Why Do We Love the Shadow Cat?

Today, we look at the Shadow Cat and its history.
Shadow Cat Config-MF Record Sheet: www.dropbox.co...
For more great examples of painted Battlemechs, check out CamoSpecs Online: camospecs.com/
Sources: 3058 TRO, Tukayyid 3rd Ed, IlClan Rec Guide 9, Wars of Reaving, The Black Thorns, TRO Clan Invasion,
Thank you to Dwane Loose, Anthony Scroggins, Matt Plog, Łukasz Matuszek, Bishop Steiner, Flying Debris, Alan Blackwell, Chris Lowry, Dale Eadeh, Harri Kallio, Loston Wallace, Justin Nelson, Rick Harris, Franz Vohwinkel, and all the other BattleTech artists that have brought the IP to life through their amazing work.
BattleTech imagery and mech info remains the property of Topps.
Concept Art from Mechwarrior Online and game art from MW5 is owned by Piranha Games.
Imagery from HBS BattleTech
Some imagery/video from Pixabay
Background Music: Purchased rights to use from Fanatical
Intro Music: Purchased use rights from Ovani Sound
#BattleTech #Mechwarrior #CatalystGameLabs #lore

[@boost2.041]

I'm not sure why, but i loved that little crab vs. shadow cat bit. Really humanizes the clan warriors, i think.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Yeah I've always liked that little story out of the Tukayyid 3rd Ed book.

[@tenchraven]

Recessive genes

[@Bomfunker91]

You pet the kitty, you get purring, but if you pet it for an instant too long, you get a scratch from the gauss rifle. One of my favourite Battletech lore tidbits is why the Shadow Cat is one of the few Clan mechs to not have an IS name; no-one who encountered it survived long enough to name it. So ComStar only found out about its proper name via Clan files and briefs.

[@scytheseven9173]

thanks for the video, MechFrog! i love how you describe small lasers as for "emotional support"

[@MechanicalFrog]

So warm... so cute...

[@robrib2682]

Better then what it's probably used as considering that all of the clans have elementals as the "Rioters, what rioters?" weapon

[@Ishlacorrin]

@@MechanicalFrog I guess that makes IS Medium Lasers cute as well, since they hit as hard and at almost the same range lol.

[@meining-mech4378]

The Shadow Cat was a mech I came to know from Mechwarrior 3. I really like its look, coming from what I think was an era of mechs looking more utilitarian, like the Bushwacker.

[@Ishlacorrin]

I still remember the first time I took a Gauss hit from a Shadow Cat in that game..... it was not a nice surprise at all.

[@Takantwins]

In the game of A Time of War I'm in, one of my lancemates has managed to acquire one through combat and it's become an absolute asset to the lance. Prime config, and that gauss rifle claimed the head of a Hunchback IIC at near max range in a city fight mission we got into that absolutely eased the playing field for us. As lance lead I've fought tooth and nail to make sure we get to keep it. Lovely machine

[@elchjol2777]

Clanners hate when their toys are taken from them.

[@grendel42ful]

My favorite mech. It isn't even close. I have given thumb's up on all of your videos, but we need a new, larger like button for this one.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Glad I could give it some limelight.

[@christophermzdenek]

Ah, love this wicked little monster. I recall getting a mech of mine banned in a TTRPG game of Mechwarrior. Had a Lg PL, and 3 ER ML. The kicker was the added targeting computer. The rest of the space was crammed with heat sinks. After us players did our trial of position, I was informed my character went off to be a trinary commander and I had to make a new character. A grand melee began with 10 mechs on the field, and this little beast took out 5 of them over an entire weekend of gaming. To this day, the 2nd best game of TTRPG Mechwarrior I've ever played.

[@Khealos]

The ShadowCat is one of the best Clan Medium 'Mechs. A great video - keep 'em coming!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thanks, will do!

[@ambientlight3876]

I agree.. The Shadowcat is such a solid and flexible machine and one of my favourite medium mechs.

[@RyeFields]

The shadow cat is more a totem mech to what the Nova Cats represent, agile backstabbers and unfair fighters that will engage you on their own terms.

