I've played around with a Rexlar Brath + 4 TIE fighters list, and have done pretty well. One loss in about a dozen games, and I think the loss was winnable had I played a little better.

The list:

Rexlar Brath (37), Veteran Instincts (1), Heavy Laser Cannon (7) = 45

Backstabber = 16

3x Obsidian Pilots = 39

OR

2x Academy Pilots = 24

Night Beast = 15

My typical approach is to make the enemy squad fly through the asteroids to come get me where I try to use the superior maneuverability of the TIEs to pick off stragglers. Rexlar Brath typically flanks or hangs back to milk the HLC for all it's worth. This squad seems to really fit my natural play-style and mentality, but I'm trying to think of better ways to make it work.

A few notes:

Don't recommend Howlrunner + 3 Academy TIES. I'm sure it's awesome for a lot of people, but not for me. I've found that I can't stand formation flying, and staying in formation with the TIEs runs completely counter to how I fight with this squad.

One obvious change is to have 3 Academies + Backstabber, then use the free points to put Predator on Rexlar Brath. This seems good (and is probably the next thing I try), but I have some concerns. For one, at PS 10 he's kind of my backstop against Phantoms and other high-maneuverability ships, as well as being a heavy hitter. Being on the flank with 3 AGI and 6 HP makes it easier to use Focus offensively.

Obviously, there's not a lot of room to move in regards to 4 TIE fighters. Backstabber + 3 base TIEs leaves only a few points. However, if I drop to 3 TIEs or swap the Academies out for another ship altogether, there's plenty of points to try out different things.

So if you're still with me, given what I've said about how I like to play, and how I want to run this list, what are some other ideas to consider, while keeping the same general theme of this list?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Rexlar Brath (37), Veteran Instincts (1), Heavy Laser Cannon (7) = 45

Backstabber = 16

3x Obsidian Pilots = 39

OR

2x Academy Pilots = 24

Night Beast = 15

Given just those two options, I'd go with the latter--2x Academy and Night Beast.

With that said, I'd heartily endorse the Brath + Predator + HLC/Backstabber/3x Academy version of the list, as long as you're willing to at least experiment with dropping his PS. He badly needs a way to modify his dice without spending a focus token, and Predator gets you there; you really only have a use for Veteran Instincts against Whisper + VI, who is by herself a relatively small slice of the metagame. And Predator is good against everything, including the Falcon (and, soon, Decimator) builds you also want to consider.

The cure for Phantoms is and has always been concentrated fire not higher pilot skill (high PS makes it easier as you face off against less dice but more attacks mean you strip it of its focus/evades), as such feel free to use Predator on Rexler (it also increases his chance to get his ability off against big ships in a beta strike)

I'm not a fan of Backstabber in mini-swarms though ... he can have a nice damage output for sure but Dark Curse draws less fire and if fired upon won't be hit that often (infuriating TIE/ln to fight against)

Rexler Brath (37)
Predator (3)
Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

"Dark Curse" (16)

Academy Pilot (12)

Academy Pilot (12)

Academy Pilot (12)

Total: 99

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

Vessery + VI + HLC

Academy + Targeting Computer

Academy + Targeting Computer

Academy + Targeting Computer

Academy + Targeting Computer

That might work better than anything above.

Otherwise its:

Rexler + Pred + Ion

Howlrunner

Obsid

Obsid

Obsid

And learn to fly in formation.

Otherwise its:

Rexler + Pred + Ion

Howlrunner

Obsid

Obsid

Obsid

And learn to fly in formation.

It sounds like he's already taken the next step: he's learned to fly out of formation.

I like Dark Curse a little bit better than Backstabber because focus and target lock are useless against him. I would also advise predator. It might help you get off Brath's ability but I never plan for it, I take Brath over Vessery a lot because of the PS not the pilot ability. To look at it another way, Brath is like Kath if his ability goes off fine and dandy, if not you took him for the PS8 choice. Hmmm perhaps there is a list there Brath and Kath, I am a poet and don't know it.

Lone Wolf massively improves my Rexy to no end, it's amazing on him. Until then, make do with Predator...

Sexy Rexy HLC+Predator

Backstabber

Alpha

Alpha

99

I like HLC but munitions failure can hurt that list badly almost feel the 7 points are better spenT elsewhere.

I like HLC but munitions failure can hurt that list badly almost feel the 7 points are better spenT elsewhere.

I don't really understand this as a criticism. Munitions Failure is 6% of the damage deck, and the Defender is shielded. And if you do happen to find that damage card, you have at most 2hp remaining, and it's not as if Brath's primary attack is worthless.

Thanks for the input, all. It looks like Predator will be the next iteration (and I'll face all Whispers once that happens). Any thoughts on 2 Alphas vs 3 Academies as per Darth Ruin?

Thanks for the input, all. It looks like Predator will be the next iteration (and I'll face all Whispers once that happens). Any thoughts on 2 Alphas vs 3 Academies as per Darth Ruin?

It's a toss-up, and how it comes down depends heavily on what you're facing. The Academies will typically be adequate against low-Agility targets, but provide almost negligible damage output against 3+ Agility. The Interceptors have at least slightly better damage everywhere, and drastically better damage against high-Agility ships, but obviously two of them have 3hp less than the trio of TIE Fighters--except that isn't really important if your opponent goes after Brath first.

Given the current trend toward lots of Falcons and Zs on the Rebel side, the TIE Fighters seem like a safer investment, but it's close for me.

I ran Brath with 3 Interceptors before. You are truly at the vicissitudes of fate and all its mercy.

When it works, you look like boss. When it doesnt, your list falls apart faster than a Lada.

I find the bigger guns on the Alphas better recently, especially against 2-evading Falcons. At least with Alpha's you have a slim chance of putting at least 1 damage through with your attack. Anyway, no one's going to go after them first before Rexler goes down so putting out 8 dice at rb1 should give any large ship pause.

I ran Brath with 3 Interceptors before. You are truly at the vicissitudes of fate and all its mercy.

When it works, you look like boss. When it doesnt, your list falls apart faster than a Lada.

I'd say the same would be true of any 4 ship 3-evade 15 HP list.

Vessery + VI + HLC

Academy + Targeting Computer

Academy + Targeting Computer

Academy + Targeting Computer

Academy + Targeting Computer

I run this list for fun. And it is great fun

I would never use the TC on the Acads, focus all the time?

How about

Rexler + Predator

Howlrunner

Academy

Academy

Alpha

100

You use the TL to give Vessery the target lock. It's fun and nothing more.

I find that flying well (esp. against Phantoms) + Predator > Vet Instincts on King Rex.

Rexler Brath (37)

Veteran Instincts (1)

Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

"Howlrunner" (18)

Determination (1)

Academy Pilot (12)

Academy Pilot (12)

Academy Pilot (12)

Total: 100

Not a bad list in the same spirit as yours

I'm a big fan of Howlrunner mini-swarms, too. But, from the OP:

Don't recommend Howlrunner + 3 Academy TIES. I'm sure it's awesome for a lot of people, but not for me. I've found that I can't stand formation flying, and staying in formation with the TIEs runs completely counter to how I fight with this squad.

But it's hard to deny howlswarms work well.

Rexler Brath (37)

Veteran Instincts (1)

Heavy Laser Cannon (7)

"Howlrunner" (18)

Determination (1)

Academy Pilot (12)

Academy Pilot (12)

Academy Pilot (12)

Total: 100

Not a bad list in the same spirit as yours

I'm a big fan of Howlrunner mini-swarms, too. But, from the OP:

Don't recommend Howlrunner + 3 Academy TIES. I'm sure it's awesome for a lot of people, but not for me. I've found that I can't stand formation flying, and staying in formation with the TIEs runs completely counter to how I fight with this squad.

**** must have missed that...

Well then wait for YT-2400 and run this:

No you want the four shots at range three, and because of his ability hits are perfect.

There is no way to avoid the crits from rexlar and he'll pile them on quickly and the ties will strip away the remaining hit points, I've used it myself it works.

It's harder to build around someone like coran.

Hmm,

I find list-building with Rexlar to be super easy, then again, I can fly TIEs in formation with Howlie.