GUIDE Your first 4 Mechs - Cheap, Viable & Fast Elite for your first Chassis

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=67&l=3404423dec439e412628d20c611ff1a582c8df73

Oh, great! I didn't noticed "Full Loadout" before. Thanks for tip and help!

 

My Intention for this guide was to give a cheap & beginners-friendly introduction to the first mechs to fill the four free Mechbays. I agree with you that the ShadowHawk is an excellent Chassis and definitely a must-buy. But if you read my Guide carefully you will understand why the ShadowHawk is extremely expensive for beginners who just want to play the game without having too much grinding effort and to replace almost every of the Stockloadout for much C-Bills. If you chose the Shadowhawk you will need to do this. Besides the stockengine of the ShadowHawk doesn't synergyze well with the Hunchbacks. There is no other cheaper Mech which doesn't need an XL Engine than the Hunchback. The Jagermech is similar although an XL Engine would provide more Firepower. But the good thing is that there are still many powerful builds with the cheap common STD260.

Just compare the costs with the total costs of my Guide.

 

My points are:
*If u gonna stick to the 4 basic mech bays, CBills arent gonna be a trouble, cuase u have all the time in the world to fill them with the best mechs u can. Think that u only gonna buy 4specs, probably then work in several more over the same awesome chassis, but ur plan is to spend 0money in the game, so game currency is, definitevely, spareable. This is at least what i did in every game like that.

*The chassis is not great in anything but their role, in which it excels, a LOT, but being fire support takes u away from the from line, that is the place whr u want to be in the first games, till u refine a bit ur playstyle, then u may discover that u prefer knife-range combats or sniper duty, and u clearly want a mech that can be suitable for that role, thats the place whr Shadowhawk excels, in being a 8-9 out of 10 in every role, by contrast the Jager is barely 5-6 out of 10 in close range, due to the fact that it has nearly all hardpoints in the arms, that is the 1st thing u loose in most combats, and also having huge legs that can get u crippled in the mid for loosing one, so normally gonna-be brawlers like the Hunchie and the Shadowhawk have less leg than body profile, and also mount weapons in the torso for more than pure defense.

Those are the same reasons why i completely agree with Hunchie selection.

If u are taking selection 1, u probably end selling 2 of them and then maximizing the Shadowhawk family, then u realize how flexible it is and probably end selling the last Hunchie to get something more heavy, like a Cataphract, other really versatile mech and so hear:

If u taking selection 2, u have right now the best mechs in medium-town, so lots of fun while grinding, playing any role u feel like to get those CBills

 

I understand your point of View. From that you would invest only into Shadowhawks, Cataphracts and Victors if Grinding Effort is no problem. The problem most beginners have are how in getting much XPs/C-Bills in average game. To drive Shadowhawks to their full potential you definitely need an XL Engine for the best Agility and Firepower. Besides most Stockloadouts are crap so definitely need to buy a lot of additional weapons with C-Bills. Besides the STD275 on most Shadowhawks is not used in many other good Mechbuilds, so it could be a waste of money imo. On the other Hand pretty expensive for the additional gear. Most viable (XL Engine) Builds require 10+ Million C-Bills which is a lot for beginners, who just want to try out MWO to find out if it makes sense to invest real Money for additional Mechbays (which you need to do if you want to play seriously)

I'm not sure if that is what most beginners want to do, General Auriga!? i know you want to send all the cadets to the front to be your meatshields!
Being in the frontline usually means that as a beginner you get raped by advanced pilots pretty fast. This could be Very frustrating. Actually secondline fighters are not far away from the frontline. They are rather using the more skilled pilots as meatshields while they try to make their assist kills etc for the grinding. Hunchbacks and Jagermechs are great for that Role. Shadowhawks and Victors are Mechs which i recommend to go for when you are finished with the mechanic basics and ready to learn the next step in aggressive fighting styles with JJs and TorsoTwisting in the frontline. Just my opinion from my own experience and what i see what problems beginners have on the battlefield.

