Is Rhino in danger of extinction?

Rhino got replaced by Griffins

I don't see them anywhere near as much as I used to, but then again I recall the days of Rhinopolis were pre-spider bots, pre-britbots, pre-wild bunch so maybe there's a lot more choice now for a hard hitting bot with lots of hit points and a shield that can sit and hold a beacon or storm one. When it was the only choice, yeah, everyone had a near full hanger of them.

I only ever got one but am still finding it useful (I was thinking of replacing it with the compulsory trident fury set up but I've decided I'm sick of this game railroading choices so I'm sticking with my brawlers)

It's still great for the dead city, power plant and especially moon map as you can rush towards beacons, drop the shield as you turn the corner, rip the rival bot going for the beacon, snag it, and charge for the next beacon with shield back up and missiles reloading.

I'm finding it's also great for cracking open plasma/thunder Lancelots. The Tarans wail pointlessly on your shield, the moment they need to reload, drop the orkan/pinata deluge into them before the thunder can do much damage. An almost certain instant kill. Assault mode is also good for getting inside an Ancilot quickly for a point blank burst.

I still find my Rhino is almost guaranteed to take down one bot before he goes, and often gets two or three (in addition to snagging beacons quickly). So still a decent member of my hanger.

Just my 2 cents I think the Rhino needs a slight buff. I think it's turning rate needs to be increased somewhat both when the assault mode is engaged and disengaged. Likewise the Gareth and the Galahad should have a turning rate penalty when the shield is deployed as well.

PDB Rhino in lead off will win Yam and Moon more often than not. Less useful in lead off on DC and Canyon and I save for beacon flanking later in the game. Hellfire Rhino in clean up has saved games for me on all maps.....sometimes.

Experts are using Ork/Mag Rhino very effectively.

Looks like the imminent update will serve as the wildlife protection order needed for Death Button Rhinos.

Orkans doing +15% more damage and the Pinatas now joining in on the fire while reloading? Oh yeah!

The Rhino had become fairly situational. Personally I don't worry about them too much in my Lancelots for a few reasons.

If they're a hellfire build I side step until they are forced to drop the shield and fire. With rush active I can sidestep or backpedal quite effectively. If I'm in one of my Ancilots I won't even take damage.

I'f they're in a plasma build I usually use cover to whittle them down. The lance is a great corner shooter. If they're low on health they'll usually sit with the shield up but if you headbutt them the tarans shoot around the shield.

Back on topic though, the Rhino could really use a speed buff to make it relevant again. It was indirectly nerfed when the heavies got a speed boost, and in middle levels again nerfed indirectly with the hp leveling. If it's base speed was bumped to about 32 at level 6 and it's rush bonus dropped to give it the same top speed it'd be worth the wsp again without making it overpowering.

The Rhino used to be king, but now it's overshadowed by many bots. It this case, the Rhino is not extinct, just not preferable for most players. I used to watch videos of the Rhino killing everything in it's path. When I got one, it was great. I could block shots, then return fire easily. Once in Shenzhen, I was grouped up with a thunder Natasha and a DB Griffin. We were really hesitant about attacking, because a Leo, Galahad, and a Raijin were waiting, taking pot shots at the corner. We needed the beacon badly, so I charged my Plasma Rhino straight in there, giving my teammates cover. We stormed them and took the beacon. That was when Ancilots weren't really a thing. Now, TT furies and Lances are gonna just beat you down to the ground. The Rhino is still relevant, but it has just lost usage.

Thank you everybody for your thoughts. I'll keep my Rhino, certainly love its design, and try to practice more with it.
Hopefully Pixonic will change something in it (I liked that backpedal rush option) and bring back Rhinos to the elite.

Or just side step slowly. Or the the same speed buff to base speed rate the other heavies recieved.

I found My hellfire rhino still usefull, and For the moment i keep in hangar e use it whith alternate satisfaction...
On moon map today i've killed 4 of it, 3 by My gary and one by My poor lvl6 griff...had to say probably they were in the hands of very bad pilots otherwise i get blasted...
(never saw so many rhinos all toghether...every corner of the map i've found one...)

Rhinos are enjoying a brief resurgence. A Rhino's shield is no joke, and if you thought Galahad had a strong shield...

I have also noticed the resurgence in masters II. They seem to hold a shield breaker niche what with all the ancilots.

Dash bots have only had limited time on the test server - I would have thought even the most experienced pilots are getting to grips with it. I admit it's going to be very interesting when the Dash bots are put into general population.