cobra setup and using it against big ships

spacejumbofudge · Dec 25, 2014

Do people use cobras against anacondas and what setup so they use? I'd like to be able to take on the 150k+ assassinations.

I've been flying a cobra for a while and upgraded most of its systems, costs about 60k to rebuy now. Can't settle on a powerful weapon setup I like though.

I was using two class two pulse lasers. The side mounts are so wide that using an extra fixed laser doesn't work so well and I didn't really like a mix of fixed and gimballed, so now I'm on two and one c1 gimballed pulse with a missile rack. It's not great from distance though and I found fixed more satisfying.

This setup is good enough for small stuff, but feels like the cobra could probably take down big fish with the right setup. Other thing I haven't touched is shield or armour which is stock.

Tetsuko · Dec 25, 2014

I use a pair of multicannon in the top mounts and beams in the bottom, all gimballed. More than capable of taking out Anacondas, the cannon rip through the hull fast after the shields are down. If you are going to take out the elites in the assassination missions I would advise you uprate shields, get shield banks, and probably upgrade hull plates as much as you are able without going overweight. Also get the highest rated power generator and distributor you can fit. The issue with those guys is not whether you can kill them but whether you can manage the punishment they kick out while you do it.

Julio Montega · Dec 25, 2014

2x c2 laser weapons top (gimballed or not to your preference, beam lasers annihilate shields, but pulse n bursts are more versatile against hull)

1x c1 seeker missile launcher deals decent damage to ships of all ranges
1x c1 railgun, for the powerplant snipe

With a cobra you have a hard time without a shield cell,
with a viper you can magae to kill targets without a shield cell,
since you have a smaller silhoutte.

Adept · Dec 25, 2014

I still have crappy grade E pulse lasers in the medium hard points. For taking out an anaconda I put a gimbaled cannon and a dumbfire rack in the outer points.

Round it up with a chaff launcher and a bank of shield cells.

Since the poor AI doesn't know how to deal with that, the fight is now yours to win. Use the lasers to drop the shields, then go to town wit the missiles. Don't let the anaconda point it's nose at you, as the plasma accelerator can wreck you with w single shot.

Geers · Dec 25, 2014

I've taken out two with default shields/armour with medium cannons and small burst lasers. However they were both nav-point pirates, the first one got a tad distracted by a police Anaconda and the second one was also distracted by some other ship. They both added up to 112k in bounties though.

PS: Don't go up against those Anacondas in a default Eagle. You'll get blasted like a snowspeeder attacking a Star Destroyer.

spacejumbofudge · Dec 25, 2014

Yeah I've killed plenty of anacondas when they were also fighting others, but that's not the case in the assassination missions is like to try.

I haven't tried rail gun yet, the power plant snipe sounds good. I take it you use fixed for that, guys if it's the only weapon you're firing it doesn't matter if it's wide.

Are guided missiles with it over dumb fire? They do less damage but I guess they hit more often and can target sub systems.

Also. Is there any need to upgrade power unless you need it for another upgrade? I have the best distributor which seems more important.

Echelon2k · Dec 25, 2014

Guided missles as well as torpedos will be shot down by their point defense.
Bigger powerplants give you more reserve energy. not sure how much this matters since the weapons capacitor is limited by the power distributor.

Julio Montega · Dec 25, 2014

spacejumbofudge said:
Yeah I've killed plenty of anacondas when they were also fighting others, but that's not the case in the assassination missions is like to try.

I haven't tried rail gun yet, the power plant snipe sounds good. I take it you use fixed for that, guys if it's the only weapon you're firing it doesn't matter if it's wide.

Are guided missiles with it over dumb fire? They do less damage but I guess they hit more often and can target sub systems.

Also. Is there any need to upgrade power unless you need it for another upgrade? I have the best distributor which seems more important.

Guided missile type weapons can hit subsystems, but is very unlikely, however they are explosive type weaponry and
damage multiple subsystems via exploding (tested against lakons and vipers),
yet they are not precise. It is possible to put a torp right into a subsystem, but you got to be very close and need some luck,
it will inflict heavy damage on the gen. (roughly 90% on a lakon 9 generator)

The rail guns are fixed only weapons, excellent for sniping, yet hard to master,
due to the lackluster firing mechanism, cannons deal nearly the same subsystem damage on a direct hit (take fixed ones, gimballs are way weaker).

Guided missles as well as torpedos will be shot down by their point defense.

True, yet the defense needs multiple hits to kill a torp and is inefficient at close range (below 100 meters),
that is where your maneuvering does matter and shine.

Dumbfire missiles have the advantage of a very high refire rate and bigger payload compared to guided missiles.
Yet they require a lot of leading and are best suited for close quarters too.