[@mikewaterfield3599]

“If you find yourself in a fair fight, You did not plan properly” Adm. William “Bull” Halsey

[@Dang_Near_Fed_Up]

@@mikewaterfield3599 "Bull" definitely had that one right. Especially in the early days of the Clan invasion, a 1 v 1 was an almost guaranteed death sentence for the IS mechwarrior even if you had as much as 20 to 25 extra tons on your opponent.

[@mikewaterfield3599]

@@Dang_Near_Fed_Up well, just look at the alpha strikes of a rakshasa vers a T wolf prime for that one. Even with reverse engineering and the HELM core IS mech warriors are no match for clanners 1V1. In every sense of the word they are superior warriors in superior machines. Hell at Tukyad Comstar operated at a roughly 12-1 advantage and they still got mauled to hell. Clanners lose for two reasons. Honor making them trade away their advantages and walk into obvious traps, and plot armor.

[@Dang_Near_Fed_Up]

@@mikewaterfield3599 During the Clan invasion the IS lost every fight, until they started to use surprise, stealth, prepared defenses, and outright traps to win against the Clan machines. This is what Bull was alluding to. "Those who fail to prepare, prepare to fail." Set yourself up to be in the best possible position, with every possible advantage, before the fight, and you might have a chance to win even against a superior enemy. But if you don't then you are toast before you ever step on the field. As for Tukayyid the Clans should have won. It was their failure to prepare, and their underestimation of the Com Guard, that caused their defeat. Add to that their own weakening of their forces through bidding away their strength, and they all but assured themselves of guaranteed failure.

[@duanewong1527]

The starting mech of Mechwarrior 4 Vengeance is the Shadow Cat D

[@strcmdrbookwyrm]

Aw yeah! The Shadow Cat! Probably my favorite Clan mech, definitely my favorite Clan 45 tonner. As a 45 tonner aficionado, I'm of the opinion that the Shadow Cat's first three configurations are close to being the perfect form of what a 45 tonner can be. I also have to give a shout out to the E config for using coolant pods. I wish they were used more, and this is exactly how I'd use them.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Solid all around.

[@Mesterick]

With the caveat that it's for MechWarrior Online, my favorite Shadow Cat build is the B config running two heavy medium lasers and two SRM6s. Toss in a couple tons of ammo and fill the rest of the mech with heat sinks and it's a solid little fighter that's surprisingly effective. It also catches folks off guard when they expect the ECM Cat to be running dual ER PPCs. I mention this build since it can actually translate to tabletop fairly well, though since heavy lasers have an accuracy penalty on tabletop it's probably a good idea to swap out a heat sink for a targeting computer.

[@matthewsmoot1981]

Wow perfect, just as i sat to eat

[@MechanicalFrog]

A little entertainment with your meal... as requested.

[@ursulcx299]

If you fit, you sit

[@jamesbeard5513]

The Shadow Cat is what we love about Clan Mediums. They punch hard, move fast, and are annoying to take down. While there are bigger mechs or faster mechs in the medium weight bracket, I found it to be one of the most appealing Omni designs, especially in MechWarrior 3. I have to admit, I did find the B configuration funny as a fast, stealthy Catapult, but hey it works.

[@tenchraven]

The Shadow Cat TC has always reminded me of the Champion only right sized. The Charlie confuses me, since ATM can't take NARC, but like the frog said most clan default configs mak no sense. Particularly since the clans don't use Canopian War Powder to get a sinus full of bravery and brilliance. And Delta is born to be the big part of a nova.

[@darriansea]

I've loved the Shadow Cat since I was a kid and played MW 4: Vengeance. Even as a kid I could just tell it was a good mech, changing load outs and running instant actions to test the anything it could hold. Plus 45 tons still keeps a limit on what you can do so you still have to be calculated about your loadout. It seems like this mech isn't talked about as much (as I would like) but hopefully it's in MW5: Clans so it gets some more love. Enjoyed the video, perfect timing as I've been thinking of the mech as I play Mercenaries again to get ready for Clans.

[@brothersgt.grauwolff6716]

I have yet to run a Shadow Cat in a Battletech game I'll have to remedy that in my next game this weekend

[@MechanicalFrog]

It shouldn't let you down.

