Welcome to the IS Variants Tier List!
Inspired by the original internal tier list used by PGI for the original quirks, I created my own version which will be updated as the game shifts. The unique feature of this tier list is that it includes every IS variant in the game, and that there is a build linked for each one optimized for PUG play.
What with the introduction of the Meta Tier List, I’ve decided to reformat this particular list to be builds which are most appropriate for that variant, rather than being the most optimized. Might sound dumb, but going for full-on optimization leads to a lot of cookie-cutter builds on variants with unique points that I would like to be using instead. I also wanted to try to keep each variant’s build distinct from that of the other variants of that chassis, but this isn’t always do-able.
Bushwacker Patch (27-Jan-2017)
Assaults
Tier 1: Battlemaster BLR-2C, Battlemaster BLR-1G, Banshee BNC-3M, Mauler MAL-MX90
Tier 2: Stalker STK-4N, Mauler MAL-1P, Battlemaster BLR-3S, Stalker STK-3H, Stalker STK-5S, King Crab KGC-000, Banshee BNC-3E, Cyclops Sleipnir, Stalker Misery, Atlas AS7-S, Atlas AS7-D-DC, Cyclops CP-10-Q
Tier 3: Cyclops CP-11-P, Cyclops CP-11-A, Battlemaster BLR-1S , Highlander HGN-732B, Highlander HGN-732, Mauler MAL-2P, Zeus ZEU-9S, Battlemaster BLR-1D, Battlemaster BLR-3M, Battlemaster Hellslinger, Stalker STK-3F, King Crab KGC-000B, Awesome AWS-8Q, Stalker STK-3Fb, Awesome AWS-8R, Stalker STK-5M, Atlas Boar’s Head, Cyclops CP-10-Z, King Crab KGC-0000, Victor Dragon Slayer
Tier 4: Victor VTR-9B, Zeus ZEU-5S, Highlander HGN-733P, Awesome AWS-9M, Zeus ZEU-6S, Zeus ZEU-6T, Victor VTR-9K, Victor VTR-9S, Zeus ZEU-9S2, Highlander HGN-733, Highlander HGN-733C, Highlander Heavy Metal, Mauler MAL-1R, Cyclops CP-11-A-DC, Banshee BNC-3S, Banshee La Malinche, Atlas AS7-D, Atlas AS7-K, Atlas AS7-RS
Tier 5: Awesome AWS-8T, Awesome AWS-8V, Awesome Pretty Baby
Heavies
Tier 1: Grasshopper GHR-5P, Warhammer Black Widow, Warhammer WHM-6R, Warhammer WHM-6D, Grasshopper GHR-5H, Black Knight BL-7-KNT-L
Tier 2: Black Knight BL-6-KNT, Thunderbolt TDR-9SE, Catapult Jester, Jagermech JM6-DD, Marauder MAD-3R, Quickdraw QKD-5K, Quickdraw QKD-4G, Black Knight BL-6B-KNT, Black Knight BL-7-KNT, Thunderbolt Top Dog, Orion ON1-V, Marauder Bounty Hunter II, Catapult CPLT-K2, Rifleman RFL-5D, Rifleman RFL-3N
Tier 3: Catapult CPLT-A1, Catapult Butterbee, Rifleman Legend Killer, Rifleman RFL-3C, Marauder MAD-5M,Thunderbolt TDR-5SS, Cataphract CTF-3D, Thunderbolt TDR-5S, Grasshopper GHR-5N, Jagermech JM6-S, Quickdraw QKD-4H, Catapult CPLT-C4, Jagermech JM6-A, Jagermech Firebrand, Cataphract CTF-0XP, Marauder MAD-5D, Cataphract Ilya Muromets, Archer Tempest, ARC-5W
