Firing Accuracy
Overview
Firing Accuracy is a measure of the soldier's overall skill at operating any given firearm. In short, it controls how accurate the soldier can be with any given gun.
Starting Values
New recruits will always begin with a value between 40 and 70.
Improvement
Firing Accuracy increases depending on how many times you hit an enemy alien. Examples / clarification:
- If your one autoburst hits three times, it counts as three hits.
- If you aim at one alien but hit a different one, it still counts.
- Mind-controlled aliens are friendly aliens. Hits on MC'd aliens do not count.
- Area-effect hits with e.g. grenades, blaster bombs, and even stun bombs also count toward Firing Accuracy experience. You can rack up many hits with one detonation.
- Missed shots, hitting friendlies (including MC'd aliens or civilians), shooting scenery, distance to target, rank, etc. - none of these matter or count.
All that matters is that you hit a non-MC'd alien. Kills, per se, don't matter at all towards Firing Accuracy improvement. Only hits. (Kills do increase your Kill counter, but that's all - kills per se don't otherwise do anything at all for you, as far as is known.)
Weak weapons like pistols and laser pistols mean the alien won't die as quick, which means more hits, which means more chance of Firing Accuracy improvement. Because their skin is so thick and they have lots of Health, Mutons (and their Silacoid buddies) are great for multiple hits with a weak weapon.
You can be awarded up to an average of 4 skill points (range 2-6) per combat mission if you make at least 11 hits. The point award does not depend on your current skill level, only on the number of hits. For more particulars on skill-point increases, see Experience.
Maximum Caps
An X-COM soldier's Firing Accuracy is capped at 120. However, because you can get a +6 roll when at 119, a soldier can have up to 125 Firing Accuracy (if they're really lucky!). For more info, see Regarding Caps.
Base Chance To Hit
Each weapon has an accuracy rating of its own, which, when applied to the soldier's firing accuracy, gives the soldier's "base chance to hit".
Formula: Base Chance To Hit = Firing Accuracy x Weapon Accuracy
Example: A soldier with a firing accuracy of 50%, using a weapon with an accuracy rating of 50%, will have a base chance to hit of 25%.
Influencing Factors
Base Chance To Hit is also affected by other factors:
- Kneeling: +15% when kneeling.
- Weapon Grip: -20% when holding a two-handed weapon with one hand.
- Wounds: -10% per wound up to not beyond -90%.
- Health: Base Accuracy × ( (max health − current health) ÷ max health )
For a full breakdown and example, see:
- The Accuracy formula