How to Win More Gunfights in XDefiant! | (The Most Important Attachments!)
We are going to focus on one specific element in X-Defiant that’s going to help you win a whole lot more gunfights if you aren’t already taking advantage of this, and this is strafing. We’ll dive into the intricacies of the strafe speeds of the guns, the various attachments that improve your strafe speeds, how other attachments may or may not impact your strafe speeds, and how to best take advantage of this to ensure that you’re winning even more gunfights.
How to Win More Gunfights in XDefiant:
The Importance of Strafing in X-Defiant
Strafing is crucial in X-Defiant, even more than in most other FPS games. One of the biggest reasons is the game’s mechanics, allowing players to change direction almost instantly. Unlike other games where changing direction involves a brief deceleration and acceleration, X-Defiant lets you switch directions seamlessly. This makes it incredibly hard for enemies to hit their shots, especially when you’re using the right attachments to maximize your aim-down sight (ADS) strafe speeds.
Benefits of Strafing
Strafing doesn’t just help with evasion; it can also improve your aim. One effective technique is left-stick aiming, where you use the left analog stick to make fine adjustments to your aim instead of relying solely on the right stick. This method can be smoother and easier, especially on a controller. Additionally, strafing activates your rotational aim assist, helping you stay on target compared to standing still. This makes it much easier to hit your target and win gunfights.
Aim Down Sight Strafe Speeds
When looking at aim down sight (ADS) strafe speeds, it’s important to note that strafing side to side will actually reduce your movement speed by 10%. This is a built-in feature of the game. In the assault rifle category, most have an ADS strafe speed of about 2.94 meters per second, with the MDR being an exception at 3.04 meters per second. This speed is more typical of an SMG, making the MDR a unique hybrid.
Comparing Weapon Strafe Speeds
SMGs generally have a strafe speed of 3.04 meters per second, but the P90 stands out with a speed of 3.13 meters per second. However, the P90 lacks stock attachments that enhance strafe speed, making it less effective when fully optimized compared to other SMGs. LMGs are slower, with the RPK-74 being slightly better in terms of movement speed. Marksman rifles and shotguns are similarly slow, making strafing less effective with these weapons. Sniper rifles are not recommended for strafing due to their low strafe speeds.
Attachments That Improve Strafe Speed
Three primary attachments improve ADS walking speed: the leather-wrapped foregrip (15% boost), the leather-wrapped rear grip (10% boost), and the lightweight stock (20% boost). These attachments are stackable and additive, resulting in a total 45% increase in ADS strafe speed when combined. This makes your strafing significantly faster and more effective in dodging enemy fire.
The Illusion of Speed
In first person, your strafing might not seem exceptionally fast, but from the enemy’s perspective, it looks much more erratic and challenging to track. This visual discrepancy can be a significant advantage, making it harder for opponents to hit you.
Movement Speed Attachments
While some attachments claim to improve overall movement speed, they do not affect ADS strafe speed in X-Defiant. These attachments only enhance your standard walking and sprinting speeds. Therefore, if your goal is to maximize ADS strafe speed, it’s better to use attachments specifically designed for that purpose.
Recoil and Strafing Direction
In X-Defiant, gun recoil generally kicks upward and to the right. Knowing this, it’s often better to strafe to the right during gunfights. This tactic makes it harder for opponents to control their recoil and stay on target. However, adaptability is key; sometimes, you need to strafe left or switch directions quickly to keep your enemies guessing.
Conclusion
Strafing is a fundamental technique in X-Defiant that can significantly improve your gunfight success. By using the right attachments to enhance your ADS strafe speed and incorporating strafing into your gameplay, you can become a much harder target to hit and win more gunfights. If you haven’t already, I highly encourage you to experiment with these attachments and techniques to see the difference for yourself.
Next time you hop on X-Defiant, make a serious effort to integrate strafing into every gunfight. You’ll likely find yourself winning many more encounters than before.
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