Core ships of the list are:

Etahn

5 x Bandit

92 points.

I'm trying to figure out what the best way to spend the remaining 8 points on, currently I have Etahn set up like this:

Etahn + FCS + R5-P9 + PTL

5 x Bandits

Has anyone else got any other suggestions for the 8 points? Perhaps bumping the Z’s to Tala’s and spending 3 points on Etahn?

Suggestions?

I ran this exact list at a tournament this weekend:

Five Bandits

Etahn A'Baht: PTL, Advanced Sensors, R2 Astromech

Advanced Sensors will help you avoid losing actions from being blocked, PTL to Focus+Evade, R2 because cheap and it'll give Etahn a few more options for how to clear his stress (I ended up using those hard 2s a LOT).

And honestly, I think FCS vs. Advanced Sensors is the deal-breaker for your take. I like R5-P9, but you can't afford him and Advanced Sensors, and being able to take double actions worry free of blocks and clear the stress if you PTL on the same turn is simply too valuable. Opponents will focus fire Etahn down given the chance, and you'll need every defensive edge he can get. His actual damage output is pretty minor compared to the rest of the swarm, and priority with Etahn is keeping him alive and cranking out crit modifications to your Bandits' attacks. Literally the only game I've lost with this squad so far has been the one time I got blocked with Etahn and didn't have his actions... he promptly died that turn.

And with PTL, you won't need FCS for much. He moves too early to usually got a lot of use from barrel roll, and you're either going to be focus/evading to avoid getting shot or, more rarely, focus/target locking when you know he's safe that turn. And again, frees up room for the R2 to help clear the stress from all the defensive PTLs.

Otherwise it's a pretty amusing list to fly, especially when you start landing the crits. I've seen my guys melt a 100% hull and shields IG-2000 in a single turn of firing, and even if it hadn't died it would've been rendered pretty messed up from all the face up cards. Ended up third, with my only loss coming to the guy who won the game (again, in part cause I crashed Etahn without taking actions).

Whilst I like these lists, I don't have enough Z-95s.

What do you think of swapping 2 Bandits plus the spare point for naked Biggs (now there's an image!) or Tarn with R7 Astromech?

Nice list - it almost makes me want to buy 4 more Zs!

And Paulochromis, thanks for that lovely image.

Etan needs to survive for this list to be viable. Sensor Jammer helps that. Block with your ZA's to prevent focus. R2-D2 to regen shields, and as strange as it sounds I like determination or just a 1 point bid. Phantoms were the main reason this list never really took off and they are somewhat going out of favor.

I watched a z95 swarm with cluster missiles chew its way through a tournament this weekend passed. I'm now considering;

Etahn with R2D2

4 x Bandits with Cluster Missiles.

It'll chew through a large ship like its not even there.