AVRiL

The AVRiL is the anti-vehicle weapon for assault and onslaught games. It’s essentially a rocket launcher but basically worthless against ground troops (the weapon’s rate of fire is abysmal). Instead, the slow-moving projectile packs a major punch against vehicles. Lock on to the enemy vehicle and fire the AVRiL. Maintain the cursor on the target and watch the missile reach its payload destination.

The AVRiL missile is slow but packs a serious punch against vehicles.

If you want to play onslaught, get used to the AVRiL quick. Use it to counter every vehicle in the game (especially important in countering the raptor air unit). The beauty is you can fire the AVRiL from huge distances. Spot a goliath tank in the far distance, equip the AVRiL, lock on, and fire the rocket. It doesn’t take many successful connects to destroy a vehicle, especially the smaller manta or scorpion. A squad of AVRiL users is a powerful defense of an important map position, such as your power core in the late stages of an overtime onslaught game.

Ion Painter

Set a target or area up for a blast from above. Pinpoint a target and use the ion painter’s primary fire to emit a low-power laser beam at the target. The laser beam isn’t the weapon. After a few seconds, ion cannons from far above bombard the area with ionized plasma causing major area effect damage. Want to clear out defenders from a power node in onslaught? Use the painter! Also effective on an unshielded power core.

Grenade Launcher

The grenade launcher operates like a standard grenade launcher--fires bouncing grenades toward an intended target--but does offer some unique twists. First, you control when the grenade detonates with the alternate fire button. Toss a few grenades in your opponent’s path, wait for him to walk near the explosives, and press the alternate fire button to detonate them.

But perhaps the most unique feature is the grenades’ ability to stick on vehicles, humans, and other objects (such as an onslaught power node). Toss a few grenades on an enemy vehicle, hide in a corner, and wait for the clueless enemy to hop inside. Fire some grenades on an enemy player and detonate when he walks close to another foe. Place grenades around a power-up, wait for an enemy to go for it, and detonate the explosives for a sneaky kill!

Target Painter

Call in an air strike with the target painter.

The target painter is similar to the ion painter except it calls in an air strike on a designated area. The air strike takes longer to commence so it’s best used on a defensive position and not on a group of enemies (who could be long gone before the bombs fall). Note that the bomber can be shot down. So if you hear an air strike called, see if it’s headed your way (or to one of your nodes) and shoot the bomber down!

Mine Layer

The mine layer provides additional base defense and anti-vehicle support. Use the mine layer’s primary fire to drop spider mines at your desired location. The mines explode upon contact (chasing human players) but you can also control them by using the alternate fire mode. For instance, you spot an approaching goliath but its not moving toward your mine field. Press the alternate fire button to create a guidance laser. Move the laser around and watch the spider mines follow. Guide them to your target!

Protect your core with a minefield.

Create even better mines by attaching grenades to the spider mines. The grenade launcher fires grenades that stick to a variety of surfaces including spider mines! Protect a key power node in onslaught or your flag in CTF with spider mines enhanced with grenade power.

Redeemer

The super weapon from the original Unreal Tournament returns. Launch the redeemer missile at an area. Upon detonate the explosion creates heavy area effect damage. Don’t be within the blast radius or suffer the consequences! The super weapon’s best feature is alternate fire mode. Press it to launch a self-guided version of the redeemer missile. You can pilot the missile to the intended target.

The redeemer is often hidden. Find it on ONS-Dria inside this crashed spacecraft.

This is a great tactic for finding a group of foes in a deathmatch game, weaving into a CTF base, or for targeting the power core from long-range in onslaught. Move to a safe location. While you’re guiding the missile you can’t see what’s happening around you. Someone could sneak up and pulverize you with a shield gun, stopping your sneaky tactic in a hurry. Note also that the redeemer missile can be shot down. If you see one headed your way (or into your base), target it!

Adrenaline

When your adrenaline reaches 100, you can perform one of four special combo maneuvers to gain a special power-up. The power-up lasts as long as you have adrenaline (which quickly counts down at the start of the power-up). Grab some extra adrenaline capsules to keep the power-up going.

• Speed (Forward, Forward, Forward, Forward): Provides a burst of speed. Great for capture the flag and bombing run games. Get the flag back to your base quicker or take the ball to the goal in bombing run with the help of speed.
• Booster (Back, Back, Back, Back): Adds five health per second until you reach the maximum of 199 then begins to add to your shield. Best used when you already have high health so the power-up’s time is best spent adding to your shield reserve. You can grab health or shield during the power-up and booster will continue to add to your new reserve level.
• Invisible (Left, Left, Right, Right): Sneak through flag defenses with the help of invisibility. Or move around a deathmatch map, surprising foes with your rocket launcher. Note that you aren’t completely invisible. An observant player can still see your faint outline.
• Berserk (Forward, Forward, Back, Back): Increases your rate of fire. Excellent for deathmatch games or for helping punch through a tough defense in CTF. Combine with double damage for a devastating combination.