Review [Issue 69] A Successful Career: M1 Product Kits

[Hex 11,520]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They say that choosing the correct equipment for a battle is as necessary as the skills you're going to play with. But what if someone doesn't have the correct equipment in the first place?

 

Therefore, in this article I'll be reviewing three M1 product kits after playing with each one of them. If you're interested to see the notes, pictures, and results I've gathered, well, read on!

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Contents: Thunder M1, Hunter M1, Jaguar and Badger T-D M1 (Firebird, Thunder and Freeze) 

Rank Range: to /

Price: 79 700  | $14.99 or €10.99

Discount: 80%

Ratings:

• Hull: 8/10
• Turret: 10/10
• Paint: 6/10
• Module: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

Best Position: Attacker

Review: If you want something that is both awesome and frightening, say no more. This kit combines the explosive shells of Thunder with Hunter, a hull perfect for midfield and in some cases, attacking. To some, a combination of Thunder and Hunter would be a godly thing to have, but for others, it'll be a mere pest. To understand this, let's take a look at some of the ups and downs of Thunder and Hunter.

 

Thunder is a vigilant turret. It can deal damage in splash, take a huge chunk of health-points from its enemies while being at a safe distance. One would think that Thunder is one of the mediocre turrets out there, especially owing to the fact that there are so many protections against it. Well, the thing is, you're only going to be using this kit at lower levels, and at lower levels, there isn't much variety of protections against Thunder in any given battle. So, protections? Check. Damage? Check. How about agility, or the fact that it can basically kill itself? Honestly, that is one of the major problems of Thunder. Since there are now more then ten turrets in the game, people usually use the whole lot of them in a battle, and a lot of them can take out Thunder more easily than you think. Let's take a look, shall we?

 

For instance, a Firebird, Freeze, or an Isida would pretty much kill the Thunder before you even know it, Remember, we're looking at these conclusions as if both the players are using Hunter. Turrets with fast reload times like Vulcan, Twins, Smoky, and Ricochet would also be a huge problem for a Thunder-user. However, turrets such as Striker, Railgun, Magnum, and Shaft can be dodged easily and should be avoided as much as possible. This is because of a feature all of us are well aware of, self-damage. It can be turned off by using the 'Armor-Piercing Ammo' alteration for Thunder M1, but you'd have to give up splash damage for that. Worth it? Maybe. You can say its worthwhile using that alteration in smaller maps, which will save you from splash damage. But at the same time you need to damage multiple enemies in small maps, right? I'd definitely not buy that alteration, but then how would I save myself from inflicting damage onto myself? There are many strategies you could use to deal with this problem, likely:

• Ramming into a tank, then backing up while laying a mine, then shooting the enemy and using a Repair Kit.
• Sniping the enemy from at least ten to twenty prop length away.
• Air-mining the enemy, then shooting him on the way down, and so on.

So there's Thunder, but what about Hunter? Good height, mediocre health-points, great acceleration, and top speed are some of the many statistics buying Hunter would give you. If we look at some of the advantages you'd get, they can pretty much be summed up in a couple of sentences. First of all, its height. Compared to other hulls: Viking is too low and Dictator is too big, while Hunter is right there in the middle at the golden line. This will allow you to shoot over some props, easily shoot at people while standing on a lower level and etc. Both it's forward and reverse accelerations and handling/maneuverability are good as well, meaning that you'll easily be able to get out of a base and escape with it's flag in your hands. On the other hand, mediocre health-points and a somewhat non-appealing shape makes people reluctant to buy Hunter.

 

Moving on, let's take a look at Jaguar. It sells at a hefty price tag of 300 000 . At such a price, only the most wealthy would be able to afford it. However, add in the fact that it sells with an awesome combination, a module and all under at 80% off?! I'd definitely not miss the chance to buy it. If we talk about looks, Jaguar is pretty nice. It has a furry, dull-yellowish base with black spots on top, very much like a cheetah or a jaguar, hence the name. As for camouflage properties, I'd say it belongs in a sandy, dusty or vaguely a brown patch of land.

 

 

The module, Badger T-D, which gives protections against Firebird, Thunder and Freeze may or may not be perfect with the position this combination is built to play in, that is mid-fielding. All of these three turrets are widely used, and a module which gives protections against the lot of them? Check. However, do note that you only have to use a specific module if there are specific turrets being used which the module gives protections from, so keep that in mind.

 

But all in all, I'd say this is a good combination, especially seeing it is available for purchase at such a low rank.

