In my local area I'm known for flying T-65s, specifically 'Scruff Squadron' which got it's name due to the different paintjobs/missing cannons of some of the ships:

Rookie with R2 and IA x 3

Braylen with Gunner, R3-A2 and title

I've done pretty well with it too although it's been retired for now due to its low PS and need to fly in formation *shakes fist at harpoons*

I don't play competitively but I do have a couple of lists that I play quite regularly with my friends. Of the two, the one I play most often is this:

Backdrafting (v2)

"Backdraft" (27)
Veteran Instincts (1)
Fire-Control System (2)
Harpoon Missiles (4)
Primed Thrusters (1)
Lightweight Frame (2)
Special Ops Training (0)

"Mauler Mithel" (17)
Veteran Instincts (1)

"Countdown" (20)
Lightweight Frame (2)
Adaptive Ailerons (0)

Black Squadron Scout (20)
Crack Shot (1)
Lightweight Frame (2)
Adaptive Ailerons (0)

Total: 100

I prefer Backdraft over Quickdraw for the TIE/SF, I know that means I'm flying against the current high PS meta but honestly I feel like I get more use out of Backdraft's ability. You can go for the alpha with the Harpoon and then fly straight past them and try to get a range one shot out the rear. Then because you shouldn't fly alone I have Mauler Mithel as I really like his ability and he's another cheap PS9 ship, also the original TIE is still loads of fun to fly. Finally two TIE Strikers because, again, I really love how they fly, Countdown + Black Squad Scout make a great pair of flankers that you ignore at your risk.

V1 of this list used to have 2x Black Squad Scouts with Juke as well as AA and LWF but I dropped that down to Countdown and 1x Scout with less upgrades so that I could afford to put a Harpoon on Backdraft.

The second is this one:

Imperial Defense

Countess Ryad (34)
Outmaneuver (3)
Tractor Beam (1)
Cruise Missiles (3)
Guidance Chips (0)
TIE/D (0)

Glaive Squadron Pilot (34)
Crack Shot (1)
Tractor Beam (1)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE/D (0)

Scimitar Squadron Pilot (16)
Systems Officer (2)
Fleet Officer (3)
Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)
TIE Shuttle (0)

Total: 100

Two TIE/D supported by a Fleet Officer and Systems Officer is a really powerful combination, the TIE Shuttle can hand out target locks and focus all over the place and then two TIE/Ds that fire Tractor Beams to drop agility and and try to either smash you into a rock or drag you into Range One, plus Ryad can (ideally) K-Turn behind the opponents biggest threat, target lock and hit them with a Cruise Missile with Outmaneuver further stripping their agility. Obviously the weakness of this list is the mid to low pilot skills of the ship. Still, it's a lot of fun to fly.

Depends on the faction I play. When I play imperial I run this:

Vader (9): Intensity, Cruise missiles, title, Engine Upgrade and Adv. Targeting Computer - 39

Inquisitor (8): PTL, prockets, title, AT - 34

Double Edge (4): Snap shot, Autoblaster Turret, unguided rockets, LWF- 27

But I love my scum list most of all;

"Night Siblings"

Captain Nym (8): PTL, Autoblaster Turret, Extra Munitions, Cluster Missles, Cluster Mines, Engine Upgrade and Maul - 52 pts.

Assajj Ventress (6): PTL, Lattzz, Glitterstim, BMST, Countermeasures (48).

Both lists are super fun and aggressive

17 hours ago, Stay On The Leader said:

Youngster is a Black Sqd TIE with two EPTs - VI and Crack Shot. Gave me PS advantage vs other swarms, and stopped being PS-killed by Brobots.

I see your logic, but you only avoid getting killed by Brobots if you win the initiative battle; which I think leaving to a die roll is a bad idea.

When I was able to play in a weekly league (been a year now), this list went undefeated (even post x7 nerf last year) and caused some real consternation for my opponents. I pulled it out this last weekend after having not played X-Wing for a year and remembered how much I loved to fly it ...

Whisper (9): VI, FCS, Hotshot Co-pilot, ACD - 43

Colonel Vessery (6): Juke, TIE/x7, Stealth Device - 38

Scimitar Squadron Pilot (2): Tie Shuttle, Vader - 19

Whisper sets up Vessery to punch damage and Vader is just insult to injury plus I love the Bomber's dial. If my opponents go after him first, I'm cool with that because he's only 19pts. If they ignore him, he'll hurt a Whisper/Vessery focused fired ship. This list eats large ships especially and the crit landing tie shuttle closed out quite a few wins for me in league.

19 minutes ago, Yakostovian said:

I see your logic, but you only avoid getting killed by Brobots if you win the initiative battle; which I think leaving to a die roll is a bad idea.

We simultaneous fire at PS6, so I definitely get my red dice away is the point. It was a major improvement in how the maths played out for my killing a Brobot on initial round of firing. Black Sqd pilot had too high odds of letting an IG escape with 1/2 hull left. Youngster made it >80% to wipe one out.

