My mind simmered and roiled as I stood in the claustrophobic ‘Mech bay of the Perigrin’s Talons, the ancient Dropship’s rumbling thrusters and creaking frame whispering in my ears alongside the sound of the ‘Techs around me hard at work. It was a foreign sound still, among the familiarity of the workspace. I could not arrest the feeling that this was wrong, that my life was a morass not of my own making.

This was not my home.

Not the legacy I was meant to lead. Not the ‘Mech I was meant to pilot. Not the Clan I was meant to serve. This was not my life.

And yet still here I was.

The Dominion had promised me a monster, an assault ‘Mech and a spot in the family that had been forged with the people of Rassalhague. The Falcons with their broken wings had taken it in their pursuit of being just a little bit more whole again. Stolen the future I, and my Sibkin, had been promised with their Trial of Possession on Quarell.

Resent still simmered in my chest at the pain of my lost family, at the path that had been taken. Of the role I was to serve in the Dominion’s Touman. At the role I would serve here in the Falcons. This was not the machine I had trained on, was not the side of the coin I was used to playing. This was not my ‘Mech.

The Black Lanner before me was fresh from the lines of Sudeten, thrown from the fires of construction into the frigid bays of the Dropship I had been assigned to since the fires of our fight against the guilless Horses. Putrid primer coated the machine, doing little to accentuate the raptorian lines or yawning Omni-pods that waited for my decision. I knew all too well that the cockpit would surely reek of fresh metal and cloying chemicals, disgustingly sterile and unblooded.

No, the Warrior whose blood would pollute this machine was to be mine. The quirks were mine to find, mine to beat. She was my beast to tame.

Even if she was no Bear.

“Fine,” The whisper slipped past my lips as I stared up at the Medium that had been foisted upon me by this Clan who had usurped my life, “I will make do.”

—

Scar’s myomer hummed and whined as shot and laser fire scoured and seared the air around us, the unbridled anger of the Steiner rabble hammering at our Star far from accurate as we closed. We ducked and bobbed past trees and rocks, each passing object a shield to be thrown between myself and the chattering fire of the night blue Cygnus that loomed large in the fog-filtered moonlight.

“Warrior Spencer, are you in position?” Star Commander Leaman called, the Optima set in their Gladiator coming in clear as I saw the Cygnus’ attention snap from me to the looming threat that had just locked it.

“Aff, Star Commander.” A growl rolled from my throat, rasping my voice as I hauled Scar over to barrel across the open expanse of rock and tall grass that separated myself and the offending machine.

“Understood. Making a hole.” The animalistic snarl of the Star Commander’s HAG filled the night as I triggered my machine’s MASC. Scar burst to life, the scenery smudging into a ripping blur as the dull whine of her myomer redoubled into a howl that rang in my ears like a saw on metal.

I hated this speed. Hated not having the surety of a slab of Ferro between myself and the enemies of my Clans. Hated relying on luck and chance to avoid my own destruction.

To avoid my own failings.

The Cygnus grew in my viewscreen, the vast flat of its noselike cockpit glowing like a fading ember from the deluge of fire it had received just a moment before. It stopped, planting its foot before letting a rip of cannon shells and laser fire off across the open ground between itself and the Star Commander. The machine pivoted, slamming a foot back before hauling itself around against me as it reloaded and recharged.

It would not be allowed another.

We closed, fast as Scar could manage, while bobbing back and forth through the middling fire of the machine’s entourage. The harmonious tone of a weapon lock sang through the cockpit as the Series JFVII found a lock on the hulking behemoth. A searing arc of laser fire lashed out from Scar’s left arm, searing away a slab of molten armor from the Cygnus’ right side that ran in rivers to pool on the ground below in a smoking lake.

Scar skidded as I hauled her over and planted her left foot, pirouetting to sling the screaming streak launcher around and on target. A cacophony of kicker charges resounded through her frame as the missiles corkscrewed the short run into the machine’s arm to blossom into a series of detonations that only grew with every passing heart beat.

The Cygnus fell into a heap as its ammo load continued to cook off. The flickering light of the burning machine cast the thickening fog in long dancing shadows that barely served to see by as I surveyed the retreating trio of lights that sprinted into the night.

“Warrior.” Commander Leaman started, the man’s voice trailing away as his Executioner stopped at my side.

“Aff, Star Commander?” My question fizzled on my lips alongside the dying throes of the machine I had managed to conquer.

“Get them.” He rumbled, the machine’s arm raising to point out across the fog swept plains. “I will ensure your prize is retained.”

“With pleasure, Commander.” A grin split my face as I turned Scar to the fog. Soon I would be Home.

Or as close to it as I would ever be again.

— Mechwarrior Spencer, Jade Falcon Remnants, Black Lanner C Pilot. Dompaire, Jade Falcon Occupation Zone, May 15th 3151.

