12 replies to this topic

[Kyutaru]

I find the most enjoyment being in the center of the action, the thick of the fight where you can actually see your enemy in all his glory and deal with him face to face. This tends to be ranges under 400m, but lasers heat up just a bit too quickly to be chain spamming them in close quarters.

I'm looking for a good brawler build, something armored enough to survive close quarters, mobile enough not to get completely dominated by mediums (lights at least are understandable) and packing enough firepower to maybe go toe to toe with an Atlas that isn't geared for close combat. I'm looking for the WARRIOR chassis, and barring some kind of phase blade implementation I need recommendations for his arsenal too.

I've tried out various mechs and I think the Heavy class suits me best.

Any recommendations? Would prefer to make heat less of an issue to keep sustained DPS high.

[Kommisar]

Cataphract. The 4x variant has the most ballistics; but is slow and is limited in how it can use those 4 slots. The 3D is expensive, but give you some good weapon slots (IMHO) with 2 ballistics with some lasers. The 2x comes with 4 missile tubes (2x missile slots) in the left arm. So, a lot of options there. Of course, the Ilya hero mech is the 3x ballistic beast. Keeps good speed potential and can mount 3 ultras. Ammo is a big problem, heat is not.

[Tahribator]

You may want to look at Awesome 9M.

[NRP]

Sounds like you want a Stalker 5M. Or perhaps a Cat A1, but it's not as durable as a Stalker.

If you can make yourself avoid "toe to toe" encounters, the Awesome 9M and Pretty Baby are good "hit and run" brawlers too, although speed and maneuverability is their thing more so than absolute fire power.

[Sh4dow78]

AWS-8R 3xML 2xsrm4+2xsrm6 22xDHS = 60 alpha at 66kp/h with speed tweak for me is pretty nice but u need to learn how to play ur Awesome other way most of time u will on spectator bcoz he is easy to hit and dont dare to use XL on them

[toxx1790]

You mention that you want to go toe to toe with an atlas -- if you want to do that, I suggest you get an atlas.

Here is my brawler D-DC build:

Atlas D-DC

You may wish to play with the ammo.

Some people drop the large lasers to mediums and drop few heat sinks to get a bigger engine.

[Stringburka]

I second cataphract.

In terms of weapons, UAC-5 is a _fantastic_ weapon both at distance and close up. Medium lasers as usual are great, and SRM-6 are always a plus. If you have the tonnage and slots, an AC-10 might be good for crit-fishing, but it's not my first pick on weapons. 2x(ER=LL or 1x(ER)PPC on an otherwise ballistics-focused 'mech can provide for some ranged options.

[Konril]

I have a few ideas.

CN9-A: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...f396d579831f05c
CN9-D: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...9e4b1eca863312d
Ilya Muromets: http://mwo.smurfy-ne...51e6f4128926711

6 SRM6 packs on a Catapult A1 is probably one of the most feared ambush predators on the battlefield. But in all honesty there are enough issues with the chasis that I honestly can't recommend it. 6 missiles, 2.5 damage per missile, and 4 seconds between shots means you can achieve an alpha of 90 damage. But that is assuming you can actually hit with all your missiles. Then there is the catapult itself. The cockpit area is in the front of the mech and really big compared to other chasis, which means if the ambush doesn't work, it is dead to a head-shot about half the time. Still, 3.75 dps per rack at only 3 tons and 4 heat per 4 seconds is a really good deal.

Ultra AC/5 cannons are capable of delivering 2 5-point shots every 1.1 seconds. So until they jam, that is a whopping 9 DPS. Actual average DPS works out to about 4 when jams are accounted for. But that is still great. A 2 UAC/5 & 3 SRM6 Atlas DC will just about shred anything that isn't fast enough to get out of the way. But that's the catch. Squirrels can still eat you alive unless you get lucky.

