Here's what I'm initially looking at. TIE swarms seem to be strong and Vader looks super fun, so I'm trying to find the best way to combine the two.

Would you run named TIEs like below that can support each other/have good abilities? Or would you go with a more generic list to fit in a fourth or fifth TIE?

Darth Vader (70)
Sense (6)
Fire-Control System (3)
Afterburners (8)

"Howlrunner" (40)
Juke (4)

"Scourge" Skutu (32)
Predator (2)

"Mauler" Mithel (32)
Predator (2)

Total: 199

View in Yet Another Squad Builder

To fit in a 5th Academy you have to kind of sacrifice some upgrades on Vader. You really can't go wrong with the 4 Black Sqd. Ties with Crackshot.

Or you can so something like:

Darth Vader (70)
Sense (6)
Fire-Control System (3)
Afterburners (8)

Saber Squadron Ace (40)
Predator (2)

Alpha Squadron Pilot (34)

Alpha Squadron Pilot (34)

Total: 197

19 minutes ago, Jo Jo said:

To fit in a 5th Academy you have to kind of sacrifice some upgrades on Vader. You really can't go wrong with the 4 Black Sqd. Ties with Crackshot.

Or you can so something like:

Darth Vader (70)
Sense (6)
Fire-Control System (3)
Afterburners (8)

Saber Squadron Ace (40)
Predator (2)

Alpha Squadron Pilot (34)

Alpha Squadron Pilot (34)

Total: 197

I think you can fit 5 by just dropping the Afterburners. Not a *major* loss. But I'm leaning towards 3 with decent abilities and/or talent slots.

On ‎8‎/‎3‎/‎2018 at 10:38 PM, jwilliamson12 said:

I think you can fit 5 by just dropping the Afterburners. Not a *major* loss. But I'm leaning towards 3 with decent abilities and/or talent slots.

I suspect Afterburners are a big deal. Given that 1.0 Vader pretty much had engine upgrade staple-gunned to him, I think an action-free source of boost is probably one of the first things you should reach for.

Supernatural Reflexes is good, but expensive if you want good TIEs to fly alongside him.

Howlrunner, Mauler and Scourge are nice as a trio. My main concern is Scourge (and predator) - if you're flying as a trio in a range 1 howlrunner-friendly bubble, lining up boresight shots isn't easy, and if Predator Scourge can't line up a bullseye, he might as well be an academy pilot. I'm wondering if swapping to Juke Del Meeko might work; it requires you to land some damage first, but his defence reroll applies out to range 2 - good for the three TIEs and possibly Vader as well - useful if facing a turret-equipped ship that Vader can't arc dodge, and which is likely to take several turns to kill.