12 replies to this topic

[Covaa]

I'm looking for advice on a new Mech to buy. I'm not really a new player, but figured this was best place to ask.

My 2 best Mechs so far are:

Firestarter

+ Pro: High Survivability

- Con: Not enough Damage for my liking

King Crab

+ Pro: High Damage

- Con: Not enough Survivability for my liking

I would like to buy a Mech which combines the Pro's above. Basically, I'm looking for a Mech which can consistently survive till the end of a match while also putting out some great damage.

Mechs I am interested in:

1) Stalker: I have often seen laser-boat stalkers surviving till the end of a match and putting out a ton of damage. It seems their long range protects them where the King Crab's short range does not.

2) Timber Wolf : It's the Timber Wolf... they seem pretty amazing all around.

3) Ebon Jaguar: Seems like a smaller Timber Wolf, but apparently not as good hit boxes?

So what do you guys think? Are there any Mechs that possess both good survivability + great damage?

Feel free to mention even ones I have not listed. Thanks in advance.

Edited by Covaa, 19 October 2015 - 07:09 PM.

[John1352]

Look here for survivability: http://mwomercs.com/...x-localization/

Innersphere: If you're using a STD engine, big side torsos (small centre) will make you harder to kill. If you're using an XL, you'll want smaller side torsos.

Clans: Balanced hitboxes are best, as losing either both sides or centre will kill you.

High hardpoints are another thing to consider. If you're only exposing the top third of your mech, you're much harder to hit.

The firestarter should be able to get fairly high damage. Maybe your loadout needs adjusting to get more damage?

[Wintersdark]

EBJ/TBR/HBR are all common choices and very potent, with firepower, speed and armour and a wide range of build options depending on your play environment (tier level). Even with the rebalance coming, they are unlikely to end up bad.

Thunderbolts are awesome now, but without quirks aren't very good at all. I'd be nervous in investing in them right now.

[Covaa]

John1352, on 19 October 2015 - 07:47 PM, said:

The firestarter should be able to get fairly high damage. Maybe your loadout needs adjusting to get more damage?

Well, I use 5 or 6 MPL's on it at the moment. The damage is definitely good, but I guess I just get jealous watching the the beefier Mechs just obliterate enemies.

The King Crab with dual AC-20's literally makes enemies flee (if I don't kill them outright). I love that playstyle. The Firestarter has good DPS, but not 'that' good (not enough to make anyone run in terror). Problem is, the King Crab has to get close and takes a beating if not perfectly positioned. It's a bit too high risk for me.

That's why I thought of the Stalker: they usually hang in the back melting face. I'm not sure how well they survive, but I often see them as one of the last Mechs standing, so they seem decent at survival + damage?

[Leone]

Let's be honest, if the FS9 doesn't bring enough hurt for ya, most mediums'll be off the table.

I suggest the Banshee, if only for the BNC-3E.

~Leone.

[Not A Real RAbbi]

STK is pretty survivable. After all, consider its geometry versus its weight. It's barely any bigger in the torso than the CPLT, but steps up a whole weight class and tends to have pretty wild hard point layouts. Narrow, short, lots of weight available, lots of hard points. It's a solid choice.

TBR is what it is--the single best overall mech in the game right now, according to most. Flexible, survivable, POWERFUL, and relatively mobile as well (which adds to the survivability and the relevance of that power). It can boat a bunch of lasers, or Gauss & lasers, or lasers & missiles, etc. It's ALMOST too good.

EBJ is my current favorite heavy. Most of the flexibility of the TBR (lacks only the JJ option), honestly BETTER hard point options, a little less armor but the same speed and a slightly smaller torso (especially on the low-mount configurations). It's a wild little beast, that makes a fine fire support complement to the TBR.

Don't forget the SCR! NARROW torsos, great ground speed (97.2 w/out tweak), 55-tonner armor, great selection of hard point configurations. More possible missile hard points than either of the Clan heavies mentioned above (5, to the TBR's 3 and the EBJ's 4, and it can still carry a backup E weapon with that). IF it had JJs, it would likely be THE mech.

That's really about it. ACH has good hitbox layout and E weapons configurability, along with great speed and JJs and ECM! But it's still a 30-ton light at day's end. Did my first 900+ match in one (970, of which I am QUITE proud), but that's the exception and not the norm (though it WAS with a decidedly non-meta layout, ERLL & 4x ERSL).

If the Jenner could get another pass at the hitboxes, it could become strong again. COULD. Too easy to core right now, sadly, and no torso E points. But it's fast and jumpy and can boat smalls or mediums well, and did I mention it's SMALL? In good hands, I've seen some amazing feats accomplished in those. I think I saw my first Highlander Burial performed by a Jenner pilot on the old Forest Colony map, IIRC.

SHD, GRF, and WVR just seem a little tall & beefy to me. It's a fairly large step up from the typical 50-ton to them, in terms of size. Their potential for speed makes up for that somewhat, but then you almost NEED an XL engine to do it without sacrificing firepower, and that IS XL is a HUGE liability in anything over 40 tons. Sad. They're classics, and they have so much potential if hey were just not at tall as an effing ATLAS.

If you like dakka, there have been some fair builds of the MAL that are worth considering.

