Marauder (Long War)

 Marauder

MEC variant of the Assault class. Marauders are designed to get up close and personal, causing havoc at close range with point blank flanking shots, flamethrowers and kinetic strikes.

Primary Weapon: MEC Primary Weapons

Secondary Weapon: MEC Secondary Weapon Systems

Class-Limited items: MEC Equipment items

Abilities

Rank	Ability
Specialist	Close Encounters The first standard shot made within 4 tiles of the target does not cost an action. Cannot combine with Run And Gun.
	+1 Mobility.
Lance Corporal	Aggression Confers +10% critical chance per enemy in sight (max +30%). Aliens visible via squadsight are not counted for bonus.	Steadfast Never panic as a result of getting wounded, allies panicking, allies getting wounded or killed, or the intimidation ability.	Shock-Absorbent Armor Damage received from enemies within 4 tiles is reduced by 33%.
	No other bonuses.	+5 Will.	No other bonuses.
Corporal	Damage Control When this unit takes damage, all further damage will be reduced by 1 or 2 points (1.5 DR) for the next 2 turns.	Close Combat Specialist Confers a reaction shot against any enemy who closes to within 4 tiles. Does not require Overwatch. Warning: Will activate even if unit is concealed.	Collateral Damage Area of effect attack that destroys most cover and hits all eligible targets for 1/3rd damage. Unlike most abilities, damage increasing items and perks also only apply 1/3rd damage (note: HEAT and flak cannot be reduced below +2 damage though). This attack cannot critically hit. Shredder ammo and holo-targeting are NOT applied.
	No other bonuses.	No other bonuses.	No other bonuses.
Sergeant	Automated Threat Assessment Confers 0.5 DR (50% chance to absorb one point of damage) at all times, and confers +15 defense when in overwatch until the unit takes an overwatch shot.	Executioner Confers +10 aim and +10 critical chance against targets at or below 50% health.	Ranger Confers +1 damage with primary weapons, rocket launchers, MEC secondary weapons and sidearms. Negates the long-range accuracy penalty with sidearms when shooting beyond 14 meters.
	+2 Will.	+2 Aim.	No other bonuses.
Tech Sergeant	Repair Servos Repairs up to 50% of damage taken (max 2 per turn). Value on icon represents repairs remaining at 2 points per hp. Additional damage taken before repairs are complete reduces how much can be repaired from prior hits by 50%.	Flush Fire a shot that may cause non-flying enemies to run to new cover. The shot is easy to hit with (+30 aim), but does reduced damage (-50% base weapon damage), and consumes extra ammo (2 ammo). Hunkered units will not relocate.	Advanced Fire Control Shots from Overwatch no longer suffer any Aim penalty.
	No other bonuses.	No other bonuses.	+2 Aim.
Gunnery Sergeant	Bring 'Em On Confers 1-4 bonus damage during critical hits (which is then multiplied by 50% due to the critical hit). The damage is higher when more enemies are in view (including squad sight vision). This results in +1.5 dmg for 1-2 enemies, +3 dmg for 3-4 enemies, +4.5 dmg for 5-6 enemies, +6 dmg for 7 or more enemies.	Reactive Targeting Sensors Unit gets a free shot back at the first enemy who attacks the MEC each turn, provided there's enough ammo to do so.	Vital Point Targeting Confers 2 bonus damage with primary guns, and +1 damage with sidearms, against humans and alien targets whose species have been autopsied.
	No other bonuses.	+2 Aim, +2 Will.	No other bonuses.
Master Sergeant	Run & Gun Allows firing or Overwatch after Dashing on the turn Run and Gun is activated. 2 turn cooldown.	Rapid Fire Take two shots against a single target in quick succession. Each shot carries a -15 penalty to Aim.	Absorption Fields Reduces most incoming damage to this unit, scaling up as damage increases. Specifically: reduces 40% of any damage taken after 2; after all other damage reduction has been applied.
	No other bonuses.	No other bonuses.	-1 Mobility.

Stat Progression

Rank	/ Level			Total
			*			*
Specialist	1	2	2(-3)	1	2	2(-3)
Lance Corporal	0	2	2(-3)	1	4	4(-6)
Corporal	1	2	2(-3)	2	6	6(-9)
Sergeant	1	2	2(-3)	3	8	8(-12)
Tech Sergeant	1	2	2(-3)	4	10	10(-15)
Gunnery Sergeant	0	2	2(-3)	4	12	12(-18)
Master Sergeant	1	2	2(-3)	5	14	14(-21)

• Note that, even without Hidden Potential turned on, there is a chance of gaining 1 extra will per level (shown in parentheses above).

Sample Builds

CE / CCS Tank

LCPL: Shock-Absorbent Armor: 33% lower damage from enemies within 4 tiles.

CPL: Close Combat Specialist : Reaction shot against approaching enemies.

SGT: Automated Threat Assessment : 0.5 DR and +15 defense while in Overwatch.

TSGT: Repair Servos : Self-repair.

GSGT: Vital Point Targeting / Bring 'Em On : Bonus damage.

MSGT: Absorption Fields : Extra DR.

This build features a good balance between damage dealing and tanking. Its function is similar to the CE/CSS assault tank. Run & Gun is not as useful for MEC as it is for the assault class since most MEC suits are mobile enough to let the unit move within 4 tiles of the enemy to take advantage of CE. In order to maximize damage dealing replace SAA with Aggression, or AF with Rapid Fire. For a more tanky build replace CCS with Damage Control. If you are considering a pure tank build, though, check out the Goliath, which is the only MEC with access to the Extra Conditioning perk. Since this MEC is intended for CQC (close quarter combat), equip it with an Electro Pulse and/or Kinetic Strike Module, in addition to a Core Armoring. For builds that are less tank-oriented, a Battle Computer and Tactical Sensors will help dodge enemy fire.

See also

Long War: Soldiers
	Soldiers Assault Infantry Rocketeer Gunner Sniper Scout Medic Engineer
	MEC Troopers Marauder Valkyrie Archer Goliath Jaeger Pathfinder Guardian Shogun
	Officers Psionics Gene Mods S.H.I.V.s