14 replies to this topic

[PhoenixStorm]

I did the 25 fights and its time I buy a new mech, but I got no clue which mechs use which weapons,

I know I don't enjoy srms or auto cannons.

I like lasers and PPC and want to do high damage,

[Alaskan Nobody]

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/ is the usual suggestion

Also - when you go to buy, in the upper left of the mechlab you can change the toggle from "owned" to "purchaseable"

As for energy centric mechs - do you know what weight class you prefer (so far?)

Edit: there are strong Energy based mechs in every weight class, so narrowing down how mobile vs armored you prefer to be helps a lot with suggestions.

Edited by Shar Wolf, 01 May 2014 - 03:33 PM.

[PhoenixStorm]

I don't like small stuff because they die to fast, I dislike large because there slow and big targets,

I was thinking medium or assault.

[Alaskan Nobody]

Well, assault is going to make you the biggest target there is.... gimme a sec though.

CN9-AL is an energy based Centurion
HBK-4P is the same for Hunchbacks (and is the current trial medium if I recall...)
The Blackjack family tends to be heavily Energy weapon base.

The heavier Mediums have fewer dedicated Energy mechs, but you could make strong use out of a few hardpoints with bigger weapons.

IE a Shadowhawk Sniper
(very very rough build - I don't use Shadowhawks much)

Edited by Shar Wolf, 01 May 2014 - 03:38 PM.

[Redshift2k5]

you can view all the mechs hardpoints in the mechlab by changing the view from "owned" to "purchaseable" via a small drop-down at the top. Then select a mech and either mouse-over for brief information or click "mech details" for a complete layout including number of hardpoint and location.

Smurfy's database is also an excellent source if information and one every MWO player should have in their bookmarks!

I am curious why you enjoy PPCs but say you don't like autocannons, since a PPC behaves very much like a ballistic weapon.

Lasers are always great weapons, and there are lots of different ways to play with them. Light mechs like the Jenner can be nasty harassers with 6x medium lasers, the Hunchback 4P is a deadly escort mech with up to 9 medium lasers, and a Heavy mech like the Catapult K2 is a nice platform for PPCs or large lasers.

Choosing a mech means not only choosing which weapon you like, but also consider factors such as cost, speed, and hardpoint number/location, whether you want jump jets, as well as personal preference.

[Alaskan Nobody]

Redshift2k5, on 01 May 2014 - 07:42 PM, said:

I am curious why you enjoy PPCs but say you don't like autocannons, since a PPC behaves very much like a ballistic weapon.

I don't know why, but I prefer ballistics over PPC - something about the feel of it?
Could be he has a similar issue - but the other way around.

[Redshift2k5]

Players are certainly welcome to their opinions and preferences- I personally don't like the AC5, rate of fire and overall 'oomph' just don't seem up to snuff for me, despite it's advantages on paper and strong presence in the meta.

[Alaskan Nobody]

Be interesting to find out why though - since the two weapons are fairly similar - AC/5 and PPC even move the same speed - but I would still have an easier time hitting with the AC/5....

We are getting off topic though - so here are some more heavy energy mechs....(incoming as I look them up)

Edit: (WARNING! Lotsa links! And no green shirts in sight!)
The Boar's Head hero mech (costs real world money) is fairly energy heavy - and comes with what would be a very expensive engine otherwise (most expensive in the game in fact)
Downside being that Atlas mechs on the whole are not energy heavy - and are all very expensive Cbill and MC wise on top of that.

Hadn't really looked at them, but Banshee are rather energy heavy as are Stalkers and Battlemasters

Awesome are an iconic Energy weapon platform - but due to being rather wide from the front (yet narrow from the sides ) they are rather more difficult to use than most people like.

Going back to the mediums - both the Griffin and Wolverine have solid energy use (though the two I linked are rather vulnerable due to having the bulk of their weaponry in one arm)

I didn't mention the Cicadas before - because they play more like light mechs despite their weightclass.

Alternatively, if you are very patient - the Nova/Blackhawk is coming soon.
(because 12 Medium lasers is a LOT)

Edited by Shar Wolf, 01 May 2014 - 08:41 PM.

[dragnier1]

PhoenixStorm, on 01 May 2014 - 03:29 PM, said:

I did the 25 fights and its time I buy a new mech, but I got no clue which mechs use which weapons,

I know I don't enjoy srms or auto cannons.

I like lasers and PPC and want to do high damage,

Weapons are split into 3 groups: energy (lasers, ppc), ballistic (ac, gauss, mg) and missiles (lrm, srm, streaks). You can find more info at http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/. There's a menu tab "weapon systems" at the top menu bar.

