Standard Weapons

As there are so many maps for the standard game, I decided not to do any specific tips for the maps. Instead I will give a low down on the weapons. You should be able to decide which weapon to use in any given situation. If you watch the pros then you may notice that as they move throughout the maps they are changing weapons all the time. This is because some weapons are better for different situations.

In this section I will be giving you some basics of the weapons, aswell as some tips on the types of areas they should be used in and any special features they may have.

Now you may think that you know everything there is to know, well maybe you do. But I know that many people have overlooked that the pistol can be fired at 2 rates. Not much use but something that could be useful to know. But first, a table.

*1 Crossbow - In single player fire will release a normal bolt. In multiplayer, the bolt is released but how depends on the zoom. If in normal view, the bolt takes a moment to reach the target and then explodes. If zoomed in, then the bolt is instant and can kill with one shot.

*2 Hive Claw - The claw fire spores, primary fire seeking slow moving spores, which are released slowly. Secondary releases "dumb" spores which travel faster and in a straight line, they are also released more rapidly.

*3 Hive Claw - The claw doesn't actually need ammo. Once you have the claw it will manufacture it's spores, storing up to 8 at a time. If it has less then it will manufacture more.

*4 Squark - These little things, aren't really a weapon. They are living creatures that live to eat. Once released they will find a target and try to devour him/her. This may even be you.

And now more detailed and opinuated text for your reading.

Crowbar

The crowbar is considered a useless and crap weapon by many. This couldn't be further from the truth. On many occasions, me with my MP5, have been charged and killed by a crowbar weilding maniac. It is a powerful weapon. It's only problem is it's a close combat weapon. The damage this can dish out is amazing. 1 hit can remove 75% health, and anyone who has used it knows it does take long to hit someone a lot of times. So it can kill quickly, but don't make it a weapon to base your attack on. If however you happen to be in some tight areas you can quickly dispatch the odd enemy with it.

Tight corridors are perfect for the crowbar. Turn a small, tight corner and bang, you got yourself a frag.

8/10

Pistol

This is the most basic weapon you will find in the game. You always have one and usually won't ever use it. To get a kill with it against someone with another weapon would be nothing short of a small miracle. It has almost no power behind it and it looks sooooo ugly. I don't know what Valve were thinking when they designed it but good god! Anyway, only if nothing else is available, and that includes the crowbar.

Useless almost anywhere. But as such is just as good anywhere.

3/10

Magnum

Now this is more like it. A pistol that has some kick. This gun requires a good aim, and steady mouse control, but once you have that mastered you'll be picking off snipers before they know your there! A most excellent gun, now for rapid fire fights, but good at a distance due to accuracy and power. Second only to the Crossbow.

Long distance is the best place to use this. It's zoom will help out here. Close up, it's rate of fire isn't up to the task.

8/10

MP5

This is probably the best weapon in the game for beginners to experts alike. It has a rapid fire for close areas, and dispatching most with ease, while the grenades mean that you will most likely win this fight at a medium distance. You should always have this in your inventory with plenty of ammo, even if you never use it.
Something to note about this gun though is that it comes with only half the ammo it can hold in it's chamber. So load it as soon as you get it.

Close to medium range suit this gun best. The Grenades can be lobbed a good distance should you need that little more distance, close up the machinegun will cut down the most armoured of foes.

8/10

Shotgun

This gun isn't used that much, and fairly so, there are much better guns in the game that are just as redily available. But what makes this gun special is that you can fire 1 or 2 shots at once. Now this is probably not much to you, but think about it. And get back to me I would like to know why it's something to be happy about.

Only use at close range, it can kill at a distance, but most likely won't. For close use 1 barrel shots, for very close use 2 barrels.

6/10

Crossbow

This is definately one of the better weapons in the game. The bolts (bolts not arrows) can have either explosive charges or be at their target straight away. Zoom in for the fast bolts, stay in the normal view for explosive. This means that it is the best sniper weapon in the game, the zoom is far superior to that of the magnum, and a bolt can be more deadly to the head. The explosive bolts mean that should you need to be in more of a hurry you should be able to catch them in the explosion. The biggest problem with this weapon is the time it takes to reload. Bloody ages. Well, you do get 5 shots in each load.

This should be used at medium to long range. It is the king of long range, and with it's explosive bolts, just as good at medium range. Not to be used in hand to hand combat.

