18 replies to this topic

[Mad Ox]

Start game not to long ago and actually enjoyed the Dragon Champion quite a bit so got it and the fang and flame when they were on sale recently. I do enjoy arm mounted weapons so I can stick 1 arm out around corner and pop away at people while hiding most of mech behind wall.

Seen lots of builds and people reporting much love for it but no one ever goes into how they use said build over course of game.

Settled into the Fang and Champ pretty well and build relatively stable for each but flame... while I do okay I can't seem to find a build I am content with seems like it should do more.

Dragon in general with it giant center torso I find it best to stand off at a bit longer ranges and as such the Champ I use 3 AC2's and Fang I use 2 AC5's with medium laser (Pulse if I have tonage and heat disapation) both are quite nasty and when i go down with them damage spread all over. Basically I give as good as I get and more.

Flame I can't seem to settle on a load out that's truely efficent. 4 Large, 2 PPC 2 Med, 4 Med 1 Cannon (AC10, LBX, AC20, Ultra) and others. With such limited weapon spots and so spread out especially being concentrated on arms hard time coming up with a good load out.

I try ranged which allows me to take incoming damage better and spread it out and do okay but feel like mech should be able to put out a bit more. Try something more close in like 4 med/4 small and AC20/10 and its like I paint a giant bullseye on center torso it gets cored so fast and nothing else really gets hit so annoying.

AC with only 1 slot if ya use want it to be useful but at same time its a large portion of your available weight. Between it and center torso missile all you got for "Safe" weaponry . Gauss seems like a natural fit here but have hard time using it for its 15 tons pretty much have to XL which for the range boost isn't end of world.

Engine I try to stick to 300+ with speed tweak I move along at good pace and few extra slots of HS's.

So how do people roll it stick back wait for attrition to start sniping as they go then use speed to rush in and finish off?

Edited by Mad Ox, 06 March 2014 - 11:18 AM.

[Draal Kaan]

I am driving my Flame with AC20 and 4 MLAS, so no XL engine. Don't know the exact rating actually.
Piloting this setup in that mech since i bought it (which was right after first release^^) and still having fun with it.
It can be a fun striker.
Just hold back at the beginning. If focused, Dragons can go down very fast...
If there is brawl, just jump in and give them a few AC bullets...

Of course, for the actual meta, it sucks.

Edited by Draal Kaan, 06 March 2014 - 11:32 AM.

[Fang01]

I also run ac20/4mlas. Dont be the first one they see but stay in the assaulting wave and hit the big guys

[RushOutlaw]

XL350

2 LPL

2MPL

Very fast with strong damage, not much on the battle field which is equal.

[Modo44]

AC20+4xML, Gauss+4xML, 4xLL, 2xLPL+2xMPL, 2xLPL+2xML+AC5. Pick your poison (choose a playstyle). I like the classic Gauss and MLs combo the most.

[RushOutlaw]

I find that using ballistics on a mech that runs over 100KPH a huge effort, thus why i use lasers.

[Amsro]

RushOutlaw, on 06 March 2014 - 11:40 AM, said:

XL350

2 LPL

2MPL

Very fast with strong damage, not much on the battle field which is equal.

1500 DMG! Dragon Flame!



Much Win!

[Mad Ox]

Thanks for all the replies!

RushOutlaw, on 06 March 2014 - 11:45 AM, said:

I find that using ballistics on a mech that runs over 100KPH a huge effort, thus why i use lasers.

I had noticed your setup/thread, how to do you pace the game out in it? Stick with the crowd support a assualt or 2, rush in with a buddy, zoom in and out of there lines strafing? Damage is definitely amazing, part of reason I know mech can do better then what I am pulling.

Real fast makes Cannon hard to aim torso mount makes it a little easier I find. Want something that moves fast to lesson lead angle needed, AC2 or 5 Ultra too other then always jamming when you can't afford for it to jam. Do find the LBX to be a good fit but always seems to spread damage way to much while they core ya.

Edited by Mad Ox, 06 March 2014 - 01:02 PM.

[Verrue]

Depend on what's inside the Flamme:


if you have a balistic setup, your left torso is at the same height then your cocpit. You can snipe over a hill or rock and hide back in cover quite easely. (gauss, ac/10)

Its quite a challenge to fire the torso in a knife fight , but once you get the hag of it, its deadly (lbx-10 , ac/10)

I usually snipe a bit at start to help soften target , then with the 350xl, jump in alpha as much possible (to score a kill) then hide behind line of assault.


Laser setup (LPLX2, med Pulse X2) : jump in and out on soften up target and hunt light mech. More flanking here.

