24 replies to this topic

[Vinh Nguyen]

Is it worth it to grind to unlock Elite x 2 for Atlas?

I feel they are big targets that people focus fire on cause of their size.

I do like the ECM Atlas DDC alot though.

[LauLiao]

Vinh Nguyen, on 07 December 2013 - 02:44 PM, said:

Is it worth it to grind to unlock Elite x 2 for Atlas?

I feel they are big targets that people focus fire on cause of their size.

I do like the ECM Atlas DDC alot though.

Well if you're going to use an Atlas (Or any chasis) it's ALWAYS worthwhile to spend your XP on efficiencies. And if you're actually going to be using an Atlas, then there's no "Grinding" involved, you will eventually earn enough XP to unlock all the efficiencies.

Now if you're asking if the Atlas is a worthwhile chasis to pilot, that depends on your particular skill set and play style.

[Mike McSullivan]

1) Even if there would be a 4th step behind the Master-Perk it wouldn´t change the situation, like you described. Atlas=Focus, even or especially in PUG games.
2) But thats the point: Atlas´ get focused for 2 reasons: slow=easy target + maximum firepower
3) and the firepower is the thing you should bring to the battle! that means, look, or ask for support! YOU are the one that can shred every target, YOU are a walking battleship!
4) So, dont run alone into the hot zone, keep your lance together.
5) Answering your question: every single % of MORE Firepower(or better whatever) ist worth the work of grinding up 3 Atlas´. It can be frustrating and hard, but you will get big rewards for it!

Have fun!
(much text from a "3 mastered ATL-owner")

Edited by Mike McSullivan, 07 December 2013 - 02:58 PM.

[John MatriX82]

If you plan to use a variant of a chassis at its best ALWAYS, and I say again ALWAYS go through the eliting&mastering.
Getting those basics @ 2x, without counting elite's speed tweak and the quick ignition, are basically mandatory. Otherwise you pilot a sluggish thing that it's even more sluggish and whenever you find yourself against another mastered atlas, you'll get kicked or have an hard living to beat it.

I advice you to use the D-DC as first variant, then get the D, it's the most balanced Atlas out there; the third Atlas can be the RS if you want to go cheap or the K, which is imho the worst and costs a fortune, but comes with a XL 300 that you can strip from that thing and use it elsewhere. Never on the Atlas, in any of its variants, unless you have suicidal tendencies

[Hexenhammer]

.................................Damage ... Xp ....... Time played
ATLAS AS7-D .........115,107 .. 200,472 . 1 day 12:18:14
ATLAS AS7-D-DC ....43,993 ... 82,807 .. 13:55:53
ATLAS AS7-RS ........19,820 .... 36,786 . 07:16:26


If you love the mech it's not a grind.

And while it's /highly/ advisable to unlock elites for mech, there is no need to unlock master modules unless you love the mech or are a completionist.

Edited by Hexenhammer, 07 December 2013 - 04:23 PM.

[Racklesnack]

With the exception of a few builds you would use on your atlas such as ones using ecm, you can make them (sort of) on the orions.

A less ammo less armor less heatsink version of what I use on my atlas d

[Victor Morson]

Vinh Nguyen, on 07 December 2013 - 02:44 PM, said:

Is it worth it to grind to unlock Elite x 2 for Atlas?

I feel they are big targets that people focus fire on cause of their size.

I do like the ECM Atlas DDC alot though.

The answer is yes, specifically for the DDC.

The rest are behind the Highlander; the Boar's Head and such isn't bad, but the Highlander is generally king. The DDC still gets serious use though.

My advice? Sure if you really like the DDC. DDCs are still welcomed 'mechs out there. The other Atlas aren't exactly defenseless or terrible, just not as good as Highlanders, so ranking them up is pretty painless.

If you need the bays you can always sell everything but the DDC after.

[xMEPHISTOx]

Vinh Nguyen, on 07 December 2013 - 02:44 PM, said:

Is it worth it to grind to unlock Elite x 2 for Atlas?

I feel they are big targets that people focus fire on cause of their size.

I do like the ECM Atlas DDC alot though.

It is worth it for every mech that you buy and intend to keep.

***Edit: for grammar correction.***

Edited by xMEPHISTOx, 07 December 2013 - 08:06 PM.

[Rascula]

Yes it really is.. As has been said above the other atlas's aren't played as much as the DDC <for obvious reasons> but don't write them of, they're still beasts in the right hands. And even if you don't want to keep them all just the ECM version, its still worth getting those Elites unlocked.

[Bhelogan]

If you already have other assaults mastered, and you only plan to keep and play the DDC, then just do basics on the other chassis.

[Victor Morson]

Bhelogan, on 07 December 2013 - 06:02 PM, said:

If you already have other assaults mastered, and you only plan to keep and play the DDC, then just do basics on the other chassis.

You need to elite them to get Mastery on the DDC. Not to mention double basics.

Edited by Victor Morson, 07 December 2013 - 07:43 PM.

[John MatriX82]

Bhelogan, on 07 December 2013 - 06:02 PM, said:

If you already have other assaults mastered, and you only plan to keep and play the DDC, then just do basics on the other chassis.

Victor Morson, on 07 December 2013 - 07:42 PM, said:

You need to elite them to get Mastery on the DDC. Not to mention double basics.

Hmm no, if he has already mastered other assaults, he only needs to basic three variants, then sell 2 of them and the D-DC can be brought up to mastery. If that's the first assault ever, then yes, he has to get elite level on all of the three to unlock mastery.

Anyway, mastery on a D-DC is a must. 4 modules means that you can do informational warfare (like seismic sensor and target info gathering) and bring in a couple of consumables (like an arty or a cool shoot). It's absolutely worth, since few variants can get 4 modules. This implies that you have enough gxp to unlock many modules of course

[Bront]

If you plan on playing the mech constantly, then finishing the elites will happen eventually, but is well worth it.