If you want to stay fast, the ACH is probably the top light out there.

If you like lasers, there are a TON of good mechs for that.

Good luck!

[Rogue Jedi]

The Fitestarter is a Light Mech with simular firepower to most 65 ton Heavy Mechs, if that is not heavily armed enough then Clan Heavy Mechs are your only real options.

Look at Stormcrow and Timber Wolf, those are about the best Mechs which fit for both firepower and survivability, but bear in mind in ether of those you will likely find yourself the primary target of the entire enemy team, they are not known as the best 2 Mechs in the game without good reason.

[SnagaDance]

Have you already Mastered (or at least Elited) either mech?

From your comment on your short range King Crab I'm guessing not. I'd advise you to get additional variants of the emchs you already own. Get yourself a King Crab and equip it with 4 UAC/5 or 2 Gauss for a ranged version.

Completing Elite skills also makes a world of difference because that doubles your Basic bonusses. Your mech will move far more fluid and have even better cooling. For your Firestarter that could mean an extra Alpha and your Crab will move far better.

Survival also heavily depends on play style. I tend to heavily commit and I'll always continue fighting, no matter the shape my mech is in. Even with zero weapons I'll try and make myself look like a juicy target (hey, over here, free kill!) to get attention away from team mates who can still hammer the enemy. So yes, that means my K/D ratio is hardly stellar, but I consider that a meaningless stat anyway.

[Covaa]

SnagaDance, on 20 October 2015 - 12:40 AM, said:

Have you already Mastered (or at least Elited) either mech?

I have the Firestarter Elited, but not the King Crab.

I ended up buying the Stalker-4N and I think I may be in love. Basically followed the Tier list loadout Smurfy Link.

Damn the Stalker is good. Got my first 1k damage match after just 6-7 games. Granted, I've luckily won almost every game so far, but even during the ones I lost, I only died towards the very end. It feels very tanky vs anything except other Assaults / DPS-Heavies - but that is to be expected.

I think having a long range + heavy armor really helps the Stalker stay alive, plus I think my Light Mech days have helped me be more aware of positioning so I don't get flanked. Provided no one gets into short range of this Mech, it seems able to do some pretty great things.

I'm just digging how I can actually put out some respectable damage (not that the Firestarter / Crab doesn't) but it just has a better feeling when melting face in my opinion. Not having to constantly shoot then run away is a nice change of pace. I've just been planting myself along decent firing lines and obliterate anything in view until it's safe to push forward.

Thanks for all the help everyone! I think the Stalker will keep me busy for awhile - definitely want to Elite it.

[Koniving]

Covaa, on 19 October 2015 - 07:08 PM, said:

Mechs I am interested in:

1) Stalker: I have often seen laser-boat stalkers surviving till the end of a match and putting out a ton of damage. It seems their long range protects them where the King Crab's short range does not.

2) Timber Wolf : It's the Timber Wolf... they seem pretty amazing all around.

3) Ebon Jaguar: Seems like a smaller Timber Wolf, but apparently not as good hit boxes?

So what do you guys think? Are there any Mechs that possess both good survivability + great damage?

Feel free to mention even ones I have not listed. Thanks in advance.

Actually TBR has worse hitboxes... but more armor makes up for it.


The Jag (Cauldron Born) does have more of the fuselage as CT while the TBR has 'STs' going up along much of its fuselage. That said, the Jag can balance the armor better while still keeping a high forward CT presence. The TBR is a walking coffin without the 2 rear all other armor forward rule. (And even if you do well without following that rule, you'll basically obliterate anything by following it).

That said... Stalkers. All the way. Nothing trumps a stalker when enemies face each other down head-on.

• LPL Stalker makes final base defense stand versus 5 mechs (2012). Kills 3.
  
• Flamer Stalker (2013) Atlases perish in seconds, Flamer Stalker solos more than 4 enemies at the same time at close range, comes down to one versus one before falling.
  
• Flamer Stalker (2013), returns after ghost heat. Epic MW2 rock soon as the flames engage!
  
• Flamer Stalker (2014), returns after hiatus; features 2 battles each progressively epic. After these, it later goes on (in the same day) to get over 1,000 damage despite having 4 "worthless weapons."
  
• Flamer Stalker (almost 2015), post-quirks the Stalker still has it even in this total heresy build that laughs in the face of meta and then burns it in SPACE!

Because why not?

Covaa, on 20 October 2015 - 02:18 AM, said:

I ended up buying the Stalker-4N and I think I may be in love. Basically followed the Tier list loadout Smurfy Link.

Damn the Stalker is good.

Damn right. (And you say this despite having the worst one!)

Edited by Koniving, 20 October 2015 - 04:27 AM.

[Koniving]

Just to reaffirm.

Face a Stalker; meet your fate.

[Vlad Striker]

Mad Dog is exactly what do you need.

[Top Leliel]

King Crab is plenty survivable if you use cover and don't charge headlong into the open like a madman. It can take a lot of armor and is short for such a massive mech. It also has great torso twist speed. Its main problem with survivability is its arms not being able to properly shield its massive side torsos, and its slow speed(a tonnage issue tbh).

Edited by Top Leliel, 21 October 2015 - 03:37 PM.