Monthly Archives June 2013

Quickdraw Brawler Build (4H)

Quickdraw Brawler Build

The Quickdraw is the latest addition to the heavy weight class. Its hit box is not the best, but it features jump jets and a lot of energy and missile hardpoints. This guide is just a quick overview on how to build a very good Quickdraw QKD-4H. Without further a due, let’s jump into one of the best Quickdraw builds for brawling. This bad-ass comes with three SRM6 and 4 medium lasers; a firepower comparably with two AC 20s. If you master the chassis this Mech will go up to 95 kph! There are only very few Mechs which can achieve this speed while maintaing that high a firepower.

View Quickdraw Build Online at mwo.smurfy-net.de

This version does not have an AMS installed. However, with speeds of up to 95kph this Quickdraw build is easily able to dodge behind cover or sometimes even outrun missiles.

Quickdraw Build Playstyle and Hints

  • Enable Arm-Lock in the options menu. Your weapons are spread over your whole chassis. It would be a shame if the shoots go everywhere as well.
  • The cooling efficiency is very good. Just group all lasers to one group and all missiles to a second.
  • When facing other heavies and assaults, shoot them right in the face and then use your superior movement speed and jump jets to get behind them. While they are wondering where you went, you will blast their backs with SRMs. If everything hits that’s a wooping 47 damage.

Link to original thread

The core layout of this build is inspired by a thread originally posted by Warchanter. Click here to check out the original thread.


Get Connected!

If you know of an excellent build, resource, or guide, submit it and maybe it will be featured on mwo-builds.net and seen by thousands of players. You can submit builds by sending us an e-mail, post it in the official looking-for-builds thread, or send us a private message via the official forums. You can also submit guides and builds via Facebook or Twitter (see below). Join hundreds of other Mechwarrior enthusiasts and like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Receive the latest guides and the best MWO builds directly to your favourite social platform!

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MWO Project Phoenix – MC Comparison – Is it worth it?

MWO Project Phoenix

MWO Project Phoenix Mechs

What is MWO Project Phoenix?

Project Phoenix is a special offer for our beloved F2P game, Mechwarrior Online. The bundle includes Hero Mechs, regular variants, Mech bay slots for all of those, special cockpit items, a ton of premium time and a special forum avatar (similar to the current founders’ avatars).

What will it cost?

MWO Project Phoenix comes in 4 different sizes:

  • Talon – Tier 1 – 20$
  • Storm – Tier 2 – 40$
  • Guardian – Tier 3 – 60$
  • Overlord – Tier 4 – 80$

Is that actually worth to get Project Phoenix?

tl/dr: Project Phoenix’s game content is worth more than equivalent stuff bought with regular mc. If you get the Overlord (80$) package, the value is more than double.

Total MC equivalent of all packages and their value:

  1. Talon ~6,100Mechwarrior Credits: 122% value
  2. Storm ~14,625Mechwarrior Credits: 146% value
  3. Guardian ~28,000Mechwarrior Credits: 186% value
  4. Overlord ~46,275Mechwarrior Credits: 231% value

From a purely economical perspective, it is very worthwhile to get one of the packages, the bigger the better. One possible downside is, that you probably don´t want to spend mc on chassis you could regularly get for just a bunch of c-bills. On the other hand, you will get multiple things which you can only get for mc and some only in this package: the Hero Phoenix Mechs will no longer be available at some point. The forum avatar is something to show off your dedication to Mechwarrior. Right here, click to view if you are looking to start playing games as a whole new hobby at home or even early morning commute, it is important that you choose a casino match your gaming needs.

The above calculation was based on the following assumptions:

  • Unique Phoenix Variants cost the same as current Hero Mechs.
  • Regular Variants are average values based on current prices.
  • Premium time is valued as if purchased in the most economical way possible.
  • Medallions and Mech Bay slots prices according to the current cost in the game.
  • You preorder before July 25th in order to receive +30 days premium time.

