Most Powerful single mech by rules level

[Greatclub]

I once ran a test on headchoppers. One of the fights was 10 hellstar VS equal BV of Black Hawk Ku prime, both forces controlled by megamek dogbrains.

The Ku buchered the hellstars outright. A third of their BV was intact at the end, testament to the sheer efficiency of the medium laser and ability of the MPL to hit after jumping.

-8Q awesomes were the other contestant, and they won as well, something I attribute to the amount of cheap(ish) armour they carry.

[Colt Ward]

Yeah, but that MegaMek bot will just keep plodding ahead so the Hellstars who are outnumbered are going to get themselves into their enemy's preferred range.  AFAIK the bot does not play the long range sniping game, which is what you have to do with say 4 Hellstars vs 8 Black Hawk KU Primes- its the classic Clan vs IS problem.

[dgorsman]

Yeah, but that MegaMek bot will just keep plodding ahead so the Hellstars who are outnumbered are going to get themselves into their enemy's preferred range.  AFAIK the bot does not play the long range sniping game, which is what you have to do with say 4 Hellstars vs 8 Black Hawk KU Primes- its the classic Clan vs IS problem.

Test bot/classic Bot, yes.  Princess, not so much depending on settings.  If set for low risk and low agression it should try to keep the range open.

[Hammer]

Test bot/classic Bot, yes.  Princess, not so much depending on settings.  If set for low risk and low agression it should try to keep the range open.

This...

Princesses settings have a big impact on how she plays.

[Colt Ward]

This...

Princesses settings have a big impact on how she plays.

I understand that, but your still talking about both sides playing dumb compared to a human- and one side has a simple path to victory and the other path requires more finesse.  Simplicity is going to win when both sides are playing dumb.

[Greatclub]

The Ku needed more AI mods than the hellstar. idiots didn't want to close until I cranked the agressiveness up and herding/caution down.

[Son of Kerenski]

Intro: Imp. 30+ damage at L&S ranges. Butt load of armour.

Standard: Archangel. Compact Engine and Gyro and Max Armour.

Clan: Hellstar (for reasons peeps have mentioned) and the Sphinx is pretty nasty too.

[Colt Ward]

Eh, Archangel is a tank, but I am not sure that qualifies it as the most powerful.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Not remotely.  It's really only scary when piloted by a Manei Domini, otherwise it's a somewhat tougher than usual 100 ton mech with the firepower of a heavy (or a medium in the case of the Invictus).  It's also weakened by having a Small Cockpit so it falls over rather easily.

In single combat when it doesn't have a cheesetastic cyborg pilot, it's more of a big target.

[Greatclub]

Archangel Infernus is first tier in a brawl, if not in a duel.

[Agathos]

This is a fun topic, but I feel like something important hasn't been mentioned yet. What's the most powerful primitive 'Mech?

[GreekFire]

This is a fun topic, but I feel like something important hasn't been mentioned yet. What's the most powerful primitive 'Mech?

Banshee -1E for sure. It's an unstoppable beast from the moment it's introduced up until the moment the Primitive era ends. The only other 'Mech that comes close is the Mackie, but both of its variants suffer from an empty Left Torso and an ammo bomb in the Right Torso while the Banshee has good padding all the way through.

[Son of Kerenski]

Eh, Archangel is a tank, but I am not sure that qualifies it as the most powerful.

If you can outlast your opponent then that definately counts for something. The Dominus is a flashbulb super zombie. Nothing to take lightly

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

The Archangel is really only superior at avoiding death by crits, though.  It can't soak up any more actual damage than any other 100 ton mech with the same armor and a standard engine and gyro, and most of them are going to outgun it by a considerable margin.  All it can dish out is 40 points of damage for no heat if it's standing still, or 50 points if it wants to gain 10 heat.  Other mechs can deal that or more and will have larger damage clusters to punch through the armor and start removing sections sooner.

[Greatclub]

The archangel Berith, with Berith in it, is the scariest canon mech I can think of offhand.

