Best Weapons for fighting Thargoids?

Angus

Angus
I've never got into it with a Thargoid, but I have decided to have a go. I'm not a combat ace or anything so I wanted to give myself plenty of advantages.

I am intending to use a Challenger specifically for this amd wondered what people considered to be the best weapons (and other kit) for the job. I have unlocked the Guardian kit, and am I right in thinking there is a loadout maximum of 4 experimental weapons regardless of if they are AX or Guardian tech?


Any general advice on this confrontation would also be welcome. :)


Thanks.
 

concentric

concentric
There seems to be a consensus that the Gauss Cannon is the most powerful weapon against Thargoids.
It produces a lot of heat though, so depending on the ship you use, there might be a limit how many of those you can fit without melting your ship.
Probably best in combination with less heat producing weapons like Ax Multi-Cannon, Guardian Shard Cannon...
If you go against the big Thargs, 1 or 2 Remote Release Flak Launchers are useful to deal with their Thargon swarms. An AX fighter to distract them is handy, too.

My AX FDL has 3 Gauss Cannons and 2 Flak Launchers and is able to solo-kill the Cyclops variant reliably. Haven't tried the bigger variants yet.

I think the maximum of 4 applies to AX weapons only, not quite sure though. I'm just on my way to purchase 2 Shard Cannons. Will try if I can put them on my FDL instead of the Flak Launchers, then I'm able to tell you for sure...

No experience concerning Guardian Hull or Module Reinforcements yet...
You'll need a lot of hull though. 2.000 hull on my FDL with decent resistances, although I'm not quite sure how vital resistances are against Thargoids. Raw hp seems to be more important here, but I might be wrong...


edit:
Ok, I am NOT able to equip both Shard Cannons alongside the 3 Gauss Cannons, so your assumption was right that the limit of 4 applies to both, AX and Guardian weapons!
Otoh, on the Challenger you don't have more than 4 hardpoints suitable for AX / Guardian weapons anyway ;-)
 
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concentric

concentric
Personally, I don't have any experience with Alliance ships, so I can't be of much help in that regard.
I'd definitely bring a Shutdown Field Neutraliser and a Xeno Scanner though!
 

Guardian Kaiser

Guardian Kaiser
I'm also building an AX Challenger. They're all the rage. But only for scout hunting because I want to work on my combat rank.

Right now I've got
1 x class 3 AX MC Turret
3 x class 2 AX MC Turret
3x class 1 MC Gimballed

Then I'll be stuffing as much hull and module reinforcement as she'll take. Can't wait to take her for a spin later.
 

Kamiyoda

Kamiyoda
wesmacdon said:
So i'm also building an AX Challenger so keen to get advice on this topic. I've got 2 gauss cannons, a guardian shard cannon and a remote flak for the swarms. My view is currently that i'm going to focus on hull reinforcement as thargoids can bypass shields anyway, but happy to here an opposing view of someone disagrees. Prob an ax scanner and shutdown field neutraliser as well. Holler if anyone has an opinion to the contrary!
Click to expand...

The hull piercing is about as bad as phasing sequence lasers.

Its not that bad is what Im saying.
 

Hossi

Hossi
wesmacdon said:
So i'm also building an AX Challenger so keen to get advice on this topic. I've got 2 gauss cannons, a guardian shard cannon and a remote flak for the swarms. My view is currently that i'm going to focus on hull reinforcement as thargoids can bypass shields anyway, but happy to here an opposing view of someone disagrees. Prob an ax scanner and shutdown field neutraliser as well. Holler if anyone has an opinion to the contrary!
Click to expand...

Just a few remarks.
- the remote flak is not a 'experimental' weapon, it doesn't count toward s the limit of 4 ax-weapons. Just so you know
- Just a part of the thargoid damage goes through the shield. A strong shield is really usefull, just don't rely completly on it. Add some hull reinforcements, don't forget module protection. If possible: An armoured powerplant.
-Both the scanner and the neutraliser are good for the beginning, they are not striktly required though. Once you know how an exerted heart looks you can aim by sight. If your ship is fast enough you can outrun the emp (hint: fa-off before it hits you). Two more slots to fill with shield boosters.
 

