Gear: Understanding Set Weaknesses.
When you start playing The Grand Mafia, crafting your first full gear set feels like a power move. Most newbies go for one of three combos: Bruisers-Bikers, Bruisers-Hitmen, or Bikers-Hitmen. These sets can hit hard, but since they’re not mixed, each one has a specific weakness that sharp players can target. Today, we’re diving into these vulnerabilities and showing you how to flip the script to come out on top.
The Core Combat Triangle
The game’s troop types follow a rock-paper-scissors system:
- Bruisers beat Hitmen but lose to Bikers.
- Bikers beat Bruisers but lose to Hitmen.
- Hitmen beat Bikers but lose to Bruisers.
But here’s where it gets interesting: when you pair two troop types in a gear set, the weakness isn’t just about what beats you—it’s about what beats one part of your set and matches the other, creating a deadly synergy for your opponent.
The Weaknesses of Pure Gear Sets
Let’s break down each gear set and its kryptonite:
- Bruisers-Bikers Gear: This set boosts your Bruisers and Bikers, but it’s weak against Bikers. Why? Bikers dominate Bruisers in a straight fight, and since your gear also pumps up Bikers, an enemy Biker-heavy force can match your strengths while exploiting your Bruisers’ vulnerability.
- Bruisers-Hitmen Gear: This combo powers up Bruisers and Hitmen, but it falters against Bruisers. Bruisers crush Hitmen every time, and with your own Bruisers in the mix, an enemy Bruiser assault can overwhelm you by outmuscling your Hitmen and matching your Bruiser game.
- Bikers-Hitmen Gear: This set enhances Bikers and Hitmen, but it’s vulnerable to Hitmen. Hitmen shred Bikers, and since your gear boosts Hitmen too, an enemy Hitmen-heavy attack can outclass your Bikers while going toe-to-toe with your own Hitmen.
In short, each gear set struggles when facing the troop type that beats one of its components and aligns with the other, amplifying the matchup problem.
Turning the Tables
Knowing these weaknesses, you can build a counter-strategy by pairing your gear with the right troops and formations:
- For Bruisers-Bikers Gear: Train a couple million T2 Hitmen and use Hitman Formation. Hitmen counter enemy Bikers (your weakness), while your gear-enhanced Bruisers and Bikers hold the line against other threats.
- For Bruisers-Hitmen Gear: Build a couple million T2 Bikers and switch to Biker Formation. Bikers counter enemy Bruisers (your weakness), letting your gear-boosted Bruisers and Hitmen handle the rest.
- For Bikers-Hitmen Gear: Recruit a couple million T2 Bruisers and opt for Bruisers Formation. Bruisers counter enemy Hitmen (your weakness), while your gear-powered Bikers and Hitmen back them up.
Why Bikers-Hitmen Gear Might Be Your Best Bet Early On
Here’s a pro tip: Bikers-Hitmen Gear could be the ideal starter set. Bruisers Formation is the starter formation in the game—all the others, like Biker and Hitman Formations, need to be unlocked. Since most new players stick with Bruisers Formation early on, pairing Bikers-Hitmen Gear with a solid stack of T2 Bruisers in Bruisers Formation sets you up to smash those Bruiser-heavy beginners. Your weakness is Hitmen, but early-game opponents rarely spam them, giving you a temporary edge.
Long-Term Strategy: Diversify or Die
This isn’t a perfect shield—some players love to “yolo” their attacks with wild troop mixes that defy prediction. That’s why you should aim to build a couple million of every T2 troop type—Bruisers, Bikers, and Hitmen. Having all three in your arsenal lets you adapt on the fly, no matter what your gear set is weak against.
Final Thoughts
Your first gear set in The Grand Mafia is a big step, but don’t get too comfortable. Understand what beats you—especially when it matches part of your own setup—and build your troops and formations to counter it. Start with a smart set like Bikers-Hitmen, diversify your forces, and you’ll be the one exploiting everyone else’s weaknesses.
Stay sharp, bosses!
