Missed Opportunity

Jump to Lightspeed spoilers have been really enjoyable so far. The set is absolutely going to shake the game up with the new piloting mechanic and an increased emphasis on the space arena. Very much looking forward to crafting decks with the new cards and seeing the impact on the meta game.

However, is the recently spoiled Red Five a missed opportunity?

Right up front there is nothing really wrong with this card. Three cost for a 3/4 unit in space is fair value. Just the stats calculate out to a nice even 0.00 on our Porg Value Calculator. Add in the on attack ability and you are looking at a nice little space unit. Being tagged as a Rebel also helps with the existing rebel package with Wing Leaders, Fleet Lieutenants, Rebel Assaults, etc.

However, there was an opportunity here to maybe make something really great…

Red 5… Red Five… Red FIVE… FIVE!!!

This unit could have been a five cost unit with 5 power and 5 health. While those stats would have been slightly under the curve the game text could have been something that gives it a bonus when upgraded with a pilot. Then it could have gotten yet another bonus when being piloted by Luke Skywalker.

The game play would have made sense as well. With five resources, play Red Five. The following round with six resources, flip the new Luke Skywalker leader as an upgrade onto his ship. It would then be a 9/10 unit with whatever game text enhancement. Imagine if that text was a +1/+0 with a pilot, and then say Overwhelm when piloted by Luke.

Again, Red Five as spoiled yesterday is not a bad unit. However it could have just as easily been called Trench Run X-Wing and it would have been fine. Then the design space would have been available to make Red Five, one of the most iconic ships and callsigns in Star Wars, into a truly special unit.