This is my lighthunter build which evolved from an early version including 2x LLas. You can find the original build, it's evolution and some discussions about it here. Reading the old thread isn't mandatory, but it will provide a very good clue how the build evolved to the current state. Loadout It's well known that 4x SSRM2 on a fast and jump capable chassis are very potent for hunting down light mechs. They also proved to be very strong against bigger opposing mechs which already lost a bulk of their armor or, alternatively, to pressure and stress those bigger opponents. The single ERLLas is very potent both early in the game, when hunting lights going either for your teammates backs or your base and even when chasing down enemies trying to retreat from battle. Finally, I went for a TAG instead of another weapon for various reasons. - 3 JJs and the mech's speed allow this build to act as a spotter for LRMs - when doing so the ERLLas is your second-best friend - TAG allows your team to take out a nasty ECM carrier which forbids your team's focus fire otherwise - finally: stacking TAG bonuses goes a long, long way Hopefully BAP doesn't need an explanation anymore why it's good on a SSRM mech. The weapon groups are pretty self-explanatory: 1: ERLLas 2: TAG 3: SSRM2 / group fire 4: SSRM2 / chain fire About the XL340 I know that a lot of people will go straight for a XL350 for various reasons, the main point usually being it's a mathematically correct choice for being dividable by 25 and so on... But this thread is about consequently min-maxing the SHD-2D2 Lighthunter build. Think about it: Will there ever be enough free weight to mount 4 DHS in the engine, which can't be mounted elsewhere for space reasons? No - and suddenly that argument isn't looking that sweet anymore, is it? So when comparing the XL350 with the 340 sized one I realized the 350 only gives a speed bonus of about 3 kp/h (tweaked), but weighs 1.5t more. And 1.5t are a lot in my books when talking medium mechs. It equals another DHS and the third JJ. Or an AMS + Ammunition if desired. And so on and so on. I went for another DHS and the third JJ because the ERLLas and those Streaks can get the mech pretty hot in a prolonged battle. Will a bigger engine allow me to hunt down light mechs? Probably not. It doesn't matter for this build if you're going 110 kp/h or 113 kp/h - your avarage enemy light will go 150+ kp/h. So only your Streaks and your ERLLas will have a chance to reach them because no light can outrun your weapons. An XL350 will obv. be better if you're going for the 4x SSRM2 + 2 MLas / 2 MPLas version. But it won't shine here as much in as in that alternative build. Variants AMS version MLas instead of TAG, -1 JJ and armor reduced in favour of another DHS: XL350 version
