13 replies to this topic

[Takashi Uchida]

I have mastered at least one variant of most IS mechs so I'm always looking for a new chassis to play. I'm considering getting the Black Knight or Grasshopper. What are the major differences between these mechs? This is what I've come up with on paper, but of course haven't driven one I really don't know. Both look to be laser vomit types. I already have a Thunderbolt that does that, but these two offer more tonnage.

Black Knight
+More tonnage (t)
+At least 8E on every variant
+Head laser on every variant
+Cool looking
-No jump jets
-Less high mounts
-No center mounts

Grasshopper
+Jump jets
+More high mounts
+/- some variants have center mounts (one has 2E which limits use of location, and only 6E total)
-Less tonnage (70t)
-Tall
-Couple variants have missile head mount instead of energy

Edited by Takashi Uchida, 19 January 2016 - 08:50 PM.

[Omi_]

I don't have either of these, but I can regurgitate some common knowledge that I've picked up and witnessed.

The Grasshopper can do laser vomit well from Mediums out to Large Lasers, and can mount it's weapons higher than the Black Knight can. It's not much of a front-liner, but it also won't crumble under fire.

The Black Knight is restricted to shorter range due to having very low hardpoints, but has very tanky hitboxes. I've heard people say that it's decent with an XL, because of how long you can keep those side torsos alive. Head hardpoint is nice and high, but in practice it really only adds the the zombie capability of this mech.

If you want to brawl, get the Black Knight. If you want to snipe or skirmish, get the Grasshopper instead.

EDIT: Some people say that the Black Knight isn't very good at brawling. On release it wasn't, but then the quirkening 2.0 happened only weeks later and the chassis got a sizable buff.

Edited by Hornsby, 19 January 2016 - 10:13 PM.

[NRP]

Don't know about the Grasshopper, but the Black Knight is nothing special. Low hard points and not really very durable. I tend to use long range builds on each variant just so I can survive until the end. Definitely NOT a brawler IMO.

[Rattler85]

I own three Grasshoppers. If you run them with standard engines they are beasts. The Grasshopper can spread damage fairly well. Their height works against them sometimes. They can be fast laser vomit brawlers. I have also seen them running the longer ranged game with PPCs or ErLL.

[sycocys]

Grasshopper is a bit better in public queue. Black Knight can be deadly in group/grouped CW with a team that's very brawl focused.

[Bud Crue]

I run both and have all. Both can handle well with XLs. I run 2 of each with XLs and 2 with Stds. Stds are pretty much dedicated short range brawlers (all ML or MPL or SPL and the biggest engine you can fit...that sort of thing). It is a sin to run Hoppers without JJ and that is the biggest distinguishing feature.

[Nik Reaper]

To put it simply, the black knight has one thing over the grasshopper and that is the 6-knt that has the combination of 8 energy hardpoints with 20% range and 10% heat generation combo, grasshoppers have less range quirks and the P grasshopper doesn't have the heat quirk + being +5t make it a bit more tanky with a bit more structure bonus.

To me the grasshopper wins for the high mounts variants and JJs , but in a pure push CW deck the KNT's extra structure with the range/heat combo quirks would be better, but the GSR does fine too, so if you can do CW with a bit less of a specialized mech then you have more ground covered with the GSR , o and it can jump snipe , if that ever comes back x), as high energy mounts + JJ.

[Takashi Uchida]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm a pugger so it looks like the Grasshoppers since high mounts are important to me.

[DrRedCoat]

When the Black Knight first came out, I performed so poorly in it that I almost lost a tier level. But once they got buffed, it became one of my top heavy-mech performers and my best mech in my CW drop deck. I almost exclusively pugged for the last personal challenge and got a good chunk of those points using the Black Knight. It can mount a strong alpha and run at a good clip (over 80kph). It also is easy to distribute damage and sacrifice an arm if you need to. On the downside, it's tall and requires good heat discipline. However, I do strongly recommend it.

[Bespoke Cheese Cake]

Takashi Uchida, on 19 January 2016 - 08:50 PM, said:

Black Knight
+More tonnage (t)
+At least 8E on every variant
+Head laser on every variant
+Cool looking
-No jump jets
-Less high mounts
-No center mounts

Grasshopper
+Jump jets
+More high mounts
+/- some variants have center mounts (one has 2E which limits use of location, and only 6E total)
-Less tonnage (70t)
-Tall
-Couple variants have missile head mount instead of energy

I think you've got the differences pretty much spot on. I personally prefer the Grasshopper for its jump jets and I run XL 340 with different pulse laser combinations on all of them.

[Takashi Uchida]

It's gonna be a while before I get em haha. I just spent a bunch on clan stuff for the sale. Probably a good idea to hold off a bit, the heavy queue is probably even more bloated than normal due to the Warhammer

[Reza Malin]

*Initiates Mortal Kombat voiceover mode*


BLACK KNIGHT WINS!

FLAWLESS VICTORY.

[Hit the Deck]

The Grasshopper GHP-5H with 2LPL+5ML is a beast. Has a good amount of alpha, runs pretty cool, has 2 high mounted LPLs, moves decently quick, and can jump. A medium range fighter.

I put 4ERLL+2MPL on my GHP-4P and use it as a lolsniper (works pretty well).

[Nik Reaper]

Fade Akira, on 20 January 2016 - 04:10 PM, said:

*Initiates Mortal Kombat voiceover mode*


BLACK KNIGHT WINS!

FLAWLESS VICTORY.

Hehe, depends, who is the better looking fighter? KNT , who has better cooling? KNT ( no jj and better quirks ) , in a straight out brawl hardpoint location is of little relevance, if on somewhat straight ground and there is little cover in a brawl, so the KNT has a better brawling variant but we all know that combat conditions are never ideal, so low mounts and no JJ can really limit it's use.
those limitations are much less noticeable in team play where there is no go in kinda, and you are the only brawler on the team, and so on... but the GSR is not far from KNTs performance in the same role so do as you feel like.