I don't have a defender, but I'm helping a friend assemble a casual-tourney list.

Rexler, HLC, swarm tactics

4x academy

I don't have a howl runner to lend him for a true mini-swarm, but any other critiques and additions are welcome.

Even if it comes down to "go buy howl runner you colossal moron"

rexler's ability jives more with predator than the small benefit that swarm tactics provides here. To be honest, I've only had success with rexler where he had predator and now HLC and ran with a howlrunner mini swarm. When lone wolf comes out it will benefit him greatly!

"go buy howl runner you colossal moron"

Afterward, drop HLC to upgrade an Academy to Howlrunner; with your last free point, swap Swarm Tactics out for Predator. (Brath needs to modify his dice without spending focus, and predator can often do that.)

"go buy howl runner you colossal moron"

Afterward, drop HLC to upgrade an Academy to Howlrunner; with your last free point, swap Swarm Tactics out for Predator. (Brath needs to modify his dice without spending focus, and predator can often do that.)

Honestly, I can't wait to try lone wolf on Rexler!

"go buy howl runner you colossal moron"

Afterward, drop HLC to upgrade an Academy to Howlrunner; with your last free point, swap Swarm Tactics out for Predator. (Brath needs to modify his dice without spending focus, and predator can often do that.)

Rexler, predator

Howl runner

3x academies

That's 94 points.

I really like Rexlar (and any defender) with and HCL as they become the ultimate long range dogfighter. It's especially useful against big ships as you can actually hold at R3 very easily and maintain your 4 defense dice. I think Predator is a good upgrade as well, but I'd sacrifice it before I sacrifice the HCL to include Howlrunner.

If you're set on a mini-swarm and take 4 academies, that leaves you with five points of upgrades on those four ties. One option is to upgrade them all to Obsidians. Another is to take a unique like Backstabber. I've had a lot of success putting Backstabber and Rexlar in the same list as double flankers as it provides hard choices for your opponent.

Rexler, predator

Howl runner

3x academies

That's 94 points.

Maybe stealth or hull on Rex and Howl for those last 6 points?

I've been running this with fair success in my gaming group:

Rexler+ion cannon+Predator

Howlrunner

Night Beast

2x AP

I like the ion cannon for a little battlefield control when it would be beneficial.

Rexler, Predator, HLC

Vader, Engines, Outmaneuver

Night Beast

Its worked pretty well for me.

Vader could be very fun.

Does vader + mini swarm have any teeth to it?

Can't go wrong with Rexler + Predator then flesh out a miniswarm of ties.

Since you do not have Howlrunner I would use either Black squadron pilots or other named ties to get more mileage out of them.

(Black squadron pilots with either predator or out manuever are really fun

I am planning on going up against a rexler list with mini swarm. I am thinking of putting out either Han + corran or going imps and doing whisper + doom shuttle & soontir.

Does vader + mini swarm have any teeth to it?

I think the best build for Vader right now is EU+Outmanuever, putting him at 36 points. I think it's pretty clear that there are better options for combinations with a mini-swarm that will be harder hitting (for example, Soontir with PTL+HU+SU has the same "hit points" and is throwing three dice all the time with the same ability for movement and sometimes third action), but Vader isn't terrible and a miniswarm with any decent flanker is tough to deal with.

And for 64 points, you get a very solid mini-swarm, though it's still four ships max (if you include Howl), though you can take four named TIES alongside Vader. Or you can go with something like Backstabber and 4 academies.

Quick question about rexlers ability: can the focus token turn hits to crits, then eyeballs to hits? Or is it one or the other?

100 points

Rexler + Predator (40)

Howlrunner + Stealth Device (21)

3x Obsidian Squadron Pilot (39)

I just played a lot of Whisper + Howlrunner/3 Academies. The 4 TIEs were very scary and hit hard if you can get around the side of your target, which is easier done because the enemy generally doesn't like to joust them head on. Only once did the enemy want to joust my TIEs, and that was a similar list with 3 Bandits and Etahn as the "miniswarm". The headhunter's PS2 made a huge difference. Here, maybe PS3 Obsidians might be worth the three total points, but it is also nice to move at PS1 to block off avenues for enemies (which you can also do mostly at PS3).

Are you planning on flying Rexlar with the swarm or flanking? It makes a difference. What will likely happen is the enemy sets up opposite corner from the swarm, and then Brath can either take the joust or join the swarm's deployment. If he ends up flying with the swarm, if only for a portion of the game, he will benefit from Howlrunner's primary weapon reroll. Coupled with predator that is a very accurate three red dice. Still agree with Predator. I hear that engine upgrades are good on Tie Defenders.

Quick question about rexlers ability: can the focus token turn hits to crits, then eyeballs to hits? Or is it one or the other?

I have always read it as one or the other. You have to spend your focus ability to change the eyes to hits or you spend it to change hits to crits

Quick question about rexlers ability: can the focus token turn hits to crits, then eyeballs to hits? Or is it one or the other?

He has two options for his focus tokens, and they occur in different parts of the game. Like every other pilot so far, he can use a focus token normally, modifying dice by changing [eyeball] results to [hit] results. Because of his pilot ability, he can instead use a focus token after damage is dealt to flip face-down damage cards face-up.

He can't ever spend a focus to turn [hit] results into [crit] results, however.