37 replies to this topic

[bobobobobiy]

Basically, I bought the K2 over three years ago, when gauss rifles were easy to use.

I haven't played much since then, meaning I don't have any XL engines. The only things at my disposal are the STD 260 and 245.

I wanted to try out the dual AC 20, but it turns out that for some reason, I can't put more than two tons of ammo, stripping off everything but the AC 20's.

The dual ER PPC is also difficult to use, as the alpha is underwhelming and it can only fire two times before overheating.

UAC 5's jam more than ever, so that stinks. AC 2's is just silly, even when I can put 4 ML's on as well.

Basically, is there any still viable sets of the K2 around with only STD engines and no DHS? Should I give ER PPC's another go, or try AC 10's?

[Stealth Fox]

You are meant to be a poke sniper in a K2, harass from range and keep making sure that they don't get close and try and hit those exposed cores of your opponents. I never remembered my K2 being a damage machine or an amazing brawler. not really meant for it, but i've seen some AC/laser builds with it that have rocked my cockpit a few times.

[Gamuray]

1 K2 isn't great with a standard... Too much weight for the big weapons you wanted. So once you have the money, I'd suggest a large XL engine. (I run an XL 315 in mine I believe, over 80kph feels gooood. Until then, I'd suggest lasers, not ppc's. especially with the standard.. you won't have the weight you need for heat sinks. I suggest going with regular lasers, maybe one decent ballistic (ac10, gauss, ac20, whatever)... but you won't be dual wielding that.. Also, make sure if you're going to be going dual 20's that have your endo/ferro upgrade and no armor in those arms.

[Soulscour]

Gauss is still good on it.

[jaxjace]

I use 2 ppc 2 ac2 and 2 medium pulse, at range i plink away the ac2 ammo then use the ppc. if things get close, wub.

also buy an xl300 for this build.

Edited by jaxjace, 23 January 2015 - 09:49 PM.

[Chadamir Fitzkrieg]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...6fedcef9c1c0341
Threw this together, you might like it.

[Mad Porthos]

As Seph said, with the K2 these days you are meant to be a poke and peek sniper, because your mech has a large center torso which will be hit pretty much no matter what if you are out in the open. This was not always so bad, as back in the heydays of the boom cat, back around when you originally got it - it used to have a very respectable torso twist, so that you could shoot, twist far enough away that the enemy HAD to hit your left or right torso or arm, then as you twisted back you could fire and give the other side. This angered many who could not time their shots and wanted K2s nerfed because they carried the 2xac20 which no other mech could do back then. So they greatly reduced the twist range and speed somewhat, so that one could not easily twist far enoughthat enemies could not hit the CT. Of course, then Jaeger mechs came along and it all seemed quaint, but catapults/k2 did not get un-nerfed.

For your ammo problem with the 2xac20 Catapult K2, that is solved by completely unarmoring your arms, which gets you 2 tons more ammo at least. Down armoring a few other non critical components an frontloading armor can get you another ton or so. Your only weapons end up being those ac20's with a range of about 324m if you use level 5 range module. You probably still die pretty easy to CT coring, so its best to play as a nasty surprise with an ecm buddy, or using radar deprivation and ambushes.

Something else I use that has worked surprisingly well is standard engine, 1 ac20, 2 ppcs. Much better speed, engine, twist... better on ammo, even keeps full armored high mount arms... best of both worlds, people blindlly see you have ppcs so they close thinking to make you helpless, only to meet the ac20. Some even manage to fit 2 medium laser on this for some more close firepower when ppcs are ranged. Always could try large laser in place of the ppc, w more heatsinks, or some LARGE Pulse lasers, which run much cooler than ppcs and give better damage nearly pin point along with the ac20.

Heck, theres some who still swear by 4 er large laser K2, though I find 2 LL sometimes better on the torso for fast burn time.
All of these are not slugger mechs... they ambush, they peek, they flank and they work with the group, rather than solo.

[cranect]

A fun build I have made up is this: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...98af230f57c71a5

Yes I know it isnt conventional.

[Amsro]

Dual LBX-10

I would go with the XL300 for speed, but it should work fine. Works for me.

[IraqiWalker]

This is the proper Dual LB10X set up.

