Trauglodyte, on 26 June 2016 - 06:38 AM, said:
To be fair, when the Phoenix Pack came out, the Locust was released with no quirks because quirks didn't exist. Plus, if I remember correctly, that was still at the height of the poptart meta which meant that, if you stuck your nose out too far, you'd get ended in a single volley.
If I had to order them, I'd go:
- 1E
- 3M
- 3S
- 1V
- Pirate's Bane
- 3V
- 1M
The 3S, to me, is an Oxide Light. I run mine with 4x SRM2s, 2.5 tons of ammo, and a Small Laser on an almost max armored chassis and a 190xl. I like the 1E but the 3M was my original favorite - the 1E came out afterwards, along with a few others, and it kind of obsoletes the 3M. But, those top 5 are still solid. Sadly, the 1M and 3V just suck. A Locust that loses a hard point and gains nothing else is pretty weak.
I would probably rank them this way:
LCT-1V
LCT-3S
LCT-1E
LCT-3M
LCT-PB
LCT-1M
LCT-3V
The 1V has range, juking ability, and weapon quirks to be a very good poke 'Mech. It fires that LPL so fast it can use it up close reasonably, too. It also has strong durability buffs. The range mitigates its squishiness to an extent.
The 3S, as you say, is an Oxide Lite. It has similar DPS, but delivered in smaller packets and with less durability and ammo. It is, however, way faster and I think much harder to hit. It basically turns in place while running full-tilt and it's awesome. Super dangerous up close, eats Ravens and Arctic Cheetahs and Jenner IIC for breakfast. Actually isn't too shabby dueling an Oxide, either, if you can keep some range.
LCT-1E is a solid all-rounder. 6xML is decent poke, but since it's only 324 meters you are never at a safe distance and that's its downfall. Solid striker, though, but I wouldn't call it comp-worthy.
LCT-3M is superior to the 1E for running an SPL build. It's colder, it's faster. Personally, though, I recommend it with 3xMPL and a pair of SL. Same alpha as the LCT-1E for a tiny bit more burn time (SL and MPL sync almost perfectly, like cERML and cLPL) and better range. The SPL *might* be comp-capable, but the MPL are infinitely better for quick-play.
Pirate's Bane...eh. It's okay. It has ECM and that's cool, but it doesn't do anything the 1E, 3M, or 3S can't do better.
1M is my baby, but it's hard-mode. You have to expose frequently to get the damage out and its weapons can't really be dedicated to any one bracket, If you do SRM4 and SL, you aren't doing anything the 3S won't do better. The 'Mech is more appropriately played with a pair of SRM2 and ML. It's...not good but over a longer game it can be quite nasty.
LCT-3V, I own it because Locust. Otherwise, don't bother. It has nothing at all going for it over any other variant.