BATTLETECH The Atlas

It is the symbol of #Battletech for a reason. Today, we are covering what I would argue is the most important #mech in the #Mechwarrior franchise. I normally don’t do videos this long, and this will not become the norm, but if any mech deserves the additional coverage, it’s the #ATLAS. Dreamt up by General Alexander #Kerensky, the Atlas would serve the #SLDF and #StarLeague well, all the way through the #AmarisCivilWar, and would continue its reign of terror in the #SuccessionWars. Great Houses all crave it, and know its power as not only a weapon of war, but as a symbol. The #DraconisCombine, #FederatedSuns, and #LyranCommonwealth would be ‘blessed’, if you could call it blessed, by the facilities to make more of these beasts.
But that is neither here nor there. From my personal perspective, this is the greatest mech for so many reasons, and you’ll find out in the video we have here why. I should also say, that I have been in tabletop wargames for 28 years, starting with Battletech, and the first #Battlemech, indeed, the first MINIATURE I ever owned in my life, bought for me at the main hobby story I lived near, was the Atlas. I didn’t know then what a great journey I’d be on in terms of my enjoyment of this hobby space, but I personally can thank this design for inspiring me when I was a kid. It seems fitting to really delve into this as a result.
The video covers the Atlas from across time, and goes into detail covering 5 distinct models of the #AS7 and #AS8 design.
By the time you finish, you will see why I call it the #KingoftheMonsters.
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#Battletech #Mechwarrior #HouseKurita #HouseDavion #HouseMarik #HouseSteiner #HouseLiao #Battlemech #SuccessionWars #Mechwarrior #Assault #AssaultMechs #AssaultBattlemechs #Atlas #CatalystGameLabs #CGL #StarLeague #Sldf #Terranhegemony #LCAF #LyranCommonwealth #DCMS #DraconisCombine #AFFS #FederatedSuns #FederatedCommonwealth #Atlasbattletech
Note: I am not associated with the Battletech / Mechwarrior IP, and create this under fair-use. Ownership of the Battletech IP resides with several companies at this time. I support all official releases.

[@GliderBane]

On the tabletop, the Atlas's biggest weakness is its reputation. I have seen teams start to panic, and focus the Atlas. While it has the armor to weather the beating, they usually find themselves flat on their back, failing the pilot rolls after taking 40 plus damage. They are then usually maneuvered on and destroyed. However, the offending team is usually in trouble because they ignored the rest of the enemy team.

[@razgrizdefias]

Ah the destraction Carnifex effect i know it well.

[@CharlesUrban]

Distraction Atlas!

[@dickc.normous6369]

The only time I fought an Atlas on TT I head capped it on turn one with a Clan ER PPC and I've never seen my brother so salty. But yeah in most cases just circle behind it and destroy its rear armor

[@scolack123]

I have for this reason increased the piloting skill regularly on mine

[@Alex-pj8nz]

Atlas 3 is very good at this.

[@nobodyspecial9097]

“The scouts have reported in” “The city is no longer standing” “The scouting missions was successful”

[@BigRed40TECH]

There is no single reference to them being scouts in this video, lol.

[@gusty9053]

No one can spot you if they are just a smudge on the bottom of a crater :)).

[@wolf2965]

@@BigRed40TECH This is how you know stealth has been achieved.

[@revolcane]

@@BigRed40TECH Exactly, that is how great of a scout they are. Can't reference if the referencer is ash. :P

[@malusignatius]

*Ominous Oompah music starts playing*

[@osogitzgraymane72]

>Kodiak shoulder checks an atlas >Kodiak bounces off Kodiak pilot: I have taken a calculated risk ... I now realize how bad I am at arithmatic...

[@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723]

"There are many scary things on a battlefield. Just the presence of a Light 'Mech is enough to scare most infantry into asking for armor support. Anything like a Heavy stepping out onto the field is enough to get me to demand friendly 'Mech support. But nothing is as terrifying as watching Death's Head appear from battle-smoke." -Captain Elias Tobire, describing his first encounter with an Atlas ASD-7-HT

[@Ahrone1586]

Book?

[@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723]

@@Ahrone1586 it was the old black and white comics/manuals

[@Dracobyte]

Thanks for the answer!​@@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723

[@yecnay25]

Whatever you want to say about MW5 is probably valid, but that Atlas on the cover staring down at you looks both tired and menacing. An ancient titan of war who’s trudged through oceans of blood.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Damn right.

[@Ironknuckle100]

Perfectly said.

[@nameless9573]

Perfectly said

[@Ahrone1586]

What

[@Dracobyte]

Well said!

[@StressmanFIN]

Atlas points a finger upwards. "I am the one, who stands at the pinnacle of *all* Battlemechs."

[@Morec0]

I bet it's the middle finger.

[@bthsr7113]

@@Morec0 it would be.

[@alexbrown1930]

I think it says something that "Brutal Punch," the picture of the Atlas punching into the cockpit of the Warhawk is still one of the most iconic pictures in all of BattleTech.

[@PRC533]

It's my favorite card which I still use as profile pics in a few places. I can still quote the flavor text from memory "It's a Masakari, keep your guard up, lead with your left and aim for the faceplate."

[@DaMasterPilot]

If you remember the opening on mechwarrior 3 that's Big Ben the atlas that took out the timberwolf.

