28 replies to this topic

[L Y N X]

Ok PGI stumped me with Stealth Armor...

Would someone please explain what it is?
How is it used?
Risks/Rewards?
Where is it bought? Equiped? Only on certain mechs?

I can find nothing on it searching these forums or in Mechlab.
Thanks to anyone that provides useful answers to these questions.

[Roughneck45]

Its an armor type.

When you turn it on you won't dissipate heat and you don;t show up on sensors, including friendlies.

Equipment can counter it.

ECM mechs can take it.

Heres B33f using it to hilarious effect.

Edited by Roughneck45, 16 August 2017 - 08:53 PM.

[Stealthrider]

As above, but the specific mechs that can equip it are those that can A) change their armor type (ie, not Omnimechs) and can equip ECM.

[Void Angel]

It requires ECM to function. Essentially, you go zero emissions while its on, becoming undetectable by sensors - you'll never show up as a red triangle, or be targetable by a 'mech's sensors (which precludes LRMs and Streaks.) In return, you'll be unable to dissipate heat. Additionally, your own Sensor Range will be reduced to 25% of normal (the same sensor range reduction that fully-skilled ECM inflicts on enemy 'mechs trying to detect you, making them unable to target you at longer ranges.) Finally, your ECM will switch to Disrupt mode (i.e. not Counter) if it's not already on, functioning normally against enemy 'mechs in that mode.

So it's designed to allow you to infiltrate enemy lines visible only via the Mark I Eyeball - or break LRM locks - at the cost of heat and sensor range.

I don't know whether standard ECM countermeasures (PPCs, Active Probes, or TAG) will still detect Stealth Armor when it's on, though my reading of the Patch Notes says "not."

[Void Angel]

PS: Apparently equipment does counter it, although the patch notes don't say so - I haven't played with it yet.

[Tier5 Kerensky]

ECM, probe, UAVs are not supposed to counter it, and it has been fixed. (in first introduction these did counter it)

It can be countered with tag or PPCs. Oh forgot narc, that one too.

And you do show up on friendlies hud. Not 100% sure about friendlies radar. It's a bit of niche equipment but it can be fun I think.

Edited by Teer Kerensky, 17 August 2017 - 08:44 AM.

[Void Angel]

Shouldn't be radar either - that's why there's no FoF box on your team's HUD. In game logic, I think it just stops that whole process for both teams concerning your 'mech.

[Koniving]

Stealthrider, on 16 August 2017 - 08:22 PM, said:

As above, but the specific mechs that can equip it are those that can A) change their armor type (ie, not Omnimechs) and can equip ECM.

(No Clans period at the moment)
(Though yes, important to note that future IS Omnimechs when we see them won't be able to use it.)

TAG and NARC counter it for certain.

Unknown if PPCs do as they would with regular ECM in MWO.

Unknown if BAP counters it, but it isn't supposed to be able to in Battletech (just like BAP doesn't counter ECM in BT, but welcome to MWO.... Then again ECM in BT is crap.)

[Void Angel]

Given the apparent linkage between the ECM and Stealth Armor systems, I'd be surprised if all the ECM counters didn't work on it.

[Ibrandul Mike]

BAP doesn't work to counter it. UAVs don't detect you. Turrets don't react to you. Many players only react to you if you directly shoot them in the face... at least if you are near enough. If you are further away, they shoot you like any other mech with ECM and out of sight.
TAG works to give you away, Narcs seem to make you visible. PPC hits make you visible.

Heat dissipation works on cold maps, but limited to a minimum and only tested with a light (with heat dissipation bonus; Locust).
Depending on the map and mech you can run without getting too hot. Shooting is another matter.
Like I said, on cold maps you can at least get rid of heat very slowly.

What isn't mentioned here: Stealth Armor has a downtime after deactivation. Standard should be 10 seconds. After that you can reactivate it. ECM skills reduce the amount of time needed.
Standard button for Stealth Armor is M.
You can find the Stealth Armor under Armor options like Ferro and light ferro in the Mechlab. Only IS has access to the Stealth Armor.

[Flashshark]

I think you are also less visible,
but my first trys show, u get spotted easyly...

So if not completly unvisiblöe this armor makes no sense to me
Just waste

[BTGbullseye]

Flashshark, on 27 May 2018 - 12:45 AM, said:

I think you are also less visible,

Reality doesn't care what you think.

Flashshark, on 27 May 2018 - 12:45 AM, said:

but my first trys show, u get spotted easyly...

That's because you're running around in the open where any fool can see you.

Flashshark, on 27 May 2018 - 12:45 AM, said:

So if not completly unvisiblöe this armor makes no sense to me

Just like modern Stealth fighters are not invisible, so too are you visible.

Flashshark, on 27 May 2018 - 12:45 AM, said:

Just waste

Your opinion. It is very useful on several mechs, so long as you change how you play to benefit from the stealth.

[Horseman]

Flashshark, on 27 May 2018 - 12:45 AM, said:

I think you are also less visible,
but my first trys show, u get spotted easyly...

So if not completly unvisiblöe this armor makes no sense to me
Just waste

This isn't thermooptic camouflage. Stealth refers to sensor stealth - and stealth armor, when active (it's not on all the time), makes it extremely hard to detect you and target lock you.

[Koniving]

Think about it this way...


"Invisible to radar."

Do not think of this.

[chevy42083]

Did they change it to affect visuals now?
I swear there was a flickering ghost image of a light running through my lance, shortly followed by a "your base is under attack"

[Aidan Crenshaw]

They did not. Probably just had a camo that matched the ground well.

[Ilxuss]

From what I've figured, when you activate it you can't be targeted with R and only counters are TAG and NARC (don't know about Beagle and PPCs but someone mentioned PPCs disables it). Benefit would be that, for example, if enemy can't target you then they can't tell that you have red CT and may try to shoot you in legs as it's pretty common with lights.

Other benefit is my speculation but I suspect that enemies instantly lose lock on you, so when missiles are incoming and you activate it missiles won't track (but it may be a subject to target retention so it may not always be instant). Also when enemies can't get a lock they can only blindfire rockets and SSRMs become useless. Also when the red indicator doesn't appear you're more likely to be confused to be a part of enemy team.

Last benefit is that you stop giving a heat signature, so if enemy has heat vision activated you'll be harder to see - you won't have contrasting aura around you.

It seems you still dissipate heat with it active but it's severely limited and almost unnoticeable on hotter maps.

[Aidan Crenshaw]

You figured well. Just one thing: Activating Stealth Armour does not break an active lock.

[Ilxuss]

Aidan Crenshaw, on 31 July 2020 - 03:11 AM, said:

You figured well. Just one thing: Activating Stealth Armour does not break an active lock.

It's good to know, I had my suspicions but it's hard to make sure on battlefield. I'll keep in mind to hide behind a rock after being targeted.

[General Solo]

If you don't have a red box your invisible to 80% of the player base
Nuff said.