CN9-A Grimm's Grinder (1x AC2, 2x MLas, 3x SRM6, STD230)

The Primary Configuration (below) is credited to Sean "Phil" Lang of No Guts No Galaxy stardom. The Alternate Configuration A (the XL Upgrade) is the one I currently use and was a collaboration between Phil and myself.

Notes: This mech is for grinding through the Centurion chassis more quickly than the Zombie Hugger. The reason for this is that you can reach out with that AC/2 and smack enemy mechs at extremely long ranges and get XP for "Kill Assisting", even if you don't get the kill yourself. That being said, I've even managed to get kills using the AC/2 at 1000 meters before thus racking up even more kill XP.

Standard Engine Configuration


Phil and I were talking Centurion builds tonight on TS3 and this is what we came up with! The AC2 allows you to fight at range, your Medium Lasers and your SRM6 allow for a medium to short range engagement and believe me, when 3x SRM6 hit you know it! Shit hits like a tank! This build is relatively cost friendly and when the missile nerf is corrected this thing will be even better. This version is a pseudo-zombie hugger in that you have the SRM6s and the MLAS even if your arms are blown off, plus you have the STD engine.

XL Engine Configuration


After a little chit chat we were wondering what an XL could do for this build? Well the speed is a BIG increase and you get a little armor tweaking here and there but the speed is what counts. If you aren't worried about price or the XL vulnerability then go ahead and slap the Alternate Configuration A together.

The only draw backs for either build that I could see were lack of JJ and lack of AMS. I've really grown to rely on AMS!

Breakdown & Combat Test of XL Engine Configuration


In the above combat test / gameplay video you will see that this mech can take a beating! I choose Caustic Valley for the video specifically to show that this mech can operate in high heat situations with very little micromanagement. Sure you might have to slam the override when in a pitched firefight but for the most part it's spray and pray (or prey as it were). I could probably have gotten another kill or two in this had I really pushed it and went in for the kills but I was trying to illustrate the survivability of this build.

 

I have never been a big fan of the AC/2 but I know for those who can hit targets with it, this is an excellent weapon. I really like the Alt XL build because of the speed increase, you can never go too fast. If I could hit the broad side of an Atlas with the AC/2, I would definately use this build.

Mythweaver.:unsure:

 

Added a mechlab break down and a combat test / game-play video.

 

I tried this build last night after watching the video and LOVE IT!!! 5 kill match and over 750 damage. I wish I had fraps it!

I don't have the speed tweak and all that yet as I am still grinding my way through it but you have made a Centurion lover out of me! This machine is a destroyer of worlds lol and should be featured as one of the top builds on this site so far in my opinion.
+5 Star Rating!

 

I'm just getting in to Centurions now and will try this build!!!! The video certainly makes it look feasible!

 

I am going to refit my CN9-A with Config. B and run with it for awhile...looks great.

Myth.

 

I run a similar build with a standard 275 because I refuse to be slower than my Dragon and zombie mode is why I bought the Cent to begin with. I only carry 1 ton ac/2 and 2 tons ssrm ammo. I never seem to run out of ssrm and my right arm is usually blown off before i can use all the ac/2 rounds. Works great for me.

 

A lot of guys are using the Zombie Hugger (with the STD engine). That is something I will have to play with a little bit once The Great Project is finished and I have more time to play again.

 

Hey Michael - How do the 3 srms do now that they've been nerfed?

 

They aren't the universal destroying machines that they once were but they still do a very significant amount of damage up close and really do pack a bunch. You just have to pick the right moment when to come in 270 and square up your shoulders on the enemy.

 

This 'Mech! THIS 'MECH. I absolutely love this 'Mech. This loadout is incredible, Michael, and rapidly becoming my absolute favorite in-game, even over my beloved Atlas.

 

One could also downgrade the engine to XL 265, remove 2 DHS and slap an Ultra AC/5 instead of the AC/2. But i'm still not sure if the Ultra AC/5 is superior to the AC/2.

 

Forget the UAC/5. They jam far too often. These mechs aren't designed to be Uber Killers. Their purpose is lance support / enemy suppression and XP grinding. That AC/2 is for reaching out at long range and getting that 50XP here and there for kill assists.

Most matches I would touch every single enemy at least once and rack up 300-400 XP in kill assists alone. Sometimes I would even get lucky and that AC/2 would actually deliver the killing blow at 900-1200 meters and blamo I get even MORE XP (Savior Kill or just a straight Kill)

If an enemy is in close then unload with the regular zombie 2x MLAS and 3x SRM6 for that kill.

 

After running with you last night I am going to give the Zombie Centurion a go. I know you feel that Artemis isn't as useful on this build but I'm going to try it both ways...I like to figure stuff out the hard way.

Thanks,

Myth.

 

This is an excellent build, and I like how you posted both the zombie and XL variants.

 

I just run the stock 200STD it comes with (save $$) and use the tonnage for extra armor and heatsinks.

I'm really not a fan of the AC2 though...range and rate aside, it's a pea-shooter that far too often seems to get the attention of Gauss boats. It's not a problem with the build itself, it's just the crappy sniper meta.

I've toyed around with the UAC5 (drop some heatsinks and armor) and I actually prefer it to the AC2. The jams are annoying, but the range is almost as much as an AC2, the damage per hit is better, and the heat is much easier to manage.


Probably It's a worse build, but it's was working better for my playstyle.

 

The purpose of the AC/2 is to get Experience at ANY (almost) range not to kill mechs hence why this is a Grinding mech.

8 x 50 = 400 XP

I was always able to hit at least 6 but most times 7-8 and get all that extra XP.

If I got a kill great, if not oh well. The point is you fire it on a target and "touch" them then move on so you can get the kill assists.

 

The AC2 really is a better setup, the UAC5 will sometimes give you a lucky streak of clean shots in which case its awesome; but more often than not it's just going to jam up every shot and piss you off. I'm torn between wanting the extra per-hit damage of the UAC5 and the actually-works of the AC2.

The UAC5 has a max range of 1800m (vs 2160m on the AC2) so it's still viable for tagging people for assists. Flat out though, the AC2 is a better build, I'm just finding that I do better with the UAC the way I play sometimes.

Edit:
I think part of my problem was that I wanted to play the CN9-A like it's the Wang, and it's really not. Took a little getting used to not being super-fast and having that crippling autocannon. I was trying to find a way to bridge some of the gap between the XP grinding of this loadout with something that could contribute a little more to a fight, but this spreads the build out too far.

I'm back to running my CN9-A with an AC2:
An old 215STD I had already (from my Wang), no FF, more actual armor, and a heatsink. It's worse than the OP build listed (hence why I didn't bother showing the fancy infobox) but it saved me about 1.5 million c-bills between the engine and the FF. I'm only playing the CN9-A to work towards my mastery for my Wang, so I've got more value on saving money than on maximizing effectiveness.

 

Ever considered the AC/5?

Had to downgrade the SRM6s to SRM4s to fit the AC/5. You could either take the armour off of the dummy arm and put another ton of ammo/DHS/etc or keep the armour.