[@riptors9777]

I do have a soft spot for the shadowcat, since it was the mech you started out on in mechwarrior 4, though i dont think its initial loadout was actually a canon one. It was also present in mechwarrior 3 with your first lancemate piloting one. (Though in that game it was better to stick to the bushwacker the game started you with since it gave you 10 more tons to play with and tonnage was everything in that game since it used the old customisation system that reduced mechs to their tonnage basically) As most clan mechs this medium omni is quite the powerhouse, either as a general purpose or as a fast sniper, its sturdy enough to take a shot or two and not worry about it. As allways with clan designs the biggest downside is.. its a clan design.. wich means you need clan tech to repair and re-arm it. For inner sphere mercs that usually means its going to stay a pipe dream, or you will have to accept contracts against the clans wich is considering how the survival rate of those contracts are allmost in the minus range... yeah no. Lucky is the house unit pilot that gets to ride in one of these.

[@ChaosTicket]

The Shadow Cat is basically the big brother to the Kit Fox, specifically the Kit Fox A, which carries a Gauss Rifle and 2 clan-grade Extended Range Medium lasers. The Shadow Cat Prime has that, plus 6 jump Jets and an MASC system. Now something I note is that the Shadow Cat is also the little brother to the earlier Stormcrow 55ton mech. With an Extralight Engine a 55tonner is just a better 96kph mech with greater possible armor, and even more tonnage for special equipment. Its better, but it costs more. I remember the Shadow Cat from 2 videogames, Mechwarrior 4, and Mechcommander 2. In Mechwarrior 4 the default Shadow Cat was radical different with no MASC system in the game, an ER Large Laser, 2 ER Medium Lasers, a Machine Gun Array, and an SRM-6. Trying to make it like the tabletop was kind of pointless. Mechwarrior games make it hard to make tabletop accurate mechs due to how heat works, and how weapons have different reload rates. The machine Guns were useless because you didnt fight infantry ever. In Mechcommander 2 the Shadow Cat actually much more like the tabletop. In that game it has the speed, jump jets, and Gauss Rifle. It was a high speed, high mobility sniper mech. Unfortunately the Gauss Rifle while powerful also took a large amount of of space/tonnage, limiting other weapons and especially armor. It didnt have that games equivalent of an Active Probe as far as I remember. The Shadow Cat has some decent configurations, but none that really impress me much. The Config A is what I built in Mechwarrior 4, with 2 ER Large Lasers and a backup Streak SRM-6. The Config B is a missile boat with 30 LRMs improved by Artemis IV. Strictly speaking this is better than the prime as 30 LRMs are strong than a 15damage Gauss Rifle. It also adds an ECM to improves its electronic package. If theres a flaw with many of the configurations its that they try to give a main weapon in the vulnerable gun-arm instead of the sturdier torsos. Personally I would rather have an ER PPC than a Gauss Rifle. Its half the tonnage and doesnt rely on ammo. I came up with a quick-Jack-Of-All_trades "Vindicator" custom version earlier today. 6/9/6, armor increased to 153 points, 1 C-ERPPC, 2 ERMLs, 2 SPL, 3 LRM-5s, 2 tons of LRM Ammunition, and 13 double heat sinks.

[@jadegecko]

Recently got into mini painting. I wanted to try painting one 'mech up in grassland, desert, winter, and lunar/urban colorways of the same camouflage. Of course, this meant getting four minis of the same 'mech. I picked the Shadowcat.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Excellent choice.

[@StarlightSocialist]

All the variants of this mech are practical and sensible, very rare to see in ANY clan mech, let alone a medium. Compare the Hotel variants of the Nova, Storm Crow, and Shadow Cat. The Nova will immediately self-immolate if it fires all of its weapons, and the Storm crow, makes a valiant effort at mounting ALL THE HEATSINKS but still overheats if it fires all weapons. (Which conveniently all have the same range band). The Shadow Cat is almost TOO sane by comparison. Only one heavy laser, a TC to remove the inaccuracy penalty, heat neutral at a run and an LRM launcher with more than one ton of ammo? Someone should ask the clan mech designer if they're feeling alright. And the TC variant, it's a versatile weapons load out AND it's cheap? You might point out that it's mostly just an LBx10 with good maneuverability, and that's a fair point. The Clint 2C is also just armed with the shotgun as it's main weapon, supported by 2 ER medium lasers, and has the same movement profile of 6/9/6. It's 5 tons lighter, and mounts less armor but it's MORE BV than a Shadow Cat TC!

