Phoenix and Thrawn Event Pro Farming information (Merged)
6/13 Update - while some of this information is still technically correct, I need to add a new Myth...
Myth #0 - EA/CG Cares About Their Users
You can probably ignore everything below this Myth, because it's the only myth that matters. Can you get Phoenix in time to run all the tiers of the Flash Event? Sure. Is Phoenix not half-bad? Absolutely. Does EA/CG look on their users with utter disdain? You betcha!
Where to begin...?
Let's start off with the fact that I was supposed to stand as a shining example of what could be done with a little foresight and planning. I had already leveled and geared Phoenix. I had currency saved up or every kind. I was probably the most prepared FTP player in the game for this event.
EA/CG's choice of timing for the event, and length of the event, basically preclude any possibility that I will be able to parlay MONTHS worth of effort into a 7* Thrawn. Now, before you go and start saying, "Oh, boo hoo... now you care?" Bear in mind that I probably won't even be USING him. He'd probably sit at the bottom of my inventory for months before I decided to start gearing him up.
I care because I was *trying* to be a beacon of hope in a hopeless land. I was trying to show that you CAN beat the game without paying $99. My failure is a failure for us all. Get your wallets out, folks! Pony up the cash!
I've done the math. Even with 3 Cantina refreshes a day, it will be nearly impossible for me to get the shards necessary to get all toons to 7*. Based on appearance rates of Ezra in fleet, and the need to farm some of his shards in the Cantina, I'm going to fall short by a few shards. I've even considered being really creative and using the shard shop to meet the shortfall, but it requires me to finish my GW every day, and tonight I find myself stuck on node 6. Can I beat it? Eventually? Is it worth the effort? Probably not.
Why am I even stuck at node 6? Well, it's a multiple zeta node and I don't have a single zeta yet. Why don't I have zetas yet? Because EA/CG has made farming ships a low, low priority. I've invested a few dollars in ships that actually can't even be farmed yet except through Chromium, if you want to try that crap shoot. EA/CG doesn't care to follow up on the products they entice you to buy so you can remain competitive. Instead, you get to fester.
You come to a point where you realize that the quality of your life would maybe be better off without the endless frustration of this game in it. What did I get for my months of planning? Just more frustration.
So here it is folks: mea culpa. You were right. EA/CG is God-awful. Much of what I originally wrote was true, but if you have any inkling that investing MORE time and MORE planning will actually help you get ahead in this game, give up the ghost. EA/CG will find a way to screw it up.
Oh, and, Nerf Ch.aze.
this important information is not lost to all the folks coming on to the forums in response to the event.
Myth #1 - There's no time!
First, many players were around when Phoenix was released, so you probably have a head start on these toons, maybe sitting at 15/30. Those players that don't have Phoenix at all are in a tougher spot, but it's not unworkable.
Second, the devs have kindly placed most of these toons - except Sabine - on pretty easy farm points. Two of them are in the Cantina on 8 energy nodes with double drops for the next couple days.
Third, the event is going to run EIGHT TIMES between now and June 30th. If you can't get the toons ready through some relatively easy farming for this iteration, work for the 12th. You can probably get three toons for ONE of the tiers ready in plenty of time. Then work on another toon for the next iteration.
Myth #2 - I'll never get them all starred!
You don't have to! Pick the tier with the rewards you want and work on those THREE toons. Need stun cuffs - then get the toons for the tier that has possible cuffs and ONLY play that tier until June 30th. Or, work on more toons over time - your choice.
Myth #3 - Yeah, but gear and stuff!
Except for the bonus tier, you will be given event toons. All you need to do is have the toons starred up enough to qualify for the tier.
The exception is the BONUS tier. Keyword: BONUS. Yeah - you'll have to have your toons geared up to participate and the rewards are SWEET. But, c'mon... whining that you can't participate in the bonus tier because you didn't invest anything in Phoenix up until this point is, well, an underwhelming position. It's a *bonus* to the people who did.
But... anyone who really wanted to could probably get these toons to 5* before June 30th and get their run in on the bonus tier.
Myth #4 - It's not worth it!
