So, I was listening to the Nova Squadron podcast last night, and they were talking about ways to beat the U-boats/Triple toilet seat list. One of the ideas they threw around was taking as many small ships as you possibly could and giving them the maximum amount of (preferably modified) dice to throw at the U's. Sounded like a good idea to me, so I tried putting it together in my favorite squad builder. It's basically five Talas with concussion missiles, and one with thread tracers. It's a 20 damage alpha strike with target lock, focus (they all focus before firing, of course) and guidance chimps, and the U-boats can't take them all out at once. What do you think? Should I start buying Z-95:s in bulk?

MISSILE SWARM

Lots of Talas with munitions

99 points

PILOTS

Tala Squadron Pilot (14)
Z-95 Headhunter (13), XX-23 S-thread Tracers (1), Guidance Chips (0)

Tala Squadron Pilot (17) x 5
Z-95 Headhunter (13), Concussion Missiles (4), Guidance Chips (0)

http://xwing-builder.co.uk/view/472044/missile-swarm#

isn't the low pilot skill a issue with this?

It is designed specifically to counter triple U-boats which are PS3 so PS4 is adequate.

Trouble is that it will take at least 3 concussion missiles to take down a Scout. If you can kill a Scout before it fires on Turn 2 with 3 missiles and then maul a second, you will probably be in a strong place. The U-boats will only get to fire 3 torpedos (2 on round 2, 1 on round 3). That will mean probably 3 talas vs the remaining Scout. My money would be on the Talas although against fragile targets like Z95s, even the 2-red PWT on the jumpmaster will be a threat with its dice modification.

The way the damage stacks up, a lot of this will come down to luck. A few better-than-average evade rolls on either side during the opening joust could tip the outcome.

The interesting question is how the list will fare against other common lists in the meta. How would it line up against Palp-aces? It would take most of the ordnance to kill a Palp-mobile and the Z-95s might then struggle against Aces unless flown well.

Well dude,

I've flew an Alpha Strike list yesterday against Fat Han and twice against a Ghost list and won three times because i could finish the Big Ones in in less then 4 rounds of combat .

My list is :

Binayre Pirate x 3 + Cluster Rockets + Glitterstim+ Guidance Chip

Syndicate Thug x 2 Plasma Torpedo+ AutoblaTurr.

I am not satisfied with the Y wings and i think to switch the Torpedos and put in ION Turret + Btl-A4 instead.

So even without Plasma Torpedo on the Y wings i could roll in the best case scenario 30 Die and could deal 26 dmg , if everything goes well...

I don't do much theoretical list which i cant fly due to a lack of ships or cards, so this list above is the best i can come up with so far.

But for you a theoretical list with scum could be :

Binayre Pirate x 4 +Cluster Missile + Glitterstim+ Guidance Chip

AND

N'Dru Suhlak Cluster Missile +Glitterstim+ Lone Wolf +Hull Upgrade.

100 p.

I think it'll have a harder time against aces, yeah. But the main problem there is probably going to be my inability to fly swarms - if I can place my arcs well enough, at least one or two ships will have a shot at most things. Still not sure if I'll seriously pursue this list, but it's an interesting idea for sure.

Drop a Tala and put Lt.Blount with Tracers, so you are sure to hit.

Tala Squad x 5 Cluster Missile + Guidance Chip

Bandit Squad x 1 Proton Rockets +Guidance Chip

100p.

They say everything counts in large amounts, so, you certainly have a swarm's chance. It does strike me that you are building against the u-boats, which might leave you vulnerable against other list types. So, you may want higher skill if you want an all-takers kind of list. For me personally, I would probably mismanage movement enough in a big swarm to be my own worst enemy, but, I also wouldn't want to face off against your 6 Z-95s.

Try it and report back!

They didn't impress from what I've experienced

A Z is still a Z, squishy, stiffer than rigor mortis and about as unpredictable as the sun rising. Good support; not something to build a list around IMO

Could imagine taking a few of them with corran or something.

You can also fit two homing talas with an autocorrect leebo + zeb ghost (with naked Ezra shuttle)

Autocorrect ghost mulches aces and can block scouts with the 1 point bid (lothal rebel)

As i wrote above i try to build a list with 3 Binayre Pirates .

Only meager 46 p. left but i guess i can build a strong list even for tournaments.

And as ficklegreendice said , Z's can be squishy and break quick but with Glitterstim they may survive the Alpha Strike round and punch very hard.