[@strcmdrbookwyrm]

Not to mention that the TC squeezes in a SRM 4 on the side. On the subject of H variants, the Shadow Cat did get the insaneo heavy laser variant in the form of the E. But even then, there was the one sane person left who told them to give it a couple coolant pods.

[@androssthered1157]

Loved this mech ever since MW4 when I was a kid. Such a cool mech. Love it's play style.

[@Richy0326]

The MF is the variant you take if you want to relive the lawnmower scene from Dead Rising. The Shadow Cat was the first mech I played in tabletop, and it was that game in particular which taught me why you don't risk using MASC every turn. RIP legs, you were sorely missed.

[@briank2633]

The shadow cat m is a guilty pleasure of mine. The range of those large pulse lasers and it's ability to alternate between mascing and jumping for maximum TMM means that if you can keep it at the far end of it's medium range, it can be an insane harasser that's nearly untouchable to inner sphere opponents.

[@WolfHreda]

Absolutely love the Shadow Cat. I mean, it's a fast little medium with a Gauss Rifle. What's not to love?

[@MechanicalFrog]

Well put.

[@joshuaaxford516]

Had been waiting for this for some time. The Shadow Cat is hands down my favorite clan medium mech. Thanks for a solid delivery on it. Gonna give your MF version a shot.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hope it works for you.

[@joshuaaxford516]

@@MechanicalFrog Worked quite well. So well, I begin to understand your love of plasma weapons. They really do well, ruining another mechs day.

[@freeranger00]

The Shadow Cat is sort of the cutting edge, at the time of the invasion, anyway, development of the idea of the Phoenix Hawk. Fast enough to keep up with lights, jump jets for maneuverability, a big gun to punch holes with a couple of smaller ones to follow up, and enough armor to hang with the bigger mechs. Both are 45 ton mechs with a clear bug hunter/fast cavalry role, the Shadow Cat is obviously better due to the Clan tech, but the Phoenix Hawk is prettier. I've always really liked the Shadow Cat, it was fun to pilot in the older MW games and it is very good on the tabletop.

[@franksmedley8619]

Hello Frog. I agree that in most cases, the Shadow Cat Prime is about the best configuration for the Mech. As to your Mech-Frog variant? One word... YOINK!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Enjoy!

[@sim.frischh9781]

The Shadow Cat is pretty much the perfect medium mech, it´s got speed, it has mobility, the weapon loadouts are varied and usually center arouns a solid damage dealer of a weapon, it has enough armor to take a hard hit and keep fighting and to round it all off, it can even scout well in most versions. And it looks nice, i don´t like the asymmetric arms but that´s only the arms, the cockpit is nicely centered and the overall appearance looks like a genuine hunter.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hard to find too much wrong with it.

[@sim.frischh9781]

@@MechanicalFrog It´s just such a perfect package XD

[@Vulpine407]

I like the Shadow Cat simply because it was piloted by Dominic Paine, the first of your ad-hoc lancemates you acquire during the campaign in Mechwarrior 3. While most players typically get rid of their Bushwacker as soon as they can trade up for a better one gained from salvage, Dominic's Shadow Cat is simply so good that you typically just tweak it for the first half of the campaign until you absolutely have to give him a heavier mech.

[@madcat3525]

Great video! Solid medium clan mech.The Shadowcat should be in every clan star. Looking forward to more videos.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Appreciate it!

[@theyellowjesters]

Hellz ya! Shadow cat is one of my favourite 'mechs in the whole setting! :D

[@christopherperrote7780]

Shadow Cat B hits EXACTLY twice as hard as a Thug and moves twice as fast. It can also jump 180 meters and carries advanced electronics. That all makes it a devastating foe on the field, whether it's tabletop or otherwise.

