25 replies to this topic

[Murcheson]

I am thinking about getting a medium mech specifically for hunting lights. The IS Cicada looks interesting - but was wondering about a clan mech instead. Any recommendations -

[Nauht]

Nearly all mediums are good as light killers, just depends on what you'd like to pilot.
Can't go wrong with any of the 55 tonners - they're highly configurable for both light fighting and heavier brawling.

As for buying a clan - don't spend any real money on this game. Coming from a founder and BT fan PGI will only screw you over AFTER they've got your money.

They did it to Victors, they're doing it to clan weaponry right now- just look at the proposed weapon changes thread.

Just use CB and abuse the F2P side of it and you'll have no regrets. I seriously regret buying clan mechs and giving PGI my money - and I started as a white knight.

[Quarkspace]

I have most success with SRMs against lights. So you could choose something which can boat those - a Stormcrow for example.

[Flapdrol]

The nova will be avialable for cbills the 26th. should be good agianst lights.

anyway, I wouldn't really bother with a specific anti light setup, light mechs are pretty rare and not very dangerous to a group, and get instagibbed by heavy/assault ppc/gauss boats.

Edited by Flapdrol, 08 August 2014 - 12:56 AM.

[Chagatay]

Well...I wouldn't say SRMs are great at hunting lights but they are good in general for wrecking faces. SSRMs are probably good..though to me the tradeoff isn't worth it as there are few lights running around and alot bigger fish to fry.

[dragnier1]

Any mech that can carry dual ppc/ac20/gauss would work, you'll want to take the light down fast, so any mech that can carry those would do (jagermech/catapult/catafract/timberwolf etc). That would require a steady aim and good ping. If you lack the latter, your next best bet is boating ssrms (frankly, all they do is scare the lights away, but are weak against tougher mechs). In such cases IS mechs are better as they can change engines to keep up with the lights (you might get isolated/lured though, taking them out with say, dual gauss is "safer").

[Lily from animove]

take a kit fox, laods of streak srm's and be their doom. or nova, but nova is big in profile and kit fox can get ECM if you want to paly some different playstyle.

[IraqiWalker]

I would recommend running an IS mech like the Kintaro, or the SHD, since they can both slap on lots of MLs, plus SSRMs, plus some other favors with the SHD, they are fast, and they can hurt a lot.

Here's a list of weapons, and equipment considered standard equipment for light hunting:

1- MLs: Decent burn times, and really easy to use, it's the bread and butter of all weapons

2- SSRMs: Guaranteed to hit, meaning that they negate the light mech's squirrely advantage

3- MGs: Lights have little armor so MGs don't have to chew through a lot, and getting crits on their internals are always nice. The MGs also require little to no aim.

4- LBX10: Spreads like buckshot, and makes it easy to smack them, it also does get an increase in crit chance.

5- AC20: It's basically using 175mm Howitzer to kill a mosquito. If you have the aim, a single hit is almost guaranteed to kill something on that light mech.

6- BAP: for disabling ECM on the pesky ECM ones.

7- Seismic Sensor: Gives you a heads up on them sneaking up on you.

[Murcheson]

Wow - really great advice from all.

Much obliged - and I will certainly take the advice about not spending real $$ (C-Bills always). Although I've already sunk some money into the DWF and WHK, all well, they are fun.

Thanks,

[Rogue Jedi]

I would advise against using a Cicada to hunt lights, most lights are as fast and more maneuverable than the Cicada and Speed and maneuverability are the Cicadas only advantages over other mediums so you would have to rely purely on skill to win.

I suggest one of the 55 tonners, perhaps a Griffin with Streak SRMs and pulse lasers (super maneuverable, and great fun)
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...cefffed9c00816b
or possibly a Shadow Hawk with an LB10xAC, SSRM and MPLs (more firepower at the cost of speed and maneuverability)
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...3fc91c6285ae7ab

For a Clan Medium, to hunt lights, the Stormcrow (in my opinion one of the best Mechs currently in the game, its only downside is the lack of jumpjets) has great potential, load it up with Streak launchers and Pulse Lasers, Lights will not last long, however the Stormcrow will not be available for Cbills until the end of October, so this is only an option if you are willing to spend $55 to purchase it.

while any weapon can be used against lights, as a predominantly Light Mech pilot the weapons I fear most and in my opinion the best weapons for hunting Lights are:

Streak Short Range Missiles (can lock on and are unlikely to miss, best with BAP in case the light has ECM),

Small and medium Pulse Lasers (short range, short beam duration, no projectile travel time)

LBX Autocannons (basically Mech shotguns, the shot spreads out making it more likely to do damage than regular Autocannons).

Edited by Rogue Jedi, 08 August 2014 - 02:17 AM.

[Rear Admiral Tier 6]

Best clan medium light hunter is the Stormcrow,just use SSRM4:s instead of 6:es and chainfire them.You can fit 8 tons of ammo with 1 ER large laser and 5 SSRM4:s.Its bit like the Kintaro on steroids.

As for IS side,almost any fast medium or heavy(100+ kph) with one or combinations of following weapon systems: AC20,streaks,LBX10,pulse lasers.(fastest survivable c-bill AC20-medium is Treb 7K with 93 kph speedtweaked)

Edited by Cookiemonter669, 08 August 2014 - 03:01 AM.

