Mech Spotlight: Orion

[RasaNova]

One of the original heavies, and possibly also one of the most versitile. To varients (ON1-V and ON1-K) with good mixes of hardpoints let that let these mechs fill nearly any role, from close up brawler to distant LRM boat, balistic striker, tank, whatever. I've heard several people say they run with a 3 or 4 Orion lance.

My first one was an ON1-V, which I immediately loaded with 60 LRMs and replaced my Centurion as the LRM boat. My second was an ON1-K, which I still use now in mid/late game as a front line skirmisher, with mostly stock loadout.

Let's talk strategies! Post ideas, loadouts, tips, anything you can think of to help newer (and older) players get the most out of this old but popular design.

All Mech Spotlights:

Centurion
BlackJack
Thunderbolt
Quickdraw
Shadow Hawk
JagerMech
Highlander
Grasshopper
Vindicator
Wolverine
Locust
Catapult
Orion

[leonzweihander2008]

1-K: AC20 with two tons of ammo, supported by 4 MLas, 4 JJs and a double heatsink. Very fast and deadly mech imo, 260 alpha strike sustainable on four turns. And if enemies get complacent it can jumpjet and oneshot their back.

[Mr. Mugs]

Ah yes, the Orion. A reliable and effective (albeit ugly AF) philly that has earned a permanent place in the stable.

Even the stock loadout produces a tremendous amount of alpha damage and the mix of weapon types makes it highly effective over any range and biome (though it runs a little hot but manageable). If you manage to get the Gauss Rifle, you can replace the AC10 to improve its long distance damage and makes the mech run cool with all weapons firing for a few turns. One of the best (non-jumping) heavies IMO.

[Doombringer]

I like Orion V with AC20, 3xSRM4, and 2xML.
Good mech until I replaced them with King Crabs.
(Probably the best heavy.)

[Killcreek2]

I love the Orion ~ my buddy & I both call it the Oni (demon) ~ from its "ON1" suffix.

As OP says: it has an excellent mix of hardpoints, armour, & usable tonnage.
LRM60, AC20, multiple PPC / LL, are all effective build options.

I often use an AC10, SRM6, 2 ML build with nearly max armour & JJs as a medium range tank, with a skirmisher or lancer. (My buddy swaps the SRM for LRM instead.)
Or SRM18, 2ML with a flanker / scout / vanguard to deal finishing blows &/or called shots to prone mechs.

It even makes a great recon & flanking mech for an assault lance!

I used 4x Oni, or 3x Oni with a Grasshopper / LRM Jaeger for a very long time, prior to acquiring some decent assault mechs. They are still in my mech bays even now: used often on milk runs to train up the noob pilots.

A thoroughly dependable Mech imo, & useful for any mission type. (b'-')b

[Nine-ball]

The Orion, the first true "assault" mech, was born when a bunch of scientists had unholy congress with mechtechs.

This mech falls squarely into a totally new class, alongside the Cataphract, Urbanmech, and Mackie, as one of the ugliest mechs ever. Or at least, it would fall squarely, if it could decide to be a square instead of an odd combination of squares and triangles. This thing is ugly as sin.

Despite looking like a walking trash-pile, the mech itself is pretty effective in stock configuaration. It follows the general rule of using energy weapons to the point where they are efficient, missiles to fill the gap, and a well-protected autocannon.

Orions were always a pain in tabletop because of their armor, and are the same in this game. They're just threatening enough that you have to take them out quickly, but not so threatening that they'll one-shot a mech of yours. Probably. If you're lucky and the pilot is a noob.

I never use these horrible amalgamations, just because they are so ugly. Stupid? Yes. Superficial? Yes. But if you do use them, be ready to take a beating. Orions, as mechs, tend to function better as static gun emplacements, with Bulwark. They only mount enough firepower and armor to be serioulsy annoying, not devestating mech hunters, unless you mod them. Good news, they have plenty of hardpoints for that.

This is the extent of my knowledge on what is derisevely known as "The Onion" Sorry, but I absolutely refuse to field such hideous mechs.

[Twelvefield]

Finally! The Orion spotlight!

The K variant has been the backbone of my mid-late game. I armor it up as far as it can go. It then becomes underweaponed but all that armor! It survives everything, at least in this game. That, and I make certain it has jumpjets.

The V variant, though, ouch. I'm not a big Vertanen fan, but he's right when he says the V comes in with too little armor. Two pilots on two consecutive missions suffer being cored in the V series? V is not for me. It is big enough to stand up to the mechs of the line, but too fragile to remain until the end of the fight.

Orion Ks plus Highlanders, those I find have wonderful synergy. I don't like missile mechs, but I do like each mech to have at least a LRM10. Both Orions and Highlanders have enough carrying capacity to have some missile punch and then other weapons to round them out. Highlanders aren't particularly mobile, but jumpjets help them out a lot. So, Orions + Highlanders make for that great hammer into anvil combo that Patton would have used had Patton mechs instead of tanks. Grab them by the tail and hit them in the head! With a little heat management, my Orions can alpha strike on almost every turn. Other mechs might hit harder, but they aren't so tough when they succumb to heat overload.

