Posted 24 November 2017 - 01:05 PM
My absolute favorite hero in the game (that i actually own) has to be the MAD-BH2. Its a aquired taste since you physically cant make it go super fast (if 70 KPH is too slow for you dont bother), but its one of the strongest and reliable IS mechs ive ever played, most games end with over 500 dmg (1000+ every other game), and it just massacres entire teams since it has a combination of very good deadside profile. Provided you know how to shield (and dont make the potato mistake of using a XL), the bloody thing has around 400 or so effective HP if incoming round hits ur LT and only does the 40% damage transfer. Ive managed to outbrawl quad LBX/AC/UAC-10 kodiaks with it, prolly the only mech that id consider it a viable strat to charge a kodiak headon and still have a good chance of murdering it.
As to loadouts that work, my favorite (and most reliable performer) is 1HRG, 6ERML, 1ERSL (you can ditch the ERSL but i had 0.5t leftover and 1 energy hardpoint). Its not super easy to play since you really cant fight effectively past 400m, but if you have patience to wait until teh brawl starts, know how to use cover, and dont walk into a open field, itll take down 2-3 mechs on its own without team support since its got PPFLD and even the lasers are really precise and efficient when you have good aim. If you arent a huge fan of short range (i know many people dont do well with brawlers of any sort), you can try a combination of your choice of ballistic weapon (usually RAC5/AC10/GR), and ERML spam with optional LPL/ERLL/LL addon. This lets you hit for near full dmg at 500m (or more if gauss and ERLLs), and still have a bit of short range capability (it tanks damage regardless of what range ur being hit at). That and if you arent a huge ballistic fan, you can always forego that hardpoint and run something like 3ERLL/LPL+4ERML, the standard nothing special always effective laser vomit build (its not teh best mech for pure lazors, but it can do it well enough).
Aside from that, if you like the thing at all, the hero cutefox is really fun (and despite what people say, compared to the CB models, is one of the most blatant cases of P2W) since you get 4 high mounted energy (and lets face it, a 30t mech without access to 6+ MG or rocket hardpoints isnt gonna be using anything else effectively) which work incredibly well. Most people swear by 6ERMLs, ECM, and alot of DHS, but i personally have been doing better with 4MPLs and 2MGs (all stock pods for the quirkfest). ECM isnt all that valuable for me (was so a few years back, but these days i dont use it on lights since they are already tonnage starved to the point where 1 more DHS or laser is better then ECM).
Obviously the cutefox in general is an aquired taste and i dont reccomend getting it unless you have tried the regular models and want something a bit more competitively viable, but for those that like supporty style slightly slow lights, the purifier is a great choice, and actually does well with a variety of energy loadouts from ERML/MPL to ERLLs or even 1ERPPC+ERSLs if you are sadistically inclined.
Finally, the last hero i own thats really really good is the SCORCH. Its more brawl focused (most of the good builds use 4SRM6 with your choice of ballistic arms), but you can still do some mid-long range builds if you use dual gauss with some sort of ATM/LRM hybrid (LRMs are bad and i wouldnt use em, ATMs can be solid if you understand how to use em).
If you dont want to brawl, one good option ive come across is dual gauss with ATM-18. Its a little wimpy in the ATM department, but it can move decently fast, has good firepower, and it is effective from point blank to ~1km with those gauss rifles. If it wasnt super awkward id use that build more then the usual brawl setup with 4SRM-6, but ive gotten 1500 dmg games in it on multiple occasions, just hold down the trigger for ATMs, wobble around some between shots, and try to hit the same component with teh GRs every shot.