[Krostif]

i use the same as rushoutlaw its a vry good and fast build i put both mpls in the left arm and both lpl in the right so i got a strong right punch sorta =D

[Amsro]

Krostif, on 06 March 2014 - 02:24 PM, said:

i use the same as rushoutlaw its a vry good and fast build i put both mpls in the left arm and both lpl in the right so i got a strong right punch sorta =D

21.2 DMG with 2 LPL, better then AC/20 with no ammo. Heat buff makes them more managable too.

[Roughneck45]

Back in the day this was one of the best(THE best IMO) Dragon builds.
FLAME

Since the gauss and SRM changes is isn't as powerful as it once was, so I swapped it to this, opting for more speed.
FLAME

Both work well. You have to be more patient with the gauss build, using the high weapon mount to snipe for a few minutes at the start of the game and wait for the brawl.

Many people enjoy the 4mlas AC20 builds but I find it to be atrocious on the dragon. Standard engine will make you slow, the giant CT will make sure you are dead fast, and you are packing equivalent firepower to a hunchback. Just not worth it IMO.

Edited by Roughneck45, 07 March 2014 - 06:07 AM.

[Mad Ox]

Ended up going 4 ML 1 AC20 and LRM5.

LRM5 sorta did the trick allows me at start of battle to keep some range but still harass enemy even with 1 ton of ammo its 36 shots.

Keeping to range and stops me from rushing in. Which I know better but can't help gets boring sitting in back waiting for brawling to go LOL. And rsuhing in even worse at start in dragon even a fast one that center torso just gets cored so fast no mater what I did for me it jsut melted off.

Actually LRM 5 comes in so handy especially against Lights in direct fire put it on all 3 of my dragons and have been pleased.

ML mid to close and then 20 in short. 20 on any shot past 250 ish not worth it unless they are not moving.

Tried the LP and MP just never seemed to click have to try again when get all abilities unlocked think that just missing the extra cooling etc. Definitely will ahve to go with the Jab Jab Knockout setup (2 MP in 1 arm 2 LP in other) for them I have a tendancy to fire around corners with range means only 1 of 2 lasers getting a work out otherwise.

Might go back to AC10 so can get XL but so far sure slower with STD and 20 but I do pretty well with it(ignoring hitting lights and there ability to absorb 10x there normal damage). Throw in some Arty/Bomber consumables should be doing well.

Edited by Mad Ox, 10 March 2014 - 03:28 PM.

[Kanigit]

The Flame is my most-played mech. I've tried just about everything on it, but my current favorite:

2 ERLL, 2ML, LRM5, AC/5, XL300

I have so much fun with this build I don't think it will change anytime soon. Mad Ox mentioned it above, the paltry LRM5 is actually really useful on this mech.

[Cromwill]

The Gauss Rifle and 4x ML was just an amazing machine moving at 100+KPH prior to nerf. Still a strong build though.
AC in place of Gauss is okay but just does not have the killing power
2xLPL 2XMPL is the best in my opinion now. And lights run like hell when they see it.

[NHKGorre]

After learning from others on these forums and my own experiences I personally like to build my dragons so they can move fast.

Here's my Build for the Flame

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...62caac8ce824fe1

It doesn't have any hard hitting weapons like the AC/20 or Gauss but I find this is fairly suited to quick hit and run attacks, and although the LB10 isn't as effective at longer ranges, having 4 tons of ammo doesn't deter me from peppering enemy mechs from longer ranges. Truth is the match is usually over before I'm out of ammo, or the LB10 gets blow off mid game. Ive only ever ran out of ammo in the most intense battles.

So yeah being quick/agile I find it's fairly good at taking on lights/mediums but you wanna avoid direct confrontations with other heavy's or assaults unless you have backup.

[Modo44]

Quick and agile is all good, but you really want to at least take an AC10. The LB10-X setup leaves you with only short-range weapons, and badly spread damage. That is a recipe for disaster.

Edited by Modo44, 14 March 2014 - 04:00 AM.

[NHKGorre]

Modo44, on 14 March 2014 - 03:59 AM, said:

Quick and agile is all good, but you really want to at least take an AC10. The LB10-X setup leaves you with only short-range weapons, and badly spread damage. That is a recipe for disaster.

That is true but I just have a thing for LB10's but you can however mount a AC10 using my current build by dropping 1 heat sink and it will still run pretty cool. Drop all the heat sinks and you can even mount a Gauss if you like.

Edited by NHKGorre, 14 March 2014 - 08:57 AM.

[Modo44]

It just seems like a waste on the Flame with the relatively immobile torso mount. 2xERPPC+LB10-X or 2xERLL+2xML+LB10-X look much better on the 1C.