[@Dracobyte]

Classic Battletech image!

[@thevoidlookspretty7079]

The imagery of Kerensky’s Orion being followed by Aaron’s Atlas paints a clear message: Star League has come, and it has brought death with it.

[@snakes3425]

Kerensky: Does anyone else have a problem with Star League leadership?

[@Chris_Sizemore]

The Atlas dominates any battlefield it enters. How can you tell? Everyone develops special tactics to take on the Atlas. The Atlas? Never changes its tactics. It doesn't matter what mech you bring against it, the Atlas plays by its own rules. The Atlas will slowly approach, grinding at your defenses until the resistance melts away. The Atlas' tactic is made for all comers. Whatever you are piloting, it is nothing special as far as the Atlas is concerned. Everybody gets treated as an equal before Death.

[@jasonames145]

Wish I could like this comment more than once! Truth!

[@rylian21]

The Atlas definitely has to change tactics against the King Crab. It cannot brawl toe to toe with that beast and so does best staying back and using its advantage at longer range to wear down the enemy's armor.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Also, if it decides to be aggressive, you can really offset the King Crab, and if there is terrain, you can try to pressure him into firing less likely rounds at you. It's got VERY limited ammunition.

[@penis0100]

You can say: Atlas there is the enemy or there is the target; go forth and destroy or conquer!

[@Littlelostdragon]

Will never forget a match in battle tech on PC, I actually decided to hold my Atlas back letting my friend ping my mechs further up. He normally can ping maybe 2 before we actually clash so when he thought he was charging a hidden long range mech, I then charged it out showing its not a arti mech I was keeping in reserve, but a full Atlas ready for battle. It melted his centurion to slag on the opening salvo and he full on panicked. At which point, its easy to wrap a battle up.

[@dathore]

ahh yes, the Atlas, the crown jewel of any assault lance, capable of handling entire lances of smaller machines in the hands of a skilled pilot, it may be slow, but it's a moving bastion, it treads where it pleases and turns everything to dust and bent metal as it makes it's way through it's domain, the battlefield. This was and will always be my favorite mech ever, this is the mech that got me into the series, the mech that got me into the lore, and my all time goal in ANY mechwarrior or battletech game I play, to field at least 1 of these beasts and see my enemies crumble as I punch through their lines, ridding the biggest assault mech they've ever seen, Kerensky's legacy lives in this machine, and it embodies it well, and it has the honor of being the chosen chariot of a true legend, General Aaron DeChivalier, Kerensky's right hand man, and a true hero of the inner sphere.

[@haroldcarfrey4206]

I personally prefer the Devastator, Banshee-5S, and/or the Highlander 732 over the Atlas...

[@rylian21]

While the Atlas doesn't even crack my top 5 favorite assault mechs, there is no doubt that it absolutely MUST be given respect on the battlefield. Other contemporaries can outmaneuver or outgun it, but none of them have the Atlas's balance of weaponry making it capable of dealing significant damage at any range bracket.

[@joshuamidgette4846]

A line can be drawn from the Atlas, to the omnimech later created by the descendants of its designers the Executioner-B which kept the deaths head. Then the Lyrans decided to cap the axe pack with the Beserker, which has done away with the deaths head for a more aerodynamic form that now breathes fire at you as it approaches at 86.4 km/h to hack you down with its massive hatchet.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Love the Berseker. I'd argue it's a bit more of a relative of the Hatchetman / Axman though. I can't WAIT until we get a plastic, new design of the Berserker though.

[@joshuamidgette4846]

@@BigRed40TECH Yep, I need to check but if not someone should definitely mod the Berserker into MW5.

[@DIEGhostfish]

@@BigRed40TECH It's the result of a sordid love affair between an Atlas and an Axeman. And the Kodiak is some tube baby getting drunk and deciding to mix an Atlas and a Bear, and then making it fast.

[@tenchraven]

The Beserker begs for TSM.

[@joshuamidgette4846]

@@tenchraven BRZ-C3

[@AZJamieone]

My favorite mech! It lumbers at you, firing at each range band to make sure that by the time it comes to stomp you, you're heavily damaged and can't do a damn thing about it

[@derekburge5294]

Every time anti-ballistic armor gets installed, a Davion player somewhere sheds a single tear.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Installed on an Atlas, it might as well be a river of tears.

[@DIEGhostfish]

Yeah but in IlClan era they apparently have gotten themselves a CERPPC factory, finally ending their love affair with ballistics.

[@Alex-pj8nz]

That's what RE lasers are for which only the Fed Sun have brand new.

[@Charon-5582]

Is ballistic resistant armor battlefist proof?

[@Alex-pj8nz]

@@Charon-5582 I think so

[@brianhenry152]

Your choice of the term "juggernaut" is quite accurate when describing the Atlas. Its reputation as King of the Battlefield is well earned. It's one of those iconic designs that can be found all over, but never fails to make even grizzled veterans sweat. I agree on all points for this video. Great work!

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thank you!

[@garretbrockman2807]

Gotta love the go-to Steiner scout mech

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's really not the go-to Steiner mech.

