22 replies to this topic

[PwnStars]

On my Atlas D-DC, I have 2xUAC5's, 3xSRM6's and 2 LL.

Today in a match it was 3v1, my teammates and I vs 1 stalker (all mechs near full health, at least I was), and I got cored before the stalker died. I pumped at least 20 AC5 rounds (10 volleys) in addition to LL and SRM damage, into it's huge CT, yet it didn't die until much later in the game. In fact, it marched on towards me as if the player knew he would win the 3v1. He didn't even bother disabling any of my weapons, I died before I lost any weapon systems.

Should I not be shooting at the stalker's "nose"? I've always shot there, because all other parts are quite small and hard to hit, besides the legs. I assume this is the CT (correct me if I'm wrong!) If I am wrong, where should I be shooting?

[Monkey Bone]

Try to focus your fire on one of it's sides.

Sides of the stalker are very vulnerable to fire, and shots which manage to miss the side will hit the CT anyway. Disarming a side will reduce the payload by ½.

I myself pilot a D-DC with close-to identical build, but with mlas instead of llas and a std350.

[Merata Crunt]

Try to destroy one of their legs, then immediately go for the other. They are so slow after the first leg, that they can rarely ever retaliate accordingly, and then they're gone after the second leg. This works a lot of the time.

[Elder Thorn]

thats why i disliek UAC/5 on my atlas builds. I like a big deal of damage at once so i can shoot and the twist my torso away from the enemy. If you face a stalker head to head without twisting you will often lose to the Stalker's pure firepower that it is able to carry into battle.

also another problem when facing stalkers is, that this big nose is indeed the torso, but you very easily spread your damage all over it and hit the side torsos, too. Thats good if he is using an XL engine, but i can't think of any stalekr build except the PPC Stalkers that would do this

[Chrithu]

As Jules said: Instead of going face to face for the CT Try get at it from an angle to hit the side.

[Apoc1138]

what weapons did he have?
chances are it was an SRM6/medium laser boat, hence why he wanted to get as close to you as possible, and yeah he probably could've would've killed you in around 2 main salvos as his alpha would be about 100

as mentioned above, if you are able to concentrate fire on one of the side torsos then you take out 50% of it's fire power, also, if stalker comes running right at you, torso twist away when your UAC5's lock up and try to increase distance to reduce the effectiveness of it's SRM's

[Chavette]

If its me, you're SOL. Even if you succeed, I've carried hard enuff against your team that you won't win the game.

Edited by Chavette, 06 February 2013 - 03:11 AM.

[GalaxyBluestar]

like the first two said above

i hate being legged cause torso twist isn't great and with a leg out it's terrible.

side torso's take a bit but disabling the weapons makes it so much more worth your while.

what am i saying as a stalker pilot!? no no their invincible you're hopeless to try taking one on if you can't beatem joinem!

Edited by GalaxyBluestar, 06 February 2013 - 03:12 AM.

[Dagnome]

Take off the ears at the shoulders.

[Elder Thorn]

ah yeah, forgot that, somehow. try to take out the sides is a very good hint. If he is using an XL he is dead, if not he just lost 50% of his firepower

[The Amazing Atomic Spaniel]

The Stalkers RT, CT and LT all converge near the nose. If you shoot at the nose intending to hit CT, you are very likely to be actually spreading the damage across all three sections. I think this is why they seem so tough compare to other mechs.

Best advice is what Jules and Merata say above - aim for a side torso (which will also take out the arm if destroyed and so halve the Stalker's firepower) or even go for the legs.

If you are close and it shuts down through overheat, the cockpit is quite easy to hit giving you the chance to one shot the mech.

[PwnStars]

Solid advice, thanks everyone!

As I don't own a Stalker chasis at all, I had no idea that the RT, CT and LT are so close. And it does make sense to concentrate fire on one side where I can a) take out the weapons take out the torso, and by extension, the arm and c) not spread my damage all over the LT, CT and RT.

And I will try to torso twist when my UACs jam up. Unfortunately for me right now, I'm only in the torso twisting mentality when I'm rocking my AC20 since it's easier to alpha.

EDIT:
And the reason I'm running 2xUAC's is for more mid-range DPS (Up to around 600m, I can dish out respectable damage between my UACs and LLs). I find that it's quite hard to rely on PUG teammates to follow you into battle (I mean, it's not like you're the largest mech on the battlefield), so I spend at least 50% of my time poking the enemy team before we actually enter brawling distance. Close up, 2xUAC5 dps beats AC20, but obviously your CT is more exposed while you're unloading your UACs, which is why poking is important - to make it so they're already hurt and won't want to face you head on, letting you unload to your heart's content (until you jam).

Edited by PwnStars, 06 February 2013 - 03:39 AM.

[StonedVet]

In my stalker best thing to do when you see an atlas is charge it and core the thing .. some lasr blasts and 2 volleys from SRM 6's kill an atlas.

[Ilwrath]

PwnStars, on 06 February 2013 - 03:04 AM, said:

On my Atlas D-DC, I have 2xUAC5's, 3xSRM6's and 2 LL.

It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles. Know that the Stalkers weakness is its limited twist and that it often got much of its firepower in the "ears". Its often slow too.

To defeat the Stalker you must become the Stalker. Stalk it. Wait for the right moment and hit it from the flank or do a sweet arse assault. Then hit its weak spots.

If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected.

Flank!

Edited by Ilwrath, 06 February 2013 - 03:49 AM.

[Brilig]

Try to hit them from the side or from behind if at all possible. They have very poor turning/torso rotation. Otherwise try and stay outside of their range if the are a close range brawler.

And never face someone square on and give them easy shots at your center torso. Move at an angle.

[Chaos7]

Stalkers can be mean if packed with SRMs. Watch out for those and stay away to save yourself a lot of trouble. That said your UAC5's and LLs should do the work from ~500 meters. Pick your tactics depending on the situation:
* For medium to long range go for the center torso it is unlikely that a Stalker will be able to match your ballistics + lasers except for those 4+ PPC builds, but they are easy to spot - stay away from them, let the fast mechs do their job. Also replacing the LLs with PPCs will boost your focus fire by far more than you expect.
* For short ranges - as the others said - side torsos, legs, whatever is more damaged.

Good luck!

Edited by VOHRIMENKO, 06 February 2013 - 04:10 AM.

[Ilwrath]

VOHRIMENKO, on 06 February 2013 - 04:08 AM, said:

Stalkers can be mean if packed with SRMs.

Stalkers can be mean with most weapons as long as there is boating. I do think that the most dangerous of them is the lrm boat with self tag and artemis. It hits very hard and can take lots of long range punishment before it goes down. Its only real weakness is getting EMC lights on it so its forced to deal with that instead of just ignoring the ankle bitter.

Its also very relaxing to drive and works great if you only pub.

[Clay Pigeon]

The stalker's weakness is that it has huge side torsos.

[PurpleNinja]

Side torsos. No more XL engines on Stalker because of this.

[Lugh]

No the stalkers weakness is it totally terrible lateral movement.

Get in a rear quadrant and stay there..