48 replies to this topic

[Aggravated Assault Mech]

Atlas is a hard gig but definitely good in its element. Smaller assaults with higher mounts have an easier time with all the ramps on the average map.

[LordNothing]

the thing i dont like about the atlas (other than the narrow fov on the cockpit eye) is how easy it is to take out the ac20. like 3 out of 4 games the thing takes a crit, barely getting used 2 or 3 times. its better to take it out and use a uac5 (or two), then you can take a couple hits without loosing the big gun. and thats why mi first assault mech was a banshee.

[The6thMessenger]

M3560 35003663, on 15 October 2016 - 05:46 AM, said:

A few days ago I bought the Atlas AS7-D-DC. I put an AC/20 and 3 SRM6's on it. As well as some lasers. They told me it was a brawling build, so I had to patiently stand behind cover until things get close and personal. Then I was supposed to engage and obliterate enemy mechs left and right while taking outstanding amounts of damage.
In theory, it looked great. But in the actual game it sucked ***.

The only assault I'd played consistently at that time was the Warhawk with the 2 LL's, 3 MLs and a Gauss. It wrecked *** at long range, medium range and short range. It could tank enough damage to get me trough the match with my aggressive style of play.

So, if THAT is tanky, I thought, the Atlas is gonna be absolutely indestructible! How wrong I was.
In reality, the atlas proved to be far more fragile than the lightest of mechs.
As I found out, it was due to its enormous size (and huge hitboxes) and its incredibly slow speed of 48km/h.

Did you actually tried spreading the damage? what about armor rolling? What about arm shielding? That humanoid shape is actually awesome for arm-shielding. That warhawk build you got there, that's really really really different from brawling.

Look, assaults look tough, no question about it, but that doesn't mean that you're an impregnable beast. You will ******* die if you're stupid enough to tank all of the enemies' fire. Same goes if you stare down, do not stare enemies down.

Watch TheB33f do it:

M3560 35003663, on 15 October 2016 - 05:46 AM, said:

1). You have to stand for a long time behind cover before you can engage. You're an assault, you're supposed to spearhead the offence. Instead, you don't participate until later in the game.
And if your team has lost the long range/mid range phase of the battle, there's nothing you can do, once you get surrounded by enemy mechs.

That requires an incredibly coordinated team, spearheading does not mean you're to break into enemy lines alone. As you do, you need your team's fire support, along with others. Yes, that's a tall order to expect from uncoordinated team-mates that is the usual PUG, but it works with coordinated ones should you happen to come across, or the friends you know to play with. It's not the mech's fault.

M3560 35003663, on 15 October 2016 - 05:46 AM, said:

2).Huge size means huge side torsos and generally body parts. Extremely easy to hit. And this, combined with 3, leads to some horrible survivability:

Try king crab, you'll be surprised, it'll probably be the worst for you, with it's low slung arm weapons and wide profile, easy to isolate hitboxes.

Look, Atlas is large yes, but he's also humanoid, that comes with good turn rate and torso turn-rate quirks, that makes it quite good in spreading damage. You must've been doing something wrong.

M3560 35003663, on 15 October 2016 - 05:46 AM, said:

3).Extremely slow speed Huge hitboxes + slow speed = walking coffin. As I found out, speed is extremely important not only for midrange, but also for short range engagements. Speed is what lets you quickly hide behind cover if things get ugly, reposition and strike at the enemy. Speed is what lets you chase an enemy, kill them and return back to safety.

You're thinking like a sniper, a poker, that's not generally assaults. You can't just switch mechs, and expect simmilar playstyle to work just because you have near the same build. I bet you put XL engine on it too.

M3560 35003663, on 15 October 2016 - 05:46 AM, said:

4).You can't just put on a couple of large lasers and snipe while you wait for the brawling phase. Your towering body will be spotted and shot at long before you can get you arms above the hill in oder to shoot. Corner peaking is also not an option with a torso as huge as the atlas'. A LRM launcher won't cut it too, since it cripples your alpha damage.
I am not the most experienced player, (I am actually a noob!), yet with the Warhawk Im easily doing 500-900 damage in a lot of my matches, for example. And I usually manage to kill 1 or 2 guys.

Don't use LRMs, seriously it's a disgrace for Atlas, there's other mechs that does this better like Stalker or Catapult, leave it to them.

Don't you think that you're supposed to play Atlas differently, if what works on warhawks doesn't work with Atlas? Should've gotten a Kodiak if you can't handle your Atlas.

