With this ability the grenadier can now help the Specialist hack MECs, no small contribution. Center Mass makes the Grenadier a marginally better shooter, but it also means the Grenadier will spend an extra round shooting instead of throwing a grenade, a big drop off in utility for that round, in exchange for a small improvement in later rounds. To do so with Incendiary Grenades would require building twice as many.Ĭenter Mass is good on shooters… Grenadiers are not shooters. If the Grenadier also wants 2 sting grenades you can equip 2 flashbangs in 2 different slots at no additional cost because flashbangs are free. Early in the campaign, the Grenadier should carry grenades not flashbangs, and later in the campaign the Grenadier will want 2 Incendiary Grenades instead of 1. Protector is exactly the same as Heavy Ordinance except that it adds an extra flashbang or smoke, instead of a damaging grenade, and so it is not as good. Later in the campaign, this ability will double the quantity of Incendiary Grenades/Bombs held by the Grenadier, also a big advantage. It will be the long and hard missions when this extra grenade is most helpful, and that is when you will need the most help. Without grenades a Grenadier is a weak soldier.

Other soldiers can take a flashbang, which can be thrown much further than a grenade, by everyone who is not a Grenadier. Also, early in the campaign Grenadiers should be carrying grenades instead of flashbangs, because of their unique ability to throw grenades a greater distance than other classes. It is better to get more out of each grenade (with Sapper), than to throw them out faster. Then what does the Grenadier do? Not much.

Blowing through 2 items in one turn will eventually leave the Grenadier dry. And during most missions there will be about 4 pods to fight (3 pods on the map, 1 RNF drop in, give or take), meaning the Grenadier can use 1 item of ordinance per encounter. This will be their ordinance limit for several months of the campaign. However, a Grenadier that is wearing plating and picks the Heavy Ordinance ability at corporal rank can only carry 4 grenades/flashbangs. Rapid Deployment allows the Grenadier to throw a flashbang and a grenade in a single turn which is very strong. Keep them alive, and the loot will follow. Your soldiers are more valuable than loot, anyway. And even if it was good loot you will get it later on. And even if there was loot, it may have been bad loot.

But even if it is killed, there may not be loot. Most often a grenade will blow cover without killing the target. The Needle Grenades ability is seldom going to matter. This is their core responsibility, and it is incredibly important.Īlternatives: Needle Grenades or Rapid Deployment.

This is why we bring a Grenadier on missions in the early game. This is a critical ability, turning your unreliable cover destruction into very reliable cover destruction.

Long war 2