MWO Project Phoenix Overview

Official MWO Project Phoenix Link

Official Project Phoenix FAQ

Detailed Calculation Google Spreadsheet


Get Connected!

If you know of an excellent build, resource, or guide, submit it and maybe it will be featured on mwo-builds.net and seen by thousands of players. You can submit builds by sending us an e-mail, post it in the official looking-for-builds thread, or send us a private message via the official forums. You can also submit guides and builds via Facebook or Twitter (see below). Join hundreds of other Mechwarrior enthusiasts and like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Receive the latest guides and the best MWO builds directly to your favourite social platform!

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Misery Build 4x PPC + Gauss (Stalker Hero Mech)


Caution, old build!

Please note: This guide may still be viable, but is very old.
You will probably find better ones or will need to tweak a few things. In addition, some or all meta game information and play style/hints may include outdated information. As soon as an updated version is available, it will be shown here. If you have up-to-date information on how to improve this build, please leave a comment below. Thank you.


MWO Misery Build Foreword

The Misery is the Stalker Hero Mech. Like all other Hero Mechs, it features unique hardpoints, a c-bill boost and a fantastically looking paint job. But what to do with these hardpoints? The following Misery build combines all the chassis’ strengths into a dedicated sniper build which fits very well into the current meta game. It is very difficult to put together a Misery build which really packs a punch. The only other viable option, which we found so far, is combining Large Pulse Lasers and an Ultra AC/5. This close quarter combat oriented misery build will be discussed in another post.

View Misery Build Online at mwo.smurfy-net.de

It is possible to slightly alter this Misery build by stripping armor on the legs and cockpit and/or removing one Double Heat Sink. However, you will run into critical slots aka space problems soon. The only worthy alternative is to get an AMS in exchange for heat efficiency. The Artemis is not needed with this specific build. I am just too lazy to update the build.

Misery Build Playstyle and Hints

  • You are piloting an assault Mech, but you are by no means indestructible. The Misery’s side torsos are also quite exposed. If you have incoming missiles, twist your upper torso sideways and move behind cover.
  • It may be tempting to put all weapons on one weapon group and activate armlock for maximum pinpoint damage. However, experience has shown that two separate groups are more viable. Fire quick shots with your PPCs and only add the Gauss Rifle if you are completely sure that the shoot will hit.
  • If you are above 50% heat, use the Gauss Rifle only. Try not to overheat or you will be dead more quickly than you can say shutdown.
  • Use single/chain fire of your PPCs to disable enemy ECMs.
  • PPCs have a minimum range of 90m. Do not fire them at close range ever!

MWO Misery Build Screenshots

Misery Build OwnageMisery Build OwnageMisery Build Ownage 1Misery Build Ownage 3

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Fastest Way To Get C-Bills in Mechwarrior Online

Fastest Way to Get C-Bills in Mechwarrior Online

One of the most frequent questions on the (Mechwarrior Online) internet is: What is the fastest way to get c-bills in Mechwarrior Online? There is no easy answer to this, but there are certain things which can be easily optimized. Depending on what chassis’ are available to you, you can focus on doing certain things during the matches. The following sections will provide you with everything you need to know in order to maximize the c-bills you squeeze out of each match played.Fastest way to get C-Bills in Mechwarrior Online

Killing Blows – Difficulty: high – Reward: high

Let’s start with the most obvious one to get more c-bills: get more killing blows. Killing blows reward you with extra c-bills and you will usually receive some “Component Destruction” bonuses as well. If you are having trouble getting killing blows, we recommend looking at guides which use high pinpoint damage weapons and or bursty load-outs. Such weapons include the AC/20, (ER)PPCs, Large Pulse Lasers, and SRM4/6s. Since builds are changing constantly, no specific guide is shown here. However, you will quickly find one to your liking by navigating the above menu via “by Role/Weapon”.

