it can be quite unpredictable. This fits in well with some of it’s better pilot’s also.
Pilots (including Huge ship expansion options);
XW 10 (4 Elite) vs 6 (5 Elite) Kxz
Fewer pilots for the Scum, with a strong emphasis on offence and more EPT’s. Talonbane is very strong, Hel and Graz tricky and Jostero good in a pack. The X Wing on the other hand has as many as any other ship, but not many EPT’s in the mix. Without EPT’s the Rebels are strong, without the Scum have unpredictable options opened up to them. Again, factional differences are emphasised.
Summary;
The Kihraxz and X Wing have much in common, but their differences are where the gaming magic lies.
Facing off against each other, they would be well matched, but as a player, you would have to switch hats (a worn dirty white to a slimy green), which makes these two ships just as different as the Advanced is to either of them.
Three factions, three takes on the same thing, three very different experiences.
Which one for me?
Sentimental favourite and the new lease of life it has in BB makes the X Wing the one. It also has more variety, so from a gaming perspective, it is the head choice. Flying Khiraxz for a change has it’s appeal though, especially with Talonbane.