131 replies to this topic

[Shaitan Kerensky]

In the last few months, I have grown to adore the ACW-1 (Arctic Wolf). I don't see many since they are only 40 tons and lack the speed of lights or the armor of the heavier mediums, but I think that they are more powerful than most realize. They can run an 8 srm6 build and are absolutely terrifying in close combat (96 alpha). If you get comfortable with how to maneuver them to avoid focus fire, they can usually 1v1 most mechs, including those much heavier. Since they are small mediums, they are often ignored compared to the larger, heavier mechs and it is especially funny to run up behind someone and one shot them when they are focused on a more "threatening" ally.

What other mechs have you played or played against that you feel the community mistakenly dismisses or overlooks and why should one keep an eye out for? Before I had tried the Arctic Wolf, I would have dismissed them as well so I am wondering what other mechs I might have overlooked.

[Leone]

I've also managed to tank ~450 damage with 'em. The Arctic Wolf A right torso carries ECM to help protect the paper doll and hide your loadout. They are fun if a bit slow and overgunned for their size. Which I tend to prefer anyways.

~Leone.

[Shaitan Kerensky]

Leone, on 08 July 2021 - 01:52 PM, said:

I've also managed to tank ~450 damage with 'em. The Arctic Wolf A right torso carries ECM to help protect the paper doll and hide your loadout. They are fun if a bit slow and overgunned for their size. Which I tend to prefer anyways.

~Leone.

I prefer the 1 because of the larger number of missile hardpoints but I do always wish I could drop some ammo for ecm or jumpjets.

For those unaware, the Artic Wolf is an odd mech since it has Battle Mech and Omni Mech variants. ECM belongs to the Omni variants while the 1 is a Battle Mech

[Bud Crue]

Arctic Wolves are not underrated for some of the very reasons you identify (small mech, big potential alpha). I don't know anybody who would ignore an Arctic Wolf once it gets close.

But for truly underrated mechs? Try an Ice Ferret. They get constantly bad mouthed but with MPL they are remarkably tanky and can put up a heck of a fight. Same with the Kintaro Golden Boy set up to brawl. Wub vomit Jager Firebrand too. Oh, and the Srm2x4 Locust can be amazing, but I for one have always dismissed it...until I didn't.

[Shaitan Kerensky]

Bud Crue, on 08 July 2021 - 02:03 PM, said:

Arctic Wolves are not underrated for some of the very reasons you identify (small mech, big potential alpha). I don't know anybody who would ignore an Arctic Wolf once it gets close.

But for truly underrated mechs? Try an Ice Ferret. They get constantly bad mouthed but with MPL they are remarkably tanky and can put up a heck of a fight. Same with the Kintaro Golden Boy set up to brawl. Wub vomit Jager Firebrand too. Oh, and the Srm2x4 Locust can be amazing, but I for one have always dismissed it...until I didn't.

Ice Ferrets always make me laugh cause they look like a fridge on legs but they are fast and fun to play with friends. Locusts are always a threat, no matter their loadout (imho) but that build does seem to be a good backstabber

[1453 R]

Chilly Hamsters are one of the 'Mechs that makes me most wish "a single cERPPC" was still a credible armament for a smaller 'Mech. In the tabletop games, and even in HBS BattleTech, one singular cERPPC was a thundering hypercannon you couldn't ignore no matter what it's mounted on, and it made 'mechs like the Chilly Hamster (or the Summoner) which focused on packing one high-speed cERPPC around a very real threat as a skirmisher.

In MWO? Lawlnah. One of literally anything but an AC/20 is a waste of time, and Clan peeps are so bloody hot and have such a stupid high cycle time that they're absolutely smack-useless as anything but sniping weapons. Especially since a third of their damage is bled off as splash damage that doesn't generally help you for snot. Ugh.

[Shaitan Kerensky]

1453 R, on 08 July 2021 - 02:20 PM, said:

Chilly Hamsters are one of the 'Mechs that makes me most wish "a single cERPPC" was still a credible armament for a smaller 'Mech. In the tabletop games, and even in HBS BattleTech, one singular cERPPC was a thundering hypercannon you couldn't ignore no matter what it's mounted on, and it made 'mechs like the Chilly Hamster (or the Summoner) which focused on packing one high-speed cERPPC around a very real threat as a skirmisher.

In MWO? Lawlnah. One of literally anything but an AC/20 is a waste of time, and Clan peeps are so bloody hot and have such a stupid high cycle time that they're absolutely smack-useless as anything but sniping weapons. Especially since a third of their damage is bled off as splash damage that doesn't generally help you for snot. Ugh.