Kill Assists – Difficulty: medium – Reward: high

Kill Assists reward you with a similar amount of c-bills, comparable to actual killing blows. The C-Bills for a killing assist are not related to the amount of damage you have dealt. Thus merely brushing an enemy will provide you with a killing assist once the enemy goes down. A very good weapon for this is the (ER)Large Laser. When you see an enemy for the first time, try to hit him with the Large Laser, then start fighting like you would normally do. Smaller caliber auto-cannons (AC/2, AC/5 and UltraAC/5) are also a decent choice since they can fire over very high distances. (ER)PPCs are possible but much harder to hit and definitely a commitment on your build if you choose to wield one. At the beginning of the match use these weapons to leave your mark on an enemy, before engaging in the brawl. On this link everything you need to know about casinos from myth, and why they belong in the fantasy aisle.

Spotting Assists – Difficulty: easy – Reward: medium

You receive a smaller amount for spotting assists than for killing blows, but they can happen more frequently. These kind of assists are also very useful for getting a lot of experience. Spotting assists are awarded if an ally’s missiles hit your target and you targeted it as the first player. In order to maximize the amount of spotting assists you receive in a match do the following:

  1. Whenever you see a red rectangle, press R to target it.
  2. If you see the incoming missile symbol above your target, do not change your target until the missile symbol disappears again and/or you start to receive spotting assists.
  3. Profit!

Final note on spotting assists: if you can spare the slot, equip the module “Advanced Target Decay”. It will greatly increase the duration of your lock. This will ensure more spotting assists when your target dodges behind covers and allied LRMs are incoming.

Fastest way to get C-Bills in Mechwarrior Online

TAG Assists – Difficulty: medium – Reward: high

A TAG counts as an energy weapon and is a kind of a laser pointer. Assign TAG to a separate weapon group which is easily accessible (e.g. group 1). You must keep the TAG pressed down in order to successfully tag an enemy. An active TAG is indicated by a red bullseye/crosshair symbol over the enemy Mech. Important: TAG must be active on the target at the moment the missiles from your allies are impacting on the enemy. If you TAG an enemy, your team’s LRM boats are firing and you lose the TAG shortly before the missiles hit, you will receive no c-bills!

  • You can lose the TAG while missiles are still in the air, but you must reestablish the TAG contact before they impact. Otherwise no TAG assist is awarded.
  • SSRM2s also award TAG assists so don´t hesitate to activate TAG while brawling with allies.
  • Aim your TAG at enemies which are untargetable (due to the ECM protection). They will be targetable as long as you keep the TAG active. Your team will thank you for that and you will receive even more TAG assists.

A build with which TAGging is quite easy can be found on this very page: Raven 3L TAG Build with ECM

Hero Mechs – Difficulty: requires MC – Reward: high

All hero Mechs provide a “30% c-bill boost”. This means that every c-bill you earn from a match in which you pilot a hero Mech variant will be multiplied by a factor of 1.3! If you played well, it is easy to break the 200.000 c-bill mark. Playing other Mechs will not provide you a bonus from just owning a hero Mech. The c-bill bonus only applies to rounds where you pilot the hero Mech. The big downside is that hero Mechs may only be bought for MC (Mechwarrior Credits) which you only get for real hard currency. If you don’t want to spend real money on this game it is no problem. If you can afford to pay 20-50 dollars for a hero Mech, you will most certainly enjoy a unique variant with an awesome paint job and a time saving 30% c-bill boost. If you don’t know which hero Mech to buy, click here for a complete listing of all hero Mech builds available on mwo-builds.net. View all Hero Mech builds

Premium Time – Difficulty: requires MC – Reward: very high

Apart from getting an insane bonus to c-bills earned, no matter what Mech you choose, you will also receive a ton of (G)XP during that time. If Premium Time and Hero Mechs are good for you depends on your playtime and style. A short guide can be found hereGuide: Premium Time vs Hero Mechs

And finally a screenshot of one of my best rounds ever (c-bill wise). Played on a Misery with active Premium Time from my Project Phoenix early bird bonus:

BlacKcuD - 346k C bills


Get Connected!

