SHD-5M "Slot Optimal" (1x LRM10, 2x MPLas, 1x LRM5, 2x MG, 5x JJ, AMS, XL300)

Thread in 'SHD-5M' started by Justaway, Nov 4, 2013.

  1. Justaway

    Justaway New Member

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    This plays like a archetypical medium 'Mech; high speed, maneuverability and annoying sustained fire with high heat efficiency. The strategy for this 'Mech is to first fire all of your LRMs as efficiently as possible moving quickly between cover to protect and maneuver yourself. Then as the game progresses try to stay alive as long as possible to pick off weakened enemies with your lasers and machine guns. The point of this 'Mech is not high alpha strikes or ranged fire but more endurance, speed, maneuverability and ensuring a win for your team late in the game by taking out weak 'Mechs.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 13, 2014
  2. Regina Redshift

    Regina Redshift Sass Elemental

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    Missiles and pulse lasers are good at making your DPS look good, but I don't think this build will work well for the 5M. Most of your weapons are hanging off the right torso, which is going to draw a lot of hate to that XL engine. You have almost no range overlap for your weapons, and neither of them do terrific damage in their range bracket. The heat efficiency of 59% is overkill especially since you'll never fire the lasers and missiles together.

    At the very least, I recommend dropping two DHS and changing the MPLases out for a LLas and a MLas. That'll put you at 54% cooling, wont hurt your sustained DPS much, and'll push your alpha damage up a bit.

    Even so. I think a build like this works better on a Trebuchet. On the Treb-7M, you'd be able to have TAG and Artemis, go faster with a lighter engine (XL280/XL275), and still have decent cooling (48%). Your armor wouldn't be as good, but as a harasser/skirmisher you wouldn't need more than the 304 I was able to put on it. If you take off Artemis, you could have near-full armor and cooling of 51%.
     
  3. DarkLobster

    DarkLobster Well-Known Member

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    As usual, Archwright makes a lot of good points. Since you don't have the option of Artemis for that head-mounted LRM5, I would recommend getting TAG at least. Dropping the MPLasers and some heat sinks, you could mount TAG and a bigger energy weapon and still be reasonably efficient. For example:



    You could switch the ERPPC for a LPLas if you prefer a cooler option. I wouldn't recommend a regular PPC because that leaves you with only MGs in close.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 13, 2014
  4. Justaway

    Justaway New Member

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    Like I said in the original post, its not meant to be a high alpha strike 'Mech or a long range sniper, it's strategy is based on enduring through the whole match. The beginning of the match is focused on using up all of your LRM ammo at range. By the time the LRMs are used up most 'Mechs still on the battlefield will probably be heavily damaged at which point you can start shooting them at close range with machine guns and the pulse lasers to destroy any weapons they have left and finish them off.
     
  5. Justaway

    Justaway New Member

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    Alternatively, if you don't mind dropping some speed and leg armor, run 2 LLs instead of 2 MPLs.

     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 13, 2014
  6. DarkLobster

    DarkLobster Well-Known Member

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    Well, in that case, go with a LPLas + TAG. The LPLas has better range than 2 MPLas and does almost as much damage, and the TAG lets you get more use out of the LRMs.

    Having said that, one ERPPC doesn't make you a sniper or "high alpha" build - it just gives you a nice 10-damage pinpoint option that you can use at almost any range. It's just one of the best options you have for the single energy hardpoint you have left if you mount TAG. Yes, it is hot, but you don't need to use it at the same time as the LRMs - you can take sniper shots at range if you don't have time for a lock, and it gives you some decent close defense.

    However, this is all opinion only, and ultimately you just have to go with whatever works for you.
     
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