Dengar and the Party Bus

Dengar

• Predator
• K4
• ContraCybers
• PO title

Total: 52 pts

Bossk

• VI
• Mangler
• 4LOM
• K4
• Zuckuss
• Inertial Dampeners

Total: 46 pts

Total/Bid: 98 pts

I am looking forward to changing my go-to list to this:

Range One Dream Team

Since the meta is so volatile, people rarely have a signature list. But they might have a signature pilot instead? I suppose when it comes to signature, I am a Dash guy, been playing him since the old Corran/Dash days, did Lothal as companion during the dead-eye scouts days, and Poe after their nerfs. Been playing him as old Super dash, new super dash, rainbow dash, blocking dash, you name it. Lately I haven't played as much as I would like, but I¨'m branching out since the meta is much more forgiving these days than it has for years.

It was Jake, Poe and a stress-ship. First stresshog, then Braylen. Now I would try Strezra, but did not have the time yet to waste on it - because Jake is most of the time a choice where you sabotage yourself...

My list since GunsForHire was announced is an ImperialAlpha. First with VaderQDInq and concussions, then with Harpoons. Then switched Inq to Lockdown. And then Lockdown to NuPoon, where I have been since december.

It offers

• ace-action at ps11 with two actions, including boost and improved damage by ATC
• a brawler in QD, a knife fighter who deals and takes a beating
• a sniper with the Nupoon, staying at range 3 and then running away to come back at some point later, with a freshly reloaded new Harpoon. Or he blocks at ps2, which happens more often...

It misses two points to be really strong and having a bid, but it does quite well without FCS, too

hopefully my new list is gonna be 5x T-65. i hope i hope i hope.

I experiment with a lot of things, mostly Scum. But there's one list that's always in the back of my mind because I just love flying it so much.

Asajj (49)
Veteran Instincts
Shadow Caster
Glitterstim x2
Gyroscopic Targeting
Latts Razzi

Boba Fett (51)
Fearlessness
Cluster Missiles
Extra Munitions
Dengar
Guidance Chips
Glitterstim
Slave 1

Tractoring someone into range 1 of Boba and hitting them with 8 near-guaranteed hits is one of the greatest joys in life.

My ultimate fave list and one I win with fairly consistently is as follows:

4x Concord Dawn Aces

xFearlessness

xProtector title

25 ea, 100 on the nose.

I may be bias as I'm a Mando mama, LOVE Mandalorian everything (FFG please give Xwing the Gauntlet fighter).

Back to the list, I run them in pairs slightly staggered with one in front and to the side slightly of the other. I can fly them in leap frog style moves and tend to get 1 if not both into front arc for that potential 5 damage each ( and possible 4 evades as well). Their dial is pretty nice as well.

I'm in the same boat as the OP. I fly something different all the time and it's just not working for me anymore. I need to focus down and really learn a list. But I don't like the meta lists.

My signature list before wave 11 was:

Jess Pava w/Swarm Leader, Hero droid, integrated

GSP A-Wing w/Juke, snap shot, title, refit (x2)

Jan Ors w/nein numb, adaptability, dorsal turret

I had an 80% win rate. but bombs are an incredibly hard counter, as are harpoon missiles. I may start taking it out now that bombs have calmed down.. Dash and friends has always been my kryptonite...and guess what, also hard counters it. But it loved Kanan/Biggs! I ate that thing for breakfest!

I'm currently trying to decide on a new signature list... I got three contenders:

A:

Norra - VI, Flight Assist, Rey, title

Wedge - Expertise, Flight Assist, Integrated

Jan Ors - Adapt, TLT, Nein Numb

B:

Norra - Expertise, C-3PO (or Jan Ors), Flight Assist, Title

Rey - Expertise, Finn, Kanan, Engine, Sloop

C:

Rey - Expertise, C3PO, Finn, Evade, Engine

Fenn - VI, Tactician, R2 Astromech

Rex

This was my original Signature Squad. I was flying it when the phantom dropped and then Panic Attack showed up at Worlds and it never saw the spot light.

Broark Tactics (100)

Mine is pure thematics

Attack the dreadnaught! (100)

•"Crimson Specialist" (36) - B/SF-17 Bomber
Trajectory Simulator (1), •Bomblet Generator (3), Advanced Optics (2), Crossfire Formation (2), Deflective Plating (1)

Blue Squadron Novice (25) - T-70 X-Wing
Flight-Assist Astromech (1), Integrated Astromech (0)

•Poe Dameron (39) - T-70 X-Wing
Veteran Instincts (1), •BB-8 (2), Advanced Optics (2), •Black One (1), Integrated Astromech (0)

it’s fun, it’s Jank, and can answer non-deadeye harpoons

Have never actually lost with this list (casual play only). It’s not sexy but it’s durable, it throws a lot of red dice, and it has blocking potential. Plus having 3 T-70s and an Arc on the board just feels mighty:

Jess Pava w/ FAA and IA

Braylen

Blue T-70 w/ IA x2 one with R2 one with Courier Droid

1 hour ago, JLank said:

Blue T-70 w/ IA x2 one with R2 one with Courier Droid

Courier Droid is a crew upgrade, so I'm sorry to report that your list is illegal.

