General Ship Tactics

Some players say it's the weapons that do all the destruction in Descent, but other equally skilled pilots claim it's agility and quick thinking that provides the destruction opportunities. Either way, one thing is for certain: to defeat the hordes of enemy bots you'll face in the single-player game, you must know how to get your ship around effectively, especially in combat. Read on to discover helpful tips and techniques for getting the most out of your ship's maneuverability and weaponry.

Bobbing and Weaving

When dog fighting against enemy bots or more challenging human opponents, you must master the art of strafing, often both left, right, up, and down, if you are to survive for very long. Against computer-controlled bots, the art isn't that difficult. As laser and other bolts come at your ship, calmly strafe side to side while maintaining a lock on the enemy; keep your weapon pointed straight at your foe while you dodge the oncoming fire. In no time, you'll be bobbing and weaving against even the most experienced pilots as you rack up the kill scores.

In addition to bobbing and weaving, employ the fine art of backing-up. Against the speedy (and often too close for comfort enemy bots), punching the reverse key and letting loose with primary and secondary weaponry can mean the difference between fending off an aggressive attack and becoming little ship particles. It works against human opponents, too, especially those that aren't expecting you to reverse direction and unload tons of firepower.

Next: Circle-strafing and afterburners