74-Z Speeder Bike Breakdown
Unit Breakdown: 74-Z Speeder Bikes
The 74-Z speeder is one of my favorite units in my favorite faction. When played well speeder bikes can be a very fast and hard-hitting unit. Being that the speeder bike was one of the first Star Wars Legion Units to come out for the game they can sometimes feel a bit dated and simplistic compared to some of the newer units but they can still be effective.
Card Breakdown:
Points: Speeder bikes have been continuously had their points lowered since launch. Currently speeder bikes cost 70 points for 2 models. With only a comms upgrade available you shouldn’t have too much of a problem finding somewhere to put speeder bikes into an imperial list.
Keywords:
Cover 1 – You should always have at least one of your speeder bike behind light cover so that your unit benefits from the complete cover 2. It is essential for your speeder bikes to last.
Speeder 1 – This allows you to fly straight over most obstacles, as well as giving you a free compulsory move, making this unit super-fast and mobile.
Wounds and Defense: The speeder bikes have three wounds for each bike rolling white dice for defense and surging to block. This makes the speeder bikes super squishy and vulnerable if left in a bad position or going against the wrong unit. Take care to always be in cover to benefit from cover 2 and use your speed to keep moving and disrupting your opponent. Ultimately your speeder bikes will die, but your goal should be for them to cause as much damage as possible on the way out. Speeder bikes cannot break, but if you lose a bike it makes your attack pool much less effective.
Speed: Bikes are fast, Compulsory move + Speed 3 can get you where you need to go quickly.
Attack: Speeder bikes come with the Ax-20 Blaster Cannon and the EC-17 Hold-out Blaster. Speeder bikes also have the benefit of surging to hit when they attack. Making their attack pools pretty reliable.
Ax-20 Blaster Cannon – This will be the weapon your speeder bikes utilize most. Your unit will throw 2 red 2 black, and 2 white attack dice with impact 2. This is helpful in taking out armor as well as mowing down infantry. You are limited to your front arc only.
EC-17 Hold-out Blaster – This should only be used when one of your bikes does not have a shot in their front arc.
Upgrade Slots: The speeder bikes only have a comms slot available. This is one of those dated elements of the unit, but it is really the only kind of upgrade they need. For the comms slot there are a few upgrades that you may want to consider when kitting your speeder bikes out.
Linked Targeting Array – This in my opinion is the best upgrade to give your speeder bikes. Should you have three speeder boke units with linked targeting array if you pair it with the Assault command card you can get a turn Where your speeder bikes get two speed three moves with an aim and a shot. Beyond that, one turn giving your speeder bikes a free aim gives them more options and more chances to take dodges to keep them alive a little longer, or the chance to take another move.
Long Range Comlink – Could be a good upgrade for your speeder bikes but I find that the linked targeting array is a better option. If you are playing something like breakthrough or your intention is to go far ahead of your army this upgrade may be more important. Usually, I can feel comfortable avoiding it especially if my commander has commanding presence or battle meditation.
Comms Jammer – An interesting card if you want to get right into your enemy’s face as quickly as possible, but I find this only helps for a turn before the bikes are focused and destroyed.
HQ Uplink – Too expensive, unless you possibly run a single bike that you want to make sure has an order.
General Strategy:
Take 3 bikes if you can (you can take 4 in blizzard force, but I think that may be too many) one or two bikes is still good but their effectiveness goes up the more you include. You can deploy your bikes together or have them on either flank to force your opponent to split their attention. I typically prefer to deploy them all together.
Take as many opportunities as possible you can to run your opponent over and displace them causing maximum disruption.
Bikes work best as a turn one strike unit. Deploy your bikes completely out of sight or hiding as best as deployment and terrain allow. Deploy your officers or Veers close to the bikes. My go to if I am playing Veers or an Imperial officer with the bikes (you should). Is playing assault turn one. This gives all bikes an order and if you have equipped with Linked Targeting, they will all get an aim. Then you can pass aims from Veers or the officers to your bikes. This starts each bike with two aims before they have done anything. Hold your bikes until they are your last units and then drive them towards a soft spot in your enemy’s defenses. Take your shot with all three bikes utilizing your aims to do the most damage.
Turn 2 you are best using Veers 2 pip or the generic 2 pip. This will allow you to give orders to most of your bikes again giving them another aim. Go as quickly as possible with your bikes (you may even win priority). Take shots on your way out and move your bike to get in position for their next attack.
Your bikes will eventually die, but your goal should be to distract and cause as much damage as they can on their way out. Hopefully they distract your enemy while you move the rest of your army into position/grab objectives.
Imperial Remnant:
Not super keen on this list for bikes, don’t see an amazing amount of synergies here over Blizzard force or Tempest force
Tempest Force:
The one pip and three pip from tempest force synergize well with speeder bikes, Major Marquand’s command cards also buff speeder bikes, the only downside is no Veers.
Vehicles in this force also gain scout 2 which is beneficial for the speeder bikes if you want to have them up even further.
Blizzard Force:
Bikes are excellent in blizzard force but besides the ability to take 4 of them they don’t get much more benefit being in blizzard force.
Synergies:
General Veers – Veer’s command cards and abilities pair extremely well with the speeder bikes. If you give Veers electro binoculars he can pass aims to three bikes turn one. His two command slots also give him more freedom to take commanding presence to allow for more order control for the bikes. Veers two and three pips also synergize well with the bikes giving them reliable orders and on the two pip turn gives them dodges and outmaneuver
Imperial officer – Budget Veers, if you don’t have enough points for veers this is your next best option. Or you can combine one officer with Veers or have two officers. Provide them with electro binoculars and they will be able to pass a ton of aims.
Boba Fett – quick unit that can keep up with the bikes, although they may compete for orders.
AT-ST – Pairs well with the bikes by being a more sturdy unit that can back the bikes from afar, also is another unit in the blizzard force that you can take with bikes.
Corps Units – Having a bunch of corps units to come in after the bikes have done their damage to clean up weakened squads and nab objectives is super important.
List Examples:
