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My friend just got into X-Wing a few weeks ago and now has a good grasp on the rules. Now we're attending a local store tournament this weekend. Help us build him a decent 100 point Imperial squad from this pile of ships and cards; you're our only hope!

Force Awakens Core Set

TIE Interceptor

TIE Bomber

TIE Fighter Expansion

TIE Defender

TIE Phantom

And he can borrow my Original Core Set too

I hear that Soontir Fel is good and he often rocks our practice games. And with five total TIE fighter models, maybe a swarm is appropriate? What combination can we come up with?

We kinda prefer using only the physical upgrade cards we have, and we're practicing for a tournament this weekend that will require cards. From those kits, beyond the core set, we have these upgrades:


Hope to play a practice game 20 hours from now. Thanks for your help! We have no idea what we're doing!

And bonus question: What should his next competitive purchase be?

How about something like this:



"Whisper" (42) - TIE Phantom
Adrenaline Rush (1), Fire Control System (2), Recon Specialist (3), Advanced Cloaking Device (4)

Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15) - TIE/FO Fighter


Academy Pilot (12) - TIE Fighter


Academy Pilot (12) - TIE Fighter


"Epsilon Ace" (17) - TIE/FO Fighter

I like Statu's list.

I'd primarily focus on TIE fighters and TIE/fo fighters, because you've got enough gear to make them work. You can kit out a Phantom fairly well, too.

I'd be hesitant about the Advanced Cloaking Device - it's amazing, but Whisper's PS7 really wants Veteran Instincts to make it work, and you don't have access to that.

A Stygium Particle Accelerator is cheaper (because it's not as good!) but might work better.

Epsilon Ace is also in the TIE/fo expansion set, so no-go


Whisper with a Recon Specialist and Fire Control System is good, but I'd rather take a Tactician in her crew slot - you're getting a free focus token every time you hit anyway, so Recon Specialist is less useful. With free rerolls from fire control, Outmaneuver isn't a bad plan. That keeps her the same price.

If you have a 4+ ship TIE pack, and the TIE fighter expansion, you can't go far wrong with Howlrunner to make you shootier on the first pass.



Epsilon Squadron Pilot - 15
Epsilon Squadron Pilot - 15
Howlrunner - 18
Academy Pilot - 12

That's 60 points - you can save that by binning adrenaline rush and dropping the Recon Specialist to a Tactician.

Alternatively - if you're not going to go first, go with a phantom designed to outfly someone, not win by force of tokens:

Echo - Outmaneuver, Fire Control System, Tactician, Stygium Particle Accelerator

statu wrote:"Whisper" (42) - TIE Phantom
Adrenaline Rush (1), Fire Control System (2), Recon Specialist (3), Advanced Cloaking Device (4)

Epsilon Squadron Pilot (15) - TIE/FO Fighter


Academy Pilot (12) - TIE Fighter


Academy Pilot (12) - TIE Fighter


"Epsilon Ace" (17) - TIE/FO Fighter

That looks neat, how should the TIE fighters be played?

locarno24 wrote:
Epsilon Squadron Pilot - 15
Epsilon Squadron Pilot - 15
Howlrunner - 18
Academy Pilot - 12
Echo - Outmaneuver, Fire Control System, Tactician, Stygium Particle Accelerator

This looks great! Is it worth upgrading Howlrunner or is she already a big target?

Actually I do have Veteran Instincts if my rebels aren't using it; here's the other list of upgrades:
Are any of those especially useful for a TIE Swarm?

Howlrunner usually is a big target, because she makes all other ships better, so the more upgrades you pile onto her, the more of a risk it becomes. Risks can bring rewards, however. If the dice don't go your opponent's way, a Howlrunner with Stealth Device and Swarm Tactics is a bit more pricey, but can give you a long-lasting edge.

But the green dice are fickle...