I've continued tweaking the TIE swarm that I'm planning to take to my next tournament. Here's the list as of today:
Howlrunner with elusiveness
Backstabber
Dark Curse
4 x Academy Pilots
I feel Howlrunner and Backstabber are well worth their extra points.
Is Dark Curse worthy of a spot in a competitive swarm? If I swapped him out for another Academy, I would have enough points to give Backstabber an Engine Upgrade or Howlrunner a Shield Upgrade...
Thanks for your advice!
In my opinion, Dark Curse is worth it. He's really annoying to have to deal with.
He is the pebble in the boot of every rebel pilot. You know sooner or later you'll need to deal with him but until you do he's a pain.
Ha ha, he sounds like my kind of pilot then! I'll have to give him a spot in my swarm! 
I font really like him, simply because he makes targeting priority easier for your opponent, and rarely does anything to make him be the target instead of more important pilots. I like that points as defense for Howlrunner.
If anything I would reconsider Elusiveness in that build. Dark Curse is a good pilot.
Obsidian Squadron Pilots are actually a pretty good investment in todays meta, so maybe think about those.
Now that they've updated the way Night Beast works (meaning a green even while stressed grants the free Focus action), that's not a bad choice either. And it opens up 1 point for you to use.
As mentioned earlier, Dark Curse is an insanely fun and annoying pilot for both you and your opponent. Your opponent may try to chip at him here and there, but upon realizing it's futile will leave him alone. Dark Curse also doesn't have enough offensive power to mop up when he's the last alive, which happens fairly frequenyly. Finally, rarely will 16 points make the crucial difference in a game that your opponent needs to win, so they may throw their weight into your aces anyway.
I font really like him, simply because he makes targeting priority easier for your opponent, and rarely does anything to make him be the target instead of more important pilots. I like that points as defense for Howlrunner.
For 16 points, I prefer Backstabber. Either your opponent targets him instead of a more expensive target or they let him pop around doing damage. If you're looking for a 16 point TIE Fighter and already have Backstabber, Dark Curse isn't bad since he has the same PS as Backstabber.
Edited by WWHSDWhenever you include Howlrunner in a list you make target priority for your opponent easy anyways.
To me, Dark Curse is an auto include for a swarm with named pilots. His ability is well worth it.
I pretty much always preferred NightBeast anyway. Now that NB was erratta'd better, and DC worse it makes that choice even easier.
I think I'd take an FO over DC too. The extra sheild and trick is probably a wash and I don't think DC is going to meanigingfully PS kill something very often.
In terms of whether Dark Curse is worth taking in order to affect target priority, I think it really depends on what's in your list. In your list he's not as much of a threat as Backstabber and Howlrunner so personally I'd leave him be until I have to deal with him. In my list he's technically just one of three targets my opponent doesn't want to deal with so becomes the lists 'blocker'... Getting right up in your grill and mucking up your formations and/or strategies. Or, if my opponent goes after him, the rest of the list is free to get into good positions for later in the game.
Born Slippy
19pts of 'pain in the a$%&' in a list full of 'pain in the a$%&'! 
I pretty much always preferred NightBeast anyway. Now that NB was erratta'd better, and DC worse it makes that choice even easier.
I think I'd take an FO over DC too. The extra sheild and trick is probably a wash and I don't think DC is going to meanigingfully PS kill something very often.
Hi Rakky - I was just wondering what you meant when you said that Dark Curse had been errata'd? Does his ability no longer shut down focus usage and re-rolls?
I pretty much always preferred NightBeast anyway. Now that NB was erratta'd better, and DC worse it makes that choice even easier.
I think I'd take an FO over DC too. The extra sheild and trick is probably a wash and I don't think DC is going to meanigingfully PS kill something very often.
Hi Rakky - I was just wondering what you meant when you said that Dark Curse had been errata'd? Does his ability no longer shut down focus usage and re-rolls?
Blaster Turrets are now able to fire at him. I don't think it makes much of a difference because who in the hell uses Blaster Turrets?
I pretty much always preferred NightBeast anyway. Now that NB was erratta'd better, and DC worse it makes that choice even easier.
I think I'd take an FO over DC too. The extra sheild and trick is probably a wash and I don't think DC is going to meanigingfully PS kill something very often.
Hi Rakky - I was just wondering what you meant when you said that Dark Curse had been errata'd? Does his ability no longer shut down focus usage and re-rolls?
He can now be shot by Blaster Turrets and Deadeye torpedoes, which I would call a minor nerf at best.
It was a minor nerf but NB's isn't so minor too and, especially with MKII for the same cost; means NB is a mini soontir with a focus every round and an evade. Before I preferred NB. Now I certainly do.
Blaster Turret is a great 1 of in a list. Scum hawk in particular like it. It makes that TLT donut hole covered and for a bit cheaper.
Edited by Rakky WistolJust of of interest (I don't come across many Blaster Turrets!) whereabouts is this ruling? I've been using the FAQ's from 29th September and it still has the following text - "Dark Curse" cannot be the target of a secondary weapon attack that requires the attacker to spend a focus token.
Just of of interest (I don't come across many Blaster Turrets!) whereabouts is this ruling? I've been using the FAQ's from 29th September and it still has the following text - "Dark Curse" cannot be the target of a secondary weapon attack that requires the attacker to spend a focus token.
Yeah, thats what I found when I looked into as well. Where is this new ruling coming from?
That's a great point about Obsidian's being strong against all the PS2 Y-wings & laser turrets. I hadn't considered Night Beast before either so I will give him some consideration now, too!
Just of of interest (I don't come across many Blaster Turrets!) whereabouts is this ruling? I've been using the FAQ's from 29th September and it still has the following text - "Dark Curse" cannot be the target of a secondary weapon attack that requires the attacker to spend a focus token.
I seem to remember that the new rules changed the timing of when an attacker paid the cost for an attack to before the target was declared. This meant that Dark Curse's "when defending" effect hadn't triggered yet. In reviewing the rules, I no longer see that. It looks like the cost is paid after declaring the target.
Just of of interest (I don't come across many Blaster Turrets!) whereabouts is this ruling? I've been using the FAQ's from 29th September and it still has the following text - "Dark Curse" cannot be the target of a secondary weapon attack that requires the attacker to spend a focus token.
I seem to remember that the new rules changed the timing of when an attacker paid the cost for an attack to before the target was declared. This meant that Dark Curse's "when defending" effect hadn't triggered yet. In reviewing the rules, I no longer see that. It looks like the cost is paid after declaring the target.
Cheers for responding WWHSD, the only reason I was clarifying was that I used Dark Curse in a tournament on Tuesday and although it didn't come up I hate to think I would have mis-informed my opponent if it had!