24 replies to this topic

[w0qj]

The Christmas Event is now on!

Grab 6x Special Mechs by Playing 6x games (over 100 match points each)!
https://mwomercs.com/events/596

https://mwomercs.com...iday-bonus-2025

Only until 23:59pm UTC, Dec 31st, 2025
http://www.mwomercs.com/clock

Edit: 6x Mechs. E&OE credit: LordNothing

Edited by w0qj, 24 December 2025 - 09:50 PM.

[LordNothing]

7? i only counted 6.

[w0qj]

OOPS!! It's only 6x Special Mechs.
Thank you for your heads up!

LordNothing, on 24 December 2025 - 07:59 PM, said:

7? i only counted 6.

[VeeOt Dragon]

yeah they have all the same quirks as they standard variants but with the added C-Bill bonus of a Special mech. a couple of them have potential. so far i have gotten all but the Assault one. if i have time later i will unlock it then i may post the builds i came up with. (don't look for anything from to interesting from the Locust as the only lights i play are Urbie)

Edited by VeeOt Dragon, 25 December 2025 - 03:20 AM.

[VeeOt Dragon]

here is what i ended up doing with each of the free x-mas mechs. keep in mind these are all just what i am going with right now and will likely be tweaked and altered in the future as i play more matches with them. all in all not a bad offering of mechs especially nice for new players who are still working on building out a decent stable of mechs.

Locust-- (just slapped some **** on it for the lols since i will never likely use it)

-LCT-1V(S) (4 magshot (2t ammo), 1 MPL running n XL-190 with 3 SHS, Endo and FF)

Ac<900D0|8d|c?p@0|h^q@0|h^r<0|f@|f@s<0|f@|f@t@0|MPu@0|MPvB0|h^w404040

Shadow Hawk-- ran a couple matches with this build and it seemed to do pretty good.

-SHD-2H(S) (3 L-AC/5s (6t ammo), 1 MPL, 1 L-AMS, running an LE-280 with 1 DHS, Endo and FF)

Ad<920o0|i^|Rgp[0|KPq[0|e@|e@|e@|_@r00sT0|c?tU0|KP|KPuU0|KP|KPvB0|KPw909090

Griffin--couldn't really think of a good build since i am usually not a fan of dead side mechs, but i made an LRM boat out of it- that ran ok in the couple matches i did with it. (i wish the target gain time boost for TCs and the ASP effected your lock time)

-GRF-1N(S) (3 LRM-10s (6t ammo), 3 MLs, 1 L-AMS running an XL-295 with 1 DHS, 1 JJ, Endo, and LFF)

Ag<:20o0|i^|OG|Mdp[0|3@|3@|3@q[0|[O|[O|_@|[<2r00sT0|Y?|Y?|Y?tV0|[O|[OuV0|[O|[OvA0|Z<2w909090

Wolverine-- this one its sort of something you have to think on given its hard points. its one of those mechs that could benefit form the new 'Small Cockpit' thing they put in the Blight. i could probably get away with stripping that DHS for a couple JJs but meh.

-WVR-6R(S)- (2 L-AC/5s (3t ammo), 2 SRM-6 (3t ammo), 1 ML, 1 L-AMS running an LE-280 with 1 DHS, endo and LFF)

Ah<:20o0|i^|Rgp[0|_@q[0|\O|7@|7@r00sP0|e@|e@|KPtP0|\O|\OuP0|KP|KPv@0|Y?w909090

Thunderbolt- this isn't a bad one though the quirks lean your towards an all energy build despite the 2 missile slots. ran this one the most of all the xmas offerings. i started with an SRM but switch to the MRM because of better range and a bit tighter spread.

-TDR-5S(S)- (4 LLs, 1 MRM-10 (1t mmo), running an LE-300 with 5 DHS, Endo and LFF)

Ae<:20:1|i^|Vg|i^pb0|i^|i^|_@|X@qb0|`?|`?|`?|i^r00sX0|`?t_0u`0|GPvA0w:0:0:0

Battlemaster-- this one took me the longest to make up my mind, not because it is complicated but because i already have a standard BLR-1G and didn't just want to copy the build i had on it. toyed with a couple of builds including one with 3 ER LL and 5 MLs but i ended settling on using the ballistic arm (i have never done that with the 1G before). i have only run a couple matches with it though i am not so good at assault brawling. the alpha is a little lower than would like for an assault but it is moving at low end Heavy speed, and can alpha for days without overheating. might just go with the ER LL build instead.