This is completely subjective, but have you even seen the rewards being giving out? Lets put the 3x Zeta mats, full furnace, and full cuffs on the bonus tier aside for now...
First time completion on each tier gets a rare mod. You may get hosed on secondaries (I did on my first one), but it's still a rare mod.
Beyond that, you will see four opportunities A DAY to get 5x the gear you need - cuffs, stun guns, droid callers, furnaces... almost ALL good stuff. If you consider the amount of time it takes to farm the gear versus the amount of time it takes to farm these toons on the really easy farm points most of them have, you will see that it is well worth it to start farming.
Oh... did I mention you may get Thrawn at the end of all this?
Myth #5 - Phoenix is terrible!
Look, this is - again - subjective, but Phoenix CAN be part of a squad that beats Triple Cleanse... currently the SECOND favorite thing to whine about on the forums. Watch this vid:
https://img.youtube.com/vi/Gau6fdH6sH0/0.jpg
"Yeah, but bolobaby, Kylo is doing all the work there! It's not pure Phoenix!"
So? Do you see General Kenobi in that Z.aul Sith squad in position 2? It's not pure Sith! Kylo is *able* to do the work because Phoenix soaks an exceptional amount of damage. The point is that Phoenix CAN and WILL be part of good, winning squads in the future. They are not even zeta'd yet.
Moreover, anyone who has actually USED Phoenix, will tell you that toons like Ezra are quite good even outside of Phoenix. Don't dismiss them.
Again, this is subjective, but *I* say Jawas stink. And yet, I go farm them so I can open up the Crit Mods challenge. And I do it without a ton of drama.
Myth #6 - They put Thrawn behind a paywall!
OK, I'm basically FTP, but I have Phoenix ready. I'm sure other players do too. Those that didn't prepare are going to have to work hard to get Phoenix ready for Thrawn. You can *choose* the pay route, or you can go re-read Myth #1 and realize that these toons are actually really easy to farm. If you put your mind to it, you can get Phoenix ready to potentially get Thrawn in time.
Even if you don't, where is it written that you must be allowed to get him the first time he is offered? You can choose NOT to pay, farm at a more leisurely rate, and get him without paying a dime the NEXT time he comes around. There is no paywall except the arbitrary, immediate gratification paywall you've established in your head.
Myth #7 - Only the whales will be able to get Thrawn!
Simply not true. 'Nuff said.
Myth #8 - I'll never use Phoenix again. CG is forcing these crappy toons on me!
First off, a lot of players seem to misunderstand the word "mandatory." Nothing is mandatory. You don't HAVE to get Thrawn. You don't HAVE to get Phoenix. I'm level 85 and finish in the top 50 of my arena shard with a squad that looks absolutely NOTHING like anyone else's.
I didn't HAVE to get Palpatine (still don't have) or Nihilus (only 3*) or Wedge (I have 1 shard) or Ch.aze (I have Chirrut at level 40 and 4*, Gear IV - someday I'll have him). I'm still competitive with my crazy scrub squad that does surprisingly well.
So, you are being FORCED into nothing. That's one part of the myth.
Part two of the Myth is that you'll never use Phoenix again. Hrm. Well, lots of people who said there would never be a use for Jawas in their lineup went and farmed them to get Crit Mods. Lots of people are farming Phoenix now because - *gasp* - they suddenly have a use for them!
The fun part will be when these folks realize that Phoenix can stroll through most of GW and finish on full health and protection. I bet some people who "never had a use for them" start using them on GW after they farm them for THIS use.
Moreover, if Phoenix eventually gets good zetas, I bet LOTS of people will suddenly find uses for Phoenix.
But, even if Thrawn is the sole use you have for them, and Thrawn is important to you, then THAT is a use.
Edit - adding a myth for new info on 6/9 at 6:22pm EST
Myth #9 - You need Sabine! It's impossible to get her in time!
Edit - new info on 6/9 at 6:54pm EST
Requiring Sabine in the bonus tier is actually a BUG. Confirmed by the devs who have indicated that they will try to get a fix in for next week. So, plenty of time before 6/30. Leaving the Myth and corresponding calculations intact in case you are still worried about farming Sabine.
