5 replies to this topic

[Odd Thomas]

Have been primarily brawling. Would like to try Missiles.
Any advantage to Thunderbolts over LRMs?
Thanks

[Void Angel]

Thunderbolts are shorter-range, and have less ammo per ton, I think - but they hit harder for each missile, and they tend to spread less (that's why their spread was increased last month.) General consensus is that Thunderbolts are better than LRMs for most purposes.

[martian]

Odd Thomas, on 07 June 2024 - 10:42 AM, said:

Have been primarily brawling. Would like to try Missiles.
Any advantage to Thunderbolts over LRMs?
Thanks

TBMs ...

• have a shorter minimum range
  
• even within that minimum range they do a half damage (LRMs would bounce off harmlessly)
  
• fly faster
  
• deliver more concentrated damage
  
• often hit CT

On the other hand, TBMs ....

• have shorter maximum range than LRMs
  
• carry less ammo than LRMs
  
• are heavier than LRMs
  
• can not be upgraded with Artemis IV Fire Control System

Edited by martian, 07 June 2024 - 11:12 AM.

[Odd Thomas]

Thanks for the speedy helpful replies Void Angel and martian,

[w0qj]

1. SRM/MRM are for brawling...

LRM are longer range attacks...

I would argue that TBM / ATM are more standoff weapons somewhere in between above two extremes...
~Specifically, the TBM's heavy weight coupled with the TBM minimum range means enemy would try to enter your minimum range where you can only do half damage... but heavy TBM means your mech is relatively immobile vs enemy mech

2. In MechDB 2.0 look for missile quirks:
https://mwo.nav-alpha.com/mechs
==>On lower left "quirks" corner, you can search mechs for missile quirks such as:
~Missile Velocity
~Velocity [for all weapons]
~Missile cooldown
~Cooldown
~Missile heat
~Heat
~Missile Spread
~Spread
~HSL

3. You can also look for +HSL Missile quirks here:
https://mwomercs.com...-hsl-quirk-list

ymmv

Edited by w0qj, 08 June 2024 - 01:26 AM.

[VeeOt Dragon]

also keep in mind that using LRM/TBM/ATM requires a different mindset and play style than pretty much any other weapon system in the game. brawling and even sniping weapons are the same in that it is simply point at target (perhaps lead a bit for some weapons) and click. Locking weapons take more forethought in your targeting not to mention time. you also have to have much better map knowledge since you might not always be firing at a target you can see. (also make sure to fully invest in the target retention skill)

with LRM your best range should be under 500m even with a heavily quirked mech since they travel at the speed of smell. TBMs are batter to the full max range (even if that max range is shorter than with LRM) since they travel faster than LRM. as for range always remember that the weapon calculates range based on flight path not true range. for the sake of simplicity we will say your LRMs have a range of 1k, if you fire your shot at a target 1k away the missiles will self detonate before hitting the target because of the arc of travel.

Edited by VeeOt Dragon, 08 June 2024 - 08:21 AM.