 

Nah, is just that half the time i have no idea whr i am going, and i end dinning in the enemy trench. They are nice guys, normally gifting away all their bullets to me, and making some awesome light-shows, JUST FOR ME!!! It makes me feel special

[quote author=Blagg Zear link=topic=3691.msg49821#msg49821 date=1407160437]
(...) Shadowhawks and Victors are Mechs which i recommend to go for when you are finished with the mechanic basics and ready to learn the next step in aggressive fighting styles with JJs and TorsoTwisting in the frontline. (...)
[/quote]

This is the part that makes them both special and flexible: JumpJets and the posibility to TorsoTwist. But u may or may not use JJ or do TT, its just one more of the choices of the ShadowHawk. I dont agree with the XL: i run 3 STD ShadowHawks, and i find them really funny and not undergunned at all, with the stock STD 275 actually. Instead the Victors are more "delicate" to handle, normally performing quite bad to defensive playstyles and lack of mobility.

Maybe im just that much aggresive as player ......but, well, i die a lot :blush: ......Hey!! But from spectating other i have learned the best lessons in what to do and to dont!!! Also from my mistakes that took me to the spectator mode

 

Can you pls post your STD275 builds for the Shadowhawks?

If they fit to my OP demands i might update this guide with a second recommendation:

 

Of course, no problem, but i advice u that they are quite twinked to my playstyle, and are quite assymetrical cause i tend to use the left as shield:

SHD-2D, mixed brawler, WAY more funny and powerfull that it looks on paper. I can deal 90 or 600 dmg, not a lot of mid points. Its also way more flexible in the field allowing u to be in most of the places and do something. The BAP-SSRM combo allows me to chasse down those damn annoying ECM-lights.
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=153&l=43bd58290d0bce15863071255f619222d37d56dc

SHD-2D2, LRM boat. Sometimes i switch the MG and its ammo for more LRM ammo, but i normally feel adequate the amount of LRM (36 full salvoes), and i tend to use the MG at the very end of the battle, when few mech have armour still and i can create critical parties.
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=111&l=ad8fc7b6ff83c25eace421c1c3cd4f01835134d4

SHD-2H, knife range combat, my favorite mech. The PPC allows u to add a lot of punch in alpha-strikes and dont sit at the start of the battle waiting, also the debuff to ECMs comes at hand often. When in range, destroy the armour with as much heat as u want, then simply create criticals with the MGs. Tends to be an effective tactic, specially if u start by destroying 1 leg with focused alphas.
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=110&l=e2935335a834a839c81fe7cac179347fb5a4a85c

 

You need a big gun variant here. Unfortunately STD275 is not too good for big guns on SHD, so I guess an AC10 will have to do.
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=153&l=1233fda564a7853524d7d7e316177581208f8511

 

That doesnt really work. It only looks nice in paper. I tried nearly every config u can imagine in them. AC10 is a no go, and AC20 makes the mech too slow. AC5 and UAC5 are fine, the real trouble being to fit enough ammo without risking not even a bit of firepower. Just notice that to fit that u buried the StreakSRMs, making the mech way less battleworthy, this is, loosing 12 points of dmg to get 5, and in overall reducing the range that the payload can be delivered. If u go STD, one of the important things to take care is to fill as much torsos hardpoints as possible, to make the tradeback a worthy one.

Also, u can still add Ferro to that, maybe this other could be considered, with BAP and enough ammo for the AMS to worth the cost and the slots:
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=153&l=644a02e2608385d3850627c1c728d374833002d7

 

Was trying to do it on a budget, so newbies can handle it. Also less weapon groups means less to worry about.
But you are right, I won't run it this way myself. Then again I would be using XL to start with.
The XL version can easily have The AC10, the triple ML and triple Streak2 along with BAP, which is quite good really. But then again, we are doing STD275 here.

You can do a single AC20 build a la better hunchback, but we have a restriction here of STD275, which is aweful to go with the AC20 (if you use STD260, you get a jumping Hunchback with 35 shots of AC20, and triple ML).

(Yes, even in a budget DHS is a MUST)

 

OP is borderline public disservice after the release of the SHD.

