... Before I go drop £50 on 4 more f/o expansions.

I'm thinking

Howl

Juke

5x

black squadron

Juke

100 on the nose. Seeing how crackshot swarms are doing really well, I'm struggling to see why this list wouldn't work (normal swarm problems withstanding). Nobody can deal with that many negated evades per turn. I don't care who you are. I'm also stuck on the math but I'm pretty sure that even when howl is gone an evade will net you >= results than a standard focus in some scenarios.

I'm working on a similar list too with 5 ships, but I'm holding those cards to my chest for now.

So, what do people think? Any legs?

The problem is that you won't be able to arc-dodge since you want so spend your action on taking an evade action so you can use juke, without com-relay there isn't much synergy.

Perhaps 4 ships with com-relay + juke and howlrunner will be more worthwile?

I haven't tried to so I can't really say.

Poe Dameron, Luke Skywalker and Ezra Bridger would be the main problems, as would anyone packing Glitterstim.

Also, whilst you're negating evades, you're not actually increasing damage that much due to no focus tokens. The advantage of crack shot is that it applies as well as your offensive modification.

You still have Howlrunner, though. I'd give it a try, at least.

I am a rookie swarm flyer (and a bad one at that) but in a store tournament last week I flew an ace+ mini crack swarm. It didn't go great.

I played 5 rounds and faced a total of 5 Bro Bots who dismantled my Ties (Obsidian Sq+Crack) without much trouble. Whippoorwills is absolutely right - the damage output without modification is immensely draining on the list against ships with more than a few hull/shields. They just can't get through the three dice + tokens that almost every ship has in competitive play.

I think you're right to have more than four Ties in the list but I have to agree that reducing it five and giving Comm Relay to your front-runners will be huge in gaining a focus or gaining position through a barrel roll.

That being said, a 7-Tie swarm did pretty well for itself at that same tournament. I think that's a reflection of the pilot though.

Ultimately, buy/borrow some ties (or just use bases) and practice your heart out with someone who doesn't mind the lack of minis/actual cards.

All fair comments.

The principle here is your effectively paying for two crack shots, as it's unlikely that you will be able to keep formation longer than this or, even more likely is that howlie will be toast. But two rounds of twelve dice, 5 rerolls and potentially 6 lost dice seems like a humongous alpha strike.

After that your hoping your PS 4 ties can deal with the remains and juke becoming a an occasional bonus rather than your main plan.

I still like juke vs Poe and Luke as even though less effective, if they roll a natural focus as well you've negated thier ability.

Maybe I'll have to give it a try with proxies. Getting comms on the ties is effective 6 point a piece, pretty steep really.