11 replies to this topic

[Jonathan8883]

How does this look?
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...54a2372c6efc826

Decent Alpha, a bit hot, and a TAG to burn through hostile ECM. It's going to spread the damage a bit, but will hit things hard.

Edited by Jonathan8883, 03 November 2017 - 07:59 PM.

[Void Angel]

You jacked up the link - you needed to save the build you were working on. =)

As for TAG - why do you need to burn enemy ECM? Atlases make really bad missile boats compared to the substitutes. Honestly, I'd use either a Hillbilly Shotgun build (with dual LB-10X) or a focused AC/20 + SRM brawler.

[DemonicDonut]

Void Angel, on 03 November 2017 - 06:21 PM, said:

You jacked up the link - you needed to save the build you were working on. =)

As for TAG - why do you need to burn enemy ECM? Atlases make really bad missile boats compared to the substitutes. Honestly, I'd use either a Hillbilly Shotgun build (with dual LB-10X) or a focused AC/20 + SRM brawler.

Agreed.

Unfortunately the Atlas is a bit of a one trick pony. It doesn't do much well except brawling due to hardpoints, other chassis can do other things better generally. It makes a good ambush mech as well. The AC/20 + SRM that Void mentioned is excellent at it.

That doesn't mean you can't use it in other ways, but it's what is optimum.

[Void Angel]

To be fair, MRMs should open up a bit more variety in builds, but I've not yet tested it.

[Jonathan8883]

Link fixed, sorry. TAG for the SSRMs.

[DireMerc]

Hmm I run mine with triple srm 6, dual ER large laser and LB 20-x ac and it demolishes most things within 300 meters.

Sometimes if I want long range I swap the Lb 20 for a gauss rifle and the srm's for lrms

Edited by DireMerc, 03 November 2017 - 08:46 PM.

[Dungeon 206]

mate. dont waste your time on "interesting" builds.
if you've played this game long enough you'll realize that they dont work.
builds that work are simple, and they do one specific job.
Atlas is a tip of the spear assault mech.
so build them to assault.
get your team to follow you. walk up to the enemy and alpha his face.

if you want ECM:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...c6cf7b4900a3daf

if you're happy without:
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...b0b539e80a8ea69
look at the dps, the alpha, and armour values.
you have shield arms. and no ghost heat.
with full missile rack and magazine capacity you will have 27 alphas available.
if you hit even 20 or so of your alphas you will get 1500 dmg easy.
unless you're up against another 100 ton assault, most mechs wont last past 2 alphas in their face.
just alpha, twist, turn back, alpha. boom.
dont worry about being shot while you're twisting. you have the armour. just keep pressing W.
and your arms are meant to fall off anyway.

simple and specific works best.
ive been running a simple dual cERPPC Arctic Wolf with JJs for the last week.
only a mere 20 pt alpha on a mere 40 ton uber squishy mech.
but poptarting away like a boss.
i do easily 500-800 dmg in that loadout regularly.
thats 25-40 alpha hits per game.

Edited by Dungeon 206, 03 November 2017 - 09:41 PM.

[Void Angel]

Jonathan8883, on 03 November 2017 - 08:00 PM, said:

Link fixed, sorry. TAG for the SSRMs.

Oof. No, man. SSRMs are for killing Lights; if a Light 'Mech is on you and you can't drive it off with your arm lasers and direct-fire torso guns, you're not going to be able to effectively hold your Streaks on target - and the streaks are slower firing and unavoidably scatter your damage, as you noted. Additionally, your build is designed to stare, in a chassis that is usually a high-priority target due to its ability to take a licking and keep on kicking, so that's an issue that will be exploited more and more as you advance in PSR.

For a LFE build like you're using, I'd change it over to Something Like This. The SRM4s are kinda sub-optimal, but they focus damage better than non-Artemis SRM6s, which means that youreffective damage - your real killing power - should be higher despite their not matching the AC/20's cooldown. Alternately, just swap in some MRMs and a smaller engine, like Dungeon suggests.

