13 replies to this topic

[MadMax71]

Hi Cmds,
i'm planning to get my first IS heavy Assault (>90 tons)
and im evaluating these mechs:
- ATLAS
- KING CRAB
- BANSHEE
- MAULER

-ATLAS seems to be good in any aspect
-KING CRAB can mount dual AC20, and the shape is particular, very tanky.
-BANSHEE seem to can mount good engines and be faster.
-MAULER super ac5 dakka but slow mech.

mmmm
mmmmm
mmmmmm

Any Suggestion?

TY and Have FUN

Max

[invernomuto]

I have King Crab and Mauler. Both very fun to play. I'd go with King Crab.
Ciao!

Edited by invernomuto, 24 June 2016 - 04:46 AM.

[Rhavin]

All 4 are good,

I don't own the banshee but I definitely respect it. It can do laser vomit like the mauler does dakka. Very underrated and unused mech. Capable of some good speed so it can get out of trouble a little faster.

Atlas is my favorite of them though. The D-DC in particular. ECM makes its slower speeds easier to tolerate. If you twist damage it's extremely survivable compared to other assaults. Most builds are short range brawlers because quirks. But some atlases like the boars head do better at longer ranges. Atlas players get the most salt when their build isn't an in your face brawler it seems.

Mauler has some great builds and a very solid set of quirks, I prefer it over the king crab. The 90 is the best for dakka with 4 ultra AC 5s. I have run some duel guass and lrm 15 builds on the others.

King crab is fun, some variety across chassis but mauler can do almost everything KC does just a little better. It is tankier, but it's just so big that I found myself hanging up on so much terrain that I switched to maulers.

Personally I rate them:

Atlas
Mauler
Banshee
King crab

With any assault that has slow speed remember that you are going to be left behind, and when you commit you really do commit, there's no room to turn around.

[The Basilisk]

MadMax71, on 24 June 2016 - 04:38 AM, said:

Hi Cmds,
i'm planning to get my first IS heavy Assault (>90 tons)
and im evaluating these mechs:
- ATLAS
- KING CRAB
- BANSHEE
- MAULER

-ATLAS seems to be good in any aspect
-KING CRAB can mount dual AC20, and the shape is particular, very tanky.
-BANSHEE seem to can mount good engines and be faster.
-MAULER super ac5 dakka but slow mech.

mmmm
mmmmm
mmmmmm

Any Suggestion?

TY and Have FUN

Max

While all 4 are good in their own very limited role the key is THEIR ROLE.

IS Assaults aren't that flexible.

-- Atlas: Team dependent brawler and possibly the toughest Mech in game.
Either with ECM or with more firepower and without ECM.
No matter what your main problem is to get this thing into a range where its usefull.

-- Kingcrab: While famous for beeing able to mount dual AC20 it can be the most versatile of the 4 Assaults you presented.
The most dangerous KCs carry quad AC5 or quad UAC5 and ammo. But SRM and lazor builds with dual AC10/LB-x10 are duable too. While more complicated to drive those variants are more self reliant and won't totaly loose when map or team are complete losses.

-- Banshee: formaly the 3E Banshee was the King of the frontload AC+PPC Meta with dual PPC and trippel AC5 now the M Banshee with its gross lazor vomit roames the battlefields.

-- While the quad UAC5 Dakka Mauler is the best known Mauler there are two more variants beeing pretty dangerous but often shockingly ignored. The 1P with Quad PPC and the 2P with hexa LPLs or dual AC20 and 6 med lasers.

[BaconTWOfourACTUAL]

They all make great targets.

"Quote the Raven..."


But seriously, from a light mech perspective. Some of my favorite targets are the Atlas'. They're slow. Very slow.

However, the one mech I avoid without reinforcement is the King Crab. I don't want to get caught in that firing arc.

Edited by BaconTWOfourACTUAL, 24 June 2016 - 06:26 AM.

[Fobhopper]

BaconTWOfourACTUAL, on 24 June 2016 - 06:12 AM, said:

They all make great targets.

"Quote the Raven..."


But seriously, from a light mech perspective. Some of my favorite targets are the Atlas'. They're slow. Very slow.

However, the one mech I avoid without reinforcement is the King Crab. I don't want to get caught in that firing arc.