Fenn/Asajj/Unkar is my favourite list, and I've flown it to success locally and on Vassal.

Dash/Lothal(with Ion turret) is another much-played list of mine that's become a bit notorious in my local meta for never having lost a game (still got stompted at nationals with it though).

I don't really do empire, sadly. Not until I can get 4 gunboats.

I have a list for a season and then move on. Otherwise the game feels too stale. I started with imperial aces, moved onto x wings, upgraded to t-70, twin Firespray, back to x wings, Dash Poe and now I’m searching for my next thing. It’s not as skittish as it sounds if you’ve been p,aging since wave iv!

Triple T70s, went to Corran/Chewie for a season, went to Han/Poe after that. Since regionals are over I need a new option, running T70s and Arc right now but it's not really competitive. I'll play some more games with the triple T70s too.

When I don't know what to play, or need a backup list for alternative formats (eg Hangar Bay and the like), I almost always default to Kagi, Carnor, Omega Leader. It's usually good enough against most things to at least be somewhat competitive.

My first double-Large ship list. This current build has been modified, but essentially the same. I tossed together the list when Jabba first came out. I've changed the EPT since missiles became a thing.

https://geordanr.github.io/xwing/?f=Scum and Villainy&d=v4!s!131:11,-1,-1,233,-1,178,202:-1:3:;219:18,190,128,249:-1:3:&sn=Big Jabba&obs=

I feel like I leveled-up playing lots of Defenders and Auzitucks. I'd dabbled into Miranda, but eventually came to the conclusion I was bad with her. I kept trying to make Krassis Trelix work, and like fetch, it isn't going to happen. But really digging in on /x7 variants and triple Tactician Auzitucks and now TIE/D (rainbow cannons - Ion, Flechette, Tractor), I feel like I've attained a higher level. There's something about lower PS ships where you've got to set up coverage from arcs and such.

I am known to favor the heavy fighters and fighterbombers.

Y-wings, B-wings, ARC-170, Mist Hunter, Scum Y-Wings, TIE Bombers and TIE Defenders.

Haven't delved in new expansions as I rarely play. So the majority is wave 1-4 with early scum stuff. But hoping to add the X-wing again to the list with Wave XIV

Really loving all the diverse responses to this topic. I am still narrowing down my squads to find my list. I am a rebel at heart but really like flying Defenders. I am down to two for the Empire.

VesseRyad (100)

•Colonel Vessery (40) - TIE Defender
Expertise (4), Tractor Beam (1), TIE/D (0)

•Countess Ryad (40) - TIE Defender
Push The Limit (3), Ion Cannon (3), TIE/D (0)

Scimitar Squadron Pilot (20) - TIE Bomber
TIE Shuttle (0), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1), Fleet Officer (3)

and

3D Rainbow (99)

Delta Squadron Pilot (32) - TIE Defender
Tractor Beam (1), TIE/D (0), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

Delta Squadron Pilot (34) - TIE Defender
Ion Cannon (3), TIE/D (0), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

Delta Squadron Pilot (33) - TIE Defender
Flechette Cannon (2), TIE/D (0), Twin Ion Engine Mk. II (1)

Been flying the first list with pretty good success and can’t decide between these two.

When it comes to the Rebels things are a little more complicated. I really want to fly this list but feel even after gaining a high skill level the current meta might be to much.

Baby Blues (100)

Blue Squadron Novice (25) - T-70 X-Wing
Flight-Assist Astromech (1), Integrated Astromech (0)

Blue Squadron Novice (25) - T-70 X-Wing
Flight-Assist Astromech (1), Integrated Astromech (0)

Blue Squadron Novice (25) - T-70 X-Wing
Flight-Assist Astromech (1), Integrated Astromech (0)

Blue Squadron Novice (25) - T-70 X-Wing
Flight-Assist Astromech (1), Integrated Astromech (0)

I flew Magic Carpet Ride for some time with success but found it a little boring at times. So I have been thinking about this one for the Rebels also.

Tactical Wookiee’s (100)

•Lowhhrick (36) - Auzituck Gunship
Predator (3), Tactician (2), •C-3PO (3)

Wookiee Liberator (32) - Auzituck Gunship
Expertise (4), Tactician (2)

Wookiee Liberator (32) - Auzituck Gunship
Expertise (4), Tactician (2)

Love X-wings and B-wings. So thought this would be a good compromise. But again feel even at a high skill level the meta might be to much.

Blue Thunder (100)

Blue Squadron Pilot (25) - B-Wing
Fire Control System (2), Tractor Beam (1)

Blue Squadron Pilot (25) - B-Wing
Fire Control System (2), Tractor Beam (1)

Blue Squadron Novice (25) - T-70 X-Wing
Flight-Assist Astromech (1), Integrated Astromech (0)

Blue Squadron Novice (25) - T-70 X-Wing
Flight-Assist Astromech (1), Integrated Astromech (0)

Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.