The UK Nationals were last weekend and a total of 75 players took part to compete for the title of UK Champion.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend, but I do have the data from the event.  Thanks go to one of the judges, Steve Stewart, for giving this information to me.

For this tournament, the recently-released two-player decks would be legal.  This creates a very short-lived meta (some have dubbed the ‘two-week meta’), as Empire at War is released in the UK on the 21st September and will completely change things.

As expected, the decks present were heavily-influenced by the new product (and rightly so; there are lots of good cards in that set).

In this article we have the full standings of the tournament and top 16 decklists, as well as some brief analysis of the information.

As there is a lot of information, to make it easier to navigate I have added some handy links below.

Links

Standings After Swiss
Teams Used
Characters Used
Top Cut Results
Winning Decklist
Runner-Up Decklist
Top 4 Decklists
Top 8 Decklists
Top 16 Decklists
Summary

Standings After Swiss

The number after a character indicates which version of that character was used.  For example, Vader1 refers to Darth Vader Sith Lord, and Vader2 refers to Darth Vader Dark Apprentice.

An asterisk next to the number of wins indicates that the player dropped before the end of the tournament.

Rank	Team	Wins
1st	eVader1/Royal	6
2nd	eQGJ/eRey1	6
3rd	ePoe1/eMaz	6
4th	eKylo2/eFN	6
5th	ePoe1/eMaz	6
6th	ePalpatine	6
7th	eVader1/Phasma2	5
8th	eVader1/Phasma2	5
9th	eVader2/ePhasma2	5
10th	eBala/FN/Phasma2	5
11th	ePhasma2/Death/Storm	5
12th	ePoe1/eMaz	5
13th	eKylo2/ePhasma2	5
14th	eVader1/Phasma2	5
15th	eVader1/Phasma2	5
16th	eKylo2/eFN	5
17th	ePoe1/eMaz	5
18th	eVader1/Phasma2	4
19th	eKylo2/eFN	4
20th	ePoe1/eMaz	4
21st	eVader2/ePhasma2	4
22nd	eVader1/Phasma2	4
23rd	eKylo2/ePhasma2	4
24th	eVader1/Royal	4
25th	eKylo2/eFN	4
26th	eUnkar/TIE/Phasma2	4
27th	eVader2/Grievous	4
28th	eVader2/ePhasma2	4
29th	eVader1/Raider	4
30th	ePoe1/eMaz	4
31st	ePoe1/eRey1	4
32nd	eBala/FN/Nightsister	4
33rd	eJango/ePhasma2	4
34th	eVader2/ePhasma2	4
35th	ePalpatine	4
36th	eVader2/eKylo1	3
37th	ePoe2/eRey2	3
38th	eBala/FN/Nightsister	3
39th	ePoe1/eMaz	3
40th	ePalpatine	3
41st	ePalpatine	3*
42nd	eRey1/Acolyte/Padawan	3
43rd	eVader1/Phasma2	3
44th	eVader1/Phasma2	3
45th	eVader1/Phasma2	3
46th	eLuke/Rey1	3
47th	ePalpatine	3*
48th	eVader2/eKylo1	3
49th	eLuke/Rey1	3
50th	eBala/FN/Nightsister	3
51st	eKylo1/FN/Storm	3
52nd	eJango/ePhasma2	3
53rd	eLuke/Rey1	2
54th	eVader2/ePhasma2	2*
55th	eHan/eRey1	2*
56th	ePoe1/eMaz	2*
57th	eBaze/eSnap	2
58th	eVader2/eKylo1	2
59th	ePoe1/eMaz	2*
60th	eLuminara/eRey1	2
61st	ePoe1/eMaz	2*
62nd	ePoe1/eMaz	2*
63rd	eVader2/eKylo1	2
64th	eAckbar/Hired/Hired	2
65th	eBaze/eSnap	2
66th	eMothma/Smuggler/Smuggler	1*
67th	eBala/FN/Nightsister	1*
68th	eVader1/Phasma2	1*
69th	ePadme/Maz/Trooper	1
70th	eBala/FN/Nightsister	0*
71st	eKrennic/Death	0*
72nd	eLuke/Rey1	0*
73rd	eSnap/Maz/Rey1	0*
74th	ePalpatine	0*
75th	eVader1/Raider	0*

As you can see from the table above, in addition to the six players that were 6-1, there were eleven players on a 5-2 record.  Since they’d announced that there would be a top 16 cut, this meant that one of the 5-2 players would miss out!

As it turned out, the player that finished 11th wasn’t able to stay for day two, so the 17th-placed player was bumped up into the top cut.

