This guide contains detailed information about weapons, gear and strategies in MechWarrior 5 Clans.
Guide to Weapons and Loadout in MW5C
Best weapon: ER Small Laser
This little laser beats almost every other weapon in the game. It’s super light, has low heat, takes up little space, and delivers great damage per second (DPS). If you want to breeze through the campaign, use ER Small Lasers on everything, everywhere, all the time. Other weapons don’t compare!
The only real downside? It can’t hit targets over 600 meters away. But that’s not a huge problem since most enemies tend to rush in close anyway. You might take some turret fire, but it’s manageable.
MW5C Weapons
For a quick look at weapon stats in MechWarrior 5, the most important detail is the “DPS per ton + ammo” column. This shows how much damage per second (DPS) you get for each ton of weapon weight, even with one ton of ammo added.
The ER Small Laser has nearly double the DPS per ton compared to the next best weapon, the SRM6.
For those using missiles or ballistics, the “Minutes to Deplete 1 Ton” column is also useful. This tells you how long you can fire before you run out of ammo. As a rule, try to have around 8 minutes of ammo for each weapon.
Weapon Types
Here’s a quick rundown of the weapon types from best to worst:
1. Energy Weapons
2. Missiles
3. Ballistics
Energy Weapons
Energy weapons are by far the best! They are versatile and powerful, making them the developers’ top choice for heavy damage.
Pros:
- Light weight
- Small slots, fitting on most mechs
- Can be dual-mounted
- Infinite ammo (just needs cooling)
- Hitscan accuracy
- High DPS-to-weight ratio
- Long range
- No cooldown in water
Cons:
- Limited by the mech’s cooling system
Missiles
Missiles are good for weakening enemies before getting up close, but they run out of ammo quickly.
Pros:
- Easier aiming
- Decent DPS-to-weight ratio
- Ammo can be used across different missile types
- Works with many mechs
- Can be more accurate with upgrades (Artemis, TAG, NARC)
Cons:
- Damage spreads out over the enemy
- Uses up ammo fast
- Can be intercepted by anti-missile systems (AMS)
- AI sometimes wastes ammo
Ballistics
Ballistics are the weakest weapon type. They’re heavy, take up lots of space, and don’t offer great DPS.
Pros:
- Good burst damage with ultra cannons
- Decent ammo damage per ton
- Great sound effects and explosions
Cons:
- Very heavy
- Takes up lots of slots
- Projectiles need time to travel
- Accuracy drops with size
- High ammo consumption
MW5C Loadout Tips
Here’s how to build an optimal mech loadout:
- Fill as many slots as possible with ER Small Lasers.
- Add about 0.25 tons of armor on each component (or more if possible).
- Upgrade to ER Medium Lasers if needed for range.
- Add missiles if there’s extra weight.
With this setup, you’ll be ready for most of the campaign, even on high difficulty.
Strategies (Tips & Tricks)
Your strategy might change based on your weapons. Here are some general tips:
- If you’re using a lot of ER Small Lasers, just move in and absorb damage. Have your squad follow you and focus fire to take down enemies quickly.
- The AI isn’t the smartest, so give specific commands if you want them to be effective.
- You can queue up attack commands by shift-clicking targets on the map.
- If you have a short-range setup, make sure to have allies focus fire on your target to defeat enemies faster.
For medium or long-range builds, try to keep your distance and find high ground when possible. If you’re using long-range weapons, less armor might be okay since you won’t be up close.
You can reach the author’s profile from the link. This guide was created by Sadaurkar.