I've been flying 3x Crack Squadron, 2x Omega Crack Squadron, and Crackshot Zeta Ace recently and it's performing real well. I find that subbing in Howl or Mauler isn't worth it as they're easier to kill than the FO's and your opponent tries to wipe them ASAP because they're more dangerous. Since you're at 4-5 PS, you have PS on everyone's warden and gold squadron TLT boats. Unlike everyone's doomed to failure 5x TIE lists, you actually have a swarm.

I don't fly these in formation. I set them up in one, and have them do a variety of different straight maneuvers and barrel rolls so that they form a loose blob. You then sling this blob in front of things and wreck face. Loose blobbing your TIEs allows you to block enemy ships superbly, and makes it so that all of your ships can't just be arc dodged with a single barrel roll. You end up with more space between ships to allow for more fancy maneuvering. IG's parked in front of a blob stay parked, sometimes on asteroids for multiple turns. You end up with greater flexibility and you're less predictable.

However, I realized that I can go 4x Crack Squadron, 2x Autothrusters Alpha Squadron, the 1 PS TIE Interceptor. Or you can go with the worlds list that has 5x Crack Squadron, 1x Obsidian, 1x Academy. I feel like my 6x Crackshot list is better than that though, as it gets an extra Crackshot in there with about equal health with the +1 shield FO's have. You also have the superb maneuverability the FO's have.

Is anyone having the same success that I'm having with them?

I just watched that 7 Tie swarm vs Miranda, stress bot and 3 Zs. Very interesting and effective build. Obliterated the stress bot before it even got off a shot. I think I'll add a couple more FOs to my buy list.

I just watched that 7 Tie swarm vs Miranda, stress bot and 3 Zs. Very interesting and effective build. Obliterated the stress bot before it even got off a shot. I think I'll add a couple more FOs to my buy list.

Try my 3x Crack Squadron, 3x FO Crack Squadron list sometime.

How does one come upon six copies of crack shot?

I don't even have one. you don't have to brag.

I'm still making ion turret lists and dropping seismic charges on fools.

It's called a colour printer.

Ugh. Crack Shot is so broken. What was FFG thinking. Power creep upgrade ruined the game. It's just Crack Shot meta. Why even bother playing anything else.

Ugh. Crack Shot is so broken. What was FFG thinking. Power creep upgrade ruined the game. It's just Crack Shot meta. Why even bother playing anything else.

!!!!!!!

I rather like Crackshot, as I find that it often comes down to that last few TIEs vs an ace/big 'un and I often just need those extra 1-2 damage to seal the deal in the last round.

Are there any good videos with crack shot lists out there?

crackshot on talonbane works really well also, manage to 1 shot a tie defender using it.

crackshot on talonbane works really well also, manage to 1 shot a tie defender using it.

Poor Defenders, always getting one shot by obscure nonsense (I did it with Jan Ors enhanced APTs once).

I like this version of it:
https://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Galactic%20Empire&d=v3!s!18:140:-1:-1:;12:140:-1:-1:;12:140:-1:-1:;12:140:-1:-1:;182:140,-1:-1:-1:;182:140,-1:-1:-1:

How does one come upon six copies of crack shot?

1 Hounds Tooth and 2 Kihraxz, then I cheated and used Ebay for the last 3.

Are there any good videos with crack shot lists out there?

One of the streamed 2015 Worlds matches shows the 5x Crack Squadron, 1x Obsidian, 1x Academy list. Initially he starts off well, and then he made a failed attempt at chasing Miramda and it went downhill from there. His PS 4/3 allowed him to just wipe his opponent's PS 2 ships, which he should have done more of instead of chasing Miranda.

Not sure of the names of the players, someone else could help you there. It's a pretty good video of what not to do. I've made the mistake of chasing Aces before. If they run you can just wipe the rest of their squad, and then they'll have one attack of 3 or one TLT ship against most of your swarm. If you give chase you'll end up doing 2 damage to a (regen!) ace and lose most of your ships while you do it.