I Pilot almost every heavy and assault mech in the game. And by far my most favorite assault mech is the KGC. I have 4 of them, and the second they release a hero mech version I will buy the **** out of it for cash without hesitation. And I love nothing more than to just destroy Light mechs who think they can take me when I am running my dual AC20 KGC. I have been piloting that mech for so long I can rip the leg or arm off a light mech in 2 shots, no matter how fast they are going. Its cute watching them try and fight me 1v1 after blowing off their arms or legs.

Pretty much you have 3 different KGC's, and each are built very specifically. the KGC-000 is for dual AC20's, and I recommend using either medium lasers+double heatsinks, or 2 SRM4/6's with 2 tons of ammo. The KGC-000B variant you will want to go with 2x LRM15+A, 2x AC5. The other variant is really the ugly stepchild, usually laserboating with ballistic or missile sub weapons. I recommend putting a 325 STD engine as a base requirement for any KGC, its expensive but worth it.

[Aleksandr Sergeyevich Kerensky]

If you dont have a battlemaster yet... You should greatly consider it...

If you have a battlemaster already, then of those listed above, I would choose the atlas. The atlas is "The" premier tanky tank mech, and it can alpha vomit on people something fierce at close range. Plus it has an ecm variant.

If dont have a battlemaster, and wont consider getting one, I recommend either the banshee or the mauler.

But i greatly recommend getting a battlemaster (especially the 2C). This mech is just fantastic! You can go with or without XL engines, and can really put in the hurt. Personally, of all the assault mechs in the game, this is one of my most feared targets on the battlefield. I fear this mech just as much as I do with PPFLD kdk-3

[Bohxim]

As someone who plays mostly heavies and assaults, here re my opinions.
Atlas: Don't have those but really are 1 of the best tanks in the game with that shape and structure. If you do get into range these wreck havoc. 1 variant with ecm just puts icing on the cake.
Kgc: low low primary weapon mounts. Get used to being unable to trade oftwn when enemy has higher terrain advantage. Fantastic assault when it comes to plain open grounds like polar or tourmaline. Easily 1 of the most versatile assaults tho. 6 ac2? Check. Twin ac 20? Check. 4 high mounted energy points with 2 ballistics? Check. Lrm carrier? Check (altho generally frowned upon. But play whichever fits your play style and brings you most fun) and to be honest, I'd rather run twin ac20 on a jagermech than a kgc
Banshee: hero is surprisingly fun. Not great due to limited hard points but quirks are God-like. And 3 lpl and an ac10 isn't a horrible load out either. 3m is currently 1 of my fav assaults. Uses an xl 380 for the speed but has 5 lpl at cockpit level mounts for favourable trades often. Not to mention, tweaked it runs 69kph which helps protect its ST as you run and twist.
Mauler: my most played assault. But averages the slowest amongst the 4 you mentioned. And both maulers and banshee have been hit hard with quirk readjustment. But still, quad uac5 lays down awesome suppression fire and dps. You could run quad lb 10 for surprise anti-light and cleaning up too. Mx90 variant allows 6 ac5 but it runs slow and ammo is severely limited and so very slow... Meta builds tend to be 5 ac5 with a faster engine and more ammo. Weapon group is tight, allowing you to place better shots and isolate components as needed. If you're a dakka man, you won't regret the mauler.
My ratings as such as the kgc tends to get unfavourable trades too often and atlas requires a decent team too often to be of use. If you're gonna play solo often maulers and banshee probably a better choice for ya
1) mauler
2) banshee
3) atlas
4)kgc

[Digital_Angel]

All 4 of them are good mechs, as others have said.

I pilot King Crabs a lot, and they have their ups and downs. Slow, even for an assault; you definitely want to up engine it right away (generally run mine around 320-330 range), and it will still be slow, just not getting outrun by a Dire Wolf slow anymore. Its CT is also huge, especially front above. Upsides, lots of good builds: 4xAC5, 4xUAC5, 2xAC20, 2xGauss, 6xAC2 or 4xAC5 + 2xAC2 on the 000, high energy points mean it hill humps wonderfully (especially the 0000 with 4 energy and 4 missile slots), even makes a good missile boat with the 0000 if you want but be prepared to catch grief for it.

Atlases are the tankiest mech in the game and the king of close range brawlers.

Maulers are great mechs with a lot of versatility and a speed advantage over the heavier choices.

Banshees, laser vomit all day long. Seriously go look up the YouTube video of the Banshee boating heat sinks, scary.

