(MA) How I keep moving up divisions against OP AI
Sept 1, 2020 14:16:01 GMT -5
ⓣⓡⓘⓒⓚⓨ48, mechtout, and 1 more like this
Post by Deadeye on Sept 1, 2020 14:16:01 GMT -5
I'm seeing lots of comments about the MM (and it's not great at certain levels for multiple reasons right now) and I thought I'd throw out my play style of late which seems to be working fairly well against superior teams where I almost always have the lowest hanger power. I don't win everything, but I'm still moving up and the games are fairly enjoyable even if we occasionally get curb stomped. Also worth noting is that this is completely based on quick match (BR) games and doesn't not necessarily apply to the tournament.
First, my hanger and situation:
I'm in Division 3 more than halfway to Division 2. I have only 4 hanger slots. Those are filled with (in order of dominance):
3* Panther w/ base level MR8s (workhorse and first bot)
3* Killshot w/ base level Jav6s (this one is key to my strategy)
3* Guardian w/ base level PC8s (this is my Dikembe Mutombo)
3* Ares w/ base level PC6s (break open in case of dumpster fire)
I have other weapons I use for tournament play or have used in the past. This is just my current strategy.
Since I'm doing fine with this, I have no plans to open another slot, but when I do, I like the Zephyr right now. We shall see, but back to the show.
My strategy is based on tendencies I've seen from the AI so far. First tendency is that there is almost always some long range (LAs or RMs) and some of it is usually deployed early, but mostly remains throughout the game (ever present threat). Second, the AI likes to push. I've seen them push all the way into our spawn if the path they were on is unimpeded. Sometimes this results in home beacons on both sides completely switching. lol. Third, and despite the 2nd point, AI is not good at staying on a beacon to switch it. They will turn it if no one is looking at them or around, but they get kinda antsy if challenged. I've seen them leave a beacon to try to finish someone off or other (sometimes) inexplicable reason. The last point is that your AI generally follow the same first 3 tendencies. This is nice because it's relatively predictable.
Also, even in D3, I'm still mostly among AI. I've seen 4 real players in a match (including myself), but that seems a bit rare. With these things in mind, here's how many of my matches play out. I start the Panther, primarily because shield lets me move to my first beacon unscathed. I prefer to head to the most protected of the first 2 home beacons or the furthest from the action. I've categorized maps into 2 general types. The first type has a central beacon choke point, usually with some type of cover. The second has multiple paths through the map. The circular arena with an open center and the dessert city-scape maps are the later.
I play the narrow choke maps the same. I guard home. Inevitably, some AI will sneak around the center choke point somehow and start stealing a home beacon. They're mine! This does 2 things. It makes sure we don't get overrun early on beacons and it usually ensures I have a 1v1 encounter. It can also put a target on your back for RMs (try to keep cover), but at least I'm usually safe from LAs because I've stayed back. I win these encounters pretty often because they are mostly light bots and the panther has the powerful MR8. RPG6 is good too, but the MR8 is totally worth springing for (my first expensive grind weapon). I will continue to hang back and support my AI buddies at center with shields and well timed RM attacks, but I usually end up falling to a RM or LA attack. Still, sometimes the Panther lasts the whole round if I'm careful and don't push forward by myself. On the other type of map, I usually take the safer road less traveled and do the same thing. On the arena, I go left, take the high platform beacon (behind the shield of course) and move on to the other left beacon which is usually threatened immediately. I try to take that and hang there to protect it and pepper people at center. On the desert, I go wide and head for the back center beacon. Less fighting happens here as mostly AI will get all bunched up in the center x-shaped trench. This is a kill zone and every AI here will take you out first. It's a no-go. From the far center beacon, I can flank the people in the center and do serious damage if I have that beacon under control.
Ok, now, after everything goes to pot and the Panther dies a glorious, yet incredibly fast death, that's when I have a choice. If we have the beacon advantage, I usually spawn the killshot and lob javs while my brave (but foolish) AI push center again. I can last a fair while doing this and providing real support. Also, it can change position fast as needed with it's ability. It's incredibly versatile, if not really a brawler. If, however, the initial push gets quickly rebuffed and the enemy is pushing in hard and fast, I'll try to drop the Guardian to guard the home beacons (NOT IN MY HOUSE!).
It works well against all bots (one notable exception is excessively leveled killshots), but I can usually repel multiple waves of enemies. This sometimes allows my AI buddies to retake ground elsewhere or join me. Either way, I'm recapturing beacons and getting damage and kills so I'm making sure I'm not idle. This helps keep me from the bottom of the list.
The Ares is usually dropped either at the end when everything else is gone or if another beacon is being threatened and I can plop in, setup the shield and ruin someone's party. It doesn't put out a ton of damage though and can't usually last unless the other team is meching out. Then it does well. Still, it isn't fast so it's not great for changing beacons near the end. It's my least favorite bot right now and is probably my next candidate for upgrade since more energy would allow me to run a weapon with some umph.
