30 replies to this topic

[VerKa]

Tired of being stabbed in the back by a stealth light. If you are in a heavy or assault you stand no chance. PGI needs to remedy this.

[MechWarrior414712]

put more back armor if thats your problem?

[w0qj]

A softer welcome to MWO forums!

As a fellow Assault mech player:

1. Stay with your main group; never go alone as an Assault.

2. If you want, consider Seismic Sensors Skill tree (must get the full 200m). Need to stand still to detect nearby enemies.

3. Consider more Anchor Turn skill nodes for an Assault.

4. Practice walking backward into a wall/corner when fighting a Light, to protect your back.

5. Release a UAV to help spot the Light mech(s!) running around you in circles...

ymmv

[pbiggz]

VerKa, on 29 January 2025 - 10:59 AM, said:

Tired of being stabbed in the back by a stealth light. If you are in a heavy or assault you stand no chance. PGI needs to remedy this.

They have like 30 armor. You have an alpha greater than that. Stop panicking. Shoot them.

[w0qj]

Just had a game where my Bullshark BSK-M did 5 kills, 800+ damage... yet our team lost...

11-10 on our side near the end, our Warthog ran out of ammo... so it's my BSK-M vs Pirates Bane...

I had seismic sensors, faster Anchor Turn... but eventually got Death By A Thousand Cuts...

My 2x UAC10 + 2x UAC5 + 2x LPL could not land a solid alpha on this last enemy, eventually got CT (from the front!)

So "just hit it" really depends on the skill of the pilot (yeah, I admit it)...

Epic game nevertheless...

Edited by w0qj, 29 January 2025 - 01:26 PM.

[pbiggz]

Absolutely its a question of skill. The first step in attaining that skill is not making a thread like this, and instead asking "how can I get better at shooting lights". If OP is here posting so he can get things nerfed, he has already conceded that he's not interested in learning. He's committed to a loss in every battle ahead of him.

Edited by pbiggz, 29 January 2025 - 01:15 PM.

[VerKa]

I admit that as a lower tier 5 player I suck, but still don't like being backstabbed.

[w0qj]

Situational awareness and Assault Mech Positioning is a whole new ballgame...

I myself keep a sharp eye on all the Light Mechs on your HUD (both number, type, direction, etc.) and guess where are the Light mechs going even after they've fallen off the radar...

and avoid packs of Light Mechs by staying close to your main group...

VerKa, on 29 January 2025 - 01:37 PM, said:

I admit that as a lower tier 5 player I suck, but still don't like being backstabbed.

[Meep Meep]

Seismic.

[TELEFORCE]

You must have maxed-out seismic sensors. They've saved me many times. A sneaky light thinks they're really sneaky trying to make me guess which side of the way they come out. They do and usually eat a combination of laser vomit, LBX, and maybe a Narc

[kalashnikity]

VerKa, on 29 January 2025 - 10:59 AM, said:

Tired of being stabbed in the back by a stealth light. If you are in a heavy or assault you stand no chance. PGI needs to remedy this.

If you are in a tall assault, with no arm mounted weapons, you are cooked... they will simply face tank you and you can only shoot over their head.

Try and walk backwards into a wall, if possible.

I usually take turn rate skills, to be sure I can get them in my sights.

Use your command wheel to call for help, hopefully someone is nearby (try and stay with the main group, going alone is a good way to die the first time you encounter a 2 or more enemies.

Seismic skill is a great suggestion, I usually don't use it though, and generally only on brawl builds.

[Moadebe]

Seismic Sensor is your friend. Learn to use it well and nothing can sneak up on you.

Be aware of your teams own positioning. If you are a slow mech and you are the last one in the conga line. Know you are the first fish targeted by those fast movers. Never stop moving even if your team does. Not until you are in the middle of the pack.

Good luck out there

[Lanzman]

If you're in an assault with jump jets (I know, right?) it's much faster to turn using the jets than your legs. Sometimes you can surprise that backstabbing light with a face full of SRM6 or AC20 or something.