[Arnold J Rimmer]

Yep, Stormcrow is the way to go for a Light-hunting Clan mech. Nice and fast for its size, max armour for its weight, and the -D configuration can take a silly amount of missiles for ruining a scout's day. Also the CSSRM launchers have a range of 360m as opposed to 270m for the IS.

Can't go wrong!

[Koniks]

I second the recommendation for using SRMs. You want to put them on a fast mech. If you don't want to take a light, then the Centurion, Shadowhawk, Griffin, Kintaro and Wolverine are acceptable choices.

Among I.S. mechs, I prefer the SHD-2H for the role with 3 MGs, some SRMs, an energy weapon, and an XL325+ engine with 3 JJs. But I'm sure the others can be kitted appropriately.

Flapdrol, on 08 August 2014 - 12:55 AM, said:

The nova will be avialable for cbills the 26th. should be good agianst lights.

The Nova is too slow and Clan laser beam duration is too long for a slow energy mech to be ideal for countering lights. The Nova can escort heavies/assaults and defend against lights. It can't hunt them.

The SCR is the Clan light hunter. And it has the advantage of still being a good brawler while kitted out for killing lights with 4xERML, 3xASRM6.

Edited by Mizeur, 08 August 2014 - 08:08 AM.

[LT. HARDCASE]

The elited Stormcrow (106kph) is a kit Fox's worst nightmare. Really the Crow is slept on it seems. The thing is a light and medium mech hunter.

2 Meds, 1 large, and an LB20-X is a terror for Inner Sphere light/mediums.

Edited by Kevjack, 09 August 2014 - 08:39 AM.

[jper4]

i go with the kto 18- 5ssrms and 2ML and moves at 106kph though you'll need an xl engine to do that. i also use the kto 19 with 3ML and 4SSRMs but use a std engine so slower (89kph) but losing a torso isn;t death.

[Koniving]

Clan light-hunting medium?

Why the Stormcrow but of course. 97 kph, up to 5 missile ports. I recommend a 3 Streak-6 (homing) and 2 SRM-6 (in MWO dead-fire, though in BT also homing just not ammo saving like Streaks) combination. Put the SRM-6s in the arms. Enjoy.

For one you can get sooner, a Nova (doesn't matter which configuration) with either the Prime's arms or the 3 energy arms. Either ER LLs or ER MLs and 4 MGs. Always have lower arm actuators equipped (means no autocannons or PPCs in the arms) for the best effect against lights (as you need those arms to be mobile and fast). Some recommend an LBX weapon which does help if your aim is terrible. In which case I highly recommend you mount it in a side torso and not on an arm (as it would take away your ability to mount the arm actuators you need to aim left and right).

Nova's a bit slower (81 to start with) but truth be told it's a LOT shorter and harder to hit.

Do note: Clan OmniMechs (not Clan BattleMechs but we don't have any yet, we only have Clan OmniMechs) cannot change engines.

[mailin]

As has been said previously, for a light hunter a Shadowhawk for IS, Stormcrow for clan, and if you really have your heart set on a Cicada, get an X-5 and throw streaks, BAP and mlas on it.

As far as dual ppc, gauss or AC20, don't do it unless you're crazy good. They are way too inconsistent, and any good light driver sees that build and laughs while getting in close.

[dragnier1]

Personally i feel mediums and especially light hunters will jump in value if base cap became lucrative. There would be more light mechs doing base cap rush and meds defending base (like before).

[Fire and Salt]

Stormcrow is the best clan mech for killing lights.


How good is you aim? The clan streak SRM 4 is great if you aren't the best shot.
You can put 3 in the torsos (2 in 1 side, 1 in the other).
The streak 2 is also good.
IMO, the streak 6 takes too long to recharge, so it usually isn't worthwhile.
Take a clan active probe if you are going to rely on streaks, of course.

Then you can put 2 medium lasers (or medium pulse) in each arm.
A tag might also be useful, since many light mech have ecm... With tag, you will be able to use the full range of your streaks (360m)
You might also get some lrm support this way.

[Rando Slim]

Yea stormcrow is the Clan mech of choice and in general is almost as OP as the Timberwolf and Dire Whale.

On the IS side, a Treb 7M with XL-300, BAP, 3 streaks, three JJs, and three medium pulses is my favorite. Advance target Decay required. Though they don't have a favorable damage to weight ratio, pulse lasers are great for light hunting, that shorter beam duration makes a lot of difference.

Don't get me wrong all the 55 tonners can be configured to do this role probably better than a Trebbie, but the Treb is a touch faster and more maneuverable and I just like it because you don't see them much. Its a mech for real men.

The Cicada though is not really a good light hunter. Its a good harasser for sure, or ECM sniper. But a good Jenner-F pilot will likely beat you in a duel 60 percent of the time or so maybe more. I mean you CAN kill lights with it if you can keep your lasers on their legs or they move in a predictable circle you can outlast them, after all you've got more armor and with an XL-330 or so you are just about as fast and maneuverable, but you don't have jumpjets so that can be a serious problem.

Edited by Scrotacus 42, 11 August 2014 - 01:53 PM.