317 replies to this topic

[NephyrisX]

My Shadowcat build is:

CERPPC, 2XSSRM6, CERML.

Versatile enough to engage mid to long range, and strong enough to eat Arctic Cheetahs.

[Levi Porphyrogenitus]

Without reference to quirks in any way, I'd be tempted to run this.

[Sarlic]

What the hell guys?

Thing is fine. I have seen it jumping on very high buildings. Has a great twist ang agility. Packs a good punch.

But some people just rush with it. RAMBO-ing isnt the way.

It shouldn't be perfect.

Edited by Sarlic, 21 July 2015 - 11:59 PM.

[STEF_]

Tallyn, on 21 July 2015 - 06:48 PM, said:

If you want firepower, go with this build: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...41c91352a59c121 Low armor and ammo, but the firepower's there.

I have a ferrit with 50 dmg alpha..... and full armor too

[Paigan]

Bishop Steiner, on 21 July 2015 - 06:24 PM, said:

[...]
Firepower? Well, here's the downside, so far.
[...]
How about you chaps?

I appreciate you, Bishop, so I don't want to insult you, but honestly: this is as naive as it gets.

The SHC has a ton of "special features" (JJs, MASC, ECM, high hardpoints, 135° twist. Even some limited quirks I could not hope to dream of. Especially that reinforced ECM torso is nice). If it could magically deal a ton of damage as well, it would almost deprecate all other Mechs from 30 to 55 tons. And the "OP" whining would be gigantic and it would be just.

That being said, the SHC doesn't deal so low damage at all.
I saw Sean Lang with 3xMPL 2xSSRM4. Don't tell me that is low damage for a 45tonner.
2xLPL is awesome (who said it's boring?!)
You can mount a uAC10 or a Gauss or 2xERPPC if you have to.

It's no SCR, okay, but given its other features, it deals more than enough damage.

A player with your experience should realize that in a heartbeat...

Edited by Paigan, 22 July 2015 - 12:21 AM.

[Moldur]

you can put double ppc on one side and shield with the other. Ofc this means you can also switch out to LPL if you so desire. Shadowcat makes a nice poptart though

[meteorol]

Seeing how well it can jump, i couldn't stop myself from slapping 2 ER PPCs on it. But even when you take out ECM, it seems like it's simply too hot to be worth it. Maybe i'll go for a single PPC and backup stuff.

[Lily from animove]

3x srm6 + 2 meds seems fine, one could upgrade to artemis, or use 2 MPL's and a few aditional DHS if not using artemis.

[Joseph Mallan]

Bishop Steiner, on 21 July 2015 - 06:24 PM, said:

First and foremost.... hey, we got what we paid for. The Hardpoints were known long ago, so this is no QQ about that.

Firstly, the in game Model?

GORGEOUS. Might be my favorite mech, visually since the old K2. It's pretty well scaled, perhaps 5% larger overall than I would have called perfect, but close enough to not matter.

Hitboxes? Well, only a dozen matches so far, but nothing stands out in a bad way. The STs everyone feared would be bullet magnets, haven't appeared to be yet, nor does the CT seem particularly prone to coring. In general, it feels a little more fragile to me than a BJ or VND, but only a little bit, and with no component really standing out as the "culprit". Part of that might be related to the relative lack of firepower though, requiring more facetime to achieve much. More on that later.

Agility? Feels great, even without anything unlocked. Am a little underwhelmed with MASC on it, but I might just not be used to it yet, so am not maximizing it's potential. Good twist rate, good turning and speed, easy to keep my guns on the enemy. No complaints here.

Jumping? Oh baby. Baby, baby. Does she like to to jump. Feels like it jumps better than my Arctic Cheetah, which is doubtful, but that's how it feels. Nimble, good thrust, with more than enough power to stay airborne, or even stall in the air, or hover then gain altitude. Add a MASC sprint to the jump, and it almost feels like a Spider, or at least a Mist Lynx.