-BLR-1G(S)- (6 ER MLs, 2 L-AC/5s (4t ammo), 1 L-AMS running an LE-375 with 8 DHS, and Endo)

Af<820R1|i^|i^|i^|i^|i^|egpn0|_@|i^|F@|F@|F@qn0|i^|i^|F@|F@|F@rh0|i^|e@|e@s00tm0|KP|KPum0|KP|KPvB0w:0:0:0

[crazytimes]

You can just go to grimmechs and ***** builds that aren't weird low DPS bracket builds with LAMS and 15% back armour. https://grimmechs.is...base?t=mechname

They're mostly good chassis, it would be sad to see them used as thick backed LAMS caddies.

[VeeOt Dragon]

they all work well for me (other than the Locust as i haven't and likely will never use it) and most matches i am doing pretty good, they are fun builds and that is all i care about, you can take you meta ******** and shove it right up your ***. armor distribution is a personal choice, i prefer not to die the second a light looks at my rear. i absolutely refuse to use some outside site and just slap some cookie cutter nonsense on everything. i only share my builds in hopes that they might inspire others to try something. i never claim them to be the greatest builds ever, just what i went for. i put AMS on all of them to get used to what i will likely need when the Naga Comes out.

[epikt]

VeeOt Dragon, on 28 December 2025 - 04:18 PM, said:

i only share my builds in hopes that they might inspire others to try something.

Fortunately your obstinacy not using MechDB makes your posts absolutely unreadable and unusable for anyone looking for suggestions.
I'll admit your builds are not absurd, and we've seen worse. Yet they are bad and I would advice any players, especially new players, to stay away from them. I don't mind people running sub-optimal builds they made themselves, but if you gotta copy a build do it from something meta.

[VeeOt Dragon]

they read just fine, i post the basic outline and then the build code. if MWO would allow you to post screenshots without hosting them on outside server i would do that but since they don't i am not linking people to an outside site that 90% of the time doesn't even work properly for me. a build that is enjoyable to play will always outweigh meta in my book.

i can see how you would misinterpret what i said as telling people my builds are for new players as the might not be well suited for that. i have a set of built parameters that i try to meet. if i have an AMS lot i try to fit it in if i can, i also try to shoot for a close to a 1.40 heat management (before adding things like L-ams or JJs though RACs toss the calculations off) shift the armor as it pleases you as every person i talk to seems to have differing number that they settle on as a general rule.

Edited by VeeOt Dragon, 28 December 2025 - 06:58 PM.

[epikt]

VeeOt Dragon, on 28 December 2025 - 06:49 PM, said:

a build that is enjoyable to play will always outweigh meta in my book.

Without the context I could agree with that statement. Not sure I'd agree with you though.
What you're missing is that good builds are pleasant to pilot ; because their equipment is coherent, take advantage of the mech's strengths and sync well together, not only they're effective but they feel good.

Let's take your Battlemaster for example, is it really enjoyable to play?
It relies on its ballistic arm in order to be more than a big ERMLas light mech. But this arm is very low and vey off-centered, so half the time you're hitting the ground (or a teammate), half of the time the gun is clear but it required you to expose your mech much more than you would ideally. This autocannon arm is a weakness, it feels awkward to use it, it leads you to play badly. How can it be enjoyable to play?

PS: don't worry, I never assumed you said your builds were for new players. But new players are a big part of the population looking for builds, hence my warning to them.

edit: glad for you if you have fun, but hey...

Edited by epikt, 28 December 2025 - 10:39 PM.