It has come to my attention that Sabine is actually needed for the bonus tier. As I was unable to play the bonus tier yet, I was not aware that - although it says five 5* toons needed from the six available - the tier gives you an event Chopper. That means that you WILL need Sabine to complete the bonus tier.
First, please revisit Myth #3 and reread the part about the tier being a "bonus."
Now, I do not know if all six toons are needed for Thrawn, but, from this point on, it is probably prudent to assume they are.
I won't comment on whether or not the devs failed to make this information clear. We know now! It's early and we have time to act - that is what is important!
So, let's get on to the myth - that you won't have time to get Sabine to 5* in time.
I'm going to start from the assumption that the majority of us began at 15/30 on Sabine from the prior event. If you are newer than that, then this event may not be for you the first time around. Honestly, that's fair. Neither is the Grand Master Training, most likely.
That means we need 80 shards to get her to 5* before the 30th, when the event ends.
Next, the hard node will produce at approximately a 33% rate between now and the 30th. That is 21 shards.
Your guild store refreshes three times a day. That is 63 refreshes between now and then. You need 60 more shards after the hard node farm from the guild store. That is 12 Guild store purchases, or 4800 guild currency. Sabine needs to appear in a mere 19% of those refreshes.
If you are getting bad luck, a few crystals saved from dailies and the GW will get you guild store refreshes, so you should get there with ease.
As far as the guild currency, you should be getting half or more just from guild activities between now and then. The rest of it should be easily raised from raids.
Do not panic. You WILL get her in time if you stay focused.
Conclusion
Everyone should take a deep breath and calm down. This event is actually pretty easy to participate in - even if marginally so - between now and June 30th. Maybe you don't get a full 7* Thrawn this time around, but LOTS of players didn't get full Yoda's or R2s or Palpatines the first time they saw those events. I don't even HAVE Palpatine or R2 yet, and it didn't cause me to hyperventilate.
You will be fine. You just have to get to work. If you enjoy the game, getting to work is the fun part.
Peace.
Myth #0 - EA/CG Cares About Their Users
You can probably ignore everything below this Myth, because it's the only myth that matters. Can you get Phoenix in time to run all the tiers of the Flash Event? Sure. Is Phoenix not half-bad? Absolutely. Does EA/CG look on their users with utter disdain? You betcha!
Where to begin...?
Let's start off with the fact that I was supposed to stand as a shining example of what could be done with a little foresight and planning. I had already leveled and geared Phoenix. I had currency saved up or every kind. I was probably the most prepared FTP player in the game for this event.
EA/CG's choice of timing for the event, and length of the event, basically preclude any possibility that I will be able to parlay MONTHS worth of effort into a 7* Thrawn. Now, before you go and start saying, "Oh, boo hoo... now you care?" Bear in mind that I probably won't even be USING him. He'd probably sit at the bottom of my inventory for months before I decided to start gearing him up.
I care because I was *trying* to be a beacon of hope in a hopeless land. I was trying to show that you CAN beat the game without paying $99. My failure is a failure for us all. Get your wallets out, folks! Pony up the cash!
I've done the math. Even with 3 Cantina refreshes a day, it will be nearly impossible for me to get the shards necessary to get all toons to 7*. Based on appearance rates of Ezra in fleet, and the need to farm some of his shards in the Cantina, I'm going to fall short by a few shards. I've even considered being really creative and using the shard shop to meet the shortfall, but it requires me to finish my GW every day, and tonight I find myself stuck on node 6. Can I beat it? Eventually? Is it worth the effort? Probably not.
Why am I even stuck at node 6? Well, it's a multiple zeta node and I don't have a single zeta yet. Why don't I have zetas yet? Because EA/CG has made farming ships a low, low priority. I've invested a few dollars in ships that actually can't even be farmed yet except through Chromium, if you want to try that crap shoot. EA/CG doesn't care to follow up on the products they entice you to buy so you can remain competitive. Instead, you get to fester.
