12 replies to this topic

[rox5tar]

I have purchased a Shadow cat a year or two ago, and since then, I have found that it can not really hold a specific type of build. I have tried many different builds (Streaks, ERPPC Poptart, LRMs), and most of them could just been better on different mechs.

Basicly, what I am asking is if there is specific builds that are best played (Or very well played) on the shadow cat.

Thanks in advance guys.

Edited by rox5tar, 28 October 2016 - 12:14 PM.

[AncientRaig]

I personally enjoy 2 ELL and SRM6 and UAC5 + 2 ML. They're nothing fantastic, but they're enjoyable. I think the Scat with ECM on an LL or LPL build is where it best fits into the current meta though.

[WrathOfDeadguy]

The ones you'll see the most are 2xERPPC and 2xLPL (I prefer one weapon on either side, but most people run asymmetrical for the shield side), followed by 3xERLL. The LPL config in particular has great sustainable DPS because it runs so cool.

You will very rarely see any short ranged builds on these, because (as you've noticed) there are other 'Mechs that do those better. Shadow Cats favor sniper configs. They have high mounts, ECM, and excellent mobility... and that's pretty much it. There aren't enough hardpoints to do anything else really well, and all that locked equipment doesn't help. Sniper configs take advantage of the areas in which the SHC has a significant advantage over other Clan mediums- namely, the ability to get into hard to reach places, avoid detection, and shoot the enemy from unexpected angles.

If you're looking for a light chaser, you're better off with a SCR or IFR. If you want a DPS machine, you want a NVA or HBK-IIC. For brawling, go SCR, NVA, or HBK-IIC. If you want a death sentence, use the VPR (I jest! It's bad, but not that bad- there's just nothing it does particularly well compared to the other options). If you want a stealthy, highly mobile sniper, that's what the SHC does best. It's actually one of the best mediums overall in that role; there is no other medium which has all high mounts, JJ, and ECM.

That's not to say other builds can't work... but they're not ideal for the way the chassis is implemented. You can do some fairly punchy strikers like this one, but it will still have the Shadow Cat's huge side torso hitboxes and all that locked equipment restricting podspace and crit distribution. Compare with the same type of build on a SCR, and you see the problem (especially since both have the same base top speed, and MASC doesn't provide enough of a boost to make a huge difference there). You don't really have the free tonnage to do large ballistics well, nor to boat smaller ballistics. MG boating is a troll build, plain and simple, so that's out the window (though if you're feeling lulzy you can stuff 6xMGs into your 2xLPL config and play Clan Arrow, at the expense of ECM. Not really worth the trade). You can only bring up to three missiles or three energy, but not both at the same time because the third missile and third energy are on different RTs.

So... yeah. Energy snipers are the way to go with Shadow Cats.

[Jack Shayu Walker]

Friend, I have your back, and I have your answer. I struggled to find a a real niche for my Shadowcat for 6 or so months after I got it. It's not orthodox, and the meta will scoff at you, but it's fun, effective enough to be respectable, can get you great scores in PUG matches, and most importantly, nothing else can do it like the Shadowcat can.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...f36ed4dc4e767cf

Obviously add the lower arm actuator back in. This build is all about making the Shadowcat flexible and survivable. Nothing I love to pilot to de-stress more than my Shadowcat. If you're good with PPCs you won't have bad games, you'll just have mediocre ones. The set up is actually very flexible with how fast or slow paced you want your experience to be.

I've never found another build that makes more use of the Shadowcat's MASC + JJs combo.

You can find my full guide on this build here: https://www.mechspec...srm4-ecm.10695/

Edited by Jack Shayu Walker, 28 October 2016 - 07:28 PM.

[Pariah Devalis]

Short ranged SHC builds have a place. That place is in CW Scouting mode as an ECM option for the Clans that also provides respectable firepower. In that, 3x Artemis SRM6 (NOT streak, for god's sakes!), 2x SPLas, and ECM make for a wonderful little striker. A mech that can, in the right situations, can even carry games.

The build looks similar to: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...ae2819b637c9329

In action:

Edited by Pariah Devalis, 28 October 2016 - 08:07 PM.

[rolling thunder]

I have 5 Shadow Cats {I don't like messing with load outs} , my main load out is 2 x Extended Range Medium Lasers & two CLRM 15s. I always get halfway decent results in that Mech. Other Mechs have 1 ER Large Laser, 1 ER Medium Laser & 1 CLRM 15.
I've tried SRMs in the Mech & found I didn't last long so I stick to what I know.
More recently I have equipt one of my Mechs with a C AC5, 1 x ER Medium Laser & 1 x CLRM10. While nothing special I do have fun plinking with the Auto Cannon at range {so much fun I occasionaly forget to lob in some LRMs}
At the end of the day players must find what works for them & have fun.

Edited by rolling thunder, 29 October 2016 - 03:00 AM.

[Blind Baku]

I have 4 builds that I love, I stole 3 of them, the other is the meta.

Sader had some videos ("School of LRM Theory" and "How to Shadowcat" 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) that are on youtube.

