I Wanna Be a Conda Killer

Darrell

Darrell
Just registered on the forum and my first thread post. Been playing ED since Beta and felt it time to mothball the Type 9 at Delporte Market and kick on with a career in assassinations/bounty hunting. Flew to ATATA, brought a Cobra MKIII, kitted it out with some multi-cannons, lasers and other general upgrades costing several million credits. Flew 'home', accepted a 160k CR assassination mission and went to work in the system, checking out every USS I could find. Target eventually pops up, yep it's an Elite Wanted Anaconda. Problem is that I am getting a real hiding but consider myself a competent pilot. The Conda lays straight in with what must be a set of gimballed lasers and literally within a second my shield is gone and I am taking severe hull damage. Whatever I try, slewing with thrusters, boosting, turning, it either has been nailed straight on or broadsides me with the gimbals. So it's panic, turn, four pips to engines, boost and supercruise back to the nearest A&E dept. And repeat.

I have looked at some of the YouTube clips from a few months ago that show guides to taking out Condas. But those Condas don't seem to be as aggressive as what I am coming across right now in game. Has this difficulty been upp'ed in recent weeks? Any help with outfitting also greatly appreciated. Thanks CMDRs.



Darrell
NOVICE - BROKER - SURVEYOR
 

SirKiwi

SirKiwi
Darrell said:
Just registered on the forum and my first thread post. Been playing ED since Beta and felt it time to mothball the Type 9 at Delporte Market and kick on with a career in assassinations/bounty hunting. Flew to ATATA, brought a Cobra MKIII, kitted it out with some multi-cannons, lasers and other general upgrades costing several million credits. Flew 'home', accepted a 160k CR assassination mission and went to work in the system, checking out every USS I could find. Target eventually pops up, yep it's an Elite Wanted Anaconda. Problem is that I am getting a real hiding but consider myself a competent pilot. The Conda lays straight in with what must be a set of gimballed lasers and literally within a second my shield is gone and I am taking severe hull damage. Whatever I try, slewing with thrusters, boosting, turning, it either has been nailed straight on or broadsides me with the gimbals. So it's panic, turn, four pips to engines, boost and supercruise back to the nearest A&E dept. And repeat.

I have looked at some of the YouTube clips from a few months ago that show guides to taking out Condas. But those Condas don't seem to be as aggressive as what I am coming across right now in game. Has this difficulty been upp'ed in recent weeks? Any help with outfitting also greatly appreciated. Thanks CMDRs.



Darrell
NOVICE - BROKER - SURVEYOR
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AI skill and difficulty were increased with 1.1. I would reccomend fixed beam lasers for the shields, then gimballed multi-cannons for the hull, and target the power plant. Use chaff and pack as many sheild cells as possible, and stay behind the anaconda.Good luck CMDR :D
 

Eagle Eye

Eagle Eye
As a bonus, 1.2 will up the difficulty even more. Better get some practice while you can....

The most consistent Anaconda killer ship atm is the Viper. 1.2 will add escorts to the Elite Anacondas, so most likely Vulture will be the best Anaconda killer then.
 

Darrell

Darrell
BFGs.jpg
These BFGs cost me 1.2M CR each. They do look menacing when deployed though!
 

Zeeman

Zeeman
Yeah - the skill has been boosted. I got a bit of a surprise after my first Anaconda kill mission in 1.1. I used to lazily scan them, sitting still, perhaps apply some lateral thrust to dodge the plasma shot, then check the bounty...

In 1.1, I lost my shields (in a Python, with A rated shields, no less...) before I realised I was actually going to have to work for it.

I snappe din to action quick enough, but hull damage was 774k, which meant the 200k+ worth of bounty (168K plus the additional form the scan) vanished, along with a fair chunk of my bank balance before I was done.

I scan, fire, and do FA off flips and twists all at once now, otherwise it's going to be a big cash loss...


I think the Python will still be the Anaconda killer to beat, so long as you don't lose shields. Those things take forever to come back online...
Z...
 
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Darrell

Darrell
Zeeman said:
Yeah - the skill has been boosted. I got a bit of a surprise after my first Anaconda kill mission in 1.1. I used to lazily scan them, sitting still, perhaps apply some lateral thrust to dodge the plasma shot, then check the bounty...

In 1.1, I lost my shields (in a Python, with A rated shields, no less...) before I realised I was actually going to have to work for it.

I snappe din to action quick enough, but hull damage was 774k, which meant the 200k+ worth of bounty (168K plus the additional form the scan) vanished, along with a fair chunk of my bank balance before I was done.

I scan, fire, and do FA off flips and twists all at once now, otherwise it's going to be a big cash loss...


I think the Python will still be the Anaconda killer to beat, so long as you don't lose shields. Those things take forever to come back online...
Z...
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Zeeman, maybe I should part ex my Type 9 for a Python then and use that instead??!!
 

[VR] Frank_G

[VR] Frank_G
The main trick in killing an anaconda is, to get into its blind spot and stay there before it blows you to pieces. I would recommend taking some hours and practice precise and foresighted maneuvering with flight assist off. And yes, this became pretty hard with the last update.
 

Zeeman

Zeeman
Parmo said:
I cannot defeat an Anaconda, cos I'm bloody useless at combat!:D
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Eagle Eye said:
Hell no...

I use this Viper and other than 1 occassion where it caught me napping, I never even lose shield against elite anaconda:
http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=50M,7u57u57sh7sh3wo01Q,314s4s4s3I4s4s3c,05U7Pc7dg4wE

Disclaimer: will probably not work in 1.2 where they have escorts
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Form the sounds of it, a Vulture may be a more economically viable way to go. Fast and nimble enough to stay on an Anaconda's tail, but powerful enough to knock down the pesky escorts in a few seconds (if well flown).