You come to a point where you realize that the quality of your life would maybe be better off without the endless frustration of this game in it. What did I get for my months of planning? Just more frustration.
So here it is folks: mea culpa. You were right. EA/CG is God-awful. Much of what I originally wrote was true, but if you have any inkling that investing MORE time and MORE planning will actually help you get ahead in this game, give up the ghost. EA/CG will find a way to screw it up.
Oh, and, Nerf Ch.aze.
this important information is not lost to all the folks coming on to the forums in response to the event.
Myth #1 - There's no time!
First, many players were around when Phoenix was released, so you probably have a head start on these toons, maybe sitting at 15/30. Those players that don't have Phoenix at all are in a tougher spot, but it's not unworkable.
Second, the devs have kindly placed most of these toons - except Sabine - on pretty easy farm points. Two of them are in the Cantina on 8 energy nodes with double drops for the next couple days.
Third, the event is going to run EIGHT TIMES between now and June 30th. If you can't get the toons ready through some relatively easy farming for this iteration, work for the 12th. You can probably get three toons for ONE of the tiers ready in plenty of time. Then work on another toon for the next iteration.
Myth #2 - I'll never get them all starred!
You don't have to! Pick the tier with the rewards you want and work on those THREE toons. Need stun cuffs - then get the toons for the tier that has possible cuffs and ONLY play that tier until June 30th. Or, work on more toons over time - your choice.
Myth #3 - Yeah, but gear and stuff!
Except for the bonus tier, you will be given event toons. All you need to do is have the toons starred up enough to qualify for the tier.
The exception is the BONUS tier. Keyword: BONUS. Yeah - you'll have to have your toons geared up to participate and the rewards are SWEET. But, c'mon... whining that you can't participate in the bonus tier because you didn't invest anything in Phoenix up until this point is, well, an underwhelming position. It's a *bonus* to the people who did.
But... anyone who really wanted to could probably get these toons to 5* before June 30th and get their run in on the bonus tier.
Myth #4 - It's not worth it!
This is completely subjective, but have you even seen the rewards being giving out? Lets put the 3x Zeta mats, full furnace, and full cuffs on the bonus tier aside for now...
First time completion on each tier gets a rare mod. You may get hosed on secondaries (I did on my first one), but it's still a rare mod.
Beyond that, you will see four opportunities A DAY to get 5x the gear you need - cuffs, stun guns, droid callers, furnaces... almost ALL good stuff. If you consider the amount of time it takes to farm the gear versus the amount of time it takes to farm these toons on the really easy farm points most of them have, you will see that it is well worth it to start farming.
Oh... did I mention you may get Thrawn at the end of all this?
Myth #5 - Phoenix is terrible!
Look, this is - again - subjective, but Phoenix CAN be part of a squad that beats Triple Cleanse... currently the SECOND favorite thing to whine about on the forums. Watch this vid:
https://img.youtube.com/vi/Gau6fdH6sH0/0.jpg
"Yeah, but bolobaby, Kylo is doing all the work there! It's not pure Phoenix!"
So? Do you see General Kenobi in that Z.aul Sith squad in position 2? It's not pure Sith! Kylo is *able* to do the work because Phoenix soaks an exceptional amount of damage. The point is that Phoenix CAN and WILL be part of good, winning squads in the future. They are not even zeta'd yet.
Moreover, anyone who has actually USED Phoenix, will tell you that toons like Ezra are quite good even outside of Phoenix. Don't dismiss them.
Again, this is subjective, but *I* say Jawas stink. And yet, I go farm them so I can open up the Crit Mods challenge. And I do it without a ton of drama.
Myth #6 - They put Thrawn behind a paywall!
OK, I'm basically FTP, but I have Phoenix ready. I'm sure other players do too. Those that didn't prepare are going to have to work hard to get Phoenix ready for Thrawn. You can *choose* the pay route, or you can go re-read Myth #1 and realize that these toons are actually really easy to farm. If you put your mind to it, you can get Phoenix ready to potentially get Thrawn in time.
