58 replies to this topic

[jeffsw6]

I've got the FLAME, FANG, and DRG-5N. Man, they suck. Or I suck at playing them. I have the occasional match were I rip apart some bad opponents, but the truth is, I should just not play my Dragons.Le

So I've been trying a FLAME with STD250, Endo, 11 DHS, AC/20, 4 ML, SRM6. If I can maneuver into a good brawl where I'm 1v1 or there are at least some bigger teammates nearby, I can kill things with it; but man, one good shot from a PPC boat and it's at least stripped of some armor, if not losing weapons.

I have plenty of other mechs but I keep trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong with these Dragons. They are damn frustrating to play. This is exacerbated by the current sniper-heavy meta; but I can't help feeling that I just need to learn to play this chassis better.

[TruePoindexter]

jeffsw6, on 25 April 2013 - 02:46 PM, said:

I've got the FLAME, FANG, and DRG-5N. Man, they suck. Or I suck at playing them. I have the occasional match were I rip apart some bad opponents, but the truth is, I should just not play my Dragons.Le

So I've been trying a FLAME with STD250, Endo, 11 DHS, AC/20, 4 ML, SRM6. If I can maneuver into a good brawl where I'm 1v1 or there are at least some bigger teammates nearby, I can kill things with it; but man, one good shot from a PPC boat and it's at least stripped of some armor, if not losing weapons.

I have plenty of other mechs but I keep trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong with these Dragons. They are damn frustrating to play. This is exacerbated by the current sniper-heavy meta; but I can't help feeling that I just need to learn to play this chassis better.

Well not to toot my own horn but...

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...e98c620a6b3f646

Mechspecs has a lot of good builds on it: http://www.mechspecs...y.php?20-Dragon

The Dragon is interesting as it's basically just a really fast medium mech that was 5 tons too heavy. They're not bad mechs at all but they need an entirely different mindset from all of the other heavies.

Edited by TruePoindexter, 25 April 2013 - 02:50 PM.

[One Medic Army]

Well, the obvious problem I see with your current build is the engine.
When it comes to dragons, you go big and XL or you go home.

300xl is about the minimum sized engine you should ever put in a Dragon, and I run all mine with a 350xl.

Second thing is that the Dragon is not a brawler, the dragon is a striker.
Run into/around the brawl, unload at targets of opportunity.
In a sniping match use your mobility in conjunction with long-ranged weapons to flank (and hope the enemy can't hit your gigantically wide profile moving at 105kph).

Since HSR I've had troubles with them as well, and I agree they're sub-optimal, but the way to get past this is to use their strengths:
Tiny little side torsos.
Gigantic engine cap.

Edited by One Medic Army, 25 April 2013 - 02:53 PM.

[Narcissistic Martyr]

Ditch the SRM6 and add a STD300 for an AC20 Flame. Granted one can do the same sort of build with an XL360 and gauss rifle but STD engine dragons are sometimes amusingly durable.

[Korlandril]

Y a you are too slow, and getting smashed up. And i bet you get cored all the time, rotate your centre torso to stop that.

[Davers]

Dragon's CT is too big to stand there and brawl with. Speed is life and you got to keep moving. Dragons and XL engines go together like Dragons and Dungeons. Use cover and speed to flank the slower mechs to get at their back armor. Run down mediums and slower lights. Don't have too many weapons with different ranges. When you show up you want to hit with everything then move.

[HarmAssassin]

Sorry, but whenever I see a Dragon (regardless of what I'm playing), my first thought is... "time for an easy kill".

[Deathlike]

I've heard of the XL engine argument and it's true they are ideal for the Dragon.

However, maybe it's just me, but when I see a large mech like the Dragon have its side torso critical... I'm always very tempted to finish the side torso. It's not that hard to aim at really...

[Davers]

Deathlike, on 25 April 2013 - 03:56 PM, said:

I've heard of the XL engine argument and it's true they are ideal for the Dragon.

However, maybe it's just me, but when I see a large mech like the Dragon have its side torso critical... I'm always very tempted to finish the side torso. It's not that hard to aim at really...

If everyone could aim though you would never need to have more than a 33 point alpha strike.

[jeffsw6]

It's very frustrating when it gets one-shot because of XL. It does happen; and with the current meta, much more often than 5 or 6 weeks ago when I first bought the Dragons.

[Deathlike]

If they miss the CT, the RT/LT is ready to go!

[Kageru Ikazuchi]

OP - good advice from the most of the previous replies ... It looks like you've got a Flame build that actually highlights the weaknesses of the chassis, rather than it's strengths.

(My experience is limited, and, frankly, I'm maybe an above average pilot, but my stats are about the same in my Dragons as they are in my other mechs.)

In a Dragon, you want to go fast ... rather than design a mech around the highest Alpha/DPS possible, design the mech around the speed you want to go ... and no slower than 81kph (89 w/ speed tweak). Pick a couple of weapons you're really good with, always move (flank, harass, but don't stop and brawl), pick your fights.

[Ryokens leap]

Agree with Kageru. A lot of Dragon pilots have lowered alpha/dps and upped the speed since SRMs nerf. Don't stop moving, hit from the side and not head on, learn to shoot on the run. Search forums for builds.

[Kanatta Jing]

The Dragon will once more be OP when collisions return.

They need nothing else.

[Lefty Lucy]

The dragon is all but dead in the current meta of 50-60 point damage pinpoint alpha strikes. The side torsos are *not* tiny, they're just small compared to the gigantic CT you can hit from nearly any angle.

[One Medic Army]

Lefty Lucy, on 25 April 2013 - 11:46 PM, said:

The dragon is all but dead in the current meta of 50-60 point damage pinpoint alpha strikes. The side torsos are *not* tiny, they're just small compared to the gigantic CT you can hit from nearly any angle.

Don't forget that the dragon is super wide from every direction, even at 105kph it's rare someone will miss you entirely.

Edited by One Medic Army, 25 April 2013 - 11:49 PM.

[Lefty Lucy]

One Medic Army, on 25 April 2013 - 11:48 PM, said:

Don't forget that the dragon is super wide from every direction, even at 105kph it's rare someone will miss you entirely.

Yep. It suffers from "they made me big because I'm a "heavy" even though I only weigh 5 tons more than a medium" syndrome.

Only reason I did well in that game with you earlier is because nobody shot me.

[sarkun]

You have to play the Dragon a bit like a light mech - never ever stop moving - you are an easy target, even at range. I used to run the flame with 300XL, Gauss, 4ML and SRM4 but since the missile nerf I ditched the rockets for more speed. Just pound the enemy team with gauss, finish with lasers.

[One Medic Army]

Lefty Lucy, on 25 April 2013 - 11:56 PM, said:

Yep. It suffers from "they made me big because I'm a "heavy" even though I only weigh 5 tons more than a medium" syndrome.

Only reason I did well in that game with you earlier is because nobody shot me.

Yup. It used to be good before HSR when it was fast enough to get a little bit of lagshield. Now it's just a target, and any time you do well it's typically because you were ignored in favor of a bigger threat.

Edited by One Medic Army, 26 April 2013 - 12:02 AM.

[Deathlike]

Dragons are true hit and run mechs... not straight brawlers. Pretty much most of the 50 tonners are better support mechs in some way shape or form. Play like a medium/light, but have the speed and durability of a medium with the CT that's probably bigger than the Hunchy's hunch.

Poor Dragon.