If you've spent any significant time with Harebrained Schemes' BattleTech you've undoubtedly had a sense that just as much of the game takes place in the MechLab as on the field. There are interesting tactical decisions to be made certainly and BattleTech packs a lot of detail into its combat encounters. But building your lance the right way and picking the missions best suited to your lance is just as important - if not more so - than proper positioning and timing in a fight.
These mech building tips should provide you with plenty of guidance for crafting your ideal mech. There aren't any real hard and fast rules when creating your lance because everything in BattleTech is situational. We'll go over a few general principles to bear in mind, but it's important to remember that these can always be superseded in certain circumstances. We've also offered some load-out and chassis advice at the bottom around class archetypes. Feel free to tweak at your leisure, though.
We'll continue to update this guide as we learn more about BattleTech, but the rules below should apply to BattleTech as of the Heavy Metal expansion and the latest Patch.
RELATED LINKS:
The best BattleTech mods
What's next for Battletech after Heavy Metal? "No f***ing clue!"
How to make a mech: designing Battletech's all-new Bull Shark