MA - Hangar Advice

My $.02...

1. AT6 sucks. I got it when it first came out. Tried it on Shadow and Zephyr. Discovered that I'm just not that good at CQC 30m and below.
2. LOVE my JR6. I run them on my Shadow and it's my funnest build. Keep an eye out for the Overheat symbol, stick close to Brickhouses, and try for side and rear hits.
3. I'm a huge Shadow fan. But, if you're a patient player and good with ambush tactics, then go Zephyr.
4. I prefer the Guardian over the Panther for my RG16 build because the Guardian is slower, its more stable and not as twitchy as the Panther. The Panther, I prefer sustained damage builds that can auto target, like CB12, SB16, etc. I'm currently running CB12/SB16 on mine and it rocks for CPC games. You can do TL6/SB16 while your Panther levels up.

Explore different builds, see what's fun for you. For example, I run my Paragon with RM12/SB16 and it's hilarious. Also, the KS with RM12 is pretty cool too.

1.) Arc 6 is not a must have... but... if you want a Shadow in your end-game hangar, it absolutely is one of the top two (well, three, now that the DL 8 is here) builds for that part of the game, Jav 6s being the first. (Assuming you are using your MR 8s on other bots, that is... if not, they go to the top of the list) If you are not looking to do that, don't bother getting it for filling out energy left over from the Arc 10, or any other weapon, for any other mech. Just use another weapon... even a low level SG 4. Copying that Arc 10 and putting it on a Zephyr is absolutely the way to go and Arc 6 will just take resources away from that goal.  Looking at your builds in the OP, I would say TL 6 or even an appropriately leveled TL 4 (5 star to get the fastest overheat) would work a LOT better.  Even an RPG 6 would be better than Arc 6 on a Jug with a CB 12. 

2.) Jav 6, even on a Maxed out KS with 24 EN, is still very viable. Level them up to R5 asap to get the extra crit damage, then get your firing angle skills sharpened. They can work on many bots, from Lancer to Brickhouse, at all stages of the game.


3.) -

ibb.co/ncP17jG

Speaking of the devil...

As you have come to the conclusion that the Arc6 is not a good weapon. It appears that many agree to the point that the company made a special event for only the Arc6 to get one of the event coins for an attempt to win the Disc12. I'm sure the event is not including Arc10 since that actually sells well and they want to sell the Arc6 more. One less token from me as I will not be getting the Arc6.

      Ares over Jugg.

      SB16 over SB12 definitely.  It does more damage faster imho.  My first drop in TDM is usually Panther with CB12/SB16. 

I also had some success with it now that I ranked it up one level. It actually is quite fun and challenging, but I don't think I'll do any good against a smart human player because even in stealth, I can still get hit. I'm just glad I completed the event and got an event token. Scored 10 Fortune Vault keys on that pull so in the end, it was worth it. I still don't feel it's for me though.

My full HP Guardian did get killed by a human piloted Zep sporting a pair of AT10s, so that is still the better weapon to get.

10+ weapons double at level 6. I would focus on doubling your LA10s and getting your bots up high enough to run them before investing in your LA8s. LA8s stop being useful in endgame (unless maybe you've got some maxed light bots. I stopped levelling mine at 4.7 and I wish I'd shifted over to investing in my LA10 even sooner.

Also1 I'd pick Zephyr over Shadow. Mid-game it is really dominant on several tournament maps and even in endgame, it can be pretty lethalin the right setting, though its lower firepower hinders it some. But it can still be a great bot to drop when there is a particularly problematic enemy near your spawn. Especially good against Shadows actually. And it is a speedy enough to use as a beacon runner in CPC.

My LA8 is 3.7 now. Do you recommend I stop investing in it and just bear the sub par damage output til I get my 2nd LA10? 

Whats your load out suggestion for Zeph? MR8s then move on to Arc10+6?

It's a bit of a judgement call on the LA8 but yeah I'd suggest keeping it where it is and upgrading the LA10 instead. LA10s are cheap in terms of A-Coins - I think (not totally sure) it is like only 4500AC total to take it from its starting level all the way to 6.1. From 5.7 to 6 costs only 1500AC if I remember correctly, and while I don't remember the 4.7-5.1 cost, I think it might be the same or close to. By contrast 4.7-5.1 for an LA8 costs 2500 A-Coins. So IMO it is better to just focus on getting to 2xLA10 as fast as possible and getting your Panther up to EN20 so it can run them both. Dual LA10 snipers can really dominate tourney maps in mid-game, and RG16+LA10 snipers are a terrific combo in endgame. They also brawl pretty well - I am quite comfortable getting in close with that setup.

