Let's Discuss Viking!

[austen_pierce 1,948]

Viking, my old friend.

 

Played with my classic M4 RicoViking rig on a Skylark CTF game the other day. I liked and needed the speed increase on that larger map, but you've gotta be careful on those ramps. A clever enemy will flip you the second Viking goes airborne. Smart to slow down coming or going at the top of any ramp.

 

The other think is the steering. Viking's drift can be a real challenge when you are in a hurry i.e. with the flag. You end up veering wildly off course and slamming sideways into buildings, cliff walls, and even other tanks - all slowing you down. If you've activated speed boost, which is a wise move if you're trying to cap a flag, then the problem of steering Viking becomes a lot worse.

 

The SOLUTION - use a high recoil + fast reload turret like Ricochet, Smoky, or Hammer to course correct your paperweight Viking, and reset traction lost due to drifting.

 

Using this technique I was able to blow through the enemy base and maneuver deftly over Skylark's uneven terrain, outrunning other Viking's and even enemy Wasps (couldn't accelerate fast enough) and Hornets (couldn't keep traction) who tried to follow me.

 

And a cleverly placed mine put down as I approached and a second mine put down as I left their base added a bit of extra insurance :D

[Epic_Space_Mango18 592]

Viking, my old friend.

 

Played with my classic M4 RicoViking rig on a Skylark CTF game the other day. I liked and needed the speed increase on that larger map, but you've gotta be careful on those ramps. A clever enemy will flip you the second Viking goes airborne. Smart to slow down coming or going at the top of any ramp.

 

The other think is the steering. Viking's drift can be a real challenge when you are in a hurry i.e. with the flag. You end up veering wildly off course and slamming sideways into buildings, cliff walls, and even other tanks - all slowing you down. If you've activated speed boost, which is a wise move if you're trying to cap a flag, then the problem of steering Viking becomes a lot worse.

 

The SOLUTION - use a high recoil + fast reload turret like Ricochet, Smoky, or Hammer to course correct your paperweight Viking, and reset traction lost due to drifting.

 

Using this technique I was able to blow through the enemy base and maneuver deftly over Skylark's uneven terrain, outrunning other Viking's and even enemy Wasps (couldn't accelerate fast enough) and Hornets (couldn't keep traction) who tried to follow me.

 

And a cleverly placed mine put down as I approached and a second mine put down as I left their base added a bit of extra insurance :D

I rather like the drifting....i do slam into stuff sometimes, but I normally do make pretty good maneuvers. I even use the drifting to my advantage in some cases. Saw I'm going up a ramp, I'll turn it right before reaching the top and at first it skids before turning, so I don't have to stop, turn, then go. I also used it this morning to drift into the entrance to my team's flag on highlands, blocking the enemy from leaving. Normally I'd have to turn multiple fimes to get into place, but the skidding allowed me to do it with ease.

[austen_pierce 1,948]

I rather like the drifting....i do slam into stuff sometimes, but I normally do make pretty good maneuvers. I even use the drifting to my advantage in some cases. Saw I'm going up a ramp, I'll turn it right before reaching the top and at first it skids before turning, so I don't have to stop, turn, then go. I also used it this morning to drift into the entrance to my team's flag on highlands, blocking the enemy from leaving. Normally I'd have to turn multiple fimes to get into place, but the skidding allowed me to do it with ease.

You're right about timing. I haven't used my Viking enough to practice but I was able to get a bit of a feel for entering turns very early and riding the skid through the complete fishtail.

 

Have to pull the high rank card on you. This ride-it-out technique becomes predictable to your enemies very quickly. You'll find clever tankers firing at you for the sole purpose of sending your skid slamming into a wall and thus a standstill.

[Epic_Space_Mango18 592]

You're right about timing. I haven't used my Viking enough to practice but I was able to get a bit of a feel for entering turns very early and riding the skid through the complete fishtail.

 

Have to pull the high rank card on you. This ride-it-out technique becomes predictable to your enemies very quickly. You'll find clever tankers firing at you for the sole purpose of sending your skid slamming into a wall and thus a standstill.

I hate that when a rail shoots the way I'm swinging and I spin out xD But then I just hit it in reverse and fire back as I make my way to cover...having played so much to know the layout of maps, I know what's behind me :p

[r_I_already_won0 2,339]

Anyone else here thinks that the flat shape and drift of Viking makes it a lot better with railgun? I tried out Viking/rail and Hunter/rail on the test servers and Viking/Rail performed so much better than Hunter/Rail...but I'm still trying to pinpoint the exact reason why...  Something about the drift and the feel of Viking as it turns leads to more accurate shots- it's also easier to re-adjust your Railgun aim when warming up after being hit by smoky or hammer.

[Benefactor 6,888]

It's like having a big, flat Hornet made of balloons.

[austen_pierce 1,948]

Pancake. Speed boost makes the sides flap like wings :D

[Thekillerpenguin 1,731]

Anyone else here thinks that the flat shape and drift of Viking makes it a lot better with railgun? I tried out Viking/rail and Hunter/rail on the test servers and Viking/Rail performed so much better than Hunter/Rail...but I'm still trying to pinpoint the exact reason why...  Something about the drift and the feel of Viking as it turns leads to more accurate shots- it's also easier to re-adjust your Railgun aim when warming up after being hit by smoky or hammer.

