9 replies to this topic

[0Life]

So I am looking at buying a light mech for use in CW. What do y'all recommend? I use to run a Raven 3L a while back, and I generally enjoyed it, but it seems all the 3Ls I see these days are two ERLL and I was wondering what other chassis/variants are considered the most competitive in the current game?
Your suggestions of chassis/variant would be greatly appreciated (and, if you are willing to go the extra mile, builds). Thank you for your time.

[TercieI]

What's the rest of your deck? As a rule, either the 2ERLL RVN-3L or one of the FS9s (5MPL S, 8SPL A or 6ML H) are the best choices for IS lights in CW. Clan lights are just filler for better mechs.

[Nothing Whatsoever]

Are you going to drop Clan or IS?

And what other mechs are you thinking about using?

[stealthraccoon]

Urbanmech

[Insects]

Firestarter is pretty much the most powerful light. Good firepower, jumpjets for zerg rush, good survivability, 150kph.
But no ECM, if you wanted to bring ECM cover to the team.

[Bleary]

Some people also get good results with the two SRM heroes (Oxide and Huginn) if you have the MC to burn and you prefer running missiles to lasers. Wouldn't necessarily recommend it for IS vs IS, because SRMs are not what you want in circle duel with an enemy Firestarter. But SRMs are fine against anything the Clans can bring at you.

[0Life]

This is for an IS load out. I intend to run my Orion K and V variants as I like them the most and I prefer the way they play over Assaults (and, I must say, I do fairly well in them). I know it is anathema to run IS Mediums in CW, but I might keep a Centurion A in the line up for the hell of it, though it would be something I could switch out to a pair of lights with my heavies, or a light/med/double heavy run.

I have not tried around with the Firestarters, but I would need to re-equip my empty Raven 3L.

Out of curiosity, I see a few Spiders from time to time, and I was wondering if they are considered as being at least somewhat in the meta for lights or not.
Honestly, other than speed and either ECM or Firepower, I have no real idea of what the current meta is for Lights.

[Nothing Whatsoever]

Okay cool, so if you choose to go with your two Orions and say your Centurion that would allow for up to 40 tons for your fourth option. So you can also include Cicadas in you evaluation too.

So the main factor to consider is the role you intend for your light.

If you anticipate using it for a light rush, then speed, max or near max armor and a big burst of damage is preferable, range would not be too important. So SPLs and SRMs are two top choices. If you think you will join others with just hopping the gates then having JJs is going to be helpful.

If your other mechs are mostly brawlers, then you can instead consider a long range light where you RVN-3L can fit just fine as a first drop mech. Here the RVN-2X also has nice LPL quirks and the Cicadas can run PPCs or ERLLs with the 3M being a good choice with its ECM, and you can also run Firestarters with fewer, but bigger energy weapons since they do have some generic energy quirks too.

Then if instead you would like to bring say one of the 65 tonners, you can consider Commandos for your fourth mech, with the 2D being first choice with its ECM and the 1B being a good platform for 2LLs for example.

Otherwise if you are thinking of 60 to 55 tonners then you can also look to Spiders, where the 5D with its ECM and MPLs or Long Range Weapons could also work.

I can get into more details and specifics, but I hope this is an okay outline for getting started.

[Rogue Jedi]

if you are after performing an ECM umbrella role for your big guys then the Raven 3L or Cicada 3M are both good choices, if you want to be able to join a light rush then you will want fast jumping Lights, there are 3 choices, Jenner, Spider or Firestarter.

the Jenner has a large center torso which will need portecting but the Jenner is potentialy faster and more manuverable than the Firestarter.

the Spider is the most lightly armed of the Light Mechs, however it is fast and manuverable, can mount a lot of Jumpjets and has an ECM varient, the ECM would be of great use to a Light rush, the Spider is also in my opinion the most fun Mech to pilot in MWO.

the Firestarter in concidered the king of the Lights, it has good hitboxes allowing it to spread damage as well as any other Mech, it mount upto a 40point alpha strike, and has jumpjets. the FS9-A with 6-8 Small pulse lasers is widely concidered to be the best light Mech in MWO at the moment.

[Porcorosso101]

The mechs I fear when caught alone: Jenners with fast firing SRMs and of course Firestarters. With good pilots they will run you down into the ground!

Both have great speed mixed with great firepower....and yes I pilot a FS-A - a dagger fight with another FS is very stressful!.