Skills define the abilities of your pilots and their performance on the battlefield. Of note is the fact that the game force you to specialize: A pilot can only have two primary skills (granted at level 5) and one specialized skill (level 8).
Skills
| Level | XP from previous | Total XP | Gunnery | Piloting | Guts | Tactics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | - | - | +2.5% ranged hit chance | +2.5% melee hit chance | -5.0% chance to die when incapacitated 3 maximum injuries |
|
| 2 | - | 0 | +5.0% ranged hit chance | +5.0% melee hit chance | -10.0% chance to die when incapacitated | |
| 3 | 400 | 400 | +7.5% ranged hit chance | +7.5% melee hit chance | -15.0% chance to die when incapacitated | |
| 4 | 900 | 1 300 | +10.0% ranged hit chance | +10.0% melee hit chance +1 unsteady threshold |
-20.0% chance to die when incapacitated 4 maximum injuries |
-1 indirect fire penalty |
| 5 | 1 600 | 2 900 | +12.5% ranged hit chance Ability: Multi-Target |
+12.5% melee hit chance Ability: Evasive Movement |
-25.0% chance to die when incapacitated -1 recoil Ability: Bulwark |
-45 m minimum range Ability: Sensor Lock |
| 6 | 2 500 | 5 400 | +15.0% ranged hit chance | +15.0% melee hit chance +1 maximum evasion |
-30.0% chance to die when incapacitated +15 overheat threshold |
Called shot bonus |
| 7 | 3 600 | 9 000 | +17.5% ranged hit chance | +17.5% melee hit chance +20% sprint distance |
-35.0% chance to die when incapacitated 5 maximum injuries |
-2 indirect fire penalty |
| 8 | 4 900 | 13 900 | +20.0% ranged hit chance Ability: Breaching Shot |
+20.0% melee hit chance Ability: Ace Pilot |
-40.0% chance to die when incapacitated -2 recoil Ability: Juggernaut |
-90 m minimum range Ability: Master Tactician |
| 9 | 6 400 | 20 300 | +22.5% ranged hit chance | +22.5% melee hit chance +2 unsteady threshold |
-45.0% chance to die when incapacitated +30 overheat threshold |
Called Shot mastery |
| 10 | 8 100 | 28 400 | +25.0% ranged hit chance | +25.0% melee hit chance +2 maximum evasion |
-50.0% chance to die when incapacitated 6 maximum injuries |
No indirect fire penalty |
Abilities
Skill-based abilities
The following abilities are derived from skills and unlocked at level five and eight respectively. A pilot can only have two primary skills (level 5) and one master skill.
| Name | Effect | Requirements | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skill |
| ||
| Multi-Target | ACTION: Fire weapons at up to three separate targets within this 'Mech's current firing arc. | Gunnery | 5 |
| Breaching Shot | PASSIVE: Attacks with a single weapon ignore COVER and GUARDED on the target. | 8 | |
| Bulwark | PASSIVE: Gain GUARDED (50% damage reduction against ranged attacks to the front and side) when remaining stationary. | Guts | 5 |
| Juggernaut | PASSIVE: Successful Melee attacks knock your target back one Initiative Phase. | 8 | |
| Evasive Movement | PASSIVE: This unit generates an extra EVASIVE charge from movement actions (up to its maximum). | Piloting | 5 |
| Ace Pilot | PASSIVE: This unit can move after shooting if it has not moved yet. | 8 | |
| Sensor Lock | ACTION: Select a target within sensor range to reveal it until the end of the current round and remove two of its EVASIVE charges. | Tactics | 5 |
| Master Tactician | PASSIVE: 'Mechs piloted by this MechWarrior gain +1 Initiative, and remove one bar of stability damage when Reserving. | 8 | |
Traits
Traits are special perks that benefit some pilots.
| Name | Effect |
|---|---|
| Improved Called Shot | PASSIVE: Called Shots taken by this MechWarrior are twice as likely to hit the targeted location. |
| Called Shot Mastery | PASSIVE: Called Shots taken by this MechWarrior are almost guaranteed to hit their location (max of 35% chance for head shots). |
| Safer DFA | PASSIVE: When performing a 'Death from Above,' this unit takes 25% less damage to its legs. |
| Increased Evasion Cap | PASSIVE: 'Mechs piloted by this MechWarrior have their EVASIVE charge cap increased by 1. |
| Increased Evasion Cap | PASSIVE: 'Mechs piloted by this MechWarrior have their EVASIVE charge cap increased by 2. |
| Increased Health | PASSIVE: This MechWarrior gains an extra point of Health. |
| Increased Health | PASSIVE: This MechWarrior gains an extra 2 points of Health. |
| Increased Health | PASSIVE: This MechWarrior gains an extra 3 points of Health. |
| Improved Indirect Fire | PASSIVE: 'Mechs piloted by this MechWarrior have their indirect fire penalties reduced by 1. |
| Improved Indirect Fire | PASSIVE: 'Mechs piloted by this MechWarrior have their indirect fire penalties reduced by 2. |
| Improved Indirect Fire | PASSIVE: 'Mechs piloted by this MechWarrior have their indirect fire penalties reduced by 3. |