83 replies to this topic

[Drakuba]

I was thinking about buying medium that can pack a punch, but i cant decide if shadow hawk or cent. I definitely want one build with AC20 hence why hawk or cent. I pilot heavy, but i was aching to try something smaller that dont get focused yet stil pack some punch, thats why i'd like your opinion on this matter

pro and cons of this 2 chassis
role they are best at
survivability
versatility
diferences betwen variants

thank you for your answers

[sneeking]

If its primarily for the ac20 then go the shawk or maybe a blackjack ( they mount higher and both take jj ) out of my best cent builds right now none are carrying ac20.

Edited by sneeking, 03 March 2015 - 01:39 AM.

[Equalizer]

Short answer - get the Centurion.

Long answer - I've always found Shadowhawks rather underwhelming in general, despite the popular opinion that they are among the best IS meds. They just move rather clumsy compared to a Centurion or a Griffin, and don't spread damage as well as those two. Also, you're stuck with STD engine for the AC20 further exacerbating these issues because of the lower speed. It has an advantage vs. the Cent in the form of jump jets, but that's about it. I'd also suggest you try the Hunchback - it is one of the best AC20 carriers currently and it also has very strong other variants such as the 4J and 4P.

Edited by Equalizer, 03 March 2015 - 01:45 AM.

[Rear Admiral Tier 6]

Shadowhawk has only the 2K which is excellent even without any relevant quirks,all variants of Centurion are good at something,AH being the best brawler,A SRM-bomber,AL as a beam-lo-wang,and Yen Lo Wang as a fast AC20-platform.

[Cyborne Elemental]

Tbh, Shadowhawk.

Almost every single shadowhawk except 1 can do an AC20 build, but only 2 Centurions can, and one you have to pay real $$ for (Yen-lo-Wang), and the other is completely Ammo dependent with no energy backups (-AH).

Shadowhawk is the jack of all trades, and while I was skeptical about Centurions at first, after I started piloting them they are actually really damn good mediums, but Shadowhawk still trumps them in versatility and JJ's are an added bonus.

Not that I'm trying to say Centurion isn't a fun mech, Shadowhawk on the other hand can do it all, just a little bit better.

Oh yeah, and don't overlook the Hunchbacks.

Edited by Mister D, 03 March 2015 - 01:47 AM.

[El Bandito]

Drakuba, on 03 March 2015 - 01:31 AM, said:

I was thinking about buying medium that can pack a punch, but i cant decide if shadow hawk or cent. I definitely want one build with AC20 hence why hawk or cent. I pilot heavy, but i was aching to try something smaller that dont get focused yet stil pack some punch, thats why i'd like your opinion on this matter

If you have HBK-4G, you wouldn't need any of those. HBK is smaller, has more armor on the gun placement, has INSANE AC20 quirks.

Edited by El Bandito, 03 March 2015 - 01:48 AM.

[Escef]

Comparing the SHDs to the CN9s... Look, I love my CN9s, but they have few advantages over the SHDs. The massive left arm shield for defensive twisting goodness. Maybe the mobility of that right arm weapon on the A, AL, and D. And the ability of the YLW and AH to combine an XL engine with an AC20 (an Inner Sphere AC20 moving at 90 to 106 kph is scary).

SHDs have tanky hitboxes, jump jets, a high mounted ballistic (or high mounted energy on the 2K), responsive arm energy hardpoints (all but the 2K), decent speed... I mean, the 2D or 2D2 are damn near perfect. Hell, the 275 standard engine most of them come with is usable if you're on a tight c-bill budget.

Both mechs can be SRM bombers (or pocket LRM boats) if you want.

I pretty much always recommend the 2D or 2D2 Shadowhawks as great first mechs for new players, because you can do almost anything on them. AC20? Sure, with jump jets if you like as well. Missile boat; LRM, SRM, or Streak? You have 3 or 4 missile hardpoints, go to town. Fast mech? You can cram up to a 360 engine in there, 116 fast enough for you? Long range energy? You can poptart with the arm points (or instead opt for the 2K Shadowhawk, which also does missiles decently). About the only thing you can't do is be a dedicated energy boat.

Edited by Escef, 03 March 2015 - 01:55 AM.

[sneeking]

I agree with some here I own shawks n blackjacks but I almost never use them.

I use my cents a lot but not with ac20....

Cents are the better mech but ac20 isn't optimal for them.

[sneeking]

And as said above shawks if you want all rounders to build different ways.

[Catra Lanis]

I started out with Shadowhawks and I hate them, that's why I sometimes shut down to preserve k/d ratio because I dug myself into a real deep hole with them and I am in the process of digging myself out of it. Ravens were the second trio of mechs I mastered, they are below 1.0 too but not nearly as much. My third were Centurions and I love them all.