MR8s are the best setup for Zephyrs mid-game and then you move to Arc10+MR8 and eventually 2xArc10. Dual Carbine 8s also work but not as good as MR8s, and Arc10+Carb8s/Carb10 is decent too. I wouldn't bother with Arc6s.

Overall it's good to remember that the upgrade costs for single 10+ weapons are comparatively cheaper than for double 8 and below weapons. It is the initial cost where they tend to be a problem (with LA10 being a nice exception). Also mech upgrades boost your fighting strength more than weapon upgrades. So in terms of A-Coin efficiency is generally good to prioritize 10+ weapons and upgrading your bots to be able to carry them as much as possible. There are some exceptions like TL6, Jav6 (and there is a debate on Carb8s vs PC8s) that are good mid-game and can still be useful in endgame but the bread-and-butter endgame weapons seem to be RG16 (most important), Carb12, RM12, LA10, Carb10, Arc10, and MR8s.

Just my 2¢ of course (and play style) - I didn't take the most efficient path while levelling up and am only at 3400 hangar but these are the conclusions I've come to while trudging up the ladder.

TBH... the best for most of the game is Jav 6.  Keeping in the... ahem... shadows, and firing from there, while keeping and eye out for Control Points to steal will yield the best results in CPC.  In TDM... it's a similar situation... except you are looking for spots that allow you to shoot around or over obstacles that don't expose you to any Red's LoS, thus keeping you off the minimap and out of mind of most Reds.  Use Stealth when you are discovered to GTFO and find another place to do it all over again.  

If that style of play is not fun to you, however, the assassin role tends to be best served by weapons that either do KILLER damage up close, to the back or sides, or allow for standoff range shots that are also able to easily hit the back and sides of your targets (part of why Javs do so well).  RPG 6 and MR 6 are both in the latter category, since you can use splash to hit obstacles or other reds that are close to your target but behind or beside them, thus allowing damage to the initial target's vulnerable parts.  This takes practice and knowledge of how to use each weapon to its best effect. 

As to the former Assassin style of play, up close back stabs, Arc 6 definitely has a place here.  MR 6 also overlaps here due to its burst capability, even though it's not great.  SG 4 is actually good for this role, early to mid game.  But they need to be upgraded appropriately, and since they are not typically end game weapons, most folk will discourage players from doing this as resources are hard to come by in relation to the higher end-game upgrade costs.  I took mine all the way up to 5.1 because I used them as a second weapon on my EN 12 Shadow, to illustrate how favorable I see their capabilities... which also leads me to the last suggestion... hybrid builds.

A single MR 8 can be paired with a lot of things to make the Shadow a straight terror in early / mid game, if you play it right, and use corner shooting and surprise to your advantage.  Also, Carb 8, and even LA 8 can be paired with a decently leveled TL 4 and be a pretty effective support/snipe platform.  There are a lot of options here, that, while not perfect, still allow for good performance.

In conclusion, your style of play and available weapons to outfit your Shadow are key... as is you desire to take the mech end game.  Try it with low level versions of any of these that sound good, preferably in a custom match or 10, to get the feel for them.  If you like them and want to take Shadow to end-game, or even just late game, you can.  With practice, even the "sub par" weapons can still be viable and effective if leveled.  Just be aware that resource costs for light mechs are high, and any weapon you bring up for it that isn't able to be used on other end game builds will feel like a waste if you aren't aware of this from the beginning.

Just my opinion... but know that I was NOT careful with my resources and substituted real money to pay for my desire to have as many options as possible, to try them out and have variety.  I find fun in not playing the same thing over and over so that biases my advice in these type questions... but I definitely don't try to guide anyone wrongly.  You really can find ways to make almost everything in this game work for you... provided you understand how to use them.  If you are F2P or spend very little, then Javs or a combo of MR 8 will have the best rate of return for your investments.  Just be aware that this takes away from your other builds that could use these options.

*If you were lucky enough to get the DL 8, or even if you intend to get it once it becomes available in the progress path, I would venture to say that it has a place in possible Shadow builds.  Even up to late game, as a maxed Shadow could run two and be a Holy Terror with them.