3 replies to this topic

[Malorish]

So after a couple days of the current patch, here's how the Quickdrop meta appears to be panning out (from the perspective of someone in the Tier 2/3 range):

The introduction of the Grim Portico map in addition to the previous Polar map have had drastic impacts to the meta.

• Due to the lack of effective cover (Grim has buildings, but they are very short) long range builds with high weapon mounts have pulled much farther away from the pack. Grim and polar emphasize hill humping to an extreme level with virtually no cover from LRMs.
  
• Assault and Heavy brawlers - particularly those with low mounted weapons (Atlas, etc) are now non-viable. That's not to say they can't excel at certain maps and game modes, just that dropping with them is a huge gamble when you get a map like polar.
  
• LRMs are back with a vengeance. For a solo player dropping in quick play, the LRM boat is probably your best pound for pound bet to get a decent average score, followed by long range laser vomit and the Meta Lights. I hate giving up the tonnage, but I'm now running AMS/radar deprivation on all my mechs and getting much better results.
  
• More LRMs means a bigger imbalance between teams with ECM mechs and those without.
  
• Jenner Oxide and Arctic Cheetah maintain their light OP-ness. Really doesn't make sense to run any other light as these mechs are capable of winning even in a 1 v 2 situation given their hitboxes, speed, huge PPFLD, etc. Agility quirks now actually working have separated them and a number of other lights well above the pack.
  
• Direwolf and Stalker 4N continue to be top shelf Assaults.

Overall, I recommend:

• Ditch your Cataphract, Atlas, and all low mounted weapon mechs.
  
• Invest at least a ton in AMS and 1/2 ton ammo. Probably even worth a heat sink.
  
• Invest in an Oxide if you really like lights, or an Arctic Cheetah.
  
• Switch up those SRM brawlers to LRM boats for better average results.
  
• Invest in range extensions for those Laser Vomit builds (Stalker 4N, Blackjack, etc).
  
• If deciding whether to drop in an ECM or non ECM variant, go ECM.
  
• Bring a UAV, and actually use it.
  
• Ditch the seismic for radar deprivation

What do other people see out there?

Edited by Malorish, 20 March 2016 - 12:38 PM.

[Juodas Varnas]

Oh, i misread the title and thought that it's a thread about Quickdraws.

I'll be leaving now.

[Felbombling]

What you are witnessing is an evolution based on available maps. PGI needs one more open map in the rotation to even things out between short range brawlers and long range sniper/support Mechs. Things aren't cookie-cutter anymore... and it is kind of a good thing.

[Mcgral18]

If you want the REAL quickdrop (or, perhaps...quirkdrop) Meta:

BESM

High mounts are good, but the Stalker cannot mount the BE part of that meta: Big Engine.
The 95 ton Banshee can go faster, with 5 high mounts (which I utilize 3 of, to maximise my LOLpha potential).
Nothing gets more reliable scores than that robot, after over 1000 drops, he has over 600 average damage.
Yes, my XL400 assault is a nice little robot.

Big Engine Stomp Meta

With high mounts and sufficient LOLpha


Your LRMs do no qualify, sorry. Lasers do, as do SRMs and occasionally ACs...but ACs often fail to carry the large engine.