Novice Mechlab Tips

[Gaffen]

I've been a casual mech fan for many years but I've always found the mechlab intimidating. Any tips for where to start for getting the most out of my loadout? How to tell which weapons are worth getting/researching? What extra systems do and why they're worth the extra weight? In MW5: Mercs I have always trended toward stock layout, potentially stripping jump jets for AI players, but in this game it feels a lot more important to experiment.

Let me know your thoughts!

[Yaldabaoth]

Medium pulse lasers are the best weapon by far. Nothing comes even close. LBX solid slug autocannons are pretty good too, but can't rely on it too much.
Really, the more mpulse lasers you can fit, the better.

[magnumaniac]

If you have the tonnage for M Pulse (and space for associated heat sinks), then yeah they are great. However, a Nova fitted with 12 ER Small lasers, 7 double HS, a Mk2 Targeting computer and the rest of the slots filled with armour is the best mech in the game. It can core an Atlas in 2 alpha strikes.

[MensRea]

Originally posted by Gaffen:

I've been a casual mech fan for many years but I've always found the mechlab intimidating. Any tips for where to start for getting the most out of my loadout? How to tell which weapons are worth getting/researching? What extra systems do and why they're worth the extra weight? In MW5: Mercs I have always trended toward stock layout, potentially stripping jump jets for AI players, but in this game it feels a lot more important to experiment.

Let me know your thoughts!

This game was designed for you. Mostly you can stick with the basic loadouts, maybe buy a omnipod variant if you want a different system set up (say missiles over lasers) and just stick the correct pilot on the correct mech (IE the ECM guy on a mech with an ECM pod) and you will be fine. Everything else is just tinkering on the edges.