33 replies to this topic

[Pika]

Not sure where to post this, so dropping it in here. Sure the mods can move it!

So I recently got hold of the Champion version of the Shadowhawk after trying it on trial. Absolutely fell in love with the beast, got all my basics in a matter of hours. Took a few days out to dabble in the Jenner (I suck at lights) and the Catapult (That stock build is woeful) before decided that, yup, the Shadow was for me.

So I picked up the SHD-2D2 with the intent of getting it's basics done so I can get the elite tier stuff on the Champion version, blowing almost all of my money in the process.

Yet every game I join I am getting WRECKED. Pulling less than 100 damage with this http://mwo.smurfy-ne...c46833522723034 build (Supposedly a very good one), getting cored in single bursts if Gauss to CT. I don't know what happend. Is the Champion version so much more powerful? Are two AC5s just so much superior to SMs? In the champ it wasn't uncommon for me to break 700 damage. Yet in the 2D2 I havn't even broke 100.

Help guys. I really really feel stung by this purchase D:

[Carrie Harder]

I think the issue with your build posted is that it lacks energy weapons, particularly Medium Lasers. You can maybe downgrade the SRM4s to SSRM2s to get the tonnage for that, and/or downgrade the AC/10 to a UAC/5. Or potentially even use fewer SRM launchers and/or switch some to SRM2.

You could definitely use more leg armor. Don't go under 50-52 in a long legged medium like the Shad. More arm armor would also help, especially if you want to equip arm lasers.

Also, you can try loading more armor to the front (i.e. try have ~10 rear armor, or maybe even less when you get confident enough) in order to survive more alpha strikes to the face, if you're good enough at protecting your rear.


The engine you mounted is definitely good. Most Shad builds should run in the 280-300 range, although sometimes going over is acceptable if you have a mostly energy/missile build with spare tonnage.

[Reitrix]

Admittedly, I do not pilot ShadowHawks, so take this with a bucket of salt.

You had way too much rearward armor. You should only need 4 - 10 on the back. I prefer 4 on anything smaller than an Atlas.
I'd make the following changes;
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...eebaf64281fa386

The UAC5 has more range, Medium lasers as backups/antilight duty or just plain extra damage.

Being a Medium, you don't want to in the front lines. Hang around your friendly assaults pinging people with the UAC5 till a brawl happens.

And making that build reminds me how much i hate the smurfy interface /sigh,

Edited by Reitrix, 04 September 2014 - 04:36 PM.

[Pika]

Going to take me a while to get the money to try these builds out but thanks for the advice guys.

Bummed out by it so I probably won't try these until tomorrow now. Thanks

[Symbiodinium]

The SHD-2D2 has been my workhorse for months, it's a beast. I regularly do 350-600 damage in PUGs assuming my team isn't stomped. Here's my build: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...d3148ef1827f1f2 (this is from memory, but I think it's correct)

Max armor (-2 from head) and upgraded the 280 to a 300, maneuverability is your primary advantage, both to pick the right fight and to get in close with the SRMs. I strongly advise against going above a 300XL in a Shadowhawk, you're already faster than most mechs around at 300XL and you sacrifice too much above that.

For weapons, it adds 2 medium lasers and downgrades the AC10 to an AC5. It also switches from 4 SRM4 to 3 SRM4+Artemis. That configuration is cooler, more ammo efficient and usually ends up putting as much or more damage on to the target, and in a better cluster. Those are your main damage source, not the AC, as it's 30dmg in a pretty tight grouping. The AC5 is for long-range sparring and for a steady source of almost heat-free damage in a brawl. The medium lasers are great additional damage. Here I included 1 DHS in the engine, but it runs pretty cool so if you find yourself running out of ammo you can switch that for another ton of SRM or AC ammo.

