Mechabellum tips for new commanders

Let's dive deeper into Mechabellum—the explosive PVP autobattler where strategy trumps reflexes. Here’s how to outthink, outmaneuver and obliterate your opponents as a new player.

1. Master the phases: planning vs. combat

• Planning phase (60% of your success):

  • Commit to your choices: Once units are placed or upgraded in a round, you can’t undo them. Every decision must build toward a long-term strategy.

  • Anticipate future rounds: Leave space for reinforcements or flanking units. A cramped formation gets wrecked by AOE.

• Combat phase (learn & adapt):

  • Watch which units die first and how enemy formations collapse. Did their crawlers overwhelm your frontline? Adjust next round.

2. Specialists & starting units: Build a foundation

• Specialist selection:

  • A specialist offering early units pairs well with aggressive flanking.

  • One with bonus supply suits economy-focused play.

  • Starter units matter: If your specialist gives Crawlers + Fangs, lean into swarm tactics early. If they offer Sledgehammers, build a tank-heavy core.

3. Economy: Supply is your lifeline

• Prioritize income:

  • Supply increases by 200/round, but unlocking larger units (e.g., Fortresses) costs extra. Balance unlocking new units vs. upgrading existing ones.

  • Unlock strategically:

    • Early game: Grab cheap, versatile units (Crawlers, Fangs or Mustangs for anti-air/AOE).

    • Mid-game: Invest in high-impact techs (e.g., Phoenix sniper range).

• Sell underperformers: If your Melting Point is getting destroyed by chaff every round, sell it and pivot to AOE units like Vulcan.

4. Towers: The heart of your strategy

• Left tower provides temporary buffs:

  • "Take a loan" gives +300 supply now but costs -100 next round—use it for a game-ending push.

  • "Extra deploy" lets you place 3 units instead of 2. Ideal for surprise flank attacks.

• Right tower provides permanent upgrades:

  • Attack stats: level 1 and level 2

  • Defense stats: level 1 and level 2

  • Mobile beacon: Reposition units mid-battle. Key for saving snipers or redirecting tanks.

  • Oil slick: Slow enemies in a lane. Pair with fire units (Vulcans) for chaos.

• Defend or destroy towers:

  • Losing a tower applies a damage debuff to your army. Protect yours with steel (Rhinos) or sacrifice a tower to bait enemies into a nuke.

5. Unit roles & hard counters

• Swarm Units (Crawlers/Fangs):

  • Strength: Overwhelm with numbers.

  • Counter: Arclights (AOE lightning), Vulcans (flamethrowers), or Mustangs with anti-swarm tech.

• Tanks (Sabertooth, Fortress, Sledgehammers or Rhinos):

  • Strength: Soak damage for DPS units.

  • Counter: Melting Points (armor-piercing lasers) or e.g.: Scorpions (high single-target damage).

• Air Units (Wasps, Phoenix, , Phantom Rays, Wraiths or Overlords):

  • Strength: Ignore ground units and snipe towers from flank.

  • Counter: Mustangs with anti-air upgrades or Marksmen (prioritize air targeting).

6. Positioning: Win before the fight starts

• Frontline: Use Rhinos or Fortresses to block chokepoints. Add Shield Tech to Fangs to create a “wall” for squishy DPS.

• Backline: Protect Phoenixes (snipers) and Vulcans (AOE) behind tanks.

• Flanking (Post-Round 1):

  • Send Crawlers or Wasps to attack undefended towers. Even if they die, they split enemy forces.

7. Battlefield devices: Turn the tide

• Anti-Missile Turret: Essential vs. heavy missile units, e.g.: Stormcallers.

• Proximity Mines: Drop them on common flanking paths.

• Energy Shield: Protect key units from artillery in the first 10 seconds of combat.

8. Tech upgrades: Quality over quantity

• Focus on 2-3 Core Units:

  • Example: Upgrade Mustangs with +AOE damage and anti-air missiles to counter swarms and air.

  • Avoid spreading upgrades across 5+ unit types—you’ll run out of supply.

• Elite Units: A Level 2 Phoenix with +30% range can snipe backline units safely.

9. Post-round choices: high-risk, high-reward

• Reinforcements vs. Abilities:

  • Reinforcements (e.g., Overlord) are reliable but predictable.

  • Abilities (e.g., Nuke) can surprise enemies but require precise timing.

• Rare units: The Overseer can be very situational and sometimes help to snowball the game.

10. Advanced mind games

• Bait the Nuke: Place cheap units in a cluster to trick enemies into wasting their nuke. Use mobile beacon to change key unit pathing so you could save them.

• Fake flanks: Deploy a single Crawler on a flank to force the enemy to split their defense.

• Tech bluff: Invest in a few stormcallers and if you notice that enemy buys mustangs and invests in Missile Intercept upgrade - sell them.

• Combine flank pressure + AOE + air units to overwhelm their decision-making.

• Watch replays—especially your losses. Why did your Phoenix die first? Did you neglect flanks? Fix one mistake at a time.

🎯 Final Tip: Mechabellum is chess with explosions. Every loss teaches you a counter. Every win teaches you a new strategy. Now get out there and crush the competition!