A mate is 'training' for a local tourny with the following TIE swarm list.

Howlrunner, Swarm Tactics

BSP, ST

BSP ST

BSP ST

ACADEMY.

Backstabber

Basically chaining PS8 via howlrunner frontal attack while backstabber swings in from the side.

I've played this list before with the sort of list i'd played before and came very close to beating it (i think he had one tie on 1 hit left ) by nailing howlrunner early on with:

Keyan, PTL, HLC

Nera, Proton torps, Adv proton torps

Dagger Squadron.

Basically Keyan one shotted howlrunner and his plan fell to pieces, it didnt help that he forgot nera can fire torps 360 which stopped two of his ships from getting side on or behind the B wings. I lost that game by being a div and choosing a target for keyan that he killed leaving nera with not targets... if i'd have slowed down and chosen the other targer well...

anyway, we're playing again tomorrow, he wants me to play some 'evil' lists that i wouldnt normally do (i'm all about the narrative) and i've agreed so help me come up with some swarm busters.

My thoughts are:

a doubel YT list (yt1300 with han and 3po and a HLC outrider with Dash)

or

z swarm with chaining ST off Airen and assault missiles

or

A wing version of the above but using 'test pilot' to put PTL on two green and Tycho

Probably going to have time for two games.

What would you take to counter this swarm and give him the toughest time possible. Rebel lists only please.

What I have been running to great success has been a Rebel Swarm :

Keyan Farlander with HLC, PtL, and Advanced Sensors

Blue Squad B-Wing

Bandit Squad Z-95s x 3

I run it in a tight formation with the three Z's in a rear pointing triangle with the Bs following it up! Keyan has been a real beast with that set up too! With PtL I usually Barrelroll/Target lock and get the stress..... He averages about 3-4 hits every turn with a focus from stress and Target lock!

And the rest I throw in their grill to deny actions and plink them away!

Good call, i usually use Nera to stop anyone outflanking but Robs wise to this now. I may try your idea.

Make him practice against Whisper some too!

Err, I know you said Rebel only, but I bet you'll snag some wins against the list is you do take a Phantom or two, hehe.

Im playing rebels as i really hate imp vs imp or reb vs reb games. Im forcing myself to play lists that i consider a bit 'boring' like double YTs as it is.

Like i say suggestions for rebel lists to give a tie swarm a headache really needed

I'd look at trying to outmaneuvre him rather than worry about shooting first.

PS5 is enough for that - so chewie-leebo both with EU

He's probably going to set up toward one of the corners - especially if you set up a nice dense central asteroid field.

Once the BSPs are placed - you can be certain where Howlie and Backstabber are going to go. Deploy your ships in the adjacent corner to the BSPs

Open by moving laterally at right angles to his approach trying to time it so that as he closes to firing range, you're jinking away and boosting around to avoid at least most of his arcs.

The more you can keep doing this the more chances you have to force maneuvering errors and deny actions and make it as difficult as possible to play to focus any fire

For Rebel, the Fat Han + 3 Z95s list is good one for the swarm to practice against.

Any Turret list with an engine upgrade is something all swarm players need to be capable of beating these days. That Engine can really pull out a win for the Turret and beat out those formation flying squads. He should practice some sort of setups to take them out at the least.