The Importance of Maneuverability

As you'll soon find in both the single and multiplayer games, often the key to effective Descent play isn't who's got the biggest weapon, but who is more quick and agile. Someone wielding the mighty fusion cannon could face problems against a more agile player who's simply using the laser cannon. To compete against some of the better player's you'll face in multiplayer games (or some of the tougher bots in the single-player game), practice different ship maneuvers. Practice strafing in all directions; practice using the afterburner to make a quick turn; and practice keeping your ship in perfect orientation to get off the best shot against your opponent.

Weapon Basics

Still, as important as maneuverability is, you can't win by being the fastest ship - you must still understand how to use your weapons effectively. Don't restrict yourself to mastering only one weapon; you can't be certain you'll always maintain possession of it in multiplayer games, and who knows when you might run out of ammunition in a single-player game. Practice with each weapon and try to get a feel for the firing rate, the speed at which the projectile travels, and the approximate damage doled out by the weapon.

One of the most difficult aspects of effective weaponry is leading your opponent or enemy bot. In multiplayer games, you'll find the enemy ships are quite fast, especially as player's start using the afterburner. In the single-player game, enemy bots will strafe, bob, and weave as you try to take them out with primary weaponry. Keep in mind several elements of each weapon, from its range to its firing rate, when attempting to lead an opponent. With practice, you'll be surviving in single-player games and raking up kills in multiplayer matches before too long.

Next: The objectives list