Anyway, that's my method. Love to hear your thoughts or questions. I hope this helps some of you that have hit a MM wall or don't like how powerful the AI can be. They are very smart, but still relatively predictable. Also, even though I'm moving up division still, I wouldn't say that's universally advantageous. If you aren't moving up though, it probably means it's harder to clear your daily tasks and that sucks. This style helps me do my tasks too as I can switch out weapons to get some of those done.
Thanks guys and I hope the majority of y'all are still enjoying it like I am.
First, my hanger and situation:
I'm in Division 3 more than halfway to Division 2. I have only 4 hanger slots. Those are filled with (in order of dominance):
3* Panther w/ base level MR8s (workhorse and first bot)
3* Killshot w/ base level Jav6s (this one is key to my strategy)
3* Guardian w/ base level PC8s (this is my Dikembe Mutombo)
3* Ares w/ base level PC6s (break open in case of dumpster fire)
I have other weapons I use for tournament play or have used in the past. This is just my current strategy.
Since I'm doing fine with this, I have no plans to open another slot, but when I do, I like the Zephyr right now. We shall see, but back to the show.
My strategy is based on tendencies I've seen from the AI so far. First tendency is that there is almost always some long range (LAs or RMs) and some of it is usually deployed early, but mostly remains throughout the game (ever present threat). Second, the AI likes to push. I've seen them push all the way into our spawn if the path they were on is unimpeded. Sometimes this results in home beacons on both sides completely switching. lol. Third, and despite the 2nd point, AI is not good at staying on a beacon to switch it. They will turn it if no one is looking at them or around, but they get kinda antsy if challenged. I've seen them leave a beacon to try to finish someone off or other (sometimes) inexplicable reason. The last point is that your AI generally follow the same first 3 tendencies. This is nice because it's relatively predictable.
Also, even in D3, I'm still mostly among AI. I've seen 4 real players in a match (including myself), but that seems a bit rare. With these things in mind, here's how many of my matches play out. I start the Panther, primarily because shield lets me move to my first beacon unscathed. I prefer to head to the most protected of the first 2 home beacons or the furthest from the action. I've categorized maps into 2 general types. The first type has a central beacon choke point, usually with some type of cover. The second has multiple paths through the map. The circular arena with an open center and the dessert city-scape maps are the later.
I play the narrow choke maps the same. I guard home. Inevitably, some AI will sneak around the center choke point somehow and start stealing a home beacon. They're mine! This does 2 things. It makes sure we don't get overrun early on beacons and it usually ensures I have a 1v1 encounter. It can also put a target on your back for RMs (try to keep cover), but at least I'm usually safe from LAs because I've stayed back. I win these encounters pretty often because they are mostly light bots and the panther has the powerful MR8. RPG6 is good too, but the MR8 is totally worth springing for (my first expensive grind weapon). I will continue to hang back and support my AI buddies at center with shields and well timed RM attacks, but I usually end up falling to a RM or LA attack. Still, sometimes the Panther lasts the whole round if I'm careful and don't push forward by myself. On the other type of map, I usually take the safer road less traveled and do the same thing. On the arena, I go left, take the high platform beacon (behind the shield of course) and move on to the other left beacon which is usually threatened immediately. I try to take that and hang there to protect it and pepper people at center. On the desert, I go wide and head for the back center beacon. Less fighting happens here as mostly AI will get all bunched up in the center x-shaped trench. This is a kill zone and every AI here will take you out first. It's a no-go. From the far center beacon, I can flank the people in the center and do serious damage if I have that beacon under control.
Ok, now, after everything goes to pot and the Panther dies a glorious, yet incredibly fast death, that's when I have a choice. If we have the beacon advantage, I usually spawn the killshot and lob javs while my brave (but foolish) AI push center again. I can last a fair while doing this and providing real support. Also, it can change position fast as needed with it's ability. It's incredibly versatile, if not really a brawler. If, however, the initial push gets quickly rebuffed and the enemy is pushing in hard and fast, I'll try to drop the Guardian to guard the home beacons (NOT IN MY HOUSE!).
It works well against all bots (one notable exception is excessively leveled killshots), but I can usually repel multiple waves of enemies. This sometimes allows my AI buddies to retake ground elsewhere or join me. Either way, I'm recapturing beacons and getting damage and kills so I'm making sure I'm not idle. This helps keep me from the bottom of the list.
The Ares is usually dropped either at the end when everything else is gone or if another beacon is being threatened and I can plop in, setup the shield and ruin someone's party. It doesn't put out a ton of damage though and can't usually last unless the other team is meching out. Then it does well. Still, it isn't fast so it's not great for changing beacons near the end. It's my least favorite bot right now and is probably my next candidate for upgrade since more energy would allow me to run a weapon with some umph.
Anyway, that's my method. Love to hear your thoughts or questions. I hope this helps some of you that have hit a MM wall or don't like how powerful the AI can be. They are very smart, but still relatively predictable. Also, even though I'm moving up division still, I wouldn't say that's universally advantageous. If you aren't moving up though, it probably means it's harder to clear your daily tasks and that sucks. This style helps me do my tasks too as I can switch out weapons to get some of those done.
Thanks guys and I hope the majority of y'all are still enjoying it like I am.
