Why ever go "light"?

[Balgore]

So I was playing around in the AC test area... I normally run quad-leg, the ability to hover is just too good. As well as not staying stationary to fire heavy weaponry.

That said I notice a lot of people mention they prefer two legged builds, light builds, etc.

So I took off all my weapons, picked two legs, and got my boost from 250 to over 700. The distance and speed I dodged was identical. The only noticeable difference was that movement speed was maybe 1.5-2x faster when sliding along the ground. Pivoting and changing directions actually took LONGER to my surprise.

So why would anyone go light, and use two legs over the quad legs? Genuinely asking as a noob here to AC. Thanks

[MadArtillery]

Main reason would be for reverse joint legs. So much fun

[Veritas]

When you are looking at your ac assembly, check your legs and toggle the advanced display. the "Jump Distance" stat determines how far your AC will go when you do a quick dodge while on the ground. Another important factor for how the dodge behaves is your equipped boosters, some are tuned more for general speed or vertical thrust, while others are about very high powered quick dodges with good recharge time. Also, torso cores have booster and generator output adjustments, high boost adjustment cores will get you better speeds in general as well as dodges.

Also obviously the total weight matters, but beyond that boosters have an "ideal weight" stat separate from your actual loading capacity, if you exceed it you get penalties

[thorin.hannahs]

I like being able to just use normal boost to break locks and avoid fire which a high boost speed allows. Were you pivoting and turning with QB?

Using a light weight shotgun missile build, for the first time at least that I can remember I actually felt like Berlioz in the AC4 trailer. I was zooming and spinning and pretty much everything was exploding.

I'd run a quad leg build if I wanted something faster than a tank but with similar power. Unfortunately I have yet to need a build like that.

[Silamon]

Because light mechs are horribly op.

I have not faced a single opponent that isn't just easy mode with 2 shotguns and abbot fcs. Literally just quick boost in a circle with hard lock on and spam shotguns and songbird...

It even trivializes bosses.

[Jagdtiger]

compared to previous entries, the speed disparity between light and heavy is greatly reduced. Going light in this game crucially increases your energy efficiency. You can dodge and AB for much longer and rarely be left with no energy, especially compared to quads who can be easily baited into losing all their energy while stuck in the air. When you're out of energy, you're as good as dead, especially if your enemy has a sword or a songbird, pretty much a guaranteed stagger with 4000+ damage. Lights do struggle to compete with tanks on a purely attritional basis, but in a light vs quad fight, the quad player needs to be substantially better at energy management to avoid getting caught out, plus a good light player can easily deny the benefits of hovering with good pressure. The leg types are pretty well balanced overall, though maybe the tanks are a bit too tanky

[Midas]

Better booster performance, typically. I haven't extensively compared them side-by-side but even my middle-weight feels more nimble in the air than the same build with quad legs.

[hakabata]

Well, it's fast and agile. That's a big advantage. In the best circumstances it can shrug off most of incoming attacks while pin the enemy down one-side to the end.

[DarkFenix]

The tank and quad are really sluggish in dodging and burn their energy fast. There are plenty of situations where that's fine and their tanky nature offsets that nicely. On the other hand there are times when you really want that agility to avoid incoming damage.

I started out liking the heavier options more, but playing more I've come to love my light reverse-jointed setup. Sure, you can't pack the heaviest gear, but I'm still quite comfortably fitting four good weapons (I think my current go-to is sword, assault rifle, shotgun, and grenade cannon). It's pushing close to the limits on weight and energy, but it doesn't lack firepower and it's a lot more fun to be dashing around all over.

[Killermajaro]

stat wise there is 0 reason to go light or even medium build in pvp. this is a build i made BXSZH5LFGX3P it is what i've been using in pvp and it's so braindead.

[Techsuport]

Revers joint legs, when jumping/quick boosting off the ground, has reduced cost, and lets you go farther

[Funpire]

Originally posted by Balgore:

So I was playing around in the AC test area... I normally run quad-leg, the ability to hover is just too good. As well as not staying stationary to fire heavy weaponry.

That said I notice a lot of people mention they prefer two legged builds, light builds, etc.

So I took off all my weapons, picked two legs, and got my boost from 250 to over 700. The distance and speed I dodged was identical. The only noticeable difference was that movement speed was maybe 1.5-2x faster when sliding along the ground. Pivoting and changing directions actually took LONGER to my surprise.

So why would anyone go light, and use two legs over the quad legs? Genuinely asking as a noob here to AC. Thanks

You'll understand eventually. I face rolled the early bosses with tread tanks, then micro tread tanks, then slowly got more efficient, faster, and went back to legs, then dropped cannons for shotguns...

It's more fun and you get better... As with any FS game.

You'll also eventually get better OS tuning for dmg reduc and more hp on heals. As well as dmg increases.

[Midas]

Originally posted by Funpire:

Originally posted by Balgore:

So I was playing around in the AC test area... I normally run quad-leg, the ability to hover is just too good. As well as not staying stationary to fire heavy weaponry.

That said I notice a lot of people mention they prefer two legged builds, light builds, etc.

So I took off all my weapons, picked two legs, and got my boost from 250 to over 700. The distance and speed I dodged was identical. The only noticeable difference was that movement speed was maybe 1.5-2x faster when sliding along the ground. Pivoting and changing directions actually took LONGER to my surprise.

So why would anyone go light, and use two legs over the quad legs? Genuinely asking as a noob here to AC. Thanks

You'll understand eventually. I face rolled the early bosses with tread tanks, then micro tread tanks, then slowly got more efficient, faster, and went back to legs, then dropped cannons for shotguns...

It's more fun and you get better... As with any FS game.

Yeah, this is basically the usual progression flow for most armored core games. Not always tank legs specifically, since each generation had their own mid-game win-button builds, but the general idea has always been to adapt your AC as you learn the game better, get access to more gear, and get more familiar with the controls.

[JJ]

You can't take damage if you don't get hit

[Snek!]

Originally posted by Key:

I'm sorry, over 700? Mind taking a screenshot of the build?

I want to see it too, even with no weapons and the lightest parts I couldn't get much over 400.

[Abyssal Shift]

Originally posted by Key:

I'm sorry, over 700? Mind taking a screenshot of the build?

I am assuming he meant top speed on your HUD, not the speed stat when AC building.