Is kinetic strike a little too good?

[Llynethil]

I mean, don't get me wrong, I love the mectrooper, but is kinetic strike just rediculously op atm?

I mean look at the comparison:
Flamethrower is nice aoe damage, up to 11 or 12 ish I believe, but you also lose out on valuable weapon parts (which I am almost always short of) and alloys and sometimes you still seem to not be able to hit some enemies in cover at some angles.

Now kinetic strike can do up to a whopping 18 damage, enough to oneshot almost anything in the game, you get 3 more movespeed and you can punch things into cars, blowing them up and killing/damaging even more enemies doing so.
Mechtoids are supposed to be these big scary things, but all I have to do is punch it once, and it's dead, and I can bait the overwatch using an assault with lightning reflexes so I take 0 damage.

Add onto that you still have the same basic weapon and grenade launcher and all that ...

Somehow I think to make it more balanced, a kinetic strike mec should do less ranged damage overall, but give a little more defense perhaps, making it a real melee powerhouse, while the flamethrower should buff ranged a little (perhaps make the grenade to be an incendiary grenade or phosphorous grenade or something)

I really hate saying it, because like I said I love the kinetic strike, I don't even bother with the flamethrower no more, I can just use my heavy with a rocket launcher and upgraded zone of effect if I need aoe, but I feel like it's just too damn powerfull as it is.

[achus93]

i use two MEC-troopers, one for each tree, and both are equally usefull...

[Sloop]

punching one target once for 18 isn't OP when there are double tap plasma snipers, rapid fire alloy cannon assaults that go invisible...

MECs are kinda underwhelming, tbh.

[The Faceless Man]

I haven't tried the flame-thrower, but their uses are for different purposes obviously: Kinetic strike for single-target high melee damage, and flame-thrower for area damage and panic.

[Llynethil]

Originally posted by Berdfess:

punching one target once for 18 isn't OP when there are double tap plasma snipers, rapid fire alloy cannon assaults that go invisible...

MECs are kinda underwhelming, tbh.

You get Mecs and kinetic strike pretty much at the start, even if it's "just" 12 damage then, plasma weaponry and alloy cannons and ghost armor are end game gear basically, they're the best of the best and take a lot of resources and time to get and build, kinetic strike is basic tier pretty much and it comes free with the mec itself.

[achus93]

Originally posted by Triarii:

Originally posted by Berdfess:

punching one target once for 18 isn't OP when there are double tap plasma snipers, rapid fire alloy cannon assaults that go invisible...

MECs are kinda underwhelming, tbh.

You get Mecs and kinetic strike pretty much at the start, even if it's "just" 12 damage then, plasma weaponry and alloy cannons and ghost armor are end game gear basically, they're the best of the best and take a lot of resources and time to get and build, kinetic strike is basic tier pretty much and it comes free with the mec itself.

so is the flamethrower,
kinetic strike is a lot more riskier early game because we have to get in close to the alien to get them, especially the fact that aliens most of the time prioritise shooting the MEC trooper(s).
sure we can shrug off Sectoid shots, but what about Thin Men and Floaters? 2-3 shots can kill 'em in one turn...

[BT]

In higher difficulties I think many people like the flamethrower although I need more experience to compare myself

[Sloop]

Originally posted by Triarii:

Originally posted by Berdfess:

punching one target once for 18 isn't OP when there are double tap plasma snipers, rapid fire alloy cannon assaults that go invisible...

MECs are kinda underwhelming, tbh.

You get Mecs and kinetic strike pretty much at the start, even if it's "just" 12 damage then, plasma weaponry and alloy cannons and ghost armor are end game gear basically, they're the best of the best and take a lot of resources and time to get and build, kinetic strike is basic tier pretty much and it comes free with the mec itself.

At the start you're dealing with crit-men, if you run into a group 12 damage aint worth ♥♥♥♥ anyway and killing just one isn't enough.

Flamethrower is in epic early game tho.

[Egro]

Rocket punch should be powerful because it's very risky to use. Imagine, you happened to wander into a room with 2 Sectopod having tea party. Your Mech will likely die before he/she get close enough to punch them or even using EMP.

[Jimmyhoffa1024]

Originally posted by Triarii:

Originally posted by Berdfess:

punching one target once for 18 isn't OP when there are double tap plasma snipers, rapid fire alloy cannon assaults that go invisible...

MECs are kinda underwhelming, tbh.

You get Mecs and kinetic strike pretty much at the start, even if it's "just" 12 damage then, plasma weaponry and alloy cannons and ghost armor are end game gear basically, they're the best of the best and take a lot of resources and time to get and build, kinetic strike is basic tier pretty much and it comes free with the mec itself.

The mec itself is a significant resource investment, especially early game. Damage output isn't much different than bullet storm which is early game, is more flexible, doesn't expose your unit to direct fire and outscales kinetic strike by endgame.

Yes, kinetic strike is powerful, but so are many other abilities in the game.

[Kettlepot]

The panic that the flamethrower causes can be incredible and set everyone up for easy shots if the enemy runs out from its cover. Also, the upgrade for the Flamethrower comes from researching Elerium, but the upgrade to the Punch is hiding behind unlocking Heavy Weapons Platforms in the foundry, which i didn't know about until my 2nd or 3rd playthrough!

[Caboose]

Originally posted by achus93:

i use two MEC-troopers, one for each tree, and both are equally usefull...

^ What he said

And Triarii, try playing on Classic or Impossible. Come back and say it's still OP (which by definition means that it's too easy). I will laugh. It's well balanced my friend.

[Bindal]

Originally posted by achus93:

i use two MEC-troopers, one for each tree, and both are equally usefull...

I actually stopped my second one at Level 2 with medic spray and use that suit exclusively against EXALT as the flamethrower is more useful against them than the Rocket Punch due their relative low health (8 to 10 for Elites) so the AoE is more useful.
Then again, it is also hilariously funny to see an ETHEREAL panic because of the fire, of all people. :P

[Caboose]

I laughed hard the first time my big MEC lady made a Chryssalid panic.

[Mister Veeg]

single target and requires you to be in melee - which means triggering all the overwatches and whatnot in the process.

The only thing I'd consider overpowered is the bonus movement.

[Crimson Phantom]

Originally posted by achus93:

Originally posted by Triarii:

You get Mecs and kinetic strike pretty much at the start, even if it's "just" 12 damage then, plasma weaponry and alloy cannons and ghost armor are end game gear basically, they're the best of the best and take a lot of resources and time to get and build, kinetic strike is basic tier pretty much and it comes free with the mec itself.

so is the flamethrower,
kinetic strike is a lot more riskier early game because we have to get in close to the alien to get them, especially the fact that aliens most of the time prioritise shooting the MEC trooper(s).
sure we can shrug off Sectoid shots, but what about Thin Men and Floaters? 2-3 shots can kill 'em in one turn...

Really? You find MECs prioritised? I'm in September, usually field two mechs, and have had one shot ONCE. The enemy seems to always prefer softer targets it actually has a chance to take down.

As for flamethrowers, yeah, they are IMMENSELY useful when confronted with lots of units very close. Nothing better for turning back a Chryssalid ambush.