The Combine victory on Luthien in December of 3051 also won the DCMS numerous damaged Clan OmniMechs, many of which ended up at Luthien Armor Works for technical evaluation. The DCMS also elected to field some of the captured Clan 'Mechs, but soon discovered that units composed of Clan OmniMechs were excessively prone to problems and breakdowns because the DCMS lacked the technological expertise to maintain the complex Clan machines. Within two or three months, most DCMS units equipped with captured OmniMechs reported at least 50 percent of their 'Mechs unavailable for combat because of equipment failures.
       The DCMS turned to Luthien Armor Works for a solution. The engineering team led by the fiery Rurik Drascir chose to rebuild the captured Clan 'Mechs using only those components that the DCMS could maintain and selected several captured Vultures for the first attempt. The engineers kept the Vulture's leg design, but replaced the engine with a recovered Star League engine. The designers also reworked other components, and eventually christened their new 'Mech the Avatar.
         The Jihad saw the loss of recovered Star League technologies, and the Avatar only remained in service in units that were able to acquire spare parts for the advanced engines. The DCMS required that their premier fire support OmniMech be more reliable though and they tasked its creators to make it work. Rurik Drascir and his team spent a few weeks crunching numbers and running simulations before putting their plans into motion. The resultiing Avatar 2 fought the Word with distinction and has continued to serve the Dragon ever since.

       The Avatar fills the traditional role played by heavy 'Mechs in the Combine's OmniMech force. Though slightly slower than many heavy 'Mech opponents that use Clan or recovered Star League technology, it is better armored and has larger weapons bays than most such opponents. Because of this, the Avatar has proved to be an effective OmniMech when used against a large number of foes.
       The Avatar has two fixed medium lasers, an unusual configuration. The fire control systems of the weapons pod in the first prototypes was prone to short out at inopportune times, and so the designers elected to give the 'Mech a set of hardwired lasers that the pilot could use in self defense if the weapons pod shorted out in combat. The fire control glitch was resolved in the production models, but the fixed lasers were never removed, even during the full redesign the Avatar went through during the Jihad. Rurik Drascir said it was because they gave it character. Other sources suggest a variety of reasons.
         The design's primary configuration sports twin LRM racks and machine guns in the torso, an autocannon in the right arm, and an extra two lasers in the left arm, making it a dangerous design at any range to any opponent. Other configurations use heavier autocannons and LRM racks, particle cannons, and even SRM and MRM racks. This makes the Avatar a design that proves useful in a large number of roles.

       The Avatar fought throughout the Draconis Combine, in the hands of those units loyal to the new Coordinator. Those units fought, and in many cases died, throughout the Combine though. Because of this, the Avatar 2 can be found throughout the Draconis Rifts, in the Draconis Combine itself where it still serves proudly, and on the large number of non-aligned worlds surrounding that reduced realm. Unit commanders often pilot an Avatar.