29 replies to this topic

[Timicon]

I can understand why so many people love the Cicada, speed being one major factor, I would wager, but also because it mounts, as well as dish out a fair amount of damage on an enemy enemy and get get away (for the most part) unscathed, but even with the cost of armour it has, I was wondering which of the builds do each Cicada pilot out there facture the most? I am curious as the I have tried several light trial mechs now (sadly they have not changed in a while!) and feel that I would like to move up to a Cicada, even if it is a Medium.
Until the CRB-27 Crab becomes buyable with C-Bills, I will snatch up them all, the Cicada I feel wuld be a challenging 'Mech at first to master, but something I really want to do, since I have mastered the ************* of my other four 'Mechs.

[Alistair Winter]

In 2013, before quirks and hardpoint inflation, the CDA-2A with XL280 or XL300 and 6 medium lasers was a severely underestimated mech. Not a lot of mechs had the combination of speed, relative small size, 30 damage pinpoint alpha and, compared to the very hot JR7-F builds, relatively good DPS.

Today, after quirks and hardpoint inflation, the Cicada is a bit outdated and obsolete. It still has the advantage of being relatively small compared to most medium mechs, but its firepower isn't really that impressive in the current meta. And most heavy and assault mechs today are a lot faster than they used to be, because so many people are using huge XL engines. So it's not as maneuverable as it used to be, by comparative standards.

It's a fun mech though. It's a fun challenge, as you say. Here's how I play my Cicadas.
CDA-2A: XL280, 6xML (My best one)
CDA-2B: STD280, 5xML, AMS. (Very hot, but good survivability)
CDA-3C: ER PPC, AC5. (A fun troll build, but arguably the worst of all Cicadas)
CDA-3M: ECM, Gauss, 4 tons of ammo. (Even more fun, and a lot more dangerous than the 3C. Amazing how easy it is to avoid attention)

Haven't played the X-5, but as far as I can tell, it's even more outdated than it was when it came out, since SSRMs have been severely nerfed. Remember when SSRMs used to be a big deal? People thought the X-5 would be the ultimate light mech hunter, but I've hardly seen anyone consistently do well with this mech.

[Nathan Foxbane]

The Cicada is a tough little 'Mech. But speed is life in them. Bit like an oversized Jenner without jump jets and the option to go ballistic on some variants.

[Johnny Z]

The X-5 is ok. 4 Medium lasers is what is used most and thats not much firepower or range. I have a SRM raven that does well with 2 SRM 4's and 3 medium lasers, ECM, but the X-5 just doesnt do great in that direction.

Much like my Commando I use the 4 medium lasers and 2 SSRM 2's. I peek at larger mechs and do ok and can hunt light mechs very well.

My most successfull was the 2 ERLL Cicada I was running which I then sold and replaced with a 2 ERLL X-4 Raven. Does just as well with smaller profile, lighter weight and jump jets...

The X-5 is an extremely fast medium mech with low firepower, low armor, but the ability to have good matches in. The quirked medium lasers do make the most of medium lasers though.

Edited by Johnny Z, 05 May 2015 - 08:44 PM.

[Sigilum Sanctum]

I bought an X-5 in the recent sale and I love it. I use it to screen my teams bigger mechs.

My unit and I dropped with a Splat Cat, my X-5, a Cicada 3M with a UAC5 and 4ML, and a Griffin 2N. I ran in with the X-5 running interference with 2 SRM4s and 4MLs and lured them back into a death pit of SRM60.

Was simply amazing.

[CocoaJin]

-2A with XLs engine and 6x MLs is a great light hunter and back stabber...just play it like a light with better survivability.

I used to run mind with MPLs, though that might have been 4x MPLs and 2x SLs. I always prefer bare-minimum face time, and the SLs provided cool running if you got stuck in a knife fight.

Edited by CocoaJin, 05 May 2015 - 09:03 PM.

[TLBFestus]

I quite like my "outdated" Cicadas.

That said, I have never been too terribly concerned about metas, KDR etc., either.

However, this is my favorite X-5 build that I believe I found on another forum some time ago (so as to not take credit for it);

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...7af91ffe92f80a0


It's squishy, but has a decent punch as long as the SRMs last. I primarily use it when I want to grind out C-bills and still feel challenged.

Edited by TLBFestus, 05 May 2015 - 09:15 PM.

[El Bandito]

CDA-3M Baby Shadow Cat

Definitely viable with that 20% ballistic cooldown quirk.

[Cyborne Elemental]

All I ever saw were the 2xPPC+ECM cicada's running around, or 2xERLL+ECM for a long long time.

Then PPC's got nerfed, ppl switched to LPL or ERLL builds only, then ERLL got its duration bumped up (still pondering WTF reason IS-ERLL got its duration lengthened), and then you just stopped seeing them at all, except very rarely here and there.

I've been using the stock build of ML + UAC-5 since quirks, and its ok, but one place you don't want to be is up close and personal in a light/medium like the Cicada.

[Tarogato]

My favourite by far is the 3M with two LPLs. You can keep firing for a very long time in extended engagements and you can help out in long range trading as well. I like it a lot better than the LL+ML builds, or any of the ballistic builds.













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Edited by Tarogato, 25 December 2015 - 01:31 PM.

