Take to the skies to defend an objective, compete in a dogfight with fellow pilots, or swoop down on unsuspecting infantry. A selection of starfighters is available in Supremacy, Walker Assault, and Fighter Squadron, offering some exciting air-to-ground and air-to-air combat. The T-47 Airspeeder is not a fighter, but it can bring an AT-AT to its knees. A rear-equipped TOW-cable is the only way to defeat the Imperial behemoth, although this takes time.
The air vehicles all have three evasive maneuvers, allowing for quick 90-degree or 180-degree turns. Take advantage of these moves to mix up your movements. The more unpredictable you can be, the better off you are in a dogfight.
Air Vehicle Controls
| Control | Xbox One | PlayStation 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Distribution (Throttle) | Left Thumbstick | Left Stick |
| Aim | Right Thumbstick | Right Stick |
| Fire Primary Weapon | RT | R2 |
| Soft Lock (Hold) | LT | L2 |
| Left Ability | LB | L1 |
| Right Ability | RB | R1 |
| Top Ability (if Available) | Y | Triangle |
| Power Ability | LB + RB | L1 + R1 |
| Evasive Maneuvers | Left/Up/Right on D-Pad | Left/Up/Right on D-Pad |
| 1st/3rd Person (Hold) | Down on D-Pad | Down on D-Pad |
| Abandon Vehicle | X | Square |
T-47 Airspeeder/Snowspeeder
Available game modes: EInvasion training mission, Supremacy, Walker Assault
Type: Repulsorlift
Faction: Rebel Alliance
Airspeeder/Snowspeeder Controls
| Ability | Cool Down (Seconds) | Button | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed Boost | 15 | Left Ability | This maxes out speed for a few seconds, which is great for rapidly closing in on an AT-AT. |
| Sensor Jammer (10 Seconds) | 15 | Right Ability | This jams nearby scanners for 10 seconds, making you invisible on their radar. |
| TOW-Cable | N/A | Power Ability | Fired from the rear, this can take down an AT-AT by wrapping itself around the walker’s legs. |
The Snowspeeder is not the fastest of the air vehicles. However, its ion afterburner does give a nice speed boost when needed, even though it can only be used once every 15 seconds. A sensor jammer keeps the ship off the radar for 10 seconds, great for swooping in on a vulnerable AT-AT. The only weapon equipped on the vehicles is the primary blaster cannon. This leaves it with little attacking prowess, but a rear TOW-cable does offer the ability to take down an AT-AT.
The speeder’s pace is set with the throttle, indicated by the yellow meter at the bottom of the HUD. Simply set it to the desired speed, and leave it alone. The ship’s evasive maneuvers are unlike the fighters. Pressing left or right causes the ship to bank in those directions, making very tight 180-degree turns. When you push up, the ship rapidly ascends to a higher altitude before settling back down.
A-wing
Available game modes: Fighter Squadron, Supremacy, Walker Assault
Type: Starfighter
Faction: Rebel Alliance
A-wing Controls
| Ability | Cool Down (Seconds) | Button | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shield | 15 | Left Ability | This temporary shield gives you a little time to get out of trouble. |
| Concussion Missiles | 20 | Right Ability | This is an explosive projectile. Lock on to your target before firing. |
The RZ-1 A-wing interceptor is the Rebel alternative to the X-wing and is available in Supremacy and Walker Assault by picking up the appropriate power-up. You can also select it in Fighter Squadron when fighting for the Rebel Alliance. A well-rounded fighter, the A-wing gives you both good defense and solid offensive capabilities.
Sublight engines provide decent speed to the starfighter, while a temporary shield can be activated with the Left Card ability. Lock on to an enemy, and rip it to shreds with a direct hit of a concussion missile. TIEs can be tough to target with their squirrely movements—remain patient and wait for your opportunity.
X-wing
Available game modes: Beggar’s Canyon training mission, Fighter Squadron, Supremacy, Walker Assault
Type: Starfighter
Faction: Rebel Alliance
X-wing Controls
| Ability | Cool Down (Seconds) | Button | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shield | 15 | Left Ability | A temporary shield gives you a little time to get out of trouble. |
| Proton Torpedoes | 20 | Right Ability | This is a powerful projectile. Lock on to your target before firing. |
The T-65 X-wing is more powerful than its Imperial equivalents, though it lacks the agility and quickness of the TIEs. Very similar to the A-wing, the fighter is equipped with a temporary shield and Proton Torpedoes. It is this projectile that sets it apart from its Rebel counterpart. The ordnance does an incredible job of homing in on its target, with enough power to take down a starfighter.
Work the laser cannons in bursts to avoid overheating as you dogfight with the Imperial fighters. It may be necessary to fire ahead of your target to damage it—a message appears in the middle of your HUD when you are successful. The shield ability does not last long, but it can absorb an otherwise deadly shot, giving you a chance to flee to safer skies. Do not forget about the ship’s evasive maneuvers, as they can also be a life saver.
Remember to use the energy distribution system to your advantage. As you close in on your next target, shift energy to the engines before powering up the laser cannons and lighting your opponent up. Add power back to the engines to stay behind a fleeing fighter, giving them no time to repair. Watch a TIE fighter’s flight pattern. They must wait 15 seconds after using the speed boost before it comes back online. Timing your attacks can be the difference that gives your side the victory.
TIE Fighter
Available game modes: Fighter Squadron, Supremacy, Walker Assault
Type: Starfighter
Faction: Galactic Empire
TIE Fighter Controls
| Ability | Cool Down (Seconds) | Button | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed Boost | 15 | Left Ability | This gives a short burst of speed from ion engines. |
| Ion Cannon | 20 | Right Ability | This powerful ion weapon is very effective against vehicles. |
The TIE fighter is the standard starfighter for the Galactic Empire. Their odd design has been the subject of many debates, but you cannot argue their effectiveness in a Fighter Squadron dogfight. Capable of very quick movements as well as a speed boost ability, the aircraft excels at evading cannon fire. It may lack the toughness of its rivals, but it compensates for this in its sheer speed.
The ion cannon is extremely effective against vehicles and turrets. Lock on a target and launch the projectile to almost guarantee a kill. Take notice of when the Rebel fighters use their shields, as they are at their most vulnerable for the next 15 seconds.
Just like the Rebel starfighters, the TIEs also use an energy distribution system. Move the power to the engines for faster speeds and to the cannon for better primary weapon performance.
TIE fighters also make an appearance in Survival on Sullust. To take them down, use the provided turbolasers or equip the Ion Torpedo Star Card.
TIE Interceptor
Available game modes: Fighter Squadron, Supremacy, Walker Assault
Type: Starfighter
Faction: Galactic Empire
TIE Interceptor Controls
| Ability | Cool Down (Seconds) | Button | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed Boost | 15 | Left Ability | This gives a short burst of speed from ion engines. |
| Ion Cannon | 20 | Right Ability | This powerful ion weapon is very effective against vehicles. |
Besides the wing shape, the TIE interceptor is identical to the fighter. It is similarly equipped with a speed boost, allowing you to close distances or escape in a hurry. An ion cannon locks on to Rebel targets before delivering a high-damaging shot. Use its great maneuverability and evasive moves to shake Rebel pursuers and get behind your next target.
Just like the others, the interceptor uses an energy distribution system to power its engines and cannon. Make adjustments to the throttle to best utilize it. The TIE’s primary weapon is fairly underpowered, so it is sometimes necessary to shift power that way to take an opponent down.
