Heavy Mechs versus Assaults?

[gunner]

Hi guys, just wondering what advice do you have for Heavy Mechs versus Assault mechs? Generally speaking Lights and Assaults should be ideal for fighting opposing Assault mechs, but what do you do if you are a Heavy mech?

[Nightmare1]

Heavy Mechs are your strong-arm tactics. They have the right blend of speed and firepower to crack apart enemy lances, with some being able to stack up against Assaults. Heavies on the lighter end of the spectrum make good Cavalry strikers, and can often keep up with Medium wolfpacks that harass enemy flanks. It just depends on what you want to get out of the game and your playstyle.

Generally, Assaults are slow, in need of guarding, and are made to be center-points in an assault that tank damage for the team while vomiting oppressive amounts of firepower to kill or intimidate enemies. They are lynch pins for the team, but are vulnerable due to slow speeds and narrow turn angles.

Personally, I play like so:

1) Slow Heavies I play like mini-Assaults. I load them up with guns and basically act like a guardian angel or support for Assaults that don't have as wide a torso twist to cover targets. They're strong mid-game, but not so much early or late game.

2) Fast Heavies I play like big Mediums. I skimp a little on weapons but load up on engine and armor. I usually go for short-range brawlers or mid-range skirmishers so that I can get in, strike, and get out while maximizing my damage. They're strong early-game and late-game, but not so much mid-game.

3) Fast Assaults I play like big Heavies. I'll crank up the engine size and their armor, and skimp a little on the guns. The idea is that fast Assaults will keep up with the Heavy Mechs and provide strong fire support. They're ideal for tactics that center on quick movement and hard early strikes, even if they don't have the PPFLD or staying power of their slower counterparts. They're strong early and mid-game, but not late-game.

4) Slow Assaults I play like a wind-up toy that waddles in one direction. Basically, I work with the team to try to stay as close to the center of the battle-line as possible, so that I don't get picked off by flankers. The center also tends to be the hottest zone of combat, which is where my guns and armor are typically most needed. I move the Mech slowly from position to position while vomiting excessive amounts of firepower designed to kill, maim, or intimidate the opposition as a form of cover for the Heavy Mechs that rush them. Slow Assaults can be strong mid-game and late-game, but are usually weak and very vulnerable early-game.

[gunner]

Anyone use Heavy Mechs as frag bait or sacrificial pawns?

[Nero]

You don't fight mechs that are heavier than you head on.

Should be common sense honestly. They have more health and do more damage.

Only when your mech is fresh and theirs is damaged. Or when they are a LRM boat and you a brawler.


Try headshotting, I can do it against Atlas, I've seen plenty trying it when I am a Battlemaster.

[Casual Sun]

Tbh headshot against face staring atlas is a real tactic. Don't forget.

Don't try to 1v1 an assault in a heavy generally speaking. You are too slow to get around them very well and are thus functionally, in that fight, a less heavily armed and armoured assault.

[gunner]

I notice as an Assault Mech user I chew up damaged Heavy mechs really fast most of the times.

[Ishan451]

Originally posted by WitchingSnake:

You don't fight mechs that are heavier than you head on.

Depends on your ability to utilize cover. If you are fast enough you can bait out shots and fight people head on.

[Nightmare1]

Originally posted by WitchingSnake:

You don't fight mechs that are heavier than you head on.

That depends on the Mechs involved and the pilots' relative skills. You could use some Heavies to kill some Assaults, certainly, in a head-on fight. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. :)

For new players though, it is generally a good rule of thumb to avoid head-on fights. Once you've got experience though, then this becomes more of a gray area to be decided by said experience.

[Nero]

Originally posted by Nightmare1:

Originally posted by WitchingSnake:

You don't fight mechs that are heavier than you head on.

That depends on the Mechs involved and the pilots' relative skills. You could use some Heavies to kill some Assaults, certainly, in a head-on fight. Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. :)

Oh its not impossible, but at that point it comes down to player skill with stuff like aiming. When the assault spreads its damage over all 3 torsos while the heavy gets to hit only the CT well yeah the heavy wins.

Or heat, an assault at 80% heat wont be able to fire much when a heavy shows up in his face in a cold state.

Its a huge gamble for certain with the lower tonnage mech being at a huge disadvantage.

[Solarrus]

You must find "your" mech.
Ao you will buy many heavy mech and assault mech.

I like annihilator with 2 heavy gauss. You cant install 2 HG to heavy mech.

[=EBS= WarGanisM]

Depends on what heavy mech you are, what assault you're up against, and the weapon load outs. Also what condition is the assault in.

Typically, I either poke them, flank them, or not have their focus e.g more team mates present, or another assault on hand.

That's from a quick play perspective, if it's Solaris, someone else is more qualified. Sometimes convergence can be an issue. For example a king crab dakka claws build suffers from bad convergence, and if you get up in their face you can CT them.

[Ishan451]

Originally posted by Solarrus:

You cant install 2 HG to heavy mech.

Of course you can:

TNS-5S[mwo.smurfy-net.de]

[Nightmare1]

Originally posted by Ishan451:

Originally posted by Solarrus:

You cant install 2 HG to heavy mech.

Of course you can:

TNS-5S[mwo.smurfy-net.de]

It's hurtful too.

[gunner]

I usually put some distance between an Assault Mech and me if I am using a Heavy. Some of my mechs have LRMs so I use them to pepper the Assault mechs, then when they are badly damaged by me or my team mates I will move in to finish the job.

Its usually a bad idea to go one on one with a fresh Assault even if you are a fresh Heavy mech.