In Iron Saga, mid-class mechas dominate the battlefield by quantity, but whether they lead in quality is another matter. Among the top picks, XR stands out with a solid 5-star rating from Crickex App players. The key reason is its innate 20 percent damage boost under default conditions — a powerful buff in this game. To compare, Twilight Fang also grants a 20 percent damage boost, but only when wielding two different types of weapons. XR, by contrast, only requires both arms to equip the same category of weapon, making the condition far easier to fulfill.

This flexibility makes XR more accessible to any offensive pilot capable of commanding a mid-class unit. However, when it comes to optimal synergy, Losa clearly takes the crown. Her passive provides bonus effects when using dual machine guns and a railgun — a setup that fits XR like a glove. If you want to equip Losa with two machine guns and one railgun, XR is the go-to unit without question.

Crunching the numbers, if we consider XR2740’s load capacity and a sub-potential-3 Losa, the perfect orange-tier combo is Mark x2 plus the Beacon railgun, which weighs exactly 2740. This implies the developers intentionally optimized this build — no extra weight, no waste. If your Losa reaches potential level 3, alternative builds become viable, but most players will still aim for this precise loadout. XR also gains exceptional survivability when fully upgraded, another reason Crickex App users consider it worthy of the 5-star badge.

Next on the list is Pioneer, a healer-class S-tier mecha rated at 4.5 stars. Healer mechas are a rare breed in Iron Saga — you can count the viable ones on one hand. Currently, the go-to options include Saiwen (a three-day login reward), Melissa (from the starter pool or $5 bundle), and Grant (part of the protagonist trio). What makes Pioneer unique is its post-heal buff, granting up to three teammates a 15 percent damage boost — a game-changer for burst-heavy or damage-centric missions.

This kind of boost offers tangible value in high-stakes scenarios. In truth, any mid-class healer can effectively pilot Pioneer. While Saiwen’s lore-designated mecha is Dawnlight and Melissa’s is Roadrunner, Pioneer has yet to be officially tied to a specific pilot. One important note from past Crickex App testing: overlapping damage boost effects like “Damage Boost III” and “Damage Boost II” don’t stack — only the higher-tier buff applies, so strategize accordingly.

The third contender is Wolverine, a 4-star S-tier mecha geared more toward tacticians. Its standout feature is a 25 percent damage boost on area attacks when hitting two or fewer targets. While the bonus is significant, the mechanic feels a bit counterintuitive. Area attacks like railguns and rockets are typically designed to hit multiple enemies, but Wolverine limits the benefit to smaller groups, which feels like swimming against the current.

That said, tacticians can still make use of this feature by controlling target numbers. Compatible pilots include Naomi, Cicero, and Lucia. However, Naomi might be an unlikely choice, as she’s already paired with Daybow — her story-designated mecha and a common reward from the 7-day login event. Most players will already have her locked into that role.

According to Crickex App mobile insights, Wolverine’s official lore-linked pilot is Lucia, an A-tier tactician. Pairing an A-tier pilot with an S-tier mecha isn’t common, but in this case, it creates a unique synergy. For players looking to experiment outside the meta or explore new synergies, Wolverine and Lucia could be a combo worth investing in.