[@jakubfabisiak9810]

How about doing one for the Charger? The 1A1 is the UrbanMech of the assault class, but 1A5, 3K, and SA5 are fun, and then there is the absolute monstrosity that is Charger C. Made in 3130 by the Raven Alliance, they took the old joke about Lyran scout mechs, the other joke that was CGR-1A1, got high on coke, and whatever passes for vodka in the Raven Alliance, and made a fully-fledged scout mech. With Angel ECM, and Bloodhound Active Probe. And a top speed of 130 kph thanks to MASC, and a supercharger on top of a 400 XL engine. Though somewhat fragile, the IS XLE is protected by the maximum amount of ferro-lamellor armor an 80 ton chassis can take, and carries 4 iHeavy Medium Lasers, an ER medium, all linked to a Targeting Computer, and 15 Double Heatsinks.

[@SirSkud]

ShadowCat Hotel is my jam

[@ObiwanNekody]

Because it was the starter mech in MW4: Vengeance

[@MechanicalFrog]

Beats the heck out of an Assassin.

[@thomasgiles2876]

RIP cutscene lady. Killed by your own former unit. 😿

[@Bluehairedgirl89]

Thank you for all the effort you put into making and posting this video, as always it’s deeply appreciated. Out of all of the various Shadowcat designs I’ve gotta say my favorite would absolutely be the M configuration. I love laser boats and pulse laser, it even has the symmetry of having the weapons mirrored on each side which my brain likes. Now if I could figure a way to switch out the er medium lasers for medium pulse laser along with a targeting computer. Dumb I know but that’s my jam.

[@MechanicalFrog]

The M is an interesting one. Thanks for watching. Have a great weekend.

[@Bluehairedgirl89]

@@MechanicalFrog thank you very much! You too!

[@kierdalemodels]

I knew little of it beyond its look and name, but now know much. Thank you! As always you’ve made some great colour plates, and the models in the vid are lovely work. Oh and that ShadowCat vs. Crab story was really good👍

[@joshuamidgette4846]

Do not underestimate the effect of machine guns on mechs. I have a mostly stock Firestarter M with 2 medium lasers, 2 small lasers, and 2 machine guns that wins in arena fights in MW5. Just fire the machine guns and small lasers in one fire group and burn down the enemy by holding down the button.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Quite true. I dig MGs on mechs.

[@Dameilo1]

F config is still probably my favorite but 100/10 any sort of heavy Ewar definitely needs to be checked on before you field it. My group is totally fine with it since it paints a massive target on said mechs back but I have seen other groups ban Ewar outright. Anyway awesome video as usual!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thank you! The F is an interesting one.

[@mattmelton2561]

The Vindicator was my favorite Mech until TRO: 3055 was released. The Shadow Cat was really the only Mech that caught my eye. During a Mechwarrior 2nd Edition, my merc company took a Kuritan contract for Wolcott. I was able to get a Prime, but lost my beloved Vinnie in the process. Thanks, Frog, for bringing up a great memory with this video and warming a retired Mech jock's heart.

[@christopherpurches2774]

TSEMP falls into the category of RPG weapons for my purposes. I'll use it in a scenario or let players do so, but I don't use it in any sort of proper vs game for exactly the same reason. The thought extends to 'mech tasers as well. It isn't a fun time to go against that.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I agree.

[@wraith7989]

I’ve never been a fan of the clans, but I do love this thing. It one of their few redeeming features.

[@nukenuked5749]

thank you fog for another amazing video mate

[@MechanicalFrog]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@saulschimek7680]

Peculiarly I've never run into one of these being used against me or seen one used. Good information on it though

[@Zeeke01]

I love the Shadowcat and I also love pairing it with a Mongrel/Grendel for Clan Shenanigans... I hope to see your take on the Mongrel one day! Keep up the good vids

[@ogrehaslayers605]

O liked the Shadow Cat, then I had to fight one.... Made me respect the damn thing. Very cool little thing

[@michealcormier2555]

I love how the Shadow Cat looks. and it performs well for its tonnage. I'm not a big fan of the asymmetric layout of it, so I cut off one of my CGL Shadow Cat's arms off and replaced them with rifleman arms. I'll need to make out a data sheet for a configuration that will work for me.

[@malusignatius]

A well-rounded and dangerous medium in just about any configuration. I do have a soft spot for the Prime though, as a Gauss rifle on a platform that mobile is liable to give any opponent the cold sweats.

[@MechanicalFrog]

The prime is great... as is the A... and B... oh heck just run a star of them.

