31 replies to this topic

[Savage Wolf]

Never figured out how to use the 2xLPL kitty, but then again, I'm not good at sniper harassers.

I have however lots of love for 2xATM9 and 2xHSL. The mobility of the Shadowcat is perfect for maintaining the sweetspot of 120 to 300m where ATMs are devastating. It even works in Solaris even against King Crabs.

[LowSubmarino]

The Shadowcat isnt the best option for an e.g. double ppc build.

It simply cannot boat enough DHS to really dish out good dmg.

Sure, you can make it work, but there are other mediums, that are much, much more effective when playing as a mobile sniper. Double ppc snipers turn into real dmg dealers, once they can boat at least 16 DHS. Below that and you will have to cool off too much and for too long. 16 DHS and any and all heat nodes you can get, as well as most cooldown nodes in skill tree and you will dish out pretty good dmg.

If for instance you have something like 18 or better 20 DHS you dont have to take all heat nodes.

Hardpoints arent optimal either for a sniper.

Id take the arctic wolf instead if you like sniping with ppcs. It can dish out significantly more dmg, as it has more room for heat sinks.

Masc + clan tech and ecm and its already superb agility, turns the shadowcat into the single most lethal light hunter in the entire game though. You will destroy lights with streaks for instance. And you can also go pretty deep into survival at the same time. With masc, jjs, ecm....you will be a nightmare for lights.

It is also good as an srm striker vs heavier targets. Wont be as good vs fast targest, but you can get in and out pretty quickly with the shadowcats insane agility. You can snipe with it, but there are mechs better suited for that role. What the shadowcat shines at is covering your team vs fast mechs. Youll annihilate light mechs even two very light mechs will struggle to take you down. Even a number of medium mechs wont be much of a struggle.

But as I said, for sniping it take mechs with better hardpoints and , more importantly, mechs, that can boat at least 16 DHS. Thats when you will be able to fire that double ppc alpha quite often. Even on hotter maps.

You can also use the hunchbackIICA which can boat an astonishing 21 DHS with max engine. It was heavily nerfed after skill tree though and is much, much less agile than it used to be. But that thing is still good if you only look at medium ppc platforms. Perfect hardpoints, good speed, very cool for such hot weapons and for a medium mech. If weight classes are not a factor then the Summoner is better as it is much sturdier and even more agile than the medium hunchbackIICA and almost as fast with even better heat.

Edited by LowSubmarino, 03 May 2018 - 08:58 AM.

[FireDog]

If only we had decent JJs in the game. Without wasting so many badly needed skill points for so little gain.

[Rivenix]

This is all wonderful information, everyone, thanks!

Going with these tips, looks like I'll want the B chassis then snag some hardpoints for different jobs! I don't mind not having PPCs, the mech itself simply seemed really fun to play. I find the design itself sharp, and having that much speed for a medium package is wonderful. Cannot wait to take some revenge on those little ********.

Will be farming the creds for it tonight! :]

Edit: Ah, I see now... it's the side torso that has the ECM.. so nothing besides quirks matter, got it!

Edited by Rivenix, 03 May 2018 - 10:57 PM.

[Alexander of Macedon]

Just keep in mind that the scat got super-****** by basically every weapon it used being nerfed. 2x cLPLas is dead, 2x cERPPC is even more useless than on 'mechs with the tonnage for heatsinks, 3x MPLas is dead, 2x ERLLas was always useless noncontributing garbage, 2x whatever + 6x MG/LMG is dead...

What I use now is 2x HLLas + cECM + 7 extra DHS. It's the only way you'll get appreciable damage out of it now, and you need to be solidly dedicated to staying at mid range and poking since you don't have the the cooldown/burn time/heat efficiency to brawl.

[Bombast]

Vanadium19, on 02 May 2018 - 12:44 AM, said:

obviously the best SHC build and still don't know why there so few people using it...

Because other medium mechs do SRM brawling/striking better. No mech does 'Annoying, sniping piece of ****' better than a Shadowcat, though.

[Ace Selin]

Move

[Y E O N N E]

FireDog, on 03 May 2018 - 02:09 PM, said:

If only we had decent JJs in the game. Without wasting so many badly needed skill points for so little gain.

Shadowcat jumps fine as-is, dafuq you talkin' about?

[Pariah Devalis]

Bombast, on 04 May 2018 - 06:38 PM, said:

Because other medium mechs do SRM brawling/striking better. No mech does 'Annoying, sniping piece of ****' better than a Shadowcat, though.

You assume there is no middle ground, Padawan. A Shadow Cat that brawls like any other is doomed to failure. A Shadow Cat that leverages its speed, jump jets, and MASC while operating at long range for the SRM and abusing the ever living hell out of terrain, however? No mech can match that. A 48 point salvo of SRM, plus optional lasers, hurts if it connects. No matter the enemy you hit.

What the Shadow Cat can do that no other medium can manage, outside of arguably the Arctic Wolf, is be extremely difficult to get a clean shot off on, and absolutely control the pacing of the fight. When you only have a second and a half to locate where the Shadow Cat is, account for lead and travel time, and fire with your own brawling weapons, before the SHC drops behind hard cover and re positions immediately, you don't have a high hit percentage.

At least not a high hit percentage against a specific part.

When you brawl in a Shadow Cat, you need to disorient and minimize return fire opportunities. It isn't a battle of attrition. You are toying with larger prey. Really, the best counter to it is pinpoint damage with high travel speed. Massed AC2 work surprisingly well.

Edited by Pariah Devalis, 06 May 2018 - 11:26 AM.

[Khobai]

Shadowcat jumps fine. Dunno what people are complaining about.


But MASC is still way too weak IMO

Shadowcat would be better off if it just had a 2 ton bigger engine

MASC needs to last longer and there should be no reticle shake while its engaged.

Edited by Khobai, 06 May 2018 - 01:20 PM.

[Bombast]

Pariah Devalis, on 06 May 2018 - 11:23 AM, said:

You assume there is no middle ground, Padawan.

No I'm not.

The fact that the Shadowcat plays just a smidgen different than your typical SRM brawler does not change that it is not the best choice for that role, but it is the best at being an annoying, ranged *******.

[Pariah Devalis]

Bombast, on 06 May 2018 - 01:39 PM, said:

No I'm not.

The fact that the Shadowcat plays just a smidgen different than your typical SRM brawler does not change that it is not the best choice for that role, but it is the best at being an annoying, ranged *******.

Fighting at 290 meters is a far cry from "ranged." And it is more than a smidgen different. Skillsets differ from normal brawling in that there is less focus on armor rolling, and more focus on positioning so that there's always both intervening terrain and an easy out. A typical brawling fight is a lot of armor rolling while trying to out box the opponent in what is essentially a game of attrition between the damage being taken/dealt and the heat sustainability of that output. What the Shadow Cat does in a "brawl" is less brawl, more close range skirmisher. Or a striker. It never sits there and takes it. Not even against equal foes. That isn't how you do it, and it is a fundamental difference between the two methods.