14 replies to this topic

[panzerboy39]

Well Im into my first full day of combat and have a sorry-*** .54 kill/death ratio. I find that my only way to contribute to a group effectively is to use a LRM platform and act basically as heavy arty sitting back. I am actually having soem success with this in a trebuchet. Whats the best LRM platform in the game?

[Darknight99]

I'd say I enjoy my Catapult C1 fast and nimble once you go elite and can defend its self.

[Redshift2k5]

There is so such thing as "best". Different mechs have different advantages.

The C1 is a good mix of LRM and medium lasers(for self defense), good speed.

Trebuchet is even faster and much more agile in close quarters.

Stalker can carry the most LRM racks.

Atlas can carry a balanced loadout includig missiles, Atlas DDC can use an ECM to defend it from enemy missile locks.

Many other mechs can carry LRMs as well, either as an LRM-specific mech ro to support their other firepower.

Edited by Redshift2k5, 07 March 2013 - 11:08 AM.

[Buckminster]

For me, LRMs means a Catapult. The C1 is a good all around chassis, with both missiles and energy hard points so that you can carry some self defense. it also had a good top speed once you put a larger engine into it.

A good thing to do is check here: http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/ as it has all of the mechs listed and their variants, as well as their hard point configurations. It will give you an idea of what mechs can carry missiles, and how they are laid out. It even has a built-in mechlab, so you can play around with builds.

Here's my two cents on what an LRM build should have:
LRMs, obviously. But it doesn't need to be 4 LRM 20s. My C1 has 2 LRM15s with Artemis, and is very effective.
Ammo. Again, this is fairly obvious, Ammo is actually part of the "how many LRMs do I mount?" equation. More LRM racks will burn through ammo faster, but might not be any more effective. I have 4 tons with my C1, and that lasts. But if I had LRM 20s, it may be worth adding another ton.
Speed. You need to be able to relocate and keep up with the team.
Armor. Get a light mech on your butt and you won't last long. I've seen a lot of glass cannon LRM builds, but I'm not a fan.

Jump Jets are a nice option, as it allows you to get into better firing positions.

[Phoenix Gray]

Cat C4 with LRM 15s, leaving room for mix of 2 SRM6 and lasers for close-in defense. I favor 1MPL to leave one slot open for TAG.

Edited by Phoenix Gray, 07 March 2013 - 07:26 PM.

[CmdrPoopyPants]

I've run 2 LRM boats to varrying degrees of success.. one was a C1 and one was a 5S (catapault and stalker, respectively).

Here's the C1 I ran.. http://mwo.smurfy-ne...ac8ccd109501182 .. quick enough to keep up with the pack (staying a few hundred meters behind, mostly).. 4xMLs does good damage to already damaged mechs and saved me from enemy harrassment on several occasions (or when I was out of missiles and decided to trudge into the frey).

Here's the 5S.. http://mwo.smurfy-ne...a9c5b64ea210bc2 ... Slower, but the trade off is 50 missiles a volley instead of the 30 from the C1. You also have to pace yourself a little with it as I found I was often in range of a target enough to add the 2xLPLs to the mix and that gets heat up fast. But all that armor lets you dance with lights longer, and gives you a better chance to fight them off.

I've also seen all kinds of other load outs for LRM boats. I'd suggest playing around with the smurfy website and see what looks fun to you... including other mechs than just the stalker and catapault. I even ran a Hunchback with a 30 missile volley .. http://mwo.smurfy-ne...12b30ef192f118a .. but I found the lack of ammo and being pretty frail kind of made it inconsistent as an "LRM boat".

[Draal Kaan]

And equip and use TAG.
Best thing ingame for me... Pulls mechs out of the ECM bubble and is giving your missiles a real good punch via grouping them tighter.
I have seen various LRM boats without it. In my opinion, worst decision in their specific build.

Yeah, if you're pugging, check your selfdefense. A few medium lasers can save the day...

[Karenai]

There are 3 Mechs right now which work very well as LRM support.

As mentioned by others the C-1 Cata is the way to go if you want a mobile LRM mech, which can still bring some hurt in meele.
The best way to play it imho is with 3 medlas+TAG+2x15LRM and Artemis IV. You actually run in with your guys and try to hit people with both, the LRM and your lasers. If your team is not completly ******** and you like to play fast the damage output is phenomenal for so little of a mech.

The Stalkers are pure almost stationary weapon platforms. They are slow, they turn even slower and only very little. But nowhere can you put so many weapons on a mech, especially missile launchers. Also you can put a good amount of laser weapons on them, too.

The DDC. People hate it. People hate it even more when someone "misuses" it as LRM boat.
The mech itself is crap. Only two energy slots means only ONE energy weapon, because you NEED TAG for any kind of LRM action. But it has ECM and 100t. 100t=more ammo. More ammo=you can spray and pray.

Awesomes can be fun LRM boats, too. But explode way to fast, because of their broad shoulders.

[Phoenix Gray]

Here's a selection of LRM fighters in various weights and models:, by no means comprehensive but showing the options available depending on your playing style. Note: none of them are "boats" in the mutant Stalker sense.

Commando http://tinyurl.com/aduwt9c

Jenner http://tinyurl.com/beokeos

Hunchback http://tinyurl.com/by5pn6x

Trebuchet: http://tinyurl.com/cxlffzm

Catapult C1 http://tinyurl.com/ct3y3cb

Catapult C4 http://tinyurl.com/amfpkxb

Awesome 8V http://tinyurl.com/ben46tg

[Phoenix Gray]

You can play an effective role with even a mediocre missile fighter...

