Editing Mechanoid cluster

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| [[{{Q|Mech node|Image}}|64px]] || {{Q|Mech node|Max Hit Points Base}} || {{Q|Mech node|Description}} || Emits light in a {{Q|Mech node|Light Radius}} tile radius. Can be claimed or deconstructed for resources. || {{Q|Mech node|Size}} || No  

| [[{{Q|Auto mortar|Image}}|64px]] || {{Q|Auto mortar|Max Hit Points Base}} || |{{Q|Auto mortar|Description}} || The auto mortar will slowly destroy even the best defended and equipped bases from a distance, making these one of the biggest threats of a mechanoid cluster. Will fire even if all remaining cluster sleep. || {{Q|Auto mortar|Size}} || Yes

Mech clusters are best dealt with from extreme range, to avoid placing your colonists in unnecessary harm.

Alternatively, as mech clusters only have a single melee type, the [[Scyther]], and can often, but not always, assessed to see if they contain this type before engaging, using a sufficient number of melee pawns armed with [[Shield belt]]s and, if possible, [[Zeushammer]]s, can be an effective tactic. Care must be taken to move colonists away from turrets and other structures before they explode, however, especially when unstable power cells are nearby these turrets, as one exploding may lead to a chain reaction wiping out all of your melee fighters at once. If a mech cluster lacks proximity detectors, you can also use the opportunity to move all of your melee fighters up to their turrets and units, minimizing the damage they can take to mere bruises from centipedes ramming them.

If a mech cluster is well beyond your colony's abilities, you may be able to wall it in entirely while you prepare better armament. If the cluster is unable to harm you, such as by way of a condition causer or auto-mortar, you may even opt to leave it alone entirely, until a different group of uninvited guests, such as [[Pirates]] or [[Insectoids]], wanders into the cluster and softens them up for you. Be careful with friendly factions and any incoming [[caravan]]s however.

For a mech cluster without any proximity activators, 1 explosive IED can take out any turret or small building. 1 EMP IED has a bigger area of effect than a EMP mortar shell.  IEDs can be daisy chained to cover a greater area.  The IED can be set off with a targeted attack such as a sniper rifle, a mortar volley, or by waiting for an activation timer to count to 0.

For mech cluster without a mech high-shield [[mortar]]s are obviously the best way to deal with them, especially as the mechanoids linger in a small, confined area. Prolonged shelling can easily destroy mech clusters and weaken the mobile mechanoids substantially before triggering them to attack your colony (where you can take advantage of your base defenses).

For mech clusters with a mech high-shield, you can either try to destroy the shields first with snipers, or simply overpower the shield. Firing an [[EMP shell]] into the shield will disable the mech high-shield for {{Ticks|1080}} time, allowing other mortars shells to hit the cluster, or even destroying the mortar shield before it can come back online. You can't, however, use the same mortar to fire the EMP shell and an explosive shell, because the time the mortar needs to rearm is greater than the down time of the shield. That's why you need one mortar with EMP shells loaded and at least one more loaded with high explosive ones to do damage to the cluster. All mechs and mech buildings (except [[barricades]]) are fireproof, so don't use [[incendiary shell]]s.  

==== Orbital Bombardment ====

Another easy way to destroy a mech cluster is to save your [[orbital bombardment targeter]]s for them. These are quite rare as they are found only via quest rewards and ancient dangers. However, the damage they rain down can easily destroy even a double or triple strength mech cluster, leaving only Centipedes as survivors to assault your base. [[Orbital power beam targeter]]s should not be used, as they deal [[Damage types#Flame|Flame]] damage to which all mechanoids and mechanoid buildings are immune.

If a colonist has the appropriate [[Titles#Permits|imperial permits]], they can call down either an aerodrone strike or an aerodrone salvo.

The [[sniper rifle]], [[triple rocket launcher]], and [[doomsday rocket launcher]] are all long range weapons. The two rocket launchers also do extra damage vs buildings. Using these three weapons with a coordinated first salvo from prepared forward positions, you can inflict severe damage upon mech clusters as soon as they wake up. Opening volleys should focus on taking out any defending long-range mechanoids (Lancers/Pikemen) and the Auto-Inferno Turret.

[[EMP grenades]] can disable both mechanoids and mech cluster buildings. Meanwhile [[frag grenades]] inflict high damage vs buildings and can destroy any mech cluster turret with two hits. Thus a grenadier team, taking advantage of cover from steel walls that often come down with mech clusters, can inflict significant damage if the mobile mechanoids can be lured away and defeated first.

Alternatively, a colonist with the ''Skip'' and ''Invisibility'' [[psycasts]] can move into a mech cluster, use grenades to quickly destroy priority targets, then use ''Skip'' to withdraw as soon as the ''Invisibility'' wears off.

* All mech cluster buildings, not including the condition causers, not only have a [[Flammability]] of 0%, but also take no damage from attacks with the [[Damage Types|Flame]] damage type. This is in contrast to, for example, a [[stone]] [[wall]] which will not be ignited by [[molotov cocktails]] but will take the 10 flame damage from the initial attack.

* Mech Clusters do not spawn elite mechanoids normally summoned by a Mechinator in [[Biotech]].

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