A Python will be a target for 3 or 4 ships, too slow and large to keep out of the firing line. Shield cells, though... And perhaps finding ways to get an enemy ship between you and the other ships...

I think you'll be more likely to win in a Python due to sheer brute force, but the repair bills *cringe*

I'll be taking on a few more assassination missions to get the anaconda killing part down to a fine art.

Z...
 
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Yabba Addict

Yabba Addict
Use this Viper fit, target the powerplant. Before taking off disable one of the shield cell banks, otherwise you won't have enough power. When you run out, turn one off, turn the other on (make sure to do it in that order or you'll lose all power and the shields will drop).

@Zeeman, I really don't see the point in armour for the viper, 2 of it's main strengths is shields and manoeuvrability, and that extra weight don't do you no favours.
 
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Rall

Rall
You'll have more options in 1.2, shield boosters, hull upgrades, and a greatly reduced repair cost.
 

Enakaji

Enakaji
Darrell said:
View attachment 19163
These BFGs cost me 1.2M CR each. They do look menacing when deployed though!
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Yeah, and they are total garbage. Don't ever use turreted guns on the Frontmounts of a Cobra. If the rest of your fit makes as much sense as your choice of guns, then it's no wonder you had so much trouble with the Conda.
 
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Krieger

Krieger
I fly a medium upgraded Cobra too (2 class 2 gimballed beams, 2 gimballed multicannons, A-class shields and A-class power distributor, no SCB) and I find the Anacondas in assassination missions not particularly dangerous but it's quite a grind to finish them off because they are so big and tough. I capitalize on the Cobra's manoeuvrability compared to the Anaconda. That also helps to defeat the turreted/gimballed weapons it may carry. I "dive" towards it at an angle that maximises my relative speed wrt to the line of fire of the Anaconda's weapons (approx. 60deg off its nose). I open fire with the beam lasers at 1.5 km and empty the WEP capacitor in one go (damage by laser beams quickly accumulates if you keep them burning at the same spot). I zip by at very close range and turn around for the next pass. First I take down its shields and after that I target its powerplant and start using the multicannons in addition to the beams to hammer its powerplant as much as possible. While "diving" towards the Anaconda I roll the Cobra so its narrow profile is directed towards the Anaconda to present the smallest possible area. Normally my shields can handle the odd strike by the Anaconda's lasers or cannons. If shields weaken to just one ring I retreat to let them strengthen to at least two rings. I simply ignore missiles. As long as my shields are up they do no damage and due to my constant manoeuvring they almost never hit me. As the powerplant takes more damage the Anaconda's weapons get less active (not always though) and it tries to fly away from me. At that point I just keep at its tail and finish it off.

I blow up Pythons in much the same way, however Pythons are more manoeuvrable and faster so I have to be alert to not to get in front of them.

This is a recipe for NPC Anaconda's and Pythons. I never fought a CMDR Anaconda or Python. I expect them to be better piloted and heavily armed, shielded and armoured, so it's probably better to evade a fight with them when one is flying "just" a Cobra.
 
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Gusty

Gusty
No need for shieldcells in a viper vs a ai conda.
Fixed 2 beamlasers 1 and 2 multis 2, reactive hull.
Boost out of range to 4-5k with 4pips engine and 2 system. Turn and fly backwards and scan it.
Swich to 4pips wappons and 2 system. Shoot at it and stay between 2-3k distans flying backwards.
If you come unter 1,5k use side thrusters to move or the plasma will hit you.
I use fsd as target. The conda goes booom with 70 hull.
If you do it right the conda never will touch your hull.
 
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Goilveig

Goilveig
This is my build:

http://www.edshipyard.com/#/L=50M,7u57u55QG5QG3wo01Q,2-4s4s4s3m4s4s3c,7Pc7fO7dq4wE

Lasers to strip shields, MCs to target the powerplant, get and stay as close as you can, weaving between being "above" and "below" it to break turret locks. Always do the initial approach at either 3 SYS / 3 ENG or 4 SYS / 2 ENG because sometimes they can aggressively alpha-strike you, and the extra pips to shields make a huge difference as it decreases the damage you take tremendously (by something like 70% reduction at 4 pips compared to 0 pips). Never attack it until you're in position, as usually they won't do more than throw a few plasma balls around until you hit them.

You will die a few times learning the ropes.

I've got 60+ assassination kills so far, if you want to post a video of where you're struggling I would give advice.

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Gusty said:
No need for shieldcells in a viper vs a ai conda.
Fixed 2 beamlasers 1 and 2 multis 2, reactive hull.
Boost out of range to 4-5k with 4pips engine and 2 system. Turn and fly backwards and scan it.
Swich to 4pips wappons and 2 system. Shoot at it and stay between 2-3k distans.
If you come unter 1,5k use side thrusters to move or the plasma will hit you.
I use fsd as target. The conda goes booom with 70 hull.
If you do it right the conda never will touch your hull.
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Your strategy certainly works, but I doubt you're getting a 3-4 minute kill, which I do very reliably. I've tried many things and getting in so close you're almost touching them is my favorite strategy by far, even if I have to use one or two shield cells. That's why I fitted them.
 

Roycie

R
Sandro Sammarco said:
Hello Commanders!

Just a reminder: hull repair costs have been *massively* reduced. This should help to make combat viable in terms of profit, especially for more expensive ships like the Fer-de-Lance.

Of course, if you die you will still get stung, and this change is not the end of the story, but it should definitely be a start.

Also: remember folk, be nice to each other. We can disagree and still be polite.
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That'll work in the python's favour...
 
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