MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries was released by Piranha Games in December 2019 and was the first single-player game in the MechWarrior series since MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries hit stores all the way back in November 2002. The game was met with fairly positive reviews, exemplified by its 74 Metascore, and the game has recently received a significant increase to its player base thanks to its recent inclusion in Game Pass.
MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries'Â inclusion on Game Pass means that numerous people will the trying the long-running franchise for the first time and consequently will be struggling to get to grips with the game's unique Mech mechanics and management.
7 Not Repairing Before Travel
The saying "failing to prepare is preparing to fail" is very apt in MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, as players need to spend a significant amount of time managing their company, their Mechs, their pilots, and more to give themselves the best chance at completing missions. Time management is another factor that players need to be on top of, as most actions take numerous in-game days to complete, which will cost players money.
Two of the most time-consuming actions are repairing and traveling. So, players should get into the habit of repairing their Mechs prior to travel so that they can kill two birds with one stone, saving them multiple days each time and greatly improving their cash flow.
6 Failing To Recognize That Jump Jets Cause Fall Damage
Numerous Mechs in MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries are equipped with jump jets, which will help the player's maneuverability as they zip around the battlefield and dodge enemy attacks. However, the game doesn't make clear to the player that this seemingly safe gameplay mechanic actually inflicts fall damage. Most players won't expect that jumping will cause fall damage in a video game and consequently don't notice the minor deterioration of their Mech's legs until hours into the game.
Jumping only inflicts minuscule amounts of damage, so it doesn't need to be avoided completely, though players do need to be wary about excessive jumping, which will accumulate and soon become a problem.
5 Letting The Mech Overheat
When engaged in an intense battle, many players get caught in the trap of spamming as many attacks as possible, especially when their Mech's health is getting critically low. In many cases, this can become a player's fatal error, as it will cause their Mech to overheat. Overheating is a serious issue in MechWarrior 5, as it incapacitates the player, making them an easy target.
Although it can get tedious, players should always keep an eye on their Mech's temperature gauge, as using weapons sporadically is far better than having an immobile target. Moreover, players should be especially careful when using lasers, as they can cause sharp increases to the Mech's heat levels.
4 Ignoring Negotiation
With so much micromanaging to do in MechWarrior 5, it can be easy for players to get complacent when they just want to hop between missions. Some players get especially complement when getting close to their next mission and will quickly transition through numerous screens, ignoring multiple features that require attention, such as negotiation.
The negotiation mechanic in MechWarrior 5 may not be the most in-depth or engaging, but it's important to do as it will give the player a greater reward for their hard work. Players are assigned Negotiation Points before missions, which they can use to get greater payouts for factors such as Damage Coverage and Salvage Shares.
3 Not Picking A Mech To Suit The Mission
When progressing through the game, it's natural for players to get attached to using a specific Mech, which they will use for each and every mission. However, this isn't an optimal strategy as players should choose their Mech based on the briefing for their next mission, rather than which one they like the look or feel of.
For example, players may be accustomed to using a Light Mech that they like the movement of, though this isn't going to be optimal in a defensive mission where the player will be guarding a specific area and would be more effective using a heavy Mech that can stand its ground.
2 Giving Supplementary Pilots Weak Mechs
Another mistake that many players make in regards to Mech-choice refers to their supplementary pilots. When preparing for a mission, some players will spend plenty of time selecting or fine-tuning and customizing their own Mech before randomly assigning Mechs for their teammates.
Ensuring that teammates are suitably prepared for battle is just as important as preparing the playable character. So, players should ensure that their teammate has a Mech that is upgraded and suitable for the upcoming missions; otherwise, they'll soon find themselves alone against an enemy fleet.
1 Accidently Smashing Friendly Bases
When defending a base from a tough enemy force, it can be easy for players to get tunnel vision and simply focus on trying to eliminate the enemies as soon as possible. This will often result in the player trying to get into the thick of the action and marching through the heart of the base that they're tasked with defending. Unsurprisingly, the game's giant Mechs aren't designed for carefully watching where they step, so they can end up invertedly annihilating the buildings that they're fighting desperately to defend.
Although it seems counterintuitive, it's better for players to completely avoid walking through a base that they're defending, as they can do far more harm than good if they're not careful.