Multicannons vs pulse lasers against shields in 2.1

[Jezzah]

Quick one to the knowledgeable please.

How do MC rate versus pulse lasers for stripping shields in 2.1?

 

[Envy661]

Thermal penetrates shields better. Kinetic does better against hull. It's always better to use both.

This has been the case since the game launched. Thermal does better against shields every time.

I personally go cannons over multicanons though. And beam laser over pulse laser

 

[ForeverN00b]

Thermal penetrates shields better. Kinetic does better against hull. It's always better to use both.

This has been the case since the game launched. Thermal does better against shields every time.

I personally go cannons over multicanons though. And beam laser over pulse laser

This. Although IMO the huge MC is a big step up from the Huge Cannon.

Pulse lasers are so 2.0. Pulses have the advantage of being the best bang per MW of energy, which was great PvE meta when the AI was dumb as a brick and would sit all day in your crosshairs.

Now, the AI flies a lot better and burst damage is a lot more important. For lasers, beams currently rule the day. If beams aren't your style, go burst laser. Burst lasers have the best bang per buck against hulls (it's a hidden statistic, and it was valid in 2.0. Haven't tried it in 2.1 as I use beam laser/kinetic combos for combat).

 

[RhymeRhyme]

Thermal penetrates shields better. Kinetic does better against hull. It's always better to use both.

This has been the case since the game launched. Thermal does better against shields every time.

I personally go cannons over multicanons though. And beam laser over pulse laser

The MCs are pretty massive. At least I think that in 2.1 they got a boost or whenever. Didn't use them for many months but changes my loadout due to 2.1 and they work like a dream.

Were the HUGE MCs before 2.1? I have no idea. I used them 1 year ago.

 

[GammaZ]

Thing is, we have thermal MC-s now.
And at least from what i saw in beta they are much better then pulse lasers at taking shields down, both in terms of speed and power consumption. I did not do actual tests though.

 

[ForeverN00b]

The MCs are pretty massive. At least I think that in 2.1 they got a boost or whenever. Didn't use them for many months but changes my loadout due to 2.1 and they work like a dream.

Were the HUGE MCs before 2.1? I have no idea. I used them 1 year ago.

AFAIK the huge MC came out in 2.1.

 

[Jpotter]

Thermal penetrates shields better. Kinetic does better against hull. It's always better to use both.

This has been the case since the game launched. Thermal does better against shields every time.

I personally go cannons over multicanons though. And beam laser over pulse laser

You have to be a crack shot with Beams so unless you can keep that beam on target most of the time and using withing 1km - they are not worth the power drain. By 'on target' I mean painting the target constantly for the duration of the shot. Otherwise the impact of pulse or even burst is better.

 

[RhymeRhyme]

AFAIK the huge MC came out in 2.1.

Aaaah, that solves the riddle why I love them suddenly again so much!

 

[Envy661]

You have to be a crack shot with Beams so unless you can keep that beam on target most of the time and using withing 1km - they are not worth the power drain. By 'on target' I mean painting the target constantly for the duration of the shot. Otherwise the impact of pulse or even burst is better.

Beams, in my personal experience, take down shields faster than anything, and my cannons do the most against hull (though to be fair, I can't really equip MCs because of power draw on either my vulture or my courier since I put the high performance engines in).

I wouldn't say I'm a great shot with a beam laser. I would say more of... Gimbals are a thing.