Hellhound

Hellhound
Class:	Medium Mech
Faction:	Clan
Ticket cost:	6 upon destruction
Tier:	6
Tonnage:	50 tons
Speed:	97 km/h (136 km/h with MASC)
Torso yaw:	260°
Torso pitch:	-34° to +50° while standing -35° to +60° while crouching
Variant Armament
Variant	Weapons	Equipment
Prime: Price: 65 500 CBills Total armor: 49 560 Engine Size: 300 STD	1x CERLL 1x CSRM4 2x CERML	EOptics iJJ 4 DHS 0 free tons 10t Armor
A: Price: 59 200 CBills Total armor: 48 060 Engine Size: 300 STD	2x ATM3 (HE) 3x CMPL	EOptics 4 DHS 0 free tons 10t Armor
B: Price: 76 800 CBills Total armor: 52 274 Engine Size: XL	1x CLBX10 2x CSRM6 3x CERSL	EOptics AECM iJJ 2 DHS 0 free tons 10.5t Armor
C: Price: 62 500 CBills Total armor: 50 774 Engine Size: 300 STD	3x HML 3x CLRM5	EOptics 4 DHS 0 free tons 10.5t Armor
D: Price: 78 100 CBills Total armor: 46 846 Engine Size: XL	1x HLL 1x ATM12 (Std) 4x MG	EOptics BHP C3 JJ 4 DHS 1 free ton 9.5t Armor
E: Price: 65 600 CBills Total armor: 49 275 Engine Size: 300 STD	2x CERML 3x CSSRM4	EOptics iJJ 2 DHS 0 free tons 10t Armor
F: Price: 68 000 CBills Total armor: 49 348 Engine Size: 300 STD	1x CERPPC 3x CERSL 4x HMG	EOptics iJJ 4 DHS 0 free tons 10t Armor
G: Price: 72 600 CBills Total armor: 49 348 Engine Size: XL	1x HAG30 5x HSL	EOptics iJJ 2 HS 1 free ton 10t Armor
Armor Points Distribution
LE BT HD LA LL LT CT RT RA RL INT 2714 4071 2760 3901 3901 5190 4410 6785 4410 3901 5190 3114

All stats current as of release 0.17.4

The Conjurer - otherwise known as the Hellhound to Inner Sphere forces - is a Clan medium mech designed for frontline combat. Compared to other clan mediums, speed is sacrificed for lower price and increased survivability, helped in part by the usage of a Standard engine. Relatively cheap for a clan chassis, it bridges the affordability gap between the high-end clan light mechs and the clan mediums.

The Conjurer is also notable for its battlefield longevity, as all variants mount between 9.5 and 10.5 tons of armor, and most are equipped with a standard engine, meaning that damage done to a destroyed side torso does not get a multiplier when it is applied to the center torso. This fact, combined with the lack of weapon mounts on the side torsos, make them particularly poor targets on this chassis, and skilled pilots should look to use them to soak damage when possible. The weapon mounts are spread across the center torso, the arms, and a pair of shoulder racks, making it generally inefficient to target individual weapon systems on this chassis, despite the relatively thin armor on those components.

Roles and Gameplay Hints

Prime

This quintessential second-line skirmisher and poking variant features Improved Jump Jets with excellent vectoring capabilities. It uses a cERLL in its right arm as its main weapon. A pair of Medium Lasers in the left arm amicably augments the cERLL's pinpoint damage output once a target is within 700m. Finally, an SRM4 in an external pod provides an extra helping hand in close range encounters with some splash damage and can help finish off smaller mechs and tanks that are attempting to damage spread.

Player Comments:

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This variant is easily out-DPS'd by lighter dedicated brawlers, so keeping a healthy range advantage is imperative to winning battles. Copious usage of the jumpjets should aid in this, whether to get onto normally inaccessible vantage points, or to dodge and evade enemies that are too close for comfort. Users should try and focus on a single part with the lasers.

- Toriate/Jingaku

Variant A

A dedicated close-range brawler with marginal skirmishing capabilities, this variant notably lacks jumping capabilities. An array of 3 Medium Pulse Lasers spread across the side torsos and right arm provide a rapid source of short-mid range damage, while a pair of HEATM 3s located in an external pod and left arm grants this variant an extremely painful up-front punch in a brawl.

Player Comments:

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The HEATMs provide the brunt of this variant's damage output within 300m. Continued barrages from them, however inaccurate, will quickly soften up parts on targets, allowing the pulse lasers to surgically remove them in short order. Even despite the pulse laser's reasonable range of 500m, this loadout will quickly falter if the user is caught out in the open with no cover due to its very average mobility. It is thus best used to single out high priority targets when fighting with and against a group. With copious amounts of torso twisting, this variant can take quite a beating thanks to its standard engine.

