Mechabellum puts its large selection of big bots and vehicles under the spotlight. As an auto chess-style game, the depth here comes from knowing how units work and finding ways to make the most out of every single one of them.

It's important to note that Mechabellum is all about adapting to the enemy, as is the case with most strategy games. The chosen units here aren't necessarily the best ones to use in every match. However, they are very flexible, and they can force opponents to react first instead of the other way around.

8 Crawlers

Inexpensive Chaff For Screening Attacks

Crawler unit preview in Mechabellum
Mechabellum Crawler preview
  • Cost: 100
  • Role: Cannon Fodder
  • Targets: Ground only

Every army needs basic units to absorb damage, and Crawlers are pretty much the best option players have when it comes to this role. They're cheap, numerous, and useful in almost every match. They don't have much in terms of survivability, but if they do somehow reach the enemy, they can quickly spell trouble for whatever unfortunate bot they end up attacking.

Swap Crawlers out for Fangs if the enemy starts with aerial units.

7 Sledgehammer

Reliable Main Battle Tanks

Sledgehammer preview in Mechabellum
Mechabellum Sledgehammer tank preview
  • Cost: 200
  • Role: General Purpose
  • Targets: Ground only

Sledgehammers are your typical frontline tanks that are fairly sturdy and capable of dishing out a decent beating. They aren't terribly impressive at first, but when upgraded, they can serve as a solid frontline for any army. A strong Sledgehammer start will often force players into going for Phoenixes or Wasps, so be prepared to deal with flying units.

Gurney From Dune Spice Wars and Northgard Viking
Real-Time Strategy Games That Don't Focus On Speed

A timer can make anything more stressful. Adding one to RTS games may be too much for a newcomer. These are great RTS titles that don't require speed.

6 Stormcaller

Long-Range Rocket Batteries

Stormcaller unit preview in Mechabellum
Mechabellum Stormcaller preview
  • Cost: 200
  • Role: Artillery
  • Targets: Ground Only

Stormcallers serve as high-damage backline units similar to most other auto battler games. They rain down rockets from afar, devastating both chaff and armored units alike. However, they'll need plenty of support to compensate for their slow rate of fire and relative defenselessness up close. Stormcallers are easily countered by Mustangs with Missile Interceptors, so try not to spam these units.

5 Mustang

Versatile Light Tanks

Mustang Preview for Mechabellum
Mechabellum Mustang tank preview
  • Cost: 200
  • Role: General Purpose
  • Targets: Air and Ground

Mustangs are all-purpose tanks that deal excellent damage against fodder units and, when in large groups, they can take down even giant units with relative ease. These tanks are the solution to air unit and rocket artillery spam, but they tend to suffer when enemies start fielding heavily-armored targets. Mustangs are countered by anti-swarm units like Arclights, Fire Badgers, and Vulcans.

9-Best-Grand-Strategy-Games-For-Building-Empires-From-Scratch
Best Grand Strategy Games For Building Empires From Scratch

Gamers who enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes from forging an empire from scratch will find much to love in these grand strategy games.

4 Phoenix

High-Damage Strike Craft

Phoenix unit preview in Mechabellum
Mechabellum Phoenix preview
  • Cost: 200
  • Role: Anti-Unit
  • Targets: Air and Ground

Phoenixes are great when enemies start with Sledgehammers, Steel Balls, or any other units that can't attack aircraft. These work similar to Marksmen, in the sense that they're mostly for killing high-health targets. They suffer against chaff, even more so against masses of Mustangs and Wasps. However, they can turn even giant units into scrap if they make it past the initial scuffles.

3 Steel Ball

Fast-Moving, Heavy Unit Killers

Steel Ball in Mechabellum
Mechabellum Steel Ball preview
  • Cost: 200
  • Role: Anti-Unit
  • Targets: Ground Only

If enemies start fielding high-health units like Arclights and Rhinos, then Steel Balls are the way to go. These can melt tanks and mechs within seconds, and they're frustratingly hard to kill as well. Steel Balls are the bane of tanks and giant units, but since they deal no splash damage, large groups of Crawlers, Mustangs, or even Fangs can get rid of them reliably, which is why spamming one type of unit typically isn't a good practice in Mechabellum.

2 Marksman

Affordable And Effective Snipers

Marksman bot in Mechabellum
Mechabellum Marksman preview
  • Cost: 100
  • Role: Anti-Unit
  • Targets: Air and Ground

Marksmen are designed to fight high HP units from a distance. They're great if the enemy starts with Sledgehammers, Steel Balls, and Arclights, but they need anti-swarm units to keep chaff off their crosshairs. The Assault Mode tech upgrade can convert Marksmen into close-range anti-swarm units with high speed and strong splash damage.

1 Arclight

Cheap, Medium-Sized Swarm Killer

Arclight in mechabellum
Mechabellum Arclight preview
  • Cost: 100
  • Role: Anti-Swarm
  • Targets: Ground Only

Arclights look like they came straight from a MechWarrior game, and they are easily the best when it comes to dealing with fodder like Crawlers, Fangs, and Mustangs. When upgraded, they can take on Sledgehammer tank columns as well. It's hard to go wrong with an Arclight start, but players will have to be careful with potential Marksman, Wasp, and Steel Ball counters that might head their way.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
Mechabellum Tag Page Cover Art
Mechabellum
Display card tags widget
Strategy
Action
Simulation
Display card system widget
Systems
Display card community and brand rating widget Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget
Released
September 26, 2024
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Developer(s)
Game River
Publisher(s)
Paradox Arc
Engine
unity
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Steam Deck Compatibility
Playable
Platform(s)
PC
Genre(s)
Strategy, Action, Simulation
Mechabellum Press Image 6