If a particular mech you are interested in had energy hardpoint, it can carry any type of energy weapons in the listed slot. The part which has the hardpoint(s) are listed in the battlemech section of the webpage. Same goes for ballistic and missiles.

Edited by dragnier1, 02 May 2014 - 12:39 AM.

[Turist0AT]

Be wary of ghost heat.

cataphract 1X and Stalkers

Edited by Turist0AT, 02 May 2014 - 01:15 AM.

[AlmightyAeng]

PhoenixStorm, on 01 May 2014 - 03:29 PM, said:

I did the 25 fights and its time I buy a new mech, but I got no clue which mechs use which weapons,

It's all hardpoint based...once you buy your own mech you can switch out whatever weapons you want to use.

Go to Smurfy's like people are recommending to see what mechs have the hardpoints you want.

Any mech can be outfitted to do "high damage." That part depends on the pilot.

Edited by Ghost Badger, 02 May 2014 - 06:03 AM.

[Koniving]

In the heavies, the Cataphracts are the most energy-dependant. There's also the Dragons and Quickdraws but Dragons have difficult to protect bellies (and equally energy and ballistic heavy with some missiles) and Quickdraws are energy + missile heavy while rather easy to accidentally headshot. I'm serious I was just grazing five large lasers (was before 'ghost heat') and he just..splat.

Energy-based Cataphract example.
First vid. Rushing toward the enemy base after failing to encounter them. On the way we're spotted and draw attention, using the AC/2 to pepper the enemy and going well beyond our target to circle around and then ambush the pursuers with our small and medium-sized energy weapons.
Second vid. Here, we stage up and find a guy or two engaged in combat. I make the signal that tells the team where the enemy is (also known as "the distress call"). We then notice enemy has LRM support, and the two energy Cataphracts rush over there to quickly dispatch both the LRM boat and its Atlas escort.

In the medium category there's Kintaros (just don't use the missile slots; their twist and arm reach is extensive; nothing like shooting the enemy in the face while running away).
Wolverines are generally laser and some missiles.
There's one energy-heavy Shadowhawk.
Centurion AL (the other two aren't energy heavy but they could simply be used as chest laser zombies; load everything else with heatsinks and use the arms and side torsos as bullet sponges).
Hunchbacks in all variants except the 4G are energy heavy. Even with the 4G we at Zhizhu had a 3 MG (for energy efficiency) + twin ER PPC build.
There's Cicadas too but they tend to run so many energy weapons with so much weight channeled into the engine that they don't cool very well.
Blackjacks; Every variant is either all energy or all energy and 2 ballistic.

Edited by Koniving, 02 May 2014 - 06:50 AM.

[Dawnstealer]

One thing I'll tell you, and this is definitely a new player thing (I know I did it when I started): focus more on heat control than a high alpha. The problem with a high alpha is that you'll overheat. Sure, you might do 72 points if everything hits, but then you'll be shut down in the middle of a firefight and get blown away a short time after.

I recommend going with a Centurion because they're 1) tough as hell when max armored, 2) don't have a whole lot of weapons so won't overheat as much.

They'll teach you to aim without the consequences being "Oh, I died immediately."

[Mechteric]

Dawnstealer, on 02 May 2014 - 06:40 AM, said:

One thing I'll tell you, and this is definitely a new player thing (I know I did it when I started): focus more on heat control than a high alpha. The problem with a high alpha is that you'll overheat. Sure, you might do 72 points if everything hits, but then you'll be shut down in the middle of a firefight and get blown away a short time after.

I recommend going with a Centurion because they're 1) tough as hell when max armored, 2) don't have a whole lot of weapons so won't overheat as much.

They'll teach you to aim without the consequences being "Oh, I died immediately."

As much as I love the Centurion (see sig.), I cannot recommend it to a new player, especially if they just want to run an energy build. Because that arm just gets shot off unless you're really good at twisting to spread that damage, but even then it will happen, a lot, and you'll be gimped for the rest of the match.

I'd suggest Cataphracts for what the OP seems to like (2 Large Lasers, 2 PPCs).


When ready for medium mechs, Griffon or Shadowhawk if you don't mind mixing with some SRMs/Ballistics.

Edited by CapperDeluxe, 02 May 2014 - 07:44 AM.

[Turist0AT]

Dawnstealer, on 02 May 2014 - 06:40 AM, said:

One thing I'll tell you, and this is definitely a new player thing (I know I did it when I started): focus more on heat control than a high alpha. The problem with a high alpha is that you'll overheat. Sure, you might do 72 points if everything hits, but then you'll be shut down in the middle of a firefight and get blown away a short time after.

not in a stalker. Loose that side torso and youll run cooler and can fire more.