At my first tournament I ran the following -

Defender - Ion Cannon and Shield Upgrade

5 x AP TIEs.

97 points.

I was fully aware I'd mucked up and picked it in a rush.

But I came second! Most I lost in a match was 2 TIEs. Won them all on points (full wins). I seemed to do OK at avoiding getting hit but wasn't amazing at dealing it out, though focus fire from the swarm was very nice in chipping away and making the opponent think twice.

So now there I'm entering my second. I really like the options a swarm+defender gives me so I'm going to stick with it I think.

So far I'm thinking this -

Rexlar Brath + Predator + Shield

Howlrunner + Determination

3 Academy TIEs

99 points.

Thoughts? Having a practice against my brothers (who are also entering the tourney) on Wednesday.

Remembering back to last time the Defender is a tank but wasn't in the game enough and he could have really dealt it out. The TIEs held together decently for the most part. So I could make both parts stronger, game some abilities, and only lost one AP.

Is that worth it? Open to thoughts!

I could also see you trading your TIEs in for all BSPs. That higher PS can be nice.

You could also think about dropping the Shield Upgrade to turn one of the TIEs into Backstabber.

I've thought of something since that really mucks it up.

HLC.

I want it! But 7 points is a tonne to drop and ruins my little TIE plan. Go down in PS on the Defender to get it or keep Rexlar's ability?

I love making the oppo choose between going for the Def or the swarm. 3 TIEs doesn't look quite so formidable.

Shield is the obvious thing to go, but it makes the Defender look such a tank that is makes people think twice.

Backstabber would be good if they went for the Def and I could get round.

They would be foolish not to go for Rexler, he is a beast in the endgame.

Backstabber should be OK to be set up for flanking (PS6), with the mini-swarm + Rex jockeying for position - for the first exchange.

They would be foolish not to go for Rexler, he is a beast in the endgame.

Backstabber should be OK to be set up for flanking (PS6), with the mini-swarm + Rex jockeying for position - for the first exchange.

That's just it. If they do the swarm comes knocking and if they don't he's a beast!

I want Rexlar. I'll lose the chance to go 5x AP but as we've said he is quite something. But after that it's so up in the air I keep seeing new options.

3x Alpha squints.

2x Alpha and a named TIE.

4x AP.

It just goes on and on.