When I first started, I didn't much like the Centurion or Hunchback in their default configurations. Even in comparison to other defaults, they are heavy mech designs built on a medium chasis. It is probably better to save up for a heavy before purchasing a medium. If you aren't actually purchasing a heavy, you are likely purchasing a new engine. However, with a bit of experience, I found that the Centurion is actually able to pull it off rather well. The thin center torso and 2 lasers in that thin center torso has made it infamous as the zombie mech. That doesn't mean it shambles at very slow speeds. With a standard engine, both of the side torsos can be shot off and the mech is still dangerous. And with the "hit" boxes where they are, shooting off the center torso without going through the arms and the side torsos first is really difficult when you have an expert piloting the thing.

Although the arms are really likely to be shot off first, the cannon in that arm can really pour out the DPS until it does go. 3 SRMs in the side torso is about half a Splatcat right there. Most of the actual heavies use only a couple of cannons or missile system combined with lasers, and honestly, laser DPS gets throttled pretty heavily by the heat system, even if they do have infinite ammo. Having both the cannon and missile hard points on a single mech is just really strong. It's not quite as strong as a proper assault, but a good deal more nimble.

The CN9-D option I consider interesting because it can get that cannon and missile system going at speeds only the scout mechs are able to match. The only advantage a light mech would have over this chasis when fighting an Atlas is that a Commando or Raven is small enough to be below the firing ports of the Atlas's cannon and missiles when point blank. Only Streak SRM 2 and arm mounted energy weapons are a threat. Unfortunately, the Centurion is pretty tall, so they can end up eating the full force of those weapons if they get too close.

The one thing keeping me away from the Ilya Muromets is the real money cost. I find it interesting because it is the only mech out there that can actually mount 3 Ultra AC/5s. They're nearly as dangerous as the Spatcats, at a much longer range, and without the over-sized head hit-box.

Edited by Konril, 18 February 2013 - 12:11 PM.

[Tremendous Upside]

CTF-2X or 1X sound like good choices for you. I run the 2X with 3MLs, 1AC20, and 2SRM6s (STD300 engine?). It's literally a mini-atlas. The 1X is also very tough. I run mine with 1PPC, 4MLs and an AC20. Chews up torsos like crazy...

The AWS-8R is also an outstanding brawler. It has the weight to pack as much firepower as an atlas - and 2 PPCs on one arm for near-perfect convergence on your shots. What it lacks in armor it can more than make up for with the extra range... 2 PPCs can take a component section off well before a "grinder" atlas gets close enough to fire back. I usually carry 2SRM6s, 2SRM4s and a ML on mine for when they do... And that's enough to melt just about anything (particularly if its already been beat up some) in a couple of volleys.

[Regrets]

SRM30 Catapult. Maneuverable and bites like a bear protecting her cubs.

[Guchion]

My favourite brawler is this: undefined

Its Brutal but pretty single minded, even with an XL I've gutted Assaults Before they could Kill me, needs a solid aim to core them quickly.

My Record in the ice tunnel is an atlas and a awesome before dieing.

You could probably drop the mid laser to beef up the leg armour or add more ammo, or swap out the XL for More survival, but I like it how it is

[Vallyn]

My best brawler is probably my 5S (or 5M) Stalker.

2LL (5m) or 6ML (5S)
4 x SRM6
300 Standard engine.

Can strip an Atlas down to core in two volleys on it's front with good aim. Heat generation isn't too bad either - get some decent control and you can pump out 800-900 dmg a match easily. Most mechs will die from one or two SRM volleys - never mind the lasers.

[Kyutaru]

toxx1790, on 18 February 2013 - 09:42 AM, said:

You mention that you want to go toe to toe with an atlas -- if you want to do that, I suggest you get an atlas.
Atlas D-DC

Guchion, on 18 February 2013 - 12:56 PM, said:

My favourite brawler is this: undefined

I've spent several hours pouring over the information and it looks like the Cataphract 4X and the Atlas D-DC are my favorites in theory. I've only seen the Atlas actually used in game but it was a beasty brawler that would get right up into anyone's face and shove a cannon in it. I'm going to try and find some CTF-4X players to spectate before making a decision, but it looks like Ultra AC5s are the key element in avoiding overheating. I wouldn't mind a laser build but most of them just run way too hot for sustained fire.