Advice on Multicannons

Altissimus · Dec 19, 2014

Hey,

So far I've stayed away from multicannons because I am nervous about their ammo capacity and running out during a fight.

Also, what little experience I've had shows that you're 5/6ths of the way through your current clip when your enemy flies out of range/target, and that means you basically have 15 shots to fire (waste) so that the guns can reload. Is there a way to force reload?

On the Pro side, I appreciate they take down hulls faster and can do a lot of damage.

Whats your experience of Multicannons? Is there a way to overcome the two drawbacks I mentioned above? Are Multicannons still worth it?

And...what about Fragment cannons? Same/better/worse?

Cheers!
A

Ghostile · Dec 19, 2014

Running with multicannons.

If I have just few shots left and the enemy isn't in front of me, I just dump the ammo and reload that was, apparently there's no reload button.

Kitiara · Dec 19, 2014

I love my class 2 multi-cannons.

The ammunition costs are not a problem now that bounties on hostile ships are so much higher than they used to be in early gamma.

There is almost nothing better for taking down hull. You can't force a reload, but I just ignore the reload timeing for the most part. I wish I could reload at will for sure, but for now I just don't worry about it.

so the answer to your questions is yes, no, yes

DraigUK · Dec 19, 2014

Love multicannons.
Have 4 on my Asp and 2 lasers.
Mix them up and they do very well.
Lasers for shields, cannons for hull is a great combo.
The grade 1 versions are very cheap, just give them a try and see what you think. Don't be nervous about anything at all in the game, just go try stuff, find what works for you. That includes all methods of earning credits, including piracy...just try everything you can.

Fragment cannons are pretty useless imo, like a shotgun in space, you have to be real close to get nay use from them at all. Multis are much better.

thesonandheir · Dec 19, 2014

Love multis now after the bounty increase, remember to get gimballed ones for fun.

For ultimate gimballing upgraded sensors are are must!

Ghostlight · Dec 19, 2014

On your starting SW with only 2 small mounts, is a Laser and a Multicannon better than 2 Lasers or 2 Multi-cannons? Just curious.

shrinkshooter · Dec 19, 2014

Ghostlight said:
On your starting SW with only 2 small mounts, is a Laser and a Multicannon better than 2 Lasers or 2 Multi-cannons? Just curious.

Sort of. Don't do a double MC loadout on a sidewinder. Pulse and burst lasers burn through hull sufficiently enough, and even better at shields, but they eat energy quickly. I'd go with a pulse/burst and a multicannon. Use the laser to take down shields, if any, and use it in conjunction with your gatling when their hull is exposed.

If you're going to be fighting, though, i very strongly suggest you get an eagle when you can.

Altissimus · Dec 19, 2014

Thanks All! I'll give it a go.

Frenotx · Dec 19, 2014

Gimbaled MCs are arguably one of the best weapons for shredding hulls out there right now, when you consider DPS, and ammo reserves / cost. They seem pretty pathetic at taking down shields though, so it's good to have a laser or two on board, too.

Black Ops · Dec 28, 2014

Frenotx said:
Gimbaled MCs are arguably one of the best weapons for shredding hulls out there right now, when you consider DPS, and ammo reserves / cost. They seem pretty pathetic at taking down shields though, so it's good to have a laser or two on board, too.

This. I've got 2 multicannons and a pulse laser on an Adder, and having problems dropping shields. I just tried to kill an enemy eagle in a low-intensity zone, and, although multiple hits on him, I could never drop his shield. I may drop one multi for another laser..

Red Fox Four · Dec 28, 2014

Multicannons are great.

Gimbal versions are very effective at close range. However, at long range, especially against low-profile targets (e.g. when chasing 'thin' ships like Cobra, Eagle etc), you may experience reduction in hit efficiency.

As for ammo count I wish it was higher, then again, nomatter how much ammo we have we'll always end up wanting more. The amount you have in-game currently on multicannons is more than enough to get through a dozen dogfights (unless you just spray blindly at 2km+ ranges).

As for reload, they need to add a reload option in the game or at least make the multicannons reload to full when weapons are being stowed.

Tubit · Dec 28, 2014

Altissimus said:
And...what about Fragment cannons? Same/better/worse?

Worse, I think. I haven't tried them myself, but I've been shot with them and they didn't really do much. They are basically space-shotguns, though. The efficiency is dependent on being very close, I guess.

Razorwire · Dec 28, 2014

Frag cannons are brutal at point blank range, but the spread drops your damage over range a lot.

For the reload time on MC; I run two currently, and open with one until it's halfway through a magazine. This means that while one is reloading, the other is still firing.

JonnyC0mbat · Dec 28, 2014

I've recently swapped out my multi-cannons for gimballed cannons. Absolutely devastating at short range and during head on passes. Doubt I'll go back to multi's

Red Kite · Dec 28, 2014

I tried frag cannons for a while. They do a lot of damage at close range, but firing rate is low, they don't carry much ammo and it is very expensive. Went back to multi cannons.