Inner Sphere Heavy Lance – Alpha Strike Analysis: The reliable workhorses of the Inner Sphere

1st Inner Sphere Heavy Lance ForcePack

Welcome back, MechStrategists! Today we turn our focus to a force pack that rarely dominates the headlines but is indispensable on the battlefield: the Inner Sphere Heavy Lance. This ensemble of four BattleMechs is the proverbial backbone of any force – it consists of the sturdy “workhorses” that don’t need fashionable high-tech weaponry to get the job done.

The Heavy Lance combines durability, firepower and surprising close combat specialization to hold lines and repel enemy advances. It is ideal for players looking for a versatile, tough formation that can take on almost any opponent.

2. the units included in detail

This lance is an effective mix of medium, heavy and an assault mech, giving it excellent tactical flexibility.

2.1. Brief overview of the mechs

• Banshee (BNC-5S / BNC-3S)
  • Class: Assault BattleMech (95 tons)
  • Lore Background: An ancient design, famous for its formidable armor. It often serves as a mobile command post and is designed to take massive fire.
  • Special features: Extremely high armor and structure. In Alpha Strike, this is the lance’s damage tank. The variants are designed for brawling melee combat (energy and ballistics-heavy).
• Grasshopper (GHR-5J / GHR-5H)
  • Class: Heavy BattleMech (70 tons)
  • Lore Background: A reliable, jump-capable brawler known for its efficiency and ability to fight long battles, primarily with energy weapons.
  • Special features: Jump jets (freedom of movement), high endurance and good PV efficiency (point value). Role: Flexible skirmisher and flanker.
• Hatchetman (HCT-5S / HCT-3F)
  • Class: Heavy BattleMech (60 tons)
  • Lore background: One of the first ‘Mechs of the Inner Sphere to wield a dedicated melee weapon (the eponymous axe). A specialist for fighting at close range.
  • Special features: The axe (delivers bonus damage in close combat), good jumping ability. Role: Melee shock trooper and “finisher”.
• Centurion (CN9-D / CN9-A)
  • Class: Medium BattleMech (50 tons)
  • Lore background: The classic workhorse of the Inner Sphere. A well-balanced mech that often fills the gap between recon and heavy combat.
  • Special Features: Provides a good balance of long range fire support (LRMs) and direct fire (AC/10). Role: Flexible fire support and line holder.

3. the formation: role in the Alpha Strike

3.1. Focus on the formation

• Name of the formation: Heavy Lance
• Definition & Purpose: This lance is an all-purpose battle lance designed to absorb enemy fire while dealing concentrated damage in close combat and at medium range.

3.2. Tactical use of the formation

• Primary strategy: “Anchor and counterattack”
  • The Banshee advances as an unshakable anchor and absorbs most of the enemy’s damage.
  • The Centurion follows close behind and provides support with its missiles (LRM), while the lance advances to medium range.
  • Grasshopper and Hatchetman use their jumping ability to secure flanks, occupy critical terrain or react quickly to threats. Their main task is to jump into close combat as soon as the enemy is distracted by the Banshee.
• Synergies in the pack:
  • The Banshee is the perfect shield. It keeps the enemy busy while the more mobile mechs (Grasshopper/Hatchetman) look for the optimal position for their short-range weapons.
  • The Grasshopper serves as a mobile brawler, capable of supporting the Banshee or moving quickly to a critical point to eliminate threats from light units.
  • The Hatchetman is the lynch pin for close combat. It is used to take out units that are already damaged or bound by other mechs with its axe attack (massive physical attacks in Alpha Strike).
• Movement and positioning: The formation should advance in unison, with the Banshee in the front. The Centurion tends to be held back slightly to make the most of its range options. As soon as the enemy is in range, the Grasshopper and Hatchetman make a quick leap forward into critical close combat.
• Key unit: The Banshee. Its sheer mass and durability allow the rest of the lance to maneuver aggressively. If it falls, the lance loses its buffer.

4. integration into the larger army (Alpha Strike)

The Inner Sphere Heavy Lance is rarely a pure spearhead, but rather the reliable, tough core around which a larger force can be built.

• Supplement for other Lances/Stars: The Heavy Lance fills the crucial gap of “mid-range brawling power” between fast Scouts and static Fire Support formations. It is the perfect support for:
  • Recon Lances: Provides the armor protection that light units desperately need. The Centurion can benefit from Scout results.
  • Assault Lances: Acts as a flank guard or second attack wave that relieves the slow assaults (e.g. King Crab) by tying up faster threats.
• Point value (PV) consideration: Due to its mixed weights, the Heavy Lance is a substantial investment, typically in the upper-mid PV segment. However, it delivers excellent value in the form of armor and versatile firepower. It is an investment in the stability of your army.
• Proposal for the army composition:
  • Combine this Heavy Lance with a Fire Lance (e.g. Archer, Longbow) to support the Heavy Lance’s heavy melee focus with concentrated long-range fire. The Banshee can hold fire while the Fire Lances deal damage from cover.
  • Alternatively, combine them with a Striker Lance (faster 50-65 ton mechs) to form an even more mobile but equally robust attack wedge that overruns the enemy.

5 Conclusion and evaluation

The Inner Sphere Heavy Lance is what you would call an honest formation. It has no revolutionary gimmicks, but it is robust, versatile and delivers what its name promises: heavy combat power.

Short summary: The lance is characterized by its high durability (Banshee) and its ability for fast, deadly close combat (Hatchetman, Grasshopper). Its biggest weakness is its general slowness if you ignore its jumping abilities.

Overall verdict: This pack is an absolute must for all Inner Sphere players who want to fill the core of their army with classics. It offers versatile tactics and, thanks to the Hatchetman and the Banshee, is also interesting for collectors of icons from the BattleTech universe.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 stars

(Solid, indispensable, but tactically easily predictable core formation)