- Toriate/Jingaku

Although individual salvos from the HEATM3s may not do all that much damage compared to the primary weapons on other equivalently tonned assets, the missiles cycle extremely quickly and are some of the most efficient DPS weapons in the game. Groupfire the HEATMs and and try to hit them as often as possible to maximize and focus your damage output. HEATM3s refire only slightly slower than ERMLs, meaning you don't need to worry too much about carefully timing your shots to shake your opponents - they refire fast enough to reliably disrupt enemy salvos without forethought, and the longer you keep firing the further the DPS advantage tilts in your favor. Suggest to chainfire the HEATMs only if you absolutely need to mitigate a large alpha that you know is in play, say to shake the aim of a gauss rifle asset that you haven't seen fire in a while. Another defensive option is to groupfire your ATMs but immediately flick your torso up and to the left or right - the ATMs will still be able to track to their target, and you may be able to force an enemy alpha to impact one of your side torsos (which do not transfer damage to the CT at an increased rate when destroyed, thanks to the variant's standard engine) instead of your essential CT.

- [CJF] DireWolf2K

Variant B

One of the more expensive Hellhounds, this skirmisher variant features slightly more armor but has a fragile XL engine. It sports AECM to conceal nearby allies from enemy radar and has improved Jump Jets for advanced vertical maneuverability. An LBX10 in the right arm provides far-reaching firepower that only gets more devastating at closer ranges, while a pair of SRM6 external pods provide a hefty close range punch. 3 small lasers in the left arm provide adequate backup weaponry.

Player Comments:

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The LBX10 has a long range, but it's only a fraction of this variant's total damage output. Careful maneuvering in and out of cover with the aid of jumpjets is required to bring its full loadout into play. Poptarting can be viable if not facing off against a large group. In a pinch, the LBX can be used as an anti-air weapon, but the Hellhound chassis is not particularly capable of pitching its torso enough to properly aim at air assets.

AECM allows this variant to hide allies from enemy radar, which can be useful for catching entrenched enemies off guard in daring flanking maneuvers that they'd normally be able to see coming from a mile away. However, as AECM does not hide the user, this can result in enemies focusing fire on the user far more than usual.

Despite having an extra half ton of armor, the XL engine in this variant considerably reduces the robustness of the unit, mostly when its side torsos are shot out.

This variant closely resembles the Centurion CN-9D BattleMech.

- Toriate/Jingaku

The Hellhound B is the most expensive Hellhound, and for good reason. It brings AECM to the battle on a competent brawler with a high damage alpha strike. The Hellhound is the only Clan asset with both Jump Jets and AECM. The B is a little ammo-hungry and lacks free tons so pilots should be wary of their ammo use. Hellhounds are fast and so returning to base for repair and rearm is no problem, just be ready for when the time comes. Pilots should stick close to their team with the B since AECM is so powerful. Staying in Active Radar Mode is important to protect one's allies. Only go Passive once the B's armor is exhausted.

- Warlord Kentax

Variant C - "MadMouse"

Having more armor at the cost of maneuverability due to the sacrifice of Jump Jets, this variant is a particularly flexible skirmisher due to its somewhat eccentric loadout. A trio of LRM5s spread across external pods and the left arm provides withering streams of missiles that function down to brawling range, while 3 Heavy Medium Lasers located in the right arm and side torsos allow the "Mad Mouse" to deliver blistering beams out to the edge of typical brawling ranges.

Player Comments:

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A rather fun variant to use, but not against faster assets that can run circles around the Hellhound and dodge all the LRMs. It can be particularly devastating to less mobile assets within 400m that are unable to take cover before you fire off several follow up salvos.

The long burn time of the heavy lasers mean that you have to absolutely focus on and track a single part of your enemy, or else their damage would just be spread over multiple components.

This variant can perform quite admirably in all-out brawls unless it devolves into point-blank face hugging, where the LRMs would be rendered useless due to its 10m minumum range.

Sustained alpha strikes can easily overheat the unit, but chainfiring any of the weapons systems are not recommended, especially the heavy lasers (which would basically become useless due to their long burn times). It's best to simply back down into cover to cool down instead of trying to maintain a pitiful amount of fire at a target.

- Toriate/Jingaku

If you're looking at your opponent, say in order to keep your HMLs on target during a burn, chainfire your CLRM5s. They cycle extremely quickly, and if you chain launches with a short space between them, you can keep a nearly constant stream of screenshake on your opponent to consistently disrupt their aim. You can also use this utility to help lock down a big target if you're in a teamfight. It helps to mix up the spacing between your launches a bit so your target can't adapt to the shake pattern!

