I haven't been able to play in any big events for a while or see how the meta's going, just hearing a lot about Falcons, dual Falcons, and just getting blown out of the sky by indestructible turrets. I used a 7-Tie variant a while ago because it was fun, but Predator is going to really wreck that and I don't feel great about copying and pasting the Obsidian swarm. So I'd appreciate some help. Two lists I'm thinking about:

Kath Scarlet + Veteran Instincts + Ysanne Isard + Tactical Jammer for 44

Carnor + PtL and Hull for 32

Omicron Group + FCS for 23

Hopefully Kath gets some quick shots at phantoms, maybe even before they cloak, aided by the rear arc, and Isard helps her stay alive. I could also drop tactical jammer and FCS for an engine to help her take out phantoms, but am honestly more worried about getting that dice modification for the shuttle in spite of the frequent stops. Carnor can hopefully help shut things down, maybe use Kath as cover, and with some luck I can out-tank a Falcon.

The other is Howlrunner + PtL, 2x Black Squadrons with Draw their Fire, 1 Black Squadron with Wingman, and 2x Black Squadrons with intimidation.

The idea is that an intimidating one could ram a Falcon and shut down not only its defense, but C3PO, and with two it's harder to get away from both. I could swap in Backstabber though to have a better flanking option, but I'd anticipate running one of them at least in that role. The wingman helps Howlrunner PtL to survive, and the same with Draw their Fire. PS4 means I'm vulnerable to blocking, but aren't giving predators two free re-rolls. Having only 6 Ties does make me nervous though. Thanks!

For your first list I would put the tactical jammer on the shuttle. Use it to screen for your other two ships and let them tank. It will kind of force your opponent to target it first as well if he can't get around it easily.

The second list is iffy. Once Howlrunner goes, you don't have a whole lot of offense there. It will likely tear up a Falcon, but by then you will likely be 3 v 2 against his escorts. Not good odds with Ties.

If you still like flying the seven TIE list, it can still do fine, and you can make an obsidian swarm that is immune to the second predator reroll.

That said I do like your first list.

I'd like the jammer on the shuttle, but its role is going to be to stay back as long as possible, making it iffy to spend too much energy chasing the other two, and the jammer on Kath just might help keep Carnor, my favorite pilot, alive depending on the angles of approach. Soontir might be a little better in reacting to phantoms, but nothing beats jetting past your opponent while locking down their actions, esp. when they don't have target lock.

The Obsidian swarm is something I'm still considering. Earlier last year I won a biggish championship with Howlrunner with swarm, Nightbeast, Backstabber, and 4 Academies, but a lot of that was because the meta jumping to a PS4 bid helped me tremendously. After that I went to Howlrunner with swarm, 4 Academies, and Carnor with PtL and Hull. Being obliterated at a regional by the guy running the Obsidian swarm made me see just how powerful PtL was on Howlrunner. So for some casual games I put PtL on her too and dropped the hull upgrade on Carnor, but the Academies were just getting torn apart. So I'm trying to find Tie lists that can up the pilot skill a little and would like to get something that isn't just copying someone else if I can.

What about dropping one of the intimidations, since that's mostly useful against Falcons which are going to be easier to engineer bumps with, and tossing a hull upgrade on Howlrunner? That way she's got four hull, an evade, and a focus to chew through at 3 dice.

I'd like the jammer on the shuttle, but its role is going to be to stay back as long as possible, making it iffy to spend too much energy chasing the other two, and the jammer on Kath just might help keep Carnor, my favorite pilot, alive depending on the angles of approach. Soontir might be a little better in reacting to phantoms, but nothing beats jetting past your opponent while locking down their actions, esp. when they don't have target lock.

The Obsidian swarm is something I'm still considering. Earlier last year I won a biggish championship with Howlrunner with swarm, Nightbeast, Backstabber, and 4 Academies, but a lot of that was because the meta jumping to a PS4 bid helped me tremendously. After that I went to Howlrunner with swarm, 4 Academies, and Carnor with PtL and Hull. Being obliterated at a regional by the guy running the Obsidian swarm made me see just how powerful PtL was on Howlrunner. So for some casual games I put PtL on her too and dropped the hull upgrade on Carnor, but the Academies were just getting torn apart. So I'm trying to find Tie lists that can up the pilot skill a little and would like to get something that isn't just copying someone else if I can.

What about dropping one of the intimidations, since that's mostly useful against Falcons which are going to be easier to engineer bumps with, and tossing a hull upgrade on Howlrunner? That way she's got four hull, an evade, and a focus to chew through at 3 dice.

I think that that's a lot of points in Howl, but I don't think it's a big loss if it just costs the intimidation.