[Top 5] Mechwarrior 5 Best Medium Mechs

Probably one of the most famous medium ‘Mechs in the Inner Sphere, the Hunchback is a capable brawler.

Ah… medium ‘Mechs, the long-standing workhorses of the Inner Sphere.  Every player in Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries has at least a couple of these sitting in their hangar.  These 40 to 55 ton battlemechs have the speed and firepower to fulfill most roles short of a full on assault.  Since a lot of mediums are outfitted with jump jets, they are well suited to harassing enemy front lines as these ‘Mechs can be quite mobile and pack a decent punch.  

In the interest of players becoming better mercenary commanders in Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries, here are the top 5 medium ‘Mechs that I think are the top dogs of their weight class.  

5.  The Arrow BJ-A

Short range machine guns aren’t anything to laugh at if you have 6 of them.  

Specs:

• Weight:  45 tons
• Armor:  304/318 Ferro Fibrous
• Structure:  159 Endosteel
• Free Tonnage:  17.63 tons
• Speed:  84.6 km/h
• Standard Loadout:   3 Machine Guns (Right Arm), 1 Medium Laser (Right Torso), 1 Large Pulse Laser (Center Torso), 1 Medium Laser (Left Torso), 3 Machine Guns (Left Torso)

Receiving wide acclaim during the defense of Xhosa VII, Michael Ubodo and his Blackjack, The Arrow, earned a permanent commission with the Federated Suns’s 8th Light Cavalry.  An outspoken defender of the poorly regarded Blackjack, Ubodo would often challenge anyone who criticized the much maligned design.  

Strengths:

• 6 machine guns bring down enemy structures with ease, making the Arrow perfect for demolition contracts.  
• Great for flanking and harassing enemy units due to its speed.
• Has a decent laser loadout should the machine guns run dry (or the Arrow’s arms get blown off)

The Arrow is a good ‘Mech to have early on.  It’s fast enough to level buildings and shoot the legs off enemy ‘Mechs from the rear.  Since you’re going to be up close & personal with enemies, you can ditch the large pulse laser for another medium laser, more machine gun ammo & armor.  Also try to get higher tier machine guns to deal more damage since these will be your main DPS weapons.

The Arrow can be found in industrial hubs very early in the game.  Since finding a specific hero ‘Mech is entirely dependent on RNG, I suggest saving before traveling to an industrial hub with a skull icon.   Reload your save if it doesn’t appear.

4.  Gray Death SHD-GD

With its variety of weapons, the Gray Death can hold its own against most enemies its size.

Specs:

• Weight:  55 tons
• Armor:  336/382
• Structure:  191 Endosteel
• Free Tonnage:  26.07 tons
• Speed:  81 km/h XL
• Standard Loadout:  2 Medium Lasers (Right Arm), 1 LRM 5 (Right Torso), 1 SRM 2 (Head), 1 AC/10 (Left Torso), 2 Medium Lasers (Left Arm)

Pulled from the burning wreckage & destruction of Carlyle’s Commandos in 3024, the Gray Death was the personal Shadow Hawk of Grayson Carlyle.  Through a series of stunning victories, Grayson and his newly formed Gray Death Legion had their revenge on Duke Ricol and the Draconis Combine, immortalizing him to the people of Trellwan.  

Strengths:  

• Varied weapon loadout makes the Gray Death a versatile machine that’s able to play different roles on the battlefield.  
• Decently armored for a medium ‘Mech
• Has more free tonnage to use on weapons, ammo, armor & heat sinks due to its Endosteel structure and XL engine.
• Equipped with Double Heat Sinks that lets the Gray Death cool faster.  

Swap out the default Autocannon for something deadlier, like an LBX or Ultra AC.  Put some high tier medium lasers as well.  With the speed this ‘Mech has, it is a great brawler/harasser unit.  It can take down enemies above its weight class.  Just don’t get carried away.  The Gray Death isn’t immortal.  

Unlike the SHD-5M, the Gray Death is made available earlier, the year 3024, specifically.  Look for it in industrial hubs like you would other hero ‘Mechs.  Save & reload if it doesn’t show.

3.  Loup De Guerre TBT-LG

Maybe not as deadly as the SRM spamming Golden Boy, but the LG has AMS, BAP & better speed.    

Specs:

• Weight:  50 tons
• Armor:  320/350
• Structure:  175 Endosteel
• Free Tonnage:  17.57 tons
• Speed:  105.3 km/h XL
• Standard Loadout:  1 Streak SRM 2 (Right Torso), 1 Streak SRM 2 (Left Torso), 1 SRM 4 & 1 Medium Pulse Laser (Right Arm), 1 SRM 4 & 1 Medium Pulse Laser (Left Arm)

Named for the largest Trebuchet in medieval Terra, Loup De Guerre was a gift to the young scion of the famous Chandlers of Tiber.  Serving in the Regulan Hussars, Lt. Peter Chandler distinguished himself in battle on Tellmann IV.  Discovering a Thunderbolt had broken through their defensive line and looting supplies, he promptly pounded the ‘Mech to scrap.  When asked why he’d engaged the much larger ‘Mech alone, his only comment was, “It was only what one should expect from a Chandler.”  

