So I got destroyed by a new player last night and reminded how bad I am when facing a swarm. With store championships just around the corner I need all the help I can get. What are the best ways to lay asteroids, make the initial approach, and generally avoid getting caught in all those arcs?

Someone needs to find that old piqsid article on swarm tactics and crisis points. It's basically a how-to on getting swarms into bad positions.

Here it is. https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/87723/movement

Definitely worth a read, especially for newer players. Even older players will find a few gems in there.

Asking Swarm players how to fly with or against Swarms is like asking a fisherman where the best spot to catch trout is. He'll never tell you. I have been trying since I started to figure out Swarms, it's like when I moved to that nice mountain town and asked about a fishing license. The locals had me drivin' out to strip malls that didn't even exist! Use a red No. 7 they said, you'll catch fish all day! Not a bite. Jig the bottom? Bam, hooked. It's just fishermen trying to protect their favourite fishin' hole.

No unfortunately, Tie Swarms, like trout, are pretty hard to catch.

Here it is. https://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/87723/movement

Definitely worth a read, especially for newer players. Even older players will find a few gems in there.

I am confused this is mostly about movement

If you can get the Swarm to operate against itself, the job is partially done for you.

Alternatively, if your expected damage mitigation is high enough, 2 attack hits can't scratch you.

Concentrate fire: Vs a howlrunner swarm, 14 damage could leave their entire force at 1 hp, or you could kill 4/7 of them instead. The former leaves them as powerful offensively as the start of the game. Go with the latter.

Asking Swarm players how to fly with or against Swarms is like asking a fisherman where the best spot to catch trout is. He'll never tell you. I have been trying since I started to figure out Swarms, it's like when I moved to that nice mountain town and asked about a fishing license. The locals had me drivin' out to strip malls that didn't even exist! Use a red No. 7 they said, you'll catch fish all day! Not a bite. Jig the bottom? Bam, hooked. It's just fishermen trying to protect their favourite fishin' hole.

No unfortunately, Tie Swarms, like trout, are pretty hard to catch.

Avoid taking full shots from the group and pick off opportunistic ships before trying to kill howlrunner unless she gives you a hugely obvious opportunity.

Also apparently just play super dash or corran since I've heard from a reliable swarm source they're unbeatable.

Put as many obstacles in the middle of the board as possible.

Maneuver so that you drag the enemy swarm across the board. This opens the possibility that they string out and let you face them piecemeal.

You will probably have the PS edge. Try to use it to minimize exposure to all enemy fire arcs.

Be mindful of how the enemy might block your moves.

If the player playing the swarm isn't a brilliant player, you've already won. A swarm in the hands of an experienced player is deadly. In the hands of a newcomer it should be eminently beatable. First of all, the key secret to beating it is to stop it being a uniform swarm, but a rabble of ships. The best way to do this is to engage on your terms. Drag them through asteroids set up without clear lanes. Even the best players will struggle to keep a swarm coherent. Any stragglers or actionless/tokenless members of the swarm are the first target. Take one ship out at a time. Never spread shots. Every ship that goes is a huge loss to a swarm. Target Howl or any other swarm leading ship only if an opportunity presents itself, and if it does, go for it 100%, don't spread. if you're going to block/bomb commit to it 100%. Dump that blocking ship in the maw of the enemy. Write it off. Send it into the dragon's den. Don't under commit to blocks.

After the first pass don't get into an endless K-turning battle. Use the asteroids. Break left or right, don't K. Turtle up for a turn and reposition. Always drive the fight, don't let the swarm take control. Even the best players get tired. if it's the last round of a tournament any swarm player is likely to be suffering from mental fatigue. Exploit this by keeping your moves simple and clean. Don't tax yourself. Try to stay fresh, watch for a mistake, then pounce on it.

To me fighting a swarm is a bit like the elegant swordfighter in Raiders of the Lost Ark. It comes out, it twirls and whirls. It looks amazing. What you need to do is the equivalent of just Indiana Jones style grimacing, pulling out a revolver and shooting.