In the MechWarrior PC gaming universe, giant stompy robots called BattleMechs are the kings of the battlefield. But among gamers and in-lore characters alike, some 'Mechs are more popular than others. These towering war machines vary greatly in size, shape, weapons payload and combat role, and pound for pound, the famed Mad Cat might be the top dog.
It's difficult to define a single "best" 'Mech. Some are better suited for a certain combat role than others, and 'Mechs are incredibly diverse. Still, the 75-ton Mad Cat has become an iconic machine for the lore and in the game alike, and it's abundantly clear why. The Mad Cat simply does everything right.
This machine was the brainchild of Clan Wolf, one of the fearsome warrior Clans existing far from the borders of the Inner Sphere's feuding nations. Clan Wolf had always been a power player among the competitive Clans, and by the year 2945, Clan Wolf's engineers were ready to build something truly special, named the Timberwolf. It was a 75-ton 'Mech based on an older designed called the Woodsman, and this new Timberwolf would represent Clan Wolf's values of speed, cunning and predatory instincts, like a true canine predator.
The Timberwolf went into production at a single factory in Clan space, and this machine dazzled its pilots and its enemies alike with its elegant combat performance, from its generous top speed and easy handling to its thick armor (for its size) and its hard-hitting weapons payload. It was difficult to find a single flaw in this incredible machine, aside from the fact that relatively few were being built. And Clan Wolf wasn't in the mood to share it with the other Clans too easily, either.
The Timberwolf became Clan Wolf's iconic new 'Mech, and in the year 3049, four Clans assembled an invasion fleet and headed to the Inner Sphere to conquer Earth. Clan Wolf spearheaded this effort, and that Clan's fearsome 'Mechs terrorized their hapless opponents in the Free Rasalhague Republic (a minor Inner Sphere nation). In particular, a ComStar agent named Anastasius Focht saw videos of this 'Mech in action, and he realized that it resembled a hybrid of the famed Marauder and Catapult 'Mechs. The Marauder's code was MAD and the Catapult's code was CAT, so this alien 'Mech was named the Mad Cat.
The fearsome Mad Cat took part in many battles, including the fateful battle of Tukayyid. Famous pilots ranged from the bloodthirsty Vlad Ward of Clan Wolf to the mysterious and legendary Bounty Hunter, who somehow obtained a Mad Cat despite being an Inner Sphere mercenary. This 'Mech was so popular and successful that it inspired new designs, such as the 90-ton Mad Cat Mk II, designed and sold by Clan Diamond Shark. The Federated Commonwealth's army also tried to build a low-tech version called the Rakshasa, which was an adequate but otherwise unremarkable 'Mech. It certainly couldn't compare with the Clan Wolf original.
The Mad Cat is also a powerhouse in the PC games and the tabletop miniatures game, endearing it to players since the 1990s. This 'Mech appears on the cover of MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat, and it is pound for pound the best 'Mech in the game. This game involves the Refusal War between the Jade Falcon and Wolf Clans, involving a handful of deadly Clan 'Mechs, from the agile Jenner IIC to the lumbering destroyer, the Dire Wolf.
But among these, the Mad Cat is arguably the best, and the same is true in 1999's MechWarrior 3, which features both Clan and Inner Sphere 'Mechs alike (and it's on the cover once again). This 'Mech appears in later titles as well, such as MechWarrior 4 and MechWarrior Online, though it is absent in MechWarrior 5, since that game takes place before the Clan Invasion.
In the PC games and board game alike, the Mad Cat won over players with its remarkable blend of mobility, firepower and armor, and among players, there's a general rule that a 'Mech must sacrifice one of those three factors in favor of the other two. Assault 'Mechs are tough but slow, and light 'Mechs are quick but fragile with small weapons. However, as the quintessential Clan heavy 'Mech, the Mad Cat arguably broke the system and got all three factors at once, moving at a medium 'Mech's speed while nearly having the firepower of an assault 'Mech, with armor to match.
The Mad Cat is primarily a long-range fighter, featuring two LRM 20 missile racks and two ER large lasers to demolish its foes from afar. If the enemy gets closer, the Mad Cat can also fire two ER medium lasers and a medium pulse laser, and even twin machine guns if it comes to that.
It's true that the LRM launchers can run out of ammo, but the laser weapons never will. And, if the Mad Cat is running hot, it can set aside the large lasers and fire its missiles instead. Aside from lacking jump jets like the Summoner, the Mad Cat has practically no weakness at all. It's as good a heavy 'Mech anyone can ask for, in the lore or in the games.
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