Generally you want to stick loosely around the heavies/assaults, pinging with the AC5 or hillsniping with it as it's so high-mounted. Once the fighting gets heavy use your maneuverability to attack weakened or overextended targets, getting in close with the SRMs. The grouping should be tight enough that if the opportunity presents you can use them to target side torsos rather than purely going for the CT. The mech is great for mop-up, you'll beat the pack to the stragglers. If there's a weakness, it's not great against lights (though if you have better ping than me maybe you can paste them with SRMs).

Edited by Symbiodinium, 04 September 2014 - 04:59 PM.

[Past]

I'm pretty sure my current build uses the XL280 and looks like this (I'm not at home to check though)

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...ec0e28c6b0c8e69

Does really good for me. Comparing it to yours it has more armor, more AC10 ammo & no ghost heat for the SRM's in trade off for a smaller alpha. The cooling efficiency on yours looks better but that build does have 2 more heatsinks and no ghost heat to boot. Another bonus is the SRM2 cooldown is faster instead of slower than the AC10 cooldown so you can base your fire, twist, fire, twist rotation off the cooldown of the AC10 @ 2.5seconds instead of the SRM4's cooldown of 3 seconds in a brawling situation also SRM2 fire in a tighter cluster than SRM4.
If your gonna be getting in close in a Shadow hawk you really do want to have more than 16 Armour in the arms too they make great shields

Edited by Past, 04 September 2014 - 05:39 PM.

[Elizander]

You can try this for more consistency and way more punch at mid range (Large Lasers and SRM4s) SHD-2D2


If it's too hot just remove an SRM4 and add more DHS.

[Cyborne Elemental]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...7e628873fb0cc04
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...3f1336d7b135f13
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...b44c4b06602c7bd
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...767f44cd2e21da9
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...f4f73992b617375
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...fc2fb997d0c3c13
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...bb61ad655f14c34

[Rugarou]

The OP's build is fine really. I run a very similar build; SRMS and AC or LBX 10 depending. (Though the back armor does need to get adjusted to 12-15.) Thing with that build is it is NOT an early game mech. That build shines mid to late game once all the initial maneuvering is done. You can take some pot shots early game with the AC 10, but mainly play close range support for your heavies and assaults early on keeping any lights off them.

Playing a primarily SRM Medium is a different beast than any other mech. It takes patience and cunning being an ambush mech. Hope that helps.

[Kjudoon]

Rebuild as a high mobility LRMisher/LR harrasser.

XL295 or XL300
4 LRM 5s (6-7 tons ammo)
ERPPC or LPL
Tag
2-3 JJ.

I usually average 2 kills and 400dmg in a supporting role.

[Nathaniel Kell]

You also might want to give an AC20 build a shot with it. Something like this...


http://mwo.smurfy-ne...26d9a27d790f839

Though, admittedly this one works a little better once you get speed tweak. It gives you a lot of punch, just make sure you twist to protect that big gun!

Edited by Nathaniel Kell, 04 September 2014 - 06:25 PM.

[Ultimax]

Nathaniel Kell, on 04 September 2014 - 06:23 PM, said:

You also might want to give an AC20 build a shot with it. Something like this...


http://mwo.smurfy-ne...26d9a27d790f839

Though, admittedly this one works a little better once you get speed tweak. It gives you a lot of punch, just make sure you twist to protect that big gun!

I shaved a little, added FF and got you a 275 STD.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...29d31b102639dd2

[Macster16]

I use exclusively the 5M since I dislike missile builds. I've had the most success with my AC20 build with 2 mlas and STD280. The 2D2 is a fine variant, but since I don't use missiles, I gravitate towards the 5M.

[Carrioncrows]

I would just drop the AC10 to a UAC5 or an AC5 and upgrade the engine to a 300XL

The IS AC10 is really a bad weapon. Besides the hit registration problems it generally lacks the range to do full damage unless point blank. And being under 450m range is where most of your power is, you are also going to be outgunned by just about everyone in a clan mech.

So What i would instead do is increase your speed to get around and us a UAC5 to hit from farther.. Even though it's less FLD you can double tap people at a longer range and still deal the same dmg.