[Rob'sEvilTwin]

It's the versatile backbone of the SLDF, and my lance :P

It can be a good missile boat, direct fire support, even a brawler.

[Darkaiser]

Originally posted by Nine-ball:

This is the extent of my knowledge on what is derisevely known as "The Onion" Sorry, but I absolutely refuse to field such hideous mechs.

They're called that because they make people cry. Either their target does because they know they're in for hurt or their owner does because they are just SO hideous.

However, they are as solid a beast for their weight class as you'll find. Unlike some mechs that when you see them you think 'I can turn my back on that for a turn or two), the Orion has enough weapons to demand respect and enough armor to get to the fight and stay there a while.

[Nine-ball]

Originally posted by Darkaiser:

Originally posted by Nine-ball:

This is the extent of my knowledge on what is derisevely known as "The Onion" Sorry, but I absolutely refuse to field such hideous mechs.

They're called that because they make people cry. Either their target does because they know they're in for hurt or their owner does because they are just SO hideous.

However, they are as solid a beast for their weight class as you'll find. Unlike some mechs that when you see them you think 'I can turn my back on that for a turn or two), the Orion has enough weapons to demand respect and enough armor to get to the fight and stay there a while.

Oh, I know, and I know I'm being stupid for not fielding them. It's a style preference. I just have to wonder who drew the original artwork, sat back and said "Yeah, that looks good."

[Wolfstern]

I dont know wich variant i own but i equiped it with 2 AC5++ and 3 or 4 SRM4++/+.
Full armor and jump jets.
That guy can take a punch and is doing well togehter with my Grasshopper, SLDF Highlander and a to the teeth armed Stalker.

[zAcEz]

I run the ON1-K with LRM15, AC/10, 4x MLas as a main tank till I get assaults.

[matthew]

I have an Orion V as a missile boat, 2 x LRM20 and 1 x LRM15 with three tones of ammo, had to stript a bit of armour, as it also has JJ. but as long as I keep it in the back, its makes a deadly LRM missile boat.

also I have a Orion V with 3 x SRM6 and a AC20 with 3 JJ, makes a deadly brawler. I can kill many light / ,ed mechs if I lucky, and bring down heavy mechs with ease, if I use call shots on the legs.

This is one deadly mech.

[Pherdnut]

Originally posted by Twelvefield:

Finally! The Orion spotlight!

The K variant has been the backbone of my mid-late game. I armor it up as far as it can go. It then becomes underweaponed but all that armor! It survives everything, at least in this game. That, and I make certain it has jumpjets.

The V variant, though, ouch. I'm not a big Vertanen fan, but he's right when he says the V comes in with too little armor. Two pilots on two consecutive missions suffer being cored in the V series? V is not for me. It is big enough to stand up to the mechs of the line, but too fragile to remain until the end of the fight.

Orion Ks plus Highlanders, those I find have wonderful synergy. I don't like missile mechs, but I do like each mech to have at least a LRM10. Both Orions and Highlanders have enough carrying capacity to have some missile punch and then other weapons to round them out. Highlanders aren't particularly mobile, but jumpjets help them out a lot. So, Orions + Highlanders make for that great hammer into anvil combo that Patton would have used had Patton mechs instead of tanks. Grab them by the tail and hit them in the head! With a little heat management, my Orions can alpha strike on almost every turn. Other mechs might hit harder, but they aren't so tough when they succumb to heat overload.

Try learning to like a missile mech. Drop 3 large LRMs with the best stability damage you have into an Orion V and give it enough ammo for at least a dozen full volleys. Give it to a character with multishot and breach. Don't use it to kill. Use it to unsteady the opposition for the rest of your non-missile mechs to knock over and get free called shots on or force the enemy to brace rather than attack. The regular knockdowns alone are worth it.

Never let the opposition see it. Mechs that are rarely seen by the enemy don't need a lot of armor but they will tend to focus it if they do. I would still give it jumpjets though. Rapid repositioning comes in handy for switching between direct and indirect fire (indirect does less damage but has a pretty good chance of scoring a single head hit apparently).

Having one such mech on your lance makes the rest of your mechs' jobs a lot easier and they can trade their LRMs in for another AC that relies on the same ammo or more energy weapons/heatsinks. Heavy LRM mechs are also amazing at wrecking heavy turrets since there's only one armor location for all those missiles to hit.

[CommandDork]

Have been using Orions for a while now in my midgame. Very versatile and tough. Replaced Shadowhawks and Centurions in the brute attack role. Armed w AC20+++ and SRMs with near full armor and full jumpjet support.

[Pherdnut]

Also, there is a kind of beauty to a brick with legs. I don't see this ugly everybody's talkling about.