[LordNothing]

assault pilots need to keep their head on a swivel. situational awareness is critical, and you need to be able to think several moves ahead. if you get into trouble you simply cannot run away.

you are mostly vulnerable to lights when:

you are away from the bulk your team.
you are completely alone.
you are focused on a target.
you are playing catch up in a nascar.
you do not know a squirrel is approaching.
if you afk at spawn for 2 minutes before moving out.
you dont pay attention to your hit indicators, or your radar (even a stealth flea with disrupt your sensors if it gets to close).

know when you are vulnerable and plan accordingly. it also helps if you can think like a light pilot, so play some lights until you start to understand them, this will make you better at predicting their moves.

in addition to seismic and other tips above, also equip a uav always. if you legitimately suspect a light is in the immediate vicinity, drop it and ask for help on the command wheel and try to target it. light hunters love to see assaults in trouble because it usually means free cookies. friendly lerms can also provide assistance. you can knock a stealth mech out of stealth with any ppc or plasma.

Edited by LordNothing, 29 January 2025 - 04:56 PM.

[pbiggz]

VerKa, on 29 January 2025 - 01:37 PM, said:

I admit that as a lower tier 5 player I suck, but still don't like being backstabbed.

I'm glad you've taken the first step. And I say that as a low end tier 3 player. Im basically right down there with ya.

[PurplePuke]

VerKa, on 29 January 2025 - 01:37 PM, said:

I admit that as a lower tier 5 player I suck, but still don't like being backstabbed.

None of us like it. But you get better at avoiding it. It still happens sometimes, though.

When it does, you've got to give the other pilot credit.

[CFC Conky]

Also, when walking in a straight line for any length of time when not engaging/engaged, keep twisting your torso back and forth or at the very least keep it at 90 degrees from your direction of movement.

Not all backstabbing is done from short range.

Good hunting,
CFC Conky

Edited by CFC Conky, 29 January 2025 - 05:35 PM.

[Rosarius]

If I had a dollar for every time I got backstabbed and gave away a dollar for every time I didn't get backstabbed, I'd have negative dollars. Just like in real life

[Stonefalcon]

Lights are a PITA at T1 too, but it's not an issue PGI needs to address, it's a player perception thing. Being a PVP game it's an intentional design choice to create the rock,paper,scissors dynamic.

As to how to counter lights.

For skill nodes get Seismic, this is Number 1. For some Assaults (I'll cop flack for this from some) but Speed Tweak for reasons I'll address later, also consider the UAV nodes in the Utility tree.

For Tactics, being new to the game, don't think you can find a perch to snipe from, you are just making yourself a target. Stay with the team (Hence the Speed Tweak), position yourself in the middle of the pack so it's hard for a light to get up your rear when there's a slow Anni or Dire at the back of the pack whom the light can nibble on instead of your back armour.

If I'm running said slow AF Annihilator or DWF I'll bring extra UAVs, about 60s into the match if you are beginning to lag behind launch a UAV and keep moving, you'll either get the sensor contact or the UAV will die. If the enemy light is a stealth mech, them shooting down the UAV is helping you anyway, for the most part the UAV is a deterrent buying you time to get back into the middle of the pack.

If you do get swarmed, a bunch of people have already said this, but back your butt to a wall.

Lastly, I haven't really seen anyone say this, but shout out on comms for the support, most T1 players are out for themselves but you'll find in the lower tiers people are generally more a team player and likely to assist.

[LordNothing]

CFC Conky, on 29 January 2025 - 05:34 PM, said:

Also, when walking in a straight line for any length of time when not engaging/engaged, keep twisting your torso back and forth or at the very least keep it at 90 degrees from your direction of movement.

Not all backstabbing is done from short range.

Good hunting,
CFC Conky

you know i have backstabed a lot of light mechs that were running away and giving me too much time to aim for the spine. serpentine or die. an assault usually has armor enough to take one shot, lights do not. fat mechs can keep their torso turning instead, wont keep your legs alive though so pay attention to where they are hitting you. in that case best strat is to hold your ground and fight.

Edited by LordNothing, 29 January 2025 - 09:12 PM.