Howdy ‘Mechwarriors and welcome back to another ‘Mech Overview! This week I am being drug back into the omni-mines by my advisor. She assures me that the Star she has lined up for me is fit to excite but all I see is a bunch of weird birds…

That’s the point?

Oh, ok then.

This week we’re taking a look at an invasion era classic, the Black Lanner! An incredibly speedy 55 ton striker ‘Mech courtesy of the lines owned by the Jade Falcons on Sudeten! Originally built by the Falcons to make up for some… deficiencies they had noted in their Touman the Black Lanner gets moving and costs one hell of a penny doing it.

We’ve got a lot of Configs to get through here so let’s get into it!

Look at that little weird falcon dude and all his little toad friends. I bet he's up to wonderful things that aren't warcrimes or warcrime adjacent at all!

Black Lanner with Elementals. Credit: porble

Chassis

The Black Lanner is an Omni-Mech and as such has some standard things to identify before we get started! Every single Black Lanner starts from the same exact place:

83% armor.
A 7/11(14) movement profile from hardmounted MASC.
The standard 10 double heat sinks as hard mounted equipment.
13 Tons of Pod Space.
A Clan XL engine with a rating of 385.
Endo-Steel Structure and Ferro-Fibrous armor.

This is a pretty good starting point with the basic unloaded frame coming in at 836 BV. Now, there is something we have to remember, with this much speed, and being a Clan ‘Mech, this thing’s speed factor is going to shoot that cost up Fast.

Variants

These mechs have all been reviewed based on a standard F through S scale, which you can find described on our landing page here (along with all of our other ‘Mech reviews, the name of the box you can buy to get any of the mechs we have covered, and our general methodology).

Prime

Is this what the Clans think a Trooper is? This looks like a weird Clan trooper… Why are you people like this?

The Black Lanner Prime is… well its what’s in the art. It’s an ER Large Laser, a pair of ER Medium Lasers, an LRM 10, and an SRM 6. Each missile launcher has one ton of ammo and there is an ECM suite in the head.

I’ll be honest this has a mild problem: Heat. While it’s manageable and can be quite well used with what you have it goes up 12 on a running Alpha strike. This is largely fine but man I don’t like paying for a bunch of guns I really can’t use. When you get in close it's easily fixed by putting the ERLL offline but that means you’re losing your biggest can opener, possibly when you need it most.

At 2,268 BV I don’t love this config and it honestly feels way too expensive… A shame, I want more good Clan Troopers to put to field but this thing has committed a Cardinal Sin of being a trooper: Expensive.

Liberty’s Rating: C. It’s usable but for what you’re getting there are quite a few things that do this job in both the IS and Clan catalog for far less or far better.

Clan Jade Falcon Black Lanner A. Credit: Valk.

A

Snipin’s a good job mate…

The A is simple: A forward designator that can do some minor work plinking at targets of opportunity. It packs an ERPPC, a pair of MPLs, an Active Probe, an ECM Suite, and a TAG. This feels like a kind of full flexibility forward operations ‘Mech that can do some good work but for 2,308 BV I am not entirely digging it.

Past 4 hexes you toss on the ERPPC and one of the MPLs to build movement -1 while at or under 4 hexes you toss out both MPLs unless you need canopening. This is fine but there are definitely a lot of things that run about with a cERPPC and some backup guns.

Its a little saddening because this is the kind of thing I usually see as being quite fun, and I can see it doing some good work in a campaign but for an actual game where you’re paying for it? This thing is going to get targeted into the dirt and it's about 3 lucky shots, or one 'oh fuck I didn't see that coming' from a precision AC/20 away from losing functionality.

That risk at this price? Liberty no like.

Liberty’s Rating: D+. The machine craves light hunting, Falcons, let it go light hunting.

B

Gee billy, how come the Khan lets you have 2 LRM 20s?

Yea… that’s what it is. Two LRM 20s and 3 tons of ammo. That’s it.

For 1,961 BV. There’s not any heat problems at least? I’ll be honest you could have a Stormcrow D for this price and get some SRMs and NARCS to back it up. Or for a good clip cheaper you could get a Cougar or Puma A with some back up guns. Shit if you’re willing to pay more you could get some Mad Cat IIIs for a whole pile of secondaries or an Archer C to get some extra beef on your guy for the price.

Disappointing.

Liberty’s Rating: D+. I mean I’m not angry to have a pair of LRM 20s but even just with Clan boxes in mind there are a lot of things cheaper, tougher, and more well rounded than this thing.

C

Baby Kodiak do-do-d-

For 2,523 BV this thing is already knocking on the door of Kodiak prices and I know which one I’m liable to pick. That said if you’re a Falcon ‘Mechwarrior this is probably about as close as you’re going to get. Armed with 6 ERMLs and a Streak 6 launcher this is an alright portion of a Kodiak’s armament which isn’t a bad thing to be.

