14 replies to this topic

[Chryckan]

Just returned to the game after a long hiatus. Before I always played mostly inner sphere mechs (still do since that's the mechs that I own), but returning I thought I'd join the clans to change things up a bit.

But which mechs do you recommended to get first.

I do have a Nova-S(C) and Timber Wolf-C(C) that I don't really know what to do with.

But I figure I'd aim to get at least 1 new mech from each class. A good one that can actually hold its own, as in being fairly close to the meta and is fairly newb forgiving. (I tend to like the ugly duckling when it comes to IS mechs such as Orions, Uziels, Spiders and Vindicators, which probably explains my K/D ratio more than anything.)

I kind of like the Ebon Jaguar and the MadCat 2, for heavy and assault, only because they look so iconic. Not sure they are any good. And I rather have a good mech than a good looking mech tbh.

As for medium I remember I always hated getting wrecked by Stormcrows even though I think it looks kind of funky. Not sure if they are still good. Haven't seen that many.
As for lights I have no opinion.

[epikt]

Welcome back!

Here are few suggestions with some examples of builds (most taken from Grimmechs because I'm lazy), but to be honest probably only reliable for lights and mediums since it's what I pilot the most.


Lights:
- Kit-Fox (onmimech): slow-ish, but heavily armed and possible ECM and JJs. As an omnimech, it has great variety of builds. But most of the strongest builds require the Purifier (hero) torso omnipods. Examples: ASRM6 KFX-D, ERMLas KFX-PR,...
- Incubus: fast, with extremely well placed weapons, but kinda squishy. Prefer mid/long range. Example: HLLas+LMG INC-2, ERMLas INC-4,...
- Piranha: very small, fast and heavily armed, but very fragile. Prefer close range. Examples: MG+ERµLas PIR-1, µPLas PIR-2,...

Mediums:
- Vapor-Eagle: not the best mounts but pack a lot of punch with good mobility. Accross the variants you can do pretty much what you want (but not omni => have to buy multiple mechs). Examples: ERPPC VGL-1, LB20+ASMR6 VGL-A, UAC2 VGL-2, LB10+ERPPC VGL-2, and much much more (heavy vomit, MPLas, ATMs, etc)
- Shadow-Cat (omnimech): fast, with a lot of JJ and ECM capable = very annoying to fight and pretty enjoyableto pilot. Example: ERPPC+ECM, HLLas+ERMLas+LMG,...
- Hunchback-IIC: mostly the -A variant (though the regular HKB-IIC is fine too). Good mounts and a lot of energy hardpoints, plus JJs. Examples: heavy vomit, poptart,...

...

to be honest I'm kind of tired, so I stop here. As I said, I don't pilot much heavies and assaults anyway.
But here are few popuplar builds:

Heavies:
https://mwo.nav-alph...=7e09942e_TBR-S
https://mwo.nav-alph...=9039573e_NTG-H
https://mwo.nav-alph...=d9f5347f_NTG-D
https://mwo.nav-alph...=118493a3_SMN-G
https://mwo.nav-alph...=ffe7971b_SNS-D
https://mwo.nav-alph...f4b49_HBR-PRIME

Assaults:
https://mwo.nav-alph...cadd178_MAD-IIC
https://mwo.nav-alph...=25e0425c_KDK-3
https://mwo.nav-alph...=32a0e319_DWF-C

For more builds, wait for other comment or go to Grimmechs.

[TheCaptainJZ]

The Timberwolf you have is a great choice. It does best with laser vomit imo but with different omnipods you can mount any weapon effectively. It's not a good ballistic platform, but you can mount some of those as well. Not only is it perhaps the most iconic Battletech mech to anyone introduced to the franchise in the 90s, but it's a great mech with lots of versatility too.

Your Nova gives you fewer options. Best bet is still a laser boat. There's omnipods that let you carry some other weapons but it's got limits with crit space. It just doesn't hold up armor-wise very well imo.

Edited by TheCaptainJZ, 06 June 2023 - 12:53 PM.

[Void Angel]

Chryckan, on 06 June 2023 - 01:29 AM, said:

Just returned to the game after a long hiatus. Before I always played mostly inner sphere mechs (still do since that's the mechs that I own), but returning I thought I'd join the clans to change things up a bit.

But which mechs do you recommended to get first.

I do have a Nova-S(C) and Timber Wolf-C(C) that I don't really know what to do with.

