Ships AX Anaconda

[RaketeMike]

Hi,

after the times of the 6 shard Condas are pretty much gone, I was wondering if this is an AX build that could be versatile for at least Scouts, Glaives, and Cyclopses. It uses 6 Azimuth AXMCS, I already tried it for Orthruses at spire sites, and it performed ok for that, too. Do you think it could also handle a Basilisk in an AX Conflict Zone in space? I have not yet encountered one using this buid.

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I know that mod plasma chargers are better for Orthrus hunting and Interceptor exerting, but they are disabled if I encounter Glaives and you have to get very close with them, as the damage falloff starts already at 1000 m. What did you exchange your modshards for on your former 6shard Anacondas ?

 

[Kira Goto]

Do you think it could also handle a Basilisk in an AX Conflict Zone in space?

Theoretically possible, as there are Conda solos of a Basilisk with the fixed multicannons when there was still a 4 weapon limit, in space. (Probably painful)

With 6 of them, gimbals and a xeno scan, I’d say it should be perfectly feasible if you know how to handle a slower ship against Thargoids. Wouldn’t take chances with a Medusa though. And think about flak launchers, just in case you get an opportunity to, or need to eliminate the swarm.

 

[RaketeMike]

OK, will try it on a Basilisk then while using all of my Heatsinks and keeping a distance when unloading all 6 Azimuth MCs.

I got tired of my Krait MK2 during the Last week, though I modified it according to the hints here

Ok, will try it next with 3x Mod Plasma and 2x Large Azimuth AX MC then ty

 

[Shurimal]

I was surprised how quickly a combination of 2 class 3 Azimuth AXMC-s and 2 modshards on my Phantom destroyed a Cyclops I encountered in a threat 6 combat aftermath. After that (and repairs because I ended up with 1% hull instead of around 60% I had left after combat* due to being dumb and trying to pick up the heart too soon) it also absolutely deleted a Scythe that dared to hyperdict me on my way out.

I think a combination of 4 large Azimuth AXMC-s and 2 modshards is well worth trying out.

*I really, really struggle with the swarm, flak or no flak.

 

[RaketeMike]

I was surprised how quickly a combination of 2 class 3 Azimuth AXMC-s and 2 modshards on my Phantom destroyed a Cyclops I encountered in a threat 6 combat aftermath. After that (and repairs because I ended up with 1% hull instead of around 60% I had left after combat* due to being dumb and trying to pick up the heart too soon) it also absolutely deleted a Scythe that dared to hyperdict me on my way out.

I think a combination of 4 large Azimuth AXMC-s and 2 modshards is well worth trying out.

*I really, really struggle with the swarm, flak or no flak.

For the damage output this will sure be better than 6 Azimuth AXMCs , but I cannot keep the distance so well with them and there are more heat issues. The AXMC damage falloff only starts at 2000m. This gives more safety via distance than Mod Plasma (1000m) or Mod Shards (1500m). I am trying to avoid Lightning attacks at all costs in a shielded Anaconda.

 

[Shurimal]

I cannot keep the distance so well with them and there are more heat issues.

I used to be terrible with distance control, but after just 14 interceptor kills and a dozen aborted engagements with them I feel significant improvement. My combat time is about evenly split between shieldless Phantom (I should rebuild my mothballed MKII for that extra hardpoint...) and prismatic Cutter, so I'm learning both small mobility fighter and large tank. You'll get better at distance control in no time, I'm sure

As for heat, 2 modshards are very manageable. It's when you put 5 of them on a ship with grade 5 overcharged PP when things get toasty (should have named my modshard Cutter Hyvä Leili!)

 

[RaketeMike]

I used to be terrible with distance control, but after just 14 interceptor kills and a dozen aborted engagements with them I feel significant improvement. My combat time is about evenly split between shieldless Phantom (I should rebuild my mothballed MKII for that extra hardpoint...) and prismatic Cutter, so I'm learning both small mobility fighter and large tank. You'll get better at distance control in no time, I'm sure

As for heat, 2 modshards are very manageable. It's when you put 5 of them on a ship with grade 5 overcharged PP when things get toasty (should have named my modshard Cutter Hyvä Leili!)