CPLT-K2

You can shave off half a ton of ammo, and remove 1 DHS to put in AMS with 1 ton ammo. The Catapult overall is very XL friendly, so abuse that fact. An XL 300 does wonders for the mech.

[Tiamat of the Sea]

Proper schmoper.

CPLT-K2 Ballista

Add a little range to that laser barrage.




Regarding Standard engines in Catapults- generally not a good idea, unless you absolutely have to have that side torso space for some reason. This goes for all Cats, as it's a trait of the body shape, not the arms- the side torsos are a little funny shaped and rather small, so you get cored a lot anyways, side torso removal is relatively rare, and the speed/heat-sinking benefits are well worth it.

Some people run dual AC/5 dual PPC in the K2 now and then, but builds are scattered for the most part, it's hard to say what's 'common' or not. I've even seen LPL/LPL/UAC5 once or twice.

[Smokeyjedi]

2 AC10s
4ML
std 240? or 260?
leaves tonnage for AMMO

Edited by Smokeyjedi, 24 January 2015 - 06:31 AM.

[Tiamat of the Sea]

GamerGirlGundam, on 24 January 2015 - 06:17 AM, said:

thanks im going to try this !
i like the way everything is tucked up in the torso

Thing works out to a vicious brawler. Remember to keep moving constantly, and that once a fight has started, you should be firing those dual LB-X constantly when you have available targets- the shot comes out fast enough that the large lasers become secondary during a brawl. Plus, it runs cool as a double scoop of rocky road.

[Ixidor Dinne]

I've been running mine with dual ac-10s 5 tons ammo 4 x spls asm I ton of ammo, xl280 and near max armor. Use your speed to fire from the flank find cover and pop out elsewhere. Do not get into a head on confrontation, as you will lose, make yourself the least obvious target and you will do well.

[Sylow]

Are you guys serious? Intentionally ignoring the strength of the machine?

- XL Friendly torso, like all Catapults.
- High mounted arms, perfect for shooting over ridges.
- PPC friendly quirks.

I very successfully use this setup:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...bc302f2c0983d1b

This setup gives you a very nice "squad marksman". You can keep up with your frontline fighters, you can suppress snipers trying to get them, you can support them with precise fire on the targets they brawl with. You can double out as sniper in case of need, and unlike all those slow snipers, you can quickly change position and pop up somewhere else, so you are less predictable and thus less suspectible for counter fire. And unlike a gauss or AC setup, you can deliver your punch without exposing yourself so much.

The price for all of this is, that your regular PPCs have a little less range than ER PPCs and you should try to avoid going into fights below 90 meters range, but as long as you follow those rules, the mech really behaves very well.

[MPBlackJack]

Here is my build for the K2

STD 300 Engine
4 ML
1 Ac/20 with 3T Ammo
Endo Steel + Ferro
14 DHS
max armor (only legs are 55/60)

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...ba01de7326d03e1

I use my Catapult K2 as a brawler and finisher. My build has limited range bug good damageoutput in close quarters and its quite mobile if you have the speed tweak.

[IraqiWalker]

Why do people use STD engines in the Catapult? In 20 battles, you MIGHT, lose one side torso. The CT is huge. Use an XL engine in there for crying out loud. That chassis is the most XL friendly one out there.

[zudukai]

try building one with twin gauss, it works decently well, just keep some friendly mechs between you and the enemy.

[stalima]

the K2 can equip 4 ppcs in extremely good positions with 2 very high points and 2 reasonable hight points while still being to control single fire heat quite well, i had pretty nice success till i made the mistake of selling it.

and as above, the catapults sides are so small that it is VERY rare that your side goes before the centre so an XL engine is pretty much a must have but of course you cant do that with an AC 20 as the ACs are torso based unlike the jaggermech that puts them in he arms so to be honest anything bigger than an ac 10 is rather impractical in the k2 since the jaggermech will do better otherwise.

something along the lines of this:

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...601bdec69049222

Edited by stalima, 25 January 2015 - 08:23 PM.

[Nightshade24]

CPLT-K2

Heavily influenced by stock katapult.

I personally find this my best heavy mech and I own over 90 mechs in MW: O.