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Let me know what you think!
Transcript:
Hey guys, Abidus here, and I've got another Hawken mech overview for you. In this episode, we're going to be taking a look at the Vanguard. The vanguard is a c-class heavy mech specializing in close-range sustained combat, combining the intimidating close range presence of heavy mech with above average mobility, albeit with the smallest armour pool of any heavy mech.
--WEAPONS--
In terms of weaponry, the Vanguard is equiped with the reliable Sub-machine cannon in his primary slot by default. This is a great all round weapon boasting a high rate of fire, decent damage and range, and low heat generation, allowing for sustained enemy suppression at close to medium ranges. Pilots also have the option of unlocking and using the mini-flak cannon at level 3, which is essentially a powerful short ranged semi automatic shotgun, or the Point-D vulcan at level 5, which is a powerful, high rate of fire machine gun that can absolutely wreck other mechs in close quarters, but requires a revving up period before firing and has a limited effective range compared to the sub-machine cannon.
As for his secondary weapon, the Vanguard is equipped with the grenade launcher. The grenade launcher is one of my favourite secondaries in the game because of its high damage and versatility. It fires a greande at a low arc and at a low velocity, giving you a lot of control over where and how you want to engage the enemy. You can bounce shots around a corner, off the ground, or try for a direct hit. What really seperates good pilots from great ones, however, is the effective usage of the premature detonation mechanic. After firing the grenade, you can detonate it at any point by simply right clicking again. This is especially useful against the lighter moving mechs, particularly airborne targets.
--ABILITY (Turret Mode)--
As with all heavy mechs, the Vanguard has the ability to enter Turret mode. Whilst in turret mode, the Vanguard recieves 50% less damage from the front, but also suffers from mobility penalties as well as receiving 50% more damage if it's attacked from the rear. What's special about The vanguard's, however, is that it can move faster whilst in turret mode than other heavy mechs. Turret mode in general is a tricky ability to get comfortable with, as activating it at the wrong time will put you at a severe disadvantage, while on the other hand, the correct application of the ability will make you a terrifying and fast moving presence in close quarter environments, particularly if you have the support of a friendly technician.
The key, in my opinion, is map awareness. You need to know where your enemies are and how you are going to be engaging them, as well as knowing where your allies are and if your flank is covered or not. Going into turret mode when you're out in the open with no support is just a bad idea. And while the increased armour might make you feel confident enough to take on several enemies at once, you will quickly learn that that is a surefire way to get killed without having any real impact. IF you find yourself in situation where you are outnumbered and can't get away safely, stick yourself in a corner, bunker up, and try to do as much damage as you possibly can before going down.
--HEAVY MECH METAGAME--
In my opinion, heavy mechs occupy a special role in the Hawken metagame. Heavy mechs should be considered force multipliers, not the backbone of a team. They thrive in a teamwork environment, empowering the team as whole, and do not perform as well on their own, suffering significantly against the vastly superior mobility of light and medium mechs. Needless to say, the technician is your best friend, and will that pair alone is often times enough to make the difference between a winning team composition and a losing one.
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So, what do you guys think of the Vanguard_ in fact, what do you guys think of heavy mechs in general, compared to medium and light mechs. Do you think they can compete well enough, or are they automatically at a disadvantage because of their lack of mobility_ Let me know what you guys think.
Edited by Abidus, April 11 2014 - 02:17 AM.
