The ASN-21 lives up to its name, at least against lighter units. It has astounding jump capability in addition to its ground speed and a flexible weapons package. It has poor armor for its tonnage, however, so it's best at hit-and-run attacks.

The ASN-101 is a rare Assassin variant that reduces jump capability and trims some of its already-thin armor to mount additional weapons. The extra punch meshes well with its advanced tracking systems.

In all honesty, Cicadas as a rule are very fragile. The 2A model was designed to be as fast as any light 'Mech, but that massive engine leaves little room for much else. Still, if you use it cautiously, it can be a successful scout and diversion.

The Cicada 3C is slightly slower than the 2A but has more room for weaponry and armor. It still generally underperforms in most areas except speed, but it can put up more of a fight, with better survival rates.

The 2T Vulcan is a curious 'Mech that's designed primarily for Support attacks but also mounts an AC/2. MechWarriors normally ditch it in favor of more armor or different weaponry that complements the Vulcan's close-quarter strengths.

A FedSuns favorite, the Vulcan's 5T variant dumps the standard model's AC/2 and beefs up its medium-to-close firepower and defenses. It's generally considered to be \"better\" than the 2T, but it's also harder to come by.

Blackjack 1s are solid, well-rounded 'Mechs for their tonnage. They typically mount Jump Jets, which give them an extra edge by repositioning quickly to keep a direct line of fire for their Autocannons.

With the BJ-1DB, the Federated Suns have revised the Blackjack into a dedicated fire support 'Mech. The 1DB's two large lasers can burn through heavily-armored targets at long range without sacrificing a medium 'Mech's maneuverability. Two large lasers at 45 tons! That's the pitch for the BJ-1DB. Out of the box, this 'Mech lays down fantastic firepower at long range, and can keep it going for long engagements.

Hatchetman 3Fs are the king of the close quarters fight. Packing high impact short range weaponry, and a unique melee Hatchet, any target is in danger when close to the Hatchetman. The Hatchetman's lighter armor requires it to rely on maneuvering and ambushing to stay in the fight.

The Hatchetman 3X further indexes on the stock design's close combat role, adding more armor and replacing its AC10 for an array of SRMs, Lasers, and Anti-Personnel weapons. This is the ultimate melee brawler.

The PXH-1 is one of the most elegant and agile 'Mechs around, boasting good armor and decent weapons. Sadly, its heat buildup is also noteworthy. Savvy MechWarriors take advantage of this 'Mech's jump capability to land timely shots and then reposition to another vantage point.

The Kurita-modified PXH-1K removes almost all of its jump capability in favor of better armor and heat management. This makes it less flexible in more restrictive environments, but it's still a nimble and reliable skirmisher.

The Phoenix Hawk 1B is a highly advanced 'Mech that was provided only to the SLDF's Royal Divisions. It's an extremely rare find, and a powerful striker that can execute devastating flanking maneuvers.

Vindicator 1Rs tend to deal their damage at range while moving in for closer attacks. Typically well armored, they're capable of some surprise attacks due to their jump capability and above-average heat efficiency.

The VND-1AA carries only half the armor of the more common VND-1R, but uses the saved weight to upgrade the engine. The finished design is a very mobile medium 'Mech suitable for skirmishing and 'shoot and scoot' sniping. The 'Avenging Angel' only has 4.5 tons of armor, and tries to make up for that with greater speed and jump capability. I'm not sure its test pilots were all that happy with the results, but the VND-1AA is still a fast way to move a PPC and a few LRMs around the edge of a fight.

A sturdy and reliable 'Mech, the Centurion is good at both taking and giving a beating. CN9-A models are able to engage at any range, but their damage curve increases as they approach a target.

The AL variant of the Centurion tends to trade the larger burst damage of an Autocannon for more energy weaponry and heavier armor. ALs can take an incredible amount of damage for their size but still pack a good punch.

Crab 20s fulfill an oft overlooked role, that of a skirmisher with firepower. Wielding strong energy weapons, the Crab delivers a punch at nearly all ranges, with no ammunition constraints. The blend of firepower, heat efficiency, and speed make the Crab the perfect 'Mech to raid enemy positions.

The Crab 27B is a very old model that dates back to the days of the Star League. Its energy weapons are all rare, upgraded versions of the tech found on the CRB-20, allowing it to hit harder while still requiring no ammunition. Improved heat sinking also keeps it comparatively cool.

Enforcer 4R models combine the hefty power of an Autocannon and massive Laser with the mobility of Jump Jets. Able to engage at medium-long all the way to point-blank range, these Mechs are flexible and surprising in combat.

The Hunchback 4G is a tried and tested juggernaut on the field. One of the lightest 'Mechs to mount such a massive Autocannon, it is capable of destroying some lighter units in a single volley. It tends to mount heavy armor to boot.

The 4P version of the Hunchback trades the singular impact of a massive Autocannon for a frightening array of lighter Energy weaponry that is actually capable of dealing more damage overall. This all comes at the cost of greatly increased heat buildup, of course.

One of the lightest dedicated fire support 'Mechs to be found, the Trebuchet 5N can mount enough missiles to give even heavy units pause. However, 'Trenchbuckets' are known for running hot and don't have much in the way of protection.

An odd overhaul of the Trebuchet, the TBT-7K model does away with LRMs in order to serve in a more direct-fire support role. What this design loses in missile power it makes up for in the flexibility of the weaponry it can mount.

Griffin 1Ns use their Jump Jets to stay at range and pelt their opponents from relative safety. 1Ns can run hot if they spend all their time bounding around the battlefield taking potshots, though.

Griffin 1Ss mount closer-range weaponry than their 1N cousins, allowing them to jump in for closer attacks and then move away to disengage or flank. They're generally better at dealing with heat buildup, too.

The Griffin 2N is an old Star League model that was among the most versatile 'Mechs in its heyday. Its weapons generated a lot of heat, but the old Double Heat Sinks were put in to handle it. It's almost impossible to find those anymore, though.

The Kintaro 18 is a beast of a machine. It's fast for its size, mounts heavy armor, and can literally shred most other 'Mechs with its almost ridiculous amount of close-range weaponry. But, it runs hotter than Hell's saunas.

The Shadow Hawk 2H is the perfect example of a 'jack-of-all-trades.' It supports weaponry for all ranges, has respectable speed and jump capability, and mounts decent armor. This comes at the cost of excelling at nothing in particular.

The Shadow Hawk 2D is an interesting model. Its default payload sacrifices a lot of armor to mount a bit more firepower, though some argue the tradeoff isn't worth it. Its Alpha Strikes are better, though, so I guess you can be the judge.

Wolverine 6Rs are fairly flexible in terms of weaponry ranges, tending somewhat more toward closer engagements. This is supported by their jump capability and pretty decent heat management.

Wolverine 6K models don't usually include Jump Jets in order to mount more Energy weaponry, Heat Sinks, and armor.