Tips on mastering stalker

Really only 2 builds I have found effective - magnums and aphids. Lots of people run pinatas also, and to good effect. I just never have done well with them.
My only tip is don't think of your cloak as cover - it is a way to get to cover or 6 seconds to pop out and shoot somebody (need the other 2 to get back to cover).

Also don't be afraid to retreat back toward spawn to head for the other side. Ion DC for example I tried to swing back and forth pressuring the red side beacons, but not by going straight through middle - swing farther back. You have the speed to make this move work in decent time. Just remember cover, cover, and cover. When I didn't get too aggressive I used to make that bot last 5-7 minutes and cap 4-5 beacons with it when needed.

I am by no means an expert with stalkers but I have had to "privilege" of being outplayed by many a good stalker pilots--they are I must say very few.
I only break out a stalker when the daily task requires it and I don't want to spend 15 Au to change. LOL. When I do it's usually with aphids as they pack more punch than magnums. In lower tiers, mags might be workable however.
I think the secret to piloting a stalker successfully is (1) timing, (2) battlefield awareness, and (3) knowing the maps by heart. All 3 are important for all bots but are especially so with the stalker since it's not as forgiving due to its low health pool. I think if you master all three you can be a force to reckon with and be responsible for many tablets and phones (as well as profanities) being hurled.

If I may add to the excellent replies, here's a little from my use of Stalker. I'm certain far more can be said, but here's the short n sweet. The advice obviously has general applications to other mechs, but I'd say it is especially useful for Stalker, Gareth, Rog, & Carnage in the present context. My apologies if the info is redundant. I hope someone finds it useful.


POSITIONING

1) Cover: Know terrain well and use it for cover. Gather intel on the terrain of each map to assess best routes to take. To promote longevity, don't underestimate the value of terrain; even something as simple as a slight hill, because the trajectory and positioning of the enemy may be such that stalking slightly down behind hill line will protect the mech.

2) Watch: Don't blind run! Rather, face and watch enemy locations when both still and running to assess dangers in order to make informed decisions on your next movements

3) Be smart: Know weapon ranges and capabilities

4) Sneak attack/teamwork: If you are going to sneak attack, it is more ideal to either seek out a weakened mech, or having assessed location of fellow squad members, weaken the mech approaching them

5) Don't be a chaser: Know that one of the best ways to kill a stalker is to walk backwards and let it chase you, so when its eyeball opens you unleash on them. Knowing this, don't be a pursuing stalker chasing and shooting with cloak or not. Generally it is better to use cover, and attack from flanking positions where possible.

6) Stealth: Where possible, one of the best uses of the stalker is to watch where the majority of enemy mech are, especially taking note of enemy being occupied or facing the opposite direction of your location, and going where they are not. Doing this you can literally walk up right behind an enemy who just beacon capped and watch them walk away as you take it back. Then, if they're still unaware and there is sufficient terrain cover, pursue them to weaken them then withdraw and disappear.

TIMING

1) Waiting: using previously mentioned knowledge, know when to wait and when to go. Refined intel = refined piloting.

2) The eye: know the timing of cloaking and countdown before cloaking available again. Over time and knowing terrain and speed of stalker, you will be able to combine intel on cloaking counts with intel on how long it takes your mech to get from point A to point B. This is especially helpful for knowing whether or not you can make it to the next cover before taking enemy fire. Refine your knowing when it is the right time to cloak. For example, if there is cover preventing a flanking attack on you, and you are sneaking up on a mech, don't activate cloak right when you run out if they are unaware of your presence. Activate it right when they turn just enough to have you in weapon sights, then run an arc just out of their firing range using unpredictability as additional cloaking!

3) Unpredictability - don't run in straight lines; and don't zigzag in a predictable manner. Move without rhythm, or the sandworms will getchu!

4) Attack - be precise with your aim, know your range and general damage capability, be aware of potential terrain obstructions to firing, don't forget to use lock on, and where possible make an informed decision on the right moment to strike. Knowing the enemy weapons ranges and especially countdowns in this case is really useful. Wait for them to lose their load, then attack, again, activating cloak not necessarily right when you run out from behind cover (terrain permitting) but when the enemy countdowns are getting close to reset. By that time you will be close enough to strike, cloak, then run arcs around them as additional cloaking. Before striking, assess the terrain around your target to determine possible escape routes after strike is complete!

WEAPONS

First, the main use of the Stalker is not to be a DB. Devastating damage output is not it's purpose in life. That in mind, it doesn't really matter which of the following weapons you load out with, but here's some tips:

1) Pinatas only if L8+ is ideal, but bear in mind these are generally straight shooters unless you're running and get a cool rocket pathway arc.
2) Magnums are also straight shooters and are ideal for the close encounters running arcs around enemy mechs because of the constant firing ability. IMO these are the most realistic load out overall....
3) unless of course your main objective is stealth attack and assist from behind terrain, in which case an aphid load out is the most ideal.

Stalker is really not all that different from other light bots, same general principles apply. Play a lot of hide and seek, never go at a red head on or alone etc etc.

The stealth ability, I think, is misunderstood. Most players use it as an offensive or defensive tool as they engage an opponent. While it is perfectly acceptable and encouraged to use the stealth to give you cover as you launch an attack, the best use for it is to hide the stalker from enemy radar. Circle around the periphery of the battle and hit the stealth. Unless an enemy pilot is looking directly at you, you disappear from their radar, allowing you to sneak past them. This is best done when all enemy bots are focused in on something like trying to destroy a weakened blue or capturing CB. In the heat of battle you will tend to be forgotten.

Because it is the fastest bot out there most players tend to just rush and push beacons with it. The Stalker plays a lot like the Carnage in that it requires the ability to wait, read the situation and hold off using its ability until the right moment.

If you must go into battle, the stalker pairs up well with a Leo, Rhino, Lancelot or in some cases a Raijin. They are slow, have big health pools and are big targets for a stalker to hide behind. Unlike the Griffin, they can't just jump out of the way, leaving you completely exposed. Use these big boys as any other cover.

Contrary to its light classification the Stalker actually has a decent health pool rivaling some mid-weight bots and so can take a bit of punishment. For this reason, a magnum loadout is do-able and is a good all-rounder setup although you do have to be exposed for longer peiods to do a decent amount of damage. A pinata or aphid setup is better IMO. YMMV.

Run!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

this is a whole thread on the subject: war-robots-forum.freeforums.net/thread/42995/stalker-poll-tips

You could post on my thread and do my poll, plus you could comment some of those privileges: war-robots-forum.freeforums.net/thread/42995/stalker-poll-moments-ultimate-thread