 

 

Conclusion: The Predator kit excellent choice for anyone who's willing to get kills and experience points quickly, as the over-powered combination of Thunder and Hunter will prove to be fiery for anyone crossing it's path.

 

 

 

Contents: Railgun M1, Hornet M1, Desert and Lion T-D M1 (Twins, Ricochet and Hammer)

Rank Range:  to /

Price: 48 950  | $9.99 or €6.99

Discount:

Ratings:

• Hull: 9/10
• Turret: 9/10
• Paint: 10/10
• Module: 9/10
• Overall Rating: 9/10

Best Position: Midfielder

Review:The Gunslinger Kit offers a plethora of versatility and firepower. Within a rank range that features powerful M1s are seldom seen on the battlefield, Railgun M1's high damage reigns supreme over most light and medium hulls, while tearing through heavy hulls with ease. However, this combination is improperly played by tankers who only have a feather's length of experience in the WO ranks.

 

The main two strong points of this combination is the high evasion rate (chances of evading opponents) and the powerful amount of damage. The best way to utilize both of these factors is to find a suitable camping spot and dish out tons of damage to high priority targets which are draining the concentration of your teammates. A poorly positioned Railgun in the heat of battle will die if a feather touches it, which is why this combination is not suitable for tankers who like to go out into the heart of the opponents' base. However, if a Railgun comes across a situation like this, the use of Nitro, Mines, and full utilization of Hornet's admirable speed can make him/her fight for another day. Always remember to not engage targets too close to you, since it won't matter what turret they are using. It is very important for a Railgun to be aware of it's surroundings, where to direct it's attention to, and when to switch positions. Mastering these three things will increase the effectiveness of a Railgun significantly.

 

CTF Strategies:

A properly positioned Railgun can wreck havoc onto incoming attackers who are trying to slip away with your flag. This combination is best utilized to control choke points from a safe distance, thus reducing an enemy's effectiveness dramatically.

 

Control over the Double Power boxes is key in taking out opponents with a lot of hitpoints and are soaking up hits for their team. A Double Powered Railgun can deny flag pushes/escapes, if it can focus on the correct targets.

 

 

CP Strategies:

Resembling CTF tactics, a Railgun can take out opponents with high HP who are trying to contest the control point. Although this combination is not a perfect selection for this game mode since it involves constant progression towards points out in the open, it is still fairly usable as a precision camper dealing damage to prioritized targets. It performs fairly well in CP games held in large maps with multiple control points where it  can slowly push for control points not being focused by the enemy, while using Hornet's motion to escape close counter turrets and dishing out damage at the same time.

 

TDM Strategies:

An excellent choice for TDM battles. This game mode focuses a lot on the 'kill and avoid being killed' situation more directly than the others, the general D/L of a team player matters. Since Railgun is best at constantly dealing damage without being exposed, it can rack up multiple kills without being damaged. Although Hornet's maneuverability is the least used in this game mode due to the necessity of excessive camping, it can still make quick escapes and tactical re-positioning. This makes the XP combination the most effective out of all other game modes.

 

DM Strategies:

A powerful combination for DM battles. Railgun's impressive kill stealing ability gives it an edge over most long-medium ranged turrets. Choosing a target wisely is of the utmost importance; a wrong move can render a Railgun helpless while he/she jams his Spacebar button. Although this is a risky combination, correct usage yields high rewards. The general toughness of the battle is the highest here, since it has no teammates to rely on. Proper use of mines and quick reflexes is the key to success. I will not recommend using this combination if you are not prepared to use supplies, especially mines and Double Powers. 

 

 

Conclusion: The Gunslinger kit is a perfect example of a kit that should work a treat when used in mid-fielding. Combine the immense impact of Railgun with Hornet's agility, and you have something no one would want to go near.

 

 

 

Contents: Vulcan M1, Dictator M1, Corrosion and Kodiak T-D M1 (Railgun, Thunder and Freeze)

Rank Range:  to /

Price: 58 200  | $10.99 or €7.99

Discount: 40%

Ratings:

• Hull: 9/10
• Turret: 10/10
• Paint: 7/10
• Module: 6/10
• Overall Rating: 8/10

Best Position: Defender

Review: The Exterminator kit combines the deadly, menacing power of Vulcan with the incredible statistics of Dictator. Surprisingly, the rank at which the kit unlocks makes it even more of a tank to deal with, and that's a huge positive for someone who wants to buy it early. One of the most basic things to understand before getting this kit is that you'll need to compensate for Vulcan's overheating, which by the way, is in the form of a protective module against Firebird and doesn't come with the kit; which is quite a bummer.