[@garretbrockman2807]

@@BigRed40TECH I think Tex from the BPL has turned the "Steiner Scout Lance" into too much of a meme, just about anything Atlas related will have someone bringing it up

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@garretbrockman2807 Oh I know. I find it annoying as hell tbh. I like Tex's stuff, but I hate the "Steiner Scout" meme.

[@joshuamidgette4846]

The steiner scout lance has been around before the meme was a thing. And don't forget the Highlander for light fire support.

[@garretbrockman2807]

@@joshuamidgette4846 I'm still newish to the community, Tex was the first I saw of the SSL 😅

[@blue95kun]

If you can get your hands on an Atlas, there’s oodles of fun to be had with the firepower it can attract. But never, ever field an Atlas K. Who fields ER Large Lasers with single heat sinks?

[@punkrat3305]

A whole 8 more seconds than i was promised! Can't wait!

[@Kasumi69118]

I've found that the weapons loadout of the Atlas are perfect not for punching holes open and then exploiting them, but rather the weapons sandblast off the armor to the point where the AC20 starts chopping off entire limbs. It's a perfect little microcosm of the weapons where, a single AC20, while devastating, usually won't blow a limb clean off of a heavy or assault mech, and compliments of SRM's, LRM's and even medium lasers tend to very cleanly sandpaper off enemy armor, while not ever really causing things to blow apart unless you get lucky and hit an ammo bin. (Though, I suppose that's also just a consequence of a time without CASE.)

[@ParadoxriftsAU]

The larger the scale of the battle an Atlas finds itself in, the better it preforms. The majority of the time when people are playing on the tabletop they simply don't have the time required to play out the kinds of conflicts measured in battle value where the Atlas truly shines.

[@passgo8507]

My assault go-to. My daughter’s favorite mech. The biggest beast in a brawl. My love for this thing is indescribable. Every time I’ve fielded this monstrosity, it’s made my opponent pause quite a bit, if not lose altogether.

[@aquarius5719]

Make it face a Stalker. Keep the Stalker outside Atlas range.

[@dubuyajay9964]

You going to buy her one for her birthday? 💀🎂🍰🧁🎁🎈🎉🎊🧨🎇🎆

[@dzeclectic2327]

"Legal problems pushed many of the more famous mechs into the category of the unseen." The polite way of saying, "Harmony Gold are a bunch of wankers." Another great video bro.

[@ShadrackMeduson]

i hate harmony gold soo much not just for all the damage they caused to battletech/mechwarrior overall but also because its their fault macross has been in a coma for decades.

[@steveharrison76]

My personal favourite Assault 'Mech, which I guess is predictable of me (Though I am fond of the Annihilator too). My commander in Battletech (the 2018 PC game) pilots a Star-League version of this mad lad with two gauss rifles and two PPCs. It's set up to be a one-hit, one-kill machine that I use to shoot the heads off of enemy mechs that I want. It's got improved gyros and arm servos, and two small pulse lasers for if the enemy gets close as a backup. 'I sniped you directly in the face and you're still going? Well, then... guess it's PUNCH TIME!!!' It runs cool, so it can do this all day erry day. Jump capable to boot. I've also got a Catalyst Games model on order - it's taking it's time because of needing to get resupplied from the US (I'm in the UK, and our customs borders are currently overwhelmed with work due to... something) but I cannot wait to lay my hands on that sweet mini. All in all, it's a frighteningly good 'mech. It's going to be the centrepiece of this little merc outfit project I've got on the boil. I'm (personally) a bit more fond of the light and medium mechs myself, but only a damn fool would turn down the chance to unleash one of these leviathans on the foe. A classic.

[@dandylion1987]

I will say I don't like the headshot cheese of vanilla BT. double Gauss marauder with maxed out pilots and you have a 35 percent chance to HS per Gauss, it's just broken. makes missions trivial after that

[@mr6johnclark]

The Atlas the Icon... Just as recognized as the Urbanmech. I like the one with ECM in MWO.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Booooo. But yea, ECM Atlas is ruthless.

[@rickyal9810]

@@BigRed40TECH Was my first MWO mech. All my friends bought a heavy mech as soon as their intro C-bill boost expired. I kept playing trial mechs until i could get the D-DC.

[@michaellaramee1965]

I love the point about Atlas pilots post SLDF exodus being basically the cornerstone of a house's power. This old nobility that claim to fame is that they are sitting on 100 tons of pure firepower, the equivalent of having a Valyarian Steel sword from Game of Thrones

[@malusignatius]

The Atlas is an icon, and with good reason. It's a juggernaut. However, it's not invulnerable, and until the AS-7K comes around, it can be plinked to death at range by dedicated long range 'mechs with relative impunity. Not to mention it's slow enough that mobile 'mechs pose a serious threat to it's rear arc. Like any breakthrough unit, it's fearsome, but if you don't give an Atlas support, it's liable to get isolated and taken apart.

[@bezyn2291]

And the best support for Atlas is 3 more Atlases.

[@Charon-5582]

Any mech will get picked apart if it strays too far from the line and isn't careful.

[@malusignatius]

@@Charon-5582 Very true. Though, people don't generally rhino-rush as much with 'mechs that don't have the Atlas' reputation.

