MechWarrior 5 Beginner's Manual: Hunchback HBK-4G Mech Build

[@general-cromwell6639]

Thanks!

[@GitGudFox]

Another tip from Mr. Cromwell! Thank you very much good sir! Something I dislike about the Hunchback is that I feel its main gun gets taken out too frequently. The enemy AI seems to prioritize it, and you lose so much when the side torso goes down. Very versatile though.

[@AtomizerX]

One significant advantage that should be mentioned is that the Hunchback (like some other mechs, at least with some of their weapon positions) can go in defilade (or hull-down, like a tank) and peek over a hill or other hard cover to fire the main weapon without exposing the rest of the mech to the enemy.

[@GitGudFox]

Yeah, that could play at role in specific moments. It can be an advantage over arm mounts for sure.

[@tt-thats-me]

I recently started playing MechWarrior 5. I played mech assault on Xbox 20 years ago, but I don’t remember much other than I liked it. These videos help me navigate the complex game! Great work!

[@GitGudFox]

Yeah, I create MW5 content with a rotating random playlist I do on Twitch. If you have any questions about anything, feel free to ask but always make a brand new comment. I don't get notifications on replies.

[@DrSheriffCrab]

This build has definitely made the mech much more well rounded!

[@GitGudFox]

Yeah, I'm not crazy about the AC20 when you have so little back up weapons.

[@WolfHreda]

You want well rounded, get a Centurion. We're here for big fists and big booms.

[@GitGudFox]

Well the AC5 Rapid Fire does about 100 more damage per minute than the AC20 while being 6 tons lighter allowing you to be not only more heat efficient meaning you can even farther exceed the AC20 build, but you also get the Arena Fists which also outdamage the AC20 even farther.

[@tompanda1984]

Only came across the channel a week ago. The vids are ace. Started to play MechWarrior 5 again.

[@GitGudFox]

Feel free to ask any questions. I make MW5 guides / streams on KZbin, and I have a rotating random playlist of games on Twitch. Oh, and if you have a question, make a totally new comment. I don't get notifications for replies.

[@HawkeBM]

These videos are helpful on giving me ideas on mech loadouts in MW5. I'm looking forward when you one day get to the Catapult or Flea.

[@GitGudFox]

Yeah, I'll eventually have 1 video for each Mech, but I can only make a few of these videos per month as they do require a solid effort since I am a 1-man KZbinr.

[@HawkeBM]

@@GitGudFox Well keep up the good work then. ^-^

[@Akranejames]

It is pretty fascinating to hear the different options on such mechs, honestly. There are very few mediums I do better in than a HBK despite all these flaws, and that's honestly because I tend to be pretty good at "closing the gap" unharmed before unleashing hell on the enemy in MW5. And whether it be the 4G, 4H or 4P, I'm a sucker for the concentrated firepower it tends to offer, which tends to make it well suited for my in-and-out style of killing a mech and then dipping to cool off rather than the more "sustained fire" options you showcased. A mech I'd be really interested in seeing a refit of would be the Jaegermech, since it is one of my favorites to refit into a sustained fire mid-range menace.

[@GitGudFox]

The stock 4G does well in its early weight missions where it can bully smaller Mechs, but as the mission difficulty rises, more familiarity with approaching becomes important which is something a lot of newer MechWarriors don't have a sense of. With the new Rapid Fire weapons and Burst Fire rifles, I'll have to review the JagerMech since I haven't used it in a while, but that's mainly because when I stream, I use whatever the chat votes for, and the JagarMech hasn't won yet.

[@Akranejames]

@@GitGudFox Fair enough! That has always been my forte in MW5, thus my tendency to use such tactics heavily when with other players by my side that can fill the other roles decently. I do think the Jaeger is perhaps one of the platform most in need of some help towards being actually viable, and yet one that has great potential, so I'll be eager to see if that happens ^^

[@GitGudFox]

@@Akranejames There is a setup that had worked in the past which was 2 heavy rifles since they are almost as strong as AC20s meaning you can begin headshotting enemies with the JagerMech realistically. But the thing is I would be hesitant to make that a "beginner level" build since I can't expect beginners to reliably score headshots.

[@Akranejames]

True, and the ones I've had decent success with suffer from a lack of the crucial "focus" in design that helps out new players. I feel however like having two of the AC/5 RF might not be a bad path to explore, honestly.

[@a_happyteddy_bear3101]

Nicely done commander! The only real criticism of this particular refit is that the AC5-RF attracts too much agro from the opposition and that new mechwarriors will have a hard time adjusting. However, with some quick thinking this can be overcomed in my opinion.

[@GitGudFox]

It can draw a lot of attention, but that's why it's good that Chiko 1 demonstrated a certain amount of restraint instead of charging into every fight, saving his armor for the most vital battle to go all-in on. A skill every MechWarrior will have to learn sooner or later.

[@LFdonohue94]

As an newbie mercenary. I really like the Hunchback. Particularly the 4J version as a medium armor missile boat. Its sluggish movements don’t matter all that much when you don’t gotta get up close. Yeah 80% of its firepower is still in one place but the idea isn’t to be taking heat. I regularly have it in my squad set up for one of my AI pilots. I’m sure it’ll eventually get phased out by heavier mechs but for 200 tonnage missions, its great in my opinion.

[@GitGudFox]

What I predict will happen is that as you try out other medium Mechs especially with various weapons, you will see the power of like SRM spam on like a Kintaro or Dervish or like PPC-X on a Crab which provides pretty overwhelming firepower while being faster than the Hunchback. Is the Hunchback bad? Not really, but I also don't think it's outstanding.

