Annihilator

This is essentially an improvement over the stock 4AC10 build. Light PPCs play similar to AC10s, but cost way less tonnage, so you can get a somewhat large and fast repeating pinpoint alpha without any sacrifices.

This is a lot of guns. The alpha isn't much to write home about, but this a high DPS build. Slow engine means you need to be smarter than normal about deciding where to position and when to expose.

Basic, reliable dakka build that trades the -2A's good mounts for slightly better durability. The sole arm-mounted gun can kill a UAV in a pinch, but really the ANH-2A is just superior at this build.

A decent blend of durability, range, and DPS. This has the advantage of slightly more armour than the ANH-2A, but suffers in the convergence department and wastes tonnage by armouring up an extra weapon arm.

5x UAC5s do have a ghost heat penalty, but it's so small that you can ignore it pretty much always.

While this build is possible to do, actually playing it is not the best idea. Laservomit favours a playstyle where you poke from cover, and the Annihilator is too slow and large of a mech to poke and reverse to cover effectively. While the heat efficiency and pinpoint are rather good qualities, the low alpha and DPS simply aren't enough to justify running this build. It is best to run dakka for your mid-range applications.

It is notable that this is currently the most min-maxed configuration of this build.
- Switching to LE + LFerro is less efficient on tonnage and requires more armour shaving: Laservomit (SHS)(LE)
- Maximum DHS offers similar sustained DPS, but markedly lower heatcap: Laservomit (DHS)(STD)

You can also run standard MLs instead of ERMLs for better sustain - Laservomit (MLs) - but at this point is is better to run wubs instead.

Better sustain, better range, but loses the zappy quality of the LPLs.

Wubs offers pinpoint hitscan DPS if you want something more accurate and concentrated than dakka, and without the jams. The DPS and burst output is somewhat similar to dakka, but the short range is extremely limiting.

With a STD300 and DHS, you can fit 3LPL for a little more alpha and range with comparable DPS, but obviously the burst suffers due to the lower heatcap. It's best to stick with SHS here so that you can burst down whatever is in front of you immediately.

This is a borderline meme-build, but the variant doesn't really have much to offer otherwise. The mounts are poor, and the heat is rough. The only thing on offer here is respectable pinpoint damage, and that doesn't make it worth playing.

This build, like any other ANH-1E build isn't particularly strong, being held back by the mech's low-slung arms housing all the weapons. Still, it has a respectable output of 60 damage with an insanely short laser duration and decent range, which allows you to melt enemies before they can even react and makes the build fairly easy to play. Just remember to split the lasers in groups of 3 so you don't trigger the ghost heat!

The cluster of high torso energy makes this an ideal platform for ERLL. This build can drill most other mechs in the game at longer ranges. Single heatsinks are required to get peak cooling, and the capacity they offer affords you the ability to comfortably alpha all five lasers at once, despite their ghost heat penalty.

If you want even more range to drill even more things, you can sacrifice as many heatsinks as you like to fit a TC. This version is better suited to competitive matches where stand-offs are expected and winning individual trades is preferred over sustained heat efficiency.

Gaussvomit offers more firepower than the -1E's mid-range laservomit, at the expense of a some fragility in the arms. Similar to mid-range laser builds, this is really not well suited to the Annihilator. Gaussvomit favours a playstyle where you poke from cover, and the Annihilator is too slow and large of a mech to poke and reverse to cover effectively, so it is best to run dakka for your mid-range applications.

Massive pinpoint damage, both weapons share an optimal range, and the lasers are short duration as well. Advance slowly, delete things with precision, and proceed. The only weakness is its average sustained DPS and slightly vulnerable side torsos. Face front to enemy - twisting too much will expose those HGauss to crits.

A dakka build focusing on high double-tap alpha is good if you prefer dumping a few alphas and twisting instead of constant staring. Convergence is also strong due to not relying on arm mounts like other builds do. Generally not as flexible and effective as other dakka builds, but it is still worth playing.

Probably the best long range Annihilator build out there. It's able to sit at very long ranges and plink away with high DPS on 6 AC2's with the ERPPC being able to provide strong supplementary DPS and alpha out past the range of even the AC/2's. Plenty of ammo assures you will almost never run out.

For extreme range DPS, this is more accurate than running RACs, and runs cooler. The saved tonnage affords you some secondary lasers for extra punch at medium range when you can afford the heat.

30-PPFLD with a reasonably quick rate of fire, and cooler DPS than UAC builds. Light on ammo, so aim carefully and don't spam mindlessly. The ghost heat penalty can generally be ignored.

A decent blend of durability, range, and DPS. This gets to strip an arm for extra tonnage, and offers better convengence than the ANH-1A, making it the superior choice.

5x UAC5s do have a ghost heat penalty, but it's so small that you can ignore it pretty much always.

BIG BOOM CLOSE RANGE RAAA

One of the only build options available on this variant. Not recommended; you will get laughed at if you put LRMs on an Annihilator.

XL is used and Artemis is skipped because this is intended as an indirect fire massive DPS platform. Don't allow the enemy to see you, because you are slow, fragile, and defenseless. There is room enough for secondary lasers, which allows you to deal a little extra damage before dying, but they won't protect you or discourage anybody who wants you dead.