18 replies to this topic

[Nerd Incognito]

Hi, all:


I've been playing for probably 9 months, and have a fair variety of mechs. Heavies are my favorite, without question, particularly my TBRs and HBRs. I've branched out into the other weight classes, and always been able to get a feel for the role, even if I'm not perfect at fulfilling it...but heavies I generally do pretty well with--particularly as brawlers.


That's why it's been surprising to me that I just can't seem to use the Black Widow with much success. I've got it outfitted with 2 UAC5/2AC5. I often get mediocre damage games (say 300-400), and few kills. It has the worst K/D of all my heavies. My problem doesn't seem to be the chassis as a whole; I do alright with the 6R with 2PPC/2LB-10, and the 6D with laser vomit, but for some reason the BW just isn't jiving for me--which sucks when it's the one with a 30% cbill bonus...


Can any experienced BW pilots offer some tips? How do you pilot it? Lots of peeking, staying out of a brawl? Second line, behind an assault?


Thanks!

[hordes1ayer2]

I have not personally played a black widow but I have played plenty of ballistic heavies. It is all about going with the flow of the group. You can stay out on the side and get side shots or stay with the group. Dont push alone and dont get singled out. It is to me more of a support heavy than a straight up killer. Yes you can get plenty of kills and high damage but dont do it alone. Stay with the pack

[S 0 L E N Y A]

the meta build (twin UACS and twin AC5s) is a great build.


Take advantage of the range you have with the ballistics.


Do not stare down an enemy unless you know for a fact you can finish him or take minimal trade damage.

[Nerd Incognito]

Thanks, both of you...

Hmmm...I'm wondering if I haven't built up some bad habits with my TBRs...I tend to have really high alphas that I get nice and close. It's entirely possible that the other builds I'm using (HBR, WHM 6D) have just enough alpha power to let me get away with it, but the BW doesn't...so I try and get eaten. I've been trying to hang closer to the group, but maybe I just have to work harder on it.

Cheers!

[Rear Admiral Tier 6]

Vulcan500rider, on 01 November 2016 - 06:38 PM, said:

Thanks, both of you...

Hmmm...I'm wondering if I haven't built up some bad habits with my TBRs...I tend to have really high alphas that I get nice and close. It's entirely possible that the other builds I'm using (HBR, WHM 6D) have just enough alpha power to let me get away with it, but the BW doesn't...so I try and get eaten. I've been trying to hang closer to the group, but maybe I just have to work harder on it.

Cheers!

4 ac5s and 2 flamers

push close and shut them down,then start pounding them to dust,works like a charm

[S 0 L E N Y A]

Most dakka builds are not about high alphas, but rather damage over time, so it is a different play style.

[Dagada Moor]

Try 4 large pulse and 4 machine guns. You will not have the range but medium to short u are brutal. One of my favorite mechs.

[invernomuto]

Vulcan500rider, on 01 November 2016 - 06:38 PM, said:

Thanks, both of you...

Hmmm...I'm wondering if I haven't built up some bad habits with my TBRs...I tend to have really high alphas that I get nice and close. It's entirely possible that the other builds I'm using (HBR, WHM 6D) have just enough alpha power to let me get away with it, but the BW doesn't...so I try and get eaten. I've been trying to hang closer to the group, but maybe I just have to work harder on it.

I have good results with this build:

https://www.mechspec...as-xl300.10448/

[Nerd Incognito]

Thanks again to everyone for the advice. A bit of an update: I spent some time with my BW again, trying to stay not just with the group, but inside the group, rather than riding the fringe. My worst game was 400 damage; my best was just shy of 800, with three kills. I resisted the urge to move into the one-on-one fringe battles that I leap into with my TBR, and focused on just calling targets and supporting others. I think I'm finally getting the idea...

[Rayden Wolf]

You could also try 2AC10/6 Medlaser 300XL. Pretty devastating, just have an eye on your heat(especially while using the lazors).

[process]

Try 2 AC10 + 4 medium lasers. I also started with a more conventional 4 ballistics build, but these days it's easy to get out gunned by lasers and heavier ballistic boats.

[S 0 L E N Y A]

Dagada Moor, on 03 November 2016 - 07:59 AM, said:

Try 4 large pulse and 4 machine guns. You will not have the range but medium to short u are brutal. One of my favorite mechs.

please.. no..

invernomuto, on 03 November 2016 - 08:14 AM, said:

I have good results with this build:

https://www.mechspec...as-xl300.10448/

I would cut out the medium lasers and armor on the arms completely and go for a bigger motor.
A viable concept otherwise.

process, on 03 November 2016 - 03:17 PM, said:

Try 2 AC10 + 4 medium lasers. I also started with a more conventional 4 ballistics build, but these days it's easy to get out gunned by lasers and heavier ballistic boats.

That build works far better on the 6R, as you can stuff all lasers in the torso.

[Charronn]

2 LBX 10's,4 ml's and a Standard 280 engine.Great durability,not too slow and runs quite cool.
That's my build,I also ran 2 uac 5 1 ac5 build which wasn't as good.
Double ac 10 is quite good too.

[TheLuc]

personally id go for this
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...2086ed049251d9d

not meta but does a bit of every thing.

[TercieI]

TheLuc, on 04 November 2016 - 08:24 AM, said:

personally id go for this
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...2086ed049251d9d

not meta but does a bit of every thing.

"does a bit of everything" = "doesn't do anything well" = terrible mech build.

[S 0 L E N Y A]

Charronn, on 04 November 2016 - 04:49 AM, said:

2 LBX 10's,4 ml's and a Standard 280 engine.Great durability,not too slow and runs quite cool.

Again, that is better suited on the 6R, as it does not require use of the arms (which are the worst weapon location on the Whammy)

TercieI, on 04 November 2016 - 08:29 AM, said:

"does a bit of everything" = "doesn't do anything well" = terrible mech build.

sad, but true.

[Void Angel]

Vulcan500rider, on 03 November 2016 - 11:38 AM, said:

Thanks again to everyone for the advice. A bit of an update: I spent some time with my BW again, trying to stay not just with the group, but inside the group, rather than riding the fringe. My worst game was 400 damage; my best was just shy of 800, with three kills. I resisted the urge to move into the one-on-one fringe battles that I leap into with my TBR, and focused on just calling targets and supporting others. I think I'm finally getting the idea...

That's how it works: this is pretty much how you use Assault-class dakka as well. Be positioned - and willing - to use your armor, but focus on cooperating with your teammates and forcing the enemy to expose themselves too much to come after you specifically.

[Reverend Herring]

I run BW with 2xLBX10 + 2xMPLS in the torso and 2xMLAS in the arms and an XL-something engine. Hands down my favourite mech and the first (of my mechs) to get 1k DMG per mach. The LBX:es allow me to pepper the enemy from a far in the early phases and crits the heck out of damaged mechs in the later phases of the battle. Lasers for brawling support and losing an arm or two doesn't matter much as the main weapons are in the torsos. People seem to shoot my CT mostly, so the XL isn't a viability as such.

Edited by Reverend Herring, 07 November 2016 - 10:06 PM.

[Mike Oakenwall - the khadoran]

well if you are not gonna use the 4 balistic hard points, might as well play the 6R