I get why you would want to fly them (6 pilots, all above PS4), but I'm not sure why you'd want to fly them in formation. Two of them have skills that are geared towards range 1 (mauler, winged) but their pilot skill can't put them in the front.

How are people flying these guys? In formation? Split formation? Zerg?

Not to say that this IS the strategy, but I would like to point out the following.

Backstabber is likely out on a flank so he can use his ability.

If you send NB to make it a 2 ship flank (and he needs Howl's ability less since he gets the free focus) then you can do the following formation

MM .... WG
HR ...... DC

So now you can move in order, Mauler and Gundark can be in R1, DC and HR aren't blocked with their movements either. Flip the formation if you're setting up on the right side of the board.

on the approach I fly the box 6 formation, as i get into the thick of it I spread out to utilize each of the pilots abilities as best I can.

The one time I ran all named ties, I put them in close formation for the initial run then split backstabber off with the intention of keeping everyone else in formation. Unfortunately it was a very crowded field and I ended up scattered to the 4 winds. Still did my fair share of damage though.

I fly them as you say, in formation, with the high Pilot Skill pilots in the back. It isn't very hard to get all of your ships in the same range band, and you have given yourself a good chance to get most or all of your shots in before any return fire comes.

My formation looks something like this.

H H

H H H

This assumes I decided to deploy in the left corner. Backstabber does his own thing, and the other five fly in formation, They should be aligned, but I had some issues with the spacing. Howlrunner is on the bottom left. This way, she is at the longest range possible when the formation has to turn toward the table center. Ideally, I want to get in close so that the other 4 ships are at Range 1, but Howlrunner is not.

It isnt standard, and I don't use Black+VI for app ps6+ but I like

|NB| |WG| |DC|
|MM| |HR| |BS|

Ahh I understand the Mauler Mithel plight, however, you don't JUST need him for the ability, you get the high PS as well. The ability is more for when Howlrunner dies, or you break formation. THAT is when it becomes the most relevant. Not all pilot abilities need to be used at all times, after all. I mean, Night Beast likes greens so she can F + E combo often, but are you going to purposely break formation just for the focus?

Oops

It sounds like there's a bunch of different ways to fly them. I'm somewhat partial to splitting off Backstabber and NB as flankers, but I've heard that splitting a swarm is almost never advised. Backstabber has to be an exception to that.

If you run all named ties, you have 3 points left over. Where are you putting them?

I would pair Night beast on Mauler's wing and Dark curse backing up Stabber, then Howl and gundark in the center. Howl can reach either other group to lend her ability as needed and the other two groups have a highly offensive tie the you don't want to leave alone and a ship that can defend well enough that finishing it off is a pain, thus giving your opponent the unpleasant decision of who to hit first. I wouldn't pair night beast with Backstabber since Stabber needs to be out of arc and so probably won't have the luxury of green maneuvers that often. Gundark is the odd man out but he can be a decent closer, if Howl and him are the last pair targeted.

I would pair Night beast on Mauler's wing and Dark curse backing up Stabber, then Howl and gundark in the center. Howl can reach either other group to lend her ability as needed and the other two groups have a highly offensive tie the you don't want to leave alone and a ship that can defend well enough that finishing it off is a pain, thus giving your opponent the unpleasant decision of who to hit first. I wouldn't pair night beast with Backstabber since Stabber needs to be out of arc and so probably won't have the luxury of green maneuvers that often. Gundark is the odd man out but he can be a decent closer, if Howl and him are the last pair targeted.

This is interesting, but it seems like you'd really be sacrificing howlie's ability if you split into 3 duos. Although it would make howlie less tempting to kill first

I would pair Night beast on Mauler's wing and Dark curse backing up Stabber, then Howl and gundark in the center. Howl can reach either other group to lend her ability as needed and the other two groups have a highly offensive tie the you don't want to leave alone and a ship that can defend well enough that finishing it off is a pain, thus giving your opponent the unpleasant decision of who to hit first. I wouldn't pair night beast with Backstabber since Stabber needs to be out of arc and so probably won't have the luxury of green maneuvers that often. Gundark is the odd man out but he can be a decent closer, if Howl and him are the last pair targeted.

This is interesting, but it seems like you'd really be sacrificing howlie's ability if you split into 3 duos. Although it would make howlie less tempting to kill first

this is very similar to what I do (as posted above).

I fly in a tight 6 pack until HR dies and then split 3-2.

My extra points are a stealth on DC, not HR.