7 replies to this topic

[G4LV4TR0N]

I've read a bit about LBX Autocannons in MWO and it seems that for some reason everybody is recommending LBX AC10. What is the reason exactly for this one? What would be the difference between LBX AC10 and LBX AC5 or their Clan versions? Myself I found C-LBX AC2 and C-LBX AC5 easiest for me to use, but when I read people commenting that LBX AC10 is for some reason 'the best' LBX/C-LBX I want to know the reason.

[Cold Darkness]

to begin with: the inner sphere only has lb10x available. other lbx weapons are clan-only.

[Mercworks]

I'm not sure why the big push for LBXs. The twenties make sense because double twenties don't ghost heat like Ultra20s do, but other than that I think it spreads out the damage too much, particularly over range.

[Wintersdark]

G4LV4TR0N, on 06 November 2016 - 05:50 AM, said:

I've read a bit about LBX Autocannons in MWO and it seems that for some reason everybody is recommending LBX AC10. What is the reason exactly for this one? What would be the difference between LBX AC10 and LBX AC5 or their Clan versions? Myself I found C-LBX AC2 and C-LBX AC5 easiest for me to use, but when I read people commenting that LBX AC10 is for some reason 'the best' LBX/C-LBX I want to know the reason.

There is rarely a reason to use an IS LBX10. Only on specific brawly builds that need the space/ton saved.

Clan side, it's more complex.

IS autocannons fire a single shell, and never spread damage. The AC10 will destroy whole internal components with crits rather than just damaging stuff.

Clans, though... Clan UAC's can doubletap (double up the burst damage at the risk of jamming) but they fire multiple shells and will spread damage as well - thus they lose the crit advantage of IS AC's, AND are also likely to be spreading damage.

Generally speaking, UAC's are better than LBX's, clan side, because double damage is double damage. However, there are some instances where LBX's are preferable. The most noteable is the LBX20, because while the UAC20 does 40 damage with a doubletap, the LBX20 requires no face time and generates less heat.

At the '10's level, though, the UAC10 is a vastly superior weapon to the LBX10, because the LBX10 does half the damage and is limited to close range or else it'll always spread.

The only reason to ever use LBX5's is because you're avoiding ghost heat, and even then it's not really a good idea.

Don't ever use LBX2's. They're silly. There's literally no reason to use them instead of UAC2's, and there's very little reason to use UAC2's either.

Basically, (again, clan side) LBX's become more valuable at close range because there's no burst time. This is why the UAC20/LBX20 skews towards the LBX - face time when up close and personal is very dangerous, and jamming your UAC20 is very bad in a brawl.

However, when you're at longer range the spread of the LBX autocannon hurts it a lot. Thus, the longer ranged weapons "waste" the range that should be an advantage. Essentially, ALL LBX autocannons are hard-capped for usefulness around 300m, ideally much less.

[Bud Crue]

G4LV4TR0N, on 06 November 2016 - 05:50 AM, said:

I've read a bit about LBX Autocannons in MWO and it seems that for some reason everybody is recommending LBX AC10.

Who is this everybody you speak of? Speaking as an IS player: I love lbx's because they sound cool and I will build a mech just for the sound and/or visual aesthetics. But honestly, take an AC10 over an lbx. I mean unless you just can't find the extra ton and/or crit spaces for an AC10 then i'd consider it, but in that case consider a UAC5. Yes there are a few builds that are quirked for Lbx, but even then if you can make an AC10 (or 20) work you are better off it.

[G4LV4TR0N]

I've heard this LBX10 story many times when reading forums or listening to people talking in-game, but I'm piloting Clan Lights at the moment so it doesn't matter. Do Clan UAC's shot at same rate as Clan AC's/LBX when you hold mouse button and at double rate when clicking fast? Also would LBX be better than AC/UAC when used at range shorter than 100m? In fact is there any situation when LBX is better than AC/UAC? Close-combat dogfighting?

[Single Mom]

LBX the preferred brawl ballistic for a lot of builds because LBX receives the machine gun structure damage and critical bonuses. Each pellet doing 2x damage to structure on top of massive crit chance is absolutely devastating to structure. Also with exception of 2s, LBX project speed is a lot higher than AC counterparts which gives most brawlers a reliable way to make snap shots.

[Blind Baku]

Single Mom, on 07 November 2016 - 11:04 AM, said:

LBX the preferred brawl ballistic for a lot of builds because LBX receives the machine gun structure damage and critical bonuses. Each pellet doing 2x damage to structure on top of massive crit chance is absolutely devastating to structure. Also with exception of 2s, LBX project speed is a lot higher than AC counterparts which gives most brawlers a reliable way to make snap shots.

^This, add in the ton saved (IS LBX10 is 1 ton less than AC10, Clan LBX are = tonnage to clan AC/UAC) means you can do a lot of things, especially on tonnage starved mechs. It also pairs very well with MLs or MPLs*, which in turn means if you can handle the ammo it also works well with SRMs.

I will say that if you don't make a habit of locking targets and aiming for open components, then the LBX isn't quite worth it. You really want to crit seek, even if the AC10 is better at destroying stuff, the bonus structure damage helps the LBX cut through fairly quick.

*I run MPLs on my RFL-LK, and as a rule if I cannot hit it with the MPLs are approx. optimal range I probably should not be slinging ammo at it. It also run decently with SPLs but I like have a little more range on the lasers