Strengths:

• Equipped with 4 SRM launchers that deal good damage
• With a top speed of 105.3 km/h, the LG is the fastest Trebuchet variant.  It can run around the battlefield spamming SRMs
• With the addition of an anti-missile system and a Beagle Active Probe, the Loup De Guerre can spot enemies faster without worrying too much about enemy missiles.

I use the TBT-LG to spam SRMs.  With a bit of skill, players can easily do hit and run attacks on enemies (we have a 105.3 km/h top speed, afterall.)   If things get a bit too hairy and your LG is taking too much damage, use those  jump jets to make a hasty retreat and let your allies soak in the aggro while you take potshots at the opponent.

The Loup De Guerre is available for purchase as soon as players can travel the Inner Sphere.  It takes a bit of luck finding the LG in industrial hubs due to hero ‘Mechs spawn being wholly dependent on RNG.   Save, pray to RNGsus, go to an industrial hub.  Reload if you didn’t get the hero you want.  That’s basically it.

2.  Grid Iron HBK-GI

The Grid Iron makes me want to ram enemies with it while clutching a football.

Specs:

• Weight:  50 tons
• Armor:  336/350
• Structure:  175 Endosteel
• Free Tonnage:  29.07 tons
• Speed:  64.8 km/h XL
• Standard Loadout:  1 Medium Pulse Laser (Right Arm), 1 Gauss Rifle (Right Torso), 1 Small Laser (Head), 1 SRM 6 (Left Torso), 1 Medium Pulse Laser (Left Arm)

Prior to becoming a mechwarrior, Jacoby Abioye was a starting quarterback for an American football league within the Magistracy of Canopus.  After the death of his grandmother, Jacoby enlisted with her former unit, the Second Canopian Fusiliers.  Never able to fully drop his love of the game, Jacoby renamed his inherited Hunchback Grid Iron.  Although he would never live up to be anything more than an average mechwarrior, Jacoby’s prior notoriety from his football career was leveraged by the Magistracy Armed Forces in various recruitment ads throughout the Magistracy.  

Strengths:

• Works well as a sniper thanks to its shoulder mounted Gauss Rifle.
• 2 Medium Pulse Lasers & an SRM launcher makes the Grid Iron able to brawl at close range.
• 3 Double Heat Sinks vent excess heat so you can fire your lasers & SRM more often.  

Upgrade the Gauss rifle as soon as possible if you plan on using Grid Iron as a sniper.  Otherwise, upgrade your pulse lasers and SRM to take down enemies from close range quicker.  Other than that, play it smart, pick your targets & don’t be reckless.  The Grid Iron isn’t an assault ‘Mech.  

The Grid Iron can be bought early on,  3015 to be precise.    Check out industrial hubs with the skull icon.  As usual, the standard procedure is to save first, check the industrial hub, reload if no Grid Iron is found.  

1.  Golden Boy KTO-GB

The Golden Boy is a very deadly SRM spammer.

Specs:

• Weight:  55 tons
• Armor:  368/382
• Structure:  191
• Free Tonnage:  28.57 tons
• Speed:  64.8 km/h XL
• Standard Loadout:  2 Medium Pulse Lasers (Right Arm), 1 Medium Pulse Laser & 2 SRM 6 (Left Arm), 1 SRM 6 (Right Torso), 2 SRM 4 (Center Torso)

The Kintaro was originally designed in 2578 as a frontline unit designed to deliver NARC missile beacons for allied forces.  With the loss of the last known NARC factory in 2792, the Kintaro simply became another missile platform, and eventually led to the production of the downgraded KTO-18 by the Federated Suns.  Whatever the variant, the KTO is still a tough frontline ‘Mech capable of delivering an impressive salvo for a ‘Mech of its size.  

Strengths:

• With 5 SRM launchers, the GB can make short work of almost any enemy.    
• Equipped with 6 Double Heat Sinks to help dissipate excess heat, ensuring the Golden Boy can consistently fire its weapons.
• 3 Medium Pulse Lasers work well as back up weapons when your SRMs are in cooldown.

The Golden Boy can pretty much destroy any ‘Mech unlucky enough to take every hit from its SRM alpha strike.  Pro tip: Try to shoot those SRMs only when enemies are moving towards you or away from you so that your missiles have more chances to hit.  Never fire your SRMs at enemies circling you.  You’ll waste your shots that way.

The Golden Boy can be found in industrial hubs very early in the game. (as early as 3015)  If you’re specifically hunting for it, save before going to various industrial hubs.  That way, you can reload your save if the Golden Boy doesn’t appear.  

The Wolverine can be a good starter ‘Mech if you can keep its right arm from getting blown off.

One final advice to all mechwarriors out there: as with all things, always remember to not bite off more than you can chew.  This is especially true when facing multiple enemies in a medium ‘Mech.  Keep in mind that a medium ‘Mech has less armor than an assault ‘Mech so don’t go in guns blazing if you don’t want your pilots getting killed or ‘Mechs totalled.   

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