I'm about to play in an escalation tournament soon, and it'll be a first for me. I'm having real trouble settling for a list. The rules are the standard tournament rules going 60p, 90p, 120p and 150p. First glance on the point scale tells me any freighter will be OP in the first round as both Fat Han and Super Dash checks in at around 60p. Normally I go all out elite A-wing builds, but I believe they can't bring enough punch in the low and high ends of the scale. Could someone with more experience in escalation enlighten me to what is worth considering when constructing a list?

The two lists that look the most attractive to me right now is either a Super Dash with Corran, Jan and a Bandit, or 3 Blue Squadron's and 4 Rookies. The problem with the first list is that I'd feel like such a jerk as I'm generally opposed to meta and turrets, the issue with the second list is that I'm more used to flying high-PS ships rather than swarming low-PS. Help..?

Do you have the X-Wing stuff from the transport available?

Then you could do something like:

First round:

Wedge Antilles

Luke Skywalker + R5-P9

Second round:

Add Wes Janson with VI

Third round:

Add R2-D2 and Expert Handling to Wedge Antilles

Add R3-A2 to Wes

Add a Blue Squadron B-Wing/or an PTL Green Squadron A-Wing

Fourth Stage:

Add another Blue-Squadron B-Wing, add Advanced Sensors to both B-Wings

OR: Add another Green Squadron A-Wing with PTL, add Proton Rockets to both A-Wings

That should leave 2 points to spend in the last round.

This list should have a decent punch throughout the rounds. It has 3 Aces in the beginning, and if you like A-Wings you can have two Green Squadron A-Wings in the end. I don't have much experience with escalation games, but I would fly something along these lines. I don't know how good the list will be, though.

Forget big turrets. You'll get murdered in the first round or two. Go for as many cheap ships as you can in the early rounds. Try to maximize bang for your buck per round. It is okay to underbid on a round, so long as it brings you something awesome the following round.

Pay attention to the first round, but don't let it determine your list. It's only worth 60pts. If you're going to lose one, that's the one to lose.

I've only played in one escalation tournament with 18 participants. The only list to go undefeated was a Rebel Swarm of B-Wings and Z-95s. I came in second with a Chiraneau/shuttle/Soontir/Carnor. I lost the first round Chiraneau vs Fat Han but won the other three, only losing the shuttle in one game. I was never paired against the winning list.

Look for my Escalation Compendium post. I try to maintain it with all Escalatory conversations.

I also help out with figuring out the ideal roll-outs

Check out the lists in the recent Team Covenant Escalation Tournament. It just cut to Top 8. You'll see a lot of good lists there. Some of them are what I would consider "staples" in the Escalation meta. As in, certain swarm and turret lists just fit so well in Escalation that you really have to expect to see lots of opponents running them, as they will probably think of them themselves, since they make so much sense.

After you know what you expect to face, it is good to practice against them at multiple stages of your list.

Also, as someone mentioned above, it isn't horrible to sacrifice some power early on in order to have an even stronger list for the later rounds for more points. you can give up some matchups early on to beat them later, since you might kick out and not fight them, you know?

I've only taken part in 1 escalation tournament. Stomped the first 3 opponents but lost big in the last game and went from joint 1st to 4th.

So better to have a "sub par" first list if it can help make a better second

Round 1:

Prototype Pilot (17)

Chardaan Refit (-2)

X4

Round 2:

+

Prototype Pilot (17)

Chardaan Refit (-2)

x2

Round 3:

+

Prototype Pilot (17)

Chardaan Refit (-2)

x2

Round 4:

+

Tarn Mison (23)

R7 Astromech (2)

Engine Upgrade (4)

Spam more and more A-Wings until you hit the cap and your opponents can't handle them, then have Trn as your endgame in the final round!

Round 1:

Prototype Pilot (17)

Chardaan Refit (-2)

X4

Round 2:

+

Prototype Pilot (17)

Chardaan Refit (-2)

x2

Round 3:

+

Prototype Pilot (17)

Chardaan Refit (-2)

x2

Round 4:

+

Tarn Mison (23)

R7 Astromech (2)

Engine Upgrade (4)

Spam more and more A-Wings until you hit the cap and your opponents can't handle them, then have Trn as your endgame in the final round!

Just for SnG's, perhaps I should run this

Round 1

WSF - Ion Cannon, Outrider, Intelligence Agent

Prototype Pilot - PR

Round 2

Prototype Pilot - PR

Round 3

Prototype Pilot - PR

Prototype Pilot - PR

Round 4

Prototype Pilot - PR

+ Autothrusters on all A-wings

That's 5 A-wings with PRs, don't get ioned