[Xetelian]

Since very early on the Cicada has been a no go, haven't seen a build I liked, feel like you sacrifice way too much for speed.

Now I own an IFR. The IFR Prime is the Bonus Cbill variant and the one with the worst quirks.

However I love my IFR and I now wish I would have played Cicadas ages ago.

[Duke Nedo]

Running these: X-5, -A, -M (sometimes with LL)

All of them works nicely for me, a bit on the hot side, especially the 3M, but I try to stick nearish to my team never commit in them.

[Darwins Dog]

I run the classic 2A with a 340XL and 6xML. Strip the arms of armor to get an extra DHS in there.

I tried lots of different builds in the 2B, but eventually settled on 5xMPL with a 330XL to chase the quirks. 4xSPL and 1xLPL (I think it used a 300XL) was also pretty good.

Waaay back in the day I ran my 3C with 2xAC/2 and about a 275XL, but that was before the BJ-1 and when MG's really sucked. These days I go for 4xMG and ERPPC. The quirks let you fire the PPC non-stop for 15-20 shots before heat is a problem.

I swap between two builds on the 3M. One is the XL295 with UAC/5 and 4xML. Stick with the fatties and take pot shots where you can. The other runs 2xML and 2xLL with an XL300. Both run ECM of course.

The X-5 is my most played mech ever. 4xML and 2xSRM2 with XL 340 is great. The missile quirks let them fire really quickly. Sometimes I slow it down (XL300) for 2xSRM6s. The thing to remember there is that you have only 2 tubes each so they will fire in volleys. The upside is that they are really accurate once you get used to it. My hope is that the geometry pass will give them dynamic tubes. If that happens, X-5 will be a beast.

[Macster16]

The 2B with 5mpls is my favourite and probably the best offensive CDA. Runs very cool, shoots very fast and has decent range on the mpls thanks to its quirks. The 2A with 6mls I found kinda blah and just a 40t version of the JR7-F really.

The 3M is a decent ECM supporter, but does seem to be somewhat "outdated" due to the plethora of newer ECM mechs out there now that bring more to the table than just ECM with a bit pew pew on the side.

[Dulahan]

I <3 Cicadas. No builds since Smurfy isn't working for me right now for some reason.

My 2A is, IIRC, a 320XL, or maybe 300, can't recall off hand. But then 6 MLs. I only played it once since quirks, and somehow got a 500 damage, but 0 kill game. But I expect it will continue to be good for me when I use it.

My 2B - I -think- is a 330XL (MIGHT be a 320, or 300), and runs 5 MPLs. This is my Happy Place mech, the one I can drop in and almost certainly have a stellar match. Though I need to be careful or I mess up my ELO and suck in any other non-Cicada mediums.

2C - ERPPC, 4 MGs. Just... not much. the one variant I don't do well.

3M - 2 ERLLs, 2 MLs. ECM, and the biggest engine leftover after max armor. My other 'Ace' mech. I may not get kills in it, since I suck at holding Lasers on target, but I WILL get high damage and points.

X5 - This one I'm forgetting how I built at the moment, think it was pretty similar to the 3m though, just sans ECM, obviously.

Other than the C, I'll do good. Almsot every single time. Easily my favorite mech in the game.

It's got the speed and firepower of a Jenner, no JJs to be fair, BUT... It also has more armor, great hardpoint locations, and people tend to ignore them if they're not using ECM. Great mechs.

[Crotch RockIt]

The 2B Wubcada running at LEET speed is my favorite.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...1cc053494992380

[FupDup]

The Cicada's issue in a nutshell is that it's a light trapped in a medium's body.

[DONTOR]

2 PPCs is still a great striker/ flanker/ sniper/ harraser, back up small lasers or a ERPPC w/ PPC, that way you can still do damage up close. I think I use an XL295 or XL300 in mine.

[Crotch RockIt]

I hope the CDA-3F comes out in the next Gift Store release. I want mah jumping Cicada. Stock will probably look something like this (substitute JJ in place of ammo):

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...a65ee3eae83419e

Guessing it would have 4E hardpoints total, which is fine for using large lasers.

[InRev]

FupDup, on 06 May 2015 - 06:08 AM, said:

The Cicada's issue in a nutshell is that it's a light trapped in a medium's body.

That, and coupled with its light mech speeds, people think they can play it like a Jenner or Firestarter, but it is much too big and easy to hit for that.

Cicada's have one of the most unique playstyles in this game, imo. It's more of a guerilla mech. You want to keep about 300 meters away from the bad guy to try to keep your profile down while using your speed to hit them where you are not expected to be. If you dogfight in it like a Jenner, you will die horribly.

It's not a Tier 1 mech, by any means, but it is by far my favorite. My best matches ever have been in an X-5, of all things.

(also, most of the builds in this thread make Baby Mechjesus cry, but Dulahan is spot on with his)

DONTOR, on 06 May 2015 - 06:25 AM, said:

2 PPCs is still a great striker/ flanker/ sniper/ harraser, back up small lasers or a ERPPC w/ PPC, that way you can still do damage up close. I think I use an XL295 or XL300 in mine.

Placed top 10 in Cicadas twice using dual peep, but when they bumped PPCs to 10 heat and ERPPCs to 15, that basically killed the build for me. It would always red-line, even with the lower heat, so the heat increase was too much.