Which Hero/Champion Mechs are worth getting?

[PocketYoda]

Pretty much the title, i understand the veterans seem to think most of these are pretty useless, but are there any they've actually though are worth having in a mech bay in the past..

I understand there are a lot of hero/champion mechs in this game but out of the list are there any worth purchasing for the newer players now the boxing day sale is at 50%?

Not just for me but actual feedback on them for newer players in general would be awesome, i'd hate to waste real money on a useless mech obviously but there must be some in there that are great.

[Spectre]

Well, I own a Pirates Bane, an Ilya Muromets, and a Bounty Hunter; of them only the BH is really any good. The Pirates Bane is OK if you're desperate for a light mech with ECM to fill a slot, but it's not worth wasting the MC on. The Ilya Muromets is a knuckle-dragging heavy that can pack a good amount of mixed energy and ballistics, primarily UAC5s and PPCs. But the Cataphracts in and of themselves are kinda meh.

For assault mechs there's the Misery, if you like Stalkers and find their lack of ballistic hard-points disappointing. Even then though the Misery only has one hard-point for it.

The Top Dog is pretty decent. I think right now it has the most amount of structure quirks, making it pretty tanky. But quirks are often fleeting, and the top dogs structure quirks don't make it nearly as good as the other Thunderbolts with their energy quirks.

Generally, no. There's none out there that are great, at least not overwhelmingly so. Which, is actually kind of great, when you think about it. It's one of the few things that keeps MWO from being a true Pay2Win model, since you can only get the Heroes with MC (real $$), and they're not any better (and often times worse) than their "free" counterparts.

As for Champions, those are exactly the same as their non champion counterpart, they just get additional XP. Which isn't worth blowing MC on.

Generally, save your MC for better things. Camo patterns, colors you want, cockpit items you can't live without... the only mechs that are really woth anything (for right now) are easily obtainable with C-Bills.

[TyphonCh]

Misery. Hands down the best Hero I've spent money on. Stalkers are top tier mechs. Can't go wrong with them
Firebrand was decent too. I always liked Jagermechs. Kind of one dimensional... and you need an XL to pack any real firepower.
Since you already have a centurion, the Yen-Lo Wang might be a good option. Running around at 104kp/h winging AC20's was deadly back in the day

[deaconw]

Hero mechs are good for about a month after they go on sale...then they get nerfed. It's a business strategy...;)

[AnimeFreak40K]

By and large, Hero Mechs are, at best, average. They possess unique hardpoints, geometry and such that set them apart from the other mechs, but don't make them 'better'. As Jonny said, this is absolutely necessary to avoid even creating the impression that this is a Pay-to-Win game. This all being said, I own the following Hero Mechs:
Pirate's Bane - Locust that's only real redeeming feature is that it has ECM
Ember - Firestarter that is just like the Firestarter H except that it has 2 more Ballistic points while losing 2 Energy points
Huginn - Raven that has little exceptional going for it except that it can spam SRM4s
Ilya Muromets - Cataphract that has a Ballistic mount on its Left Arm (only one other Cataphract has any Ballistics on the Left Arm)
Bounty Hunter II - Marauder that has fewer Ballistic mounts and more Energy mounts than any other Marauder
La Malinche - Banshee that is average in every way. Only thing that sets it apart is that it has one Energy mount on each arm (most don't have any arm weapons at all) and is easily outmatched by pretty much any other Banshee

By and large, I like Hero Mechs (Huginn, Bounty Hunter II and La Malinche are my favorites), but I understand that if they don't have a standard variant that is better, then they are so average that they just don't stand out as anything special.

Personally, if you are going to drop any accrued MC or real money into these things, I would suggest you decide whether or not you like the chassis in the first place. I mean, what's the point of buying a Dragon Slayer if you don't like Victors?

