Am I wrong to say the Shadowhawk is insanely hard to decide on a build to try?

I have never had this much of a problem deciding what loadout to try for any previous mech before.

Either through my own ideas, or seeing what's on the site here, I can usually pick 2, MAYBE 3 builds for each variant that I'm interested in before playtesting and fine-tuning it.

These Shadowhawks though... the 2D2 is an easy decision to run SRM22, 2ML, STD275.
The other two... I have 8 builds for the 2H and 4 builds for the 5M in smurfy - and that's AFTER 2 rounds of cuts.

Without blowing a cubic shit-ton of cbills, I don't know how I'll possibly decide what to try.
- XL or STD - both seem pretty evenly split on saying it's ok/worst decision ever
- wimpy ballistics with high-dmg energy or the other way around?
- streaks or srms or forgo those entirely for heavier ballistic/energy (pretty much ruled out lrms)
- hell, there are bunch of builds that don't even use JJ which is another big decision.

Am I on my own with this thought? The SHD's have enough weapon slot variability and JJ options coupled with a 'low' amount of tonnage to work with that makes this insanely hard to build.

 

I'm a ballistic lover and a streak hater, so the SHD is for me easy to build: mount as many big canons as you can on that torso, load lots of ammo, and yeehaa!

=> XL engine works fine for me till now. Most of the time I die from CT, or when I die from side torso, central is almost done anyway.
=> Big balistic and small energy as much as I can, because it's more fun. Except for the 2D2, on which I'm currently testing LB10X + 2x LL (I tried AC/20, kinda heavy)
=> maybe I'll try 4x SRM6 on the 2D2; but it's not close range friendly back there, so I'm testing ballistic/energy loadouts first.
=> At least one JJ is really useful for basic mobility (canyon network my love). ihmo it's stupid not to find half a ton for something that useful.

That was my 2 cents!

 

On the 2D2 I run a AC/2, 4xLRM5 and 2xML using a XL engine. For the 2H I am running a Gauss (or 2xAC2) and SRM12 using a XL engine. And for the 5M a AC/10, LRM10, and 2xML using a XL engine (can't remember). I try to stick to what it was intended for which are mid to long range battles.

 

Thanks guys. I tried 5 builds over the 3 variants tonight and can't say I'm completely satisfied with them but I may stick with this for a few more nights:

2H: ERPPC 3SSRM2 2MG, BAP, 2JJ, XL340 (I think this is Grimm's with just an ERPPC swap from PPC).
2D2: 3SRM6 1SRM4 2ML, 1JJ, STD275 (got from here)
5M: 2AC5 2ML, 3JJ, STD250

Thinking about switching up the 5M to 2ERLL/LL AC10 and XL.
Maybe the 2H to an odd AC20 2SRM4 build I think I saw on here that may be fun.

 

I have to agree. Ive tried so many builds for the 2H and 2D2, its hard to nail one down. I havent even tried the 5M. Not even going to try it till I finish finiding my "go to" loadouts for the rest. Im thinking most of my builds will form around the below.

2H - Ballistic and SRM/SSRM combo
2D2 - SRM/SSRM and Energy zombie combo or single large ballistic brawler
5M - Ballistic and Energy combo. Maybe a LRM/PPC harasser

 

Of all the Phoenix mechs, I'm enjoying my Shadow Hawks the most. If you haven't tried it already, put a gauss rifle on your shoulder. The Left Torso ballistic has to be one of the highest hard point locations of any mech in game, which you can really put to good use with a gauss.