Been away for a year, Strider may have found new life?

Stopped playing War Robots almost a year ago. My favorite bot to pilot at the time was Strider. Could super dash at will and get from one end of the map to another it seemd with five dashes timed just right.

Started playing a week ago and found my Strider to be woefully handicapped. Five dashes across the map no longer work they way they used to, super dash still works - having to work on my timing again -, and against bots like Pursuer, Hellburner, Ares, etc. my boy seems obsolete.

Mind you, he is the only bot in my hangar at level 12. I was running Thunder/Gust combo before, but that's not working now.  Just as I was about to hang the game up once again, along comes Hongbao.  On a whim, I spent $20.00 and got two bots out of it and two Dragon Marquess.

The Dragon Marquess weapons have given my Strider new life. Rather that dashing, brawling and escaping, I have converted over to a long range game with these weapons.  Leveled them up to eight with silver and gold I had banked, then threw a level 10 Dragoon on the heavy weapons slot and HOLY CRAP BATMAN, the game is fun again.  I laugh, I cry, I cry laughing and stomp my feet with giddiness now.  

Those bots that were wiping the floor with me a week ago, now run and hide.  It's also really nice to hit those long range big boys when they aren't expecting it. 

With that said, just curious if any other Strider pilots have tried this weapon combo out.  I know the popular setup is 2xHalos and a an Avenger, or some variation of that - lock down weapons for sure.  I'm a long way away from getting those setups anytime soon.  In the meantime, the combo I'm running is doing the trick.

Thoughts?