But I figure I'd aim to get at least 1 new mech from each class. A good one that can actually hold its own, as in being fairly close to the meta and is fairly newb forgiving. (I tend to like the ugly duckling when it comes to IS mechs such as Orions, Uziels, Spiders and Vindicators, which probably explains my K/D ratio more than anything.)

I kind of like the Ebon Jaguar and the MadCat 2, for heavy and assault, only because they look so iconic. Not sure they are any good. And I rather have a good mech than a good looking mech tbh.

As for medium I remember I always hated getting wrecked by Stormcrows even though I think it looks kind of funky. Not sure if they are still good. Haven't seen that many.
As for lights I have no opinion.

My go-to Clan 'mechs are the Ebon Jaguar, various Blood Asps, Mad Cat Mk II, the Sun Spider, and the Shadow Cat. The Sun Spider D with dakka is an amazing damage dealer with good mobility; that's a very meta build you should definitely try. I also enjoy my Pakhet (Huntsman) build with stock omnipods (SRMs and MPLs,) but it can be hard to get your licks in if the match gravitates toward a long-range meta. Similarly, I have an SRM/MPL Linebacker that can be fun as a fast flanker and Light bully, and there's some great Clan Lights around, but I haven't explored them as much since I began playing more often.

Something to remember about Clan 'mechs in general is that they generally have much weaker survival quirks compared to Inner Sphere 'mechs. This is fine; it's a deliberate choice to balance their superior range and cooling potential, but it also means that the Blood Asp, for example, has literally no torso omnipod available for the entire chassis that has both a weapon hardpoint and any kind of armor/structure bonus quirk. It's one of my favorite Assaults, mind; but it's a weapons platform, and while it is still 90 tons, it will not absorb a lot of punishment for its weight class.

[Chryckan]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm glad to see that the Shadow Cat still seems viable. Last I played it was seemed as all it could do was poptarting and was following that meta into obscurity. But since it too is one iconic clan mech it is nice to see it alive and kicking ***.

One thing I've noticed while trying out the trial mechs for the current event is that clan mechs seems very good stock. I'm used to getting stock IS mechs and wondering why my new medium has an AC20, LRMs 5s, narc, no leg armour while being slower than a direwhale.
Take the trial Blood Asp, I got 3 kills and over 500 damage my one and only game in it and I honestly spent most of my time being lost on the Hellebore map trying to find the domination circle than actually fighting. I doubt I'd change a thing from that build If I ever got that mech.
Same thing with my nova. I'm not particularly fond of it but the stock build is decent.

[epikt]

Chryckan, on 07 June 2023 - 01:20 AM, said:

I'm glad to see that the Shadow Cat still seems viable. Last I played it was seemed as all it could do was poptarting and was following that meta into obscurity. But since it too is one iconic clan mech it is nice to see it alive and kicking ***.

Well, it's still mostly a poptart. But there are some other builds, maybe more situational but viable, like the lasers+MGs I linked in my first message, or other fun stuff like streaks or SRMs. You can even mount UAC/2s on it, which is a bit silly ^^

Quote

One thing I've noticed while trying out the trial mechs for the current event is that clan mechs seems very good stock. I'm used to getting stock IS mechs and wondering why my new medium has an AC20, LRMs 5s, narc, no leg armour while being slower than a direwhale.
Take the trial Blood Asp, I got 3 kills and over 500 damage my one and only game in it and I honestly spent most of my time being lost on the Hellebore map trying to find the domination circle than actually fighting. I doubt I'd change a thing from that build If I ever got that mech.
Same thing with my nova. I'm not particularly fond of it but the stock build is decent.

Do not confuse trial mechs and stock mechs.
It's true that stock IS mechs are much worst than the clans and usually require upgrades to make them viable. It's because clans use a more recent technology in the Battletech lore.
Trial mechs are no longer stock (for like 8 years or something), some are better than others but all are kind of optimized. The trial Blood-Asp is indeed very good, but on the IS side so is the Annihilator.

[Storky]

IS also has got some new weapons - LGauss, HGauss, MRMs, UACs, ERMeds, 3 various PPCs and a "clan" BAP

[Horseman]

Mad Cat Mk II B is fairly decent on the assault side. On the light side, Kit Fox D with ASRMs. Do you have any particular range preference?

[Void Angel]

Chryckan, on 07 June 2023 - 01:20 AM, said:

Take the trial Blood Asp, I got 3 kills and over 500 damage my one and only game in it and I honestly spent most of my time being lost on the Hellebore map trying to find the domination circle than actually fighting. I doubt I'd change a thing from that build If I ever got that mech.
Same thing with my nova. I'm not particularly fond of it but the stock build is decent.

