So let's talk about the current state of the meta, just on the cusp of the release of Rebel Aces.

So over the course of post Wave 4 Regionals and Nationals results from around the world, we are starting to see some themes. Certain lists that seem to be rising to the top of the ranks.

Let's review:

1. Rock: Falcon + Support

Han with Vet Instincts, Gunner, 3P0 and MF title is a thing now, in case you didn't know. It is a great counter to the Whisper lists of the world and is a pretty tough nut to crack in its own right. Chewie with 3P0 and MF isn't a bad combo either. The support can come in many forms, things like Z's, B's, Biggs, or combinations of these. The 'Support' is usually the most contested points on these lists, that and Predator or VI on Han. I choose VI BTW! But the fact remains, Falcons, at their core, are in high demand right now, and for good reason, they win. Well, until they face TIE Swarm that is...

2. Paper: TIE Swarm

So here we are, four waves deep and a list that emerged very early on in the game's life is still great, still mixing it up in the competitive circuits, and still very viable in the current meta. I would argue that now some of the luster is off of the TIE Phantom and the good players are starting to figure out the ways to beat them or block cloaking lanes to make them less effective, TIE Swarm has once again risen in the ranks. This list has not changed much over four waves, although the Obsidian Swarm is seeing more player what with Predator out there now. If the Swarm focuses on the Flacons early, it can tear them down rather easily, making them a good counter tot he Falcon meta. However, it does suffer against a good TIE Phantom player and in the late game to a good Falcon list.

3 Scissors: TIE Phantom + Support

While the luster is a bit off of this ship, the TIE Phantom is still VERY good. And misjudging it can cost you the game early. A good Phantom player can dance in and out of firing arcs, place strategic assaults on ships and never see an attack back. These ships really are among the elite in the game right now, and the support is always a point of contention. Mini-Swarm? Elite pilots? Shuttles? This build is just really good against most build. However this ship tends to slam hard into one big counter, and that is the high PS Falcons. With the ability to hit the Phantoms when they are at their weakest, it takes a skilled player to pull off a win against that list.

So with these points established (and debatable of course) I propose that Rebel Aces will pave the way for the 4 Ship Rebel build to return to the top tables. And why you ask?

Nera Dantles! I really believe with her 360 ability to fire off torpedoes (Flechette of course) and a Gold Squadron pilot with Ion Turret you really do have a pretty scary counter to the TIE Phantom, and no longer fear much of their arc dodging. 4 Ship (and this could be a 5 ship build with Z-95s) have always been good against TIE Swarms and have the firepower to gun down the Falcons as well. So having answers to the top three list we discussed above I feel makes this list once again a good contender.

What are your thoughts?

I'm looking forward to it. Also, whenever Rebel Transport gets back on the store's shelves we can see even more X-wing pilots.

Tarn Mison w/ R7 Astromech is only 25 pts. Hobby is right at 25 pts before any upgrades. Add in the cheaper A-wings and I think we can start to see some 4 ship builds. I happen to like 'em.

I don't think 4 ship Rebel builds have ever really gone away, but yes I see your point about the meta circle right now. I think there are still creative lists using Xs, Zs, Bs, and Es out there.

What I think that Rebel Aces will do will make the A's a part of that list. Honestly, I see all of the A, B, E and X-wings with some Z-95s as viable candidates for rebel lists that don't include the falcon.

Jacob

I can also see the A's coming more now that they will be 2 points cheaper. They are arguably better ships then the Z-95 and much more useful.

Did it ever leave?

Well, when the TIE Phantom came out, 4 Ship Rebel build all but vanished from the top competitive builds.

Oops. I just posted this in another thread:

Did it ever leave?

It continued to get brought at a healthy pace in wave 4 Regionals, but its effectiveness was considerably lower.

Rookie Pilot (21)
Rookie Pilot (21)
Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)
Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)
Keyan Farlander + Fire-Control System + Push the Limit (34)

There's plenty of room to squeeze in Farlander in a Rebel swarm.

Nera is about as scary as fat falcons. And she isn't cheap. It's hard to fit her into a typical 4-ship rebel list, but it can be done.

Her + Roark is pretty nasty.

Nera is about as scary as fat falcons. And she isn't cheap. It's hard to fit her into a typical 4-ship rebel list, but it can be done.

Her + Roark is pretty nasty.

Nera is two points more than a Dagger for PS+1, EPT, and pilot ability... Pretty cheap. Granted she needs torps to use her ability, Flechettes are still cheap.