If you know of an excellent build, resource, or guide, submit it and maybe it will be featured on mwo-builds.net and seen by thousands of players. You can submit builds by sending us an e-mail, post it in the official looking-for-builds thread, or send us a private message via the official forums. You can also submit guides and builds via Facebook or Twitter (see below). Join hundreds of other Mechwarrior enthusiasts and like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Receive the latest guides and the best MWO builds directly to your favourite social platform!

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Jagermechs Dual AC/20 (all Variants including Firebrand)

Jagermech Dual AC20

It has been a few weeks since the Jagermech made its splash in the MWO scene. Sporting easily some of the best ballistic hardpoint setups available, it has quickly become a very beloved (and hated) chassis. Especially the Jagermech dual AC 20 builds have risen in popularity due to their ability to quickly kill people in PUG matches. This guide works with every variant of the Jagermech. The last patch nerfed dual AC/20 builds alpha strike potential. However, your overall damage per second is still the same. More on this in section Playstyle below. To see which variant is best for you (apart from building a dual AC 20), check out the following list:

  • JM6-S : The most versatile of all the variants. Used in tournament play.
  • JM6-DD : Offers the most ballistic slots. Fun chassis for ballistic weapon freaks (dakkadakka!).
  • JM6-A : Has missile hardpoints, which the other chassis don´t.
  • JM6-Firebrand : Hero Mech. If you don´t mind the MC price, this will be a comfortable tool to farm huge amounts of c-bills in no time at all.

View dual ac 20 jagermech Build Online at mwo.smurfy-net.de

As mentioned above, this build works with every variant. If you want more armor/lasers, tune down the engine to an XL 260.

Playstyle and Hints

  • Be aware of the latest MWO patch! You will overheat instantly when attempting to fire both AC/20s at the same time. Set them to chain fire (default hotkey BACKSPACE) and click twice slowly. If you overheat, you have clicked too quickly. This will reduce your pinpoint damage, but overall damage output will still be the same.
  • Aiming is key! You will deal a lot of damage by just firing randomly at your enemies, but you will kill them in seconds if you aim for the right parts.
  • You are very fast and agile (for your weight class and armament). Use this to quickly flank, flee, engage or whatever it needs to get into a good firing position.
  • Shoulders, rear Center Torso and Legs should be your primary targets. If your enemy is holding still, aim for the cockpit.
  • Do not try to hit enemies further away than a couple hundred meters. If your ammo is expended or you overheat, you are a worthless to your team.

Dual AC 20 Ownage with friends 2 Dual AC 20 Ownage with friends 1


Get Connected!

If you know of an excellent build, resource, or guide, submit it and maybe it will be featured on mwo-builds.net and seen by thousands of players. You can submit builds by sending us an e-mail, post it in the official looking-for-builds thread, or send us a private message via the official forums. You can also submit guides and builds via Facebook or Twitter (see below). Join hundreds of other Mechwarrior enthusiasts and like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Receive the latest guides and the best MWO builds directly to your favourite social platform!

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The best Mechs for PUG Play (September 2013)

intro-foreword

The following variants are currently the best Mechs in MWO. They are the ones which can have the most impact on a solo PUG game. We are aware of the fact that there is no such thing as “the best Mech”. However, there are certain variants which can do what other variants can not do. They have better hardpoint distributions or allocations. Their geometry might advantageous or can do what other variants can do in addition to something else. If you are not sure which Mech to buy and play a lot solo (or in small groups) choose one from the lists below. Now without further due, here is the best Mechwarrior Online Mechs list ordered by weight class.

This listing is being reworked and updated. The last update was in September 2013.

