I've been playing for quite a long time now (Wave 2-3), mostly against the same two smart and witty opponents. We fly casual and always mix flying with wine (we live in spain)

As far as list building goes we all play imperials more than rebels yet everyone has it's own style so we've played many different builds over time. While wins/losses are quite equal there are some moments where one of us finds a lethal list and reigns for a while fostering counter list building until the point that is no longer fun playing that match ever again.

My first moment of 'enlightment' was when taking Boba and Echo to the tables with VI and Decoy. Suddenly I was on top obliterating any squad they throw at me. It all ended when the PS race got silly and both my opponents where playing Decoy VI with Vader instead of Boba under 97 points. After that it was a long strike of loses to Vesseri or Whisper squads until now where my wave 5 list is reigning again.

For your delight:

Rear Admiral Chiraneau — VT-49 Decimator 46
Determination 1
Rebel Captive 3
Tactician 2
Gunner 5
Engine Upgrade 4

"Whisper" — TIE Phantom 32
Veteran Instincts 1
Fire-Control System 2
Advanced Cloaking Device 4

It murders everything and the only struggle is against Rebel Captive crew but even then is doable.

Thing is, it can even be better. One of my friends connected the dots:

La Nau Team

Rear Admiral Chiraneau — VT-49 Decimator 46
Veteran Instincts 1
Rebel Captive 3
Tactician 2
Gunner 5
Engine Upgrade 4

"Echo" — TIE Phantom 30
Decoy 2
Fire-Control System 2
Advanced Cloaking Device 4

Give it a try, get the throne back (at least for a while) and our recommendation is that you should always fly with a glass of wine near by.

Um if I may suggest

I have almost the identical list, but if I may, put gunner on whisper.

Buzzsaw whisper is the bomb.

Leaves her normal action to evade or barrel roll.

Barrel rolling increases her chances even more by getting out of arc, and the evade if someone may get a shot on you.

Works well against high agility ships.

So move.

Evade or barrel roll

Shoot

Miss

Get target lock

Shoot again

Reroll

Hit

Gain focus

Cloak

Now you have an evade, a focus, if the ship is still alive a target lock and 4 green dice

The problem i see with the second list is echo is moving on a ps6 as Decoy doesn't take in effect until the combat phase.

This gives a higher variety of ships to be able to move after echo, increasing their chance to get shots off at her.

I like the first list better.

With the exception of gunner on whisper

A PS8 and 9, and Whisper will move after most unlike echo in your second list.

Decoy imo is probably the last thing I'd want on echo

Sure she gets to shoot now before just abou everything, but if she can't arc dodge as well, those green dice are the most unreliable thing in this game.

I don't put faith in green dice

As an avid 'Echo' player, I can say that arc dodging at PS6/8 is never really a big problem for me. It's firing before them, so I can cloak. Decoy is a brilliant idea. It has never occurred to me to try it! I can certainly agree with the idea to leave Gunner on the Phantoms, since RAC can TL naturally. I have found when it comes to all the VTs it's all about making that one shot hit as hard as possible. Gunner makes the FCS on the Phantom crazy. Just my .02.

Well as I guess there are some who like it, I think decoys a bad idea.

Not only does it make it harder for echo to arc dodge, but she has to stay near her squad which just makes her more predictable.

Imo anything that limits her move like st, or, ptl is a bad idea

Around here I'm afraid she be toast pretty quick

I cant say it enough, green dice are bad

Edit:

Well to each his own.

If it works for some then no qualms there.

I'll just copy my post from a different topic from today:

We brake for nobody