This all being said, some Heroes are better than others, just as a general thing. I know that the popular ones on the comp-scene and/or generally play well into the current meta are:
Jester (Catapult)
Top Dog (Thunderbolt)
Firebrand (Jagermech)
Hellslinger (Battlemaster)
Misery (Stalker)

Some folks also swear by some Hero mechs, and while I guess they can be good, I don't think they are part of the comp-scene or the meta:
Huginn (Raven)
Oxide (Jenner)
X-5 (Cicada)
Yen-Lo-Wang (Centurion)
Sparky (Griffin)
Ilya Muromets (Cataphract)
Bounty Hunter II (Marauder; note that this mech has not been out for a long time and is not terribly different than other Marauders, however time will tell how good this one actually is, but to be clear, I really like it myself)

To be clear, the other Hero mechs may be very good and have a lot of redeeming features, but I just don't see a lot of any of them in game or in CW that often.

With regard to Champion mechs...don't bother. Just. Don't. Seriously. Champion mechs are just like their regular counterparts except that they have an Experience Point bonus...which only applies to that particular variant and really only helps you in grinding out that variant faster.

Frankly, if you (or any of your friends) miss out on this sale, don't worry too much about it. They will be on sale again in the future at some point. I think they run a sale like this 2-3 (if not more) times a year.

[PocketYoda]

Originally posted by TeamChevy86:

Misery. Hands down the best Hero I've spent money on. Stalkers are top tier mechs. Can't go wrong with them
Firebrand was decent too. I always liked Jagermechs. Kind of one dimensional... and you need an XL to pack any real firepower.
Since you already have a centurion, the Yen-Lo Wang might be a good option. Running around at 104kp/h winging AC20's was deadly back in the day

Yen Lo Wang looks ok a bit bright for my tastes, and i'm wondering running around all red and white wouldn't i just be asking to be shot at by everything? Lucky hes fast

The actual only hero mech i was considering after checking all was Firebrand, it seems a pick of the bunch?

BTW i cant seem to get Lo Wang speed over 98 kph

[AnimeFreak40K]

Originally posted by DanteYoda:

Yen Lo Wang looks ok a bit bright for my tastes, and i'm wondering running around all red and white wouldn't i just be asking to be shot at by everything? Lucky hes fast

The actual only hero mech i was considering after checking all was Firebrand, it seems a pick of the bunch?

BTW i cant seem to get Lo Wang speed over 98 kph

The highest engine rating you can fit in the Yen-Lo-Wang is a 300 which makes it's max speed 97.2 kph. However, Speed Tweak (an Elite Level skill unlock that is available after unlocking all of the basic skills for 3 mechs of the same chassis (Centurions in this case)) provides a 7.5% improvement to speed, which brings the Yen-Lo-Wang's maximum speed to 104.5 kph.

As far as the Firebrand goes, some folks swear by it, but I have no knowledge of it myself (I really just don't like how Jagermechs look as a general thing, so I've avoided them since day one)

[PocketYoda]

Originally posted by AnimeFreak40K:

Originally posted by DanteYoda:

Yen Lo Wang looks ok a bit bright for my tastes, and i'm wondering running around all red and white wouldn't i just be asking to be shot at by everything? Lucky hes fast

The actual only hero mech i was considering after checking all was Firebrand, it seems a pick of the bunch?

BTW i cant seem to get Lo Wang speed over 98 kph

The highest engine rating you can fit in the Yen-Lo-Wang is a 300 which makes it's max speed 97.2 kph. However, Speed Tweak (an Elite Level skill unlock that is available after unlocking all of the basic skills for 3 mechs of the same chassis (Centurions in this case)) provides a 7.5% improvement to speed, which brings the Yen-Lo-Wang's maximum speed to 104.5 kph.

As far as the Firebrand goes, some folks swear by it, but I have no knowledge of it myself (I really just don't like how Jagermechs look as a general thing, so I've avoided them since day one)

I kinda like their look and seem amazing at popping over a hill to snipe people?

[AnimeFreak40K]

Originally posted by DanteYoda:

I kinda like their look and seem amazing at popping over a hill to snipe people?

To each their own :D

But yes, the high arm-mounts on a Jagermech do help with that sort of tactic. Some folks like setting the Firebrand as a 'Boom-Jager' (Jagermech that has 2 AC20's) or a Gauss-Jager (dual-gauss rifles; great for sniping).

