9 replies to this topic

[Ghut Callian the 2nd]

I have recently bought two spider variants-the 5D and 5V, and I need help figuring out how to use them as well as helpful builds. I survive most matches I play, but the firepower is underwhelming, and when to use JJ is kind of hard to judge…
so yeah, this is for all the trashy spiders to try and get better
also, any helpful builds? 2 mls is not enough
thanks!

[Void Angel]

Oooh! I got my Ace of Spades on a Spider, years ago - it was before half of the weapons we have now were in the game.

Spiders are underwhelming, though. It's a matter of hardpoint count and architecture - but that's ok! You can still have a ton of fun with the Spider.

General points first; obviously you're not going to be able to boat anything on most Spiders (the MG variants being the exception,) so you need the most bang for your buck. That often means not taking your max engine rating, and picking weapons that may be larger than typically found in Lights.. With jump jets, depends on if you need the tonnage for the build. The Spider jumps well, and since you're actually outgunned in close combat by almost any other Light, being mobile can help you break contact and escape - but you've still got to buy guns first.

With the Spider 5D, my old Build was an ERLL, and two Medium Lasers, but that's harder to use. For current play, I would use Light PPC builds - like This One, from GrimMechs. The 5V's choices are dual MPL, or a single LXPL or SNPPC - all of them will underwhelm you, and the 5V can't go unnoticed as well as the 5D; not just because it lacks ECM, but because its main benefit is that massive cooldown quirk - and that means you have to seek more facetime with the enemy.

Now, in Tier 5, it's a LOT more about how you're driving a 'mech than how good the 'mech is. The spider is still pretty agile, and has some modest durability, so work the sides of the fights that are happening between bigger 'mechs, and reposition if people start waiting for you to pop back out of cover again. Use jump jets to reach locations other pilots can't reach, and to spread damage (along with torso twisting) when you're getting shot at. Use your mobility to look around a little, so you can see how the battle is flowing and don't get caught off-guard... that's about it.

Everything else is self-reflection and intelligent practice. =]

[Ghut Callian the 2nd]

thanks man! ive been trying to drive a spider for some time and its fun, but i needed some help.
and ace of spades in a spider? thats next level

[KursedVixen]

Ghut Callian the 2nd, on 05 June 2025 - 06:44 AM, said:

I have recently bought two spider variants-the 5D and 5V, and I need help figuring out how to use them as well as helpful builds. I survive most matches I play, but the firepower is underwhelming, and when to use JJ is kind of hard to judge…
so yeah, this is for all the trashy spiders to try and get better
also, any helpful builds? 2 mls is not enough
thanks!

I haven't touched IS mechs for a looong time but your 5v is going to be your conquest and assault mode mech so capturing bases and the capture points on Conquest... looking at the weapons i'd slap a light ppc on there and try to stay at range.

As for the 5d that ECm makes it a good sneaky boi.

https://mwo.nav-alph...31efb12e_SDR-5D here's my spider 5D for some reason it seems i got rit of my 5v.....

light PPC for ranged poking and small pusle for when things get to close, but mainly use the mobility to keep the fight going where you want or to retreat to your team for help. the light engine offers you a little more durability in exchange for less speed.

Ultimatly what build you use is up to you and what you feel you use best....

Edited by KursedVixen, 05 June 2025 - 01:24 PM.

[epikt]

KursedVixen, on 05 June 2025 - 01:18 PM, said:

https://mwo.nav-alph...31efb12e_SDR-5D here's my spider 5D

This build is horribad and I'd advise Ghut to stay away from it...

The triple light PPCs build linked by Void Angel is the current "meta" build. If you get used to the PPC velocity and hit your shots you should have fun with it.
If you don't like PPCs, you can try something like LPLas+ERMLas (or like this if you want more jets).

About the 5V, you'll probably have the most succes with a single LxPLas. But tbh it's not really a mech for quick play, it's mostly used in conquest to cap and deny points, its very niche.

[Ghut Callian the 2nd]

epikt said:

1749223992[/url]' post='6557088']
This build is horribad and I'd advise Ghut to stay away from it...

The triple light PPCs build linked by Void Angel is the current "meta" build. If you get used to the PPC velocity and hit your shots you should have fun with it.
If you don't like PPCs, you can try something like LPLas+ERMLas (or like this if you want more jets).

About the 5V, you'll probably have the most succes with a single LxPLas. But tbh it's not really a mech for quick play, it's mostly used in conquest to cap and deny points, its very niche.

