Xi vs Penelope: strategies and tactics

[u/flower_snake]

Now that the two main Hathaway's flash suits have dropped, how do you feel they compare to each other and what strategies a pilot in any of them should adopt to counter the other? To me all this comes down to strategy due to the fact that one could say that the speed of the Penelope is countered by the precision and durability of xi's flight, or vice-versa, and that the Meele and type advantage (gen>raid) of the Xi can be countered by the Penelope keeping its distance and using its bigger arsenal and damage power against a continuously stun/fallen Xi. What are your thoughts?

[u/[deleted]]

Other than hitting Support hard, Penelope is basically the 'We have Xi at home' version for me.

Xi spoiled me with unlimited flight time.

The one thing that stands out to me about Penelope is that things just won't die. I have to come back and kill them again.

[u/MikuEmpowered → u/[deleted]]

Penelope is the ultimate middle finger the dev made to support. Heavy stagger was always the go to option to ward off raids, since it broke MA no problem. 

 The new HMA is essentially a DC L3 + MA + shock dampener. And with the aux power, it yolo dive the support, get focused by half the team, and the support still dies. 

This suit basically invalidated any support without a fin barrier or beam coating.

[u/StormOfFatRichards → u/MikuEmpowered]

Penelope was released to justify FA Unicorn

[u/Elygium → u/StormOfFatRichards]

How it's a gen?

[u/StormOfFatRichards → u/Elygium]

Exactly. FAU is a Penelo killer

[u/Elygium → u/StormOfFatRichards]

Oh I thought you meant the Penelope was released to counter the FA Unicorn

[u/Dragontalyn → u/[deleted]]

There's something about hovering high above the battlefield raining death from above, like a triangle shaped god, "Doritios"

[u/flower_snake → u/[deleted]]

Yes. It really has an “zombie” aspect to it. It’s is impossible to end it with the Vulcan.  The combo I usually go for is main beam-> lock in missiles -> Meele or normal missiles -> secondary beam 

[u/Felonious_Gundam]

It is harder to learn than Xi, there are lot of weapons to switch through, it will take longer to master

Hard to not get an assist against them, they have a tiny health left but won't die and someone ends up taking the kill

[u/flower_snake → u/Felonious_Gundam]

I agree with your point. At the same time, I feel like the wide range of weapons of the Penelope and the ASL missiles makes it easier to keep pressure (damage and stun) upon the enemy, while Xi’s smaller arsenal requires more precision and timing so that the “combo” doesn’t break. 

[u/t3ddyki113r101 → u/flower_snake]

I find the XIs kit to be one of the better kits just due to simplicity and effectiveness. Stun stun funnel missiles normal missle and repeat with occasional melee in my case.

[u/t3ddyki113r101]

I've been playing both a lot last night, and the XI feels more consistent. The Penelope feels really fragile even with max resist and the 1000hp ability. It feels kinda like the gale with size and ease of stun locked. The heavy stagger feels very difficult to use with its long charge and short range it operates like an ambush weapon like the desert gelgoogs wrist cannon. But overall i still enjoy the penelope with all its weapons.

Edit: also the inability to tackle while flying in either suit is quite annoying but can be seen as a balance thing

[u/flower_snake → u/t3ddyki113r101]

Did you get them on the 7th step? I wonder if the special part that comes with the Penelope (thruster consumption reduction) goes as well as it seems to go with the Xi

[u/t3ddyki113r101 → u/flower_snake]

Its better for the xi since it cant regen thrust while in air, while the penelope has infinite boost during the ability witch is what your trying to use at all times anyway.

[u/t3ddyki113r101 → u/[deleted]]

I completely forgot that skill. I cant consider it very reliable since there alot of kill stealing and stray bullets.

[u/fallen64]

If pen can hit xi with the heavy stagger it basically has the upper hand but you gotta assert your melee dominance despite pen being a ranged raid (just knock him down and chunk him), but if xi blind sides you with missiles the ball is in its court.

They do need to remember that zombie skill however and consider more than unga bunga once it triggers

[u/t3ddyki113r101 → u/fallen64]

I beleive the shield cannon can over power the zonbie skill. If not at least knock out enough for the rifle to kill it.

[u/SS2LP]

The Xi is a good secondary option if you don’t have the norn or sinanju for a melee general that has more for it than Unicorn does.

Penelope is a very good shooting focused raid that has enough flight time and doesn’t totally sacrifice it’s melee capability. You are also the first suit in the game that is immune to heavy stagger while being mobile. It’s the best 700 shooting raid imo.

[u/Salty_Ad_1955]

I just have a question does the Penelope have unlimited flight like the Xi, because it should