Firepower? Well, here's the downside, so far. We knew the tonnage, we knew the hardpoints. It definitely doesn't boat (unless you have the "P" and want to MG boat). Tonnage is low to make much use of ballistics, otherwise, though. Missiles are about 1 hardpoint shy of ideal (4) and likewise with Energy, where it really feels like it could use a pair of dual Energy Hardpoint arms.

So it kind of combines the weaponry issues of the Summoner and the Nova. And....for such moderate firepower....it tends to be a bit warm. The firepower isn't horrible, but it's not the easiest mech to build, IMO, because no single weapon role just jumps out at you, like with most mechs. Perhaps in the upcoming rebalance it will get some extra offensive quirks?

Anyhow, have varied a whole lot of weapons in it, and probably my most successful has been my most basic, running a UAC10, 2 ERMLs and ECM. Been experimenting with missiles and lasers, but haven't had one of those yet that I have fallen in love with.

Current Test Loadouts
SHC-PRIME
SHC-A
SHC-B

How about you chaps?

Though I always found the Shadow Cat to be a sweet looking mech, it never struck me as a Beastly ride. It was a good "soldier Mech" but not the Oh Shi... its a Shadow Cat! If you get my meaning.

[The Choppa]

Maybe I'm missing something, but a lot of people are raving about how well it jumps.
Ya'll know that you can put jump jets on other chassis that let you jump as well, or better, right?
Using 6 jump jets is not a new thing, I don't understand the hype? O.o

But than again I don't understand why anyone would want to fly when you could just shoot more/bigger guns

[MeiSooHaityu]

I know it's kinda crazy, but I liked the 1 Gauss + crap load of MGs (i think 6 or 8 or something like that) build I saw.

Dakka dakka!

Basically it would be distinctly different than other mediums and make it a fun alternative to play. Plus...come on...all that dakka!

[Widowmaker1981]

Grisbane, on 22 July 2015 - 02:03 AM, said:

surprised no one has bothered putting up the "expected" meta build yet..

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...90ba8529fb38c60

#3xLL_on_high_mounts_meta_FTW

because on the shadow cat, all mounts are high mounts.. especially for clan. to me all it is, is a 45 ton raven 3L.. with JJ's and masc

SOO HOT. 2xERPPC hot, but with stupid ass 2.0s burn times (if you want to avoid ghost heat). No Thanks.

2xLPL
2xPPC
2xLPL+1xERML
Some various ERM(P)L + (S)SRMS

are the viable builds.

Maybe some UAC10 + 2xERML build, but firepower is too weak on that for me.

[meteorol]

Widowmaker1981, on 22 July 2015 - 02:21 AM, said:

SOO HOT. 2xERPPC hot, but with stupid ass 2.0s burn times (if you want to avoid ghost heat). No Thanks.

2xLPL
2xPPC
2xLPL+1xERML
Some various ERM(P)L + (S)SRMS

are the viable builds.

Maybe some UAC10 + 2xERML build, but firepower is too weak on that for me.

I had OK success with 2ER LL and 1 ERML aswell. Runs quite a bit cooler than 2LPL/ERML thanks to the additional heatsinks, but yeah, LL burntime is quite a downer.
Don't have them elited but 2ERPPC really seems too hot which gimps the damage output, even if you skip on ECM and strip the left arm.

[Zeriniel]

Widowmaker1981, on 22 July 2015 - 02:21 AM, said:

SOO HOT. 2xERPPC hot, but with stupid ass 2.0s burn times (if you want to avoid ghost heat). No Thanks.

2xLPL
2xPPC
2xLPL+1xERML
Some various ERM(P)L + (S)SRMS

are the viable builds.

Maybe some UAC10 + 2xERML build, but firepower is too weak on that for me.

I've actually been running UAC10 + 2ERML on my PRIME, and it has been working out well for me. Peeks well, and double tapping is great when you don't jam for 10 seconds.

On my -A I've been running 2xERPPC, and while it is hot as all get out, it works great as a flanker, and all around pop tart. Just don't get caught in a brawl, and if you do, MASC and jump your ass out of there.

On my -B I have 2xMPL and 3xSRM4A. Havn't taken this one out much yet, but I dont see why it won't perform well.

