Can Jake, Wedge & Poe effectively counter TLT swarms?

By Bojanglez, in X-Wing Squad Lists

So, I am more of a fanboy than a truly competitive player and have been having a lot of fun playing the list below. I have also been having fairly good luck except against, ha-ha, the current and much-reviled meta of 4 Syndicate Thugs with Unhinged Astromech and TLT which I have so far gone 3-0. Yes, I could change my squad (and have, my Bossk/Boba and even my Bossk/2x Thugs had better luck) but would prefer to figure out a way to use the squad I like playing, rather than bend to the meta.

So -

Wedge Antilles (34) X-Wing (29), BB-8 (2), Predator (3)
Jake Farrell (30) A-Wing (24), A-Wing Test Pilot (0), Chardaan Refit (-2), Predator (3), Autothrusters (2), Push the Limit (3)
Poe Dameron (36) T-70 X-Wing (31), R5-P9 (3), Autothrusters (2)
My tactic - that isn't working on TLT's but works on most other opponents - is to get as close with Jake as quickly as possible and chase them like a sheepdog while trying to stay at range 1, preferably out of primary firing arc while closing with Poe and Wedge. The problem seems to be the X-Wings, who generally get torn to shreds before they can get to range 1 and before they can take out more than a single Y-wing. Jake has been the last to go in all matches as even he can't herd 3-4 targets and stay behind and at range 1.
Am i just peeing in the wind hoping that an A and two X's can do this, or is there a change to the build or tactic that I can try?
thanks in advance!

I think so -- though I'd combine PTL with BB-8.

I've beaten a 4-TLT list with Poe and Tycho, and I think Poe/Wedge/Jake is a stronger list.

I think these guys can handle Twin Lasers. Wedge will be even better at this when wave 8 comes out (integrated astro for the win!)

This gives you a bit more durability:

Wedge w/ BB-8, push the limit & integrated astro = 34

Jake w/ test pilot, push the limit, veteran instincts, chardaan refit & autothrusters = 28

Poe w/ R5-P9, lone wolf & autothrusters = 38

100

Approach: probably best to keep Wedge & Jake close together and Poe flanks. On the turn when shooting starts, the ideal situation for you is to have all of your ships just barely in range 3 of 1 or 2 of the y-wings (with the other ones too far to shoot). That is not easy to do of course, because your opponent will be trying to get all of his ships into shooting range off the bat. Its not impossible however, since both Wedge & Jake can barrel roll to pull back a bit and hopefully avoid R3 of some y-wings. Meanwhile, if you can get Poe just barely in range of some y-wings (but not all) then that's fine, but if you are not confident, its okay if he's too far to participate in shooting for the first round.

Basically, you know Wedge is going to deal damage with TL + Focus (thanks to BB-8 shenanigans: reveal green move, barrel roll with BB-8, push the limit for focus, then complete your green move and clear your stress; then with regular action, grab a target lock). Jake probably won't contribute much this turn. Return fire from the y-wings will mess up Wedge probably stripping shields and some hull. Next turn, rush Wedge and Jake in as close as they can but keep Poe back to ensure lone wolf triggers this turn (Wedge will die, so Poe is taking some fire here). Now you want to make Wedge's last shot really count, so hopefully its range 1 (range 2 is still okay, as long as you can TL + focus). Wedge should deal 3 damage at least (hopefully a crit) and between Jake (R1) and Poe you stand a very good chance of wiping out one y-wing right here. The remaining 3 will finish off Wedge and possibly damage Poe (don't forget R5-P9!).

From here, things can be dicey depending on how you move and what your opponent does. He will either split up or keep his ships together. Poe will lose lone wolf due to proximity with Jake, so you can either have him high-tail it out and leave Jake inside the range 1 bubble, or you can leave both in for another turn and see how things go. If Poe takes heavy damage, don't be afraid to get the hell out and spend a few turns regenerating shields while Jake continues to harass. To get use out of Lone Wolf, you can cycle Jake out and use barrel + boost to escape range 3 of some y-wings and then bring Poe back in (even if he's not all the way out of range, that's okay, since your opponent will prefer to shoot at Poe). As long as you kill one more y-wing, you get a win (50-34). If the match is going fast, you might even kill a third, but don't risk losing Poe unless you are confident it will be 1 y-wing vs Jake and you have enough time left in the round for Jake to finish off the y-wing (once its 1v1, Jake WILL win, but its a question of how long...)

Hope that helps!

Edited by blade_mercurial

Great responses, thank you - I theory-crafted through two games last night, and was able to modify my tactics enough to win the second match although it wasn't convincing.

Thanks for the ideas :)