Edited by Phoenix Gray, 07 March 2013 - 12:17 PM.

[El Death Smurf]

the assault class missle boats have 1 glaring weakness, and it's when anything gets within 180m. you probably have 5 tons or more of explosive ammuntion in your mech, and likely little armament to defend your self while you back peddal. not that that helps, because you litterally can't run away.

catapult, for me, has proven to be the best missle platform, and each varrient has its quirks.
C1 can effectivly pack 2 lrm 15s (i believe 20's have to stagger fire since there are only 15holes to shoot from, but im not sure, since i don't use LRM 20's, EVER.) what the c1 also can do is pack a dangerous ammount of missles AND lasers. i personally run TAG, 2 ml, and 1 Large Pulse. great laser combo, and 15 DHS keep both the missles and lasers fairly cool. 300xl engine keeps you at long ranges unless you want to brawl with your lasers once you use up your missles( 4-5 tons recommended)
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...fea2769a5b30666

C4 can pack on the most LRMs and remain effective. 3 LRM15s and an LRM5 is teh best equation for 50missles, and you can still pack on TAG, butthat leaves you wth a MedPulse at best for defending.
I do suggest the target decay, as well as censor range modules as well as a BAP and TAG. if yoru only have LRMs, make them as effective as possible.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...afb9efc57d5f3e7
if you like Artemis, you can drop the LRM5 and a ton of ammo to include it. Go all out.

A1 allows you to mix and match LRMs and SRMs in an any number of combination, but as with all A1's you lose an arm, you lose 1/2 of your firepower. http://mwo.smurfy-ne...72bf83d23cc6887

Edited by El Death Smurf, 07 March 2013 - 03:45 PM.

[IrrelevantFish]

The best LRM boat is one with a spotter on voice comms.

Seriously, though, Redshift2k5 is right. No chassis is "the best", and personal preference definitely factors. However, I'll second El Death Smurf's recommendation against assault mechs, as they can be very unforgiving to pilot. It's very, very easy to walk yourself right into a rock and a hard place and very, very difficult to get out again if your top speed is under 60kph.

However, the best response I can give to your question is not to get discouraged and relegate yourself to boating duty, because a 0.54 K/D ratio is excellent for a first-timer (mine was a whole lot worse). Instead, get on Teamspeak and drop with 4-mans. MWO has a steep learning curve, but a little advice from experienced players can make it a whole lot flatter, and a whole lot more enjoyable.

[Corvus Antaka]

The C1 is the best LRM boat in the game. You can TAG, still have 3 lasers for punch, and mount a solid amount of LRM and ammo plus go quite fast as well. Add in Jumpjets, and artemis and its a beast.

PLUS you can load it out in funky ways with PPC/Lasers, etc that can be fun too

[UphillMercury]

The C-1 was the first mech I purchased, and I outfitted it as an LRM platform, and my personal favourite at that. I've tinkered with several different builds, but my personal favourite uses two LRM-15s, two medium lasers, a T.A.G., Artemis, and ten tonnes of ammunition with C.A.S.E.s. I've had a lot of success with this build, especially with considerate team members willing to maintain locks when I do not have a line of sight. I personally like the Catapult chassis because the arms are situated high enough that you do not have to expose yourself much, if at all, from behind cover, as tilting the arms up is usually enough to ensure that all the missiles will clear the cover you are behind.

There is no "best" chassis for LRM boats; it's really a matter of personal preference and play style. However, my recommendation is to outfit the mech with a T.A.G. and Artemis if you can fit it. A T.A.G. can cover 70% of your LRMs' effective range, and the Artemis system helps immensely when you have a line of sight. My advice, seeing as though this is your (presumably) first mech is to try out different builds that suit your play style.

[Koniving]

Lord Rommell, on 07 March 2013 - 10:48 AM, said:

Well Im into my first full day of combat and have a sorry-*** .54 kill/death ratio. I find that my only way to contribute to a group effectively is to use a LRM platform and act basically as heavy arty sitting back. I am actually having soem success with this in a trebuchet. Whats the best LRM platform in the game?

It depends on how you go. Myself lately I have been favoring the Awesome. However there's little that an Awesome can do that can't be done as good or better by a Stalker. I just use stalkers more for SRMs lately.

These are the video samples I have on the latest LRMs. If I dug enough I can probably find the Commando 2-D LRM boat that used to make me a million cbills per match -- but that no longer works as you don't get paid for spotting your own missiles anymore. Note all of these videos are pre-Trebuchet and for me, pre-Awesome (so back before I even had 33 'Mechs. Currently have 41). I haven't really used LRMs lately.



Now don't say you haven't been warned: The Melancholy of the LRM Boat.

Several allies very much alive and able to help when I first called for help. This one 'Mech had been harassing me for 6 minutes. Completely ignored by all my team mates. They all wanted the base, to rush off and shoot things. And so I forever alone. Left to die slowly after my team gets itself wiped out.

When LRMs require skill


LRM boat song at the beginning


A favorite to share for its tactical elements. Stalker LRMs. 8-man Zhizhu Merc Corp versus "Head Hunters."


LRM Squadron (being rushed)


LRM team. Triangle of missiles. (Also has LRM boat song)


LRM Hunchback -- assaulted by spiders.


LRM Stalker


Good luck.

TL;DR Just watch the Melancholy of the LRM boat and give up the idea; if you couldn't read, you probably wouldn't have the patience to be an LRM boat or to watch the videos demonstrating the missile boats of different classes in action.