Long-range fire strategy in BattleTech Alpha Strike

Updated 28. January 2025 by Sören Spieckermann

BattleTech Alpha Strike: The strategy of long-range bombardment

BattleTech Alpha Strike offers players the opportunity to use tactical depth and strategic skill to achieve victory on the battlefield. One of the most effective tactics, especially in scenarios with open terrain sections, is the targeted use of long-range fire and indirect fire. In this article, we take a look at how this strategy works, which units make the best use of it and what counter-strategies are available.

What is long-range shelling?

Long range strafing refers to the use of long range weapons to weaken the enemy from a distance before they are able to strike back effectively. In Alpha Strike, this usually means that mechs with weapons such as:

• LRMs (Long-Range Missiles)
• PPCs (Particle Projection Cannons)
• Gauss Rifles
• or other ranged weapons can be used to hit the opponent before they reach their optimal fighting distance.

In BattleTech Alpha Strike, all of these weapons are summarized in the unit’s long range damage information. Supplemented by information in the special area, e.g. on the possibility of using indirect fire. For example, the Longbow LGB-0W from the Succession War era has a firepower of 3 in the long-range area and the possibility of achieving 3 points of damage through indirect fire (IF3).

This strategy is particularly suitable for:

• slow down enemy attack waves,
• to specifically eliminate key targets, and
• forcing the opponent to seek cover, which restricts his movement options.

The units can either fire directly or indirectly at the enemy.

The advantages of long-range shelling

1. Early damage: The longer the enemy takes to get into range, the more opportunities you have to deal damage. This is particularly effective against slow, heavily armored units such as Assault Mechs.
2. Terrain control: Long-range fire forces the enemy to hide behind cover or make detours to avoid direct lines of fire. This allows you to control strategic points such as bottlenecks or mission objectives.
3. Morale Weakening: Constant ranged damage can reduce your opponent’s initiative and combat ability, especially if key units are eliminated early in the game.

Optimal units for long-range shelling

Not all mechs are suitable for this strategy. Here are some units that master long-range bombardment:

• Catapult (CPLT-C4): Equipped with two LRM-15 systems, this mech is a classic in the field of long-range support.
• Stalker (STK-3H): With two LRM-10s and 2x Large Lasers, the Stalker can deal devastating damage at long range.
• Trebuchet (TBT-5N): In addition to its 2x LRM system, it has three heavy lasers for precise ranged damage.
• Archer (ARC-2R): This mech is an LRM specialist and ideal for bringing a constant rain of missiles to the battlefield.

In addition, battle tanks such as the Rhino Fire Support Tank or LRM Carrier can also play a role. The MasterUnit list will help you with this.

Effective deployment methods (tactics for the long-range bombardment strategy)

1. Positioning: Use elevated positions such as hills to give your spotters a better line of sight on the enemy. However, avoid getting too far away from the rest of your forces to avoid being isolated.
2. Spotter support: Fast and maneuverable mechs such as the Raven, Jenner, Locust or Wasp can be used to reconnoitre enemy units and mark targets for indirect fire. Infantry or scout vehicles are also very suitable for this.
3. Focused fire: Concentrate your fire on individual targets to take them out quickly instead of spreading your damage over several enemies.
4. Protection of long-range units: Long range units are often vulnerable in close combat. Make sure you protect them with melee or all-round mechs such as the Warhammer, Atlas or Awesome.

Counter strategies: How to neutralize long-range shelling

If your opponent uses long-range fire, there are a few ways to counter this tactic:

1. Fast advance: Use fast mechs such as the Jenner or Cicada to quickly bridge the distance and threaten the ranged units.
2. Use cover: Obstacles such as forests, hills and buildings significantly reduce the effectiveness of long-range weapons. Move from cover to cover to minimize damage.
3. Counter fire: Use your own long-range weapons to take out the enemy’s ranged units before they do too much damage.

Example of tactics

In this terrain, which is ideal for this strategy, two lances (one of which is a ranged lance (fire support lance)) must defend a town against advancing combat lances (melee lances). The defenders can take cover behind buildings and thus effectively fire indirectly at the enemy without coming under fire themselves. The advanced melee plants cover the ranged units.

The (red) enemy units must approach the buildings via a relatively open area. The defenders’ ranged units can take indirect fire on the approaching enemy units from safe positions (they cannot be fired on themselves) behind buildings. Their own melee units serve as spotters for the ranged units and as a front line of defense. The defending ranged units can also move next to the buildings so that they have their own line of sight on the enemy. This allows them to provide direct long-range fire to support the melee units.

Conclusion on the long-range bombardment strategy

Long-range bombardment is a highly effective strategy in BattleTech Alpha Strike, allowing you to put your opponent under pressure early on and force them to make tactical mistakes. However, the key to success lies in striking the right balance between attack and defense. While your ranged units deal damage, they also need to be protected from fast attackers. If you use this strategy wisely, you could be the deciding factor on the battlefield.

So, grab your LRM mechs and get ready to dominate the battlefield from a distance!

Underlying rules