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Teams Used

Rank	Team	Frequency
1st	ePoe1/eMaz	11
2nd	eVader1/Phasma2	9
3rd	ePalpatine	6
4th	eBala/FN/Nightsister	5
	eVader2/ePhasma2	5
6th	eKylo2/eFN	4
	eLuke/Rey1	4
	eVader2/eKylo1	4
9th	eBaze/eSnap	2
	eJango/ePhasma2	2
	eKylo2/ePhasma2	2
	eVader1/Raider	2
	eVader1/Royal	2
14th	eAckbar/Hired/Hired	1
	eBala/FN/Phasma2	1
	eHan/eRey1	1
	eKrennic/Death	1
	eKylo1/FN/Storm	1
	eLuminara/eRey1	1
	eMothma/Smuggler/Smuggler	1
	ePadme/Maz/Trooper	1
	ePhasma2/Death/Storm	1
	ePoe1/eRey1	1
	ePoe2/eRey2	1
	eQGJ/eRey1	1
	eRey1/Acolyte/Padawan	1
	eSnap/Maz/Rey1	1
	eUnkar/TIE/Phasma2	1
	eVader2/Grievous	1

Poe/Maz being the most popular team will probably surprise no one, but Vader (Sith Lord) and the new Phasma being the second most popular might do.  Being able to activate Vader multiple times in one turn via Leadership and The Price of Failure must have been too tempting!

Palpatine being more popular than Rainbow Nines was also interesting to see (one of them made the final as well!).

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Characters Used

Rank	Character	Frequency
1st	Phasma2	22
2nd	Vader1	14
3rd	Maz	13
4th	Poe1	12
5th	FN-2199	11
6th	Rey1	10
	Vader2	10
8th	Bala-Tik	6
	Kylo2	6
	Palpatine	6
11th	Kylo1	5
	Nightsister	5
13th	Luke	4
14th	Snap	3
15th	Baze	2
	Death	2
	Hired	2
	Jango	2
	Raider	2
	Royal	2
	Smuggler	2
	Storm	2
23rd	Ackbar	1
	Acolyte	1
	Grievous	1
	Han	1
	Krennic	1
	Luminara	1
	Mothma	1
	Padawan	1
	Padme	1
	Poe2	1
	QGJ	1
	Rey2	1
	TIE	1
	Trooper	1
	Unkar	1

The new Captain Phasma was the most-used character at the tournament, with nearly one-third of the players using her.  She is most likely going to feature in a lot of villain teams going forward, thanks to her cheap points cost and good dice.

The rest of the top ten characters were no great surprise, but this close to Empire at War we weren’t really expecting any.

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Top 16

eVader1/Royal	defeated	ePoe1/eMaz
eVader2/ePhasma2	defeated	eVader1/Phasma2
eKylo2/eFN	defeated	eVader1/Phasma2
eKylo2/ePhasma2	defeated	ePoe1/eMaz
eKylo2/eFN	defeated	eQGJ/eRey1
eVader1/Phasma2	defeated	eBala/FN/Nightsister
ePoe1/eMaz	defeated	eVader1/Phasma2
ePalpatine	defeated	ePoe1/eMaz

Top 8

eVader2/Phasma2	defeated	eVader1/Royal
eKylo2/eFN	defeated	eKylo2/ePhasma2
eVader1/Phasma2	defeated	eKylo2/eFN
ePalpatine	defeated	ePoe1/eMaz

Top 4

eKylo2/eFN	defeated	eVader2/ePhasma2
ePalpatine	defeated	eVader1/Phasma2

Final

eKylo2/eFN

defeated

ePalpatine

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Winning Decklist

eKylo2/eFN by Danny Adlem
Battlefield –	Mos Eisley Spaceport
Upgrades (14)	Supports (0)	Events (16)
1x Captain Phasma’s Blaster		2x Boundless Ambition
2x Crossguard Lightsaber		2x Clash
1x Force Illusion		1x Deflect
2x Holdout Blaster		2x Doubt
2x Lightsaber		2x Enrage
2x Rocket Launcher		1x Imperial War Machine
2x Vibroknife		2x Isolation
2x Z6 Riot Control Baton		2x Lightsaber Throw
		2x Logistics

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Runner-Up Decklist

ePalpatine by Simrandeep Pone
Battlefield –	Otoh Gunga
Upgrades (11)	Supports (0)	Events (19)
2x Force Illusion		2x Deflect
1x Force Lightning		2x Doubt
2x Force Push		2x High Ground
2x Force Speed		2x Isolation
1x Force Throw		2x Mind Trick
1x Mind Probe		2x No Mercy
2x Sith Holocron		1x Now You Will Die
		2x Overconfidence
		2x Rejuvenate
		2x Rise Again

