Challenge: come up with a viable competitive list using only [Rebel] X-wings or Y-wings or [imperial] TIE Fighters or TIE Advanced. Any named pilots must be ones that participated in the first Death Star attack. Upgrades or generics can be from any source.

Example:

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Red Squadron Trench Run

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100 points

Luke Skywalker (37)

X-Wing (28), R2-D2 (4), Veteran Instincts (1), Shield Upgrade (4)

Wedge Antilles (38)

X-Wing (29), BB-8 (2), Push the Limit (3), Engine Upgrade (4)

Biggs Darklighter (25)

I'd probably smack Predator on Vader, VI on the two TIEs with EPT slots, and take a two point initiative bid so that Mauler and Vader move after Wedge.

There are probably better EPTs for the TIEs but I like have ships at the same PS.

Or VI and Engine Upgrade on Vader, so he can both arc dodge and beat the others on PS.

Edit: Just for fun, I ran the Rebel list in the first post against the Imperial list above (with VI and EU on Vader). Here's how it went down:

The Rebs damaged some TIEs but Biggs blew up quickly. Wedge suffered a double crit from Vader and quickly had to withdraw with a damaged engine. Though Mauler Mithel was destroyed, Luke quickly fell to the Dark Lord of the Sith. Clearly, the Rebel list needs Han Solo and the Millenium Falcon in order to win.

When Integrated Astro is available, I think this has some serious potential:

Biggs w/ 1 pt droid of your choice + integrated astro = 26

Wedge w/ predator, R2-D2, integrated astro & proton torpedo = 40

Luke w/ predator, R5-P9 & integrated astro = 34

100

If you want it to better match the movies, switching Wedge & Luke's droids is possible, but less effective. You can also put the torpedo on Luke of course, and that works fine, but Wedge deals more damage with it thanks to his pilot ability.

Works best if you slow roll with Biggs, allowing your other two to engage first with Biggs out of range for the first round of combat (or maybe of one enemy ship if you can pull it off). That way Wedge can recover shields with green moves over the next couple turns while the enemy is forced to shoot at Biggs. The damage that you can put out with just Wedge and Luke alone over the first two turns is pretty impressive, especially if you get a good roll on the proton torpedo...

Biggs w/ 1 pt droid of your choice + integrated astro = 26

R4-D6 is probably the best 1 point droid for Biggs w/IA. It's kind of useless against Vader and Black Squadron but is nice insurance against higher damage opponents. 2 Hull Biggs can fly away from a 4 hit shot with 1 hull left.

It's still potentially useful in this matchup - Vader is likely to deliver 3 straight hits, and both Mauler Mithel and Backstabber can deliver more than their fair shair of attack dice.

Plus, as noted, it;s good for other matchups.

Vader with Engine Upgrade and Advanced Targeting Computer is lethal, and a good starting point. I'd probably rather take the Black Squadron Pilot with Draw Their Fire, though - that way you can keep fire off Vader and Mithel (a bit) if you need to.

Also worth waiting for the Gozanti carrier - if FFG follows their standard practice, there'll be a PS3 named Black Squadron pilot; could be an interesting replacement for the generic.

Shouldn't the unique Astromechs also have participated in the battle (in short, only R2-D2 or generics)?

Have you played with Dagobah Dave's Trench Run scenario? It's a lot of fun and well worth it. I've always wanted to talk about list strategies for that scenario.

I think Integrated Astromech changes things quite a bit.