23 replies to this topic

[Richard Hazen]

At the moment my drop for CW is an Urbanmech with four MPLs, Cicada 3M (ECM), a Stalker 4N and a Stalker Misery.

They are all mastered, but I'm not quite sure I'm getting the most out of my light, it moves slower than my cicada and whilst the medium pulses are quite damaging, there reach isn't especially useful in CW as it means I need to get up close and most of the time the enemy is waiting.

So I'm wondering if a quicker light would be more useful, or perhaps something better with range. Anyway I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to what I could replace the Urbie with?

Edited by Deimos Alpha, 10 June 2015 - 12:20 PM.

[3xnihilo]

Spider 5d would be my suggestion. Ecm, erll, 2ml, xl255. Firestarters are pretty much the meta, I think the S or H. Or a Raven 3l with ecm and 2 erll.

[3xnihilo]

Or if you wanted to be really wild and crazy just drop a couple erll in your Urbie and snipe away.

[InspectorG]

FS

Raven 3L

Spider D

Locust V(for range) or PB(for ECM)

[3xnihilo]

InspectorG, on 10 June 2015 - 07:00 PM, said:

FS

Raven 3L

Spider D

Locust V(for range) or PB(for ECM)

Locust 1e for kills

[Chagatay]

Deimos Alpha, on 10 June 2015 - 12:12 PM, said:

At the moment my drop for CW is an Urbanmech with four MPLs, Cicada 3M (ECM), a Stalker 4N and a Stalker Misery.

They are all mastered, but I'm not quite sure I'm getting the most out of my light, it moves slower than my cicada and whilst the medium pulses are quite damaging, there reach isn't especially useful in CW as it means I need to get up close and most of the time the enemy is waiting.

So I'm wondering if a quicker light would be more useful, or perhaps something better with range. Anyway I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to what I could replace the Urbie with?

You can pretty much pick anyone of them. Urbie maybe an underdog but it is small and hides/pokes well on certain maps. Panther is slow but ERPPC sniper is very good for the glacial pace of most CW matches. The fast ones all work quite well.

[Shadey99]

A lot of lights make good CW lights for IS. I've used quite a number of them depending on my load.

Pirate's Bane can be nice as a ECM carrying light which can act as a quick striker, it's lack of JJs can be a downside on certain maps.

Firestarters like the A and S are as brutal in CW as they are in pug matches, I've even used my Ember before to good effect.

The Raven 3L is a classic with ECM and a variety of weapon options. However I've found my Huginn possibly the most effective CW Raven, in a mixed force or in a pack of lights the huginn is simply brutal up close.

Panthers with ER PPCs can also be fairly effective, though they cannot get up close like the other mechs I've mentioned so are worse in a unit environment (which likely wants to use lights in a wave and plans to get in close).

I'd avoid Spiders in CW, as while they have ECM (in the only variant I'd even think of taking), they aren't very heavily armed compared to the rest of the options. Even the PB Locust can compete in firepower with it.

[Richard Hazen]

Yeah been training up the Spiders because I saw the ECM, I don't think the hard points work for me, the random laser in the torso but two on the arm is a pain and I have noticed they go down quite easily.

[Hit the Deck]

Deimos Alpha, on 14 June 2015 - 11:22 AM, said:

Yeah been training up the Spiders because I saw the ECM, I don't think the hard points work for me, the random laser in the torso but two on the arm is a pain and I have noticed they go down quite easily.

Have you tried equipping an ERPPC on the arm then play it as a sniper? This is practically the same as the Mist Lynx Clanners use in CW.

[Richard Hazen]

Hit the Deck, on 14 June 2015 - 11:40 AM, said:

Have you tried equipping an ERPPC on the arm then play it as a sniper? This is practically the same as the Mist Lynx Clanners use in CW.

I will try it, not been able to get the engine yet for it though still 2mill off.

Edited by Deimos Alpha, 14 June 2015 - 11:50 AM.

[Not Bob]

Hey man - i actually run a dropdeck very close to yours, (2 stalkers, 2 firestarters).

I guess the biggest thing here to help you is what's your style of play, and can you downgrade your Cicada to something lighter. I personally found that I do better in 2 FS9s, than I do in a Cicada and a spider (Or 2 35 tonners). If you like to be "in the mix" I'd suggest getting an FS9-S, and FS9-A. Both are really good mechs, in terms of hitboxes and damage potential. If you like to snipe, then I'd recommend getting a RVN-3L, and RVN-4X, both which are great at the long range game and are quirked very well.

Let me know if this helps, or gets ya thinking

If you don't want to move down from the cicada, I'd say go with the spider 5D.

[Richard Hazen]

Shadey99, on 12 June 2015 - 04:42 PM, said:

A lot of lights make good CW lights for IS. I've used quite a number of them depending on my load.

