25 replies to this topic

[invernomuto]

Which variants should I buy? Looking on metamechs it seems that 1E > 1V > the rest. Is this still true?

[Ace Selin]

Yep, 1E, 1V, PB

[Mole]

I pilot a 1E myself. Before the quirkening and before the later variants of the Locust were introduced I piloted a 3M with about as much success as I see in my 1E, but when the 1E came out I had to reluctantly sell my first 'mech and replace it with the 1E because the 1E could just do everything my 3M could do but better.

[Revis Volek]

1V is the best IMO, +50% cooldown on an LPL makes it essentially carry two.

[TercieI]

1E for SPLs
3M for MLs
1V for LPL

PB is ok but the 4ML it can carry isn't that great and ECM doesn't make it super. It's a good to have but not essential hero.

Those four are the only ones worth owning (and I own and have mastered them all)

Edited by TercieI, 28 November 2016 - 03:39 PM.

[Nullmancer]

agreed, PB aint a must-have. The ECM is nice I suppose, but the Locust is already super dodgy and can flit from cover to cover like no ones business. I personally dislike the torso mounted hardpoints and wish they was in the arms, too many times have the limited torso arc did me wrong.

the other ones with multiple energy hardpoints are great, the missile ones are kinda meh, the 3V is lacking and some people like the 1V, I dont.

[TercieI]

Nullmancer, on 28 November 2016 - 03:52 PM, said:

agreed, PB aint a must-have. The ECM is nice I suppose, but the Locust is already super dodgy and can flit from cover to cover like no ones business.

Generally, a PB means it's somebody who wants to run a LCT but isn't really a good enough LCT pilot.

[Tristan Winter]

• 1M: LRM Locust
  
• 3V: AC2 Locust
  
• Pirate's Bane: PPC Locust

Show me any other mech in the game that can fire LRMs while submerged under water like the god damned Red October.

I didn't think so.

[Nullmancer]

you make a good point, sir.

[Deathlike]

Well, you better get them and grind them quick before double XP weekend is over.

[The6thMessenger]

The best locust variants are the dead ones

I'd go pirates bane for the ECM.

[RestosIII]

Tristan Winter, on 28 November 2016 - 04:11 PM, said:

• 1M: LRM Locust
  
• 3V: AC2 Locust
  
• Pirate's Bane: PPC Locust

Show me any other mech in the game that can fire LRMs while submerged under water like the god damned Red October.


I didn't think so.

You're tempting me to finally buy a mech and run it with a non-lore loadout. And one of my first IS mechs in a good while. Stop it.

[3xnihilo]

My personal ranking:

1E- 6spl
1V - LPL
3M - 3 mpl/2sl
PB - 4 ml
3S - 4 srm2
1M - a couple lasers/a couple missiles (whatever floats your boat
3V - Really? There is no reason to ever use the 3V (PGI please nerf 1 more time)

That is in terms of effectiveness. In practice terms, I am more likely to use the 3S than the PB because it offers something different.

[Tyler Durden]

Call me a heretic if you will, but the S variant with 4 srm-2 racks is the most fun. Sneak up on your prey, unload in their back, repeat as needed, run back to safety as your victim falls dead cackling all the while.

[Snowbluff]

I have the missile one, 1V, and PB.

I used to run ERLL on the 1v but then they nerfed the duration quirk. >:/

[Alstren]

The 1E is the one true locust
The 3S if fantastic with streaks but its a secret

[Y E O N N E]

Worth pointing out that the SPL build can be duplicated on the 3M by running 3x MPL + 2x SL. Same damage, marginally longer burn, much better range.

[Escef]

Overall, the missile Locusts (1M and 3S) are underperformers. It just doesn't have the tonnage needed for launchers and ammo without making serious sacrifices elsewhere.

The 3M versus the 1E is actually interesting, as the 1E has slightly higher burst damage, but the cooldown quirk on the 3M let's it out DPS the 1E (that is, until the heat sinks reach saturation).

The 3V is a MG/ML knife fighter, and not particularly impressive.

The 1V is nuts with either an ERLL or LPL. If you can handle the speed, you can scoot and shoot as a sniper or cut big boys to ribbons up close.

The PB is like a compromise between the 1V and the 1E, with ECM to sweeten the deal. Most folks just run it as a fast, ECM'd quad ML harasser. And it works.

I've had Locusts ever since Project Phoenix hit the game, own all the Locusts, and have only Mastered out 3 or 4 of the 7 Locusts. I'm not a particularly good light pilot, and suck with Locusts in particular (yet, strangely, do ok with Commandos). The Locusts is not a particularly forgiving mech to pilot, one mistake and you're done. I usually describe it as a rocket-powered bicycle: fun little ride, but easy to crash and burn.

[TercieI]

Escef, on 28 November 2016 - 06:56 PM, said:

The 3M versus the 1E is actually interesting, as the 1E has slightly higher burst damage, but the cooldown quirk on the 3M let's it out DPS the 1E (that is, until the heat sinks reach saturation).

Regarding burst: Sortof. The 1E has higher alpha, but with the CD bonus on the 3M it actually ends up with stronger burst, shooting four times in about the time the 1E can fire three times.

[Y E O N N E]

LCT-3S has the absolute highest DPS out of all the Locusts.

LCT-1M is actually pretty close to the 3S if you build SRM4+SRM2+2xSPL.

The spread on the missiles isn't appreciable at the ranges you'll be fighting at (between 0 and 140-ish meters).