I like this version of it:

https://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Galactic%20Empire&d=v3!s!18:140:-1:-1:;12:140:-1:-1:;12:140:-1:-1:;12:140:-1:-1:;182:140,-1:-1:-1:;182:140,-1:-1:-1:

I like this version of it:

https://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Galactic%20Empire&d=v3!s!18:140:-1:-1:;12:140:-1:-1:;12:140:-1:-1:;12:140:-1:-1:;182:140,-1:-1:-1:;182:140,-1:-1:-1:

Doesn't using Howlrunner force you to use the standard close knit swarm formation? Kind of limits the more maneuverable FOs and makes you more predictable.

Howlrunner is probably going to be dead before you have to worry about the differences in the dials. Other than having the S-Loops and having green instead of white hard turns the TIE/fo has the TIE Fighter dial.

Are there any good videos with crack shot lists out there?

I like this version of it:https://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Galactic%20Empire&d=v3!s!18:140:-1:-1:;12:140:-1:-1:;12:140:-1:-1:;12:140:-1:-1:;182:140,-1:-1:-1:;182:140,-1:-1:-1:

Doesn't using Howlrunner force you to use the standard close knit swarm formation? Kind of limits the more maneuverable FOs and makes you more predictable.

Howlrunner is probably going to be dead before you have to worry about the differences in the dials. Other than having the S-Loops and having green instead of white hard turns the TIE/fo has the TIE Fighter dial.

To a lesser extent, also why I'm starting to prefer a crack omega over crack Mauler.

Howlrunner also encourages me to fly in an easily predictable, dodged, and blocked albeit cool looking formation instead of treating each TIE as a free agent that just happens to be close to others and can split apart at any time should it be beneficial. I realize I could just pretend that Howlrunner's ability doesn't exist and not plan around it and use it if it happens to be there, but the temptation to fly in formation is too strong with me. You're talking to someone who flies a 2 ship Corran + Poe list in formation lol.

This is why I don't fly Crackshot Howlrunner at 19 points instead of Zeta Ace. She dies ASAP and ends up doing less work than Zeta Ace with Crackshot will. That extra shield and the crazy stupid dial helps with durability a lot. You say that as if being stuck with a better TIE Fighter is a bad thing.

To a lesser extent, also why I'm starting to prefer a crack omega over crack Mauler.

Howlrunner also encourages me to fly in an easily predictable, dodged, and blocked albeit cool looking formation instead of treating each TIE as a free agent that just happens to be close to others and can split apart at any time should it be beneficial. I realize I could just pretend that Howlrunner's ability doesn't exist and not plan around it and use it if it happens to be there, but the temptation to fly in formation is too strong with me. You're talking to someone who flies a 2 ship Corran + Poe list in formation lol.

I've been using Howlrunner + Crack Shot + Shield Upgrade in a list that's not quite a 6-Crack swarm (I replace two TIEs with Vader + ATC + Crack Shot). She still dies pretty quickly, but if she lives through even one round (long enough for everyone to benefit once) it makes a big difference. But it does mean flying in formation.

You could drop only 1 total health with:

Howlrunner + Crack Shot + Hull Upgrade (22)

Omega Squadron + Crack Shot (18)

Black Squadron + Crack Shot (15)

Black Squadron + Crack Shot (15)

Black Squadron + Crack Shot (15)

Black Squadron + Crack Shot (15)

This is no longer a crack swarm, but another version that would allow for a loose initial formation and then free movement would be:

Darth Vader + Predator + TIE/x1 + Adv. Targeting Computer + XX-23 S-Thread Tracers (34)

Omega Squadron + Crack Shot (18)

Omega Squadron + Crack Shot (18)

Black Squadron + Crack Shot (15)

Black Squadron + Crack Shot (15)

crackshot on talonbane works really well also, manage to 1 shot a tie defender using it.

