The Heavy: Building Destruction and Suppressive Fire

Conquer the Finals with these three close-quarters Heavy Builds.

The Finals Top Heavy Build

Out of the three body archetypes in The Finals, the Heavy is the slowest, most durable, and most capable of wanton destruction. This class is built with demolitions and suppressive fire in mind, pelting enemy contestants with deafening machine gun fire and terrifying grenade salvos.

All classes in this game have specific playstyle specializations that are directly tied to the equipment players decide to bring to a match. While there is no true “best” Heavy build in The Finals, there are some loadouts that shine more brightly when used in the correct situations. So, let’s explore some example builds for the Heavy class that are optimized for specific roles and scenarios!

Updated March 15, 2024, by Marc Santos: The launch of the second season of The Finals brought a ton of changes and new content to the game, including new weapons and gadgets, a new map, and a new game mode to try them all out on. The balance changes that came with the patch affected the Heavy’s machine guns and C4, rebalancing the accuracy and recoil values of the former, while nerfing the latter even further by reducing its maximum charge count. This guide has been updated to account for these changes, and a new build has been added to include the new weapon and gadget for the class.

Quick Links

• Heavy Grenadier Build
• All-Rounder Machine Gun Heavy Build
• Shotgunner Heavy Build
• Thunderdome Heavy Build

Heavy Grenadier Build

Though not necessarily the best Heavy build for general play, this one is extremely annoying to play against and very effective in the right context. The MGL32 does not immediately destroy buildings, but it can fill a room with so many grenades that it becomes almost impossible to steal a cashout. It fires and reloads relatively quickly, and by the time an enemy does reach a deposit box, the Heavy is usually ready to start spamming explosives again.

This Heavy build forces players to adopt a slow and defense-oriented playstyle, which is ironic for a movement-heavy shooter. Heavy GL users will likely lose most direct gunfights they take, especially against agile Light players. This is why the Charge ‘N’ Slam specialization is preferred — when caught in the open, charge through a wall and escape as quickly as possible.

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However, this build is extremely strong in cashout scenarios. Find a good spot to lob grenades from, then use Barricades and place Explosive Mines behind them to blow up anyone who tries to mantle over. After setting up a nest, it’s just a matter of spamming grenades until the cashout is complete.

All-Rounder Machine Gun Heavy Build

This general-purpose loadout excels in close-medium-range combat and area control, and it works best on maps with plenty of open sightlines like Seoul and Las Vegas.

Machine guns act as the Heavy’s jack-of-all-trades weapon. Their high magazine capacity and good damage per shot values mean players will be able to gun down multiple enemy contestants in a single fight, assuming the machine gunner has good aim.

In Season 2, the M60 was updated to become more accurate and controllable over time during sustained fire, making it even better for extended medium-range fights. Conversely, the Lewis Gun received a nerf to its accuracy — it now becomes harder to control the longer players hold down the trigger. Both weapons are still good for their intended roles, but they now have more distinguished identities, with the M60 being accurate and the Lewis Gun excelling in close-ranged combat.

The C4 and RPG-7 are mainly used for destroying walls and floors. Having both lets players drop deposit stations on two floors instead of just one, which creates a huge advantage for the team. The RPG-7 can one-shot pesky Light and Medium players, and C4 can be used to take out anyone trying to steal a cashout. Meanwhile, Goo Grenades offer tons of utility — use them to create cover or platforms for reaching higher elevations. Keep in mind that C4 has received several nerfs to its lethality. It can still one-shot Lights, but not Medium or Heavy players. Players also get one less block of C4 at all times, further hampering its ability to kill.

Mesh Shield helps the team cross open gaps (like the rooftops and bridges of Seoul) and create hardpoints within contested areas. Players need to be extra mindful of their positioning while using this, as the shield only covers the front.

Shotgunner Heavy Build

The Flamethrower used to be very strong in close combat fighting, but ever since it got nerfs to its range and DPS output, players will want to use the SA1216 shotgun instead for close-range fighting. This weapon’s high rate of fire, damage, and magazine capacity make it the ultimate CQB weapon, making this Heavy build very difficult to fight against in close-quarter cashout scenarios.

The Goo Gun, Gas Mines, and Barricades turn cashout fights into CQB nightmares for the enemy. When a hostile team enters a room, block off their escape with the Goo Gun and clean them up with gas and shotgun fire. Drop a ceiling on top of a cashout station to make fights even harder and fill the crevices with Gas Mines and Goo.

Due to the SA1216’s short effective range, having the Goo Gun equipped can make fights in open cashout stations a bit easier. This Heavy build is best used together with a Light player equipped with Smoke Grenades, as smoke will extinguish fire and keep the Heavy’s walls of Goo standing strong.

Thunderdome Heavy Build

This build is designed for holding objectives and setting up hardpoints that are extremely hard to contest without forcing enemies to use their utilities. All three pieces of equipment for this loadout are for blocking pathways and bullets, eventually forcing enemies into a close-ranged fight where Heavies have the advantage.

The Sledgehammer and SA1216 will chew any enemy up in close quarters. Meanwhile, those who want a bit more versatility with their engagement ranges now have the KS-23, which was introduced as a new weapon in The Finals Season 2. It fires heavy shotgun slugs that deal immense damage, but its range is somewhat limited by the projectiles’ slow speed. Players reload the KS-23 one shell at a time, meaning they can cancel their reloads without ever getting taken out of the fight due to a lack of ammo.

If you’re worried about fire destroying your Goo, swap this out for the Anti-Gravity Cube. It creates a zero-gravity well that makes everything inside it float away, disrupting the movement of enemies as they try to contest objectives.

Q&A

Q: Is there a specific Heavy build that excels in long-range combat?
A: The Heavy class is not designed for long-range combat. Their weapons and specializations are optimized for close to medium-range engagements. If you prefer long-range fighting, it’s best to choose a different class, such as the Sniper.

Q: How can I counter a Heavy using the Grenadier build?
A: The Heavy Grenadier build can be challenging to take down due to the constant grenade spam. However, playing a Light class with high mobility can help you avoid getting hit by grenades. Try to outmaneuver the Heavy and focus on taking them out quickly before they can unleash more explosives.

Q: Which Heavy build is the best for teamplay?
A: The Thunderdome Heavy build is excellent for teamplay, especially in objective-based game modes. The ability to hold down key positions and create hardpoints can give your team a significant advantage. Combine it with teammates equipped with complementary abilities, such as Smoke Grenades, to create a devastating synergy.

References

• The Finals Official Website
• The Finals Season 2 Update Patch Notes
• Mastering The Finals: A Guide to Class Specializations
• Choosing the Right Loadout in The Finals
• The Finals Community Forum

Remember to share this article with your friends and fellow The Finals enthusiasts on social media. Happy gaming, and see you on the battlefield! 😄🎮✨

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