Even if you don't, where is it written that you must be allowed to get him the first time he is offered? You can choose NOT to pay, farm at a more leisurely rate, and get him without paying a dime the NEXT time he comes around. There is no paywall except the arbitrary, immediate gratification paywall you've established in your head.
Myth #7 - Only the whales will be able to get Thrawn!
Simply not true. 'Nuff said.
Myth #8 - I'll never use Phoenix again. CG is forcing these crappy toons on me!
First off, a lot of players seem to misunderstand the word "mandatory." Nothing is mandatory. You don't HAVE to get Thrawn. You don't HAVE to get Phoenix. I'm level 85 and finish in the top 50 of my arena shard with a squad that looks absolutely NOTHING like anyone else's.
I didn't HAVE to get Palpatine (still don't have) or Nihilus (only 3*) or Wedge (I have 1 shard) or Ch.aze (I have Chirrut at level 40 and 4*, Gear IV - someday I'll have him). I'm still competitive with my crazy scrub squad that does surprisingly well.
So, you are being FORCED into nothing. That's one part of the myth.
Part two of the Myth is that you'll never use Phoenix again. Hrm. Well, lots of people who said there would never be a use for Jawas in their lineup went and farmed them to get Crit Mods. Lots of people are farming Phoenix now because - *gasp* - they suddenly have a use for them!
The fun part will be when these folks realize that Phoenix can stroll through most of GW and finish on full health and protection. I bet some people who "never had a use for them" start using them on GW after they farm them for THIS use.
Moreover, if Phoenix eventually gets good zetas, I bet LOTS of people will suddenly find uses for Phoenix.
But, even if Thrawn is the sole use you have for them, and Thrawn is important to you, then THAT is a use.
Edit - adding a myth for new info on 6/9 at 6:22pm EST
Myth #9 - You need Sabine! It's impossible to get her in time!
Edit - new info on 6/9 at 6:54pm EST
Requiring Sabine in the bonus tier is actually a BUG. Confirmed by the devs who have indicated that they will try to get a fix in for next week. So, plenty of time before 6/30. Leaving the Myth and corresponding calculations intact in case you are still worried about farming Sabine.
It has come to my attention that Sabine is actually needed for the bonus tier. As I was unable to play the bonus tier yet, I was not aware that - although it says five 5* toons needed from the six available - the tier gives you an event Chopper. That means that you WILL need Sabine to complete the bonus tier.
First, please revisit Myth #3 and reread the part about the tier being a "bonus."
Now, I do not know if all six toons are needed for Thrawn, but, from this point on, it is probably prudent to assume they are.
I won't comment on whether or not the devs failed to make this information clear. We know now! It's early and we have time to act - that is what is important!
So, let's get on to the myth - that you won't have time to get Sabine to 5* in time.
I'm going to start from the assumption that the majority of us began at 15/30 on Sabine from the prior event. If you are newer than that, then this event may not be for you the first time around. Honestly, that's fair. Neither is the Grand Master Training, most likely.
That means we need 80 shards to get her to 5* before the 30th, when the event ends.
Next, the hard node will produce at approximately a 33% rate between now and the 30th. That is 21 shards.
Your guild store refreshes three times a day. That is 63 refreshes between now and then. You need 60 more shards after the hard node farm from the guild store. That is 12 Guild store purchases, or 4800 guild currency. Sabine needs to appear in a mere 19% of those refreshes.
If you are getting bad luck, a few crystals saved from dailies and the GW will get you guild store refreshes, so you should get there with ease.
As far as the guild currency, you should be getting half or more just from guild activities between now and then. The rest of it should be easily raised from raids.
Do not panic. You WILL get her in time if you stay focused.
Conclusion
Everyone should take a deep breath and calm down. This event is actually pretty easy to participate in - even if marginally so - between now and June 30th. Maybe you don't get a full 7* Thrawn this time around, but LOTS of players didn't get full Yoda's or R2s or Palpatines the first time they saw those events. I don't even HAVE Palpatine or R2 yet, and it didn't cause me to hyperventilate.
You will be fine. You just have to get to work. If you enjoy the game, getting to work is the fun part.
Peace.
