18 replies to this topic

[MadMax71]

Hi commanders,

Some week ago, after reading the metamechs's review
i bought the BLACK KNIGHT BL-6-KNT, but
I never managed to have a good feeling with him,
because heat problems, low hardpoints, and also
it seems fragile.

Tried different configurations always with STD engines.

I'm sorry because i like its shape, on the paper it
seems strong, but i can't make it work well.

Perhaps i'm doing something wrong?

Any suggestion?

Thank you in advance.

Max

[Champion of Khorne Lord of Blood]

I recommend using an XL engine, an XL360 works well. Black Knight relies on speed and good torso twisting to stay alive. Its best with close range laser brawling loadouts because of its low mounted hardpoints.

I like running this build:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...558024accf6c2c4

When you are getting shot, especially by lasers you should twist side to side rather than only twisting fully to one side, if you are running max engine you'll turn fast enough to spread lasers over all torsos and both arms. Though the same thing should be done with any mech with fast twist speed, such as the Hellbringer for example. Black Knight is really good at this due to its hitboxes.

I also setup a similar build to the one I run that uses a standard engine, I recommend 325 and up, nothing lower. The firepower, speed, and armor is lower, but its cheaper to setup.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...1b7e28668681404


Good luck, but could you also tell us what you are running currently, and how you are playing? That could help us give better suggestions tailored to you.

[Stormie]

I'm concerned if you feel the Black Knight is fragile. all I can assume is that you read how tanky it was and are now facetanking enemies?
Okay Ill stop being a douche now...
the thing is an alpha machine... start in cover. come out dump 1 or 2 alphas into something that looks scary and is around 300-400 meters away from you, than jump back in cover and cool down. While exposed between alphas keep twisting so fire aimed at you is spread across your entire chest and arms

[TercieI]

You can add up to two more MLs to this at the cost of a bit of engine or a DHS depending on your heat tolerance. Alpha and twist. Don't facetank. Don't bother with a STD. It's actually tougher with a big XL and twisting.

[Rhavin]

BK lost some structure quirks recently I believe. Still a great mech with 3 large pulse and as many medium lasers as you think you can handle. Big xl engine is a must just because you need as many heatsinks and as much torso twist as you can get. Soloed quite a few assaults in it when I lvled it up, shoot, twist, shoot, repeat, if it's not dead and you are running hot, find cover and cool off. Don't shoot your medium lasers much outside optimal range. The heat tradeoff is rarely worth it. Just keep hammering with the lg pulse lasers at range.

[B L O O D W I T C H]

This is how i set up mine.

xl350 6 Medium Laser 2 Large Pulse

You could also run

xl350 5 Medium Laser 3 Large Laser

Always dive out cover sideways, Blackknights don't do well as hillpeeker over cover.

Dump your alpha or, if time allows it, 2 step your lasers to avoid ghostheat into something within range.

You'd be best if you take aim while coming out of cover and firing while you already backing off into cover.

Let the DHS booting do their cooldown work and start poking out auf cover again.

The high damage of Black Knights comes mainly from the 75 ton benefit of boating heatsinks.

[Aleksandr Sergeyevich Kerensky]

1) As others have said... Get an XL engine! If you see a red damage indicator flash on your screen... Torso twist!!!

2) as others have said... Hide behind cover, peek out to alpha, (or two alphas of your brave), then run behind cover and cooldown to under 50%!!! Rinse and repeate until you either win, or die...

3) for the love of all that is holy... Do... Not... Face... Tank... 100... Ton... Atlas!

[MadMax71]

I think the problem is my gameplay style and the fact that i never tried an XL engine (350 o 360 because the high cost) on the BL, so i was slow.

Im not sure if is better to continue with the Black Knight and buy a xl engine 360, or buy another mech, because the cost of an 360 xl is similar to a new mech. (that sound strange in IMHO).

thank you for your suggestion guys.

Max

PS
BL quirks will be modified with the next patch

Edited by MadMax71, 20 June 2016 - 01:10 AM.