[@NOLMAD6]

Quote “ i bring the pain” or “why do I feel like I’m going down the barrel or a really large gun “ fav pilot of MW3

[@MechanicalFrog]

Good times had by all.

[@NOLMAD6]

@@MechanicalFrog Dominic "Gunner" Pain. Agreed fun will be had

[@Dang_Near_Fed_Up]

I usually find myself not a fan of Omnimechs, but this little scrapper makes a good case for being an exception. I will definitely have to give your MF a ride when I get a chance. Great video as always, thanks Frog.

[@theRemyLuna]

Hey Frog, do you think in the future you will do some crazy stuff like infantry, quads, vees, protos, WiGe, etc? I certainly enjoy your videos, so keep em coming!

[@MechanicalFrog]

I've covered the Goliath, and will eventually do a Scorpion video. Not sure on the other stuff.

[@GraniteGhost778]

I admit I'm Shadowcat biased because of the MechWarrior games. This was THE mech in 3 and 4.

[@MechanicalFrog]

A very solid mech.

[@TsugeSenpai]

Look at all these beauties! Two videos in one week??

[@MechanicalFrog]

Some amazing work shared from you guys this week.

[@theodoreschott3293]

I'm gonna have to get a couple of these and try them

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hope they perform well.

[@Spartaner251]

because of Dominic Paine and the Lady from MW4 Vengance. Having the mech as starter in MW4 also helped.

[@leonasmith6180]

Hello frogy, try the Shadow cat Skunk, just max it out, add 10 clan er med lasers, add all the heat sinks you can fit, 70 damage for an alpha strike. no amo, say good by to just about any thing that gets in range. my best to you and yours, Leona the Skunk.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Worth pondering. Who doesn't enjoy a lightshow?

[@Ravenankh]

I don’t go anywhere without my emotional support ER Small Laser.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Good plan.

[@anselmoffrisia2930]

I've had some good experiences with my Shadow Cat. It's got some great variants, but I don't care for the stiff-looking left arm on the CGL sculpt. Makes me think of Hellboy and a T-Rex. Maybe this is their robotic love-child. Thanks for sharing our art while you highlight these fun mechs!

[@Xydarc]

Another great video!

[@MechanicalFrog]

Thank you for giving it a go!

[@xyonblade]

oddly enough, your shadowcat would be really good against the other shadowcats that are generating those 18 heat per shot

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hmm... I suppose it would.

[@kernergades]

Question. Are you going to cover some aero space fighters,battleships,and or dropships?

[@MechanicalFrog]

I won't say no but currently there aren't any plans to do so. I did do a VTOL video in the distant past.

[@mogytamas2]

Please do the Ryoken too!

[@fedupN]

Yeah, Shadow Cat! Its so sneaky I forget about, then remember why I love the Prime and A builds. Gauss rifle delivery system and laser zaps gooo!

[@jasonfarley9025]

Because the Shadow Cat proves, once again, that it is the Medium class where Clan Mechs are the most terrifying

[@keebbles]

My fav is custom 3 light ppcs w capacitors in RA w/case 2. RT/LT str SRM4 ammo rt w case2 3 mdm pulses + TC for long range accuracy. 2 in LA & 1 in LT Rest is extra hs Keeps light active probe and basic ecm in torso mounts. You can drop to 4 jj version if you need 2 ap pods on legs for swarmers and crunchies. Firing all light ppcs w capacitors on is a bit dangerous. Usually fire 2 normal one supercharged giving mech surprise punch at range. Rotation of capacitors allows sufficient cooldown to prevent boom.

[@catherinenyxsera3900]

A hard-hitting, highly mobile medium 'Mech... these are a few of my favorite things. Long love for the Shadow Cat.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Hard to find much to complain about.

[@Ironclockwork]

Always been a fan of this ‘Mech. Agile, versatile, and one of my favorite omnimech designs.

[@wordwyrd]

I used to pilot the gauss version in the VR pod version of the game, and could pretty much guarantee at least two kills per death.. and on the urban map I was routinely able to destroy half a dozen Atlas or dashi

[@coreyfro]

Shadow Cat is best cat!

[@lukedudley5030]

Cheers for another fun vid :-) a hood medium is worth it's weight in gold and this cat definitely punches above its lighter frame :-)

[@Squiggles01]

Sleek, stylish and deadly~ Is a good cat!

