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Post by Danny Linguini on Apr 25, 2023 14:03:43 GMT -5
My new least favorite map - Smokestacks. Let me correct that - I hate it. Cannot figure it out. Reds always grab that center dome beacon while managing to stay behind/under cover. Seems like as soon as I get a bead on somebody, they’ve gotten the bead on me first. So I’m constantly meching out, almost always lose. Doesn’t help that most of the time when I get it, it’s a 1-shot kill. I usually open up with Killy with Helix racks, which usually piles up the kills on most other maps, but I’m lucky to get one or two and one beacon with it on this one. Then the Panther with RM8’s, but the massive clutter of cover everywhere but where I need it usually means that doesn’t last long, either. Surge always seems to end up surrounded by three reds by the time I zero in on a target. I might get one kill with it before it too is obliterated. If I hang behind cover waiting for a red to get close enough to dash, the reds are grabbing beacons elsewhere while blues are busy getting killed or running around in circles (another habit I see they haven’t grown out of). Any suggestions for more effective loadouts on this map? Maybe open with a tank and head straight to the center dome?
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Post by S1E1 on Apr 25, 2023 17:15:35 GMT -5
Remember to put MA in the thread title as it's a Mech Arena thread.
I am coming to like Smokestacks, but I play it very differently. I wouldn't open with Helixes, Javs, or RMs. At the very end maybe those can be good, but you mostly need direct fire weapons. My main opening, especially against all AI, is to start with Surge, dash right to center, don't bother looking at the side doors, and the second you seize center and your ability has recharged, dash straight at the opposite center door with a wall in front of it. You'll almost always find one or two AI have just arrived and are frozen behind it for you to destroy. Sometimes the arrive early so be on the lookout, and this is a lot riskier versus human players.
Another good strategy is to ignore center and try to take one of the opposite teams side beacons. Go for the one with the giant mech in the background that is sheltered by the elevated ramps and such behind it. Be careful on the approach though, especially of human players sniping.
The main thing is that Smokestacks is very much a sniper map. Get on one of the side ramps, especially with EMR/RG Panther, put the fence down the length of the ramp and just bot the enemy out, letting your AI seize beacons for you. You can also perch up at the top of the ramp and peak out of protection and snipe as well. Disc Launchers work up there too and can be especially fun standing on the top platform, splashing opponents below (the little barrier walls on the top center walk rotate so just keep walking with them to stay in cover).
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Post by reconnecting on Apr 26, 2023 14:05:09 GMT -5
I head for the center beacon, take it if needed and reverse to the ramp by the entrance, go up it and fire from behind the little wall. Panther/emr is good or maybe Surge/MRs. I've also used Bastion with NLs.
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Post by Danny Linguini on Apr 26, 2023 15:53:05 GMT -5
You guys gotta remember, I’m just over a week into restarting - I don’t have any of those fancy guns. Closest thing I have to a sniper is Panther with MR8’s. And I royally sucked at sniping last time around. Yet somehow those @#$&* EMR’s manage to find me with their single shot no matter how much I move around.
I did try a few variations on this map - opened wit Surge, headed straight for center, then waited for reds to come into dashing range. Problem is, they almost never come in singles - always two or more, which my idiot teammates have no clue how to do. So I freeze them, maybe kill one, then I get cooked. I’m always at or near the top of my team, win or lose, so winning and losing just depends on how aggressive the rest of the blues are.
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Post by S1E1 on Apr 26, 2023 21:07:15 GMT -5
Then I'd ignore the center and go for the enemy's side home beacon (the one that offers cover). You have to be careful fighting it out on the side but it is generally less intense than the center.
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Post by Koalabear on Apr 27, 2023 8:28:47 GMT -5
I usually open with KS with JR12 and go for left beacon. If my AI team caps centre, then I'll jump in my Guardian with RG16 and hold centre, usually by the red side entrance where I can use System Crash on reds as they come in. The problem with this tactic is if my team doesn't cap centre, then I usually end up losing.
Another tactic that's worked for me is using Surge to take centre first. Unless the reds are fielding Surges first, that means I have time to get there, cap it and then back off to the side or back to the blue entrance. As reds try to take centre, I can dash and EMP them.
Another is to cap the side beacons first - either one - with a mech that has powerful splash weapons, go up to the second level in the dome and shoot down at reds.
However, none of the tactics will work if you are alone though. So, try to stay fluid and don't try to hold or fight for centre if you're alone.
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