[@TheAchilles26]

I mean, even the default 3025 Atlas has an LRM15, so it's not necessarily with impunity that anyone's plinking away

[@malusignatius]

@@TheAchilles26 LRM 20 actually, but that's one long ranged weapon with erratic firepower. Hence me using the term 'relative' instead of total or absolute. The point is, there's plenty of heavy or even medium 'mechs that can out-do the Atlas for firepower at range and take it apart if they can keep the Atlas at arm's length.

[@rip.tear.]

Im a MWO player, and it was good to learn about the Atlas in such a well thought out and interesting video. It's often the best mech to be behind as its quirks mean it can absorb allot but equally you cant ignore it because of the weapon systems.

[@PRC533]

My absolute favorite card from the CCG was called Brutal Punch and it had a picture of an atlas punching a masakari in the cockpit. The flavor text said "It's a Masakari, keep your guard up, lead with your left and aim for the faceplate."

[@tullyDT]

I managed to kill one with a panther once. I hid in the woods and sniped it as it closed and jumped from cover to cover It was a death by papercuts affair until I got managed to cause an ammo explosion. I think I used a years worth of luck that game

[@Eulemunin]

Done that. But I have killed at lest 3 in cities with Spiders and Venoms. Don’t always shift those ML!

[@eddapultstab2078]

I used called shots with marauder ppc and autocannon fire while nestled in a heavy woods with light woods around me. it's a shooting blind that allowed me to take nice pot shots when I can. it doesn't work practically in many situations but stopping an offensive push gives leeway.

[@tullyDT]

Unless you have something like an Awesome that can duke it out with it, you need to employ a lot of fuckery and hope for a bit of luck. I feel like there's a song to be made about fighting an Atlas in sub optimal mechs using The Gambler by Kenny Rogers

[@witherrose1566]

There in lies the flaw with this machine Slow, short range firepower does nothing when most machines can pelt it to death from long range, and out maneuver the thing. Most people are too afraid of it’s reputation to realize its a slow flailing baby.

[@stormcrow28]

The Atlas is indeed an impressive unit, tough, capable, and possesses large amounts of firepower. For the Succession Wars era, I prefer the AS7-RS with its two Large Lasers, LRM-15, SRM-4, and AC/10 to the AS 7D's shorter range punch, as the RS has a better balanced option for each range bracket. The K and S Clan Invasion and beyond series both have their excellent uses, ranging from the K variant that mounts a C3 to the 8S which has an Improved Gauss and more to kill the masses with.

[@CRAZYUNCLE117]

Godzilla would walk up with the look of "I'm the king." Then catch an mechhunter AC-20 to the face. Then the pilot would look down at him and say, "You were saying?"

[@andrewboyer7544]

I uh... don't think the Atlas can lift its firing arc high enough to hit Godzilla... he's kinda way bigger than an Atlas and he tanks nukes. I get what you're trying to say but the big lizard could damn near kill a clan galaxy. 100 tons vs 25,000 tons.

[@CRAZYUNCLE117]

@@andrewboyer7544 So just play tonnage vs tonnage. The giant iguana won't last 1 turn.

[@tumate45]

Yep, this was definitly an enjoyable video, no doubt about it. Good to hear about the latest variants too, not only the star league and clan era ones. Keep it up

[@BigRed40TECH]

If I'm going to do it, why not deep dive it? :)

[@Dracobyte]

This is an awesome channel!

[@WolfHreda]

Damn, a half hour?! Couldn't have picked a better 'mech for it, honestly. It's a big boy and deserves a big video.

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's the only one I planned to do this long from the start. Though tbh, I was expecting it to be 20 minutes, lol.

[@Dracobyte]

An iconic mech deserves a special video!

[@Gigas0101]

I don't like using the Atlas, but I got a ton of respect for it. You don't gotta do any one thing all that good if an entire lance can't stop you from doing any of it adequately.

[@faithmcclosky4528]

Awesome video as always, Red. I was a little worried when I saw the length of the video, but you did a great job of staying focused and telling the story that needed to be told. This is an iconic design and you gave it the full treatment.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I was worried when I realized itwas going to be a half hour too, but I think it worked out. It seems to have.

[@braddl9442]

My first Battletech set was the third edition box set, full of the now Unseen mechs in plastic form for 25 bucks. Those designs were a big part of Battletech for me the face of Battletech to me is the Warhammer because that was what pulled me in on the box art, they are what actually got me interested in robotech and not the other way around so harmony gold being jerks prob lost themselves more audience if they had just let things be.

[@spacewolfblackmane19]

Simply put one of my all time favorites, though if I could I would give mine a battle axe so that I style on my opponents all the more when it comes time for the "mech-fu"

[@BigRed40TECH]

You my friend, want a Berserker. lol

[@Ghorum]

Sincerely hoping you did this in Mechwarrior 5

[@lukechaplin3263]

That cutscene from the mechwarrior game that never was at the end really got me hyped and got me back into btech when it released.

[@BigRed40TECH]

It was a hype moment when that came out.

[@hideshisface1886]

Atlas is basically an amalgam of firepower and staying power. Very well armoured, very well armed - with pretty much every part of the mech covered in guns - making it a threat at almost any range. Sure, there are better mechs for specialised roles, but few mech can act as well as an 'anchor' unit of sorts. It is basically a brute force mech with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer, but that is a the whole point.