[foamyesque]

Battlemaster: 6x ERLLs, TC to taste, as many heat sinks as you can pack.
Thunderbolt: 3x binaries and as much sinking as you can get.
Griffin: Some combination of MRMs and xPPCs; I favour 3x MRM10s and 3x LPPCs, but you can do 3x 20s with no PPCs, or MRMs and snubs. SRMs and snubs are also possible if you want to commit fully to the brawl.
Wolverine: MRM60 does really well.
Shadowhawk: I want to make 3x LBX2 work, but it's been challenging.
Locust: Honestly, I don't know. I'm running 4x MGs and a MXPL. It has DPS, but I'm not sure about the face time.

Edited by foamyesque, 28 December 2025 - 11:27 PM.

[VeeOt Dragon]

the battlemaster is one i am still trying to get the right feel for. i already have a build on my standard 1G that is ER PPCs and an MRM-40 that preforms much better but i find i loose the missile torso very easily (it puts a huge missile box up top.) so i was experimenting with the ballistic. i don't have any trouble with hitting teammates though i hit the ground every now and again. then again i have been playing for quite a long time so have gotten use to the IS knuckle draggers. yeah i could go with the bog standard ER LL and ML or even standard LPLs and ER MLs but i wanted to see what i could do with something else. the biggest trouble i have with the 2 L-AC/5 build is its low alpha (even toyed with the idea of RACs but that was just silly). might go back to the MRM-40 and use ER MLs instead of the PPCs, or LLs. but meh, i have been using a good bit of MRMs lately. i don't play much ballistic builds so i have been fiddling with those lately. i also try to avoid ghost heat as much as possible (i feel that if a build requires Cool Shot to work it needs to go back to the mech lab)

my builds are always fluid, i get bored with the same builds over and over so i like trying new stuff. i like when i see an enemy on the battlefield that is running something you don't see often, be it a strange build (even a crappy one) or a rarely used mech. i hate that in the upper tiers (been hovering between T2 and T3 lately) i can see a mech and about 80% of the time i can tell you what they are running before i even see the data pull up.

Edited by VeeOt Dragon, 28 December 2025 - 11:45 PM.

[foamyesque]

VeeOt Dragon, on 28 December 2025 - 11:41 PM, said:

yeah i could go with the bog standard ER LL and ML

Whaddya mean, 'and ML'? 6x ERLLs. It's an XL build, but it's one of the best long-range shooters in the game with those nice high mounts and the fact that it can bring that much hitscan damage to the table. Avoid ghost heat by shooting left/right and it'll run reasonably cool for what it's trying to do.

The old 1G I have I'm not sure what to do with. Thinking perhaps quad HPPCs.

Edited by foamyesque, 29 December 2025 - 12:09 AM.

[VeeOt Dragon]

Foamy, you can always use the (S) variant for your go to build and just use the standard one for experimentation, or your can sell it for the mech bay. i did try the 6 ER LL build long ago and found it ran just too hot for my liking and i rarely us XLs on IS mechs especially not assaults, about the only time i do is on mechs that are easy to twist or the odd LRM boat as even after all these years i am just not that good at twisting (likely the main reason i am not in T1, well that and the fact i don't use meta builds).

your griffin build i might have to try something like it. definitely might go full in on the MRMs on the Wolverine (with perhaps a token ER ML or MPL in case i lose the missiles or run dry on ammo (though remember that TC projectile speed does NOT effect missile weapons anymore (i think it did at one point but i could be wrong)). i admit my Wolverine build was all over the place. the Shadow Hawk i have tried a few builds before going with the L-AC/5s including RAC 2s, but the L-ACs seemed to worked best for me. i did contemplate trying to fit a L-ppc or better range synergy

Edited by VeeOt Dragon, 29 December 2025 - 01:00 AM.

[Ilfi]

It's funny, I feel like I've gotten four or five free BLR-1Gs from events... wish I was keeping count. IS laservom feels so anemic in this game, between weight, range, heat sink limits, and so on. Mech Bays were nice, at least.

[Duke Falcon]

BLR-1G with 6xL-PPCs + 1xH-PPC.
It's obscene no matter what you say. So many PPCs on a single IS-chassis should never work so damn well... But they do FFS!

Heavy PPC could be switched for an ER or a Snub if one may like those better...

