Mech Stats

Additional Tips

CONTRACTS & COMBAT ZONES

• Mission Difficulty can be checked in the Starmap, and after accepting a contract. Always pay attention to it!

• When starting work with a new faction, keep missions short and focus on raising your reputation. Better standing will net you better contracts later.

• For contracts, always have one or two points in "Damage Coverage"; you will always have damages to pay and this is the most efficient way to cover it.

• Second to Damage Coverage, focus on salvage rights next if you want to maximize profits and don't mind prolonged mission engagements.

• Focus on "C-Bill Payout" only if salvage has below average cap or you want to finish drops quickly (good option for Demolition and Raid contracts).

• Demo and Raid contracts are much faster and easier to complete with fast Mechs if you focus on just the objectives (just kill any pursuing helicopters).

• Potential bonus combat pay rarely covers the cost of replacing Mech limbs and components; extract before this happens whenever possible.

• Avoid issuing major upgrades or overhauls inside a Combat Zone; this greatly increases time and cost to complete the job.

TACTICS

• A mission is largely affected by the tonnage you bring into a mission, but not always. Pilot skill levels and positioning are also important.

• High ground is best ground; use hills and cliffs to snipe from afar or divide enemy groups and crush them as they come around corners.

• Keep your most damaged ally towards the back of the line; for AI teammates, use the "GO TO" order to keep them out of trouble.

• Damage from high falls is a thing; feather your drop with jumpjets or find a safer way down a cliffside.

• It is possible to get stuck in some rocky crevices when falling down a cliff or hillside; watch your step. You must restart the mission if you get stuck.

• Ground vehicles can be eliminated quickly by stepping on them, but be aware you may sustain some damage in doing so.

• Prioritize targets: generally speaking, you should eliminate easiest to kill targets FIRST (this is usually conventional vehicles).

• NEVER ignore an enemy with an Autocannon 20 (especially Demolisher tanks); destroy them quickly and from long range whenever possible.

• Don't be afraid to switch targets if your current opponent has lost their ability to shoot back or has disengaged.

EQUIPMENT & SALVAGE

• Generally speaking, it is best to equip a mix of long and short range weapons and group them according to range; this allows you the most flexibility (the Catapult C1, with its LRM20s and Medium Lasers, is a good example of this).

• "Bracket-Firing" (grouping according to range and firing only ONE group at a time) is a very effective way to pack extra firepower with fewer heatsinks
  (the Stalker 3F, with its massive array of weapons, but inability to manage the heat when firing them all, is a good example of this).

• "Weapon Boating" (where you equip all/mostly one type of weapon) will limit your options in some situations, but can give you an edge in others.
  (the Hunchback 4P, with its battery of Medium Lasers, is a good example of this).

• The cockpit HUD only displays the *optimal* range of weapons, but some weapons have additional range modifiers. Check MechLab for details.

• Energy weapons can deal reduced damage beyond their optimal range (mods like Guns of Kerensky expand this to include ballistics).

• Lasers, small caliber ballistics, and LRM missiles are easiest to aim on target and recommended for players that need help aiming their shots.

• Claim the most expensive salvage if there isn't anything you want; you can always sell it later on the market.

• Buy/sell rates are not affected by being in Conflict Zones or Industrial Hubs. Only your standing with your market's faction affects buy/sell rates.

• Although it is by no means required, MW5 does work with a HOTAS control setup. A guide to getting it working can be found here.