Auto-Cannon

This is the automatic version of the Heavy Cannon. It retains the versatility of the Heavy Cannon and features a larger magazine as well as the capability for automatic fire.

The Auto Cannon is heavier than the Heavy Cannon and is thus less accurate. It is a slow and cumbersome beast of a weapon. Though it is called an "auto" cannon and looks like a large gatling gun, is not a fast weapon. It is the slowest operational three-shot-burst weapon in the entire X-Com armoury. It is also the Auto Cannon's most powerful feature.

As with its close cousin the Heavy Cannon, the Auto Cannon retains a versatile selection of shells to suit your every need. Armour Piercing, High Explosive and Incendiary rounds are all available. By reducing the effectiveness and size of the shells, more shells can be stored in the Auto Cannon's ammunition magazine, and the shells are slightly lighter to carry than Heavy Cannon shells. The shells still pack a considerable punch nonetheless.

AC-AP rounds are standard for the Autocannon, but are not particularly remarkable since they straddle the middle-ground between the Pistol and Cannon Tank shells. However they are reliable when you need to fight in close quarters and you do not want to cause any damage to your surroundings or destroy equipment.

AC-HE rounds are by far the most popular and most useful shells to be crammed into the cannon's ammo hopper. They clear terrain, wipe out mobs of enemies and can cause utter mayhem as effectively as a cluster bomb. The enemies ACHE at the mere sight of it. Note however they they may not be suitable against very heavily armoured units like the Sectopods. HE shells are unfortunately also a major source of self inflicted wounds or kills, so be very careful when using them.

AC-Incendiary rounds are not as popular as the other two, but can serve two very important functions. The first is simply to start fires. As the impact damage for incendiary rounds is the same regardless of the weapon, AC-I rounds are the most effective means of dishing out incendiary damage against Zombies to prevent them from hatching into chryssalids. Burning down a building or orchard is often safer then going inside or blasting away the obstacles, which would expose you to reacion fire. Also if you wish to abuse the game bug where all units standing in fire will take on incendiary impact damage, then again this is the most efficient mean of producing the damage.

The other, probably even more popular use, is simply to start fires and illuminate the battlefield.

Recommendation

The Auto Cannon is most efficient when armed with AC-HE shells and excels at close to mid range combat. If you must fight in long range combat, use the same strategies that you would use with the Heavy Cannon or Rocket Launcher. Use terrain to your advantage and try to hit a wall or climb up a level or two and fire down at the ground.

When using AC-HE shells, be sure to wear some armour. A Power Suit or better is most ideal, but Personal Armour can do in a pinch. Armour will protect you from any back blast from shells that detonate too early. With Power Armour in particular, the Auto Cannon is turned into an extremely potent close combat weapon and can safely attack from an adjacent tile without fear of damaging yourself. Be careful of the indiscriminate destruction of anything and everything around you, especially around UFO Power Units.

Direct hits from the Auto Cannon may harm you even in a Power Armor, but it will not be very severe. This is extremely useful knowledge to have when you face enemies with psi powers. Though not especially powerful, the auto cannon packs enough firepower to be a real threat against most enemies such as Mutons, but is a very insignificant threat to your own soldiers as long as everyone wears Power Armour or Flying Suits.

When inside buildings of UFOs, you can also shoot AC-HE rounds at the ceiling and defeat anything that's directly above you. This is a very useful strategy to use in UFOs that have aliens waiting in ambush, such as in the Abducter. This strategy works with any weapon that produces an area of effect, including incendiary rounds or stun bombs.

See also: Heavy Cannon

Stats

Auto Cannon:

Size: 3 high x 2 wide Weight: 19 TUs: Auto: 40% (Accuracy 32%) Snap: 33% (Accuracy 56%) Aimed: 80% (Accuracy 82%) Cost: $13,500 Sell Price: $10,125

AP Clip: Power: 42 AP Ammo: 14 Size: 1 high x 2 wide Weight: 5 Cost: $500 Sell Price: $400

HE Clip: Power: 44 HE Ammo: 14 Size: 1 high x 2 wide Weight: 5 Cost: $700 Sell Price: $560

Incendiary Clip: Power: 48 IN Ammo: 14 Size: 1 high x 2 wide Weight: 5 Cost: $650 Sell Price: $520

Usage Notes

The following lists how many times a soldier can fire the gun by shot type continuously in any given round and the remaining percentage of any left over TUs that cannot be spent as a shot.

• Aimed: 1 Shot, 20% Remaining TUs
• Snap: 3 Shots, 1% Remaining TUs
• Auto: 2 Shots, 20% Remaining TUs