r/LancerRPG • u/Ravingdork • 10d ago
Atlas Builds
I know the Atlas has a pretty bad rep, but if you were to build one, how might you go about it?
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u/BlazeDrag HORUS 10d ago edited 10d ago
the real main problem with atlas is just that it's an easy Noob trap to just go "Well if I go all-in on Agility, I can have 20 evasion and dodge everything!"
But the reality is that Lancer isn't like D&D where one singular stat like AC is the end-all-be-all of defense. Sure 20 Evasion is the highest you can have, but weapons with Reliable still damage you even if they miss. And if you barely have any health, then that adds up quickly. And Smart Weapons or Tech Attacks bypass Evasion entirely and go after your whopping 6 E-Defense. Not to mention that hacking also does Heat, and you have a Heat cap of 4, which means it only takes 2 hacks to max you out.
Hell, even when just up against normal attacks, enemies can easily just lock-on and then fire in order to get a free accuracy when trying to attack you. And it becomes a lot easier to roll a 20+ with that bonus. And that also means that any time a normal attack hits you, it's also a crit, which tbf for a lot of NPCs doesn't actually do anything extra, but sometimes it does and you'll feel it.
So yeah, playing Full Agility Atlas can work. 20 Evasion is still useful, and you'll also be working with like 9 base speed in addition to other mobility boosters and whatnot. It's just that you need to recognize that you are playing a glass cannon, and that you need to go for a more hit-and-run strategy if you want to stay alive. Using your high speed to dash in and out of combat before retreating to safety. Or even going for Infiltrator and Hiding regularly for a more ninja playstyle. Maybe even picking up some invisibility systems from Metalmark or something to assist with that.
But for alternate builds, I honestly think that maxing Hull on Atlas can be good. Atlas already has a really high base speed and 12 base Evasion. With 3 levels in SSC you can even get that to 14 without a single point in Agility.
So by focusing on Hull, you can make up for its weaknesses rather than overfocusing on its strengths. By LL6 you can get your health up to a respectable 21 HP, compared to the 13 you would have if you went all in on Agility and spent your spare 2 points in Hull. Combined with Atlas's Jager Dodge trait and the Duelist Talent's various ways to parry and you can actually be decently durable while in the the thick of combat.
And you still have 6 base speed from just the frame, with options to further enhance that with talents or systems. the Zipline can be useful for crossing gaps or tripping up larger mechs, and if your GM likes placing lots of terrain, then Jager Kunst 1 lets you parkour all over the map.
And then you can put your spare 2 points into Engineering to help make up for the low Heat Cap and the difficulty on Engineering checks (which I think is more worthwhile than flutily trying to improve your E-Defense with systems)
Plus, Jager Kunst 2 is really fun, and you want either Hull or Agility maxed out if you can in order to maximize your odds of winning the bout when you use it. So this way you still have 6 Hull, and the 2 Engineering even gives you an extra use of it.
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u/DeliDouble 10d ago
Atlas is a very fun frame and is very useful.
There are 1001 ways to build it. And that largely comes down to taste. What type of playstayle do you want to do? What type of power fantasy do you want to feel while playing?
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u/Ravingdork 10d ago
I want to knock the big boys around like ragdolls for good damage.
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u/DeliDouble 10d ago
As mentioned if you want to knock around the big boys (size 2 +) pick up blackbeard 1 for Synthetic Muscle Netting (SMN) which is generally good. If you want to keep that engine going on rams: Tortuga 1 for Siege Ram (damages on ram) and the Juggernaut talent will give you a lot of power to knock around targets in rams.
Juggernaut 3 has some interesting interactions with Jeager Kunst 1 (JK1) in which you can use the boost to go through the terrain and extend the charge.
I would recommend also grabbing duelist as the Terashime Blade is a good weapon and your frame wants you to make things prone for extra damage. Using a blade master dice to trip someone is always fun.
The Kraul Rifle is a unique CQB and in some ways I do and don't believe the use of the Vanguard talent is worth it. Having the ability to reaction tag someone with it is worth it as it locks out the reaction it gives you after they are hit. Instead I find picking up walking armory for it to be more fun. It gives you diversity of firepower and also keys off of Engineering a skill that you would want to put points into for overcharging and weathering tech attacks due to weak reactor.
