Firstly, if any of the mechs is available as a trial mech, try them out before you buy.
Let me tell you a bit about the mechs:
Raven RVN-3L - a solid light mech with ECM which will require a larger engine. Is usually played as a sniper with 2x ERLL.
Arctic Cheetah ACH-PRIME - one of the best clan lights. Usually run with lasers as a harasser.
Panther PNT-10K - having the primary gun (PPC) mounted in the arm is a liability as it is easily lost to enemy fire. Avoid unless you played it as a trial mech and really liked it.
Mist Lynx MLX-PRIME - most weapons are mounted in the arms, loosing one halves the weapon load. Usually run with lasers or MGs.
Hunchback HBK-4P - used to be better. Still a solid laser boat. Having most weapons in the right shoulder makes it easy to take out unless the pilot knows how to torso twist.
Stormcrow SCR-PRIME - often used as streak or srm boat in FP(scouting).
Crab CRB-27B - solid laser boat with unusual geometry. Quite tanky for its weight.
Shadow Cat SHC-PRIME - a fast medium (if using masc) which can use ECM to get around quick. Usually played as a sniper with gauss or 2xERLL or 2xLPL or as a brawler using erml and srm.
ThunderBolt TDR-9SE - solid mech. Can run 3xLPL and other laser builds. Quite usable in FP.
Timber Wolf TBR-C - solid mech. Tends to get focussed for being known as a strong chassis. Still very good. Builds include 4xERML, 2xERLL or 4xERML, 2xHLL for long range or SRM + erml for short range. Can also run gauss + erml. Does not show up in FP as often due to the weight (75t is hard to fit into a dropdeck when there are better, lighter choices like the EBJ or HBK). Still very capable in QP. Also very iconic for mechwarrior.
Grasshopper GHR-5H - laser boat which is often used in FP, although other variants of the chassis do that better.
Ebon Jaguar EBJ-PRIME - can run be run as dakka platform or as laser boat. Solid mech which good in FP. Has wide arms.
King Crab KGC-000B - slow, really slow ballistic boat with a good mix of loadouts. Large size makes it a high priority target.
Dire Wolf DWF-W - slow, really slow assault with a good mix of loadouts. Large size makes it a high priority target. Also a bit squishy.
Zeus ZEU-6T - I do not see many of them in quickplay and they tend to be rare in FP also. Cannot really say anything about this. If someone knows the reason they're not played often please enlighten us.
Warhawk WHK-C - used to be used for 4 ER-PPC builds (which the prime does better now), but still a solid choice.
Do note that the clan mechs in each pack are omnimechs, meaning they are able to change body parts through omni pods, changing the hardpoints for almost all locations to hardpoints from other variants (except the hero), e.g. you could change the right arm on the TBR-C from ballistic (TBR-C rightarm) to energy (e.g. TBR-PRIME right arm).
Do note that many of the IS mechs require upgrades like endo steel (not ferro - except in some cases) and a better engine (e.g. bigger or LFE (or XL w/lights)) to really get the most out of them.
TL;DR:
For a
beginner, I'd recommend the
ThunderBolt TDR-9SE/Timber Wolf TBR-C pack as it is very solid and the TBR can run most builds under the sun. Second up would be
Crab CRB-27B/Shadow Cat SHC-PRIME.
For a
more advanced player or
someone interested in getting into FP, I'd recommend the
Grasshopper GHR-5H/Ebon Jaguar EBJ-PRIME since both see a lot of use in FP. Second up would be
Hunchback HBK-4P/Stormcrow SCR-PRIME since the crow is good for clan scouting and the HBK teaches you torso twisting.
For
masochists I'd recommend the
King Crab KGC-000B/Dire Wolf DWF-W - if getting left behind by your team, getting outmaneuvered by lights (and some mediums) and getting focussed by the whole enemy team sound like fun for you, this pack will show you a world of pain.
Edited by Exilyth, 17 February 2018 - 07:54 AM.
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