Mech handling improves greatly from no skill to the 2X basics, so larger mechs are more agile and smaller mechs become nearly acrobatic. Heat profile becomes better with 15% cooling increase and 20% heat cap increase. Torso twist gets a significan upgrade in speed and range, and arm movements become better, and that's just the basics getting better. Speed tweak is perhaps the most important upgrade a mech can get. It lets a slow mech pick up the pace, and it turns a fast mech into something special.

Also, if it's your first set of assault mechs, finishing the Elites on all 3 mean you will unlock the master slot for all assault mechs in the future (Once you finish that mech's elites), so you can then only grind the Elites on mechs you like.

I only kept my Atlas DDC not because the others weren't good, but because if I need an Atlas, I need a DDC, and if I simply need an Assault, I have numerous other options (I have some Victors, Stalkers, and Battlemasters that all are dangerous), but I know plenty of folks who still have all their Atlases and bring them out regularly.

[T0rment0r]

John MatriX82, on 07 December 2013 - 03:49 PM, said:

I advice you to use the D-DC as first variant, then get the D, it's the most balanced Atlas out there; the third Atlas can be the RS if you want to go cheap or the K, which is imho the worst and costs a fortune, but comes with a XL 300 that you can strip from that thing and use it elsewhere. Never on the Atlas, in any of its variants, unless you have suicidal tendencies

Have to disagree about the Xl-Engines. I thought the same way until I tested a XL-360 in my D-DC. I never changed it back. Best death/kill ratio I have with any mech (including 2 more Atlas with Std Engines). Became my absolute favourite. That little extra speed looks worthless on paper, but if you try it, it makes a huge difference. Gives the mech a different feel to it.
Much easier to circle around other heavy mechs and get their back.
Much easier to react to unforeseen pushes.
Much easier to get the hell out of tricky situations (like when the whole team decides to run after that ******* lonely spider, leaving you alone as an easy target).
Not to mention the beautiful sound of the more aggressive stomping.
Give it a try.

[Buckminster]

Vinh Nguyen, on 07 December 2013 - 02:44 PM, said:

Is it worth it to grind to unlock Elite x 2 for...

At the risk of repeating others...

The simple answer is always yes. If you plan on running a given mech with any regularity, it is always worth the grind to get through Elite, and to get the double Basic bonus. I don't know how many people I've seen say "mech X sucks!" when they haven't even made it through the basic efficiencies. Well of course it sucks right out of the gate, you aren't even getting the full capacity of the chassis. It still amazes me what a collective difference it makes, once you've added in all those little bonuses.

[WVAnonymous]

Yes. Atlas were the 1st ones I took through to Master, I think. If not the first, then early on.

[John MatriX82]

T0rment0r, on 09 December 2013 - 10:53 AM, said:

Have to disagree about the Xl-Engines. I thought the same way until I tested a XL-360 in my D-DC. I never changed it back. Best death/kill ratio I have with any mech (including 2 more Atlas with Std Engines). Became my absolute favourite. That little extra speed looks worthless on paper, but if you try it, it makes a huge difference. Gives the mech a different feel to it.
Much easier to circle around other heavy mechs and get their back.
Much easier to react to unforeseen pushes.
Much easier to get the hell out of tricky situations (like when the whole team decides to run after that ******* lonely spider, leaving you alone as an easy target).
Not to mention the beautiful sound of the more aggressive stomping.
Give it a try.

I used that in CB and some time after that, with the GR that wasn't yet exploding. It was fun.

Now a STD 350 allows to go as fast as that and still keeps a decent payload so it's imho pointless to mount a XL engine on a mech that gets sided 90% of the time. That kind of engine can be mounted on a Victor or on a Lander (the Victor benefits from the speed, can spread damage due to it and JJs) while the lander.. oh well, if you lose the RT you're most of the time weaponsless, then dying isn't an issue there.. but an Atlas.. every time I kill an Atlas with a XL within it.. it's the same shock and I run into whenever I side-kill a Stalker. That's pretty much suicidal

Edited by John MatriX82, 09 December 2013 - 12:04 PM.

[Dan Nashe]

Mastery gives you a module slot. It's nice.
Elite x 4 doubles All basics. Including anchor turn, hard break and accelerate, twist speed, twist range perk. Heat dissipation.

So elite x 4 will change the way the atlas plays dramatically. So yes, do it.
Lights are a heck of a lot less annoying with 4 x elite which doubles basics.

Mastery 1/1 is just a module slot. Nice to have but not game changing.

[Koniving]

I know this is just silliness, but if you want to test the viability of an XL engine in an Atlas then use an RS and before you upgrade to DHS, throw in 42 SHS and 4 LLs. Or if you want tack in some PPCs and watch how freaking fast that cooldown is on Terra Therma.

Is it the best idea? Certainly not, but it's real interesting to see the cooling rate of 21 genuinely true DHS instead of the "10 real + 11 knockoff 1.4 heatsinks" we have. It'll drop your jaw in awe. And if you come up with a wild idea for how to use that fast cooling, throw me a link to what you make as I'm looking for new things to try with it.

[Appogee]

Vinh Nguyen, on 07 December 2013 - 02:44 PM, said:

Is it worth it to grind to unlock Elite x 2 for Atlas?

Elite doubles you Basic efficiences - worth having!

Mastering gives you an extra module slot - worth having, but perhaps just let the XP mount up naturally until you unlock it.

The D-DC is one of the best Assaults in the game. While I prefer to move smaller and faster, I can't ignore that my D-DC still has a lifetime k/d of 3.3 from almost pure pugging.