[@Gillymonster18]

The Atlas is any unit’s “You and what army? All those guys? Ok, they’re going down with me.” It’ll last: either long enough to kill all its foes and then walk away, or long enough to make sure they don’t recover, even if they win. You want to stay at range? Good luck getting through its armor while it whittles you down. You want to get in close? Good luck surviving it’s firepower.

[@Chromevod]

Probably one of, if not the most balanced and overall effective assault 'mechs. The King Crab is still my preference, but in part because of that preference I understand it has its limitations in comparison to the poster boy. The Atlas earned its legendary reputation and is loved for good reason.

[@sebastiang.5032]

If there's one Battletech miniature I love to paint, it's the Atlas. The Deaths Head is always fun to paint.

[@Mirpurmad]

the Atlas mech looked like an American football player to me fort some reason. I was introduced to this mech in late 90s when I played Mech Commander.

[@theodoreschott3293]

The Atlas was my first Mech I ever owned and the one I still like the most

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's my first miniature ever. :)

[@Cynidecia]

Second only to the Timber wolf in terms of popularity. A powerful mech indeed.

[@jabronijones90]

I got to say, I really like these long form videos. I hope to see more in the future! 👍👍👍

[@BigRed40TECH]

You won't. :) lol

[@AdairCorbin]

@@BigRed40TECH Will we get one for your favorite mech?

[@BigRed40TECH]

Hm? Unlikely. The Wolverine and Warhammer are unlikely to be covered in this way.

[@sigilsun]

Using a mix of Clan tech and IS tech I modified an Atlas base that carried 10 Med lasers (IS), 2 Gauss Rifles (Clan), max armour and jump jets and could Alpha strike with minimal heat.

[@harvestblades]

So just received the Alpha Strike box set & gave my 10yo son that has gotten hooked on Classic the Atlas. I hear it's a good first mech. ;) I wish I had a picture of his face. I was a bit torn parting with it, but his excitement was worth more then all the mechs I own. Rewatching this again to screen it before having him watch it. Fairly confident there is no offensive language used & that is something I really appreciate about this channel. Clearly you save the profanity (limited as it is) for the live streams. I hope like you Red he still cherishes that mech thirty years from now when he is playing with his kids.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I generally don't swear in videos. I think I've sworn 2 times across like 250+ videos. lol

[@Qardo]

Seen an Atlas go up against Godzilla. The two shook hands and proceeded to rampage through the city!

[@mareczek00713]

Banshee and Atlas, worst nightmares a clanner can meet on the battlefield. Though from a selection of clanbusters my favourite is the unsung hero making sure his bigger brothers don't enter an ambush, if I recall correctly the only clanbuster light, the hussar.

[@shakeemsymonds7362]

Basically the Lamborghini of Battletech. Every famous person has driven one at some point

[@mimief7969]

When I was a kid, I loved this one! I always told my dad to get one.

[@BigRed40TECH]

First miniature I ever owned was an Atlas.

[@mimief7969]

@@BigRed40TECH Mine was an Uziel from the Dark Age stuff 😊

[@metalmanherpaderp1824]

this thing may be tough, but it instantly gets focused down and deleted by every single unit both ingame and on the table. it is the biggest aggro sponge ever

[@VoiceOfTheEmperor]

Time to discuss the second most talked about Battlemech in Battletech!!

[@garycannon4644]

what's the most talked about battlemech?the urbie?

[@fix0the0spade]

@@garycannon4644 Of course.

[@garycannon4644]

@@fix0the0spade hahaha gotta love the trashcan

[@VoiceOfTheEmperor]

@@garycannon4644 the Face of Battletech. The Mad Cat.

[@Iknowtoomuchable]

@@VoiceOfTheEmperor You mean the Timber Wolf, freeborn.

[@fedupN]

Love the Atlas. We had a Lance of them in a tabletop rpg we played. Tons of fun. They both live up to and are overshadowed by their reputation. Big, scary, but not at all invincible, an Atlas is a terrific force multiplier. Yes, it can be wolf packed, out gunned by king crabs or hunchbacks, or out ranged by PPC or LRM heavy groups. And all of that doesn't matter. Because if you don't have the luxury of planning for the thing, getting the right terrain, or lucky headshots, an Atlas will wreck your day. It HAS to be addressed and that alone gives it power. ...unless a Hussar with an ER Large Laser gets a lucky back shot and causes and internal ammo explosion because SOMEONE (guy playing the mech) decided he wanted to not bother repairing his back armor 🤣😂🤣😂

[@mrbigglezworth42]

Rear facing weapons only make sense in the table top, even the. It raises the question of why a designer would intentionally have guns that only face the rear. Yeah it’s fine if a few lights or fast mediums get back there, if we’re honest if they have gotten back there a few medium lasers really aren’t going to dissuade them to stop attacking.

[@nos2342]

The length of the video greatly pleases the algorithm.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Oh it definitely does not do that, lol.

[@elchjol2777]

Between my MW 5 and Battletech 2018 merc companies I have three of these monsters in the ready rosters. The Atlas II 'Restorer's Pride' is the shield of my Battletech mercs while the Brother Atlases the AS7-P 'Juggernaut' and the AS7-K 'Dreadnaught' serve my MW 5 Mercs as the twin behemoths. One brother is never seen without the other. Each company's Atlases each hold a special place for me,battles won and epic stories made in the seats of these machines.