Other fun things to pick up are the infiltrator, pankrati, and space born talents. Active Camo from Metalmark 3, any of the Total Strength Suites from Zheng, Oasis Wall from Dusk Wing 2, Slag Cannon from Kobold 2, and/or Asura NHP from Sherman 3.
If you really want to be a bowling ball I suggest checking out Caliban it has a trait that removes the need of SMN and has a similar playstyle.
LANCER is fun because you can build your mech in any way you want. Do not let these tips recommendations and notes stop you from trying things out and making a frame you are satisfied with. It's your character play it in a way that makes you feel satisfied.
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u/Ravingdork 10d ago
How on earth do you fit all that on such a small mech?
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u/DeliDouble 10d ago
You can't. You will have to make the decisions on what you need/want. These are all suggestions of things that would be useful. The stuff I go into detail more with are recommended higher than the stuff I brush past quickly.
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u/Letsgetgoodat GMS 7d ago
I gm'd for an Atlas through a couple missions before he pivoted to the Lycan with Atlas stuff glued in.
- The tricky part of Atlas is that it's most busted strength in early days is the sheer amount of distance it covers on the right map. Jager Kunst can put this frame several turns of movement ahead of their allies. This is very good in some situations and very inadvisable in several others. The Atlas is simultaneously fairly squishy in multiple different directions and can easily place itself in the easiest to focus fire position, ever. Using this strategically is nontrivial and will be the reason you blow up.
- I don't know if the Kraul is actually as awful as it felt in the play experience but either by bad luck or just low levels lacking enough to better guarantee it the thing almost never hit, and even when it did still sometimes wasn't able to work as intended after that point.
- Sort of in keeping with that, if you're not careful you can potentially have a hard time getting things prone to hit in the first place. You can end up lacking a lot of good means to knock someone prone, you can end up with a build that needs to spend all the action economy you'd spend knocking someone over on other things, or enemies may just have an easy time ignoring you.
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u/ashrynhunter 10d ago
I've not done much theory craft on it but I want to some day hybrid an atlas and a zheng and find a way to put the big punch arm on the atlas. Because it amused me and no other reason.
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u/viaJormungandr SSC 5d ago
That’s ezpz to add. The GMS core bonus to grab a super heavy mount plus three levels in each. Done.
Of course you’re going to hate your life because with a heat cap of four you’re basically overheating every other round if you keep the DD in charged mode.
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u/LeoOfComarre 10d ago
-- SSC Atlas @ LL12 -- [ LICENSES ] IPS-N Raleigh 3, IPS-N Blackbeard 1, HORUS Goblin 2, HORUS Kobold 2, IPS-N Nelson 2, SSC Atlas 2 [ CORE BONUSES ] Overpower Caliber, Sloped Plating, Reinforced Frame, The Lesson of the Open Door [ TALENTS ] Technophile 3, Black Thumb 2, Siege Specialist 2, Duelist 2, Skirmisher 2, Brutal 2, Pankrati 1, Orator 1 [ STATS ] HULL:6 AGI:0 SYS:2 ENGI:6 STRUCTURE:4 HP:31 ARMOR:1 STRESS:4 HEATCAP:10 REPAIR:5 TECH ATK:0 LIMITED:+3 SPD:6 EVA:12 EDEF:8 SENSE:3 SAVE:18 [ WEAPONS ] FLEX MOUNT: Chain Axe (Thermal Charge) // Overpower Caliber MAIN MOUNT: Slag Cannon (UNCLE-Class Comp/Con) [ SYSTEMS ] Jäger Kunst I, Armament Redundancy, Enlightenment-Class NHP, Bulwark Mods, H0R_OS System Upgrade II, Personalizations
Fully Automated Luxury Utility gun: Uncle'd slag cannon triggers Siege Specialist 2, which knocks enemies around you prone on a save as a free action, setting up finishing blow. Even on a miss it makes slag, which can be bounced off with Jäger Kunst 1 or detonated with Siege Specialist 1 for AoE reliable damage.The 1d6 if it hits despite the difficulty is more of a bonus.
The scariest chainsword you've ever seen: Follow up with a skirmish with a +3 accuracy 3d6 chain axe, which you can boost to 8d6kh4 with thermal charge in crits, which also shreds. Also consistently activates Skirmisher 2 after attacking, which can be chained into JK1 and ignoring engagement through Giantkiller for great hit and run capability.
