Vader + EU + Swarm Tactics + Proton Rockets

Black Squadron Pilot + Swarm Tactics

Black Squadron Pilot + Swarm Tactics

Black Squadron Pilot + Draw Their Fire

Black Squadron Pilot

99 points.

4 Guys shooting at PS9, one bodyguard to hopefully take a bit of heat off Vader who is the obvious target. Maybe remove the Rockets and replace the black squadron without an EPT with Dark Curse (my favorite) which puts it at 98 points. Initiative with 4 people shooting at PS9 doesn't sound so bad.

I'm struggling to come up with a list I want to run at the next tournament... :\

EDIT: or throw Howlrunner in there to sort of act like a Biggs and maybe take some fire off Vader. And if they still decide to shoot at Vader, well then I've got a Howlrunner.

Even Vader will have a hard time getting in Range 1. I've found these things not worth the effort.

I suggest cutting Vader for Howlrunner with Veteran Instincts and Shield Upgrade, which lets you add two more Swarm Tactic to your Black Squad pilots and an Academy Pilot. You get a higher PS and more guns that are also deadlier. 6 ships also means you can spread your arcs more effectively when you come up against a Phantom or similar ship, and PS 10 means you'll always be shooting first so you can catch it with just 2 defense dice.

I also recommend you read Doug Kinney's (2012 world champion) blog on Team Covenant about how to fly swarms in the wave 5 meta, especially this article that was just posted recently: http://teamcovenant.com/hothie/2015/01/13/beating-a-phantom-with-a-swarm-aka-thinking-outside-the-box/

With an Engine Upgrade how are you planning to keep Vader in Tactics range and having the EU be worth the points?

While Vader will get better when the Raider comes out if you use him you should probably be treating him as your flanker to a more traditional mini-swarm.

I suggest cutting Vader for Howlrunner with Veteran Instincts and Shield Upgrade, which lets you add two more Swarm Tactic to your Black Squad pilots and an Academy Pilot. You get a higher PS and more guns that are also deadlier. 6 ships also means you can spread your arcs more effectively when you come up against a Phantom or similar ship, and PS 10 means you'll always be shooting first so you can catch it with just 2 defense dice.

If you put VI on Howlrunner then she doesn't have swarm tactics.

A barrel roll and boost is just the thing you need to be in position for proton rockets, and it can be really nice if it works. I like this list, it doesn't completely rely on formation flying to achieve imperial synergy. But once vader is dead, you're seriously hurt.

also at 99 points, you need to give Vader the X1 upgrade and Advanced Targeting Computer.. it costs one point and is the best thing on Vader.. otherwise this looks like a fun list.. I'd fly it

Not available for some time at 'formal' events, though.

Also, there's a good argument in my mind for accuracy corrector instead - makes attacking with your primary weapon both dice and action independent - which in turn means using vader's two actions to double-stack defence, all the time - making him a half-decent jouster.

Proton Rockets are good, but this list paints a massive bullseye on the Dark Lord of the Sith. Even with a Draw-their-fire buddy, he's still killable quite easily by concentrated fire.

The engine upgrade strikes me as a waste - if Vader uses it, it means he's breaking formation with the TIE/ln fighters - which means you've lost your swarm tactics chain.

Alternate suggestion, if you're prepared to give up proton rockets:

Darth Vader (29) with Swarm Tactics (2)

Howlrunner (18) with Swarm Tactics (2)

Black Squadron Pilot (14) with Swarm Tactics (2)

Black Squadron Pilot (14) with Swarm Tactics (2)

Black Squadron Pilot (14) with Draw Their Fire (1)

98 points total

The same number of shots, but if you can 'blob up' then everyone fires at PS9 with a reroll, and you have two potential sources of high pilot skill - the enemy has to kill Vader and Howlrunner to knock down your pilot skill, and if you've got the Draw Their Fire TIE between them, that's not going to be easy.

Proton Rockets are super fun but it makes a lot of sense to ditch them in this list.