That said being 8+ movement on an alpha strike when everything wants to be firing together is… not the best.

I can see the plan, and even the idea, here. It wants to scream up behind something and absolutely core them out but with what this thing costs it’s gonna have to hunt some big targets to make its cost back in any manner.

Damn shame, speed gets us all.

Liberty’s Rating: D+. Funny at least?

Jade Falcon Black Lanner. Credit: Jack Hunter

D

Oh no… competence.

The D is a bad bitch and it scares me. For 1,809 BV you get two MPLs, two SRM 6s, two ERSLs, a Flamer, and four Machine Guns sharing a half ton of ammo.

This is a machine that hunts lights, kills infantry, fights well into other mediums and can bully Heavies and Assaults quite effectively. It’ll go up 5 heat on a running alpha but dropping the Flamer means you’re just up movement heat which… is fine.

I’ve seen this little bastard used to effect and it does wonders for the role.

Angry boy.

Liberty’s Rating: A. It just does things at you and you aren’t going to make it stop doing that until it is dead and gone.

E

ATM TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIME

Ok, look. ATMS fuck and fast ATMS fuck even harder. The E mounts an ATM 12 supplied with 3 tons of ammo and a trio of ERMLs to keep it running once the bins are dry. Until that happens you get to run around and fire off two ERMLs and the ATM for free as you will be heat neutral. The alpha bounces you up 5 heat but I think on the occasional good shot that’s not necessarily the worst thing. Add to this that this thing is basically an overgrown Fire Falcon E and I’m kinda in love.

Even if it costs 2,331 BV.

I’ll probably run it but good god is it gonna hurt my wallet to do it on the regular.

Liberty’s Rating: C+. Fast ATMs are a horror show and it takes one slipup from the enemy for this thing to appear and inform an opposing Assault that it has yeed its last haw.

F

Light ‘Mechs are fake, and they cannot hurt me, as I sit upon a throne of intensely blinking lights.

The F is a pretty normal, ish, guy for the job it is trying to do…

Well if we ignore the hand of the infantry guy at least.

The F, for a price of 2,154 BV, mounts up a 5 pack of MPLs and no extra heat sinks which means it builds movement heat when it fires them all off. Two turns of concerted and accurate fire like that before having to drop one or two of them next turn to sink out some heat is real cool.

But Liberty, you mumble, scratching your head as you do math on your fingers to try and figure out the missing tonnage, that’s only 10 tons! What about the other 3? You said it had 13 tons of pod space! Where is the other pod space?

Well, my studious little friends I’m proud of you. For one because you’ve done math and for two because you caught me in a lie. See, those MPLs aren’t all the F has.

It also has 6 fucking light machine guns in 3 pack arrays with a half ton of ammo and a Light Active Probe. Why? Well, because the Infantry man knows fear, and wants the object of his fear wiped from the face of whatever world the Khan has decided to deploy him upon.

Liberty’s Rating: B+. Look man it’s 5 MPLs and a bunch of weirdo crit seekers. It’s got a use and it’s very funny about it.

G

G is for Generally Stupid.

Now I usually quite like G configs, if I’m honest. They’re often, at least on the ones I find myself running them on, a very fun bag of big guns or heavy missile loads which is my bread and butter. But this… well… this is not that.

The G is 1,929 BV and really fuckin’ dumb about it. It has an extra heat sink to handle the titanic heat load of… an ERLPL and 4 LRM 5s.

I feel like that extra ton of ammo could’ve like… been used for something better? Like a pair of LRM 10s for some better hitting power. I dunno but I’m not a fan of ‘oops all LRM 5’ ‘Mechs that cost near 2K BV. That shit belongs on Baboons and Baboon equivalents and that’s about it.

Liberty’s Rating: D-. I mean it’s kinda got a use I suppose? I really don’t like it for this price though and really the only thing keeping it from an F is an accurate long range complement and even then it’s on thin ice.

Wolf's Dragoons Black Lanner. Credit: Jack Hunter

H

CAN YOU HEAR IT? THE SONOROUS HOWL OF THE COMING STORM? THE BUILDING WARBLE OF THE HOLY BEAM THAT SHALL CARVE YOUR COCKPIT FROM YOUR SHOULDERS? I AM YOUR END AND I APPROACH ALL THE FASTER FOR YOUR CRIMES!!!

The H is an actually competent use of an heavy large laser, even if it can’t fit a TC to make it work a bit better. Loaded up with an HLL, a pair of MPLs and an ECM suite the H is a hard hitting fast moving striker that will have a consistent double tap from the MPLs, even if the HLL may often be up in the air on the opposite end of the TN chain. Sporting an extra 4 DHS the H can easily handle its weapons load on the run being heat neutral with a running Alpha strike!

