Learning goals
- Understand multishot at a beginner level.
- Understand punch through.
- Understand projectile travel time.
- Understand beam weapons.
- Understand hitscan weapons.
- Understand area-of-effect damage.
- Learn why behavior affects mission performance.
Explanation
Damage numbers do not tell the whole story. How a weapon delivers damage matters. Multishot can add projectiles or damage instances. Punch through allows shots to pass through enemies or surfaces up to a limit. Projectile weapons fire objects that travel through space, so you may need to lead moving targets. Beam weapons reward tracking and maintaining contact. Hitscan-style weapons connect instantly along the aim line. Area-of-effect damage hits an area instead of only one target, but may have range limits, falloff, ammo concerns, line-of-sight rules, or self-stagger risks.
Controls and smart use
Default PC controls can differ by platform and custom keybinds. If your controls do not match, follow the action name in Options > Controls.
- For hitscan-style weapons, place the reticle on target and use LMB with direct aim.
- For projectiles, aim ahead of moving targets instead of only aiming at their current position.
- For beams, hold LMB and track the target smoothly instead of flicking past it.
- For AoE weapons, aim near groups and keep enough distance from yourself before firing.
- Use RMB when direct precision matters, but stay mobile if the weapon is meant for close or group clearing.
What should I do?
Ask what kind of weapon you are using. Hitscan wants direct aim, projectile weapons need target leading, beams need tracking, AoE wants group placement, punch through wants lined-up enemies, and high multishot can improve damage and status delivery depending on the weapon.
How do I avoid wasting time?
Do not use a slow projectile weapon like a hitscan rifle. Do not use a beam weapon like a single-shot sniper. Do not waste AoE on one weak enemy if a group is nearby.
Common mistakes
Watch for these patterns while practicing.
- Not leading targets with projectile weapons.
- Swinging a beam weapon past enemies instead of tracking them.
- Forgetting punch through can hit lined-up enemies.
- Using AoE too close to yourself.
- Thinking multishot is the same as fire rate.
- Assuming every shot connects instantly.
Practical example
A player uses a projectile weapon against a flying enemy and keeps aiming directly at the enemy's current position. The projectile arrives after the enemy has moved. The fix is to aim slightly ahead of the target's movement.
Key Takeaways
- Weapon behavior decides how you aim. Hitscan, projectile, beam, AoE, punch through, and multishot all change how a weapon should be used.
Practical task
Once you know how a weapon delivers damage, you stop fighting against it.
- Test one hitscan or fast rifle-style weapon.
- Test one projectile, beam, or AoE weapon if available.
- For each weapon, answer whether it hits instantly, needs tracking, needs target leading, can hit groups, or can hit through enemies or cover.
- Pick the easier weapon for a normal mission.
You can identify whether a weapon is hitscan-like, projectile-like, beam-like, or AoE-focused.