Sniper tactics in BattleTech Alpha Strike

In BattleTech Alpha Strike, the close and mid-range is often the heart of the battle. But before the dice start rolling, you can gain the first decisive advantages with the right preparation. This is exactly where sniper tactics come into play.

A sniper is a unit designed for long range. Its main objective is to weaken the enemy before the actual exchange of blows begins in the mid-range. This means: less armor, damaged units or, in the best case, even casualties before your opponent can really counterattack.

Role and benefits of snipers

• Create a head start: If your snipers manage to shoot out 10-20% of the enemy’s structure and armor points before the melee begins, your opponent will start the main battle weakened.
• Dictate movement: Long range forces the enemy to position themselves differently, giving you more control over mission objectives.
• Distraction: If your snipers are shot at instead of your assault units, you have effectively won – regardless of your opponent’s decision.
• Support fire: While your assault units rush into close combat, the snipers continue to fire from a safe distance and provide constant pressure.

Use of sniper tactics in practice

1. terrain selection

Ideally, your sniper only moves in round 1 – onto a hill or into cover. Then he stops and fires. A good sniper thrives on distance, not mobility.

2. stationary = accurate

Stationary shooting means a bonus on hit rolls. A skill 3 sniper effectively becomes a skill 2 shooter – suddenly hit rolls of 8 or 9 at long range are completely realistic.

3. protection through distance

Your snipers survive because:

• they are far behind
• the opponent is forced to fight your other units at the front
• it is inefficient to hunt them specifically.

4. do not send them into the fire individually

Never deploy only snipers without escorts. They need the rest of your army to create real threats. Sniping tactics depend on your units working together.

What to look out for when choosing a sniper?

• At least 3 points of damage at long range – anything less is not a sniper, just a “basic” shooter.
• Skill 3 is mandatory. Stationary then means Skill 2 – the basis for reliable hitting.
• At least a total of 7 armor and structure points – less and the unit will fail too quickly.
• Turret preferred – so you have 360° firing angles and are armed against fast hovercraft or flank attacks.
• Favorable TMM (0-1) – high speed is wasted points with snipers.

Example units for snipers

To make it more tangible, here are a few tried and tested sniper units for your unit formation:

• Shrek PPC Carrier – the classic. With three PPCs, it does a constant 3 damage at long range, has a turret and is comparatively cheap. Perfect for stationary sniper fire.
• Partisan Heavy Tank (LRM) – Fires long-range missiles in stable bursts. Almost unshakeable when stationary. Also has the option of indirect fire. Very good against opponents in cover
• Longbow (Mech) – one of the iconic LRM carriers. With LRM-20s, it can deal solid long-range damage including indirect fire. Remains flexible and can still move a little in an emergency.
• Ontos Heavy Tank (LRM) – With several heavy weapon options, he can really hurt. Ideal if you want a mobile but still dangerous sniper.

Shine against the snipers

• Other snipers – you can take them out with a better chance of hitting them.
• Hovercraft & fast units – with good hit numbers they are suddenly no longer so invulnerable.
• Objective “holders” – stationary opponents in mission zones can be reliably decimated. And if a mission objective is within range and sight of a sniper, the enemy will think twice about when and whether to “occupy” the mission objective.

Conclusion on sniping tactics

Snipers are not an all-purpose solution – but in the right list they are an enormous tactical tool. They weaken the opponent before the main battle, provide protection from fire and force him to make bad decisions. It is important to keep an eye on the points investment: Don’t overdo it with snipers or you’ll lack mobility on mission objectives.

A well-deployed sniper is more than just a long-range shooter – he is a multiplier for your entire army.