Need some advices on Magnum-Taran Rhino

Contrary to intuition, Plasma Rhino is played shield down. As you are finding, you really don't do much damage with just 2 Mags.

Basic play is go shield up to move and cap beacons or get close to combat position. Then go shield down to unload tarans, kill reds. Then, rinse, repeat. To extend survivability, look to flank bots instead of charge straight in, manage range and pick out soft targets. Plasma rhino is best served as a flanking bot and soft target killer than can get into engagement position quickly, not a charge and kill bot. And yes, you will die against orkans, so manage your range or only get inside after orkans have unloaded.

In the current meta, I would not bank on plasma rhino being an endgame bot. Use it right now as a training bot to learn how it works. That way, even if you ditch it end game, you'll know how to kill them.

The Taran/Magnum setup is better on the Griffin.

I like Rhino a lot, but I am using a Taran/Aphid Griffin in its place. Griffin does not give up that many HP, and it is generally more maneuverable. The key thing to me though that Griffin can jump out of a death by DB, while Rhino will just eat the rockets and die.

To the OP:

I also want to add that the bot level matchmaker days are over now. Use whatever you want and level it as high as you can.

Doesn't make a difference if it's light, medium or heavy.

Your average damage decides who you are going to play against.

It doesn't mean I'm lucky. It means I'm noob =) if MM is decided base on average damage

The PBD Rhino is not an obsolete setup.  

Like all bots with certain weaknesses or piloting restrictions, you cannot freely run any Rhino in any way you want or against every opponent.  If you do run a PDB Rhino indiscriminately, you'll get it killed --- frequently without even getting any damage dealt.

IMO, you have to run a PDB Rhino only these 2 roles - as a close support bot or a fast interceptor against a target that is weak against plasma (I won't add beacon running as a role, as this is a mission imperative of all bots).   I won't ask why you don't just buy/use a Plasma Galahad  (cause you've got lots of gold weapons already) but if you must use the PDB Rhino, then this is how I play them:

-As a close support bot.  Since you can't really maneuver on or off Assualt mode, close support is a role that lets you take advantage of distracted bots or it allows you to gang up on target in a group attack.  Whichever the case, way you can fire at a target with shield down, as you'll either be firing at a red that's fighting your buddy or your combined firepower will kill the red before you take on too much damage.   Close support means you must not be the lead bot in an assault.  Rather, use your Assault speed to shadow your blue heavies (Lancelots, Griffins, Leos, or other Rhinos) and try to maintain a 300-350m range to approaching red bots (your blue buddy will obviously be closer to the red).  Once a red engages the blue bot you are supporting, you can fire at the red with everything you have.   A variant of this strategy is to satilite in an area that is close to several blue bots, where you can activate Assault mode and be within 350m in 5-10 seconds ---- this tactic does require a very good field awareness and the ability to read battle flow (cause you must commit to moving in a direction way before the blue and red bots actually meet)

-As a fast interceptor.  No bot can bring as much plasma firepower to a fight as fast as a PDB Rhino.  If you target bots that can be killed easily by a PDB load (this includes the Taran Ancilot), then you can motor to them and take them out without critcal HP loss taken on.  Basically, you pick out targets that you know you can take out, use Assault speed to get to them fast, and then plasma them to death.  Only the Rhino has the speed and immense firepower to be able to do this --- just identify a susceptible target that you can reach without getting shot up and run there to kill them fast --- repeat this with the next soft target.

If you use the Plasma Rhino in these 2 roles, you'll not have to worry so much about the immobility of the bot or that it doesn't fire it's main weapons with its shield up, as you'll be in fights you should win and retreat should not be necessary.

Now about retreating ----- RUN AWAY from bots you cannot beat!  Use that Assault speed and start running away WELL before that red Thunder/Orkan Lancelot you see at 300+ meters and closing on you turns a corner to fire on you.  This is the hardest lesson to learn --- that you must start running away well before a red you can't beat engages with you.  

Follow this advice and you'll survive in that Plasma Rhino and you'll get better at other bots as well.

Disregard my above post as considering PDB Rhino's less effective.

I am about to embark on a new endeavor with my Rhino to explore this realm of which I previously dismissed as far inferior.
Shall I master this setup, I will report back with the findings of my adventure.

Just to confirm, since this thread seems to be alive again....

That was a popular theory at one time. It is not correct. What decides who you play against is your league score. It's all about league score.

Oh I know. It was perfectly reasonable at the time. It looked right, and we had no way to know for sure. (At the time.)

But someone brought this thread back from the dead and it still had some old info in it. 

Are you still using this build, given the current ancillot meta? If so, are there any tips you could share? Seems interesting!

Still using my Rhino with extreme regularity.
However, I have traded the Hydras in for Tulumbas.

If I were to still run a Hydra Rhino and come across an Ancilot, it would really depend on the situation. The Hydras are absolutely ineffective for taking out anciles.

No teammates around? RUN! It'll never catch you.
Taran Ancilot I would stay and try take the fire if my teammates were moving in. Keep shield up and plug away with Magnums even if they aren't doing much.
Orkan Ancilot....you should probably run if he's got eyes on you.

The Hydra Rhino isn't a damage machine but rather, a sort of distract and divert setup. Stay towards the edges and work around towards their home beacon. No need to rush it. Keep firing the Hydras when able, you'll draw some attention and fluster their movements. Keeping the edge close prevents enemies from flanking both sides. Do not lower the shield if being fired upon because you'll take more damage than the Hydras will do.

^ Just a point to note that when you shield up during tulu fire, you can 'pause' it. Just like how Hydra can stop firing halfway.

You have to press the button again. So technically you could shoot a partial volley, shield up, move, then empty the rest of the clip later.