[Aleksandr Sergeyevich Kerensky]

MadMax71, on 20 June 2016 - 01:07 AM, said:

I think the problem is my gameplay style and the fact that i never tried an XL engine (350 o 360 because the high cost) on the BL, so i was slow.

Im not sure if is better to continue with the Black Knight and buy a xl engine 360, or buy another mech, because the cost of an 360 xl is similar to a new mech. (that sound strange in IMHO).

thank you for your suggestion guys.

Max

PS
BL quirks will be modified with the next patch

Maybe take the wait and see approach and make a decission on wensday?

[Koniving]

MadMax71, on 17 June 2016 - 04:52 AM, said:

Hi commanders,

Some week ago, after reading the metamechs's review
i bought the BLACK KNIGHT BL-6-KNT, but
I never managed to have a good feeling with him,
because heat problems, low hardpoints, and also
it seems fragile.

Tried different configurations always with STD engines.

I'm sorry because i like its shape, on the paper it
seems strong, but i can't make it work well.

Perhaps i'm doing something wrong?

Any suggestion?

Thank you in advance.

Max

In general, with any energy-heavy mech you want to ensure that your weapons are established in at minimum two phases or, as some might describe, the "Fiddler Crab."
Bet you're like "What?"

Take a look at the Fiddler Crab. What is the first thing you see?

So what was it?
Bet it wasn't that tiny claw.

Your enemies will notice it but only too late.

See, the first thing you do against a mech with lots of energy weapons is get him to nearly overheating and storm that guy and bash his face in.

This is the reason for two stages.
Stage one, or the Big Claw, is going to be your hard hitting heavy weapons. The obvious weapons.
Stage two, will be the cooler, smaller weapons that can surprise them when they get too close.

You could even go in reverse, have the main 'attraction' be a large series of shorter, lighter lasers (such as 6 medium lasers) and then have the 'little' claw be a series of pulse lasers or even just one big one that you can surprise 'em with...where there's so little heat you could be at 96% and still fire without overheating.

Consider this concept for your next build.

And remember... nothing says you can't have a third claw. Shaka Zulu has much to teach you.

[S 0 L E N Y A]

Stormie, on 17 June 2016 - 05:51 AM, said:

I'm concerned if you feel the Black Knight is fragile. all I can assume is that you read how tanky it was and are now facetanking enemies?
Okay Ill stop being a douche now...
the thing is an alpha machine... start in cover. come out dump 1 or 2 alphas into something that looks scary and is around 300-400 meters away from you, than jump back in cover and cool down. While exposed between alphas keep twisting so fire aimed at you is spread across your entire chest and arms

This is about all there is to it.

You do not want to face tank people in a Black Knight or get caught fighting in open terrain, as I am sure you have learned the Black Knight will shutdown quickly in a prolonged firefight.

Also, when playing the peekaboo style of fighting - avoid vertical fights. Because the mounts of the Black Knight are low there is a good chance your shots will just hit the ground. You want to peek out from the side.

If you want something similar with higher mounts then consider the Warhammer 6D or Grasshopper 5N.

[justcallme A S H]

This is a Black Knight I run when I wanna be super tanky, STD engine as any experienced group will attempt a XL check - I usually bring it 1st wave of a FP drop if team is dropping assaults as you're about the same speed, maybe a tad faster
Can Alpha twice before needing to retreat on most maps, cold ones 3 times.
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...87ed239b4c03b3c

This is the XL360 in the 7, you can play around to suit. Works well and can be modified to suit your style
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...65b9d3daec86f12
And also something else you can play around with (and vary to suit) that has a bit more range that works well just be mindful not to fire LPL at the same time as the LL or bad stuff happens. Essentially once enemy is in LPL range stop using the LL until you have plenty of heat spare. Actually works pretty well
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...801c59e69962064

[TheLuc]

Hi Madmax71, like the other players that tries to help you liking the Black Knight Mech, I too got a suggestion.

while not meta, the speed and reasonable firepower should help, also on the plus side that setup does not heat too much and can be easy to manage.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...49b31945f0cd7d1

320 Standard Engine, for 69.1 kph or 74.3kph once mastered more than enough for a 75 tonner, Being a STD engine also helps with overall toughness.

