A really popular list in my area is a Rieekan list consisting of this basic set up:

• Yavaris + Adar Tallon and Fighter Coordination Team
• Pelta Assault Ship + FCT and Shields to Maximum
• GR-75 + Rieekan and Comms Net
• GR-75 + Ahsoka and Boosted Comms
• GR-75 + Flight Commander and Bomber Command Center
• Shara Bey, Jan Ors, Wedge Antilles, Norra Wexley, Gold Squadron, 3x B-Wings, and a Z-95 squadron

When I played against this list, the other guy advanced really slowly (speed 1) and lined up all his squadrons just out of anti-squadron range of my ships. They made short work of my fighter screen (A-Wings and X-Wings backed up by Jan) and then killed one of my ships each round from that point on.

The only thing I can think of to counter a list like this would be to try to use E-Wings to pick off enough of his squadrons at longer range so that my ships can then move in and take out Yavaris and Rieekan (I haven't bought the new Rebel Squadrons pack yet, so this is all academic).

The exact placement of upgrades (I know I'm missing some here) and the exact composition of the fighter ball varies from player to player, but they are all nasty. At our recent regional championship, three guys brought this list. They came in 1st, 2nd, and 4th (and that was only because he had several opponents who just ran away for the entire game).

Can anyone think of an effective way to counter this kind of synergized bomber-heavy list? From what I've seen, it takes too long to try and clear out that many squadrons, and it's almost impossible to get at either Yavaris or Rieekan without having to go right through the murder cloud of squadrons.

hmm...looks like someone put their twist on "my" list. Browse through these two threads to get an idea of it.

thread 1

thread 2

After that it depends on how you play. What style and faction do you prefer to play? I can give some detailed advice after that.

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I'll presume you play rebels moderate squads with main hitting power in ships. With that I would go for a heavy alpha strike on the b-wings as that is where the damage comes from. Probably a 4+ x-wing/yt-2400 attack with flight controllers and toryn farr for re-rolls. Once the b-wings are down you should be able to carry the game with your ships vs his ships.

Option 2 is to change your bid up so you get to go second and pick objectives that force his movement. Strategic + sensor net, fire lanes, and station assault can give you a huge boost in victory points.

Option 3 is a hardcore rush list (yet unproven, but heavily theorized). See San Antonio regional winner for that fleet.

Feel free to ping me on other questions and what you've tried already. I know this list quite well.

Nothing is unbeatable. Even an unbeatble list will loose to itself in a mirror match.

There's not much for escorts there and only 1 Intel. I'd roll in heavy and fast. Drop a bunch of fighters of my own on them then try to clean up with AA fire (I only bring ships with 2 dice aa fire for a reason). It'll be messy but you shouldn't take too much damage if you can take out most of them by turn 4. The rest of his ships really don't offer much of a threat. You will need at least 6 good fighters of your own. Maybe 8. Recommend some Xwings, a wings and St least a couple aces. Also consider ruthless strategists. If his ships aren't the big threat something to burn damage on squadrons faster like that could be very useful.

Best counter I can think of is pushing a heavy squadron list in turn to directly attack those B-Wings as Mythics suggests. The best anti-squadron tool in the game remains other squadrons, regardless of what people say. Squads are just too hard to remove or disrupt.

Gallant Haven + Yavaris would ensure your fighters survive and dish out a strong punch if your want to go rebels. Add in Jan and they can't do damage if it is 2 or less hits. Once their Jan is down then you can win the fighter fight.

All tactics, tips and lists depend on the Ini, the missions, the activations. And, of course, on the skill of the players.
If you have more activations and you are the first player, you can double attack the squadrons with yours. Fly in, attack, and fly out again with your first activation (with Intel...). Just get the squadrons down without any chance for a good counter.
If you are second player, he has to play your missions. If you choose good missions, you are forcing him to come for you.

About the list in general:

Just see where his damage is coming from. His ships are not the source of the damage. It is the squadrons. And like Norsehound say, squadrons beat squadrons. Unless you are able to kill all ships. But this will be hard with the flotillla. If you try to use ships against his squadrons, you will lose.

Biggest ship danger: Yavaris. But it does not have boosted Comms. And he has no Relay. So the Yavaris has to be close to the squadrons to be effective. Take out the Yavaris or split it from the squadrons, and he has some trouble.

One idea: you can use a 134 point anti squadron list and just kill his squadrons. Don't care about the ships. If the squadrons are dead, there is nothing left to really beat you. 6 Tie Interceptors + Howlrunner + Mauler with Flight Controllers will totally shred the squadrons. And its only 98 Points. Stil enough for some modification. You just have to go in after the Yavaris activated. Just focus on the bombers and Jan. It does not matter if you are loosing all the squadrons after they have done their job. As long as he has no squadrons left when yours are all dead, you cannot loose.
Just by average: 2 Interceptors for Jan, 2 for Wedge, 3 for Norra. Mauler will do the last missing points. B-Wing will die to 1-2 Interceptors when Jan is gone. This and the counter attack from the interceptors (3-4 blue dice with swarm) should own the remaining squadrons. he has no Intel, so he has to attack the Intercetors.

Other way: Hammer method. Dont give him time to kill the squadrons first and the ships after. Use the ships and squadrons at the same time. Go all in and kill his Yavaris. Use your squadrons to block his, and use your ships to slaughter the nebulon B in one round. This only works if you have ships with firepower and speed. For example: a Gladiator can oneshot a Yavaris (1 attack with luck, 3 attacks for sure).
But this is a risky way. And could end in still losing your ships to the squadrons, even without the yavaris.

Next idea: Even if i dont want to say it, but the 8 Gozanti will still work against this Rieekan list. If you are patient enough to wait for a gap. Rhymer + 6 Bomber will oneshot the Yavaris without any problems. And you have more speed than the rebel squadrons, so you can choose where you want to fight. With 8 ships you have more activations, and can easy send in the squadrons after his ships. You can activate 6-9 squadrons (depend on the ini) without any chance for him to interfer. This is quite alot of damage, when you have 3 Bomber Command Centers in range. With a Jumpmaster and Denger you have even the Intel. 4 Tie Fighters will be fine to take out some squadrons as well or just to bind him for a bit. And he cannot go for your ships, because he would have to split to far from his ships. Ramming is as well no option, because the Pelta is not fast enough, the Yavaris does not want to, and the transporters get damage on their own.
But this list need some experience (like many other lists do as well).

In the long run it all depend on yours and his playstyle, skill and on the mission.

Simplest answer: Slicer Tools, then kill either the B-wings or Yavaris and BCC's.

Borrow a few ISDs. Put gunnery teams on them. Ram 3 of them at him going speed 3. Something gonna die.