Edit: MAD MAFFMATIX

Nera is good; I fully intend to try out a couple of builds with her. You're missing the fact that Nera is a skill 5 pilot though. A phantom + support will destroy Nera before it fires once.

Rookie Pilot (21)

Rookie Pilot (21)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

Bandit Squadron Pilot (12)

Keyan Farlander + Fire-Control System + Push the Limit (34)

There's plenty of room to squeeze in Farlander in a Rebel swarm.

That looks nice. Being a fan of B's over X's for the cost, I would gravitate to:

Keyan + Advanced Sensors

2x Blue Sq. Pilot

2x Bandit Squadron Pilot

Keyan TL's with Advanced Sensors and then reveals a red maneuver every turn. Suddenly red 1's are no longer a liability, but an opportunity. 2 K-turn also works. Instant TL + F. Bonus if he bumps so less ships can shoot him, and he has TL+F with 4 dice at range 1.

The Only issue is the Big Painted Target that says shot me on Farlander in that list. Otherwise I like it!

Farlander is good but he's pretty much joined at the hip with Biggs and VI at the moment.

Deadeye+Recon Spec+APT Nera Dantels is wicked fun but only semi-competitive.

Jake and Tycho are quite efficient Phantom hunters, and Decimators will put the end to Phantoms once and for all.

once Scum drops though, it's going to be all up in the air again...

Farlander is good but he's pretty much joined at the hip with Biggs and VI at the moment.

Deadeye+Recon Spec+APT Nera Dantels is wicked fun but only semi-competitive.

Jake and Tycho are quite efficient Phantom hunters, and Decimators will put the end to Phantoms once and for all.

once Scum drops though, it's going to be all up in the air again...

And this, folks, is why the meta does not concern someone like me.

Yeah, but we do not know how long it will be before we see Scum. My guess would be well after Worlds, so for those competitive players, Aces is where our concerns lie now.

I might try something like

2X Prototype Chardaan Refit

2X Tala Squadron

2X Blue Squadron (or drop the Talas to Bandits and grab Reds or Golds with Ions or any of the above)

What do people think about this list? I was going to try it out as a test this weekend;

Nera Dantels+Flachette Torps+Munitions Failsafe (29)

Tarn Mison+R7 (25)

"Dutch" Vander+R7T1 (26)

Gemmer Sojan+Chaardan Refit (20)

It has target locks flowing freely, which increases Tarn's survival chances and everyone's overall damage. R7 allows Dutch to exploit opportunities created by having multiple "threats" in the list, and Gemmer acts a flanker to and "sheepdog."

Link to list in (Yet Another) X-Wing Miniatures Squad Builder

Once the next wave of ships comes out and people quit playing Phantom lists all the time, then you will see 4 ship rebel builds.

That and Dutch w/ R7-T1 w/out Ion Cannon is just a crime.

Nera+ 2 flechette's

Roark + ICT

Biggs

Rookie

Everything that can drop Biggs fast doesn't want to go anywhere near Nera and Roark.

I was thinking something like

Horn + PTL

Nera + Munitions Failsalf + Flachette(x 2)

Dutch + R7T1 + ICT

Being able to throw out ions and stress in 360 arcs is crippling if you hit. And while Nera should probably be your primary target against this, I'm not sure I'd want to face Horn + Dutch toward the end game.

I like that list, I am going to have to give it a shot!

The premise is correct but I think your reasoning is wrong, mostly because 4 ship Rebels never went away IMO. Also, Nera Dantels is the lesser of all the pilots in that set, simply because you are relying on a multitude of one-hit wonders that needs specific actions before using them. Also makes her too expensive. Farlander will be the big hit of this set; mark my words.

TIE swarm is not paper to the Phantom Scissors. It just requires more skill to take down a phantom with a swarm but if you get good at blocking it and don't stubbornly keep formation it's easily doable.

you are relying on a multitude of one-hit wonders that needs specific actions before using them.

Deadeye, Recon Specialist, Advanced Proton Torpedoes.

The premise is correct but I think your reasoning is wrong, mostly because 4 ship Rebels never went away IMO.

Data from the 2014 Regionals thread:

Wave 3: 4 ship rebel squad archetype

Occurrence rate: 26.17%

Weighted average rating: 23.63%

Winning rate: 23.10%

Conditional effectiveness (overall): 90.29%

Conditional effectiveness (winners only): 88.24%

Wave 4: 4 ship rebel squad archetype

Occurrence rate: 15.87%

Weighted average rating: 11.19%

Winning rate: 4.597%

Conditional effectiveness (overall): 70.53%

Conditional effectiveness (winners only): 28.96%