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Hellbringer - Thoughts?


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#1 Bassie

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Posted 16 March 2016 - 03:19 AM

I am considering the hellbringer for my next mech. I was hoping that someone might share a review for how they rate the mech?

I have the timberwolf - reasonably well with it when I run the laser vomit (2LPL and 4 ERML) or brawler (4SRM6 & UAC20) builds, but otherwise I really struggle. It is definitely not my 'best' or 'favourite' mech. Previously, I liked the cataphract and catapults (as in way back before the days of clan and quirks). My favourite mechs currently are the executioner, shadowcat and stormcrow (in that order).

I am worried that the hellbringer will be a bit of a 'light' timberwolf, where I end up using the same builds and playstyle.

I am hoping that rather than this, it has a broader variety of builds and the ecm provides another dimension to the playstyle - I imagine it is a good flanker, and a good long range poker.

My alternative is to splash out and buy a direwolf. However I am reluctant to do so, as I mostly play PUG and think I'll get isolated a lot, and the sheer cost of buying three direwolf chassis.

Your thoughts / opinions?

#2 ImperialKnight

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Posted 16 March 2016 - 03:45 AM

second best Clan Heavy after the TBR, and better in certain cases. It doesn't have JJs, but it does have ECM and high mounted Energy hardpoints.

It's a beast for laser drill builds. don't bother flanking, hang with the assault lance, give them ECM cover, they provide the tank for you to output damage

#3 John1352

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Posted 16 March 2016 - 04:48 AM

Direwolves are more like a semi-fixed cannon emplacement than a mech. They have the firepower and armor to destroy any mech in a shootout, but are not going to be able to avoid LRMs and assassin light mechs, or keep up with the team in maneuvers. If I had a Hellbringer standing beside me all the time in my Direwolf, and shooting any enemies it can see, I think my dire KDR would be doubled.

I don't have the Hellbringer, (it's very high on my to-get list, possibly next) I tend to see it as something of a support mech that often will outperform the mechs it is supporting. I don't think I need to tell you that ECM is extremely valuable. With reasonably high hardpoints, it peeks well, and by standing next to something scary, I.e. any 100 ton assault, it will not be a priority target, giving you more time to dish out the damage.

The prime left torso may be it's biggest strength, but it's also a huge weakness. Anyone who knows about Hellbringers will shoot it off ASAP, twisting to hide it is important.

#4 Boulangerie

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Posted 16 March 2016 - 05:15 AM

Hellbringer is my only clan mech, and It's amazing. I can't really compare it to the other clan heavies, except the trial versions I've tried out.

I used the trial HBR last year, and it blew me away.

Currently they have my highest stats of all of my mechs (KDR, W/L etc.).

My favorite build is 4 ERML and Gauss. I haven't tried a LPL build yet, but the LT would be really nice for that as well.

When leveling, always bring the Prime LT (I think) with ECM, no matter your chassis. The ECM will earn you more XP than the 2.5% Omni bonus.

#5 Bassie

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Posted 16 March 2016 - 05:22 AM

Playing around in smurfy, I was looking at a 2x Streak SRM6 (RT) and 2 large pulses in the LT.

That LT with 3 energy hardpoints and the ECM is a pretty amazing omnipod.

Looking at it, it has the podspace, but not the tonnage for ballistics, and lacks the missile hardpoints (max 2) to be a missile boat, so looks like it is the energy options for the most part? (Athough I note that the ERML is such good value for tonnage,it can be secondary, so gauss or CUAC10 could be options?)

Edited by Bassie, 16 March 2016 - 06:09 AM.


#6 2fast2stompy

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Posted 16 March 2016 - 05:29 AM

It works great as a brawler, which is surprising given how slow it is to twist and turn. As long as you're running an asymmetric build, you're going to last longer than a TBR in a 1v1 situation, in my experience, and even be able to take down bigger mechs that you really shouldn't have any right taking face-on. To be honest, though, I don't really see what's so great about Timberwolves in the first place. Also, you have ECM, so you are invisible to most people.

Sniping also works great. Gauss+ML is... good, I guess. The Gauss takes up a lot of tonnage and makes sacrificing your right a lot more painful, and the damage per ton is really not that good, especially if you sacrifice it before going through your ammo, but it's a Gauss, so...

It relies on torso/head hardpoints, so anything with arm guns and higher/lower ground will wreck you without putting themselves in much danger. It is also not very agile, and losing your left torso strips you of most your firepower and utility as an ECM carrier.

