45 replies to this topic

[Jyi]

My suggestion:

Put an LB 10-X in it.

Endo-Steel
Ferro Fibrous
210 XL engine

LB 10-X (4 tons ammo)
2 small lasers
232 armor

Then go punch unexpecting LRM Cat's in the back and laugh at their panic.

Why LB 10-X instead of Gauss, AC20 or AC10? You can run faster and have more ammo than with Gauss or AC20. You pack approximately same punch as AC10, but you have easier time hitting scouts. LB 10-X is good at stripping armor and small lasers melt their insides like chocolate.

Good for skirmishes, harassing and ambushing.

[Jenova Stark]

Jenova Stark, on 31 October 2012 - 07:48 AM, said:

Note: This build is optimized for the current patch (e.g., engine double heatsinks broken) after the next patch, I plan to alter the build to take into account greater heat efficiency.

My current Raven 4X custom build:

245XL Engine
endosteel frame
Ferro Fibrous armor
double heat sinks with 2 additional heat sinks outside the engine
AMS with 1 ton AMS ammo
1 jump jet
2 medium lasers
1 AC2 with 1 ton AC2 ammo
1 SSRM2 with 1 ton SSRM ammo
All additional free weight dedicated to armor

This build is fast and agile, enabling the Raven to act as a true scout. It is very difficult to hit in this set up if piloted correctly. It comes with a lag shield for close encounters with multiple enemy mechs (i.e., tap the jump jets multiple times while engaging). It minimizes the threat of LRMs by enabling quick cover and using an AMS. The greatest feature is that it can really burn through the enemies armor quickly with its weapon loadout without running too hot thanks to the double heatsinks and emphasis on ballistics and missiles rather than energy weapons. The SSRM enables accurate hitting of enemy scouts, while the large number of AC2 rounds means missing doesn't reduce your combat efficiency very much. It also looks much cooler than any Jenner and opponents will tend to underestimate you (they think any good pilot would be using a jenner instead).

[malibu43]

I used the 4X almost exclusively the last 2 resets (mostly because I don't play that much and didn't want to grind enough to get to bigger mechs, and I started to like the thing after a while).

If I'm sticking with STD engines, I upgrade to either a 180 (same weight as stock 175), or grab a 195 for better speed with minimal weight gain (just drop 2 of the JJ's to make up for the weight). From here, there's a lot you can do, most of which is centered around either being a light skirmisher or a hit and run specialist. It lacks some speed but keeping the jump jets helps you get out of some tough situations. Some of my favorites:

-Stock weps - yeah the MG's are useless, but I have fun using them. The 2 MLAS and SRM 6 pack a decent mid-close range punch.
-Drop the MG's and switch the MLAS to MPLAS.
-Drop the SRM6 and MGs and add an AC2 for harassing big targets at long range. Or drop the lasers and switch to a smaller SRM or LRM.

If you want to add an XL engine, you have a lot more options. You can switch to an XL180 or XL195 add the AC2 to the stock build without downgrading so many of other weapons. Or you can add an XL245 (if you drop MG's), keep the 2 MLAS and SRM6, and go 113kph. The downside of running with an XL (besides the purchase cost) is it gets expensive to repair if you're getting shot up a lot. I might have an XL engine build I run every once in a while, and then a STD build I run most of the time to keep earning CB.

Bottom line, there's a lot you can do with. It just takes sacrifices in other areas. I haven't had much time to play since open beta and I just finally ground out enough CB to buy a 4X again. I thought I was going to save up for something bigger, but I'm tired of trials. AC2 Raven, here I come!

[Daycrist Bloodfang]

When I did run my 4X to level it I did 2 Med lasers 1 SSRM2 1AC/5 max armor and the biggest XL engine it could hold DHS Endosteel. I had a mech capable of 108KPH that could snipe with the AC/5 or unload into fleeing Heavy mech's rear torsos

[WaddeHaddeDudeda]

Jyi, on 05 November 2012 - 03:40 AM, said:

My suggestion:

Put an LB 10-X in it.