[@Anon26535]

Playing as a merc from the former Rasalhague with an Atlas be like: "They took my country. They took my language. But they couldn't take my skull."

[@robertb7293]

My usual budget cutting strategy of two firestarters in a trenchcoat doesn't quite work here. The only substitute for an Atlas is a meaner, more tricked out Atlas, and a courtesy offer for the target to stand down. Because win or lose, they going to be hurting.

[@bradykirk9932]

Commander: "Steiner scout lance, what did you find?" Scout Lance: "It doesn't matter. It's not there anymore."

[@snakes3425]

Encountering an Atlas for the first time Monty Python: RUN AWAY!!! RUN AWAY!!! RUN AWAY!!!

[@tenchraven]

A good mech, when you accept it for what it is. But it's reputation is too great, and too many pilots believe it. Yes, it hates you from half a klick away and keeps hating until it's right on top of you, and has the armour to not care what you throw back. But too many players think "I've got an Atlas, I'm going to win". Most people who've used it against me have basically beaten themselves through bad tactics and failure to support it. But in fairness, I lose mechs every time. Tag team Archers or Catapults are the best way, in my experience.

[@BigRed40TECH]

It really helps knowing that they're going to deploy it ahead of time. The Atlas, or any mech that's slow, is going to suffer badly against LRM heavy lances.

[@tenchraven]

@@BigRed40TECH Which is why I use a lot of LRM heavy lances.

[@ThudFudgins]

Glad to see the king of the monsters at the top, oooo nothing hits like the atlas, real awesome video my dude, please keep the energy up

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thanks! Will do!

[@davidmelton3704]

I’m liking all your videos on mechs and equipment but this one was particularly good.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thank you David!

[@wolf2965]

I am disappointed that the little fact that the stories that say that an AS7-D is actually able to pick up some of the lighter mechs and break them like toys were not mentioned. Unlike Steiner Scout Lances, this particular piece of information is canon - it comes straight out of TRO...

[@BigRed40TECH]

Oh I know it comes from the TRO. But it didn't fit the atmosphere of the video imo. :)

[@WilliamSlayer]

No one escapes the Steiner Scout Squad! My favorite assault mech. Soak up that attention/ damage as the rest of the company tears the enemy to bits.

[@BigRed40TECH]

It's funny that per capita, I actually think for most of its history until post-the Clan invasion, per capita Davion may have fielded more of these... lol

[@WilliamSlayer]

@@BigRed40TECH Not wrong, but time has attached Steiner and the Atlas at the hip. Our Faction Warfare drops in MWO were an absolute blast when our Drop Commander would call for the 'Atlas deck'...😁

[@BigRed40TECH]

​@@WilliamSlayer I always ran a heavy pack as a drop caller for MWO in the Free World's Guard. It was great.

[@WilliamSlayer]

@@BigRed40TECH Skye Rangers of Terra (SROT) here. Our motto: 'You call it, we brawl it!' 👍

[@crazypenguine9391]

Just finished work and come back home ill, BUT THIS has made me smile!! Keep it up!

[@bloodknightgaming]

Fantastic video, I loved the voice towards the start.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thank you very much!

[@randomnetsurfer]

The narration on this video was definitely a cut above... looming like an Atlas over lesser 'mechs!

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thank you!

[@sypoth]

This actually became the command mech of my unit which comprised an Atlas, an Awesome, a Commando, and a Catapult (later an Archer) The unit was a salvage unit that wasn't deployed until the manufacturing capabilities of the Star League era hidden factory was brought online to finish rebuilding it. Last time I deployed it though it had an XL engine, a PPC, Double heat sinks, Ferro Fibrous Armor, twin LRM 10s rather than an LRM 20, Streak SRM 6, Four ER Medium Lasers and an anti missile system. That was sometime around 3050, my current characters command mech is my Arctodus, built from a Kodiak is takes the LRM, maximum armor, and intimidation factor from the Atlas, but the rest of it's weapons systems are inspired from the Awesomes ability to use devastating energy weapons continuously. All mechs I have custom made take inspiration ironically not from my original lance of Highlanders, but instead from the Lance I was eventually fell into comfort using the most in the 3025-3050 era.

[@Isharu]

one thing you got to love about the AS7-D is that none of components were really cutting edge, it's Engine, armor and weaponry were all standard military issue parts. It's no wonder why that particular model survived the succession wars and beyond.

[@ThudFudgins]

Oh god oh my god yes it's here im so excited to watch

[@CharlieBravoTango]

Through the succession wars, clans invasion to the dark age. Nothing meant more business than an Atlas being deployed

[@BladeMasterGrom13]

My atlas D challenged a kodiak in a full 1v1 duel. Pretty much says it all when despite being 100s of years old the beast fought it’s enemy into a stand still, accumulating 70+ damage per turn between the two of them.

[@RumblesBettr]

Huge MW2 mercs fan as a kid that atlas looked like fluffy teddy bear compared to the later versions. Very odd looking

[@raxsavvage]

aint wrong

[@thorphinnskull-splitter7602]

Really appreciate all of the work you put into your videos. I've been laid up past few days so I've been binge watching. Keep doing what you're doing. Postscript. Gotta love that AC20 peeling parts of Mechs.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thanks a lot Thorphinn! I enjoy putting the time in :)

[@thorphinnskull-splitter7602]

@@BigRed40TECH it's a crime this video only has 22k views. I regret not finding your channel sooner.

