Review [Issue 27] In Comparison: Twins or Ricochet?

[Pathfinder 1,690]

In Comparison: Twins or Ricochet?

Preamble

When it comes to short-medium range warfare, there are no better weapons from which to choose than Twins and Ricochet. These two plasma turrets can dominate mid-range firefights in the right hands, and so it is no surprise that they are two of the most feared weapons in Tanki.

 

But is there a superior?

[The rank at which any item unlocks has some bearing on its power. So in order to successfully compare any two items, we must look at the fully micro-upgraded M3 statistics. This is also logical as many players want to plan ahead and start upgrading their ‘endgame’ equipment early on.]

Basic Comparisons

Let's start by looking what's most important for a turret: the basic ability to put damage on enemies. Each Twins projectile inflicts 14 damage points, and Twins can shoot 4 projectiles per second, yielding a damage output of 14*4= 56 damage per second (DPS). Rico shoots slower, shooting a plasma ball every 0.479 seconds, meaning it can only manage just over 2 shots per second. However, each plasma ball inflicts 35 damage points, giving (1/0.479)*35= 73 DPS.

So, Ricochet has the greater potential for damage.

Range is also a key aspect of a turret, and, of course, a longer range is preferable, as you can keep a safer distance from an enemy.

Twins have an effective range of 40 metres, meaning that any target within 40 metres will take maximum damage (56 DPS). DPS will begin to decrease beyond this limit, decreasing to 20% of maximum damage at 80 metres, and 0 beyond that.

Ricochet has double the effective range, doing maximum damage up to 80 metres, decreasing to 0 at 90 metres. This shows that Rico is a much more consistent weapon in terms of range, doing maximum damage over a much larger spectrum of distances.

DPS with distance can be shown graphically, the red line representing Ricochet, and the blue representing Twins:

Ricochet also has the advantage of having a faster projectile speed (90 metres per second in comparison to 60 metres per second). This is very important, making it much easier to hit moving targets at distance and much more difficult for enemies to evade fire. It also means your enemies will die faster! In the time it takes for the projectile to travel through the air and hit the enemy, that enemy could've fired off the shots needed to change the course of the battle.

From all this it seems like Ricochet is significantly better- it has a higher potential DPS, a longer and more effective range and a faster projectile speed.

But it's not so simple.

Secondary Comparisons

Twins has the immensely useful characteristic of not needing to recharge. It can shoot continuously for an unlimited amount of time, meaning it can keep it's DPS consistently at that 56 DPS.

On the other hand, Ricochet cannot shoot continuously. It is in someways similar to the short range weapons in that it has a limited amount of energy stored that reloads over time, and each shot fired uses some of that energy.

 

Rico can only keep up its maximum damage for 5 seconds at most, explained below in detail:

 

Each shot fired uses 144 out of the 1000 energy store, and the 1000 energy store recharges fully in 10 seconds. (From tankiwki.com).

Since we know that Ricochet can fire a shot every 0.479 seconds, this equates to an energy use of (1/0.479)*144= 300 points per second. We also know that the 1000 energy store recharges in 10 seconds, meaning a regeneration of 1000/10= 100 points per second. This means that while firing continuously, there is a net energy use of 300-100= 200 points per second.

Since Ricochet has a 1000 energy store, this means that it can only keep up firing like this for 1000/200 = 5 seconds before it must recharge. (For interest's sake, this also means that in each 'clip' Ricochet can shoot 5/0.479= approximately 10 balls). It takes Ricochet 10 seconds to recharge fully, meaning that over a longer period of time, Ricochet can only maintain that high 73 DPS for about one third of the time.

It is also interesting to note that when the energy store is depleted, Ricochet shoots one ball every 1.44 seconds, since this is how long it takes to recharge 144 energy points at 100 energy points per second. This is equivalent to (1/1.44)*35= 24.3 DPS, which is low at best (it's even lower than the damage of an M1 twins or even an M0 firebird). So when you've run out of ammo, run away!

 

Although it's true that you won't need to be firing constantly in many situations, this certainly does compromise Ricochet's long term firepower.

Partly making up for this is Ricochet's ability to bounce its projectile off flat surfaces. (They do off rough surfaces, but it is harder to aim). This can be immensely useful depending on the map and can mean you can hit enemies that you can't even see. Not only does this increase the range of places Rico can reach, but it also minimises the ability of enemies to return fire.

Per ball, Ricochet's projectiles have almost 50% more impact force than those fired by Twins. This impact force can be used to put the enemy's aim off so they miss.

But, because Twins fires much faster, the overall impact for Twins is higher, and so although it isn't as good for redirecting aim, it can make it hard for enemies to approach you, and can also aid in pushing enemy tanks. This can be very useful against tanks wielding short range weapons. Try charging at a Twins user head on. Not easy.

Hulls and Game Scenarios

Maps: Due to Twins' rather limited range, it really isn't suited at all for large maps. Having said that, neither is Rico, but it still proves to be a better choice.

Shooting angle describes the cone of angles that the turret can shoot at vertically. Rico has a larger shooting angle than Twins, making it much better for layered maps such as noise, where vertical shooting angle is more important.

Light Hulls: When using Twins, it really is important to have enough health to fully utilise its infinite firepower. This is very hard with a light hull, so I think in general Rico is a better choice here.

Heavy Hulls: Here, I believe the opposite to be true. A heavy hull like Mammoth or Titan allows the use of Twins' infinite firepower to maximum potential.

Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch: In deathmatch, it is important to secure kills; that is the only aim. Rico proves better for kill stealing, with its high DPS.