[Sadistic Savior]

MadMax71, on 24 June 2016 - 04:38 AM, said:

Hi Cmds,
i'm planning to get my first IS heavy Assault (>90 tons)
and im evaluating these mechs:
- ATLAS
- KING CRAB
- BANSHEE
- MAULER

-ATLAS seems to be good in any aspect
-KING CRAB can mount dual AC20, and the shape is particular, very tanky.
-BANSHEE seem to can mount good engines and be faster.
-MAULER super ac5 dakka but slow mech.

mmmm
mmmmm
mmmmmm

Any Suggestion?

TY and Have FUN

Max

I mastered the King Crab, and it's actually pretty fun to play. You cannot use any custom camo on it, which is annoying. I don't score well on it, but I get lots of kills with it. Dual AC/20 is fun, and they are not as fragile as a catapult or Jagermech.

I have an Atlas...they're ok. They can use ECM, but no dual AC/20. Their hardpoints are lower too. I prefer the King Crab.

[IraqiWalker]

Fobhopper, on 24 June 2016 - 09:36 AM, said:

The other variant is really the ugly stepchild, usually laserboating with ballistic or missile sub weapons. I recommend putting a 325 STD engine as a base requirement for any KGC, its expensive but worth it.

That "other variant" you mention is the one I use to butcher things when I'm on tilt. I have used 2 different configs on it:

The first is a dual Gauss + 2 ERPPCs. 50 PPFLD alpha is always fun

The second is 4AC5s+2AC2s. It's for funzies, but it still does wonders. Especially when you chain fire properly so your bullets NEVER cease.

Not to mention it's the one that can literally do almost all other loadouts.

[Not A Real RAbbi]

MadMax71, on 24 June 2016 - 04:38 AM, said:

Hi Cmds,
i'm planning to get my first IS heavy Assault (>90 tons)
and im evaluating these mechs:
- ATLAS
- KING CRAB
- BANSHEE
- MAULER

-ATLAS seems to be good in any aspect
-KING CRAB can mount dual AC20, and the shape is particular, very tanky.
-BANSHEE seem to can mount good engines and be faster.
-MAULER super ac5 dakka but slow mech.

mmmm
mmmmm
mmmmmm

Any Suggestion?

TY and Have FUN

Max

So the answer depends a bit on how you like to play.

If you're a fan of lazorz, LAZORZ, and MOAR LAZORZZEZ, then you'll really appreciate the Banshee. Particularly the M, IIRC. The 'WubShee' (Google that). NUTS.

If you like LOTSA DAKKA, then the Mauler is king. Quad UAC/5? Check. 5 AC/5s? SURE! Just remember, you don't particularly NEED arms.

If you like to mix your dakka or AC/20s with lasers, then go King Crab. The only mounts on it that I LIKE, are the RT energy mounts, but the rest aren't THAT bad. Also, NOT so tanky--it has WIDE torsos that are relatively easy (as much as can be for a quirked 100-ton mech) to focus off. BUT, it can run some POWERFUL builds too. Dual-AC/20 is only the beginning. SIX AC/2s? Yup. (Basically a machinegun with a half-mile effective range, give or take.) Quad-UAC/5 and some LLs? Yup.

But the ATLAS? She's the brawler/baller. Pride and joy of the Lyran Commonwealth's reconnaissance forces. By which I mean, it's a BRUTAL brawler. AC/20, as many ASRM-6s as will fit, fill the rest with a STD engine, ammo, maybe some MLs, and even a few heat sinks. Dump alphas of over 70 points into the enemy's face, and tank with your thoroughly-quirked 100-tonner. Boar's Head hero mech is an odd duck, but AC/20 and MPLs and a HEAVY engine will work nicely.

See, each of those four chassis' is a bit of a specialist, at least relative to the others. So, what's YOUR game?

[CDLord HHGD]

King Crab makes a wonderful LRM target. That flat top is the size of an aircraft carrier.

[Not A Real RAbbi]

CD LoreHammer Lord, on 25 June 2016 - 03:30 PM, said:

King Crab makes a wonderful LRM target. That flat top is the size of an aircraft carrier.

AGREE times a gazillion. While the low posture can help with on-the-level direct fire, it leaves the thing shaped like a 100-ton hockey puck with legs. MUCH bigger target from above, and LRMs rain from ABOVE, so it's actually pretty hard to miss with a relatively low-skill weapon system (LRMs DO require some considerable skill to be done RIGHT, but to spam the battlefield all LOXPLZKTHXBAI is pretty much the easiest thing to do in the game). Assuming the OP hasn't advanced to T2 yet (who knows?), LRM spam is still likely a threat to advancement. KGC might be best left off the list.