SHD-2D AC20 brawler: 3MLas, AC20
SHD-2D heavy hitter: (ER)PPC, AC20
SHD-2D ER sniper: ERPPC, Gauss
SHD-2K SRM brawler: 3MLas, 3SRM6+A
SHD-2K ranged firepower: 2-3ERLLas or 2(ER)PPC, 3SSRM2 (remember TAG or BAP to break ECM so you can streak ECM lights if not PPC)
SHD-2K LRM support: TAG, 2MLas, 3LRM10 (maybe with Artemis I forget)
SHD-2H dakka: 3AC2 (somewhat nerfed atm, but worth experiencing)
SHD-2H sniper: (ER)PPC, 2AC5 standard meta cheese, probably the most consistent performer.

What can't the SHD do? Laserboat, light mech duties, and massive assault gunship alphas.

 

Shadowhawk, it only does everything[sup]TM[/sup].

 

Allright, i'll check the Shadowhawk-Stockbuilds and try to find some cheap but viable Upgrades. As said before the Intention for this First-Mechs Guide was to give new players an option to have a extreme cheap way to get one beginners-friendly Chassis upgraded and to unlock Master. Plus going for a second powerful Chassis which provides a better common STD Engine and similar beginners-friendly playstyle.

But I stand to my point that Driving a Shadowhawk requires a bit more advanced pilotskill than Driving a simple Secondline Fighter like the Hunchbacks and Jagermechs.

 

I get that u dont believe me, so just made 4 random drops. In one i got 40 dmg and 3 assists....pathetic, but happens, here are the screenshoots of the other 3:


[img width=700 height=395]http://nsae01.casimages.net/img/2014/08/07/140807124729242153.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=395]http://nsae01.casimages.net/img/2014/08/07/140807124733571866.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=395]http://nsae01.casimages.net/img/2014/08/07/140807124737312190.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=395]http://nsae01.casimages.net/img/2014/08/07/140807124741641949.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=395]http://nsae01.casimages.net/img/2014/08/07/140807124745405112.jpg[/img]

With this mech:
http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=110&l=e2935335a834a839c81fe7cac179347fb5a4a85c

 

[size=18pt]The Shadowhawk, Cataphract-3D Approach​

[size=14pt]The Demands:​

1. Powerful, Effective, Versatile
2. Using the max out of the Cadet Bonus (7-8 Million C-Bills over the first 25 matches)
3. Grinding Time is not a Problem
[hr]

[size=14pt]My Recommendation:​

1. Mech-Chassis to start + go Elite first: Shadowhawk
2. Variants to go Elite: SHD-2D2, SHD-2H, SHD-2K
3. Second Mech/4th Mechbay: CTF-3D
[hr]

[size=14pt]Reasoning:​

As mentioned here from several members the Shadowhawk is an "egg-laying, milk-bearing woolly sow", which can do everything from Brawling, Missile Support to Poptarding. So now this here is an Approach to give you a cheap way to buy and upgrade this Mech with the free Mechbays and subsequently go for the next Weightclass with the extreme powerful CTF-3D. With the XL280 from the CTF-3D you get an Engine to push your Shadowhawk builds towards the max Potential of this Chassis. Finally i will add some Suggestions for th Shadowhawks with the XL280.

The Builds i suggest you here are following the rule: Keep the Costs low until we get the XL280 from the 3D for the serious Firepower Upgrade.
[hr]

[size=14pt]Let's Begin!!!​

Mech #1: SHD-2H

Price: 4,356,283 C-Bills

Stockloadout:

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=110&l=1b53c507d8c09890ecceff082dde9a5a8c606e68

Energy: 1x MLas
Ballistic: 1x AC5
Missiles: 1x SRM2, 1x LRM5
Ammo: 1 ton AC5.Ammo, 1 ton SRM2.Ammo, 1 ton LRM.Ammo
Jumpjets: 3x
Engine: STD275

Upgraded Loudout Suggestion (Skirmisher - Cheap):

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=110&l=0b349bd3f51cdde007ca82ff9c134564a7bb10d1

