I'm going to cheat (like most posters here) and not pick just one, because I'm indecisive like that. I'll break it into categories, though.

The "I must field a mech, but don't want to" mech:

BR ConstructionMech MOD-B: Oh my god is this thing cost-efficient. Fully repairable, decent heat, 3 Damage AnP with a 10 attack, 20 defense, 3 Vent and a 270 degree Arc? 87 points. The economist in me quivers every time I look at its stats.

The "I hate chargemonkeys" mech:

Freddy Bo. Two targets at 14 for 4, fully repairable, keeps his agility for 5 and JJs for 6.

The "I hate VTOLs" mech:

Declan Devalis. Obscene defense, range, and 4 clicks of 10 attack at 2 targets all for 255 points. He can wade into a cloud of VTOLs and send them crashing to earth, walking out nigh unscathed. Note that the same applies to any mechs foolish enough to come near him.

The "Break Glass if Opponents Don't Use Arty" mech:

Clyde Joyce. This mech is unstoppable if you've managed to shut down your foe's arty, or if the poor bastard didn't bring any. Park him in hindering and loom menacingly with your 5 damage at 14, brawling, and TWENTY FIVE defense. If that's not enough, he's got crazy armor most of the way down his dial, and a mere three clicks of salvage.

The "Most cost-efficient mech, ever" mech:

Sad to say, in terms of damage output to points, it's still the BR Lego. He's mean, he brawls, he can go hide in hindering for Camo, he deals out six only to take two in return... if your poor opponent didn't bring an agility mech, they will next time, and given the Lego's repairability you might as well use him anyways to smash up vehicles, transports, or the like.

The "If I abosolutely must blow 300 points on a mech" mech:

One-Eyed Jack. Oh my god is this mech a beast. I'm leery at the idea of spending that much on one mech, but if I were to, this chap has no obvious disadvantages whatsoever. Yikes.

Mechs I don't include, and why:

Liao Targe: I love this thing in principle, but in practice it's arty bait. Once you get it beyond its armor, it's just a big pile of short-ranged points. Besides, in todays environment everyone brings loads of AP to the table; "I have a lot of armor" or "I have a lot of defense" doesn't cut it. If you want to go that route, use Clyde Joyce. If you use 2 Targes in unison, though... that's something entirely different.

Kendrick: He ruled DA. Now, though, no one seems to use open infantry formations, and his heat dial is dodgy. A great deal, but not the gamebreaker he once was. Reactive armor is also somewhat less cool with AP everywhere.

Victor Hannan: He's a sweetie. I like his color scheme. He looks swanky as hell. But his minimum range ballistic means that if you base him with any infantry, he's on the run. Only having energy to fight infantry in base-to-base is just too big of a weakness.

Janis: She's efficient in terms of cost, but 2 damage at 14 without AP isn't going to do very much, and she's not as repairable as some of the uber-efficient BR mechs, which often fill the same role. I'd prefer Bart in the same points range, the Lego for damage output, or Freddy Bo for a few more. Those three mechs have all of Janis' advantages with extra useful abilities added on. That and a 23 defense in hindering simply doesn't rule like it did in the pre-arty days.

Cheers!
-N

Best unique mechs...
Bounty Hunter:
This guy kicks ### and looks great.

Kendrick Fetladral:
I just love this mech, same as with BH.

Best non-unique mechs...
Lio Targe:
As many have already said, this baby has everything needed.

DF Black Hawk:
My favorit mech and i never go HtH tournament without it.

I'd rather roll against a 22 than a 24 wouldn't you?

Best Pushability (non-unique): BR Construction Mech Mk.2 No effects except an engine overheat on the last click. + Vent rating of 3 nice.

plz come to Lahti for a game then...

i like opponents playing overcosted stuff :)

You do realize he can just make a CC attack against basing infantry and do full primary damage.

The best 'Mech is Danni Haag's Hellwasp of course.


;)

My 2 cents:

Jung Chae: Ive gone 5-1 with him/her. great against Donars, Awe in 450, 264 so you can still have a nice support force. Hit a critical on One Eye Jack in Close combat dealing 7 clicks. Survived an Arnis charge. Took 5 and still beat him into a pulp. Truely a butal mech

On the lighter side, The Liao Targe, followed by Bart Bradshaw, Spirit Cat Mjolnir.

I would say the best mech for me is......



Stefani Ehli or Jung Chae they are the best IMO.

Rune

Skariah!

I think Jacyn Bell's Yu Huang merits a little discussion too. Huge primary damage (6!) and amazing speed -- way too fast for its weight class!!! Before the charge nerf this would have been the all-time greatest 'Mech, and it's still super-nasty. It's as fast as some Locusts! The next most expensive 'Mech with Speed 12+ is Arnis himself at 160 points! It's kinda shooty with the 14" secondary range, but it's fast enough to bring that 6 damage to bear where it sees fit. Nasty...

Janella Lakewood, only gotten better after the changes.

No, because I'm a complete ######.

Oops.

Cheers!
-N

I'll have to admit, I'm a little biased due to fluff, but...if I was limited to only one Mech to build the rest of my armies around, I'd probably pick RotS' Yuri Mashnovska - Black Knight.

Why? Well, his lack of a ballistic weapon and purely average' range both hurt, but his stats are incredible for the cost.

Coming in a 3 way tie for me for Second place would be Skariah, Clyde, and Jonah, all from the Democracy of the Circle. (Get it? Bahahahaa! ...Please laugh. Please?)

Michaela Freeman is one of the best mechs out there thats what my friend says. But i prefer the Dasher 2 its the best mech!

Well, Michaela Freeman DOES rank high among the Atlases. :)