Here's my list for the upcoming Kessel Run even, and I can't really make up my mind which is good against TIEs swarm. My prediction that many players will most probably be using it in my LGS. Here are both my list.

Rebel Squad #1 (98 points)
Wedge - R2 Astromech, Swarm Tactics
Rookie Pilot - R2 Astromech
Rookie Pilot
Gold Sq. Pilot - Ion Cannon

Rebel Squad #2 (99 points)
Biggs - R2F2
Rookie Pilot - R2 Astromech
Rookie Pilot - R2 Astromech
Gold Sq. Pilot - R2D2, Ion Cannon

Both my list never reach 100 point because I like to always have the initiative first.

Any suggestion?

 Do you have a fourth x-wing?

that y-wing will be a sitting duck against a tie swarm. 

I'd run it against 8 TIEs if you can.

 Short building is an interesting build strategy, but the onus on you to make a kill.  While your opponent can not engage you and get a 3 pt win for just flying away from you for the time limit.

Rebel builds usually depend on the Imperials tendency to come right for them to work.

Ixamos said:

you do not really need initiative unless you are going up against another rebel player, as the TIEs tend to be either 1 or 3 skill points, excluding the named pilots, and even then your idea of getting initiative would only work against Darth Vader, and I doubt there are that many imperial builds that include either of the 5 skill point pilots (for your 2nd build)

for squad 1, you may want to change swarm tactics to expert handling, as after playing I found the range requirement for swarm tactic to be rather difficult to maintain, especially if your opponent is trying to get stuff to block you. Also, you should change the R2 astromech to a R5 astromech and put it on the Ywing to make it less ticklish, or use your remaining 2 points and change it to a R5D8 and stick it onto your Ywing.

for squad 2, you simply do not have enough firepower. I find this to be a rather bad 4 ship squad, honestly.

you might want to try: Luke, Gaven, Biggs, rookie without any upgrades at all (100pts), then depending on your preference, downgrade Garven to a rookie X or gold Y with ionC, then work with the remaining points, like say change Luke for Wedge, throw in an astromech, etcetc

On Thanksgiving, I ran Rebels using:

Wedge with R2D2 and Swarm

Rookie pilot

Rookie Pilot

and Gold Squad Y wing with Ion Cannon.

The dice failed me and I got my ass handed to me.  But it was fun.  I had one rookie pilot get two kills before it was over. I did discover that using a combination of movement patterns, similar to Vietnam era pilots, that I could corral the Ties a bit better but I used this a little too late.  But mover matches to come before our Kessel Run in December.

Mark

Slamdunk74 said:

Your squad build is the same build as used by the runner-up in the recently FFG Worlds Championship Weekend

Could you explain your flying tactics in more detail vs swarms?  Do u spread ships out and then converge?

Thanks,

chris

chris cook said:

Well if im running Wedge with Swarm Tactics, most of the time my X-Wings will stay in formation with my Y-Wing closely behind.