I just wanted to see what everyone thinks, have you won more games or found it more beneficial to have more ships but shoot last or to have less ships but shoot first? Just curious because I've been debating my squad builds on wether I want higher PS skill or lower.

You don't have much experience with the meta do you...

I've actually played in a few tourneys but I've seen a lot of different builds. Swarms which use low ps and high pilots skill rebels I personally like low ps skill and upgrading but just wondering what other people have found more effective

Pilot skill is only one factor in many that determine the out come of a match. I do have strong opinions from my own experiences in Pilot Skill levels. If your going to to make a bid on shooting first, I feel it's a mistake to try and up the defense of the squad. Most people have this fear of using less ships and they build the their squad towards defense. It is the Offense of higher PS builds that sees success. Take Han Shoots First for example, Gunner and Marksmanship are both offensive upgrades. If you take away both these cards you have a different squad altogether. If you substitute those offensive cards for more defensive cards like the crew member Chewbacca and/or the YT's title card you have a ship with less punch. You will likely either lose or go to time with a modified win. Now to the other side of the coin, low pilot skill swarms. The Tie Swarm being the most common of Low PS builds. Howlrunner arguably is offensive minded but then again she is PS8. Look at the most common upgrade she carries in her Squad, Stealth Device, a definitive defensive upgrade. Other defensive cards also see their way into the swarms, determination, draw their fire and Push the Limit ( PTL is versatile, but often used for Evade and Focus in low PS builds).

So to answer your question you need ore information, both are very good options. The most important thing is to see where the common PS levels are current in the Meta game. If the meta shifts to very low swarmy builds get above them but build the offense, if it goes high go low and build the defense and you'll find yourself at the final table at your tournament.

Well I seem to beat 7-8 TIE swarms with 3 named X-Wings alot. So it all comes down to what you are comfortable playing.

Thanks for the input, I've been thinking about a bbxy build lately. The 1 b with sensor jammer the other with advanced sensors, the y with an ion turret and tarn mison in the x with r2f2. Gives the punch I want but also the hp needed to take some hits. However they are all pilot skill 2 except for tarn

Low PS means more gun which before now has almost always been better. That's why FFG made the Phantom to chew them to itty bitty bits.

Well, as an Imperial player I still tend to prefer at least a few higher cost pilots. I'm not really a fan of flying a bunch of unnamed chumps. I'm totally willing to put a lot of points into someone like Soontir, Rhymer, Jax or Vader to make them hyper deadly or survivable. In the end, if they get the kills to merit the cost then that's all that matters.