I know that some others like the fact that the Firebrand has arm-mounted energy hardpoints (no other Jagermech has this). I would say that you should take a look at this link ( http://mwo.smurfy-net.de/mechlab#i=81&l=stock ) and play around with what you can do with it.

...and I would also suggest bookmarking that site's home page, because it's an AMAZING tool that will help you plan out builds and such so that you can budget and plan how you're spending your C-Bills and where.

[soulscour]

Hero mech bonus is only good on a mech that performs well and you will enjoy playing. Think about that before you buy a hero mech. I play the founders hunchback 4G more than any other mech. Some hero mechs that I consider to be worth owning are Yen Lo Wang, Firebrand, Misery, and Ember.

[PocketYoda]

Originally posted by soulscour:

Hero mech bonus is only good on a mech that performs well and you will enjoy playing. Think about that before you buy a hero mech. I play the founders hunchback 4G more than any other mech. Some hero mechs that I consider to be worth owning are Yen Lo Wang, Firebrand, Misery, and Ember.

What do you guys think of "The Arrow" Jagers little bro, some rave about it with 2 PPC 6x machine guns? others say its terribad?

I'm kinda interested in the whole jager/Bjack setup, i can understand why others would hate its look, and they seem poor to lights from reading..

I was considering this build.
http://s30.postimg.org/5qnz6dwq9/greenarrow.png

Also any feedback on the Grid Iron Hunchback?

Also why does no one run Light Mist Lynx or Panthers?

[soulscour]

Originally posted by DanteYoda:

What do you guys think of the Arrow Jagers little bro, some rave about it with 2 PPC 6x machine guns? others say its terribad?

I'm kinda interested in the whole jager/Bjack setup, i can understand why others would hate its look, and they seem poor to lights from reading..

I was considering this build.
http://s30.postimg.org/5qnz6dwq9/greenarrow.png

Also any feedback on the Grid Iron hunchback?

I think don't think the Arrow is that great. I've tried a Jager build with 2PPC and 6machine guns. It was not good but the arrow would probably be better because jumpjets. I would drop the small laser take a little armor out of head and feet and add ams with half ton ammo. or maybe a extra double heatsink. ARROW[mwo.smurfy-net.de]

I think the 4P and 4G and 4J will all generate more cbills than the Grid Iron even with its hero bonus. Cool paintjob though...

[PocketYoda]

Originally posted by soulscour:

Originally posted by DanteYoda:

What do you guys think of the Arrow Jagers little bro, some rave about it with 2 PPC 6x machine guns? others say its terribad?

I'm kinda interested in the whole jager/Bjack setup, i can understand why others would hate its look, and they seem poor to lights from reading..

I was considering this build.
http://s30.postimg.org/5qnz6dwq9/greenarrow.png

Also any feedback on the Grid Iron hunchback?

I think don't think the Arrow is that great. I've tried a Jager build with 2PPC and 6machine guns. It was not good but the arrow would probably be better because jumpjets. I would drop the small laser take a little armor out of head and feet and add ams with half ton ammo. or maybe a extra double heatsink. ARROW[mwo.smurfy-net.de]

I think the 4P and 4G and 4J will all generate more cbills than the Grid Iron even with its hero bonus. Cool paintjob though...

Yeah i agree :)

Edit that build you quoted contradicts what you said in the post? it says add AMS not heatsinks or extra ammo?

[jaxjace]

Misery, Bounter Hunter, Jester, Firebrand, Topdog, Yenlowwang, GridIron, Huggin

All good mechs.

[???]

Which ever one you think looks best.

[ryvrdrgn14]

I love my Grid Iron right now. It's quite fast and I carry 6 tons of Gauss ammo on it with 3 ML. Ilya Muromets probably one of my most played mechs. 3UAC5, 2x Gauss, and so on. You can do a lot with it. Firebrand is pretty flexible. Can laser boat, Dual Gauss, Dual AC20, 2xUAC5+2xLL.