I've decided to try and cut down / work towards getting a single playable squad for X-wing right now, since there's other hobby things my money goes to. So I was wondering if anyone had some advice on good budget squads (not requiring to buy too many different ships to get all the upgrades etc...) that are fun to play and don't get completely stomped over. Can be for all three factions.

Take a look at the Worlds 2015 builds and how some of them are priced out. There are a few programs that can help breakdown the costs.

To make it easier on your wallet, go 1 big ship (preferably with a turret) and 2 escorts for your easiest answer. Will compete but won't be setting yourself up for a top 8 placement, unless you get really good with your build.

It would probably help if we had a sense for what you consider a budget squad. $60? $100? $150? More?

I started with a rebel aces and millennium falcon (assuming you already have core set). If you are looking for a core set, I'd recommend getting the new force awakens core for Poe and the Falcon. Poe and Han can fill up your squad points right out of the box. Han is a beast; very easy for new players to fly and is built like a tank to handle mistakes. Poe is a bit more maneuverable and is fun to play. You probably won't be killing it at the tournament scene but you'll be able to fly well in casual games Again, depends on what you want to spend. At an online discount retailer (like coolstuffinc or miniatures market) you can probably get both of them for around $60. If you can spend a bit more than that your options open up a lot. If you have a budget in mind and can tell us what items you own already, we'll have an easier time guiding you to a good build.

Dash and Corran are still pretty solid. (Outrider and E-wing)

Most wanted and the Firespray (slave one)or aggressor (IG-2000) would be fun and give you a lot of options.

Decimator and Phantom will fill up list as well. Core TIEs can give you filler if needed.

A 100 to a max of 150 would be my budget I guess.

I will second what others have said in regards to super Dash and Corran, Most Wanted and a Firespray or a new core set/Rebel Aces and a YT-1300. Any of those options are going to give you some viable and more importantly fun lists to play.

imo if youre imps

Decimator + phantom or int

Decimator is a fun ship thats really customizable, and comes mostly with all the things you need. If you already have the old core, you have 2 ties. Decimator 3 tie is a fun build.

Add either imperial aces/tie int (PTL) or phantom.

rebs

Falcon

Rebel Aces are fun!!

scum

Most wanted is pretty crucial

And starviper for autothrusters and starvipers are sheer fun. They're movement based ships with moderately flexbility of build choice.

That OR double IGs. But thats a very single playstyle. You'll get more mileage imo from Most wanted and 1 starviper.

Four B-Wings and a Z-95. Easy.

Scifighter has done a pretty cool write up on budget squads. I suggest you read his various builds.

https://community.fantasyflightgames.com/topic/192786-start-up-list-ideas/#entry1879502

It basically boils down to Core + 1 large ship or Aces pack or 2 small ships

buncha Ties still works fine

just takes practice to fly

I did some planning around this just recently (plans went out the window when I bought out a used set).

A second core set (whichever one you didn't get) is a decent way to go. This gives you 1 X-Wing, 1 T-70 X-wing, 2 TIE Fighters, 2 TIE/FO Fighters

After that decide if you want to build 1 faction only first to a competitive level or all 3 concurrently.

If all 3, the the next thing you should get is Most Wanted, a Y-Wing, a HWK-290 and a Slave I. That would give you a nice mix of Imperial, Rebel and Scum.

For Imperial only I'd suggest getting one of each of the more competitive expansions (other than the extras from Aces expansions): Imperial Aces and a TIE Interceptor, or a Decimator, or a TIE Fighter, TIE Phantom and a Lambda Shuttle. You can get more TIE Fighters as well if you want to try the various TIE swarms (or even Shuttles for the Shuttle swarm).

For Rebels only I'd suggest getting one of each of every expansion (Almost all Rebel ships are somewhat competitive). A-Wings, B-Wings, Y-Wings and Z-95s (Note that Most Wanted will come with 2 Z-95s and 1 Y-wing per expansion) are the ships that tend to get played more in multiples, and K-Wings rarely but has recently been successful.

For Scum only I'd suggest getting one of each of every expansion (Scum is still rough around the edges). A second Most Wanted and IG-2000 allows you to build most of the popular competitive squadrons. The Kihraxz and Firespray aren't a terrible ship in multiples and come with nice upgrades.

Four B-Wings and a Z-95. Easy.

This. You don't need any upgrade cards and it hits like a truck.

BBBBZ is 75 bucks

TIE swarm is 90 to 120

Brobots is 60, depending on how you kit them out.

Hmmmm.

(Assuming you want to fly Rebels) I second the T-70 X Wing as a fun to fly and effective ship. You will need a core set anyway, so get the new FA core set. BB-8 is a winner on any X Wing and with Poe you have some great offensive options. I started with 4 T-65 X Wings as they are my favorite ship and were fun to fly for wave 1-2. T-70 is a little more effective out of the box at the moment and isnt as desperate for a fix as the T-65. Rebel Aces is a good purchase too as it gives you a couple of different fighters and some good options. A T-70, B Wing and A Wing would give you a mix of ships and upgrade cards. You could also go for an original Core Set if the T-65 is more your thing. Mix that with a large ship of your choice, though I am not really a fan of fat turrets.

(Assuming you want to fly Imps) Get an original Core set, the named TIEs are pretty useful to any squad and basic TIEs are still a lynchpin of Imperial builds. A Phantom would give you a nice tricksy option and you could fly a firespray, shuttle or decimator with that for a good 2 ship list. Grab a couple of TIE expansions for the other named pilots and a mini swarm option. An imperial Aces would give you some viable interceptor builds and some more useful upgrades.

Those should fit within your budget I think. But the thing to do is try and start with something you think you will enjoy and expand from there.

Only thing I would say is that this game is sooooo good! Be prepared to sacrifice playtime for other games to the X Wing gods. X Wing has squeezed virtually everything else out of my playtime. Have just about got room for the occasional Imperial Assault game and just got bitten by the Armada bug. However X Wing is by far my goto game for ships and giggles.

If your budget is > $100 I would definitely hit up CoolStuffInc to do your order since you get free shipping at $100+. Also their prices are good, to give an idea the 4BZ list costs $47.45. (not $75 retail) So you could pick up that and still spend another $53 to kit out another list.

Here's a thought

1x A-Wing

3x B-Wing

1x E-Wing

1x Millenium Falcon

1x Rebel Aces

1x YT-2400

1x Z-95

$113.91 at CoolStuff with shipping included (so just a bit over your $100 budget). This would allow you to fly the 4BZ list, and one of the standard Dash / Corran lists. Plus you can make some other crazy combinations.

This is assuming you already have 1x the original core set for R2D2 by the way-- if not, add $25 for that as well

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2 Aggressors. $40-$60 depending on whether or not you go with online or FLGS.

Then you have plenty of money left over for ebayed cards/other ships.