As someone else noted, Trial 'mechs are no longer stock - they're custom builds optimized for players new to the chassis, so you should expect them to perform better than, say, a stock Hunchback. On that note, though: there's a misconception that Clan 'mechs are more expensive than Inner Sphere 'mechs, but that's generally not true. The reason the price tag on a new Clan 'mech is so much higher than IS chassis in the same weight class is that the Clan 'mech already has its upgrades. In most cases, an Inner Sphere 'mech will require extensive refitting to be viable in MWO. When you factor that in, the costs for either faction's 'mechs is roughly the same.

[Chryckan]

Horseman, on 07 June 2023 - 01:08 PM, said:

Mad Cat Mk II B is fairly decent on the assault side. On the light side, Kit Fox D with ASRMs. Do you have any particular range preference?

Not really, however the only good builds I seem to be able to make are brawler or mrm builds. I guess if I have to choose I'd say medium and short range builds, mostly because long range snipers seldom seem to carry their weight on teams. I certainly don't when I try it.

I have however discovered that I can't make builds for clan mechs worth a damn. Mostly because I always run out of slots before running out of tonnage or hardpoints. And of course, those builds that looks decent are all short range brawlers which kind of suffers in the long range, sniping game that seems to be to meta or at least the favourite playstyle atm.

[Void Angel]

Long-range builds are about two things: positioning, and marksmanship. You have to know where to stand, how to get there, when to move, and when to stay put - this involves correctly interpreting where the fight is headed, and knowing where to find good sight lines to that area.

For long-range Clan 'mechs, you're looking at three general build styles; dakka, sniper, or Laser Rave.

For dakka, you're of course relying on autocannons. This Blood Asp, for example, or a Sun Spider D.
With sniper builds, you're looking at either Gauss Rifles (possibly combined with ER lasers,) or ERPPCs (and lots of heat sinks.) This Dire Wolf is a Gaussvomit build.
And then there's the ever beloved Clanner Skyline Laser Rave (more commonly referred to as "laser vomit,") which as a long-range build consists of ERLLs (somtimes LPLs,) and heat sinks, with possibly a targeting computer for extra range and crit chance - after all, it doesn't matter if lasers point both ways if their weapons can't reach you when they shoot back.

With all of these builds, especially ERPPCs and Lasers, it is important to pay attention to the Heat Scale Limits of the weapons you're using: the Supernova I linked has a quirk allowing it to fire three ERLLs without penalty heat, and firing two ERPPCs within .5 seconds of a pair of Gauss Rifles will produce 90.32 heat, likely melting you down into commemorative ingots.

Edited by Void Angel, 08 June 2023 - 01:36 PM.

[w0qj]

Joining the Dark Side, are you?

Clan Hero Omnimech mechs are my favorite, mix+match to your heart's content, with CBills bonus too!

[Chryckan]

I'm sort of curious about ATMs since that is a weapon system I've actually never used. It being unique and all to the clans.

So what mech is the best ATM platform among the clans. Preferably, one with some other back up weapons but where the ATM is the primary damage dealer. Class doesn't really matter. Be it a light, an assault or anything in between the key is that it true when you state that no other mech can do ATMs better.

[TheCaptainJZ]

Well any mech with good missile hardpoints, preferably high on the mech like a side torso mount. I've got my Huntsman kitted out for ATMs but there isn't a specific mech that is best for it. Think of ATMs as brawling weapons best used within 300m or so.
You may be able to find a Clan mech that has some missile quirks too but I don't know of any ATM specific ones.

Edited by TheCaptainJZ, 13 June 2023 - 03:41 PM.

[Horseman]

Chryckan, on 08 June 2023 - 08:11 AM, said:

Not really, however the only good builds I seem to be able to make are brawler or mrm builds. I guess if I have to choose I'd say medium and short range builds, mostly because long range snipers seldom seem to carry their weight on teams.

Being effective as a sniper requires you to minimize exposure while maintaining line of sight to the enemy. Not exactly easy to apply in practice, no.

Quote

I have however discovered that I can't make builds for clan mechs worth a damn. Mostly because I always run out of slots before running out of tonnage or hardpoints. And of course, those builds that looks decent are all short range brawlers which kind of suffers in the long range, sniping game that seems to be to meta or at least the favourite playstyle atm.

Try this one: https://mwo.nav-alph...=7e88f60c_NTG-D