EDIT
NEW PLAYERS! DO NOT USE PPC-BOATS 'TILL YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT ARE YOU DOING!

Edited by Duke Falcon, 29 December 2025 - 11:38 AM.

[epikt]

Duke Falcon, on 29 December 2025 - 11:36 AM, said:

BLR-1G with 6xL-PPCs + 1xH-PPC.
It's obscene no matter what you say. So many PPCs on a single IS-chassis should never work so damn well... But they do FFS!

Heavy PPC could be switched for an ER or a Snub if one may like those better...

EDIT
NEW PLAYERS! DO NOT USE PPC-BOATS 'TILL YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT ARE YOU DOING!

....

I sound like a broken record, but this build is horribly horribad. Obscene indeed.

If you want a Battlemaster PPC-boat, buy a HellSlinger and go for 6 snubs.

[foamyesque]

VeeOt Dragon, on 29 December 2025 - 12:56 AM, said:

Foamy, you can always use the (S) variant for your go to build and just use the standard one for experimentation, or your can sell it for the mech bay. i did try the 6 ER LL build long ago and found it ran just too hot for my liking and i rarely us XLs on IS mechs especially not assaults, about the only time i do is on mechs that are easy to twist or the odd LRM boat as even after all these years i am just not that good at twisting (likely the main reason i am not in T1, well that and the fact i don't use meta builds).

Without an XL engine in, you can't stack enough cooling to make the 6x ERLLs work (or you're ridiculously slow); your problems are related. Extreme long range engagements, which that particular build is trying to get, are pretty safe for XLs because it gets harder and harder to focus a component at range, you're more able to get free shots, and you tend to be able to choose which side you expose. If you ran a LFE, you're still in trouble against a brawl monster, you just explode from your own guns about a second later than you would've died in an XL anyway.

Quote

your griffin build i might have to try something like it. definitely might go full in on the MRMs on the Wolverine (with perhaps a token ER ML or MPL in case i lose the missiles or run dry on ammo (though remember that TC projectile speed does NOT effect missile weapons anymore (i think it did at one point but i could be wrong)).

For the Wolvie in particular that laser is better off as more ammo. The split lead and additional heat on a build that will already run warm aren't worth it. Wouldn't put a tarcomp on any of the mediums -- the Wolvie and LBX Shadowhawk don't benefit from it over a BAP (which I also wouldn't run b/c of tonnage/crit issues -- spare space goes to JJs), and for the Griffin, even if it's carrying PPCs, it's actually making the velo mismatch worse, so not super helpful.

[Duke Falcon]

epikt, on 29 December 2025 - 12:11 PM, said:

....

I sound like a broken record, but this build is horribly horribad. Obscene indeed.

If you want a Battlemaster PPC-boat, buy a HellSlinger and go for 6 snubs.

Indeed!
My build must fail on paper. Yet it works obscenely well what I still not understand HOW?!?
My guess is T3... When I'll has a chance to test it in FP we shall see (IT WOULD FAIL)...

Also, laugh on me IDC, but:
Locust with a single Light PPC, max-sized LFE, full armour. Specially made for FP (please PGI, give us some IS vs IS matches!!!). At that point I really wish I could have MASC on this bugger or at least a few JJs

< Disclaimer! >
The writer of this post is NO WAY obsessed by PPCs of any kind! His builds like the 4xcER-PPCs Timberwolf and Hellbringer but modest adorations towards and otherwise usefull family of weapons!
< End of disclaim >

As for the other four holiday bonus mechs I think I'll pass those. The three 55tons mediums I could imagine only as combined SRM\MRM + lasers boats, pretty boring (and I dislike those mechs since TT BT).
The Thunderbolt? I need no second PPC-boat of that chassis.
But equip it with but thunderbolts would be a damn weak joke even from me...

[epikt]

Duke Falcon, on 30 December 2025 - 07:42 AM, said:

My guess is T3...

According to your stats this month, even in tier 3 this mech isn't working that well.

As for your Locust, if you weren't such an LFE chicken you could mount 4 magshots in addition to you LPPC: https://mwo.nav-alph...b58def2_LCT-1VS