On my -P I had 7xMG and 1xLPL and didn't like it at all. about to take out 2xLPL and 6xMG and see how that works out.


Edit: The 2xLPL 7xMG build works alot better, it is however, hot as balls.

Edited by Zeriniel, 22 July 2015 - 03:19 AM.

[Bishop Steiner]

Mcgral18, on 21 July 2015 - 09:25 PM, said:

That would be pretty devastating; the choice between 3 E hardpoints (double) and ECM is a real choice.


I wouldn't want 8 E hardpoints. 6 is a perfect number. We won't get it. The P variant is just the J variant that replaces AP Gauss rifles with MGs.

even 5 would be great (2 in each arm, 1 in RT)

Kilian Wolf, on 21 July 2015 - 09:44 PM, said:

I wonder if they will ever give us the ability to remove JJs. They have hamstrung so many clan mechs by forcing them to use tonnage in JJs. I personally don't need to jump 90m across the map, that just makes you a target. Griffins/Vindicators/Wolverines etc are able to have decent and effective loadouts because they dont HAVE to use up tonnage on JJs. I know people complain about only seeing certain clan mechs all the time, I guarantee you would see more summoners, myst Lynx and add scats to the list after people get done lvling them out if they weren't gimped comming out of the box. My adder builds have more fire power and are more effective than the scats.

I have always LOVED scats, every town hall meeting I was asking when we would get them. I guess part of the reason I've loved them in the past is that I could remove most of the JJs and build somthing effective. Hell, I guess I should be glad that not all clan mechs have JJs.

so...you loved Scats because you could turn them into something else, that just happened to look like a Scat?

red devil2, on 21 July 2015 - 11:04 PM, said:

First match with the SCat: ER PPC, 2xSRM4, 2xER ML. We lost but I managed to get 3 kills and 597dmg. That high-mounted energy hardpoint demands for an ER PPC / LPL!

that was my first build too..... effective, but HOT. I've shut down more in the Scat and Cheetah than I have in months!

[Zeriniel]

Bishop Steiner, on 22 July 2015 - 03:20 AM, said:

that was my first build too..... effective, but HOT. I've shut down more in the Scat and Cheetah than I have in months!

I'm hoping it's just because everything is un-double basic'ed, but we'll see.

[Bishop Steiner]

Paigan, on 22 July 2015 - 12:19 AM, said:

I appreciate you, Bishop, so I don't want to insult you, but honestly: this is as naive as it gets.

The SHC has a ton of "special features" (JJs, MASC, ECM, high hardpoints, 135° twist. Even some limited quirks I could not hope to dream of. Especially that reinforced ECM torso is nice). If it could magically deal a ton of damage as well, it would almost deprecate all other Mechs from 30 to 55 tons. And the "OP" whining would be gigantic and it would be just.

That being said, the SHC doesn't deal so low damage at all.
I saw Sean Lang with 3xMPL 2xSSRM4. Don't tell me that is low damage for a 45tonner.
2xLPL is awesome (who said it's boring?!)
You can mount a uAC10 or a Gauss or 2xERPPC if you have to.

It's no SCR, okay, but given its other features, it deals more than enough damage.

A player with your experience should realize that in a heartbeat...

So ...it's naive to make an objective evaluation that the mech has tons of special features and good things (aka the majority of the OP) but to acknowledge that it's firepower is somewhat limited because of a mix of tonnage and hardpoint options?

Naive would be if I was complaining about it, instead of simply reporting on the FACTS. Because of the limited hardpoints, the available tonnage allows for far less firepower than for instance, a Nova. (You can imitate the 2x ERPPC poptart, but are much hotter due to 10 base DHS instead of 14).

It is what it is, and I am not complaining about it, haven't tweeted Russ about it.

The mech is Fast, agile, jumps like a kangaroo on meth, with decent armor/hitboxes, but the firepower is a little Light. All facts.

So where's the naivety?

[LordBraxton]

Mcgral18, on 21 July 2015 - 07:45 PM, said:

As I'm grinding out efficiencies...I think it's a ******* piece of ****.

CW it might have a place, but the PUG LIFE is a painful experience.


2 tons from MASC would let it mount a Gauss and ERMLs. Shame it's wasted.

Wow, not sure if serious. Easily the most mobile medium in the game, and with lightweight clan weapons this thing can pack a huge punch. With a probe and counter mode on ECM the 3SSRM6 builds are dirty. 2LPL is really good, even though it's uninspired as many have lamented. I was having success with a bizarre ERPPC\2ERML\2SSRM4 build. MASC is great, the only limitation Is throttle sensitivity. In fact I might go make a thread about that right now...

[Bishop Steiner]

Zeriniel, on 22 July 2015 - 03:23 AM, said:

I'm hoping it's just because everything is un-double basic'ed, but we'll see.

It'll help`, but the interior is so packed with other goodies, that it's a little heatsink shy usually. I think the Smurfy Heat Efficiency for that build sits at the 25-30% range, which is assault mech territory, usually. Switching to an LPL helped some, but didn't quite click for me, personally, though as you say, maybe after it's unlocked, it'll be a different story.

LordBraxton, on 22 July 2015 - 03:30 AM, said:

Wow, not sure if serious. Easily the most mobile medium in the game, and with lightweight clan weapons this thing can pack a huge punch. With a probe and counter mode on ECM the 3SSRM6 builds are dirty. 2LPL is really good, even though it's uninspired as many have lamented. I was having success with a bizarre ERPPC\2ERML\2SSRM4 build. MASC is great, the only limitation Is throttle sensitivity. In fact I might go make a thread about that right now...

Huge? Wouldn't go that far. But decent. And the Agility is off the charts. Not a huge fan of the 3x SSRM6 personally with all the ECM I am seeing in the game (I can counter 1, sure, but when you are encountering like 8 per side, and most people don't seem to comprehend how to flip theirs to counter?) and the cooldown. But the mech has potential, it's just not a faceripper, nor should it be expected to be.

Moldur, on 22 July 2015 - 12:56 AM, said:

you can put double ppc on one side and shield with the other. Ofc this means you can also switch out to LPL if you so desire. Shadowcat makes a nice poptart though

massively hot in that role. It packs 4 less DHS than the Nova does. The agility is of course, vastly superior. But if anyone can get facetime with you in that build, it's ugly, fast. 2x LPL is more heat friendly, but sucks for poptarting (anything with duration does), and in my experience is still a pretty anemic punch, overall.

Widowmaker1981, on 22 July 2015 - 02:21 AM, said:

SOO HOT. 2xERPPC hot, but with stupid ass 2.0s burn times (if you want to avoid ghost heat). No Thanks.

2xLPL
2xPPC
2xLPL+1xERML
Some various ERM(P)L + (S)SRMS

are the viable builds.

Maybe some UAC10 + 2xERML build, but firepower is too weak on that for me.

actual found the UAC10 firepower pretty good, because of the DPS the UAC10 can lay out if ti doesn't jam. A big if, though, and gosh those UAC10s and 20 look like crap!

Lily from animove, on 22 July 2015 - 01:07 AM, said:

3x srm6 + 2 meds seems fine, one could upgrade to artemis, or use 2 MPL's and a few aditional DHS if not using artemis.

does decent dmg, but I hate splat dmg. I would prefer aSRM4s, and get less total damage, but much more focused, effective damage. Am running 3xaSRM4, 2xERML, ECM on one build atm, kills things much faster than the triple6.

[Bishop Steiner]

Deathchoppa, on 22 July 2015 - 02:19 AM, said:

Maybe I'm missing something, but a lot of people are raving about how well it jumps.
Ya'll know that you can put jump jets on other chassis that let you jump as well, or better, right?
Using 6 jump jets is not a new thing, I don't understand the hype? O.o

But than again I don't understand why anyone would want to fly when you could just shoot more/bigger guns

go in your Smurfy, and go find how many mech sin MWO, can jump 70 meters?


I can save you the effort..... there are exactly 3. The Spider (69 meters in most guises, 104 in the 5V, though it can pack like...2 whole MLs), the VND-1AA and the Shadowcat.

Period.