Rac 5 or 2

[Solarrus]

Which is better?
I think 2 is too heavy for it's DPS.... But it is faster....

[Xilo The Odd]

5 is arguably the way to go. 2 got a buff recently but its not enough to make it worth it if you can mount a 5.

[Ishan451]

Depends on the mech. I have a Banshee with a rAC2, which i quite like, but with that mech i also have the speed to dance in and out of cover, and its not my main source of damage (the Heavy PPC and the MRM20 launcher is)

The rAC2 is interesting compared to the rAC5 due to its now increased jam bar.. meaning you can fire it longer. The rAC5 i have been using mostly on one of my Urbanmechs and for a while on my Atlas. Its nice to punish people that do not get cover with it, or if you can actually move next to someone that is worrying the enemy more than you...

Its also nice when you know exactly where the enemy is, like when you push with your atlas. A constant stream of rAC5 as you leave cover is driving most people back.

The main problem... both weapons are highly situational and require an enemy that doesn't use cover.

As sole weapon and primary source of damage i find the rAC2 unsuitable. The DPS is just not there and you could just as well go and chainfire er medium lasers. But as secondary weapon to rake the enemy with as your main damage weapons do the work i find the rAC2 preferable to the rAC5, because it takes longer to jam.

For the rAC5 i feel its the other way around. It makes a suitable primary damage weapon, if you can ensure to capitalize on it, but its Jam time is a detriment and takes you out of the fight to long.


Overall i feel you should rather go for dual AC2 instead of the rAC5, if you have the hardpoints and the tonnage. The lack of a spin up time, adds to the DPS of the AC2, allowing you more easily to capitalize on opportunities and the increased reach is an added bonus as is the lack of jam time. Of course, if you have an enemy that charges you or doesn't move into cover.. the rAC5 is superior to dual AC2 and dual AC2 can feel a bit lackluster.

Its hard to say.. they all have their niche.

[Shotgun]

The RAC/5 still wins in terms of stats per weight, as long as you can actually fit it.

They need to boost the RAC/2 just a tiny bit more in terms of damage so that it becomes a viable alternative (still less damage per weight, but with other tangible benefits such as better jamming and more damage per ton of ammo).

[Nero]

A single RAC2 is great because it makes people panic. They don't know whats hitting them they just know they get hit over and over. Double AC2 doesn't get you nearly the respect.

With RAC its all about heat. Its obvious that I am needed here since no one has mentioned heat.

You can technically fit 2 RAC5 and some MRM10 and medium lasers into a Thanatos or similar. But even with some heatsinks he gets way too hot way too quickly. So I sized down to only 1 RAC5 and only 1 RAC2 and some MRM10. Then I noticed why use MRM in the first place the heat is still pretty harsh even with all the - heatgen skills. So now he's down to double RAC5 which is great until both of them jam. But at least he doesn't overheat before he jams.

My Jagermech has a normal AC2 and a RAC2. Works great.

I can see it with my IV-Four Qickdraw hero with the 20% cooldown and double AC2 that people simply don't get the screenshake and explosions in their face so they don't care they look at you and shoot you and then for some odd reason they lose.

So far RAC5 if you want more than 1 I definitely suggest to only take it with Assaults that you plan to bring a lot of heatsinks with and preferably missiles instead of lasers. Heavies do well with a mix of AC and a single RAC.

RAC is terrible for fast mechs. You can't peak with it neither can you fire at enemies that peak. Neither can you hit fast mechs reliably with it.

Guess I'll be back since I've heard even people ingame now moan about the trash advice in this forum. "my first mech was a medium and it sucked so hard that I bought a hero now".

As for the damage, double RAC5 are rather disapointing. I've met people with lasers that got quicker through my front than me through theirs. You can't twist your torso with them which is another minus.

Frankly the Clan UAC5 is way better but there's nothing more fun than seeing people run in terror away because they can't stand getting hit by the RAC unable to fire back.

[Avlaen]

rac 2s in double or tripple are a great sustained fire weapon, they take ages to jam and shred through armour. RAC 5s are more intended for shorter higher damage bursts.

I use both and both are a blast!

[Kyso4ek]

With rac2 you pay ~25% more tonnage for given DPS but velocity and range is higher. Im not sure if it takes longer to fill the bar as well.

[Unleashed3k]

Originally posted by WitchingSnake:

A single RAC2 is great because it makes people panic. They don't know whats hitting them they just know they get hit over and over. Double AC2 doesn't get you nearly the respect.

With RAC its all about heat. Its obvious that I am needed here since no one has mentioned heat.

