Hey, a warm welcome to MWO!
I have all Atlas variants; let's compare notes!
(That's why I joined MWO, but that's a different story!).
Toto the [Table_View] of MechDB 2.0 and look for Atlas
https://mwo.nav-alpha.com/mechs
1. Atlas agility has been greatly enhanced by MWO/Cauldron last year.
And much better torso twist, to the point that one can finally use Atlas' arms to shield from damage!
2. Almost all Atlas' weapon hardpoints are all around the waist area; Atlas mainly for brawling on level ground.
Atlas' arm weapons are scraping the ground (OK, I exaggerated a bit, but you get the point!)
Even the Atlas' torso ballistic weapons are just above the waist area. (Hence LT/RT weapons preferred).
Look in the [MechLab]>>[Camo_Spec] for a view!
3a. All Atlas variants have these very strong points, for durability + sustained damage output:
~Insane amounts of armor + structure
~Amazing -10% Heat Gen
~Monster -40% Crit Chance Receiving
3b. You also look at the mech quirks in each Atlas variants, along with weapon hardpoints to find Atlas that fits your playing style!
4. General pointers for selecting which Atlas variant is for you:
~Most players look only at the LT/RT weapon hardpoints; that's where most/all your main weapons would be located!
~RT: some prefer 2x Ballistic hardpoints (eg: 2x LBX10, 2x RAC2 or 2xRAC5)==>(AS7-D, AS7-D-DC, AS7-K3).
Or just use one BIG gun (UAC20, AC20, LBX20).
~LT: for SRM you need variants with 3x Missile hardpoints (AS7-D-DC, AS7-S).
Or just use MRM which is scalable to your needs.
~Atlas arm weapons (if any) are almost always secondary weapons. Some even shave armor from arms for more ammo, more DHS, etc.
5. Notable Atlas Variants:
Atlas Kraken hero mech has -10% Cooldown and +10% Range for
all weapons!
All hero mechs are available for MC, or for real world cash.
AS7-D-DC: ECM, and Stealth Armor option! LT/RT with 2x Ballistic and 3x Missile hardpoints is very versatile!
I liked this so much that I've bought the
Platinum Collection AS7-D-DC(P).
Note: Atlas with lots of armor/structure + ECM = ...deadly
Atlas AS7-K3 has ECM, and +10% Weapon Velocity for
all weapons! I personally do not use JJ on K3 though.
Lots of bonus arm armor for shielding (or use the bonus armor tonnage for more ammo, DHS).
Fast Atlas: Only AS7-BH (Boar's Head hero mech), & AS7-K3 can field the very heaviest 400-engine if you wish!
(Other Atlas variants max 360-engine. Most folks use 300-engine or at most 325-engine for more weapons though).
AS7-D: Ballistic cooldown, Ballistic weapons velocity quirks!
AS7-K:
de facto global weapons cooldown, with additional Gauss cooldown on top of this! Only 1x Gauss though...
- - - - - - - - - -
If you must have just
one Atlas, may I suggest you consider:
AS7-KR (Atlas Kraken hero mech: global -10% Cooldown, +10% Range!)
AS7-D-DC (ECM + flexible LT/RT 2B+3M weapons mount)
AS7-K3 (ECM + JJ + Weapons velocity)
AS7-D (
good Ballastic + Missile quirks, flexible LT/RT 2B+2M weapons mount)
Do have
fun choosing your Atlas to use!
Edited by w0qj, 03 May 2022 - 04:57 PM.