Karamon

Karamon
if you hyave issues managing heat current large guardian shard cannons also devastate interceptors prettyy fast and are a bit easier to use than Gauss . Still Gaus feel stronger when you hit , but you don't have to be so precise with shards , and still very strong setup . And 2x large shard +2x gauss feel most balanced
 

Angus

Angus
As is my way, I've been spending too much time getting my ducks in a row (buying kit and engineering it) and not enough biting the bullet. :)

I've got this Challenger about as good as I can get it, but I thought I should trial the weapons before getting into it with a Thargoid. I've never used Gauss Cannons before and it turns out I'm rubbish with them. :)

I spent a long time trying to destroy a Cobra Mk 3 pirate (and far too much ammo). I've never tried fighting a Thargoid interceptor but I don't think I'm going to have much success hitting the hearts with the Gauss Cannon.

Maybe if I use use the Gauss for just hitting the Thargoid ship and an AX Multicannon for the hearts? Can turreted multicannons sub-target the hearts, some stuff I've read suggested not. :-/
 

Sole Hunter

Banned
S
Angus said:
I've never got into it with a Thargoid, but I have decided to have a go. I'm not a combat ace or anything so I wanted to give myself plenty of advantages.

I am intending to use a Challenger specifically for this amd wondered what people considered to be the best weapons (and other kit) for the job. I have unlocked the Guardian kit, and am I right in thinking there is a loadout maximum of 4 experimental weapons regardless of if they are AX or Guardian tech?


Any general advice on this confrontation would also be welcome. :)


Thanks.
Click to expand...

Gauss cannons.
 

CMDR Corlas

CMDR Corlas
On the topic of weapons for fighting Thargoids, are Flak Cannons still the only real way of actually killing the swarming Thargons? (killing; not tanking or distracting)
 

Nakstan

N
concentric said:
There seems to be a consensus that the Gauss Cannon is the most powerful weapon against Thargoids.
It produces a lot of heat though, so depending on the ship you use, there might be a limit how many of those you can fit without melting your ship.
Probably best in combination with less heat producing weapons like Ax Multi-Cannon, Guardian Shard Cannon...
If you go against the big Thargs, 1 or 2 Remote Release Flak Launchers are useful to deal with their Thargon swarms. An AX fighter to distract them is handy, too.

My AX FDL has 3 Gauss Cannons and 2 Flak Launchers and is able to solo-kill the Cyclops variant reliably. Haven't tried the bigger variants yet.

I think the maximum of 4 applies to AX weapons only, not quite sure though. I'm just on my way to purchase 2 Shard Cannons. Will try if I can put them on my FDL instead of the Flak Launchers, then I'm able to tell you for sure...

No experience concerning Guardian Hull or Module Reinforcements yet...
You'll need a lot of hull though. 2.000 hull on my FDL with decent resistances, although I'm not quite sure how vital resistances are against Thargoids. Raw hp seems to be more important here, but I might be wrong...


edit:
Ok, I am NOT able to equip both Shard Cannons alongside the 3 Gauss Cannons, so your assumption was right that the limit of 4 applies to both, AX and Guardian weapons!
Otoh, on the Challenger you don't have more than 4 hardpoints suitable for AX / Guardian weapons anyway ;-)
Click to expand...
I have 5 ax weapons on my karate Ll work
 

ADAMtheWELSHMANz

ADAMtheWELSHMANz
Angus said:
if I use use the Gauss for just hitting the Thargoid ship and an AX Multicannon for the hearts? Can turreted multicannons sub-target the hearts, some stuff I've read suggested not. :-/
Click to expand...

Gauss are too much better to warrant using AX stuff.

Give them a try, interceptors are huge and hearts are easy with minimal practice.

I stick to FA-on and run a 4 gauss Vette and am literally popping Cyclops' w/o any issues.

Building a Chieftain atm to practice FA off and cold orbiting rather than my current "tank and out DPS" the buggers technique.
 
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