9/10

Rocket Launcher

Some consider this the most powerful weapon in the game. Why I don't know. I know of a couple that kill more efficiently than this thing, but still, it is an extremely effect weapon. The laser guide can be activated after you have launched the rocket, but the rocket must be able to see the laser dot, if you fire the rocket then put the laser out of it's view then it won't do anything. But you can fire the rocket in the general direction of a target, aim at the target, activate the laser and the rocket should see it, unless your aim was too general.

Like the crossbow medium to long range. Although it's projectile is slow, the guiding laser means that there is no excuss to miss. Just keep the dot on your target. Never have this selected is a small space.

8/10

Gauss Gun

I cannot express how much I love this gun. It is my weapon of choice in almost any battle. Not only can it kill anything that gets in it's way, it'll do this multiple times. It will keep going through targets, walls and such until it runs out of energy in it's bolt. Then of course there is the JUMP. If you have never heard of the Guass Jump then you don't know quite what it might be. Well, when you pick up the guass gun try charging it up as much as it'll go and shoot the floor or a wall, just aim generally down. Then try moving and shooting down. If you are falling a long way charge up the shot and just before you hit the floor shoot the floor, not only do you get the satisfaction of shooting the very thing that should hae killed you, but you also won't lose any health, if timed right.

This can be used at almost any distance. At close range it is powerful and rapid of shot. At long range it is accurate and as powerful as need be.

10/10

Egon Gun

This gun is only for the gifted of ping. If you don't have a near seemless game then this gun becomes pretty useless. I know people that disagree with me on this matter, but the fact of it is that the beam only does any amount of damage when it is kept on the target. Just waving it about won't do all that much, sure you might get lucky and wax them anyway, but don't bet on it. If however you do suffer from T1 or ADSL, then you will find this gun very useful, it can kill in moments, but you have to keep it on them.

Open areas are best suited for this gun, you can sweep the area clean in no time at all. Not too close though as it has a small splash effect that could harm you.

8/10

Hive Claw

This weapon has almost no power behind it's shots at all. And everyone knows it. It is maybe the best gun when in a high lag game, but even then there will be someone with a small ping cleaning up. And it takes approx 30 or so spores to make a kill. So please don't. If you do have to use it, then I wish you luck.

Open spaces or corridors. Maybe even round a corner. Because the flies are homing, you needed really think what sort of area your firing in, but it really isn't much good anyway.

4/10

Grenades

These aren't so much offense as mearly to flush out an enemy from a hiden corner. Good to set off laser mines but little else, if you can get someone with out being seen (that's both you and the grenade you throw) then go for it. Gibbage. Sometimes. Not usually.

Use to flush out campers. Throw into their little hidy hole and then switch to a decent weapon to finish them off.

5/10

Satchel Charge

These things are great in teamplay, your team defines an area to call base and you can just put these things at strategic points and boom. Or just if you just want to. Great for room clearance, or if you have yourself boxed in with laser mines, then the satchels can be a backup. Whatever really, use your own judgement.

These are lovely things. If you set up a trap with some laser mines to guard you perimiter, then use these as backup. Or flush out a camper. The best thing is that you can set up to 5 at once. So you needn't bother switching to a weapon when you flush out a camper, just kill him with these.

9/10

Laser Mine

Now then, if you want to be a right git, hide a pleathora of these things round a tight corner and you got yourself a kill. Remeber to cover normal height and crouching, someone may be crounching as they move to not make any sound, and it makes it impossible to get past. For something stupid you can place as many as you can in a small space, then watch as someone tries to see through all the lasers but can't. Then just shoot one of the mines.

Set them at standing and crouching heights on a wall to make them impenetrable. The only way past is to blow them up, a risky business at best. Of course should you hide them, just under the water, or maybe on the floor instead of the wall, them you'll catch something in your little trap.

8/10

Squark

Now here is a pointless little creature, it does nearly no damage to anything. The only thing I can think to use them as is to cover your retreat or to irritate someone. They really are that crap. But they do look kinda cute though.

WHY OH WHY OH WHY? If your being chased then these might get your attacker off you, but I doubt it.

1/10

And that concludes my brief guide through the HL Standard weapons. Hope you found something useful, if you know something I didn't put in cos I don't know it or forgot, tell me.

Duke