Tier 4: Cataphract CTF-3L, Catapult CPLT-C1, Warhammer WHM-7S, Thunderbolt TDR-9S, Cataphract CTF-1X, Cataphract CTF-4X, Orion Protector, Grasshopper GHR-5J, Orion ON1-VA, Orion ON1-K, Dragon Flame, Dragon DRG-1N, Archer ARC-5S, Archer ARC-2R, Cataphract CTF-2X
Tier 5: Orion ON1-M, Quickdraw IV-Four, Dragon DRG-1C, Dragon Fang, Dragon DRG-5N
Mediums
Tier 1: Enforcer ENF-4R
Tier 2: Griffin Sparky, Trebuchet TBT-5J, Griffin GRF-3M, Wolverine WVR-6K, Hunchback HBK-4P, Blackjack BJ-1, Blackjack BJ-1DC, Blackjack Arrow, Crab CRB-27B, Hunchback HBK-4J, Hunchback HBK-4SP, Griffin GRF-2N, Blackjack BJ-3, Blackjack BJ-1X, Shadowhawk SHD-2D2, Bushwacker BSW-P1, Shadowhawk SHD-2H
Tier 3: Bushwacker BSW-X1, Bushwacker BSW-X2, Hunchback HBK-4G, Shadowhawk SHD-2K, Blackjack BJ-2, Cicada CDA-3M, Shadowhawk SHD-5M, Centurion CN9-AL, Crab CRB-27SL, Bushwacker High Roller, Bushwacker BSW-P2, Bushwacker BSW-S2, Cicada CDA-2A, Cicada CDA-3F, Cicada CDA-2B, Cicada X-5, Enforcer ENF-5P, Phoenix Hawk PXH-2, Phoenix Hawk PXH-1K, Phoenix Hawk PXH-1B, Hunchback HBK-4H, Trebuchet TBT-7M, Trebuchet Loup de Guerre, Kintaro KTO-20, Shadowhawk Gray Death, Wolverine WVR-6R, Wolverine WVR-7K, Shadowhawk SHD-2D, Wolverine WVR-Q
Tier 4: Vindicator VND-1AA, Vindicator VND-1R, Crab CRB-27, Wolverine WVR-7D,Trebuchet TBT-7K, Griffin GRF-1N, Centurion CN9-A, Centurion Yen Lo Wang, Trebuchet TBT-3C, Centurion CN9-AH, Crab CRB-20, Enforcer ENF-4P, Enforcer ENF-5D, Trebuchet TBT-5N, Griffin GRF-1S, Kintaro KTO-18, Kintaro KTO-19, Kintaro Golden Boy, Hunchback Grid Iron, Centurion CN9-D, Phoenix Hawk PXH-1
Tier 5: Phoenix Hawk PXH-3S, Phoenix Hawk Kuroi Kiri, Phoenix Hawk Roc, Vindicator VND-1X, Cicada CDA-3C, Vindicator St. Ives’ Blues
Lights
Tier 1: Spider SDR-5K, Jenner Oxide
Tier 2: Raven RVN-4X, Wolfhound WLF-2, Firestarter FS9-S, Firestarter FS9-A, Firestarter FS9-K, Raven RVN-2X, Panther PNT-10K, Locust LCT-1E
Tier 3: Locust Pirates’ Bane, Locust LCT-1V, Jenner JR7-F, Firestarter FS9-H, Firestarter Ember, Wolfhound WLF-1A, Wolfhound WLF-1, Raven RVN-3L, Wolfhound WLF-1B, Urbanmech UM-R60L, Jenner JR7-D, Jenner JR7-K, Spider SDR-5D, Panther PNT-9R, Panther PNT-8Z
Tier 4: Locust LCT-3M, Raven Huginn, Commando Death’s Knell, Urbanmech UM-R60, Locust LCT-1M, Locust LCT-3S, Urbanmech UM-R63, Panther PNT-10P
Tier 5: Locust LCT-3V, Commando COM-1D, Commando COM-1B, Commando COM-3A, Commando COM-2D, Spider SDR-5V, Spider Anansi
Change Notes
I think I’ll need to do something with this, we’re reaching a critical failure of readability. Not a whole lot moved about on here, yell at me if you think that’s dumb.
Assaults
- Moved up a few Victor variants. Lots of mechs got some love, but the Victor got like 5 buffs.
Mediums
- Added the Bushwacker. Lots of the variants are quite same-y, so most are in Tier 3 near one another, but the BSW-P1 stood out to me, and I liked the -X1 and -X2 as well.