PS: There is no such thing as a true shield arm on an Atlas; they will absorb some damage (so you don't want to strip them completely,) but I seriously cannot remember the last time I lost an arm in my Atlas before I lost the torso - I'm pretty sure it happened, though. Twice. The reason for this is that the Atlas kinda needs to work out: the arms aren't that thick or bulky compared to the rest of the 'mech, and the sheer size makes torsos easy to target for anyone with fire discipline. Thus, max all your armor like normal, but if you want a ton or so for other places in your build, shave it from the arms - even if it's just to Add Lasers. (Of course, you should also be careful to select Endo-Steel instead of Ferro-Fibrous Armor when mocking up builds. )

[Jonathan8883]

Every build I've ever tried using SRMs or MRMs has failed pretty badly. I have a really hard time getting more than a quarter of them on target.

[Bishop Six]

Jonathan8883, on 04 November 2017 - 05:10 AM, said:

Every build I've ever tried using SRMs or MRMs has failed pretty badly. I have a really hard time getting more than a quarter of them on target.

Try to combine them with point-damage-weapons like Laser or ACs.

For example a Hunchback with 2xSRM 6 and 4xML or an Assasin with SPL and SRMs.

MRMs in heavies/assaults can work pretty well together with ACs like A Zeus with 3xMRM10, 2xAC5 and some ML.

Edited by Bishop Six, 04 November 2017 - 05:47 AM.

[Void Angel]

Jonathan8883, on 04 November 2017 - 05:10 AM, said:

Every build I've ever tried using SRMs or MRMs has failed pretty badly. I have a really hard time getting more than a quarter of them on target.

The weapons themselves work well - you just have to develop the techniques to use them. Use Artemis on any SRM6s, and try disciplining yourself to take that extra fraction of a second to line up the shot. This will reduce your piloting effectiveness - temporarily. But, you'll find that once targeting is automatic for you, the time spent training that skill will be well worth it.

You should also ensure that you're using weapons that synergize together. Rapid-fire autocannons, for example, do not pair well with SRMs, but high-damage ACs most definitely do. Similarly, if you're pairing LRMs with, well, nearly anything else, your weapon systems work against each other, with most of your guns requiring you to lead your target and the LRMs requiring you to stay on-target to maintain the lock. Try to pick weapons that have similar cooldowns (include beam time) and range envelopes.

It also bears mentioning that any scatter weapon becomes progressively less effective as you engage smaller targets. An Assassin, for example, can absorb SRM volleys that would kill or cripple a Medium - simply because more of the damage is missing the target, or spread across the 'mech.

[Dungeon 206]

Jonathan8883, on 04 November 2017 - 05:10 AM, said:

Every build I've ever tried using SRMs or MRMs has failed pretty badly. I have a really hard time getting more than a quarter of them on target.

need to practice your aim then. its not easy. but practice enough and you will improve.
try the first build i recommended (ECM atlas).
try to stay hidden as you advance on the enemy (i know this is hard because... its a freaking atlas!)
plan your route well so that its most direct whilst still using obstacles as cover. ECM will help with this.
get your team to follow you.

once you get into range, 100-150m, just look at your enemy and alpha.
nothing scarier than an Atlas suddenly appearing right in front of you.
if your aim isnt good then aim to get closer for the time being.
you cant really miss an alpha strike of AC20 + MRMs if youre at 50m and your cursor is somewhat in the center of your target.
(at least im hoping you wont miss!)
and guess what. by the time you're at this range. you would have basically led an ASSAULT for your team.
if anything your team will thank you!

as you get better and better at hitting your targets you can start to engage further and further back
until you hit your alpha range cap of 270m
improve even more and you can start to split your MRMs and AC20 fire, and start to engage from 500m
thats when you know you're playing well.

Edited by Dungeon 206, 05 November 2017 - 03:30 AM.