So i would use the UAC5 to snipe most of the match and once it collapses into a brawl then you can move in with the SRM's to finish off targets.

Food for thought.

Edited by Carrioncrows, 04 September 2014 - 06:48 PM.

[BigFatGator]

Reitrix, on 04 September 2014 - 04:35 PM, said:

Admittedly, I do not pilot ShadowHawks, so take this with a bucket of salt.

You had way too much rearward armor. You should only need 4 - 10 on the back. I prefer 4 on anything smaller than an Atlas.
I'd make the following changes;
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...eebaf64281fa386

The UAC5 has more range, Medium lasers as backups/antilight duty or just plain extra damage.

Being a Medium, you don't want to in the front lines. Hang around your friendly assaults pinging people with the UAC5 till a brawl happens.

And making that build reminds me how much i hate the smurfy interface /sigh,

That's pretty much how I run the 2D2. UAC5, 2ML, 4SRM4.
It does the job very well.

[Khaze]

This was my first build that I used to great effect:

2xML, 4xSSRM2, UAC5: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...07a053bcde280c5 The ammo is a bit of a problem though. I suppose you could easily drop half a ton of the SSRM ammo for half a ton of UAC ammo, but it's a matter of preference. You'll need to check your shots anyway or you'll run out in no time. I think one of the builds talked about earlier with SRMs instead of SSRMs with a smaller engine might work very well too, but I built this thing when SRM hit-reg was godawful, they weren't an option.

After playing that for quite a while I switched to a more simplistic approach which worked really well aswell:

2xLL, UAC5: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...14c3010754adc74

This thing carries XLs so well you can even easily brawl with the first build. The second build is just a pain in the ass for everyone. Jumpjets, great speed, highmounted ballistic slot, extra ranged oomph from the large lasers... I'm not sure why I don't just sell all my other mechs and play Shadowhawks exclusively.

Edited by Khaze, 04 September 2014 - 06:58 PM.

[Macster16]

Carrioncrows, on 04 September 2014 - 06:46 PM, said:

I would just drop the AC10 to a UAC5 or an AC5 and upgrade the engine to a 300XL

The IS AC10 is really a bad weapon. Besides the hit registration problems it generally lacks the range to do full damage unless point blank. And being under 450m range is where most of your power is, you are also going to be outgunned by just about everyone in a clan mech.

I don't get the disdain for the AC10. Believe it or not, I've had the most success with the AC10 and it's my favourite ballistic weapon. Bad HSR? Nope not in my case - if anything it has the BEST HSR (for me, the AC20 probably has the worst). Dunno if it's just my high aussie ping that makes the AC10 work so well for me, but it just does. Use it with lvl5 range module and I've been having even better results with it.

[Roughneck45]

AC20 and a PPC is still pretty good if you are confident in your accuracy.

[Carrioncrows]

Macster16, on 04 September 2014 - 07:28 PM, said:

I don't get the disdain for the AC10. Believe it or not, I've had the most success with the AC10 and it's my favourite ballistic weapon. Bad HSR? Nope not in my case - if anything it has the BEST HSR (for me, the AC20 probably has the worst). Dunno if it's just my high aussie ping that makes the AC10 work so well for me, but it just does. Use it with lvl5 range module and I've been having even better results with it.

Because at 451 meters it drops to 5 dmg a shot. (or maybe 7, I forget, but it's a massive dmg drop)

Unless you are able to stay within that 450m range the entire time while you are firing you are simply paying a lot of tonnage and space for what equals an ac5.

And how rare is it that you stay within 270-450m range. There are very few places where you can even hit the enemy mech within 450m range from cover to cover, most of it is over or under. And if it's under 270m range you might as well use an AC20 as it's deals alot more damage.

[Kjudoon]

Roughneck45, on 04 September 2014 - 07:33 PM, said:

AC20 and a PPC is still pretty good if you are confident in your accuracy.

I'm not, that's why the 4LRM5s. Gives you great flexibility and range at the expense of pinpoint damage.