Think I'll actually be doing a k-turn and visiting mauler mithel soon.

Just figured out that Howl w/V.I, Mauler, Stabber, and four Academies is a legal list.

It's also a "why couldn't I just have 1 more point!?" hair-tearing bit of frustration, because PS 9 would at least guarantee a shot on a blocked phantom rather than having to face the distinct possibility of a one-shot, but there are other ships in the game (3 agi) that I would rather have four dice against than 3.

Don't think it'll work super well, but with Howl the list is limited to 7 ties anyway and, apart from Stabber, Mauler is the only one who can transcend his 2 base offense. Still, if it does work, it'll be nuts

Plus hey, it'll be good practice for when Vader finally becomes viable and I get to fly the anti-trench-run squadron

What do you think of this kind of swarm?

The Black Predators

Black Squad Tie with Predator x 5

Black Squad Tie x 1

99 points

The extra PS won't do much (except against Predator), but you will no longer be restricted by formation flying. But they will go down just as fast as the Academies...

Not to sound asinine, because this is actually a very important point, but...not enough Ties.

It's like shooting fish in a barrel.

Agile, unshielded fish.

True, the Achilles heel of the Swarm - green dice.

If you are willing to go down to 6 ships, the following is still quite beefy and packs a punch:

"Howlrunner" — TIE Fighter 18

Determination 1

Academy Pilot — TIE Fighter 12

Academy Pilot — TIE Fighter 12

Black Squadron Pilot — TIE Fighter 14

Draw Their Fire 1

Alpha Squadron Pilot — TIE Interceptor 18

Hull Upgrade 3

Alpha Squadron Pilot — TIE Interceptor 18

Hull Upgrade 3

-

100pts

My approach with flying in formation is to keep them all the same PS (8xAP) and fly them in a big formation of 8, but I can't say that it's always working for me.

So, what is the advantage (other than halving the damage from area-effect weapons) of flying in two groups?

Wider arcs and the ability to go in pursuit.