21 Double Heat Sinks, gives the Mech a 39% heat efficiency, for a laser boat I do think its real good and easy to manage.

6 Medium Lasers, at 30 points of damage per shot, ouch !

1 Regular PPC, for long range shots, as you may already know the PPC is useless in close quarter, so less heat to manage and more medium laser shots can be thrown at the opponents.

Almost max armor, 448 points with 21pts in each rear side torsos and 23pts in rear center torso to be able to take damage from lights or heavy hitter that likes the back side of Mechs.

hope you like it.

[Not A Real RAbbi]

MadMax71, on 20 June 2016 - 01:07 AM, said:

I think the problem is my gameplay style and the fact that i never tried an XL engine (350 o 360 because the high cost) on the BL, so i was slow.

Im not sure if is better to continue with the Black Knight and buy a xl engine 360, or buy another mech, because the cost of an 360 xl is similar to a new mech. (that sound strange in IMHO).

thank you for your suggestion guys.

Max

PS
BL quirks will be modified with the next patch

Yeah, that engine IS expensive. I myself settled for a couple XL 350s instead. A little less expensive (not MUCH), a little more broadly useful. There are a lot more mechs that can fit the 350, than the 360. BL-x-KNT is one of those chassis that can fit either. There's one CRB variant (-20?) that can fit up to 350, and can do it with LL and 4x ML (or 5x MPL) without sacrificing armor. ENF-4P maxes at 350 (though that's a pretty heavy engine for that mech, and not really ideal). JESTER (about to become a hot commodity, if the rescale hype is to be believed) maxes at 355, so that 360 wouldn't help you there. Of course, Archer and WHM and most CTFs, as well as the CDAs, all max at 340, so buying one of THOSE might also help out.

Yeah, before you go drop the big $$$ on a XL 360, consider more mechs that you MAY be interested in, and see if that engine's gonna be useful to you in the long haul. If you're early enough on that the price is a big problem, I'd say start with an XL 340 and work your way up through 350 to 360 (and later, 390 and even 400).

[Spheroid]

If you want to stick with STD engines, I run a 42 alpha build using 6x mlas + 2x mplas and a 325 + 23 DHS. Cold as ice. Still has slots available so if you drop the engine you can also incorporate dual AMS or BAP.

If you use endo you can build a 4x mlas + 4x mplas build with a larger engine like a 340 STD at the cost of slightly less heat capacity, but your alpha is also slightly better.

320s and 340s are common surplus engines. Black Knights are a good use for them.

Also heat problems can be avoided by using coolshot.

Edited by Spheroid, 20 June 2016 - 10:36 PM.

[DrRedCoat]

An XL is almost mandatory since you need the freed up weight to keep the mech cool. I've tried to convert my build to a standard engine and it's pretty much impossible to do and keep it as cool as I have it now (and it's not terribly cool as it is).

I'd also like to point out that the Black Knight will be getting some quirk nerf tomorrow (the 21st) and is going to be scaled up which means bigger hitboxes. I'd maybe wait to hear the verdict on it after this happens before you drop a lot of money on an XL.

[VitriolicViolet]

I like using the BL-6-KNT with STD 350, 6x MLs, 1x LPL and 2x AMS.
works quite well only downside is its a little hot. I always bring dual AMS on mechs that can and so use AMS overload on this mech. Also LPL range, ML cooldown and radar derp.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...ddc858c0caf924c

[ImperialKnight]

4.0 KD, true story

it's fairly tanky only if you know how to twist and roll damage.

it's NOT a hill humping mech (hard points are too low), it's a flanker. forget STD engines, go fast, hit hard, aim for crit areas.

Edited by knightsljx, 22 June 2016 - 01:05 AM.

[MadMax71]

TY Guys,
i will try some suggested builds.

After the mech's rescale, is changed something?


Have Fun.

max