[@andyeaton1736]

Hard to go wrong with the Shadow Cat. Almost every variant is viable and who doesn’t love activating the MASC for a case of the zoomies? I think the addition of jump jets and the MASC makes this superior to the Ice Ferret. Sure you aren’t as fast at walking but you can still get places quick and get into more hard to reach places easier. Plus nearly 10 more tons of pod space makes a big difference.

[@odinreaver3880]

My third favorite Medium mech, DEF my favorite mech during my MW4 years .

[@havoc3742]

I like it because it's a Medium mech with a Gauss Rifle, and it was a pain for House Kurita. My inner Davion is most pleased.

[@Nikotheos]

Because we can paint “Belly Bait” on the gun barrel! ❤🐈‍⬛

[@MechanicalFrog]

Fair enough.

[@memph1ston]

The Shadow Cat: #1 most annoying medium mech in MW4: Mercenaries. Nothing like fighting four Cats at the same time and having to deal with max-range Gauss spam.

[@kirkkeichinger4534]

This is a shadow cat I came up for fighting in the Warhammer 40k universe. Shadow Cat war crime. 1 clan er large lazers (LT), 2 clan er medium lazers (1 LR, 1 RT), 1 er small lazer (LT), 4 clan flamers (1 LA, 1 RA, 1 LT, 1 RT), 4 clan machine guns with 1 ton ammo (2 RT, 2 LT), 2 clan plasma cannons with 1 ton ammo (1 RA, 1 LA), 2 clan ap Gass rifles with 1 ton ammo (RA), 2 jump jets, 10 double heat sinks, and masc.

[@aetherial87]

Because it was the first Mech I ever piloted when I discovered MechWarrior 4: Vengeance.

[@bthsr7113]

C feels like the Cloud Cobras called a do over for the "not a Kintaro IIC," after the Naja fell out of use.

[@mirrorsandstuff]

I had a friend repeatedly refer to their Shadow Cats as shats, and honestly I've struggled to dismiss the scatalogical connotations ever since, even if I think the mech is fun.

[@mirrorsandstuff]

(I'm a simple person. Love me Gauss Rifles on quick mechs)

[@gregkun1]

I love the Shadow Cat. It's my go-to mech for hunting light mechs, armor units, the occasional base raid, and Crashing a Wedding! Oh yes. I was tasked with stealing the Bride! She was forced into a political marriage between one of the offshoots noble houses between the Davion and Steiner Houses. Originally she paid to have someone Assassinate her during her wedding. Now being Irish /German, my family has a tradition of stealing the Bride away if the groom lets his guard down or wanders too far away. It tests how strong their bond is and how worthy the groom is to the bride. Though we give the bride back after 2 hours. It sparks a lot of drama fueled by suspecting well-liquored attendances. lol And to kill a woman during a wedding is too grim for my taste. Yes, Mech Frog in this scenario TSEMP cannon was mandatory for this mission. I had to deal with two Awesome-8Qs, 4 black knights, and 6 Centurions all in ceremony colors but they were manned. So two TSEMP Cannons were placed in the LA and LT added an extra Clan DH, ECM in the head, and Targeting Computer in the RT. The right arm was given the Lower and Hand actuators for punching and picking up a person or objects. Now that I think about it. I think I'm the only MechWarrior in history who has knocked over a Black Knight by picking up a 3085 Prius and throwing it into the cockpit. lol The shadow cat color was completely Blacked out with no markings. Except for a painted-in-white description along the cannon " What is Love?" (100 points to those that get the reference.) I disabled the 2 Awesomes, 3 black knights, and 4 Centurions before I closed in yolo'ed jumped into the wedding crowd causing the other mechs to hold fire. After a bit of convincing, I took the Bride and made my getaway to the drop ship to get off the planet. The Bride became part of our mercenary crew as a good mech tech for 5 years, before nearly dying on a raid on our base. She went back home to Steiner Space. After that wedding incident, it's been romanticized about a pirate king coming to save his true love from the clutches of an evil bastard and his family. (And No this isn't shriek. It never existed yet.) My normal loadout for Shadow Cat is loosely based on the C variant. 4xMed Pulse laser (2 in both LA&RA), 2x ATM6 (one in LT &RT) with a ton of standard ammo, and a ton of High-EX Ammo. I liked the Shadow Cat but I really started to fall in love with it until the 60-ton Shadow Cat II came on the scene! ^_^

[@MechanicalFrog]

Quite the tale...

[@strcmdrbookwyrm]

I guess this is the kind of thing TSEMP cannons are in the game for: Sick roleplay missions!

[@bryanmcmahon8593]

Because its a less fragile fancy Hollander Gauss carrier. It comes with the clan price-tag, but it also comes with a modicum of survivability, so how often do you want that pilot to pull the trigger vs the price your willing to pay is the question.

[@ursulcx299]

I love hate this thing. I should love it. Kitty, cute, fast. But also goddammit its the mech of all the asshole on MWO who just hide instead of ending the fight

[@krissteel4074]

It is a 45t wrecking ball on legs, tonne for tonne the Alt-B with the LRM 15's + artemis is one of the nastiest support units around

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's hard to go wrong with a Shadow Cat on the list.

[@rmcdudmk212]

One of my favorite clan mechs. 👍

[@MechanicalFrog]

A thoroughly solid design.

[@lexington476]

Video request, how about an episode on the Akuma BattleMech?

[@MechanicalFrog]

I'm sure we will tackle the Akuma sooner rather than later.

[@lexington476]

@@MechanicalFrog we 🙂?

[@MechanicalFrog]

Me and the little frog in my pocket.

[@sebastiang.5032]

Love the Shadow Cat! 🐺🖖

[@MechanicalFrog]

It's a solid kitty.

[@michaelpfister1283]

Ah. The Shadow Cat. "I bring the PAIN!" ;-)

[@hermes7587]

I generally like the Shadow Cat. It is a well designed medium Mech and even most configs make sense - which is not a given for many Clan Omni Mechs. I just wonder why they choose a a gauss rifle as the main weapon. This weapon concentrates almost a third of the total mass of the Mech in the right arm - how can this Mech be stable? A Clan ER-PPC would deliver the same punch but at half the weight and would leave plenty of tonnage for additional heat sinks and other useful items. No need to reload and no explosion risk.

[@robrib2682]

... How did they make the Puma look like more of a turtle by removing its shell?

[@mikewaterfield3599]

Quick little gauss rifle delivery system.

[@MechanicalFrog]

A solid pick.

[@chrisbritt4266]

I do love the shadow cap.It's my favorite medium size maI do love the Shadow Cat. It's my favorite medium size Mech.

[@Blasterbot-ye2uk]

Ah yes. the Shadow cat MF config. known as colloquially as the warcrime configuration. the most common complaint is without the ER small mounted in the head mech warriors will have to bring their own tea kettles in the mech. otherwise only the infantry seem to complain about it.

[@MechanicalFrog]

I know what the audience wants.

[@calumdeighton]

The Shadow Cat is an interesting mech for me. At once I like it & then don't. Prob is I'm a heavy mech guy so things like the Ebon Jag & Warhammer are kinda my thing. So find the Shadow firepower a little lacking in terms of quantity. It's good firepower but not as much as I'm accustomed to. Also most medium mechs I do use are on the heavy side of things. The Wolverine & Huntsman. It is a good mech and I'd definitely take one over a light mech. Just don't expect me to hold onto it.

[@keebbles]

If a small laser is emotional support, where do micro lasers fit in? Especially in clusters.

[@webunny8242]

Hi mech frog ..... i wanted to ask if you could do a dire wolf vid one day

[@MechanicalFrog]

I am sure I will.

[@randyslater199]

AS of this date with the addition of The Shadow Cat MF, the tuman collection has reached 45. In my BTA current game I'm in a mech redesign phase and I think I will do many into the MF version. Sorry will not change the company name to the MF company, your not here MF...lol I will let you know how it goes in the next few sessions.

[@MechanicalFrog]

Heh. Please let me know if they work out.

[@ronnielee8238]

Not sure why you would pit a shadowcat vs a crab which is a superior design even if it's way older.

[@shellbackbeau7021]

Ahhh, the shadow cat, my first ever mech! #mw4

[@MechanicalFrog]

Pretty good starter.