[@BigRed40TECH]

@@thorphinnskull-splitter7602 No worries! 22,000 views is pretty good for my channel. lol

[@CharlesUrban]

Unless you're piloting another Assault mech, when an enemy Atlas appears, you treat it as Darth Vader. You don't mess with Darth Vader. You run for it and pray that you aren't the one he's decided to kill today.

[@BigRed40TECH]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ramvaZWMf82Lea8&ab_channel=KennethGaraza

[@WilliamSlayer]

Best reply right here. Well said!

[@Littlelostdragon]

Or if you can't run, you might as well aim for the head..... and prey your weapons and accuracy are on point cause you won't eat through the armor anyway.

[@NorrisLeChuck]

Love these videos. I started devouring the BattleTech books when I was 14 but apparently there is lore I do not know.

[@novachannel1981]

Atlas K3 is my fave with jump jets and ecm it is a true horror and terrifying site to an unsuspecting foe when they turn around and see it standing there ready to alpha strike

[@SEVENTHSIGHN]

Just discovered your channel. Very nice video on the Atlas can't wait for one on the King Crab.

[@BigRed40TECH]

We're about a month out, maybe a bit more, from the King Crab. But it'll be good :D

[@b5fan504]

Great video. Though it's not my favorite mech, it is doubtlessly iconic.

[@kazekamiha]

The definitive assault mech. It doesn't go fast. It just goes and plows through anything unfortunate enough to be in the way.

[@alexhunt7810]

It's a classic assault mech. Used to attack or defend a fixed point, it's excellent. Put it out in an open field and it's basically helpless

[@NemFX]

I find the Atlas tends to have a bigger reputation than it deserves. The thing is, I'll give it credit for it's armour. But it's weapons suck. Some variants work better, but.. For a slow mech, you want to take weapons that can close the gap. The Atlas? Mostly short ranged. If I had to redesign it, I'd probably drop in a weird collection of weapon choices, so that it could at least be considered a medium range mech, instead of short. So, short shopping list: ac10, ppc, gauss rifle, lrm20, and then cram as many medium lasers as I can into whatever space is left. Gives it way more versatility, and survivability. The default Atlas needs to be in knife fighting range to use most of it's weapons, deprived of that, it's basically just a target. Edit: good accent. You nailed it, especially with the little 'tuttles' which people usually forget. Edit 2: okay, gotta tease you. Its pronounced Dee-shiv-allie-eh.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I like the Atlas's weapons systems. I've played too long and seen too many dead mechs get trampled under those feet to say its weapons suck. lol

[@patricioacuna1688]

as a mech i like the battlemaster, i can ride it and rule the battlefield, for looks the Marauder BUT if i want the job done i just throw the damn Atlas!

[@lukedudley5030]

A brutal power house that's greatest asset is its armour :-) great early doors when it was one of very few 100 toners but gets overshadowed by more modern assault mechs :-) I like the mech and love its fear factor but am never too worried by it....lights run rings around it so it needs a good support lance to keep it from being pecked to pieces :-) not an assault I'd pick but understand the love it gets :-)

[@fredlandry6170]

My most favorite mech ever.

[@spartana1116]

The Atlas is the definition of a unmovavble force, a brute at any ranges through I modified my AS7-D more of a brawler by swapping all the M lasers for MP lasers, the ac/20 for a LBX-10-SLD,swapped the LRM tor another SRM6 and used all the remaining space for double,single heatsinks and 4 tons of ammo for both so now it's a mid to close range menace with enough ammo for long firefights and cool as a star league thug

[@observationsfromthebunker9639]