I have been using a MK2 with 3 Large Azimuth AXMCs and 2 Mod Shards for months. Together with a Low Emissions Thermal Spread PP. Works fine

 

[Shurimal]

I have been using a MK2 with 3 Large Azimuth AXMCs and 2 Mod Shards for months. Together with a Low Emissions Thermal Spread PP. Works fine

Decided to rebuild my old MKII just this way, too 530 m/s boost is still a bit low side for my taste (Phantom can do around 580 and is absolute delight to fly), but that extra hardpoint should be well worth it.

...aaand that's my 4th AX setup (5th if you count maelstrom diver FAS). Seems kind of excessive for someone who's garbage at AX combat but I just love tinkering with ships

 

[RaketeMike]

Decided to rebuild my old MKII just this way, too 530 m/s boost is still a bit low side for my taste (Phantom can do around 580 and is absolute delight to fly), but that extra hardpoint should be well worth it.

...aaand that's my 4th AX setup (5th if you count maelstrom diver FAS). Seems kind of excessive for someone who's garbage at AX combat but I just love tinkering with ships

Looks familiar I also found a Vulture with 2 Large Azimuth AXMCs quite fun. With 5A Prismatic shield and a Scorpion Hangar on board I am using it to reach my destination for AX restoration missions on foot

 

[Kayvan]

If you have a six-shard 'Conda, I don't see why you couldn't put it to good use in the current invasions. There are mostly dozens of Cyclopes that you could make short work of, if you manage to get your guns trained on them. The latter is kinda my problem and the reason why I don't fly large clunkers; I just need agile ships that point their nose when you move the stick. The only problem could be getting into the system if you get hyperdicted by a Glaive, but that happened to me only once in four or five jumps. (hope I'm not jinxing it) Just bring enough repair limpets and AFMUs.

 

[RaketeMike]

Hmm, after having the Azimuth MCs I do not like the 6shard way of playing any more. Frying your ship and continuously embracing all the Interceptors while firing doesn’t feel „cool“ any more

 

[Shurimal]

I actually went back to non-Azimuth AXMC-s on my Krait. Less heat problems, still good enough against Cyclops and Basilisks that are most common in CZ-s and still won't do squat against the endboss Hydras (even the two modshards are doing mostly nothing against these buggers).

 

[Kayvan]

I haven't run the numbers myself yet, but according to a Mechan video the AziMCs are only a sidegrade. If I understood him right, you'll have to lose 1 weapon to compensate for the increased heat, which in turn negates and damage advantage these weapons would afford.

I think we can all agree that Hydras are really nasty. Shards do well once the heart is exterted, but getting there is all the more difficult. I guess that's why the real Pros still maintain the Gauss cannon as meta.

 

[Shurimal]

Jumped back to Chinas in my Krait MKII. On my way there was hyperdicted by a Glaive, fought that one off with my guardian MRP dying but somehow 22% integrity remaining on my modshards. In Chinas was interdicted by a bunch of scouts, fought three waves of these off. And as a cherry on top, a Basilisk warped in with some scouts--managed to destroy the Basi with malfunctioning modshards, remaining class 2 and 1 MRP-s completely shot up, 15% hull left, canopy barely holding up and ammo almost dry. No synths, no repairs (except the one an NPC gave me after the battle).

I think this setup has proven itself for what it is

Four non-Azimuth AXMC-s and two modshards with two small thermal vent beams on a 'Conda should be a very good CZ romper.

 

[Kayvan]

what!?
Hats off to you for taking on that challenge and actually winning. Honestly if I was shot up even half that badly I would never engage a Basi. What grit!
Quite the Ambassador indeed.

 

[RaketeMike]

Jumped back to Chinas in my Krait MKII. On my way there was hyperdicted by a Glaive, fought that one off with my guardian MRP dying but somehow 22% integrity remaining on my modshards. In Chinas was interdicted by a bunch of scouts, fought three waves of these off. And as a cherry on top, a Basilisk warped in with some scouts--managed to destroy the Basi with malfunctioning modshards, remaining class 2 and 1 MRP-s completely shot up, 15% hull left, canopy barely holding up and ammo almost dry. No synths, no repairs (except the one an NPC gave me after the battle).

I think this setup has proven itself for what it is

Four non-Azimuth AXMC-s and two modshards with two small thermal vent beams on a 'Conda should be a very good CZ romper.

