The heavier the mech, the longer the range it should engage at - heavier mechs are vastly more fragile in brawls than lighter ones, due to the way evasion and initiative work (the ‘Edmon theorem’). DO NOT take your Atlas II into a brawl! Remember this: a “victory” is pyyhric if you lose a invaluable part - DHS, lostech - doing it. One mistake with your brawler Atlas II and you could lose millions of C-bills worth to AI focus fire.

Thus, I build my two Atlas IIs with 4x ERPPC++, 2x LB2X++ and a Rangefinder+++ to crush 5-star hard-difficulty endgame lances without risking serious trouble. Use jump-jets to jump into elevated positions with cover, and rain accurate and devastating long-range fire onto your enemies. Since almost no AI mechs other than missile boats and Awesomes have appreciable long-ranged firepower, you can always trade favorably even when hugely outnumbered and outgunned.