Every beginning is… a lance!
Hello and welcome back to mechstrategen.de for our Alpha Strike Beginner Series! In my last post, we looked at how to get started with the system and why choosing the right box is the foundation for everything that follows. If you missed the introductory post, be sure to jump back there briefly to catch up on the absolute basics.
Today, we’re putting the theoretical concepts from the introductory article into practice. If you’re just starting out with Alpha Strike—whether for a quick match in between other activities or a fast-paced tournament scenario—and you’re fielding just a single lance (i.e., exactly four ‘Mechs), that selection has to be spot-on. Since you don’t have a second lance to back you up and compensate for weaknesses in this format, your success depends entirely on the versatility of your lineup.
So let’s fire up the fusion reactors!
Here are two specific suggestions for building your first solo army: Concept 1 relies on a classic, specialized division of roles, while Concept 2, as a flexible, all-around alternative, relies entirely on the reliability of medium-weight units.
Concept 1: The Specialized All-Around Lance (“The Anvil and the Hammer”)
This concept strictly divides the four positions according to areas of expertise in order to have a solution for every conceivable situation.
- The Scout: Secures the initiative and attacks the enemy from the rear. It requires a high movement rating (MR 10″+). (e.g., Phoenix Hawk PXH-1).
- The Brawler (close-range fighter): Leads the advance at medium range. (e.g., Wolverine WVR-6R).
- The Juggernaut (The Rock): Holds the center and absorbs damage with its massive armor. (e.g., Awesome AWS-8Q).
- The Sniper (Support): Ideally, the Sniper uses the special ability ”
IF” (Indirect Fire) while taking cover in a safe location to provide long-range support (e.g., Archer ARC-2R).
The Lineup (Example)
| ‘Mech | Role / Type | PV | MV | Damage Values (S/M/L) | Armor / Structure | Special Features |
| Phoenix Hawk PXH-1 | Mid Scout | 26 | 12″j | 2 / 2 / 0 | 4 / 4 | Wide range of motion and jump jets for mobility |
| Wolverine WVR-6R | Mid-range all-rounder | 25 | 10″j | 2 / 2 / 1 | 5 / 5 | A Solid All-Around Performer |
| Awesome AWS-8Q | Heavy-duty front-line fighter | 39 | 6″ | 3 / 3 / 3 | 8 / 6 | Good armor and firepower, but slow |
| Archer ARC-2R | Long-Range Fire Support | 39 | 8″ | 2 / 3 / 3 | 7 / 6 | Good armored rocket launchers, IF2 |
The Tactics: Awesome and Archer form a solid firebase in the center. While the enemy struggles against this wall, Wolverine and Phoenix Hawk use their mobility to advance along the flanks and launch a coordinated attack from the rear.
Concept 2: The Medium All-Around Lance (“The Swiss Army Knife”)
If you find the fixed specialization in Concept 1 too rigid, or if you’re worried that losing a single specialist (such as the sniper) could cripple your entire strategy, this alternative is ideal. This lance consists primarily of medium all-around ‘Mechs (Medium Mechs). They don’t excel in any one specific discipline, but they also don’t have any real weaknesses.
The Lineup (Example)
| ‘Mech | Role / Type | PV | MV | Damage Values (S/M/L) | Armor / Structure | Special Features |
| Centurion CN9-A | Mid-range all-rounder | 28 | 8″ | 2 / 3 / 1 | 5 / 4 | Reliable at any distance, IF1 |
| Enforcer ENF-4R | Mid-range all-rounder | 25 | 8″j | 3 / 2 / 0 | 5 / 4 | Jump Jets for Mobility |
| Hunchback HBK-4G | Moderate Close-Range Assault | 28 | 8″ | 4 / 3 / 0 | 5 / 4 | Enormous damage at close range |
| Trebuchet TBT-5N | Medium Support | 29 | 10″ | 2 / 2 / 2 | 4 / 4 | Fast, good range, IF1 |
Total cost of the lance: 110 PV (Very affordable; may leave room for pilot upgrades).
Why This Concept Works
- Regenerative Redundancy: If you lose the Awesome in Concept 1, your primary “combat unit” is gone. In this medium lance, almost all ‘Mechs have a very similar profile (5 armor / 4 structure). Losing a unit hurts, but it won’t break your back, since the remaining ‘Mechs can seamlessly take over the tasks.
- Flexible Fire Support: Both the Centurion and the Trebuchet are capable of
IF1(Indirect Fire). Combined, this adds up to a respectable 2 points of indirect damage—flexibly distributed across two mobile platforms rather than a single, slow-moving, stationary missile boat. - The psychological factor: The Hunchback is a terror in close combat. Since the Lancer otherwise appears very homogeneous, he becomes a psychological target for the enemy. While the enemy tries to keep the Hunchback at a distance, the Centurion and Enforcer use their flexibility to deal constant mid-range damage.
The Tactics: This lance stays together as a closed box. You advance together at a moderate pace (8″ to 10″). The Trebuchet and the Centurion avoid enemy line-of-sight and fire indirectly, while the Enforcer uses its jump jets (j) to maneuver flexibly around obstacles. Once you’re at medium range, concentrate the fire of all four units on a single enemy target to methodically dismantle it with sheer volume of attacks.
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The content of this blog is personally conceived, researched and defined by me. I use generative artificial intelligence to help me formulate and structure the texts.
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Ich bin Sören Spieckermann, der Kopf hinter mechstrategen. Seit Jahren faszinieren mich taktische Tabletop-Schlachten und die strategische Tiefe von Mechs. Ob schnelle Gefechte in Halo: Flashpoint oder epische Schlachten bei BattleTech Alpha Strike – hier teile ich meine Erfahrungen und Taktiken mit dir. Mein Ziel? Sowohl Einsteigern den Start zu erleichtern als auch alten Hasen neue Impulse für das nächste Match zu geben.