The Atlas is the lord of the Mechwarrior battlefield, no explanation required. Your piece here is 💯all the way! My Mechwarrior campaign unit never fought assault companies if possible, so the biggest bad was more discussed than encountered. However, one time I insisted on putting one on the board, and it didn't go as intended. Here's the setup, it's late in the fourth Succession War, Space AT&T halted the planned dismemberment of the Capellan Confederation, so the focus shifted to keeping the Draconis Combine contained. My unit was shifted from the Capellan front to the Draconis Front to help contain a potential major thrust by some heavy duty Kurita units. (This is not lore-compatible, except in my campaign 'verse., and my fellow players weren't entirely lore-serious.) The recon lance as usual was ranging well ahead of the rest of the unit with its accompanying light armor units, looking for trouble. Having successfully pulled off another infiltration maneuver, they found themselves in the Kurita second echelon territory. They came upon a sugarloaf mini-mountain dominating the local landscape. Atop it was a big red Atlas, a red Mobile HQ, and escort units. Spaced in front of and flanking the mount was a mech battalion and an infantry battalion. Elite HQ located, what to do about it? The recon lance dutifully sent the light armor back to report to the main body of the target, so it could be passed up chain of command. Then they decided to attack it! (The unit was rightfully feeling smug after helping seize two former Liao-controlled worlds, and this engagement was supposed to correct that attitude. Sigh.... So around and about they went, four battlemechs totaling 140 tons coming at the hill from behind and apparently none of the Draconis units spotting them. Complacency, bad placement, or not making the fricking Perception rolls, you make the call! Four jump-capable mechs made short work of ascending the hill, disdaining the rough access road. They bounded on to the hill's wide top and identified the Atlas, which was none other than the one belonging to General Vasily Chernenkov, an outstanding commander for House Kurita! The crafty lance leader, disregarding the types and placement of the three escort mechs, asked if Chernenkov was piloting the Atlas. the GM, wanting to keep the lore real, said, no. The general was very overweight and preferred his mobile HQ as being more comfortable most of the time. The lance leader and his brother (both players who ran the lance) grinned like wolves and said "What a great chance!" (It was a this point the GM knew he had screwed up.) The lance leader made straight for the HQ, his Phoenix Hawk scattering all the attendant REMFs with MG fire. Reaching the large vehicle, he made a Piloting roll, and flipped it over on its side! There was instant chaos, as the general's HQ abruptly lost contact with the greater planetary battlefield. His brother, who played his Griffin as a heavily armed brawler instead of a sharpshooter, performed a successful DFA attack on the immobile Atlas, which automatically was laid low, landing face-down. The two Wasps jumped the surprised escorts, disabling a Cyclops with an amazing critical hit roll on the AC 10 ammo. The now fully alarmed elite guard units were quickly doing an about-face, so the recon lance paused only for some pictures, then retreated the way they came. This pantsing of a senior Kurita general and his abrupt absence from the scene for a while made great havoc among their army's command and control, and probably tipped the battle in favor of the hard-pressed Davion units, who were able to exploit the resulting confusion. My unit was chased all the way back to the starting point, but ended up getting praised and given a nice performance bonus. There is no comment as to stories that they were sent a cask of fine sake by Theodore Kurita.

[@penis0100]

In Battletech canon, Kerensky did have much input into the design, building and deploying this monster. Perhaps the most famous Atlas pilot was General DeCheavalier himself. According to legend l, he kicked in the gates to take down Amaris at his palace. You were right, Houses Kurita, Steiner and Davion were major users of the Atlas. However, the Steiners had the most variants thanks to Defiance Industries. In your opinion, how would the Atlas match up with a Kurita Akuma, a Wolf’s Dragoons Annihilator or a Marauder 2? Or even an Atlas 2 or an Atlas 3?

[@BigRed40TECH]

I think various Atlas designs are vastly superior to the Akuma, and I think the annihilator is strategically and tactically flawed. The MAD-2 is undergunned, but I like it. I don't like the Atlas 2 or Atlas 3, personally.

[@Koniving]

One thing that always got me, was the decision by games to either create a cockpit that makes little sense given the head, or to put the cockpit in the eye. Short of the DC model-which was short for dual cockpit- the cockpit of most models are in the nose; the command console is planted in one eye, moving the standard cockpit to the opposite eye for the pilot.

[@venom0825]

I was waiting for this video ever sense the assaults overview video and you did not disappoint.

[@BigRed40TECH]

Thank you Venom!

[@Linkous12]

The RS is one of my favorite assaults. The D just doesn't have enough to work with outside of 270 meters.

[@johnw5154]

Great video. Many thanks

[@BigRed40TECH]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ChaosTicket]

I don't like Atlas oddly enough. Its heavily armored, the most armored battlemech of the 3025 era. But why dont I like it? Its heavily armed and has plenty of weapons. The issue is most of its weapons are limited to Short Range engagements. Its one weapon for medium and long range is a long range missile launcher with limited ammunition. This makes many mechs, like the Awesome, Longbow, Stalker, Zeus, equal or better armed than it outside of short range. The Atlas II fixed this problem quite thoroughly with a major increase in medium and long range firepower. The Atlas III is more of a downgrade to the Atlas II.

[@BigRed40TECH]

I'm not big on the Atlas II or Atlas III, tbh.

[@malcontender6319]

I am a clanner but when I pilot a 100 ton IS mech, it is the Atlas. Reminds me of a tougher Kodiak.

[@SionBarzhado]

I personally find it funny you put the subtitle for the thumbnail as “King Of The Monsters” because I always thought the Atlas’ face, at least most strongly in the MechWarrior 4 games, resembled a *Godzilla,* who is himself sometimes referred to as the “King Of The Monsters,” character named Jet Jaguar. I guess Jet Jaguar isn’t the only one whose face looks like Jack Nicholson, and has an Adam’s Apple the size of a Toyota now. (If you’ve ever seen Mystery Science Theater 3000, you’ll get the reference of that last bit).

[@BigRed40TECH]

I can't wait until 2025 when this thing gets redone and gets a massive 2-3 hour video lol

[@graywolf7132]

Back in the early days of Battletech the Atlas seemed to have the same problem that Superman did from the animated Justice League. Put simply every time an Atlas showed up the Battletech authors would attempt to show how dangerous the opposition forces were by blowing the Atlas up, which just ended up making the Atlas look like a complete joke. I'm kind of glad they've since given the Atlas a chance to be the battlefield horror that it should be.

[@Maladjester]

"....so that fear itself will be our ally." Such a simple line, but still chilling. Breaking the metal is all well and good, but breaking the man inside is always to be preferred. How can you fight a machine that makes enemy pilots turn and run at the sight of it?