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Top 4 Decklists

eVader2/ePhasma2 by Leighton Pointer
Battlefield –	Emperor’s Throne Room
Upgrades (12)	Supports (0)	Events (18)
2x Z6 Riot Control Baton		2x All In
2x Force Illusion		2x Deflect
2x Holdout Blaster		2x Clash
2x Mind Probe		1x The Best Defense…
2x Force Speed		1x New Orders
2x Sith Holocron		2x Dug In
		2x Tactical Mastery
		2x Doubt
		2x Logistics
		2x High Ground

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eVader1/Phasma2 by David Payton
Battlefield –	Obi-Wan’s Hut
Upgrades (11)	Supports (0)	Events (19)
1x Z6 Riot Control Baton		2x Boundless Ambition
2x Force Illusion		2x The Price of Failure
2x Force Speed		2x Leadership
2x Praetorian Guard		2x Force Strike
2x Vibroknife		2x Trust Your Instincts
2x Dark Counsel		2x Doubt
		2x The Best Defense…
		1x Dug In
		1x Sound the Alarm
		2x Isolation
		1x New Orders

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Top 8 Decklists

ePoe1/eMaz by Robert Kane
Battlefield –	Cargo Hold
Upgrades (8)	Supports (6)	Events (16)
2x Cunning	2x U-Wing	2x Hit and Run
2x Thermal Detonator	2x Millenium Falcon	2x Retreat
2x DL-44 Heavy Blaster Pistol	2x Planetary Uprising	2x Hyperspace Jump
2x Rocket Launcher		2x Smuggling
		2x Field Medic
		2x Dug In
		2x Loth-Cat & Mouse
		1x Electroshock
		1x Defensive Position

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eVader1/Royal by Chris Marooth
Battlefield –	Cargo Hold
Upgrades (8)	Supports (2)	Events (20)
2x Force Illusion	2x Emperor’s Favor	2x Deflect
2x Kylo Ren’s Lightsaber		2x Feel Your Anger
2x Vibroknife		2x Isolation
2x Force Speed		2x No Mercy
		2x Rejuvenate
		2x Lightsaber Throw
		2x Trust Your Instincts
		2x Manipulate
		2x The Price of Failure
		2x Force Strike

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eKylo2/eFN by Miles Tamplin
Battlefield –	Mos Eisley Spaceport
Upgrades (14)	Supports (0)	Events (16)
2x Lightsaber		2x Logistics
2x Crossguard Lightsaber		2x Isolation
2x Rocket Launcher		2x Doubt
2x Z6 Riot Control Baton		2x Enrage
2x Holdout Blaster		2x Clash
2x Vibroknife		2x Boundless Ambition
1x Captain Phasma’s Blaster		2x Lightsaber Throw
1x Force Ilusion		1x Deflect
		1x Imperial War Machine

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eKylo2/ePhasma2 by Mat Webb
Battlefield –	Obi-Wan’s Hut
Upgrades (15)	Supports (0)	Events (15)
2x Force Illusion		2x Overconfidence
2x Vibroknife		2x Doubt
1x Captain Phasma’s Blaster		2x The Best Defense…
2x Imperial Discipline		2x Isolation
2x Promotion		2x Enrage
2x Crossguard Lightsaber		2x Trust Your Instincts
2x Force Choke		1x Deflect
2x DH-17 Blaster Pistol		2x As I Have Forseen

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Top 16 Decklists

eVader1/Phasma2 by Chris Drew
Battlefield –	Moisture Farm
Upgrades (16)	Supports (2)	Events (12)
2x Force Illusion	2x Imperial Inspection	2x Doubt
2x Force Speed		2x Force Strike
2x Force Throw		2x Leadership
2x Makashi Training		2x Overconfidence
2x Praetorian Guard		2x Rise Again
2x Sith Holocron		2x Sound the Alarm
2x Vibroknife
2x Z6 Riot Control Baton

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eBala/FN/Nightsister by Mark Gibson
Battlefield –	Secret Facility
Upgrades (14)	Supports (4)	Events (12)
2x Captain Phasma’s Blaster	2x Aftermath	2x Bait and Switch
2x F-11D Rifle	2x Salvage Stand	2x Friends In Low Places
2x Holdout Blaster		2x He Doesn’t Like You
2x IQA-11 Blaster Rifle		2x Imperial War Machine
2x Vibroknife		2x Logistics
2x Vibroknucklers		2x The Best Defense…
2x Z6 Riot Control Baton