[@LFdonohue94]

@ Funny enough I did get a Dervish yesterday and using your guide on the Trebuchet I ended up using the SRMs. It ridiculous how fast mechs melt. I also just really like the Dervish aesthetically. The hum of its engine is just great ambience. I do tend to favor faster mechs in general. But as someone who doesn’t have access to heavier mechs and high tonnage missions, I still have 4J Hunchbacks on standby to be my AI missile boats while I use faster mechs. It’ll probably be finally replaced with something like an Archer and other slow LRM mechs when I get them.

[@GitGudFox]

The 4J is probably the best LRM platform as a medium since the slower engine allows for more space, and LRM Mechs don't need to be very fast. The Hunchback 4SP is also nice since it splits the missile pods on both of its side torso. An aspect of the Hunchback to take note of is where it stores its ammo. The Hunchback 4G has its AC/20 in 1 side torso and all of its ammo in the opposite side torso, so if you target its opposite side torso, you can destroy all of its ammo which preserves the AC/20 for salvage while still taking the weapon offline. What's more is that the ammo explosion will cause instant damage to the Mech, and if the side torso is destroyed, all damage that hits the destroyed side torso is applied to the center torso meaning you can potentially destroy the Hunchback even faster than way. While I wouldn't suggest memorizing the details of every Mech, commonly encountered Mechs can be worth remembering where they store their ammunition as ammo bays are always a weak point.

[@GitGudFox]

And yeah, the Dervish kind of looks like a gigantic power armor soldier from Halo or Warhammer.

[@GitGudFox]

Signing in... you're accessing [Beginner Level] training manuals for the [Hunchback] [HBK-4G]... loading... [Document 1] Instructor's Comments: "Better get used to seeing Hunchbacks. There's not just a lot of them, but there's a lot of different variant models too. You'll find a Hunchback for every situation. The 4G is helpless at even medium ranges though so aim for its main cannon and stay out of its 270m optimal kill range." Instant Action Code: MDU2MDc3ODQwMTcwMmsxMDEw Input this code during an Instant Action training pod simulation to recreate this same battle for training. [Table of Contents] 0:00 Intro 0:45 Description 1:50 Specifications 2:55 Strengths and Weaknesses 4:17 Recustomization 5:26 BattleRom Debriefing 5:59 Recustomized BattleRom Footage 8:49 Final Rating Join the Fox Republic KZbin VODs: www.youtube.com/@gitgudfoxvods Twitch: www.twitch.tv/gitgudfox Discord: discord.gg/796kaWY2T6 Tiktok: www.tiktok.com/@gitgudfox Instagram: instagram.com/gitgudfox/ Twitter: twitter.com/GitGudFox Facebook: facebook.com/GitGudFox

[@WolfHreda]

While I will occasionally sidestep the Hunchback Orthodoxy and use an AC/10 of some persuasion, I don't think you'll be able to build my personal Jihad-era and beyond Hunchback for some time yet. It mounts a Heavy PPC with Capacitor in the gun mount, allowing it to still deal 20 damage, but at standard PPC range for a hellacious 20 heat, then 15 damage/heat if you can't take the time to charge the capacitor.

[@GitGudFox]

A PPC platform is like the only Hunchback we don't have in the 3039 tech period. I'm not sure why; apparently, they just didn't really design one. Only the 6P uses any kind of PPC, and it uses light PPCs.

[@WolfHreda]

@@GitGudFox Oh, right, MW5 has the size restrictions for its hardpoints, doesn't it? I blame ComStar. Bloody fun police. 🤣

[@luisbanuelos274]

Loved the video, helped me out with my hunchback. Can you give some tips on a good build for a jagermech, I can’t find a good build for it. Thanks and your videos are fire🔥🔥

[@GitGudFox]

Yeah, I'll get to it eventually. I plan to make a video for each Mech. They do take a solid bit of effort to create though since I wanted them to be a little fancier than just reading dry information. The consequence of that is that they take 7-10 days to make.

[@bigboi7817]

It really shines once you have modded weapons.

[@GitGudFox]

That can be said about basically every Mech though.

[@Johnny_Isometric]

I love the Hunchback. There is not a bad model in the bunch! It definitely feels like the AI prioritizes knocking out your main gun though.

[@GitGudFox]

It does which is why I counted some points off of it. In the BattleTech PC game, I like them a lot more.

[@GeofftheIronwolf]

Good video on the 4G. But I am a 4P guy.

[@andrewweltlich9065]

I agree that the HBK-4G is pretty garbage. I do however like using the HBK-4P laser boat. It's fun to cheese headshots. Not many mechs can withstand 8 medium lasers to the face. It's tricky to use but oh so rewarding.

[@treygreypaws3689]

#Uglygang is here!!!!

[@GitGudFox]

Thanks for helping with the thumbnail!

[@Dork_224]

This may be a hot take, but swaybacks are better

[@GitGudFox]

They are. It has the same problem the UrbanMech has. It's so slow that all of that armor doesn't matter because you just get hit by everything shot at you. Light and Medium Mechs still rely on their mobility to evade damage.

[@WolfHreda]

Swaybacks are _more versatile._ But let's not throw around the B-word all willy-nilly. 🤣 Please, do consider the Orthodoxy when muttering your blasphemies.

[@GitGudFox]

All sacred cows are slaughtered on the altar of Ronin Fox.