I have almost exactly the same MK2 setup, only with Azimuth AXMCs. I find there are not SO much heat probs with that.. just popping a heat sink from time to time

 

[RaketeMike]

I haven't run the numbers myself yet, but according to a Mechan video the AziMCs are only a sidegrade. If I understood him right, you'll have to lose 1 weapon to compensate for the increased heat, which in turn negates and damage advantage these weapons would afford.

Mechan exchanged one medium regular AXMC with an additional small TV beam on his Titankiller Krait Mk2 to always stay cold. In that respect, with 3 AziMCs it is indeed more a sidegrade, if you want to maintain really cool heat levels all the time by using 2 TV beams instead of only one and 4 regular AXMCs. In my opinion, outside of a maelstrom and in standard settings for us „noobs“, the increased heat is not so much of a disadvantage.

In practice for me, in an AX CZ with the low emissions thermal spread PP on the Krait, it is not so important, and I stay reasonably cold in terms of being near 20% or slightly below it all the time by popping heatsinks. I am using the Sirius Launcher and regularly sync standard heatsinks. Those are very low cost in materials when synthing. 3 large AziMCs shred scouts and Interceptor hearts up to a Medusa, and 2 additional medium Guardian weapons on the remaining Krait slots can be successfully used to exert up to Medusae as well, be it Salvation Plasmas, Modshards or traditional Gausses. However, you cannot go against Hydras in that setup

 

[Helmut Grokenberger]

I haven't run the numbers myself yet, but according to a Mechan video the AziMCs are only a sidegrade. If I understood him right, you'll have to lose 1 weapon to compensate for the increased heat, which in turn negates and damage advantage these weapons would afford.

Mechan exchanged one medium regular AXMC with an additional small TV beam on his Titankiller Krait Mk2 to always stay cold. In that respect, with 3 AziMCs it is indeed more a sidegrade, if you want to maintain really cool heat levels all the time by using 2 TV beams instead of only one and 4 regular AXMCs. In my opinion, outside of a maelstrom and in standard settings for us „noobs“, the increased heat is not so much of a disadvantage.

Just to add another data point to this, I regularly run my Krait with a four MC setup, and I don't think I have ever had an issue of heat with the Azimuth MCs. I run a large TV beam in the top center, and two large and two medium MCs in the rest of the hardpoints. My Krait usually runs a G5 low emissions / thermal spread plant though (and before you say it: No, I never had it blow up, everything else gets wrecked way before it), I only swap for a G5 armored / thermal spread when I run modplasmas.

So comparing four (two large / two medium) anhanced AXMCs and four Azimuth ones, they're definitely more than a sidegrade in my experience. The added damage is nice, and the autoloader usually means your MCs don't stall at exactly the most inopportune moment. Against Clopses and Basis I can keep myself cool (like, 0% cool) with the beam while firing all MCs, and against Scouts the bursts are short enough that heat doesn't really matter. And against Medusas or Hydras I wouldn't use the MCs anyway .

I briefly tried a setup of three large and one medium MCs and a cooling beam in a medium hardpoint, and while cooling was sufficient, the beam kept stopping to fire because the target was obstructed by the hull. So I abandoned that idea and went for a large beam up top and two large/two medium MCs instead; but that was before I had the set of Azimuth ones.

I also have used my set of five Azimuth MCs on an armed evac Python and didn't notice any real heat issues either; it's been a while since I sailed that boat, but IIRC I got heat spikes of like 80 or 85 percent when firing them non-stop on Glaives. I don't remember what PP that ship had (it's been stripped for parts since then as I don't really do evac anymore at the moment), but it must have been either G5 armored or G5 low emissions with thermal spread.

 

[Aleks Zuno]

I got heat spikes of like 80 or 85 percent when firing them non-stop on Glaives.

Just to be sure—if non-stop means also during the Glaive lightning, you can pause there! I have only ever seen the lightning charge the shield so quickly that it would be as well to hold, let the starship cool and let the auto-loader operate.

I think 66% heat is where the cooling rate stops increasing, such that anything non-stop exceeding 66% must be able to reach arbitrarily high heat eventually, but luckily most Thargoids have a few moments where attacking does not help.

 

[Helmut Grokenberger]

No, I always stop firing during the lightning. Those heat numbers were during the longest firing streaks I got with the glaives. Usually I am less lucky and catch more lighting, having more pauses and less heat. I think I remember those 80ish percent was tue maximum I ever saw with a non-low emissions plant. But my memory is also flaky...