MechWarrior 5 Guide: The best mechs of all classes
In this guide to MechWarrior 5 you will learn:
- In which classes the mechs are divided
- The different play styles of these classes
- Which mechs are best suited for which situations
- Which are the best mechs
Since December 10, 2019, you can once again get behind the wheel of numerous mechs in MechWarrior 5 on PC. However, owners of a PlayStation 4 () or Xbox One () are still waiting for a console conversion.
The core of MechWarrior 5 is of course the many different mechs. For newcomers to the series, the sheer selection can be quite overwhelming at first. Since you'll have to buy most of the mechs in the regular gameplay, you'll naturally wonder which mechs you should save up for and which you can safely sell. We will give you some help.
Basically, the different mechs can be divided into four different weight classes, which are defined by their very own play style and armament. Each of these weight classes has a different task in your battle formation, also called lance. We'll explain the different classes and which mechs are best suited.
Light: The best light mechs in MW5
- Jenner
- Locust
- Spider
The light mechs are the least durable of all the weight classes, but they are extremely agile , making it easy to outmaneuver larger enemies and cover greater distances quickly.
In your lance, the light mechs take on the role of supporters and flankers. Your task is to get on the larger mechs' nerves, decimate enemy tanks and air forces, and capture strategically important points before the enemy can react.
So far, there are eleven different versions of the light mechs. The total weight of these mechs ranges from 20 to 35 tons. They differ in their equipment slots, stats and speed. Since the light mechs only serve to support the main firepower of your lance, it's worth paying attention to the speed when choosing one.
We recommend you to go for the Jenner, Locust and Spider models, which have the highest speed, but don't use such powerful weapon systems. The slower mechs have a bit more armor, but it is not worth it. The worst mech in this weight class is the Urbanmech, which is barely as fast as a superheavy mech and therefore absolutely useless.
Medium: The best medium mechs in MW5
- Crab
- Hunchback
- Wolverine
With 14 different models, the medium mechs form the largest weight class in Mechwarrior 5, which can range from 40 to 55 tons total weight. These mechs are better armored than the light mechs, have more weapon slots and can use more penetrative weapon systems. The Medium class is available to you relatively early in the game.
In the Lance, you'll be tasked with supporting your team's light mechs and hunting down enemy light mechs. Since you're still relatively quick on your feet, you'll want to make sure to keep the enemy's hard-hitting heavy and super-heavy mechs at bay.
At the start of the campaign, your Centurion Mech, a medium-heavy mech on which you learn the basics of the game, is damaged. However, you shouldn't do without a repair, since the Centurion is a very useful mech for the beginning good mix of firepower and agility.
When choosing the best medium mech, you should also focus on a good mix of firepower, speed and armor. For this reason, we recommend the Crab, Hunchback and Wolverine models. With the help of these mechs, grinding for your first heavy mech should be easy.
Heavy: The best heavy mechs in MechWarrior5
- Jagermech
- Orion
- Thunderbolt
Once you have a heavy mech, your task within the lance will also change. Unlike the light and medium mechs, you no longer take care of the small tanks and flying units, but focus solely on decimating the enemy mechs. The total weight of these mechs varies between 60 and 75 tons.
The heavy mechs have a wide range of different weapon systems and can be perfectly optimized for any scenario. A total of 13 heavy mechs are available in the game, all of which are actually playable and you can't do much wrong.
We recommend you take a closer look at the Jagermech, Orion and Thunderbolt, as these mechs create an excellent balance between defense and offense and are still fast enough to keep up with the action.
Assault: The best superheavy mechs in MW5
- Atlas
- Nightstar
- Stalker
The last and heaviest weight class, which can weigh between 80 and 100 tons, consists of 13 walking fortresses that stand out for their brute firepower and armor. The superheavy mechs have the most weapon slots and have access to the most powerful weapon systems in the entire game.
However, these super-heavy behemoths also have their drawbacks. For one, these mechs generate an extreme amount of heat, have very high maintenance and repair costs, and are by far the slowest weight class in MechWarrior 5. Your task within the Lance is to destroy the enemy's heavy and super-heavy mechs.
When choosing your superheavy mech, you should not necessarily focus on speed, but on strong weapon systems. Your mech should be equipped with powerful weapons that have a long range, since you won't be able to keep up with the other mechs and will have to deal your damage at a long distance. We recommend the Atlas, Nightstar and Stalker models.