Iron Harvest is a unique real-time strategy game that reimagines the 1920's with enormous dieselpunk mechs. Its innovation of classic RTS mechanics and unique setting make it a truly refreshing strategy game well worth playing. However, while its fun mechanics and intricate tactical gameplay are compelling features, the most intriguing and enjoyable aspect of Iron Harvest is its impressive mechs.
With dozens of mechs to choose from across four unique factions, you'll never be short of towering tanks on spindly spider legs and lumbering loose cannons destroying everything in their wake. While each and every one of the mechs present in Iron Harvest are both beautifully designed and incredibly fun to use, these are by far the best mechs in the game.
10 PZM-9 "Straznik" - Polania Republic
The PZM-9 "Straznik" is one of the basic mechs unique to the Polania Republic faction. While this cylindrical walking turret isn't all that impressive visually, its moderately fast movement speed and ability to disperse infantry rather quickly make it a good choice for the early moments of a match.
Additionally, its cheap price both as a Reserve Unit and as a normal unit makes it easy to deploy. Getting a handful of these out onto the field as escorts for your weaker infantry units will allow you to push forward and capture some much-needed resource points.
9 PZM-7 "Smialy" - Polania Republic
The PZM-7 "Smialy" is a relatively weak mech compared to some of the other early-game options. However, its incredibly fast speed and long-range rifle make it an invaluable addition to any army. The Polania Republic's reliance on cheap, quick-moving mechs allows for rapid expansion and quick takeovers of enemy territory.
Of course, it is wise to keep this mech protected with a small squad of infantry, field guns, and/or heavy machine guns. As a forward scout or simply as an imposing early-game unit, the PSM-7 "Smialy" is incredibly useful.
8 PZM-24 "Tur" - Polania Republic
The PZM-24 "Tur" is the Polania Republic's superheavy mech and a formidable force. Its powerful weapons make it excellent for taking out smaller enemy mechs or for simply instilling fear into the heart of your opponent. Seeing this towering force of nature appear from within the fog of war is a sight to behold. Suffice to say, you don't want to be on the other end of one of these.
The PZM-24 "Tur" is very much a late-game unit and as such is rather expensive. Additionally, its slow movement speed means that if it's required as reinforcements, you'd better be prepared to hold out a little longer than expected. Nevertheless, compared to its weaker counterparts in the Polania Republic, the PZM-24 "Tur" is a truly powerful mech.
7 Sd. KS 78 "Isegrim" - Saxony Empire
The Sd. KS 78 "Isegrim" is the most versatile mech unit in the Saxony Empire's arsenal. Compared to the other rigidly stiff blocky mechs available to the Saxony Empire, this fast-moving spider-like mech is far more adept at dispatching multiple types of units. Not unlike the mechs found in the Polania Republic's arsenal, the Sd. KS 78 "Isegrim" is perfect for picking up momentum and quickly advancing into enemy territory.
Its relatively reasonable price and moderate health make it a perfectly balanced mech in an otherwise slow-moving faction. This level of balance is what makes Iron Harvest such an appealing game to newcomers of the tactical strategy genre, as it ensures that even when playing as a less well-rounded faction, players will still be able to overcome the odds.
6 SKS 156 "Wotan" - Saxony Empire
The SKS 156 "Wotan" is like a field cannon on legs. Its boxy design is offset by its eight slow-moving legs that elevate this hard-hitting mech from just being a simple tank. While in keeping with the Saxony Empire's penchant for slow, albeit powerful, mechs, the SKS 156 "Wotan" can turn sharply surprisingly quickly. This makes it a hard mech to outmaneuver, even with something as fast as the PZM-7 "Smialy".
The SKS 156 "Wotan" wields some impressive anti-armor weaponry that while more suited for singular targets, can take an enemy out rather promptly. Its power, coupled with its fast-moving turrets, make it an invaluable addition to the Saxony Empire's arsenal and a must-have in the mid-to-late game.
5 SKS 300 "Kaiser" - Saxony Empire
The SKS 300 "Kaiser" is the Saxony Empire's superheavy mech and a veritable nightmare for its opponents. It is ostensibly a bunker on legs, wielding an impressively powerful canon at the front with machine gun turrets on either side for dealing with infantry units. Its ability to deal with both armored units and standard infantry makes it especially useful and a force to be reckoned with.
While its slow movement speed and high cost might make it seem like an unjustifiable purchase, its presence on the battlefield combined with its impressive firepower and health make it a necessary addition to your army. Marching this into the frontlines alongside a swarm of infantry and smaller mechs will certainly turn the tide of battle in your favor.
4 SHM-70 "Gulyay-Gorod" - Rusviet Tsardom
This behemoth of a mech is an exceptional well-rounded war machine that can effectively take on anything all by itself. Equipped with powerful cannons and three machine gun turrets, this walking weapon of mass destruction is an impressive sight to behold. It can deal a devastating amount of destruction without any assistance, although is obviously even stronger when aided by a large force.
The SHM-70 "Gulyay-Gorod" makes the Rusviet Tsardom a truly terrifying force and one that shouldn't be underestimated. While it can only be produced in the mid-to-late game, this mech is perfect for turning a losing battle into a quick and bloody victory.
3 SHM-68 "Nakovalnya" - Rusviet Tsardom
The SHM-68 "Nakovalnya" is a brilliant and devastatingly powerful artillery mech that is best used to bombard your opponent from afar. Similar in design to the real-world experimental Tsar Tank, the SHM-68 "Nakovalnya" is a unique mech with two large wheels dragging its body into battle. With a series of large firing tubes at the front ready to launch a flurry of missiles at the enemy, this artillery mech is an extremely valuable piece of defensive and offensive weaponry.
While not as adept at defending itself, and its long cooldown makes it vulnerable to being rushed, this piece of artillery is especially useful for its ability to fire rockets without needing to deploy first. As a truly mobile artillery unit, the SHM-68 "Nakovalnya" is extremely helpful in taking out distant targets and making it a lot easier to advance across the battlefield.
2 SHM-69 "Serp" - Rusviet Tsardom
The SHM-69 "Serp" is a testament to how well Iron Harvest has managed to adopt some of the best innovations in the RTS genre to date. This colossal mech is a completely unique twist on its various counterparts as it lacks any long-ranged weaponry. In fact, this moderately fast-moving mech is entirely reliant on its two large scythe-like weapons that, while perfect for tearing into enemy soldiers, make it extremely vulnerable to an onslaught of artillery.
Nevertheless, the SHM-69 "Serp" is a truly unique mech that can be just as devastating as the most heavily equipped mech available. The moment it gets up close, whatever stands in its way may as well give up. Its large scythe-like claws can destroy anything from armored units to large groups of infantry.
1 M-29 "Salem" - Federal Union of Usonia
While the M-29 "Salem" is similar in design to Final Fantasy 7's Sweeper, it is far more deadly. This Omnidirectional Anti-infantry Mech with its multitude of machine gun turrets is incredibly adept at taking out large groups of infantry and is perfect for helping push forward during the early game.
Its relatively low cost coupled with its moderately high amount of health makes it the perfect vehicle of destruction especially when it comes to dispersing large groups of infantry. Even on its own, the M-29 "Salem" is an incredibly impressive weapon, although it is worth noting that it is not very effective against armored units.