However, the fact that literally everyone is your enemy means that there is likely to be someone to shoot at most of the time. Here Twins' infinite firepower comes in handy. Perhaps this is why we often see a drugging Mammoth-Twins ruling the field in death matches. Its relentless fire can bring down enemy after enemy continuously without having to recharge.

In TDM, it is not so important to steal the kill itself. It is more important to actually put damage on the enemies, since you get points for assists and not kills. Thus, although Twins cannot reach the high DPS of Rico, I think it is the better choice generally, being able to put damage on enemies over a sustained period.

Capture the Flag and Capture Points: Here, I believe it is largely map dependent. (see above)

Both turrets can be used well in attack, defence, and midfield. However, since heavier hulls are generally preferred in defence and more maneuverable hulls in attack, I think you'd find more Twins in defence, and more Ricos in attack.

Conclusion?

Although both turrets are medium range specialists, they are in fact very different turrets.

Do you want a turret that can manage short bursts of high damage with the versatility to hit enemies in a wide range of places? Or do you want a turret with the capacity to sustain fire indefinitely which doesn't weaken even against numerous enemies?

I cannot say. It's up to you.

Thanks for reading! All feedback is appreciated! If there's something you are unsure about, ask in the comments, and I'll try to clarify!

Edited July 31, 2017 by Hexed

[lordmostafa 3,821]

I must say, our developers are very amazing, they make everything look so balanced, you can't find a turret which is far better than another one without finding a weakness that the other turret fills, it it just incredible, such as your work, I actually learned from this, I really did, it is very informative, simple, easy to read and with pictures to elaborate even more, Kirby, you covered it all ;)  

[Warhammer_TO 181]

I must say, our developers are very amazing, they make everything look so balanced, you can't find a turret which is far better than another one without finding a weakness that the other turret fills, it it just incredible, such as your work, I actually learned from this, I really did, it is very informative, simple, easy to read and with pictures to elaborate even more, Kirby, you covered it all ;)

+1 :)

[abdullahtss 5]

good comparison ;)

[abdullahtss 5]

umm no replies???

[Lord-of-the-Snipers 1,620]

Good article!

 

In battles I fear the versatile Rico a bit more than I do the straight attack Twins.

 

With Twins attacking you, you have time to counter attack or take cover.

A loaded Rico too close for comfort, so that you can 't dodge the plasma balls: certain death.

[Dhruv_007 30]

n1 tho id like to point out that if freeze is the most annoying and OP gun in the game at its rank tho thunder is to at its rank so if anyone does an article the should do it about what to buy at which rank

[Kevred 1,586]

Amazing. Amazing amazing amazing

That's all I can say :)

[Gangham_Style 213]

Very detailed statistics. The graph is very helpful and the scenarios are quite informative.

Another great article by kirby.

[Alklines 1,751]

Wow just wow. Being an avid Ricochet user, this article is JUST what I was looking for. Many thanks, and keep them comparisons coming. (If you do them every month or not, I don't know, haven't checked.)

[Mr.I3oSS 557]

Gr8 Job m8 :D

Gotta Love my Rico :wub: :rolleyes:

[aperaiderpistol 459]

Great article. :)

 

I love Twins and Rico both, a lot, but I'm more of a ricochet person. I managed to utilise it's power with Hornet until I got M2 Titan. It was definitely a good combo that once got me 4th place in a Generalissimo battle when I was Major. :ph34r:

[lukey0 27,543]

Nice article.

I have both M3 but I prefer my Ricochet in most battles but when it comes to DM I use Twins. 

[Kotooshu 30]

I always prefer Rico; it is my favourite turret. But to be honest, in Control Points battles Twins is better, becouse you just must stay at the point and defend until you die. A Mammoth Twins does that great. But my Twins is M1 :D And i can't wait to have M3 Rico.

[Misdirect 49]

I love both turrets, but a skilled rico player slams a skilled twin player. Drugs off, however.

 

Rico is more fun too :)

[One-Foot 17]

I must say, our developers are very amazing, they make everything look so balanced, you can't find a turret which is far better than another one without finding a weakness that the other turret fills, it it just incredible, such as your work, I actually learned from this, I really did, it is very informative, simple, easy to read and with pictures to elaborate even more, Kirby, you covered it all ;)

see any shafts in endgame?

[N.o.6.o.d.y 575]

Great article ;) Now i really see the differences between twins and rico.. But i still dont regret buying twins at 70% cuz whens the last time it was on sale for over 50%?

[aBdUlLaHkInGg 39]

I agree with lordmostafa and I would prefer Twins.

Good Luck kirby ;).

[fluctuation123 3,435]

Oh lord! Give me crystals, I will buy them both! :-D Jokes apart, i seriously hate ricos. As kirby said, lot of rico users mount them on light hulls. When i charge them with my isida, they just back off, that too with increased accelearation, and keep firing. Their massive damages per shot just don't give any chance. But many times, with twins one to one, i won with isida. By the way, i often wonder why the heavy m2 hull comes with rico? The mammy cannot move fast, and most of the time they have, in my experience, d/l ratio about .5. It would be deadly if it had twins m2! Great article, kirby. Thank you!

[fluctuation123 3,435]

I meant heavy m2 kit in my last comment!

[THEDESTRUIDOR 18]

ricochet is best but twins win then   1vs1 combat

[CASTYgador_10.0 0]

TWINS

[impaler 4]

tanki please open the test server i want to try m3 thunder

 

[marcus935 0]

i think ricochet is the best but it depends on the hull!!! ^_^

Edited October 16, 2014 by marcus935

[ramo24 0]

I personally as a user of twins think that an M3 hunter (according to pose writing above) is the best choice for a twins user because it is fast compared to some hulls and has more armor than the fastest hulls.