Best MWO Light Mechs

Raven

  1. Raven 3L  -  Good Raven 3L Build
  2. Jenner F
  3. Jenner D
  4. Commando 2D
  5. Spider 5D
  6. Jenner K

Best MWO Medium Mechs

MWO Hunchback

  1. Trebuchet 5J / 7M
  2. Cicada 3M
  3. Centurion 9A
  4. Hunchback 4P
  5. Kintaro
  6. Hunchback 4SP
  7. Blackjack

Best MWO Heavy Mechs

MWO Catapult

  1. Cataphract 3D
  2. Quickdraw
  3. Ilya Muromets (Cataphract Hero Mech)
  4. Jagermech
  5. Catapult
  6. Dragon

Best MWO Assault Mechs

MWO Atlas

  1. Highlander 732 / 733P
  2. Atlas D-DC
  3. Stalkers, especially 3F, 5M, and Misery (Stalker Hero Mech)
  4. Heavy Metal (Highlander Hero Mech)
  5. Victor (all variants)
  6. Atlas RS and D

Link to original thread

There are two extensive threads on this topic in the official forums. If you want a more in-depth comparison of these and all the other variants in the game check out these two threads:

Thread 1 by MavRCK MavRCK is an accomplished professional MWO player.

Thread 2 by 80Bit 80Bit always strives to provide information for newer players.


Get Connected!

If you know of an excellent build, resource, or guide, submit it and maybe it will be featured on mwo-builds.net and seen by thousands of players. You can submit builds by sending us an e-mail, post it in the official looking-for-builds thread, or send us a private message via the official forums. You can also submit guides and builds via Facebook or Twitter (see below). Join hundreds of other Mechwarrior enthusiasts and like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Receive the latest guides and the best MWO builds directly to your favourite social platform!

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6x PPC Stalker STK-3F Extreme Sniper


Caution, old build!

Please note: This guide may still be viable, but is very old.
You will probably find better ones or will need to tweak a few things. In addition, some or all meta game information and play style/hints may include outdated information. As soon as an updated version is available, it will be shown here. If you have up-to-date information on how to improve this build, please leave a comment below. Thank you.


intro-foreword

This is the second featured Stalker setup in the current series of Stalker builds. When resorting to a xl-engine, it is possible to equip this chassis with 6x PPC. This equals an alpha strike of 3 AC 20s but is able to fire twice as far. Making killing blows is very easy with this build. There are only very few other builds which can produce such an big alpha strike.

View Build Online at mwo.smurfy-net.de

Playstyle and Hints

  • Do not be afraid to do a shoot which will overheat you. But only do this if you are sure to at least heavily cripple your enemy.
  • PPCs have a minimum range of 90m. Light Mechs will tear you to shreds. Always stay with some lighter Mechs which can aid you.
  • Enable Arm-Lock in the options menu. This way you will ensure maximum pinpoint damage.
  • Even heavy Mechs can be two-shoted with this build. Always aim for center torso (worst case scenario: you rip out a shoulder)
  • You alpha-strikes generate 50-75 heat (depending on map). Do not shoot if you are already at 80-99 heat or your engine will blow up.

Stalker 6x PPC average game 1 stalker6ppcnormalgame2

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Stalker STK-3H LRM-Boat

intro-foreword

I finally delved into the Stalker chassis and bought three of them (Misery, 3H and 3F). Let’s start with a Stalker 3H build. This build is an LRM-Boat but features excellent close-range defensive capabilities in the form of Medium Lasers and Streak SRMs. It also comes with a Beagle Active Probe and an Anti-Missile System. In my opinion, the Stalker 3H is one of the best Mechs to build an LRM-Boat.

View Stalker 3H Build Online at mwo.smurfy-net.de

Playstyle and Hints

  • Stay behind your teammates to provide firing support.
  • Always tag enemies, but do not expose yourself too long to enemy fire.
  • Your optimal attack range is ~250m; at this range you can fire all your weapons at once.
  • The minimum range for LRMs is 180m. If you are closer to your target they will do NO damage.
  • Do not forget to open your missile bay doors at the beginning of each match. The lights at the border of your screen will switch from yellow to green when they are opened.

Misery Nice Game 2 Misery Nice Game 1

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