I found that Hunter-Rail worked better for me. While using Viking, I was getting tossed around quite a bit by Smokies and Hammers due to the lower weight and wide shape (shots to the corners are further off-axis and rotate the tank more), had difficulties driving due to the lower maneuverability, and couldn't rock my tank much for shooting at higher/lower elevations, which was very annoying. Hunter is heavier and easier to handle, and the higher acceleration makes it better for peeking, so I had more success with it. Maybe I'm just more used to Hunter, I don't know.

 

Your mileage may vary, but I think that currently Hunter is better for use with Railgun in the general defense role since it has Viking's old characteristics (higher weight and acceleration) combined with its smaller horizontal hitbox and better maneuverability. If you're more comfortable with Viking-Rail, that's great, but I still think it isn't really a "meta" combination at the moment.

Edited November 14, 2016 by Thekillerpenguin

[BlackWasp777 4,498]

^think so too

[MentallyDeranged 740]

I have seen m3 Viking drift on nitrous :O new hornet

[Epic_Space_Mango18 592]

I have seen m3 Viking drift on nitrous :o new hornet

Yup :D

[ISIDA_HORNET 0]

might get it up to m2 i heard its a beast now i just need cry -3-  ^_^

[r_I_already_won0 2,339]

might get it up to m2 i heard its a beast now i just need cry -3-  ^_^

Who doesn't?  :lol:

[austen_pierce 1,948]

At least Viking accelerates well. There's nothing worse than a hull that takes its sweet time to get up to speed *cough* Wasp *cough*

 

I find Viking very maneuverable now that I'm getting better at mitigating or exploiting the drift and light weight. As far as I can tell there is no reason to use light hills now that Viking is just as fast (had a stock Viking outrun my nitro Hornet yesterday so I've seen this for myself, stats be damned).

[r_I_already_won0 2,339]

At least Viking accelerates well. There's nothing worse than a hull that takes its sweet time to get up to speed *cough* Wasp *cough*

 

I find Viking very maneuverable now that I'm getting better at mitigating or exploiting the drift and light weight. As far as I can tell there is no reason to use light hills now that Viking is just as fast (had a stock Viking outrun my nitro Hornet yesterday so I've seen this for myself, stats be damned).

Hornet accelerates too slow for effective dodging and control. :( That's why you were outrun.

[JustWatchMe 11]

... but Hunter accelerates faster...

[Epic_Space_Mango18 592]

... but Hunter accelerates faster...

Yay. It and Viking are both quick to top speed. Viking is faster on the top speed, so if it's a race, Viking's easy handling can outrun wasp and hornet when on speed boost, even

[austen_pierce 1,948]

Hornet accelerates too slow for effective dodging and control. :( That's why you were outrun.

Problem is my Hornet was already at top speed WITH nitro. The Viking was at rest and then REVERSED just as fast as I was going toward the enemy base.

 

I haven't used my Hornet since :(

[ghost-guns 1,486]

Problem is my Hornet was already at top speed WITH nitro. The Viking was at rest and then REVERSED just as fast as I was going toward the enemy base.

 

I haven't used my Hornet since :(

How much protection does M4 viking have? I'm currently at 2765.

[austen_pierce 1,948]

^3100

[r_I_already_won0 2,339]

How much protection does M4 viking have? I'm currently at 2765.

^3100

Actually it's exactly 3,000 hp for all M4 medium hulls.

[ghost-guns 1,486]

:wacko:

[artemthecoolguy 0]

Upgrading Viking is definitely worth the crystals! Viking is about as fast as hunter (can be faster), it has a lot of hit points, it is good for mid-range with Smoky especially around higher ranks. Viking is very good for attacking in CTF, especially with double armor and/or speed boost. When I was in the Sergeant ranks I used to play a lot on Brest TDM  ( winter theme) with Viking and Shaft. When I did so I used white paint (lead was useless since you still died from 1 shot from Shaft). The white paint hid me well, and Viking is a short hull so it is not nearly as noticeable as other Shaft players, most of whom use Mammoth or Titan. Those are too tall to hide from enemy Shafts, and Viking worked perfectly! Most of the time I got 1st place on my team and about 30-50 kills/15 min battle. I would say the only negative remark I would make about Viking is that it is not very good for taking a Gold Box when you have to jump down. The only exceptions to this are the cases where you have to keep players from pushing your tank away from the drop zone on a place on the map where there are no accessible buildings around the Gold Box. Viking is pretty good with about any gun (use whatever you are best with). I hope this post will help some beginners who want to know more about this hull from some higher level players.  :)

Edited November 29, 2016 by artemthecoolguy

[ghost-guns 1,486]

Yeah it's worth upgrading but once you get to 25 steps each upgrade costs over 15000 crystals.

[austen_pierce 1,948]

Viking was my 2nd M4 after Ricochet, before the Viking-Hunter properties swap. I'm still bitter about that, and I refuse to MU Hunter or Dictator on principle.

 

But... it's still fun to play. I'll equip Viking going into any Standard battle nowadays.