Energy: 1x MLas (Stock)
Ballistic: 1x AC5 (Stock), 2x MG (C-Bills: 20,000)
Missiles: 1x SRM2 (Stock), 2x SRM4 (C-Bills: 240,000)
Upgrades: Endo-Steel (C-Bills: 500,000), Double Heatsinks (C-Bills: 1,500,000), Ferro-Fibrous (C-Bills: 275,000)
Heatsinks: 10 DHS in total (Stock)
Ammo: 3 tons of AC5.Ammo (1x Stock, buy 2 extra ton C-Bills: 9,000), 2 tons of SRM.Ammo (1x Stock, buy 1 extra ton C-Bills: 27,000), 1 ton of MG.Ammo (C-Bills: 2,000)
Engine: STD275 (Stock)
Jumpjets: 1x (Stock, drop 2x)
Armor: upgrade from 208 to 322
To Garage: 1x LRM, 2x Jumpjets, 1x LRM.Ammo

Costs: 2,623,000 C-Bills

Total Costs: 6,979,283​

[hr]


Mech #2: SHD-2D2

Price: 4,473,235 C-Bills

Stockloadout:

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=111&l=38de8b804d3887c25dd9e423b8990e5b60fc8e1f

Energy: 2x MLas
Ballistic: 1x AC5
Missiles: 2x Streak SRM2, 1x LRM5
Ammo: 1 ton AC5.Ammo, 1 ton SSRM2.Ammo, 1 ton LRM.Ammo
Jumpjets: 3x
Engine: STD275

Upgraded Loudout Suggestion (Streakboat - Cheap):

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=111&l=85fabf49bafa1f62dcc44b8a00a1e4c9109b0735

Energy: 2x MLas (Stock)
Ballistic: 1x AC5 (Stock)
Missiles: 4x SSRM2 (2x Stock, buy 2 extra ton C-Bills: 60,000)
Upgrades: Endo-Steel (C-Bills: 500,000), Double Heatsinks (C-Bills: 1,500,000), Ferro-Fibrous (C-Bills: 275,000)
Heatsinks: 10 DHS in total (Stock)
Ammo: 2 tons of AC5.Ammo (1x Stock, buy 1 extra ton C-Bills: 4,500), 3 tons of SSRM2.Ammo (1x Stock, buy 2 extra ton C-Bills: 108,000)
Engine: STD275 (Stock)
Jumpjets: 1x (Stock, drop 2x)
Armor: upgrade from 208 to 322
To Garage: 1x LRM, 2x Jumpjets, 1x LRM.Ammo

Costs: 2,497,500 C-Bills

Total Costs: 6,970,735​

Tipp: Sell the second STD275 to keep the Costs low (C-Bills returned: 843,333.5)

[hr]

Mech #3: SHD-2K

Price: 4,394,783 C-Bills

Stockloadout:

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=154&l=90baf36ed9899c15278bf761692505f67a561259

Energy: 1x PPC
Ballistic: -
Missiles: 1x LRM5
Ammo: 1 ton LRM.Ammo
Jumpjets: 3x
Engine: STD275

Upgraded Loudout Suggestion (Long Range Fighter - Cheap):

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=154&l=646f5b27904b38eecabfbe5a0f03f46ae883c8b9

Energy: 1x PPC (Stock), 2x MLas (C-Bills: 80,000)
Ballistic: -
Missiles: 3x LRM5 (1x Stock, take 2 from Garage)
Upgrades: Endo-Steel (C-Bills: 500,000), Double Heatsinks (C-Bills: 1,500,000), Ferro-Fibrous (C-Bills: 275,000)
Heatsinks: 12 DHS in total (10x Stock, buy 2 extra ton C-Bills: 24,000)
Ammo: 4 tons of LRM.Ammo (1x Stock, take 2 from Garage, buy 1 extra ton C-Bills: 30,060)
Engine: STD275 (Stock)
Jumpjets: 2x (Stock, drop 1x)
Armor: upgrade from 208 to 304
To Garage: 1x Jumpjets

Costs: 2,707,180 C-Bills

Total Costs: 6,891,783 with LRM5s from Garage, regularly: 7,101,963​

Tipp: Sell the third STD275 to keep the Costs low (C-Bills returned: 843,333.5)

[hr]

Mech #4: CTF-3D

Price: 9,881,953 C-Bills

Stockloadout:

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=40&l=298a3f03d4352e739e2d78d999f4d0057499ee1d

Energy: 4x MLas
Ballistic: 1x LBX10, 1x UAC5
Missiles: -
Ammo: 2 ton LBX10.Ammo, 1 ton UAC5.Ammo
Jumpjets: 4x
Engine: STD275
Extras: 2x C.A.S.E.