Wish we could give our mechs nicknames lol. would totally name my Artic Wolf "The Honey Badger"

Yeah, boating is my preferred set up aside from some of the larger ballistics

[Remover of Obstacles]

Don't you mean fastest clan mech?

https://mech.nav-alp...#7d2ffffc_ACW-1

[Shaitan Kerensky]

Remover of Obstacles, on 08 July 2021 - 02:31 PM, said:

Don't you mean fastest clan mech?

https://mech.nav-alp...#7d2ffffc_ACW-1

I might have to try this lol

[1453 R]

Shaitan Kerensky, on 08 July 2021 - 02:27 PM, said:

Wish we could give our mechs nicknames lol. would totally name my Artic Wolf "The Honey Badger"

Yeah, boating is my preferred set up aside from some of the larger ballistics

You can absolutely give your 'Mechs nicknames. The UI for it is miniscule and super easy to miss even if you know exactly where it is. On the clock so I can't screengrab it, but in the upper-right corner of the 'Mech bay loadout screen, look for the little pencil "Edit" icon next to the ACW-1 designation for your Arctic Wolf.

I dislike boating as a general thing. I enjoy mixed armaments with some versatility to them - I can run clusters of weapons just fine, but things like "shove 5-7 cMPLs on your Chilly Hamster and it's great" bores me to tears. That said, may try some heavy laser nonsense with it later. At least in T5 where I play, there's very few bad Clan machines that heavy lasers can't salvage in some configuration.

[Shaitan Kerensky]

1453 R, on 08 July 2021 - 02:42 PM, said:

You can absolutely give your 'Mechs nicknames. The UI for it is miniscule and super easy to miss even if you know exactly where it is. On the clock so I can't screengrab it, but in the upper-right corner of the 'Mech bay loadout screen, look for the little pencil "Edit" icon next to the ACW-1 designation for your Arctic Wolf.

I'm assuming though that the nickname is just something that doesnt show up in a match?

Edited by Shaitan Kerensky, 08 July 2021 - 02:46 PM.

[1453 R]

Shaitan Kerensky, on 08 July 2021 - 02:46 PM, said:

I'm assuming though that the nickname is just something that doesnt show up in a match?

Nah. That would be prone to abuse, people changing their designations into designations of other 'Mechs and other such tombuggery. It's for your own funsies, enemy targeting systems will identify you as ACW-1 regardless.

[JediPanther]

cptl-c1 lrm 15x2 4ml build with all the extras. 5 tons of counter ecm equipment and full fire power nodes.

[Escef]

Any of the less frequently used mechs seems to have a weird psychological advantage: people don't seem to register them as credible threats compared to more popular mechs. Before the massive PPC quirks, few people played Summoners. And I had several matches with UAC10/ERPPC/SSRM4 on the Prime where I was able to deal a shocking amount of damage with little to no return fire because people just straight up ignored me in favor of firing upon the more meta-compliant mechs.

Right now, specifically, though? I'd say the Charger. Specifically the 1A5. It can pack near-Atlas levels of firepower with max armor and respectable speed.

[Volraththefallen]

Discovering your own mech builds and customizing them to your tastes is the only reason I play this game. I come up with my own mech builds that kick *** and run them, been doing it since early beta. Cant stand people who load up " meta mechs " or " mech tier list " mechs off other people and say " this is the meta build " ... give me a break. You didn't build it so you don't really know!

Playing a meta mech you copied off a website/person is another way of saying " this person who thinks hes a good player has an opinion that this is the best mech build, so therefore it is the best meta mech! " Its actually not true, its just an opinion.

If you want to actually be a pro at this game, you have to go your own way and use builds YOU thought of, and YOU figured out, and run them competitively. Then make adjustments as needed. Dont worry what other people do, worry about what YOU do.

[My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ]

JediPanther, on 08 July 2021 - 03:36 PM, said:

cptl-c1 lrm 15x2 4ml build with all the extras. 5 tons of counter ecm equipment and full fire power nodes.

How do you have '5 tons of counter ecm equipment' when a BAP only weighs 1.5t?

[MechNexus]

Honestly?

The Hellfire as anything but an ATM/LRM boat.

Seriously, whenever I see one of these things it's always running something like that, but they're more than capable of being speedly little skirmishers, especially the -A and the hero variants. Granted, their hitboxes ain't the greatest, but it's no Centurion if you get me.

[RickySpanish]

Wolverine 7K 3xMRM-20

[w0qj]

How about Mauler MAL-2P with 6x MPL and 2x UAC?
It's not as agile as Cyclops, also at 90tons, but MAL-2P is a monster

1453 R, on 08 July 2021 - 02:42 PM, said:

...I dislike boating as a general thing. I enjoy mixed armaments with some versatility to them - I can run clusters of weapons just fine, but things like "shove 5-7 cMPLs on your Chilly Hamster and it's great" bores me to tears. That said, may try some heavy laser nonsense with it later. At least in T5 where I play, there's very few bad Clan machines that heavy lasers can't salvage in some configuration.

[JediPanther]

Monke-, on 08 July 2021 - 04:39 PM, said:

How do you have '5 tons of counter ecm equipment' when a BAP only weighs 1.5t?

You'll have to figure it out on your own like I did. Have fun building. Also I max out sensor tree and love my uavs. My cats can get their own locks and 1 vs 1 lights.