21 replies to this topic

[Metallis]

Still a relatively new player but cannot get enough of playing Commando class mechs. Just wanted to find out if there are any fellow Commando lovers like myself and have you share some of your best builds and tactics.

My best build is a 2d model with ER Large Laser, Streak Short Range missile and ECM. This build allows me decent armor protection. I have all the upgrade items as well as a 165 engine. Top speed 121 mph. The ECM offers me some protection from missiles while allowing me to be a pain in the *** for missile boats. Ravens seem to be the bane of this build as they have taken me out with ease.

My best outing has been 2 kills, 4 assist and 197 damage. I have my mech complete through elite status, still working on getting my module upgrade.

[The Mecha Streisand]

I'll keep an eye out for ya. It's the brightest, most obscenely flamboyant RVN-3L in the Inner Sphere. Can't miss me...

[Roughneck45]

Is there a reason you use the ER large, and not a medium and more streaks?

Thats the main reason 3L's are eating you alive.

Edited by Roughneck45, 06 February 2013 - 12:38 PM.

[Jello2142]

Metallis, on 06 February 2013 - 12:28 PM, said:

Still a relatively new player but cannot get enough of playing Commando class mechs. Just wanted to find out if there are any fellow Commando lovers like myself and have you share some of your best builds and tactics.

My best build is a 2d model with ER Large Laser, Streak Short Range missile and ECM. This build allows me decent armor protection. I have all the upgrade items as well as a 165 engine. Top speed 121 mph. The ECM offers me some protection from missiles while allowing me to be a pain in the *** for missile boats. Ravens seem to be the bane of this build as they have taken me out with ease.

My best outing has been 2 kills, 4 assist and 197 damage. I have my mech complete through elite status, still working on getting my module upgrade.

You seem to have an obsession with metal babby

[Gammanoob]

Roughneck45, on 06 February 2013 - 12:32 PM, said:

Thats the main reason 3L's are eating you alive.

The main reason 3L's are eating him alive are because he is in a Commando.

I'm sure it would help if he had more streaks, but he is going to die either way against said mech unless he gets help from another ECM mech straight away or is lucky enough to be close to his own team.

Commandos are good for clubbing the other worse light mechs, like Jenners, Ravens(other than the 3L) and Spiders but other than quick hit and run strikes it is a pretty bad mech.

Edited by Gammanoob, 06 February 2013 - 12:42 PM.

[One Medic Army]

Every time I'm in my Jenner and see a Commando (3x SSRM ECM) on the other team, I'm just glad it's not a 3L.

Every time I'm in my Jenner and see a Commando (any) on my team, I know I'm shortly going to be the meat in a 3L streak-sandwich.

[GroovYChickeN]

Gammanoob, on 06 February 2013 - 12:36 PM, said:

I'm sure it would help if he had more streaks, but he is going to die either way against a Raven 3-L.

Yeah you would have to be some kinda of wizard to kill a 3-L with any kind of commando 1v1. They are just far too powerful against lights.

Sorry to say OP, I run Commandos almost exclusively and it's basically a sure thing to die to Ravens and Jenners. They are just as fast and maneuverable with twice the armor and firepower. I hope at some point they give Commandos a fighting chance but I'm not holding my breath.

Edited by GroovYChickeN, 06 February 2013 - 12:42 PM.

[DrSecretStache]

It's been a while since I've run in them since I've got a couple of cataphracts, but I use COMs exclusively as my light mech. I've got the DK, the 2D, and the 1D, although I've just stripped the 1D for parts. Great mech. The Raven 3L is mostly just the flavor mech. I remember back in CB when it was considered worse than the commando, and the jenner reigned in against all.

I'd suggest running 3 streaks in the 2D if you want to survive against lights, though. The DK can manage itself just fine w/ out the missiles, if you know what you're doing (aka if you run into a streak, run away to the main force. If it follows you, it will regret it), but the 2D excels with the missile loadout.

Standard build for a 3D is 3 streaks and a ML or Tag. Simple, and not much variety, but definitely effective. Give it a shot

[Gammanoob]

GroovYChickeN, on 06 February 2013 - 12:40 PM, said:

Yeah you would have to be some kinda of wizard to kill a 3-L with any kind of commando 1v1. They are just far too powerful against lights.

It's possible, but it requires so many "if" factors that in an average round you won't see it happen.

For one it requires a Commando pilot of the highest order and a Raven pilot who has no idea how to pilot a light mech...

Edited by Gammanoob, 06 February 2013 - 12:47 PM.

[Rogallaig]

I'd recommend you take a look at this thread:
http://mwomercs.com/...mmando-chassis/

[One Medic Army]

Gammanoob, on 06 February 2013 - 12:43 PM, said:

It's possible, but it requires so many "if" factors that in an average round you won't see it happen.

For one it requires a Commando pilot of the highest order and a Raven pilot who has no idea how to pilot a light mech...

It's possible if you use SRM4/SRM6 instead of streaks. A couple well placed SRM volleys to the face will swat any light mech.
The trick is getting to pt blank, hitting, and surviving the 15dmg being applied to your torso as fast as streaks cooldown.

[XR17]

Gammanoob, on 06 February 2013 - 12:36 PM, said:

The main reason 3L's are eating him alive are because he is in a Commando.