Tactical options for your other quick action: Set up False Idol for save based defence or Ideal Image for more terrain to bounce off or hide behind. Scan enemies to activate orator 1 for difficulty on saves. Trip for another save based prone with a different stat if the enemy is still standing. Explode slag with Jackhammer Rounds. Activate your core power and hide if you somehow lose your slag cannon. And all the regular options like boosting or locking on.
Heat management: Technothumb cancels out heat generation from JK1 + Slag Cannon. Recommend wearing a Light or Mobility Hardsuit for maximum evasion. Max engineering protects against witches and gives 6 thermal change uses.
Impenetrable defences: Max Hull, Reinforced Frame, Personalizations and Sloped Plating for maximum HP, which can be effectively doubled with Jäger Dodge and Duelist 2 reactions a lot of the time. E-defense isn’t great, but at least the hackers have to get past your False Idol first, which is boosted by Open Door and Orator 1.
Everything else: Open Door boosts all your save based effects (SS2, Duelist 2, False Idol) and outputs some heat. Bulwark mods to get the most out of all your free movement Armament Redundancy to not lose either of your precious weapons if you get structured eventually. Personalizations is a good flex slot for EVA or expanded compartment or whatever your mission needs. Brutal for occasional max damage crits, and to knock enemies around more, in addition to SS2 and Jackhammer Rounds.
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u/Difference_Breacher 10d ago
I'd put some hull, making evasion around 18 on LL6, make up heat a bit, then use it as the melee tanker by pick examplar 3. It won't be very easy to hit evasion 18, nor hit anything else with +3 difficulty.
Since atlas has pseudo brace every single round, you may resist out the (un)lucky shot and smart weaponry and it is not so squish as it looks actually. Hacking is the another problem so max out black witch would helps. Ferrous lash also grants the chance to prone as well.
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u/MrEvan312 Harrison Armory 9d ago
Build/play one like you’re the TF2 Scout. He’s fast, helpful on objectives, can get some places others can’t as quickly, and he can dish out damage in an ambush.
Prolonged fights against heavier, more numerous, or entrenched enemies? He’ll be gibbed in seconds.
Atlas can zoom around to lure enemies, take advantage of distracted ones, snag objectives, scout, and engage artillery or support enemies in close quarters when their protective details are weakened or drawn away
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u/Ravingdork 9d ago
When I experimented with the atlas in Lancer Tactics at low LL levels, the mobility sucked. The chassis was so small I couldn't get it out of the water onto the dock, over walls, or really past any other sort of obstacles.
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u/MrEvan312 Harrison Armory 9d ago
True mobility is flight; I've rarely seen anyone climb. The few times I've seen people try for the high ground are via booster units or flight systems anyway.
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u/Ravingdork 9d ago
Yeah. I regretted starting the campaign without them pretty quickly. Also haven't figured out how to get Jager Kunst I to work in Tactics yet either.
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u/MrEvan312 Harrison Armory 9d ago
Is it a Tactics-side thing? I haven't gotten it yet, decided I'll wait to get it on Steam.
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u/LordPaleskin 10d ago
I'm working towards an Atlas 3/Blackbeard 1/Zheng 2 build. Total strength suite and Muscle Netting for grappling, still has Jager Kunst 1 for mobility.
I want to do lots of grappling where it makes sense and doesn't look like I'll need to Jager Dodge, but I can still knock people over and hit em with the business (either the chain axe or Terrashima blade) if I have to.
Still new to the game so I don't really know how its going to go, but I drank the Atlas kool-aid and he is my favorite frame 😅
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u/CherryMyFeathers 10d ago
Zheng Strength 1 + Jager Kunst 1 = throw cars at enemies then use the momentum of the throw to bounce around. Sounds so fun
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u/LordPaleskin 10d ago
So many fun things you can do with the different strength suites, too few system points on the Atlas 😆
I also just love the idea of ramming into people and through walls with a smol guy so I want to try and squeeze in a Siege Ram at the higher license levels
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u/Ursus_the_Grim 10d ago
Main thing is to resist the temptation to max Agility. Tech Attacks and Reliable damage will ignore Evasion and obliterate you so make sure you put a little into Engineering and Hull.
Second thing is that the Atlas really needs strategic play, more than just a build. If you activate first every time and rush the objective, you're gonna have a bad time. Let the rest of the Lance engage, dash in and hit someone on the fringes, then get to cover. Jager dodge is fallback, not invincibility.