Poor Defenders, always getting one shot by obscure nonsense (I did it with Jan Ors enhanced APTs once).

I just had a Defender get attacked by 3 Target Locked A's and 3 Target Locked Z's at ranges 1 and 2 and only take 1 Shield damage. Opponent was very demoralized by that. My 2 Defenders then proceeded to pick off Z's and A's by concentrating fire.

So I changed the list slightly. On the surface using up your last point to upgrade an Omega to Zeta Ace is worth it, but it ends up screwing you a lot more than you think it would, and a lot more than the 2 distance BR and 5 PS help you. What happens is that Zeta Ace must move last, so he'll be parked in front of other ships and force them to bump instead of moving first. So I've just made Zeta Ace into an Omega. Plus, it gives me an initiative bid against other PS 4 ships.

The 4x Crack Squadron, 2x Autothruster Alpha list I've tried once against a sub par falcon + luke list. I flew it like ass and predicted wrong so I don't really know how well it stacks up for certain, but I'd just rather have the 3 Crackshot Omegas. No forced PS bumps, a better dial honestly, and equal offense and defense arguably. And also one less regular TIE Fighter, which end up dying easily.

I almost won a 3 round $5 Friday tournament with my 6x Crackshot list. First engagement in one game I wiped 2 AC Tempests before they could even fire, then next turn I hard 1 turned towards ATC Predator EU Vader and took him out. Then it was just all 6 TIEs vs. a lone AC Tempest by like turn 3 lol.

One game I lost was against a Soontir Deci. Ended up losing by 2 points, it was a close game. Ignored Soontir all game and my opponent kept running with Soontir, expecting me to try to take out Soontir so Soontir wasn't actually relevant until late game. But god **** Predator Gunner RAC. Late game I tried to run from Soontir and I might have won, but one TIE was lost to a lucky one shot in the end game and I didn't have enough points left to win it on points and not enough ships left to kill a full health SD+AT Soontir.

Just swept up our local tourney with glitter crack homing missiles, beat that 5 crack 7 tie squad too. Crackahot really is over the top.

I'm having success with 3 blacks, 2 omegas, and howlrunner. Howlrunner reroll is so good.

I'm not sure yet that I think Crackshot is "OP" or "over the top".

It IS very good, but it IS only a single use.

Please, let's just not get all upset yet about the Tie Swarm finally making a comeback! That list had fallen quite far out of favor. It's good to have it back with some tools for it to beat lists that were darn near impossible. All Wave 5-6, seeing a Tie Swarm across the table instilled no fear, it was beatable, almost weak. The Crackshot Swarm DOES instill fear again, just as any good list should!

And TBH, the power of the Crackshot swarm in this meta, where more ships have access to multiple damage mitigation abilities, is about on par with the original 7 Tie Swarm in a B Wing Heavy meta. Only now, our B Wings are Y Wings with TLT. Meta will adjust to compensate, as it always does. Rebel players probably just need to make the PS4 bid now to avoid as much PS killing.

But by golly, Crackshot is a fun upgrade to play, haha. Nice work in that one FFG! When people don't spend extra tokens to avoid it, then you use Crackshot to kill a 1 hp ship with an evade token, and they get this real salty look on their face, and your insides are struggling with a mix of guilt and joy. That stuff is pure gold.

Crackshot is so good, it can make Paragoomba enjoy the game.

I agree that 6 Crackshot ships may be OP. But considering all the other meta BS we've had to deal with, don't complain lol.

Half of it is just that Poe Miranda TLT Y-Wing is built to deal adequately with other Acewing lists while not having any way to deal with a swarm unless the swarm player falls for the rebel player tricking him into chasing Poe or Miranda when they shouldn't be. If you just stop chasing an Ace when you know it's hopeless they have no chance. A Poe that runs might as well be dead, he's not shooting anything. So don't chase him.

Crackshot is so good, it can make Paragoomba enjoy the game.

Haha.