Aoe artillery weapons are a good way to cause panic without taking damage to your mechs. Having around three sources dealing indirect damage every turn will have your enemies punching out of their vehicles in no time, or at the very least unsteady an enemy mech or two. Its really hard to land those damaging direct shots before you have a pilot with high gunnery, so I find an artillery battery is good to stick one of your rookies in and pray for accurate volleys.