Ok, I'm tired of killing newbies with lucifer torso at lvl 22.

I would like to buy lvl 30 cheap entry level mech.

I will keep lucifer for beginning because as I see normal torsos even on lvl 30 had barely comparable stats.

I would like to invest in some nice synergetic weapon setup, something to start on. No rare items for now (low funds) no swords, no flamethrowers. I will buy those later on.

I usually fight with balanced 1 sword, moderate heat damage setup(1 heat module, resistance module, armor module), strong on medium and short ranges. This is what i had in mind:

double red watch guard
top machine gun
xr12

Any more recommendations?

I think I'm figuring things out myself....

Artillery (then rocket launcher is out)
Neutron gun (If I keep rocket l.)

on swords I'm actually considering kusangi or beheader

And yes, energy shield 1 gives 2/3 of protection for 1/2 of price. It's clear winner, it's good to have energy whole the time. Energy draining setups are fairly rare.

Eh.... I say go for a level 33 build at least. You will then be able to use 2x grapple hook, teleport, and charge attack.

I know, I was already told, but with my rate of advancing I'll hit lvl 33 in week and i'll collect gold for equipping decent lvl 33 mech for month ^^

Cheap, and level 30'ish eh?
Ok I recommend you farm level 27 or 28. There is good weapons that are cheap there: take the raptor and hoofs or if you insist, gladiator.

27 build:
zappy
medium yellow lazer
joyeuse
top machine gun
artillary


28 build
medium yellow lazer
double red watchguard
single barrel rocket launcher
artillary
neutron gun

those are the weapons, 3 of them are sidies, 2 are topies. get a energy and a heat module (lvl 24 and 22) a 8+ resist module, and a hp module <- this is used for raptor at level 27, for gladiator; swap the energy/heat modules for a multi heat/energy module and get another hp one.

for 28, take a 8+ resist module, a heat module, (level 27) a hp module, and a +35 rocket module for raptor, and same for gladiator.
These are cheap and powerful builds, I sent you a request, I can show you what they are capable of.
These are builds designed by: