66 replies to this topic

[0Life]

Out of all the Phracts, I prefer the 4X to all of them, but that is more due to my play style. When I first started playing I ran a Raven, then Centurions, and wound up with a Cataphract because it reminds me of the Marauder and Thug.

For my 4X I run a nearly stock build. I replaced my LLAS with a pair of MLAS and some extra heat sinks. I still have .41 tons that I have not used and I am always considering losing the LRM5 in transit somewhere, but it is nice to have that little plinker when I cannot get LOS on a target. Plus you can use it to distract AMS for the actual LRM boats or just gain a few damage on someone if the LRM boats are already distracting the AMS on your target (or the AMS of nearby targets).

Like so many have already said in this thread, you are not a front running in a Cataphract. You are direct fire support, regardless of your build. Get stuck in and you can hold for a bit, but concentrated fire from an most assault mechs will chew you up (especially since the 4X is the only one you can do a STD engine and full armor without losing some big guns) as well as a few mediums, heavies or hard hittings lights will. So use that to your advantage by staying with the main body, but a little behind and off to the side. Once they engage, lumber in and just focus your fire where everyone else is, or start chewing up side torsos to pop XL users or just to disable the larger weapons (looking at you Atlas, Victor, Centurion, etc...).

As for those that deride putting ammo in the side torsos: I keep my ammo there. Is it a risk? Sure. Know where most people shoot? Center torso. Easy place to hit on a Phract even if the Phract is circling. Lately, because of the bonus to crit chance with a Machine Gun, many people are legging since the common wisdom for so long has been to put your extra rounds in the legs. If you are really so worried about ammo explosions, ditch your XL engine. Learn how to get the best out of the STD engines and invest in C.A.S.E. Hell, if you must keep your XL engine, you may well just throw all your ammo in the side torso anyways since you will be blowing up pretty easily anyways, you might as well give a fireworks show as well. Granted, that is my opinion, but if you are working with your team and doing your job as direct fire support (from about 500m away or farther, depending on your load out) you should not be the focus anyways. If you are brawling, what are you doing with an XL engine anyways? You are no Dragon.

[oldradagast]

Other random point - hardpoint location really matters on Cataphracts. They are one of relatively few mechs out there where putting the same weapon in different hardpoints can vastly change the way the mech plays.

Case in point, my Cataphract 1X. It runs a Standard 280, DHS, Endo, AC20, 2 Medium Lasers, and a PPC. Not top-tier, but able to be a threat at all ranges and stages of combat. Originally, I had the PPC in the left arm and 1 medium laser per torso...and I hated it. The PPC kept hitting the dirt and I had no way to sweep annoying light mechs off me. So, I moved the PPC to the left torso and put 1 laser per arm. Now, it feels like a whole new mech. I can keep most of myself hidden while poking at range with the PPC, and when fast mechs get close, I can sweep them with the medium lasers (and hit them with the AC20, of course.)

Just another random thought regarding one of the most versatile chassis in the game, IMHO.

[Kali Rinpoche]

The Cataphract 2X I use. K:D 1.29 166 kills in 2 months of playing. Ratio would be much higher, but leveling these things as new player can be like climbing an ice wall with your finger nails. Once Master is unlocked they come into their own. Its mostly a brawler but with a small LRM side to drive snipers behind cover so I can close. I had 2 5kill rounds yesterday out of 6 matches. Regularly do 600-800 damage a match.

Here is the build:
CTF-2X

My D build: (Primarily a long range sniper. but JJ mobility allows for close jump battles)

CTF-3D

Edited by Kali Rinpoche, 16 August 2013 - 10:51 AM.

[Kitane]

So I finally decided to try out some of the slower mechs (especially 4X), lured by the sweet temptation of dakka. As an added benefit, the slow speed of 4X looked like a decent practice for the eventual assault mech.

CTF-4X 59 matches, 21 wins, 38 losses, 41 kills, 45 deaths, 17,013 total damage
CTF-IM 64 matches, 36 wins, 28 losses, 61 kills, 38 deaths, 18,320 total damage

Results of my Ilya are on par with my other mechs, but -4X is a difficult nut to crack. I am obviously doing as much damage as with Muromets, there isn't so much difference between 3 UAC5 and 4 AC5 in terms of accuracy and sustained/burst fire, I shouldn't be significantly worse with one than with the other. Maybe it is slightly skewed by the fact that I bought -4X first and then ran into worst loss streak I could remember...I lost about 30 matches that night and won maybe 4. My all time W/L ratio is 1.4, so this was pretty painful to watch.

The main thing I struggle with both mechs is how the hell I am supposed to fight the enemy when the match turns into classic hill humping sniper fest. Peeking over the hill is definitely not in my favor, that was a quickly learned lesson. Flanking is slow but possible - when a friendly Atlas tries a flanking move, I will more than happily go with him and shoot at what he shoots. That doesn't happen often though and when both teams are just standing and sniping, I can't really figure out what to do.

Going head-on works only against people with a bad aim (worse than mine) or poor builds. Or both.
Sniper exchanges are not in my favor, I have to reveal too much for too long in order to get my arms above hill top.
Sometimes I can find a decent fire line where I am able to completely block an enemy advance through chokepoint, if the enemy composition is favorable (aka no sniping stalkers, no sniper jagers, no jumpsnipers, no PPC lights...>_>), but that's very rare.

So I've found there are few frequent moments where I get to do something.
- when I find a way to flank and shoot from unexpected angle. It's pretty hard with slow speed and no JJs, but it does pay off.
- when the front line turns into a brawl and I can join with a small delay while the enemy is occupied with other targets.
- finding a side of a sloped hill, peek out to the side as little as possible and fire only left or right weapon without revealing rest of the torso.

[Erata]

Usually played a Phract as a striker. You dump your damage and you take cover. This applies to any range, using your assaults as cover and rarely trying to take on fights by leading the team into them.

The low-slung arms are the biggest challenge to positioning. There are other mechs, like the Hunch and Atlas, that have somewhat low arms, meaning that you can't stalker/cicada-style peek over ridges and must expose yourself up to your knees (so you fully expose yourself). You have to get used to it, but yeah.. In general, you're a second line fighter or sniper.

I prefer a gauss/ppc build since it's just.. the best thing right now. As the game changes, the builds will evolve, too.

[oldradagast]

The problem with the low-slung arms is why I mounted the PPC in my 1X in the left torso. While Cataphracts are not snipers, I can at least zap foes from a range with a decent weapon until the brawl begins and the lasers and AC20 come into play. Unfortunately, this idea doesn't work with the 4x (no torso energy slots) and dakka builds in general.

[Raso]

oldradagast, on 19 August 2013 - 08:14 AM, said:

The problem with the low-slung arms is why I mounted the PPC in my 1X in the left torso. While Cataphracts are not snipers, I can at least zap foes from a range with a decent weapon until the brawl begins and the lasers and AC20 come into play. Unfortunately, this idea doesn't work with the 4x (no torso energy slots) and dakka builds in general.

The high energy mounts on the Caraphract are ideal for PPCs. They are a smidgen higher than the cockpit meaning if you can see it you can shoot it (usually). When fighting a Cataphract I try to put knee high objects between me and my opponent to effectively block out over half of their weapon hardpoints.

Unless the mobility which your arms offer is an absolute must you should always try to mount your heavy energy weapons on the Cataphract's side torsos. Not only does this allow the Cataphract to become an effective mid range direct fire support unit but thanks to it's tonnage,and hardpoint spread it can double as an effective mid-close range clean up in late game with a score of medium lasers and ACs.