It can get a lot of damage as a sniper for obvious reasons, and I really like it as a brawler, but the reason it's valued has more to do with it being a heavy that has ECM to support other big mechs, which it is honestly a thankless endeavor in quick games, and also less personally rewarding in terms of currency.

Edit: Forum ate a part of the post, and I can't really type it out again.
TL;DR: Get it, it's the only heavy that does something the TBR doesn't, AND actually works in the game.
Clans generally have the issue of only having one real choice of mech per weight class, and HBR is an exception.

Edited by 2fast2stompy, 16 March 2016 - 05:38 AM.


#7 aGentleWarrior

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Posted 16 March 2016 - 06:09 AM

Hellbringer is fine, was my first clan mech!

First chassis i stuck for a while was:
2 UAC5, 4 ML, ECM (better on PUG then CW)

Lately i tried
2x LRM10, 6ML, ECM

Currently thinking of mounting a Gaus on it...
however somehow I cannot decide how to support the gaus 2 erl + 2 ml, or maybe 3erl and drop a little of everything?

John describes it very good:
something of a support mech that often will outperform the mechs it is supporting

The torso mounts especially the one with ecm are so good, that i usually have an empty or even 2 empty arms.

Edited by aGentleWarrior, 16 March 2016 - 06:09 AM.


#8 process

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Posted 16 March 2016 - 06:34 AM

To say nothing else, the Hellbringer is a highly flexible chassis in terms of loadouts. You can run just about anything on it, unless you're a stickler for symmetrical builds.

#9 Metus regem

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Posted 16 March 2016 - 07:25 AM

The Hellbringer is one of the few non (I) mechs I've hung onto, it is a very solid and flexible chassis, once you fix the issue of being underarmoured. It does have a tendency to run very hot, and by and large the best ST omnipod is the one that has 3E+ECM, the down side is, once people see that side, they will shoot for it.

#10 Steinkrieg

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Posted 16 March 2016 - 07:48 AM

I wouldn't call it the second best. I would personally rank the Clan Heavies
  • Ebon Jaguar
  • Timber Wolf
  • Hellbringer
  • Mad Dog
  • Orion IIC
  • Summoner
The EBJ and TBR just plain outclass it on many levels, particularly alpha strike damage, heat management, and build versatility. Even so, the HBR is quite a good mech, and it provides more teamwork utility than the EBJ and TBR. It also can run zombie builds, which are personal favorite of mine since I started out running zombie CN9-As almost 4 years ago.


This is my go-to build for my HBR-PRIME . Many have listed this in other threads. It is amazing. I like to pair up with a Dakkawolf, provide ECM coverage and hopefully deter the medium and light hunter-killer packs.

This is my go-to build for my HBR-A . 3 weapons groups, which the cERPPCs on chainfire in order to manage heat. I've found that this is a perfect build for escorting heavy and assault class LRMers, as you can help fling dmg and ECM negation downrange, and have enough cERMLAS to make short work of any lights that would come to harass you.

This is my go-to build for my HBR-B . Again, 3 weapons groups, and it is a hell of a brawler. Great for providing ECM escort for your assaults, with enough firepower to seriously mess up anyone that y'all run into. Also great for providing ECM coverage on a flank push or as part of a hunter-killer lance.

I think that most people would enjoy piloting the HBR. To me, it feel like a Heavy-sized Centurion, and about as tough as one.

Edited by Steinkrieg, 16 March 2016 - 07:48 AM.


#11 Ulris Ventis

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Posted 16 March 2016 - 07:55 AM

HBR is a beast Mech and I've started a topic before when learning it. I came up with this build myself, tuning it to my personal taste and it never failed me.
A decent average damage of 550-800 per round is incredible and fun.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...0cea6ddd685b4d6
Reduction of leg armor in favor of more ammunition, which is incredibly useful, since legs are never hit much on this mech anyway. I will check and fix this loadout, since my current version of it is slightly different, it has even less armor on legs + target comp 1 and ammo is divided in 1/2 boxes across the whole mech.

Edited by Ulris Ventis, 16 March 2016 - 07:56 AM.


#12 Ulris Ventis

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Posted 16 March 2016 - 07:59 AM

View PostSteinkrieg, on 16 March 2016 - 07:48 AM, said:

This is my go-to build for my HBR-PRIME . Many have listed this in other threads. It is amazing. I like to pair up with a Dakkawolf, provide ECM coverage and hopefully deter the medium and light hunter-killer packs.


