Swarm Leader and Defenders

By Iksentrik, in X-Wing Squad Lists

Do you think Swarm Leader has a place in a Trip defender list?

Yes, and no........... I can easily see 2 Onyx Squadrons with x7 (60 points)..... From there you can add any other ship with Swarm Leader. I really like Darth Vader (x1 title, Swarm Leader, EU, ATC) for 97 points.

That combo gives Vader a 4 dice primary attack + a Crit, and 2x 3 Dice attacks with the Onyx........

Maybe not trip defenders, but I have been playing around with this idea for imperials:

Royal Guard Pilot — TIE Interceptor 22
Swarm Leader 3
Stealth Device 3
Autothrusters 2
Royal Guard TIE 0
Ship Total: 30
Glaive Squadron Pilot — TIE Defender 34
Juke 2
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II 1
TIE/x7 -2
Ship Total: 35
Glaive Squadron Pilot — TIE Defender 34
Juke 2
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II 1
TIE/x7 -2
Ship Total: 35
Juking Glaives will still make for difficult targets if/when the Royal Guard Pilot goes down. You could swap the ATs for a targeting computer if you find focus just isn't enough for the output. This is also really susceptible to dying before getting a shot off. I wouldn't fly them together, but rather as a swarm hitting from all directions. This way they have to turn toward one ship or the other, which hopefully will allow for you to tail them and take them out. Nobody K-turns quite as well as the defender, so you are likely to win that war.

I think it's a good idea. People will concentrate fire against TIE defenders (you kind of have to) meaning two out of three won't use their free evade tokens. Swarm Leader turns those evades into firepower.

  • Delta Squadron Pilot - TIE/x7
  • Delta Squadron Pilot - TIE/x7
  • Colonel Vessery - TIE/D, Swarm Leader, Tractor Beam, Shield Upgrade