M3560 35003663, on 15 October 2016 - 05:46 AM, said:

he same can be said about the Ebon Jaguar vs Marauder. Fitted with the same weapons as the EBJ (2 LL, 2ML, 1 Gauss) the MAD is able to do far less dmg and dies faster.
In the world of heavy mechs and assaults, it seems, speed is king. Not tankiness or firepower.
Your thoughts, gentlemen? I personally am sick of googling about atlas and reading how good it is. It's simply not the case.

Nope, you're just not using it right. I bet you use forks to stir your mug, chopsticks to turn screws, and shoes for hammer.

And we're supposed to take this from a noob? Look, you need more experience in playing Atlas, it's playstyle differs. If your current playstyle does not work with Atlas, then you need to chang your playstyle. Other players seem to manage, why can't you?

Edited by The6thMessenger, 16 October 2016 - 09:28 PM.

[Duatam]

This was with Atlas D-DC. I think I was running 2x LB10-x + 6 SRM6 Artemis. I've now switched the LB10-x with AC-20 and STD300 -> STD350 engine, as I find it even more effective.

[M3560 35003663]

Guess what, gentlemen. I rebought the atlas. The D-DC version. I just couldn't bear giving up on that awesomeness, even considering all the hardships of piloting it.
Thank you all for your posts in this thread!


Welcome me back in the team!

Edited by M3560 35003663, 16 October 2016 - 06:18 PM.

[MechWarrior319348]

You have to spin on your head, the damage gets distributed really well that way. Just make sure you have something really retro to say when you finish the spin.

[XxXAbsolutZeroXxX]

One thing people don't mention about atlas brawling is.

It only works if you charge in when they're spread out, damaged or running away.

Or if you ECM flank and catch them unawares from the side or behind.

If they're clumped together in a tight knot of 4-5 mechs rushing them isn't going to work if all 5 of them turn around and alpha on you.

Have to take them down one at a time.

[Cog777]

I have just reached the same kill and win ratios with Atlas comparing to KDK SB what I consider one of the best brawler. It has 90 km/h speed with 80 dmg alpha three times on the hottest map. But I bought and switched to Atlas DDC to see its performance.

Most of things were mentioned in this forum but I would like to highlight the important ones about the build.

- Use fast engine, minimum 340 std, it is neccessary for the fast torso twist
- Reduce face time. Atlas is wide so I consider not good idea to use e.g. UAC5 or non pulse lasers otherwise it will collect lot of hits
- Master it ofc
- ECM can help not being in focused or you can sneak to combat range

I have found effective these builds and fun to play:
- 2xLB10X +3xASRM6 350 std engine. After 300m you cannot cause serious damage with LBX but you can "farm" dmg
- Ac10 + Ac5 + 3xASRM6 350 std engine. You can use ACs in mid range with good performance.
- AC20 + 3xASRM6 + PPC, 340 std engine is my favorite. I noticed that AC20 has bigger stopping effect and screen shaking but on our big maps I need something to support my team on mid range. I have found that PPC is very good for this role, I can shoot with PPC above 400 m, AC20 + PPC between 300 and 400 meters and from 300 to 90 meters full 70 points alpha.

About tactics and the performance:
Wait for the moment, and sneak to the enemy. Atlas doesn't have ideal quirks, shape, mount points for long range weapons but it shines in brawler role. Well, definitely it is good idea to inform the team when you execute a flank and need support.
I consider that a game is good and teams are balanced if the final result is very tight e.g. 10-12 so don't mind if you can do only 200 dmg when your team loses to 0-12, probably the matchmaker didn't do its job well.
In the first case normally I can do 2-5 kills and 400-800 dmg. All in all the good matches can definitely compensate the bad ones.

I did a test using only ballistic weapons and shooting to Atlas from 400m on a test map:
- AC20 needs to 52 seconds to kill Atlas
- 2xLB10X need 42 seconds! So the higher dps can compensate the spreading
- AC10, AC5 need 23 seconds! From mid range this config is the best but the down side is that it needs face time.

I hope you enjoy playing with Atlas.

My wish list to modernize Atlas:
- Using 2xAC10
- Lift up the ballistic to shoulder line
- Using 4 ballistic with 4xLBX10

Edited by Screw, 23 December 2016 - 02:44 PM.

[MechWarrior5152251]

Then you are in luck, because with out all those quirks the Atlas will be unplayable after the skill tree change.