It's popular but it doesn't have enough ammo. :)

#13 Kira Onime

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Posted 16 March 2016 - 08:03 AM

The HBR is a very good Heavy, top 3 on the clan side.

It's main advantage is having most of it's hardpoints high mounted but that also brings out it's main weakness.
PRIME left torso is prone to being focused, allot, and you don't have that much vertical movement with it.

On the other side, if you're decent at torso twisting, the arms and the flat chested nature of the mech makes those side torso somewhat easier to protect in the long run from the sides.

The main builds you'll want to run on this thing will consist of lasers, ballistics or a mix of both.
Not enough missile hardpoints to make SRMs interesting enough, unless you remove the PRIME left torso in which I'm gona ask you what the **** are you thinking, and LRMs... well... they're LRMS.. not good.

#14 Natural Predator

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Posted 16 March 2016 - 08:05 AM

I swear by 4 ER Large lasers and ECM. Fire them 2 by 2, or 1 by 1 by 2 and watch the damage stack.
I also recommend (as previously mentioned)

2 ER L and 4 ER M
1 ERL and 5 ER M
2 UAC 5 and 4 ER M
1 Gauss and 4 ER M
2 Large pulse 3 ER M (runs a bit hot)
6 Small Pulse 2 SRM6 with Artemis

#15 Steinkrieg

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Posted 16 March 2016 - 08:31 AM

View PostUlris Ventis, on 16 March 2016 - 07:59 AM, said:

It's popular but it doesn't have enough ammo. Posted Image



I rarely run out of ammunition, and when I do, it's always in the last few shots of a winning match. I'd say that yours has too much :P

Do you have a problem with getting backshot? I've found that I need the back armor given the stupidity that is the Jenner splattard.

#16 Ulris Ventis

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Posted 16 March 2016 - 10:23 AM

View PostSteinkrieg, on 16 March 2016 - 08:31 AM, said:



I rarely run out of ammunition, and when I do, it's always in the last few shots of a winning match. I'd say that yours has too much Posted Image

Do you have a problem with getting backshot? I've found that I need the back armor given the stupidity that is the Jenner splattard.

My build rolls around UAC as main weaponry and MLR as backup that is effective to end up cored enemies, to deal additional damage in range or leg fast moving lights basically.

Here is the build I go with for quite a long time now. Posted Image
I added some some armor after Jenner IIC were all over, but I believe 6-8 is enough now.
I took TC MK1 since it's always useful to have when possible and further reduced leg armor as I got only 1 match where I lost a leg.
It goes with 3 groups.
UAC
2 MLRs
2 MLRs
Shooting this way allows to sustain lots of heat for a long time and then switch only to UAC.

http://images.akamai...282F402FDD7637/

HBR has great torso twist to my liking, any torso is enough to keep enough damage to the end of the round to stay useful, mounts are great.


If HBR was a 70t mech with JJ available in additional tonnage on top of ECM I would easily name it the best. :D

Edited by Ulris Ventis, 16 March 2016 - 10:27 AM.


#17 Bassie

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Posted 21 March 2016 - 04:54 PM

To update,

I bought the hbr prime and completed the basics over the weekend just passed. Advice in this forum was helpful.

I found that it handled like a pig, and it took some getting used to, and figured that is avoid brawler builds until I had at least doubled basics.

After experimenting, I found that my best build was 6erml and a tc5. I tried the tc on a whim - thinking if there was anything I could do it to make the ermls better - already have both the weapon modules for them.
I was surprised to find that it did better with the tc than with 5mpl instead of erml, extra heat sinks or some srms. I didn't try the usual lpl combo.
I've not ever really rated the tc's before and 5tons is quite the investment. It may well have been luck, but I seemed to get more kills and an extra 100 pts or so of dmg when I ran it. Has anyone else found the same?

#18 Garfuncle

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Posted 22 March 2016 - 09:24 AM

Try this for max dakka, trade uacs for normal ones if you don't like jams.
https://www.mechspec...erml-cecm.8569/

#19 Boulangerie

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Posted 22 March 2016 - 09:49 AM

The targeting computers are great. They recently got buffed across the board as well, however there are still diminishing returns for the tonnage once you get past TC 1. If you have the fundage, try throwing that on there, and use the other 4 tons for heat sinks. :)

#20 ImperialKnight

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Posted 29 March 2016 - 07:09 AM

at the same weight class, the EBJ can carry more firepower, but the ECM makes all the difference in the world, especially in a team fight. I would not take an EBJ over a HBR





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