Pirate's Bane can be nice as a ECM carrying light which can act as a quick striker, it's lack of JJs can be a downside on certain maps.

Firestarters like the A and S are as brutal in CW as they are in pug matches, I've even used my Ember before to good effect.

The Raven 3L is a classic with ECM and a variety of weapon options. However I've found my Huginn possibly the most effective CW Raven, in a mixed force or in a pack of lights the huginn is simply brutal up close.

Panthers with ER PPCs can also be fairly effective, though they cannot get up close like the other mechs I've mentioned so are worse in a unit environment (which likely wants to use lights in a wave and plans to get in close).

I'd avoid Spiders in CW, as while they have ECM (in the only variant I'd even think of taking), they aren't very heavily armed compared to the rest of the options. Even the PB Locust can compete in firepower with it.

What do you think about Jenners? I have an Oxide streak boat but not got any more and I'm wondering whether they are worth it.

[John1352]

Do you like trying to minimize exposure to the enemies? The Jenner's advantage is high hardpoints, but it will lose it's CT very quickly when you get hit. The Firestarters generally got better quirks too.

[jaxjace]

Lights are great, ravens, spiders, fire starters, adders, foxes, they all can hit above their weight class. and as an added bonus they free up tonnage for badass **** like stalkers and warhawks.

[Shadey99]

Deimos Alpha, on 14 June 2015 - 04:30 PM, said:

What do you think about Jenners? I have an Oxide streak boat but not got any more and I'm wondering whether they are worth it.

For CW? I could see a SRM Oxide acting like a Huginn... Though to carry those extra launchers it will have less endurance... And Endurance is key to CW. I've done over 1k damage in a huginn in CW before running out of ammo... I don't think a streak build is worth it for CW (outside clans who get 4s and 6s)...

I'd tend to avoid Jenners in general because they got basically no quirks (should have at least as much quirking as Firestarters) and have giant CTs that can be shot from almost every angle. Jenners are the only light I don't try to leg...

[Richard Hazen]

Not Bob, on 14 June 2015 - 12:13 PM, said:

Hey man - i actually run a dropdeck very close to yours, (2 stalkers, 2 firestarters).

I guess the biggest thing here to help you is what's your style of play, and can you downgrade your Cicada to something lighter. I personally found that I do better in 2 FS9s, than I do in a Cicada and a spider (Or 2 35 tonners). If you like to be "in the mix" I'd suggest getting an FS9-S, and FS9-A. Both are really good mechs, in terms of hitboxes and damage potential. If you like to snipe, then I'd recommend getting a RVN-3L, and RVN-4X, both which are great at the long range game and are quirked very well.

Let me know if this helps, or gets ya thinking

If you don't want to move down from the cicada, I'd say go with the spider 5D.

Got myself a Firestarter, would you still put a XL engine in one?

[Dino Might]

3xnihilo has it right. LCT-1E mops things up. 6 small pulse is good. So is 5 medium lasers. Unless your team is getting rolled, it will put out good numbers. I actually had my LCT do the most damage of any mech on our team when we were getting rolled by QQ one time. I was the only one that escaped the dropzone (no, it wasnt hardcore spawn camp or anything, they played well and I woudn't complain about that even if it was) and then managed to make steaming piles of slag of two enemy mechs before they finally surrounded me.

Edited by Dino Might, 16 June 2015 - 04:36 AM.

[Not Bob]

Deimos Alpha, on 16 June 2015 - 04:30 AM, said:

Got myself a Firestarter, would you still put a XL engine in one?

Absolutely. The firester's big advantage is speed. Put in an XL 280 or larger and you should be set. Not to mention, with an XL engine, you can load a full complement of weapons that absolutely tear people to shreds in moments. If you need a few builds, I can pull up some links for you.


The lack or armor and nice hitboxes make the Firestarter one of the most XL friendly mechs (almost all lights should run XLs for that speed to escape something nasty)

[Richard Hazen]

Not Bob, on 16 June 2015 - 09:46 AM, said:

Absolutely. The firester's big advantage is speed. Put in an XL 280 or larger and you should be set. Not to mention, with an XL engine, you can load a full complement of weapons that absolutely tear people to shreds in moments. If you need a few builds, I can pull up some links for you.


The lack or armor and nice hitboxes make the Firestarter one of the most XL friendly mechs (almost all lights should run XLs for that speed to escape something nasty)

Atm I think I took the max xl engine out of my spider, think that's only 250 or something though.

[Not Bob]

Deimos Alpha, on 16 June 2015 - 10:15 AM, said:

Atm I think I took the max xl engine out of my spider, think that's only 250 or something though.

That'll do the trick for now, you won't be as effective as you could be with it. Just save up some cbills and get yourself an XL280 (Its used on a ton of mechs anyways, so its nice to have around).