Zoughtbaj, on 06 February 2013 - 12:43 PM, said:

Standard build for a 3D is 3 streaks and a ML or Tag. Simple, and not much variety, but definitely effective. Give it a shot

This.

The way I play COM is by being a light hunter with streaks and ECM or backstabbing heavies and assaults with ML and SRM. I use both with large engine (195 XL or so and DHs) to chase or to avoid getting targeted. Just be patient, 3Ls and ECM COMs are a natural predator (a very unskilled one most of the time)

Edited by Kracuste, 06 February 2013 - 12:58 PM.

[Mercules]

You can't fit much on a Commando without slowing it down too much. If you slow down you die. That is just the way of it.

Because of that some people really like to load up on the Streak. Solid damage for low weight/heat and while it does have ammo it misses so rarely that you don't waste it.

The ERLaser is an interesting choice as it does give you a good Range punch and lets you harass larger mechs from a safe range. It doesn't deliver as much damage per ton/heat as Medium Lasers but you can use it well out of the range of more dangerous close focused mechs.

This is why, however Ravens are eating you up.

On my RVN-3L I have 2 Medium Pulse Lasers, 2 SSRMs, and a tag. With the Lasers we are talking 12 damage and 10 heat to your 9 and 9.5. Then I also have 2 Streaks and can counter your ECM long enough to get a lock even without the TAG. It is hard to beat that in a mech not designed for a straight up fight against that mech but built to better harass bigger mechs.

My COM-2D is running 3 Streaks and a Medium Laser. I get one more streak on target but I am still out damaged by his lasers and have to be a bit more sly than the other pilot in a straight up duel. Spiders, no problem, other Ravens, not bad, Jenners sometimes a pain, other Commandos, not an issue. That Raven though can load out a similar but superior weapon set and counteract my ECM, it also runs as fast as I do.


My advice is earn up some cash and try minor changes to your mech. Endo Steel is the first purchase you need to work on if you don't have it yet. Next up, Double Heat Sinks. Seriously. This will let you fire more freely even if you have to have 2 DHS outside your engine eating up crits. From there, experiment with weapon loadouts and find out what works for you.

I can tell you what works for me, but that won't always work for you so start with a base which it looks like you already have, and work from there.

[Metallis]

My normal tactic is to either play the vulture roll. In that I wait in hiding until my Bigs get engaged then I swoop in and start focus fire on their targets. Performing the circle the wagon tactic around them until either they are dead or reinforcements show up to help out the target.

My other tactic (and much more dangerous) is my in and out tactic. I fly in at top speed in the middle of already engaged mechs doing as much damage on a single pass to as many mechs as I can.

I have tried the 3 streak SRM build and I loved it. But Missiles ate my lunch all the time. My survivability increased a lot once I put up the ECM. Why do I use the ER Large laser? I figure my job is distraction. I need to be able to hit from long distance and be able to move fast to get a enemy mechs attention. I could pull that assets from helping focus fire on one of my mates.

[Mercules]

Metallis, on 06 February 2013 - 01:00 PM, said:

My normal tactic is to either play the vulture roll. In that I wait in hiding until my Bigs get engaged then I swoop in and start focus fire on their targets. Performing the circle the wagon tactic around them until either they are dead or reinforcements show up to help out the target.

My other tactic (and much more dangerous) is my in and out tactic. I fly in at top speed in the middle of already engaged mechs doing as much damage on a single pass to as many mechs as I can.

I have tried the 3 streak SRM build and I loved it. But Missiles ate my lunch all the time. My survivability increased a lot once I put up the ECM. Why do I use the ER Large laser? I figure my job is distraction. I need to be able to hit from long distance and be able to move fast to get a enemy mechs attention. I could pull that assets from helping focus fire on one of my mates.

True, and while you are able to do that and keep moving it is also true that you are fast enough to get into range for Mediums, blast, and get out of range. The issue is that on the COM-2D you have 1 energy slot. Now, SRM 6 and SRM 4 smacking a mech would make them feel it. I ran that build for a while and really enjoyed it, you just can't duel other lights in it and more and more that was becoming my "role". "Can some light scrape this wart off my butt?"

[kiltymonroe]

The best way to show love to a Commando is with little friendly fire love taps.

[BarHaid]

It is the best feeling in the world to kill a Raven in a Commando! It happens so rarely for me...

[Mercules]

kiltymonroe, on 06 February 2013 - 01:27 PM, said:

The best way to show love to a Commando is with little friendly fire love taps.

Feel free... who do you think they will believe was doing it on purpose, you or me accidentally firing my streaks through your mech at the enemy I have a lock on?

[Kraven Kor]

I saw a guy last night in a CMD-3A using an ER-PPC and a Flamer.

It. Was. Glorious. He was a way better pilot than I, and was able to almost fire at will with the ER-PPC.

I adopted it, swapped the flamer for a Medium Laser,and named him "Peashooter."

The main beauty of it? Everyone looks at the build, thinks I'm an *****, and ignores me while I plink away and spot for LRM's

[Dagger6T6]

Those niche online dating services are really hot right now... someone should start one for Commando pilots

maybe www.commandocougarlife.com