12 replies to this topic

[Reposter]

Hi guys, I am trying to decide if it is worth it getting an ECM Medium mech. I am not sure if I should get an Inner Sphere or Clan Mech. Would appreciate some insight and suggestions from fellow players.

Thanks for any input.

[Jep Jorgensson]

That depends on your play style. All of the Clan Medium ECM mechs I can think of are omnimechs so you cannot put a different engine in it if you wanted, so you need to take that into account.

The Arctic Wolf is a 40-tonner with a semi-decent mix of hardpoints and thus roles.

The Shadow Cat is a 45-tonner and a good sniper and comes with jump jets and MASC.

The Ice Ferret is a 45-tonner and is very fast, but at the cost of very limited tonnage for weapons.

The Black Lanner is a 55-tonner and also fast and has MASC, but also at the cost of very limited tonnage for weapons.

So it is up to you.

[admiralbenbow123]

IS mediums are a good choise as well, since IS has access to stealth armor (which is actually one of the best counters to LRMs).
The good ones that I can think of are:
1)The Ghillie (Enforcer) hero. It comes stock with a gauss rifle and can be turned into a gauss sniper with stealth armor and JJs or into an ECM brawler.
2)Cicada is a good flanking and skirmishing mech but is a little boxy and easy to hit in my opinion.
3)Assassin is actually one of the best mediums in the game because of its torso hitboxes which allow it to safely carry an XL engine.
4)Hellspawn is a good poptarting mech with enough pod space for it's tonnage and with good enough hitboxes to carry an XL engine safely.

[Steel Raven]

Griffin 2N has ECM. Jump jets, 2 Missile Hardpoints on ether torso and s 2 Energy Hardpoints on the right arm. 4 SRM 6's have been a favorite though it's one of the beefier mediums to brawl in and has been overshadowed by the Bushwacker and Assassin. Using 4X MRM and 2X medium lasers myself.

2 Phoenix Hawks also has ECM, the PXH-2 and PXH-1B.

The Assassin is probably the tankiest for it's weight thanks to it's WTH!? hit boxes.

[Dragonporn]

Clan because it takes less space. For IS if there's nothing else you can shove in, or you simply can't live without it.

[admiralbenbow123]

Dragonporn, on 20 October 2018 - 06:48 PM, said:

Clan because it takes less space. For IS if there's nothing else you can shove in, or you simply can't live without it.

But clans don't have stealth armor.

[Brizna]

ECM capable clan medium mechs are lacklustre. Probably the best is Shadow Cat but bear in mind it is shoehorned into medium-long range harasser role.

As mentioned earlier, Ghillie is a solid ECM medium mech, it is only available for MCs but PGI is handing them out all the time, I recommend it since it has good hit boxes, reasonable hard points and can be built flexibly

[Mister Maf]

Griffin 2N is decent, not great. Cicada and Assassin are very good flanker mechs, functionally they're basically the heaviest lights in terms of role. Shadow Cat is good for long range harassment. I can't really speak for the Ghillie but on paper it seems pretty well-rounded; just save up your MC from events and wait for it to go on a hero sale if you want it.

[Pariah Devalis]

Brizna, on 21 October 2018 - 03:15 AM, said:

ECM capable clan medium mechs are lacklustre. Probably the best is Shadow Cat but bear in mind it is shoehorned into medium-long range harasser role.

I very much disagree with the statement that it is "shoehorned into medium-long range harasser." My primary SHC is run as a close range SRM brawler, and it is quite capable of it, given it has firepower similar to Bushwackers or Huntsmen in raw SRM damage, and provides a uniquely mobile platform that not even the ACW matches. That said, if you were to focus on brawling, the ECM isn't worth it for the SHC with one exception: 3x SSRM6 and ECM makes a nasty anti-light and anti-smaller-medium platform, and is still technically a close range mech.

That said, SHC can function well enough with ATM or LRM for mid-long range engagements, or with twin LPLas for long range poking. Both set ups probably benefit from the ECM more than the brawler fits. Cockpit In Line weapons make poking a breeze, and the small profile minimizes exposure. Further, all SHC are an absolute joy to pilot. They just move so well! Just don't forget you have MASC. One uses it not for the speed boost, though that can be nice to quickly move about, but primarily for the turning speed, acceleration, and deceleration boosts it provides.

Quote

As mentioned earlier, Ghillie is a solid ECM medium mech, it is only available for MCs but PGI is handing them out all the time, I recommend it since it has good hit boxes, reasonable hard points and can be built flexibly

Would second this. For its weight, the Ghillie is a nasty gauss/ermlas stealth sniper. Solid pick for mid-range to longer range engagements. There is also the ECM assassin, which is a very capable brawler, as well, with SRM. Spreads damage stupidly well between its physical design and its bouncy walk animation.

Grif is also a classic brawler. Before the Bushi, it was stupidly popular for IS scouting decks. Effective mech, but easy torsos to isolate.

Edit:

Note that if you intend to use an ECM, spend the points in the skill tree to actually use it the right way. Otherwise it's extra weight better spent elsewhere.

Edited by Pariah Devalis, 21 October 2018 - 06:59 AM.

[Tarl Cabot]

Quote

Note that if you intend to use an ECM, spend the points in the skill tree to actually use it the right way. Otherwise it's extra weight better spent elsewhere.
Edited by Pariah Devalis, Today, 09:59 AM.

Quoted to simply stress this. Spend the points.

[Steel Raven]

Take not Stealth Armor retains all of your heat after last patch

[Spheroid]

You can get one free from this Halloween event. There is no need to agonize over whether to spend c-bills.

[Dragonporn]

ECM is pretty useful for Clan Mediums because they are wet paper, and explode after few missile hits. Black Lanner, Shadowcat or Arctic Wolf are kinda begging to run with ECM, especially first two. It is only 1 slot/1 ton so you can always find a spot to shove it. ECM (upgraded) isn't only made to protect mech against Lurms, but Streaks + ATMs, it is also helps you to hide your damaged components and overall enemy is less likely to shoot or notice ECM mech in comparison to non-ECM one. For Clan Lights I think it is even more crucial to run ECM, and again, space helps a ton, unlike IS, where you have to sacrifice a lot more.

IS are a lot tougher, Mediums with good mobility can easily take few hits from missiles and retreat behind cover. 1.5 tons / 2 slots makes it pretty hard to find a spot for ECM unlike Clans. And yes, Stealth Armor is a gimmick useful for only very specific builds.