The Atlas-K is so tricky to build for. I like Helmstif's build and a lot of useful info can be found in that thread.
I'm not a huge fan of putting Gauss cannons in Atlai, I think you're just setting yourself up for inevitable chest explosions. However,
I did cook up a Gauss build for the K. It makes sense to me for a few reasons, even if I'm not totally happy with it.
One, the meta-game has shifted back towards long range thanks to Alpine. It can be frustrating to make a pure brawling build and end up on that map, especially in a big slow tank like that Atlas. You need something that can fight back. Two, the Atlas-K will NEVER be as good at brawling as other common Atlai (D-DC!) and Stalkers, you might as well stay at range. Three, I still think the design encourages a long range stand off fighting style. The dual-AMS rig, I feel, is supposed to let it win LRM and attrition fights at range - even if ECM has largely supplanted that advantage.
The build I have is not one I'm super happy with but I think leverages the Atlas-K as best as it can be. It's slow, packing a 310STD (you can save weight and money and stick with a stock 300STD you might have from another Atlas, but you run out of crit slots to do anything with). The combination of Guass, 2xLLAS, and a single LRM20 should let you do respectable damage at range. Unfortunately you get beat out be dedicated PPC/Guass snipers like the 3D Poptart and and multi-PPC Stalkers/Awesomes and you get out rocketted by other beefier LRM boats. You need to stay at range since you won't be winning brawls with anything bigger than a Medium and that Guass in your chest is just waiting to blow. On the plus side, you do get to diversify your damage dealing with a mixture of direct and indirect fire. I'm sure you could trim weight and find a way to stick on PPCs, but I think LLAS are a better choice. Gives you something to brawl with and help deal with lights.
I feel that TAG in the chest is very important. You need to be able to penetrate ECM bubbles yourself and not depend on friendly TAGing and jamming. I think packing both AMS and 2 tons of ammo for them is similarly important. You're big, slow, have no ECM, and 2/3rds of your weapons encourage line of sight. You are kinda dependent on the AMS to at least slow down how fast LRMs will decimate you.
So there you have it. A so-so build fairly close in spirit to the stock configuration but a little less suicidal. If you can think of better for the Atlas-K, please share it.
0
