MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries - Tips & Tricks for the Tactical-Shooter

In this guide to MechWarrior 5 we tell you:

  • How to fight the enemy most effectively
  • How to control the mech more easily
  • What classes are available
  • How you should proceed tactically best

The MechWarrior series has been around for a long time. The birth of the first part is way back in 1989. The fifth and newest part of the series was released on December 10, 2019 by Piranha Games and is exclusively playable on PC. Versions for PlayStation 4 () and Xbox One () have not been announced yet.

MechWarrior5 is a mech simulator and tactical shooter. The mechs come in a wide variety of designs and weight classes. In this futuristic war game you can join the fray with up to three other players. Tactical action is the ultimate here. Adjust your loadout to the situation at hand and don't let the enemy surprise you.

MechWarrior 5: Getting the controls right

Ingrained mastery of your mech is the name of the game in MechWarrior 5. Tank commanders from games like World of Tanks should feel right at home here. The legs and torso of a mech can be aligned independently, much like the chassis and turret of a tank.

So that coordination in the game doesn't become an ordeal, you can use the "F" key to align the legs according to your torso. The other way around, you can use the "C" key to align the torso in the direction of your legs. We recommend the former, however, so as not to interfere with the target acquisition.

In the options you also have the possibility to lure legs and torso. However, we don't recommend this, as simultaneous shooting and maneuvering is an essential part of combat in MW5.

MechWarrior 5 lets you play in both the first-person perspective and the third-person perspective. Both have their advantages. Use the first-person perspective for foresight and precision. Third-person helps you with spatial orientation and offers a wider field of view to better locate enemy formations.

In the cockpit view, however, you are not as limited as you might think. If you hold down "Ctrl", you can look around the cockpit without moving your mech. Most fighters have more lookout holes than they appear.

The mechs in MechWarrior 5 are the core of any army.

Some mechs have a jetpack function. While it looks extremely cool to rampage across the battlefield like an angel of destruction, no one tells you that you'll get fall damage if you don't slow down in time and thus destroy your legs. So brake in time!

How to fight most effectively in MechWarrior 5

A mech has six different weapon groups. Check beforehand which weapon is on which button and adjust it according to your wishes. Gaming mice with multiple buttons have a clear advantage here, as you don't have to reach around on your keyboard to fire.

Laser and machine guns are best used against enemy tanks and mechs. Use homing missiles to deal with flying enemies. All weapons have a maximum and minimum range. If you are not in range, the weapon system turns orange and cannot be used. So be prepared for all distances!

Think carefully about what you are aiming at the enemy mechs. You can significantly affect the performance of the enemy by destroying the different body parts. Destroy the arms and you will disable the weapon systems. Destroy the legs and the mech can no longer move. With light mechs it's worth shooting at the cockpit to get a direct kill!

Never charge into enemy lines rashly and try to do as much damage as possible with your weapons from a distance before you find yourself surrounded by enemies. In the turmoil, focus on the small enemies first, before turning your attention to the big hunks, to minimize the enemy firepower as quickly as possible.

The battles in MechWarrior 5 can only be won with brains.

Check your enemies! Focus on the enemies with the "R" key and let it show you how much health the enemy has left and how much the various pieces of armor are damaged to plan your further attack.

Never forget to keep moving. A stationary mech is a dead mech! The targeting of the enemy AI leaves a lot to be desired and gives you enough time to dodge the fire.

MechWarrior 5: Loadout, weapons and heat

The correct adjustment of your mech determines victory and defeat in most cases. Not only do you have the option to customize your own mech, but you can also determine the loadout of your AI-controlled party members.

Always make sure that you replenish your ammunition before starting a mission. You should also carry an appropriate weapon system for each distance. In MechWarrior 5 there is no more direct close combat - so always take a weapon for short distances with you!

Another important point is the heat management of your mech. All weapon systems generate a small amount of heat. Laser weapons use no ammo, but generate the most heat. You can regulate and mitigate the heat buildup with equipment components.

Always make sure that your mech does not overheat. Overheating triggers your mech's emergency shutdown - you will be incapacitated for a short period of time. Possibilities like a coolant feed, or bathing in water, no longer exist in MechWarrior 5!

How to coordinate your team/lance

You will get the opportunity to recruit new recruits to your cause relatively early in the game. Once you've recruited a new pilot, you should immediately check their equipment and update it.

Your team in MechWarrior 5 will be called "Lance". Team members are consequently called lance mates. Proper coordination of the lance is extremely important and very often decides the outcome of a battle.

In MechWarrior 5, work together with your team to defeat the enemy.

The game gives you several options to control your lance. First of all, you'll have to decide whether you want to command your entire group, or just a specific lance mate. With "F1" you select the whole lance, with "F2" the first lance mate, with "F3" the second, and so on.

After you have made a selection, the "F keys" are assigned new functions. "F1" then gives the command to attack your selected target. With "F2" the lance gathers and follows you. With "F3" you send the lance to a selected position, "F4" gives either the command to fire freely, or to hold fire and "F5" cancels the last command.

These commands help you focus your attack power to take out particularly dangerous targets as quickly as possible, defend key positions, flank enemies, or cease fire to avoid hitting allied bases.

Especially in the "Defense" game mode, controlling your lance becomes indispensable. Your comrades sometimes run into allied structures that are supposed to be protected and cause immense damage, which often leads to defeat!

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