 

So, Exterminator? Check. Firebird-protecting module? Yep.

 

Now let's move onto the performance of Vulcan with Dictator in different battle scenarios. At first glance, Dictator's height would be a plus to anyone looking forward to matching it with Vulcan, but that's simply not the thing you'd want to go for. Even if Dictator's height does make you stand and shoot a bit higher from other people over low props, let's say boxes for example, you'll be exposed to the immediate area and that isn't something good for Vulcan. With Vulcan, you need to be shooting constantly at the person you're targeting, and if your aim keeps getting off-balance by incoming Twins or Ricochet balls, you're merely causing a scratch onto the enemy. Owing to this fact, a Vulcan-Dictator user ought to stay away from the most active areas in the battlefield, simply because it won't be able to keep it's line of fire directly on an enemy.

 

However, that doesn't mean this kit is bad. As aforementioned, it unlocks at an early rank, and if you have been saving up your crystals well, you'll already be at a higher advantage than other people on the field because affording protection modules at that stage without buying additional crystals is almost impossible, let alone difficult. Meaning? You'll easily be able to grab a lot of kills and gain experience quickly. Besides, a Double Power wont be that bad either.

 

Exterminator wont disappoint you in DMs, as its damage is way too much and way too quick for anyone to escape; plus add the new Repair Kit, and you'll face no problem in taking out people in the fastest time possible. In TDMs, you'll need a couple of supplies, preferably Double Armors and Double Powers as well as a stand-by Isida, just to make sure you don't die too much. Same goes for both CTF and CP, but don't forget to fulfill the objectives though!

 

Talking about the paint, I can't really say that much. Corrosion looks good, but doesn't hold any camouflage properties whatsoever - maybe at higher ranges, but again, can't say.

 

 

Last but not least, the module. It's a surprise that there isn't a "matching module" for sale with this kit, one that gives protections from Firebird. I guess that's one of the downsides of getting this kit - the fact that you have to buy another module. The Kodiak series provides universal ranges of protection, so Railgun, Thunder, and Freeze are something you'd only see in some maps in certain conditions, like the map Noise, Silence or Polygon, towards the middle of the battle where people are trying to go for the flags. Other than that, the whole kit is pretty nice in my opinion.

 

 

Conclusion: Exterminator's name says it all - it kills. With a couple of Double Damages and Repair Kits, you'll be able to hoard up an amazing number of kills in no time. It can be used in the midfield, but I'd rather stay defensive.

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So, there it is - a review of three of the most popular tier one product kits. Well, have you played with them at some point in your career? Share your thoughts and opinions below!

 

Note: This article was a collaboration between different possible formats this series

could continue with. Each of the three product kits have been written differently,

as in like a different format. Based on your opinions, we will stick to one format

in the future. So, please do give suggestions on which format suits best here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 3, 2017 by Hexed

[Stratosphere 2,234]

Not bad!  ^_^

[marc.jp_44 20,837]

Personally, I don’t think Exterminator is overly popular. I think Firefly our Fighter kit is more popular. Nice review nonetheless. ^_^

[Zak 2,532]

Nice :D 

[fordmustang12345 3,910]

Corrosion in Exterminator only gets a 6? Bruh that's only of the best paints in the game.........

[Hex 11,520]

Corrosion in Exterminator only gets a 6? Bruh that's only of the best paints in the game.........

I ranked those paints on the basis of the camouflage they provide, not looks. If you're considering looks, then yes, Corrosion is worthy of at least 9/10.

[ThirdOnion 4,898]

It might be good to say something about price, for example I think Predator is overpriced for what it offers. You get a similar package in Matrix kit for significantly less. Otherwise, another pleasant newspaper article. There's always something about them that is so . . . likeable.

[lukey0 27,543]

Nice article!

 

If you want a suggestion for the next series I'd say write it in the same style that you wrote Predator's in. It was an interesting style that isn't seen often. The 'game mode strategies' part is too overused in articles IMO. Go with the first style. ;)

[fordmustang12345 3,910]

I ranked those paints on the basis of the camouflage they provide, not looks. If you're considering looks, then yes, Corrosion is worthy of at least 9/10.

yeah I was thinking looks. As far as camo goes Storm and Forester are great cheap ones

[I3.R.0 1,700]

I've played with Predator and Gunslinger on my alt and they are cool!

[kaisdf 3,320]

I got gunslinger back before the railgun update. Rail M1 killed M0 light hulls in one hit, so it was basically impossible for me to not top the tables in any battle I played...

[Best_of_thunder_2015 1,354]

Matrix ?