- [CJF] DireWolf2K

Variant D - "Stink Eye"

An atypical mid-long range sharpshooter variant that happens to be the most expensive Hellhound, and also the most fragile due to having less armor and an XL engine. C3 allows the unit to share target data to allies, while an active probe greatly enhances its sensor radius. Basic Jump Jets provide ample vertical maneuverability. A Heavy Large Laser built into the right arm allows the "Stink Eye" to reach out to mid-long ranges with a devastating beam, supported by a standard ATM12 launcher in the left arm which can dish out unrelenting salvos of hard hitting mid-long range missiles. A quartet of machine guns spread amongst the side torsos round out the loadout with a source of minor long-range harassment. A Free ton for storing ATM reloads is available.

Player Comments:

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This variant is one of the harder hitting Hellhounds, but it's quite a challenge to fully utilize it without exposing yourself to enemy fire, and it's really not a variant that you'd want to be shot in. Strategic positioning is key (and should be easier due to its C3 and BHP giving you a better idea of where the enemies are), and utilizing the Hellhound's above-average speed to constantly reposition can subvert attempted flanks against you. In case any enemies manage to get within the minimum of the ATMs, the machineguns can pack a surprising amount of DPS that could turn the tide of a brawl assuming they were damaged beforehand, but if a fresh brawler blindsides you, it's best to just attempt to disengage and get help from allies.

- Toriate/Jingaku

You want to see this one as a firesupport not an solo mission taker: Find the enemy by the ample BHP and share it with the C3, it's especially treacherous to nearby enemy Battle Armor as it makes it shine across the radars of your nearby allies. After your team has applied the bulk of the damage, you may come in and finish off what's left and trying to run away of the enemy force.

- fire-hound

Variant E

A solid bread-and-butter skirmisher variant with augmented maneuverability thanks to Improved Jump Jets. A duo of Clan Extended Range Medium Lasers serve as the main weapons system, granting this variant a solid mid-range punch that is further bolstered by a trio of Clan Streak Missiles with there lock on capability ensuring they strike your target. You'll want to be spewing missiles at every opportunity, since that's where the lions share of this mech's damage lies. 2 DHS are enough to handle the weapons during combat, however; fighting and utilizing the iJJ will cost you a lot of coolant.

Variant F

Closely resembling the Solitaire E, this flexible sharpshooter variant features EOptics, Improved Jump Jets, Four DHS and a ERPPC in the right arm is capable of projecting a heavy punch out to long ranges, remaining effective down to point-blank range. Triple Extended Range Small Lasers in the left arm serve as backup weapons, synergizing with an array of Four HMGs to provide extra damage in close quarters.

Variant G - "Bayonet"

This decisive striker variant is one of the few assets that mounts the Hyper Assault Gauss Rifle, featured prominently in its right arm. It is capable of delivering precise streams of slugs to extreme ranges, yet remain just as relevant in brawls. Quintuple Heavy Small Lasers act as the basis of the Bayonet's namesake, easily searing off armor at knife-fighting range. Improved Jump Jets can be used for maneuvering or poptarting. Keep in mind that the XL engine will reduce the G's durability.

Player Comments:

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This is a fun variant that does very well with some teamwork. You could set up a firing line with some buddies and just plink at your targets until you feel that they're sufficiently softened up, then pretend that you're affixing bayonets to your rifle, and charge in to finish them off with the heavy small lasers. As all the weapons have a nearly 6 second recycle time, it may be wise to always be near cover, and practice lots of torso twisting between bursts. This variant is actually a bit more robust than the others, since it does not need to distribute armor to missile pods like the other Hellhounds.

- Toriate/Jingaku

History

The Hellhound was confirmed for release with update version 0.11.0, notably being the first Clan mech utilizing a Standard Engine.

Canon

The 2829 Conjurer (codenamed the Hellhound by the Inner Sphere nations) is a fast, inexpensive medium BattleMech that excels at medium to short range. As befits its status as a second-line 'Mech, the Conjurer uses a Standard engine, though it is constructed on an Endo-Steel chassis and uses eight and a half tons of Ferro-Fibrous armor. Its Jump Jets enable it to leap up to 180 meters at a time. Of note is that the Conjurer is, for all intents and purposes, the Wolverine IIC and was even reported as such by ComStar in early sightings, presumably for its obvious heritage; it was designed off the WVR-7H Wolverine II variant of the original Wolverine, taking the concept and rebuilding it with advanced technology in the fashion of a IIC rebuild. However the Clans would not retain the name of the Not-Named Clan for the redesigned 'Mech.

Year introduced: 2829, during the "Early Succession Wars" era (2781 - 2900) Unit Role: Skirmisher

BattleTech Reference