Endo-Steel
Ferro Fibrous
210 XL engine

LB 10-X (4 tons ammo)
2 small lasers
232 armor

No offense, but how can those builds work since open beta?
Since the last patch mechs are required to hold at least 10 HS in order to be able to drop - no matter if engine exclusive or engine combined with external sinks.
An 210 engine contains 8 HS. Therefor your build HAS TO HAVE 2 additional HS.

Now my question to the 4X owners: before the OB patch I used to run a 4X with a XL 195, 2 small lasers, 1 gauss + 3 tons of ammo, 2 JJ (I know, currently you need only one - but I like to build my configs the way they're working later on too) and pretty low armor.
Is that still doable (with the use of endosteel and ff) or not? I'd like to avoid to buy a 4X just to find out I've wasted my precious cbills.

Thanks in advance!

[Jyi]

WaddeHaddeDudeda, on 05 November 2012 - 07:00 PM, said:

No offense, but how can those builds work since open beta?
Since the last patch mechs are required to hold at least 10 HS in order to be able to drop - no matter if engine exclusive or engine combined with external sinks.
An 210 engine contains 8 HS. Therefor your build HAS TO HAVE 2 additional HS.

Yes, you need to put in those 2 additional heat sinks and equip both Endo-Steel and Ferro-Fibrous too. Sorry for not mentioning those, but I thought people can make the mech without having perfect specifications

And yes, it does work. It works very well. It's not as effective as for example my 2 MPulse, SRM6, SRM2, AMS Raven-3L, but it's still fun to drive and can wreak havoc if piloted correctly. Try it!

[WarRats]

Ive been looking for somthing for my 4x as well. Ive pretty much settled on using it as a brawler. I like the jump jets for turning and getting into and out of trouble. I have a 2x that is modified as a sniper so I didnt want to do the same thing twice.

For the balistics point the lower ac/s all are better at long range and not as good at brawling unless you got the 10 or higher. But that would take to much tonnage away from other hardpoints and I wanted to keep the weapons spread out. I also wanted to avoide the xl engine so I could take the maximum amount of damage, its already hard to be cored in a raven unless you shut down. I decided I was deffinitly going to keep the machine guns. I like having a no heat weapon that i can fire as I wait for the heat to go down.

I tried medium pulse lasers but they forced me to drop the srm 6 to a 2. I did far more damage with the stock medium lasers and srm-6.

With only 3 hardpoints besides the balistics there is limited things you can do to add extra damage for a brawling mech.

The srm-6 at 15 damage is already the best missle weapon I could put in it for brawling. I was thinking about artemis for it?
Maybe double heat sinks, it is pretty heat efficiant already.

Anyways, I settled with keeping the stock weapons but going endo steel and a anti-missle system for now. Survivability goes up and allows me to damage mechs for longer. The weapons in both arms and torso allow me to take maximum damage while usually keeping one arms worth of weapons to continue the fight.

[Fbody68]

I set mine up with 2 Large Lasers and 2 MG's, 4 jump jets, 2 heat sinks, a 210XL engine, FF and endo armor upgrades, and 232 armor. Works well, has decently long range and plenty of armor to last. The MG's are really there just to tag people and get that assist. Every once in awhile they benefit in trashing a heavy mech from behind. I think we are on the right page with this Spencely.

[Elizander]

Same here with the Raven if I had one

RVN 4X
2xLL 2xMG 245XL

[ohtochooseaname]

Seems like this is a decent build:
RVN-4X

XL 245, 1 UAC5 with 3 tons ammo, 2 ML's, 2 JJ's.

[Carrioncrows]

Having amazing success with my Raven4x

Xl170
LB10-X
2 Mediums
1 SRM4

People don't respect that LB10-X, and most of the time I agree but even lights will stand still thinking your weak. An hit them with a 28 dmg alpha tends to knock the silly right out of them.

[Kyrs]

Tried many 4X build but there was only the dual small and ac20 that I enjoyed playing with.
It run a bit warm, cuz of single but with cold shot it all good. I **** off a few jenner pilot with it.

ac20(3 tons) and 2 small lazer goes 101kph
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...19a151f5d24f574

ac20(4 tons) and 1JJ goes 101kph
http://mwo.smurfy-ne...b8e7ec7391535f6

Edited by Kyrs, 30 July 2013 - 04:21 PM.

[YokiLin]

Guys don't even think about using a Guass Rifle on a Raven, Cicada is much better for this job. Cicada is actually faster than a Raven when comparing top speeds too. But I won't tell you exactly what I did just in case you recognized me and that would poke holes in my strategy.

Anyways, you should always build something unique or you will get bored very fast. AC20 on a light mechs should be devastating.

[Bacchu5r3born]

I've started using 2 machine guns, 2 small pulse, and an srm 6.
flank run by and shoot, make them all turn so your team can keep shooting.

or if you get lucky catch a LRM boat by itself and wreck it....

Hectic but fun build.

[YokiLin]

I am currently running this build: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...47bf1e76f521009
It's really satisfying since no one would expect a light mech to equip an AC20. They thought I was weak, then BOOM and most of them start running. However, because of the ammo limit the top damage is about 400 dmg. It is actually pretty weak as a result of the reload speed, so try to stick with your team and some cover as much as possible. Don't try to snipe with it unless there's a really troublesome customer since the damage of the weapon declines over distance after 270m and you don't have that much ammo. There isn't any significant drop for the AC20 shell until you shoot at something over 400 meters away though.
What's awesome about it is that it's really exciting. You have to get up close and personal but you don't have a lot of armor. You have to rely on your speed and brains to survive by using the terrain to provide cover. Also, most of your team take cover behind the left side so that they can just poke the right arm out, but you shoot from the left arm and therefore you have to take cover on the right side or expose your entire body to shoot. Try to allow your teammates to distract the enemy for as much as possible while you shoot. Maybe you can stray from your team a little so that you can sneak attack them from the side, but try to change tactics often since they will not ignore an AC20 and you can't outrun other light mechs.

[Flying Blind]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...800d90bb90c802a

There it is, the ROFLCopter. Everything you need in a raven (works on 4x too)
It is the fastest flying AC20 in the game.

[kesuga7]

after playing the 4x allot this is the best i i could optimize it and do wub it

1 SRM 6 artemis - 200 SRM ammo - 2 Machine guns - 2000 MG ammo - 2 medium pulse lasers
140 kph - 2 jumpjets - 10 doubles - 215 armor

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...7c4538d4aad6ed1

Use your jumpjets to pop and shoot with pulse and srm's or the High mounted Arm pulse without fully exposing yourself
Using the srm 6 as a hit and pop type for bigger mechs
Drop A jumpjet and to a XL 270 for a double heatsink but i found it runs cool enough

Here are stats for it so far as to say the 4x doesn't have to be fodder

Spoiler

Matches - Wins - Loss - Ratio - Kills - Deaths - ratio -

Edited by kesuga7, 08 April 2014 - 07:29 AM.

[Nehkrosis]

1 ultra and 2 meds, 2JJs, 3 tons of ammo, and biggest xl, is great, as sed above.

been using it the past week. great fun.

[Josef Nader]

http://mwo.smurfy-ne...037c3f3d5293f6f

My favorite 4X loadout.

I'm gonna let you in on a secret to ravens: they're some of the best peek snipers in the game. They're tiny frontal profile and great front hitboxes make it very difficult for enemies to land serious focus fire on you at range, and with the above loadout you can sit at 600m pounding the crap out of the enemy's flanks. It's a different playstyle to your typical "run around like Sonic on speed" lights, but I really enjoy it. You're fast enough to quickly get in and out of the enemy's flanks, and as long as you spot light hunters and dogfighter lights before they get to you you can usually retreat back to your team fast enough that they can't get serious hits on you.

In the mean time, you're pouring a steady 5 dps into the enemy's flanks. Place your shots, and you're going to do serious damage.

Is it the biggest or meanest mech on the field? No. Is it a ton of fun, and a unique playstyle? Yessir.

[Vinous]

What do you think, is it worth to build a fast sniper/tag support from the 4X with ERLR, beacause I worry about its firepower. The idea just came in mind, because I would like like to have a sniper in a long run and I have to play with 4X as well in order to get the elite skills for 3L.