The Shadowcat I have the best luck/fun with is honestly 3LRM5A (~5 1/2t ammo), 2C-MPLs, ECM. Try to fight in MPL range, but don't use them often (Heat). Use MASC to dance, not just to run. LoS allows the LRM5A's hit almost exclusively CT on most things (Unlike 10's, 15's, or 20s, the grouping is REALLY tight and you loose very little to the ground, see linked Youtube video). To use this build properly you MUST have target decay. He named it "Seagull" because he would fly up and **** all over someone's day, if he couldn't get LoS otherwise.

One of the big selling points for Seagull was the fact that MASC and JJ's don't mess up your LRM tracking, so you can dodge for days (until you blow your legs off). I have had matches where I dodge tanked KDK-3s for a minute or two where any other mech would have eaten some nasty alphas.

The other odd build that I stole from him was the 3SRM6A (~6t ammo), 2 Flamer, ECM, +1DHS.
Wait for an unsuspecting target... pounce. Then dance with the target till it over heats. Once over heated saunter back and take that back plate. I believe he called the build Hyena.

EDIT: The other two are the 2PPC or 2LPL builds, nothing new or extra special, just worth playing.

Edited by Blind Baku, 31 October 2016 - 06:05 AM.

[Prototelis]

Disagree with long range S-cat meta entirely.

I have almost a 2.0 in my Cat, and I've never touched a long range build.

Streaks are absolutely monster on the Cat, and I'll tell you why; You don't have to be looking at a target to fire your missiles, you just need a lock. The mech turns fast enough to dance in between volleys of srms while holding a lock. With the range module you get almost 400meters range. With the cool down module and fast fire the cool down isn't far off from a regular srm, and its a guranteed hit if there isn't anything in the way. In scouting streaks are boss because the spread is so uniform, you can rely on being able to atleast take an arm off or reveal a very tasty side torso on a XL toting IS mech.

You kind of have to treat it like a bigger, slower, meatier arctic cheetah to do the close range thing.



I run;
2 small pulse, 3 streak 6
2 small pulse, 2 srm6+artemis, 1 large pulse.
2 medium pulse, 2 srm6, 1 erlarge.

Try this next time you overheat your s-cat;

Hold masc, forward, and jumpjets before the mech starts back up. You start moving at damn near full speed instantly.

[Blind Baku]

Prototelis, on 31 October 2016 - 11:34 AM, said:

Disagree with long range S-cat meta entirely.

I have almost a 2.0 in my Cat, and I've never touched a long range build.

Streaks are absolutely monster on the Cat, and I'll tell you why;...
...
Hold masc, forward, and jumpjets before the mech starts back up. You start moving at damn near full speed instantly.

First thanks for the start up tip! Def gonna try that on the Hyena build as it is prone to heat issues.

I like playing long range builds as play style in some things (PNT, MLX, some RFL, etc), but that is really only in the 2PPC build for the shadow cat. The LRM build is a mid range as a rule, if you can't hit it with your MLs then don't expect your missiles to make contact.

That said I have been purposefully avoiding SSRMs because it seems like SRMs just deliver a better ton to punch, but I may have to give your build a try sometime. Do you have and footage of a run in it? I'm always down for some good videos.

Edited by Blind Baku, 31 October 2016 - 01:20 PM.

[Prototelis]

I wish, this toaster barely plays the game.

[Albino Boo]

Speaking as someone who has around 1100 drops in shadow cat, the best shadow cat for non tier 1 quick play is the streakcat. Play in like a heavy scout, get in behind the other team and hit them in the back armor. The mech you are hitting will think its getting fired on by lrms and will ignore the first few volleys. You have more than enough firepower to kill off any light that chases you and you can outpace any of the high damage mediums.

[Champion of Khorne Lord of Blood]

The best build for a Shadow Cat would be 2 large pulse lasers in an asymetric build.

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...7f0a6025c1109e1

Other options that go well occasionally are close range harassers with 3 ASRM6 and a couple medium lasers or small pulse lasers, its risky but run, plays like a light mech brawler. It can also make a capable LRM boat with 3 LRM10s in some odd situations in which no one looks at it and it can lrm alone, though it only really is useful in low tier. Streak builds can work, especially for just hunting lights, but they're rather useless against anything heavier than you, especially if they aren't just potatoes who don't look at you when you fire on them.

But yeah, 2 LPL gets the most consistent performance, high damage matches, good trades, ECM and MASC make you extremely hard to hit at range, speed helps you reposition. Just be on high alert for any light mechs getting near you that could be a problem, if that happens move back to the formation of the team to get help. Never get tunnel vision, check your surroundings and move to new places after taking a few shots if you have been noticed.

I'll just shamelessly mention my Shadow Cat leaderboard position in my signature to give some merit to my experience in the Shadow Cat.

[Tordin]

I just which there was a config/ variant with 1-2 missile hardpoints in each side torso. I think we need atleast a Hero Shadow Cat in the future for Wave 3 heroes with such a loadout. At least ONE missile hardpoint in the left torso.
Otherwise the SC is imo a very versatile mech doing ballistic fine to useful and very good at energy loadouts.

Edited by Tordin, 05 November 2016 - 09:57 AM.