For 1,928 BV I’ve gotta be honest: I’m gonna use the fuck out of this thing. It’s funny as fuck and anything that lets me do an HLL and something else is a winner in my book.

Liberty’s Rating: C-. Look I love HLLs but I know they’re not good and this thing is king of the un-TCd HLL shit mountain.

I

Have you considered that I’m fast as fuck and so is this pulse laser? You haven’t? Well you should be.

The I uses its entire Pod Space to pack in a pair of ERMLs, a Streak 4, a trio of HMGs and a Targeting Computer! But, once again, that’s not all the weight. So where’s the last of it?

Simple: One MVSP.

That’s a 7/11(14) TCd MVSP for 1,803 BV on a 55 tonner with alright armor. This is the ‘I think Spiders don’t deserve to live’ device. It will run around and the moment that little bastard screws up it screams up to it, builds movement heat and does its best impression of a fly swatter.

Fuckin funny. It’s good, MVSPs always are and so are accurate cERMLs. Keep in mind that it only builds heat if the Streak locks up so it can reliably just run around plinking off the lasers at things until it manages to plink a good shell on someone which is honestly fine.

Liberty’s Rating: B-. TCd VSPs are fucking hateful and one on a frame like this with these kinds of supporting hands has a chance to do some real work for a pretty alright price!

Black Lanner, Wolf's Dragoons, Alpha Regiment

J

WHY WE GOIN’ SO FUCKIN FAST DOG? WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUUUUUCK

The J has a gimmick, a meme, a funny trick that will help us later. In support of its trio of ERMLs and PAC/8 with 2 tons of ammo the J has one more idiot item: A Super Charger. This gives it a movement profile of 7/11(14)[18]. That’s fucking hilarious for a machine built like this. If it wants to be behind you it will be.

For 2,022 BV I’m not the biggest fan for the price but that kind of back stabbing for 29 damage in goodly chunks is a ripper of a back arc breaker. As well it’s -1 heat on a running alpha which is pretty great!

Liberty’s Rating: D+. I mean it’s fast and useful but good god is it expensive. I feel like there’s probably more than a few things that can do just about this job for a fair clip less than the J manages.

T

Prime 2 IlClan Boogaloo

The T is a rec guide variant and as such matches the art! To do this we’ve got the old LRM 10 and SRM 6 still kicking about in support of a Plasma Cannon and a pair of iHMLs! The 10 double heat sinks are fighting a slightly losing battle being 9+ movement on an alpha strike.

Much like the Prime before it the T can drop its main energy weapon to mostly fix the heat problem, going down to a manageable movement +2. This is pretty acceptable and liable to get some good work done with all the can opening and crit seeking it packs! For 2,040 BV we’ve got something acceptably usable that packs a good clip of beat stick in its zippy frame!

Liberty’s Rating: C+. Honestly I like this over the Prime by a fair bit. While the range is certainly shorter the speed makes up for it a fair bit!

Black Lanner. Credit: Rockfish

X

RISE MY EXPERIMENT! RIIIIIIIIIIISE!

So this is the cheapest Black Lanner, and it’s by a good clip. Coming in at 1,672 BV the X is armed wholly with a pair of iHMLs and a RAC 2 with 2 tons of ammo in a CASE II protected bay.

If you set the RAC to 6 shells you build movement heat but you can fiddle with that to your hearts content! I love RACs, though I do prefer a 5 to a 2 by a fair bit, and this is certainly a funny caddy for one. I could see this getting some use as a long range support piece for the price but then again there are plenty of machines that will do that far better with something like a pile of LBs or LRMs.

Liberty’s Rating: C+. I mean its a cheap pair of zippy iHMLs and something that can capitalize on it. I kinda wish it was a pile of iHMLs and SRMs but it is what it is and it’s what we got.

Final Thoughts

The Black Lanner is, much like many of its Clan Invasion era kin, fuckin’ weird and that weirdness begets quite the cost sink. I like a few of them but I really don’t like most of these configs. The D, E, F, T, H, and I seem like stand outs but the rest of them feel a bit too specialized for the average game, or far too expensive to fit into a given game.

Usually I'd say something about variants or configs that are missing but hte only thing I see gone is a jumping Variant and well... A Jump jet for a 55 tonner is a half ton each, 7 of them takes away 3.5 tons of space in your already limited 13 tons. You could certainly give it a bunch of pulse weapons to make do with it but I don't really figure that's the best use of the platform. Honestly I'm more surprised we don't have more configs with the add on super charger!

Until next time! Fair weather, good seas, and happy being-a-fucked-up-and-weird-falcon-ing!

Have any questions or feedback? Drop us a note in the comments below or email us at contact@goonhammer.com. Want articles like this linked in your inbox every Monday morning? Sign up for our newsletter. And don’t forget that you can support us on Patreon for backer rewards like early video content, Administratum access, an ad-free experience on our website and more.