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ePoe1/eMaz by Jack Westaway
Battlefield –	Cargo Hold
Upgrades (11)	Supports (6)	Events (13)
2x Lone Operative	2x U-Wing	1x Dug In
2x Rocket Launcher	2x Millenium Falcon	2x Hit and Run
2x Thermal Detonator	2x Planetary Uprising	2x Field Medic
2x Second Chance		2x Long Con
2x DL-44 Heavy Blaster Pistol		2x Negotiate
1x Cunning		2x Our Only Hope
		2x Hyperspace Jump

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eVader1/Phasma2 by Simon Smithson
Battlefield –	Obi-Wan’s Hut
Upgrades (8)	Supports (0)	Events (22)
2x Vibroknife		1x Clash
2x Force Speed		2x Dug In
2x Z6 Riot Control Baton		2x Doubt
2x Force Illusion		2x Boundless Ambition
		2x Deflect
		2x The Best Defense…
		2x Force Strike
		2x Leadership
		2x Tactical Mastery
		2x Lightsaber Throw
		2x Feel Your Anger
		1x Trust Your Instincts

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eVader1/Phasma2 by Kayne Harrison
Battlefield –	Maz’s Castle
Upgrades (12)	Supports (0)	Events (18)
2x Vibroknife		1x The Price of Failure
2x Lightsaber Pike		2x Isolation
2x Captain Phasma’s Blaster		2x Trust Your Instincts
2x Rocket Launcher		2x Leadership
2x Holdout Blaster		2x Feel Your Anger
2x Force Speed		2x Doubt
		2x Take Cover
		1x Sound the Alarm
		2x Deflect
		1x I Have You Now
		1x Recon

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ePoe1/eMaz by Lee Taylor
Battlefield –	Emperor’s Throne Room
Upgrades (9)	Supports (7)	Events (14)
1x Maz’s Goggles	2x Millenium Falcon	2x Defensive Position
2x Thermal Detonator	2x U-Wing	2x Hit and Run
1x Bowcaster	1x Launch Bay	2x Let the Wookiee Win
1x Cunning	2x Planetary Uprising	2x Field Medic
1x DL-44 Heavy Blaster Pistol		2x Electroshock
1x Poe Dameron’s Blaster		2x Dug In
1x Rocket Launcher		1x New Orders
1x Fast Hands		1x Friends In Low Places

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eQGJ/eRey1 by John Paul Stevens
Battlefield –	Cargo Hold
Upgrades (11)	Supports (2)	Events (17)
2x Jedi Robes	2x Luke’s Protection	2x Caution
2x Force Speed		2x Willpower
2x Vibroknife		2x Distraction
2x Makashi Training		2x Close Quarters Assault
2x Rey’s Lightsaber		2x Overconfidence
1x One With The Force		2x Riposte
		2x Synchronicity
		2x Guard
		1x Force Misdirection

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ePoe1/eMaz by Chooi Oh
Battlefield –	Emperor’s Throne Room
Upgrades (7)	Supports (8)	Events (15)
2x Thermal Detonator	2x U-Wing	2x Dug In
1x Rocket Launcher	2x Launch Bay	2x Defensive Position
2x DL-44 Heavy Blaster Pistol	2x Millenium Falcon	2x Field Medic
2x Fast Hands	2x Planetary Uprising	2x Hit and Run
		2x New Orders
		2x Electroshock
		1x Loth-Cat & Mouse
		1x Our Only Hope
		1x Friendly Fire

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Summary

The winning deck was Kylo Tormented One and FN-2199, beating Palpatine in the final. Congratulations to Danny Adlem (of the Three Man Meta podcast) on becoming UK Champion!

New Kylo is a force to be reckoned with, and although being paired against a mono-blue deck in the final makes his ability seem stronger, it is nonetheless very good.

FN-2199 continues to show what a powerhouse he is.  He’s now featured in the winning team of three major tournaments (UK Nationals – Kylo/FN, Gencon – Bala/FN/Nightsister, European Championships – Unkar/FN/Storm).  I know there is talk of an errata/nerf.  We’ll have to see what effect Empire at War has on FN’s supremacy.

	Hero	Villain
Top 16	5*	11*
Overall	27	48

[*After the swiss portion of the tournament, there was one extra villain player that made it through.  However, they dropped from the tournament, which meant that the 17th-placed player (a hero player) was bumped up into the top 16 portion of the event.]

As you can see from the table above, it was about two-thirds villains in overall attendance and top 16 placings.  This isn’t unexpected, as so far in Destiny, villains have had the greater number of viable character combinations.  Empire at War is looking like it might redress the balance, but only time will tell.

Anyway, I hope that you have found this information interesting.  It has been nice to see that easily-available starter decks cards and characters were being used to good effect; it’s an encouraging sign to new players that they can quickly start using higher quality decks.

Cheers,

Tim