List: 3 Delta defenders. 1 ion, one flechette, and one mangler. 99 points. Discuss.

I love Defenders. Problem with this build is pesky high PS ships staying out of arc. Honestly you're better off with three Deltas each with Ion cannons. Use them to cover a large area, ion your opponent and then unload next round.

This is harder than it sounds unfortunately...

Eh maybe you're right. ARC dodgers would be a problem here.

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/forum/428-x-wing-squad-lists/

Now, in order not to be a ****, let me contribute

Basically, Stone already described half the problem. The other half is Defenders are incredibly stiff bastards with no white turns outside of the 3 hard. Now, while I haven't played 3 defenders, I have messed around with Vessery and 3 prox mine bombers, and let me tell you there isn't an arc-dodger in the game that has a problem getting around these guys. They turn like milk spoils; slowly and unpleasantly.

I have, however, been having a blast with two Defenders (Flechette cannons) and Soontir Fell (ptl, thrusters, stealth). If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right ? Plus, Soontir's nice turning helps cover the Defender's blindspots.

I think a mini-phantom might also be a decent idea. It's 30 points for a Sigma, Stygium, FCS, and Intelligence agent, with special emphasis on the agent who just works wonders with low PS ships that have a post or pre-manuever movement (i.e Phantoms and Defenders). I haven't tried it yet, so it's up to you to determine how many points you want to spread between the three ships.

Hmm, well I do love Soontir, and I do love defenders..

I try not to use phantoms. I thrashed my friends a couple times with them, found them too easy.

If you're a braver soul than me and partial to double ions over double flechettes, you could also try Carnor Jax

The lower PS is really rough with all these nines flying around, but at PS 8 he also doesn't really care about the initiative bid and he can slot in comfortably with an 100 point squad bearing Ptl & auto-thrusters & stealth (33 + 33 + 34)

What he lacks in PS, he might make up through his ability. That range 1 denial is surprisingly potent, and it could make a huge difference when it comes to setting up your firing arcs by forcing enemy arc-dodgers to make some really horrible decisions. Not to mention he'll probably cause more overall damage by denying defensive tokens and "supporting" your squadron by debuffing the enemy, but he has to be flown really well.

I personally prefer the safety of Soontir's PS and focus, but no one ever got anywhere believing there was only one right answer to everything

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/index.php?/forum/428-x-wing-squad-lists/

Now, in order not to be a ****, let me contribute

Basically, Stone already described half the problem. The other half is Defenders are incredibly stiff bastards with no white turns outside of the 3 hard. Now, while I haven't played 3 defenders, I have messed around with Vessery and 3 prox mine bombers, and let me tell you there isn't an arc-dodger in the game that has a problem getting around these guys. They turn like milk spoils; slowly and unpleasantly.

I have, however, been having a blast with two Defenders (Flechette cannons) and Soontir Fell (ptl, thrusters, stealth). If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right ? Plus, Soontir's nice turning helps cover the Defender's blindspots.

I think a mini-phantom might also be a decent idea. It's 30 points for a Sigma, Stygium, FCS, and Intelligence agent, with special emphasis on the agent who just works wonders with low PS ships that have a post or pre-manuever movement (i.e Phantoms and Defenders). I haven't tried it yet, so it's up to you to determine how many points you want to spread between the three ships.

I too have been playing around with Shadow and Sigma Phantoms with IA.

I've thought about:

2x Sigma+IA+FCS+ACD

Vessary+VI OR Soontir+Title+PTL+Autothruster+SD (or SU or HU)

But for sheer durability, and swarm butt kicking, I'm currently playing with:

2x Shadow+RS+FCS+ACD

Yorr+Enhanced Scopes+Ion

Yorr goes first, is a blocker, sets up easy shots for the Shadows AND eats their stress! Recon Specialist makes actually hitting well flown Shadows a real bear.

I love Defenders. Problem with this build is pesky high PS ships staying out of arc. Honestly you're better off with three Deltas each with Ion cannons. Use them to cover a large area, ion your opponent and then unload next round.

This is harder than it sounds unfortunately...

I've actually found that this list works really well. Turnabout is fair play against rebel ions .

I love Defenders. Problem with this build is pesky high PS ships staying out of arc. Honestly you're better off with three Deltas each with Ion cannons. Use them to cover a large area, ion your opponent and then unload next round.

This is harder than it sounds unfortunately...

I've actually found that this list works really well. Turnabout is fair play against rebel ions .

I too have murdered rebel swarms with the 3x Delta+Ion Cannon. It runs into problems when it has to fly against the likes of Whisper, Soontir, and the like.

If you're a braver soul than me and partial to double ions over double flechettes, you could also try Carnor Jax

The lower PS is really rough with all these nines flying around, but at PS 8 he also doesn't really care about the initiative bid and he can slot in comfortably with an 100 point squad bearing Ptl & auto-thrusters & stealth (33 + 33 + 34)

What he lacks in PS, he might make up through his ability. That range 1 denial is surprisingly potent, and it could make a huge difference when it comes to setting up your firing arcs by forcing enemy arc-dodgers to make some really horrible decisions. Not to mention he'll probably cause more overall damage by denying defensive tokens and "supporting" your squadron by debuffing the enemy, but he has to be flown really well.

I personally prefer the safety of Soontir's PS and focus, but no one ever got anywhere believing there was only one right answer to everything

I love Defenders. Problem with this build is pesky high PS ships staying out of arc. Honestly you're better off with three Deltas each with Ion cannons. Use them to cover a large area, ion your opponent and then unload next round.

This is harder than it sounds unfortunately...

I've actually found that this list works really well. Turnabout is fair play against rebel ions .

I too have murdered rebel swarms with the 3x Delta+Ion Cannon. It runs into problems when it has to fly against the likes of Whisper, Soontir, and the like.

Yep, High PS + High agility make it difficult, but not impossible. Autothrusters of course add another level of difficulty .

I have used a list similar to yours, with 3 defenders, Ion.

High PS is a major issue for list like this.

If you're a braver soul than me and partial to double ions over double flechettes, you could also try Carnor Jax

The lower PS is really rough with all these nines flying around, but at PS 8 he also doesn't really care about the initiative bid and he can slot in comfortably with an 100 point squad bearing Ptl & auto-thrusters & stealth (33 + 33 + 34)

What he lacks in PS, he might make up through his ability. That range 1 denial is surprisingly potent, and it could make a huge difference when it comes to setting up your firing arcs by forcing enemy arc-dodgers to make some really horrible decisions. Not to mention he'll probably cause more overall damage by denying defensive tokens and "supporting" your squadron by debuffing the enemy, but he has to be flown really well.

I personally prefer the safety of Soontir's PS and focus, but no one ever got anywhere believing there was only one right answer to everything

I'm giving serious thought to using VI on Jax instead of PTL (even though I know it is dirty and wrong) with the rationale that it is better give up an action if it costs your opponent two. I'm just not sure how effective Jax would be at getting into range one of Soontir or Whisper with only a single action. SoT is also kind of tempting.

trust me, you want PTL on Carnor to bolster his defenses

If you want a PS 10 tie fighter, you can just bring Howlrunner