It's not 12. It's 19.
You get there by adding an Assault Missile and a Munitions Failsafe, and promoting it to a Tala Squadron.

Run 5 of them, but promote one further to Lieutenant Blount (losing his Failsafe, of course).

You have 2 points left over for an EPT on Blount.

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In other news, you either incur splash damage, or you don't spend your missile. Over 5 freakin' assaults.

I had the misfortune of Swarming against this build, and got board-wiped without dealing a single card of hull-damage to my opponent.

Is there a way to defeat this nightmare that is also effective against HSF and Swarm?

I'd be much more worried about phantoms than assault missiles right now.

Don't run a swarm, or break the swarm up and fly out of formation..

Also this is where we will see more people adding a single Tie Defender to their builds.

That said.. I am surprised they are only 12. And not like 15 or so points.

I'd be much more worried about phantoms than assault missiles right now.

Honestly, the Phantom is not as much of a concern.

It's flashier, and its still a threat, but it's not an I-Win button.

Go up against this fleet at some point, and THEN tell me if you're still scared of the Phantom

Break formation. Stay range 1 apart, and close fast. Fight at range 1 of them. Get right the crap in there. Z-95s do not like the range 1 fight. It guts them. If they fire they're missiles their hitting their own fleet.

If you don't formation fly assault missiles are useless

What kind of swarm did you fly?

Also compare a "Tala-Squadron with AM and MF (19)"-Swarm against a "Black-Squadron with Predator (17)"-Swarm; the TIE is still the deadlier combatant...

I'd be much more worried about phantoms than assault missiles right now.

Honestly, the Phantom is not as much of a concern.

It's flashier, and its still a threat, but it's not an I-Win button.

Go up against this fleet at some point, and THEN tell me if you're still scared of the Phantom

I've flown against it, and... meh. HSF beats it reliably, as does double Falcons, as does triple Firesprays, as does BBXX (as long as you don't have Biggs), as do Bomber lists. Basically, Zs with Assault Missiles are a silver bullet against high-Agility, low-hp ships that like to cluster up, but they're about 4 points overpriced in the general case.

Spread out your deployment, and either pull the Zs through a cluster of asteroids or get close quick (both, if you can manage it). You'll be fine.

Tala Squadron Pilot + Munitions Failsafe + Assault Missiles (19)

Tala Squadron Pilot + Assault Missiles + Munitions Failsafe (19)

Tala Squadron Pilot + Assault Missiles + Munitions Failsafe (19)

Tala Squadron Pilot + Assault Missiles + Munitions Failsafe (19)

Lieutenant Blount + Assault Missiles + Squad Leader (24)

The arms race is on right now over Pilot Skill levels, thanks to the Phantom. Although the Tala Squadron Pilot sits at 4, they will be far behind in the new arms race. That will mean of the initial approach, they will move first. With little option but to focus as the opposing fleet sits just out of range for target locks. You need that target lock to fire the missiles, this means the terror of the assault missile sits in waiting in the launch tube. The second attack could where the Tala now has the option to target lock could see the target to close to let loose the munitions. You likely see one or two die with the missile never have been fired.

Besides that problem! I can think of a couple builds that would hard counter the Z-Swarm. High PS phantoms with ACD will be almost impossible for the 2 attack value to penetrate the 4 agility of a cloaked phantom. You are likely to fly the Z's as a swarm and are susceptible to Proton Bombs. Just Two of them would leave you a long, long wait for the next round at a tournament.

Tala Squadron Pilot + Munitions Failsafe + Assault Missiles (19)

Tala Squadron Pilot + Assault Missiles + Munitions Failsafe (19)

Tala Squadron Pilot + Assault Missiles + Munitions Failsafe (19)

Tala Squadron Pilot + Assault Missiles + Munitions Failsafe (19)

Lieutenant Blount + Assault Missiles + Squad Leader (24)

The arms race is on right now over Pilot Skill levels, thanks to the Phantom. Although the Tala Squadron Pilot sits at 4, they will be far behind in the new arms race. That will mean of the initial approach, they will move first. With little option but to focus as the opposing fleet sits just out of range for target locks. You need that target lock to fire the missiles, this means the terror of the assault missile sits in waiting in the launch tube. The second attack could where the Tala now has the option to target lock could see the target to close to let loose the munitions. You likely see one or two die with the missile never have been fired.

Besides that problem! I can think of a couple builds that would hard counter the Z-Swarm. High PS phantoms with ACD will be almost impossible for the 2 attack value to penetrate the 4 agility of a cloaked phantom. You are likely to fly the Z's as a swarm and are susceptible to Proton Bombs. Just Two of them would leave you a long, long wait for the next round at a tournament.