Upgraded Loudout Suggestion (Powersniper):

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=40&l=764899948fa680ed67798393eedcd464707a52c0

Energy: 2x MLas (Stock), 2x PPC (1x from SHD-2K, buy 1 extra C-Bills: 400,000)
Ballistic: 2x AC5 (take from Shadowhawks)
Missiles: -
Upgrades: Endo-Steel (C-Bills: 500,000), Double Heatsinks (C-Bills: 1,500,000)
Heatsinks: 13 DHS in total (10x Stock, buy 3 extra ton C-Bills: 36,000)
Ammo: 4 tons of AC5.Ammo (take from Shadowhawks)
Engine: XL280 (Stock)
Jumpjets: 1x (Stock, drop 3x)
Armor: upgrade from 352 to 400
To Garage: 1x LBX10, 1x UAC5, 3x Jumpjets, 2x LBX10.Ammo, 1x UAC5.Ammo

Costs: 2,624,000 C-Bills

Total Costs: 12,505,953 (with Stuffs from the Shadowhawks), regularly: 13,423,953​

Tipp: Now use the XL280 and the both Ballistic Cannons LBX10 and UAC5 to upgrade the SHD-2D2 and SHD-2H, and also the SHD-2K

e.g.

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=110&l=426901dbb461e55199b521a41e2828681aaceb7f

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=110&l=e2f90aa05c921d0c0afa227257d292543d71de75

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=111&l=ed01b92e864b4ac5330ef5f1fcda6cb2ee1d9173

http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=154&l=a351b5bf8447361a4a28e4e5fd603b6f437d55bf

[hr]

 

That was perfect. Deep, coherent, easy to understand, accurate. A really nice and good work, Blagg

You could add that to the main post as a second road.

My only suggestion is to try to keep a long range energy weapon, cause of these advantages over missiles and ballistic:

*The dmg takes way less time to reach ur target. In 300m it will be negligible, but in 1000m+ it can be noticeable, and ur target may be quite far away from the place u aimed to when the bullet reach it.
*The weight of the weapon is fitted, and u dont need to add ammo to make it work.
*For the previous reasons u will get more practice shooting, cause u arent worried about ur ammo running low in a long range duel, u can keep firing it forever in theory.
*Nearly all battles start with a long range duel, make sure u are using the correct weapon to annoy, cuase this part normally end without losses to both team, so is not the moment to spend all those valuable bullets that u may need to work at 100% later.
*My advice about ballistics and missiles is to try to only shoot them when u think it has 50%+ chances to hit the target, under that %, in example in a moving target, or a fast one, or one going from cover to firing position, better use an energy weapon.
*Take advantage of the range of the energy weapon and when u reach mele-range u still have full tons of shaking and destruction ready to make the next minute a hell for the target.

My personal preference is the ERPPC, cause it have the longest range and a good push, but also specially for the debuff it applies to ECMs, disabling them for 4 secs, the weapon cooldown, allowing ur team fire support to aim and fire some salvoes to the enemy. Anyways, give a try to ERLargeLasers, they weight 2 tons less, heat is way lower and the ETA on arrive of dmg is instantly.

 

Well there are also some Cons against the (ER)PPC purchase on the Shadowhawks.

1. The Energy HPs are relatively low, except on the 2K.
2. The (ER)PPC is pretty hot compared to Autocannons, so it's a choice you need to make - non ammo Dependance or high DPS Power. With e.g. AC5s you can shoot nonstop for eternity. With (ER)PPC only if you have a lot of Heatsinks. Anything below 13 DHS is only good for Snipers
3. The latest Nerf on (ER)PPC... If i have to chose - always cool AC5s on the LT instead Arms (ER)PPCs.

 

That part made my comments about the PPC outdated a couple hours b4 i wrote them. Pretty much that.

I get ur points also, actually the ERLLas can be a good substitute, but i still believe in the potential of the debuff, so im gonna keep it in my LRM-builds, i got used to aim a PPC then lock and fire