I don't know why I hate the Shadowhawks but it's like the extra 5 tonnes aren't useful except maybe for a gauss build. In the Yen Lo I feel that I can wade through a shitstorm and often take one or two with me.

My advice: Try both and see which suits your playstyle.

Edited by Catra Lanis, 03 March 2015 - 01:59 AM.

[Porcorosso101]

You are comparing a 55 to a 50 tonne mech so be careful. I have both and its dependent on what main gun you have .

Shadowhawk - variants to suit a lot of playstyles, amazing high torso hardpoints, zombie mode, JJ. BUT Low level quirks.
The high hardpoints leans towards a sniper but can go close up.

Centurion - fewer variants(4 AC specialists and 1 lazor), zombie mode. Great quirks and of course the well known hero: Yen Lo Wang BUT no JJ
The low level main right arm leans towards a more closer support - its normally where your man gun is

Both are very durable with a lot of torso twisting with Standard engines. They can work fine with XL.

Simply both are great fun and get both!

Edited by Porcorosso101, 03 March 2015 - 02:00 AM.

[Bleary]

sneeking, on 03 March 2015 - 01:53 AM, said:

I agree with some here I own shawks n blackjacks but I almost never use them.

I use my cents a lot but not with ac20....

Cents are the better mech but ac20 isn't optimal for them.

I disagree. The Centurion AH with AC/20 and 2 SRM-4s is among the best loadouts you can run on the chassis. The only other IS medium that comes close as a pure brawler is the Hunchback 4G, and that's only if the Hunch pilot has space to pop their cannon around cover. In a close duel, with no obstructions, and a pilot who knows how to arm shield . . .no medium beats an AC/20 Centurion. Most heavies don't either.

Edited by Bleary, 03 March 2015 - 02:01 AM.

[Duke Nedo]

I struggle with Cents, find it much easier to perform with Shawks, mainly due to higher hardpoint placement I guess. Cents are cool if you're winning anyways, but if the other team is good and you want to accomplish anything I much rather sit in a Shawk.

[Bleary]

Big AC Centurions do kind of have to hang out until the sides get tangled up, yes. But the AL with lasers makes a decent corner sniper.

[kapusta11]

2K with 3x LPLs.

[sneeking]

Bleary, on 03 March 2015 - 02:00 AM, said:

I disagree. The Centurion AH with AC/20 and 2 SRM-4s is among the best loadouts you can run on the chassis. The only other IS medium that comes close as a pure brawler is the Hunchback 4G, and that's only if the Hunch pilot has space to pop their cannon around cover. In a close duel, with no obstructions, and a pilot who knows how to arm shield . . .no medium beats an AC/20 Centurion. Most heavies don't either.

My ah is tripple ac2 lol

Screenshakeing fire support...

Surprisingly its my D ( potentially the fastest cent ) thats my brawler with pulse lasers and lbx.

[Alistair Winter]

Duke Nedo, on 03 March 2015 - 02:01 AM, said:

I struggle with Cents, find it much easier to perform with Shawks, mainly due to higher hardpoint placement I guess. Cents are cool if you're winning anyways, but if the other team is good and you want to accomplish anything I much rather sit in a Shawk.

Same her. The Centurion was my first medium mech, and although I can pretty much pick up the Yen Lo Wang at any time and do alright, the A, D and AL-variants are a bit more hard work to get into. The Shadowhawk is a lot easier to play, I think.

I have a lot more respect for people who get really great results with the CN9-A, D or AL than the Shadowhawks.

[sneeking]

Cn9A is med pulse lasers and 3srm4 two shield arms and 16 dhs, now that thing also is one hell of a brawler.

[Drakuba]

I like survivability in mech, having both arms blown away, liping with one leg, side torsos practicaly gone and still fighting, thats what im looking for Im not much of a fan of XL engines and i almost never use them (except catapults).
I like to brawl, close range brawls are one of the most entertaining things i found on this game and i always looking forward to those brawls on the end of a round.
But how about overall survivability? I remember seing cents without arms and only with one torso roaming the map almost all the time in beta, does hawks have similar durability?
JJ are fine, but medium mechs are fast enough so its not that high on my list

and yeah, i totaly forgot about hunchbacks, but i remember them being "dehunched" all the time, hence almost useless...

Edited by Drakuba, 03 March 2015 - 03:12 AM.

[Porcorosso101]

Its because of standard engines if you want to roll with no torsos.

Both are good brawlers -- lots of SRMS and your choice of main guns. JJ in a brawl is a well used tactic, if you want to get out of LOS, just jump over them, as they turn...your mates get them!