Phantoms will obliterate those guys. They close too fast for the missiles to work. They also escape their arcs once they get close and shoot first. Metas are going to change with all of this wave 4 stuff. Some of the old tournament lists might get better or worse but things will change. The Z lists will be out there and they will have some luck against swarms and probably be effective against many others. The version I see in my area replaces the assault missiles on the Talas with homing missiles. Much more versatile. After Blount hurts everyone with assault missiles,the homing missiles can't be evaded and knock down ships one after the other. Anything left over gets concentrated down.

Phantoms will obliterate those guys. They close too fast for the missiles to work. They also escape their arcs once they get close and shoot first. Metas are going to change with all of this wave 4 stuff. Some of the old tournament lists might get better or worse but things will change. The Z lists will be out there and they will have some luck against swarms and probably be effective against many others. The version I see in my area replaces the assault missiles on the Talas with homing missiles. Much more versatile. After Blount hurts everyone with assault missiles,the homing missiles can't be evaded and knock down ships one after the other. Anything left over gets concentrated down.

In theory they could save a lot of points by going with concussion missiles. The damage output is similar.

Is there a way to defeat this nightmare that is also effective against HSF and Swarm?

Break formation. You're flying against what was designed to counter the Howlrunner TIE pack. Stay out of Range 1 of each other and the splash won't get you. Your TIEs have the maneuverability and agility advantage so you can outfly the Z-95s. If you stick together as a big tight target then you will die to the salvo that was built to kill squadrons flying like that.

Is there a way to defeat this nightmare that is also effective against HSF and Swarm?

Break formation. You're flying against what was designed to counter the Howlrunner TIE pack. Stay out of Range 1 of each other and the splash won't get you. Your TIEs have the maneuverability and agility advantage so you can outfly the Z-95s. If you stick together as a big tight target then you will die to the salvo that was built to kill squadrons flying like that.

^^this

fly closer to them

Either they cannot fire (AM is range 2-3) or they wil hurt their own ships

Yep, what worked before wave 4 won't work after wave 4. I'm very happy about that.

Die swarm, die!

And thank the force for that. Tie swarms are such a boring list in this game. I'm glad they are getting beat up a bit. I fly imperial mostly, and have never enjoyed the swarm.

Well I never used big swarms before as I play casually with friends so this does not adversely effect me but I look forward to seeing how it effects the next round of tournament results.

I'm happy imperial no longer has to rely solely on spamming cheap ships.

My answer would be....

Black Squadron Pilot + Predator + Stealth Device

Black Squadron Pilot + Predator + Stealth Device

Black Squadron Pilot + Predator + Stealth Device

Black Squadron Pilot + Predator + Stealth Device

Black Squadron Pilot + Predator + Stealth Device

100 PTS

If you have Init you shoot first... and you dont need to fly them in formation.

Well I never used big swarms before as I play casually with friends so this does not adversely effect me but I look forward to seeing how it effects the next round of tournament results.

I'm happy imperial no longer has to rely solely on spamming cheap ships.

can't say i've ever relied on cheap ships for imperial since wave 1

though powerful, they have never been the be all end all build for empire

My answer would be....

Black Squadron Pilot + Predator + Stealth Device

Black Squadron Pilot + Predator + Stealth Device

Black Squadron Pilot + Predator + Stealth Device

Black Squadron Pilot + Predator + Stealth Device

Black Squadron Pilot + Predator + Stealth Device

100 PTS

If you have Init you shoot first... and you dont need to fly them in formation.

i dunno, a 5 tie fighter build is pretty fragile and even with stealth devices, you don't have the firepower to back up your list like stealth interceptors do to quickly eliminate the high priority targets and really put use to those stealth devices late game

I just got first six-pack of Headhunters this week... I LOVE THEM!

How about Kagi and a mini-swarm? Just keep kagi in the Z's target lock range, and away from your TIEs.

My answer would be....

Black Squadron Pilot + Predator + Stealth Device

Black Squadron Pilot + Predator + Stealth Device

Black Squadron Pilot + Predator + Stealth Device

Black Squadron Pilot + Predator + Stealth Device

Black Squadron Pilot + Predator + Stealth Device

100 PTS

If you have Init you shoot first... and you dont need to fly them in formation.

i dunno, a 5 tie fighter build is pretty fragile and even with stealth devices, you don't have the firepower to back up your list like stealth interceptors do to quickly eliminate the high priority targets and really put use to those stealth devices late game

Enjoy your five TIE defenders.

I also don't think if you are going with a Z missile swarm that everyone should have the same missile same with bombers. Your missile fires 2-3 well I close to range 1 now what? you fire 1-2 I stay at range 3. I feel you should only have 2 of any given missile in a formation like this.

When I was coming up with a similar list I had 2 with assault for swarm and formation flyers and 2 with cluster for b-wings falcons and shuttles.