I thought the 1 Er Lls and 2 ml was good, it was called the dentist build, I think. I’m using 1 er sl and 2 lppcs currently so the sl fires fast for constant damage and the 2 lppcs for a finsihing blow/poking

Edited by Ghut Callian the 2nd, 06 June 2025 - 02:10 PM.

[Void Angel]

Ghut Callian the 2nd, on 06 June 2025 - 02:09 PM, said:

I thought the 1 Er Lls and 2 ml was good, it was called the dentist build, I think. I’m using 1 er sl and 2 lppcs currently so the sl fires fast for constant damage and the 2 lppcs for a finsihing blow/poking

Ehh, you really don't want to do that - for a number of reasons. First, that ERSL has totally different characteristics from your LPPCs, and you're sacrificing a fair amount of firepower by substituting it for another LPPC. To put it another way, if you are ever close enough to use that ERSL effectively, you're probably going to want to torso twist, which reduces that ERSL's damage output - and you are already actually losing DPS by substituting the smaller weapon.

In general, you want to focus your loadout on doing one thing well - you can use multiple weapon types to accomplish that, but the better their firing characteristics match, the better off you will be. For example, if you're trying to supplement an LRM build's firepower, do not add an AC/2; one weapon is hitscan (the lock, anyway,) while the other requires you to lead your target in most situations. If you're going to try to supplement lock-on weapons, you should use a laser.

Now, that ERLL/2ML build was what I took home my Ace of Spades in - but the meta has passed it by. It can still do some work, but two things really hurt it: first, everyone hates lights; and second, there's quite a bit more firepower on the field now, in all weight classes. So despite being largely unchanged, the build doesn't put out the proportional damage it used to.

Additionally, people hate Lights while simultaneously seeing them as easier kills - and lasers point both ways.

[Ghut Callian the 2nd]

Void Angel, on 06 June 2025 - 10:14 PM, said:

Ehh, you really don't want to do that - for a number of reasons. First, that ERSL has totally different characteristics from your LPPCs, and you're sacrificing a fair amount of firepower by substituting it for another LPPC. To put it another way, if you are ever close enough to use that ERSL effectively, you're probably going to want to torso twist, which reduces that ERSL's damage output - and you are already actually losing DPS by substituting the smaller weapon.

In general, you want to focus your loadout on doing one thing well - you can use multiple weapon types to accomplish that, but the better their firing characteristics match, the better off you will be. For example, if you're trying to supplement an LRM build's firepower, do not add an AC/2; one weapon is hitscan (the lock, anyway,) while the other requires you to lead your target in most situations. If you're going to try to supplement lock-on weapons, you should use a laser.

Now, that ERLL/2ML build was what I took home my Ace of Spades in - but the meta has passed it by. It can still do some work, but two things really hurt it: first, everyone hates lights; and second, there's quite a bit more firepower on the field now, in all weight classes. So despite being largely unchanged, the build doesn't put out the proportional damage it used to.

Additionally, people hate Lights while simultaneously seeing them as easier kills - and lasers point both ways.

Yeah I see that now, but what should I replace it with? I’m running a light engine instead of XL because I die to easy in those, so what could I replace it with to make it better? Or should I just suck it up and get better?

[epikt]

Ghut Callian the 2nd, on 07 June 2025 - 02:49 AM, said:

I’m running a light engine instead of XL because I die to easy in those

Most of the time, on a light mech LFE does not worth it.
It's true you'll die "faster" with an XL, but you'll gain so much in speed and free tonnage (light mechs are pretty limited in tonnage, and speed is their armor).
Every time I see a light with an LFE, my thought is it's either too slow and/or too weakly armed.

[Void Angel]

Ghut Callian the 2nd, on 07 June 2025 - 02:49 AM, said:

Yeah I see that now, but what should I replace it with? I’m running a light engine instead of XL because I die to easy in those, so what could I replace it with to make it better? Or should I just suck it up and get better?

Suck it up and get better.

It won't take that long, honestly - just be cognizant of your facing and be sure to spread damage when you can. I remember once in my Locust, I was caught legged by a Zeus, right in the middle of a roadway in Mining Collective. I twisted my torso all the way to the side and took his entire alpha on my little arm. The damage blasted my arm apart, stripped all of my side torso armor and left me with structure in the red - but the Large Laser in my CT finished him off.

Once you get used to maneuvering in a Light, you'll be able to time your exposures to peek when they're occupied with their teammates - and vary your position so that they aren't waiting for you when you pop out of cover to fire. But you'll want to maximize your firepower when you peek, and that means popping in that XL and going with 3 LPPCs.