You can technically fit 2 RAC5 and some MRM10 and medium lasers into a Thanatos or similar. But even with some heatsinks he gets way too hot way too quickly. So I sized down to only 1 RAC5 and only 1 RAC2 and some MRM10. Then I noticed why use MRM in the first place the heat is still pretty harsh even with all the - heatgen skills. So now he's down to double RAC5 which is great until both of them jam. But at least he doesn't overheat before he jams.

My Jagermech has a normal AC2 and a RAC2. Works great.

I can see it with my IV-Four Qickdraw hero with the 20% cooldown and double AC2 that people simply don't get the screenshake and explosions in their face so they don't care they look at you and shoot you and then for some odd reason they lose.

So far RAC5 if you want more than 1 I definitely suggest to only take it with Assaults that you plan to bring a lot of heatsinks with and preferably missiles instead of lasers. Heavies do well with a mix of AC and a single RAC.

RAC is terrible for fast mechs. You can't peak with it neither can you fire at enemies that peak. Neither can you hit fast mechs reliably with it.

Guess I'll be back since I've heard even people ingame now moan about the trash advice in this forum. "my first mech was a medium and it sucked so hard that I bought a hero now".

As for the damage, double RAC5 are rather disapointing. I've met people with lasers that got quicker through my front than me through theirs. You can't twist your torso with them which is another minus.

Frankly the Clan UAC5 is way better but there's nothing more fun than seeing people run in terror away because they can't stand getting hit by the RAC unable to fire back.

Never have heat issues on my Marauder with dual RAC5 and quad small pulse, still can go for 1k+ dmg ;)

[Nero]

Marauder is a bad mech for that since both RAC are in 1 torso. People see that and shoot that torso off. Seen it and did it myself a few times. Some even do 3 RAC2 with it. Your claim to not have heat issues is funny. On Frozen in Testing Grounds I reach 80% with 6 double heatsinks until the Atlas drops dead. And thats only firing at the CT in real combat the damage would spread.

[Avlaen]

Originally posted by WitchingSnake:

Marauder is a bad mech for that since both RAC are in 1 torso. People see that and shoot that torso off. Seen it and did it myself a few times. Some even do 3 RAC2 with it. Your claim to not have heat issues is funny. On Frozen in Testing Grounds I reach 80% with 6 double heatsinks until the Atlas drops dead. And thats only firing at the CT in real combat the damage would spread.

its a good job the marauder is fairly tanky and has a good torso profile then :P

[Nero]

meh I find it too risky, one side toros off and he's stuck with 2 small pulse. He's using small pulse because he too has heat problems. Might as well go for an XL engine since its game over when you lose that one side.

But at that point its compromise over compromise over compromise.

[Unleashed3k]

Originally posted by WitchingSnake:

meh I find it too risky, one side toros off and he's stuck with 2 small pulse. He's using small pulse because he too has heat problems. Might as well go for an XL engine since its game over when you lose that one side.

But at that point its compromise over compromise over compromise.

maybe just L2p and adapt to the situation then? I have several dual rac5's, the Marauder is one of the lightest builts, I have 1 side for tanking, if you don't know what that means, we are back at ---> L2P

As I said, I(!!) can work good with it, if you can't, don't call it a bad mech just because you can't play with it.... that's the most stupid BS for a while.... serious... You're just talking too much around here dude, are you alone? no friends to share your great opinions with?

Tbh... you're not so important as you may think

I could tell you, that I even use a XL in the Marauder but still do 700+ avg dmg... but well.... YOU are the pro... xD

[Nero]

Yes I am the pro and you're the dude with an XL engine playing against people incapable of shooting even one of your sides off.

Tbh... I care less about your words than you think.

I said its a bad mech because you have all the weapons in one side torso. That has nothing to do with me not being able to play with it. I can play it well. Your reading comprehension is a failure.

Face my Thanatos and meet your demise.

[Unleashed3k]

Originally posted by WitchingSnake:

Yes I am the pro and you're the dude with an XL engine playing against people incapable of shooting even one of your sides off.

Tbh... I care less about your words than you think.

LoL, your answer really shows that xD

And yes, you are right, even on T1, there are at least 70% dumb people that are not able to kill an IS-XL... .... Welcome to MW:O

Edit: But as you are so much better in every thread here, you know everything much better in every thread.... you must still be the "pro"... ^^

[Ishan451]

You can't fit a light engine, let alone an XL engine, and 3 AC5 or dual rAC5 into a side torso

[Unleashed3k]

Originally posted by Ishan451:

:cfacepalm: You can't fit a light engine, let alone an XL engine, and 3 AC5 or dual rAC5 into a side torso

And you're so right, just looked into the game, it's just a STD 285... xD
:facepalm: