8 replies to this topic

[Jace11]

Silly question about missile packs... which is better?

e.g

3 x SRM4 vs 2 x SRM6

or

2 x LRM10 vs 1 x LRM20

or

2 x LRM5 vs 1 x LRM10

There is extra heat from many of the smaller combinations but higher rate of fire. Slots and weight seem pretty equivalent but it is the rate of fire I think is interesting, particularly in context to how a build is designed.

If you have free weight and space for an LRM10 should you instead have 2 LRM5s? I think if your mech has been designed with weapons that vary in range, then 2 x LRM5 is better as the excess heat from the increased fire rate is less likely to affect your use of other shorter-ranged weapons.. conversely, once you get into closer range, you are not going to be using the LRMs.

If you are an LRM boat, does this change?

But with SRMs I would say the opposite, because you are likely to be firing other weapons at the same time and the time between lining up accurate shots will be greater (if brawling etc), so slower rate of fire and less heat would be more suitable?

Edited by Jace11, 22 November 2012 - 07:57 PM.

[MadPanda]

Look here and make up your own mind based on the hard cold facts: http://mwowiki.org/w...ategory:Weapons

As a general rule though, bigger is better. (does not apply to all energy weapons)

[Elizander]

If you have more slots than weight available, then perhaps downgrading to smaller is better if you want the ROF or the ability to stagger-fire.

[charov]

LRM15 is one of the best compromise between heat, weight and punch. I'm testing 2xLRM5 on my RVN-3L but it seems that one LRM10 is superior.

[sarkun]

This is a matter of personal preference - smaller launchers are lighter, but give more heat and fire faster (even more heat!).

I'd say if you're using the lrm's as a secondary weapon, then heat is not much of a problem - go for smaller launchers.

If you're using artemis however, then bigger launchers are more effective - artemis gives +1ton and +1crit per LAUNCHER, so you're much better of with smaller amount of bigger launchers.

[wanderer]

Artemis really does make a difference.

Twin LRM5's actually give you a spare ton vs. a single LRM 10- but if you mount Artemis, it's a wash- both systems take up 6 tons. I tend to prefer having 2x5's for the more rapid fire rate, personally- and if you feel it's hot for some reason, you can chain-fire one at a time to keep some missiles in the air where you might have to wait longer on the 10. 2x5 + Artemis will be bulkier (4 crits vs 3), so if you're cramped for space, you may need to stick to the LRM 10.

Likewise, a LRM 15 + LRM 5 is a touch more tonnage effective than a 20 and gets more missiles out faster, but with Artemis they break even on tonnage (but as noted, the two launchers together are bulkier)

[Lavrenti]

A minor point is to check how many missile tubes your mech has in that location, because it will only fire that many at a time. For example if you fire a LRM15 through a location that only has 6 missile tubes (like the side torso on a Hunchback-4SP), it will spit out three volleys per firing cycle - 2x6, 1x3 - so the salvo is more spread out in time. This means AMS is more effective against it, but will also run out of ammo sooner.
This is why firing a LRM20 from a Raven's NARC tube is both hilarious and pointless.

[John MatriX82]

if you have enough slots and you have room for a SRM4.. then go for dual SRM2. The same with dual LRM10 vs LRM20, you can take advantage of the faster recycle time.

Also you can take advantage of tigher spreads, 3 SRM2 or 1SRM4+1SRM2 are better than a single SRM6

Edited by John MatriX82, 23 November 2012 - 02:57 PM.

[Leeroy Mechkins]

Bigger LRMs are better for damage because AMS has a harder time dealing with them.
For example if AMS shoots down 2 missiles from each flight, 1 LRM 20 would still get 18 through.
But 2 LRM 10s would only get 16 through.
Also bigger LRMs tend to create less heat and take less space for the same number of missiles.

Smaller LRMs are only good if you want to have 4-6 of them and keep rocking your target.
But that is possible on only a handful of mechs that can fit that many.

As for SRMs, get SSRMs instead. Much more heat efficient and extremely effective.