[Colt Ward]

Does it beat 0/1 Natasha Kerensky in a Widowmaker?

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

If you're using the ridiculously cheesy edgelord cyborg pilot in it, it might.  Or at the very least get a draw because both will be able to use Called Shot-High to blast each other and likely get mutual headcaps on the first round.

[Colt Ward]

Lol, closest canon character I could think of . . . but its still going to have to get down into 18 hexes range to be hitting at long.

[Kit deSummersville]

Banshee -1E for sure. It's an unstoppable beast from the moment it's introduced up until the moment the Primitive era ends. The only other 'Mech that comes close is the Mackie, but both of its variants suffer from an empty Left Torso and an ammo bomb in the Right Torso while the Banshee has good padding all the way through.

I think the Xanthos might give it a run for its money.

[GreekFire]

I think the Xanthos might give it a run for its money.

Naw man, the Xanthos' armor isn't heavy enough to stand up to the Banshee.
Even if things end up in brawling range, one kick from the Banshee is enough to go internal on its own.

Not to mention that part of what makes the Banshee top-tier is that it's the only 'Mech that mounts all of its weapons in its torsos, a definite plus in the Primitive era. The two punches can't be discounted.

[Sharpnel]

Naw man, the Xanthos' armor isn't heavy enough to stand up to the Banshee.
Even if things end up in brawling range, one kick from the Banshee is enough to go internal on its own.

Not to mention that part of what makes the Banshee top-tier is that it's the only 'Mech that mounts all of its weapons in its torsos, a definite plus in the Primitive era. The two punches can't be discounted.

A standard introductory level Xanthos has 323 points of armor. This is more than any Mech of its era. With its weaponry it isa major threat to any and all who oppose it

[Greatclub]

Does it beat 0/1 Natasha Kerensky in a Widowmaker?

Nasky K is good, but she isn't +2 to initiative rolls good, IIRC.

It isn't by much, but maybe he could handle her?
.

[Colt Ward]

Thought Berith was a she?

A HPPC & 2 LPPCs at 18 hexes and then some VSPL when its closer are going to have problems when they run into 2 cERPPC at 23 hexes and adding 2 cLPL at 20 . . . get in close enough to use those VSPL or even the melee and she will have her UAC/20.  Besides, being characters of different eras Berith has more of the new SPA & such while we do not have anything like that for Natasha . . . though we might get it with the KS Legends info.

I would be willing to try that out in MM, just the same as Hellstar vs Osteon D.

[Greatclub]

from sarna: "Berith, born Benjamin Emory". The period he had that mech, almost definitely a he.

Yeah, on the open field she'd slaughter Berith, no contest. but since when do Manei Domini play fair?

[Colt Ward]

For some reason I was thinking of the MD in charge of the Shadow Division that hit Regulus.

[Greatclub]

just found this in era report 3052

natasha Kerensky: Possibly the most infamous MechWarrior
in history, Natasha Kerensky has Elite-level experience in the Clan
MechWarrior, Infantry, and Officer Fields (even though Clan training does not generally produce the Officer Field). She also has a
+8 Skill roll modifier in Acting, Leadership, and Tactics, as well as a
+6 in Negotiation. When in combat, her command Star (or lance)
is immune to Morale Checks and she negates all special command
abilities possessed by the opposing force’s commander. In addition,
Natasha Kerensky possesses the Blood Stalker, Multi-Tasker, Sniper,
and Demoralizer Special Piloting Abilities (see pp. 219-221, and
225, AToW)

Yeah, he's toast.

[Colt Ward]

Ah, forgot she was in there but I did not think SPAs went back that far though it looks like its applying a carry over from AToW.

[Greatclub]

I want to nominate a light mech for among the most powerful.

Urbanmech AIV.

/silly

[Daryk]

You can put a nuke on an AIV, right?  8)

[Kojak]

So nobody's even gonna mention the Gyrfalcon 4? ???