Difference between revisions of "Heavy Cannon"
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| − | While the regulation [[pistol]]s and [[rifle]]s | + | While the regulation [[pistol]]s and [[rifle]]s can technically attack soft targets, veteran commanders quickly learn that survival requires maximum firepower. Enter the cannons - the Heavy Cannon and the [[Auto-Cannon]] - two highly versatile man-portable cannons with a selection of shells tipped with [[Weapons#Armour-Piercing|armour piercing]], [[Weapons#High Explosive|high explosive]] or [[Weapons#Incendiary|incendiary]] warheads. Their versatile ammunition allows their user to switch strategies in the field by simply feeding a different ammunition clip into the cannon. |
| − | The Heavy Cannon is heavy as its namesake and lacks the speed of the smaller firearms. It makes up for this by being very powerful. The biggest detriment is its | + | The Heavy Cannon is heavy as its namesake and lacks the speed of the smaller firearms. It makes up for this by being very powerful. The biggest detriment is its 6 round magazine, which is quickly emptied in battle. While it lacks an automatic firing mode, it remains more powerful and much more accurate than its weaker yet louder cousin, the Auto-Cannon. |
| − | + | Do not be fooled by the reduced damage of HE ammo- most alien types have softer underside armor and large terror units suffer QUADRUPLE hits from explosives. This makes the Heavy Cannon a great weapon for pulping [[Reaper]]s, and the direct fire can wound a flying [[Cyberdisc]] where thrown explosives fail. The narrower damage range for explosives (50-150%) means that even the weakest rolls will maim early game aliens, crippling their ability to reaction fire. These perks make the Heavy Cannon a valuable weapon to survive the early months on Superhuman Difficulty. | |
| − | + | AP rounds are quickly made obsolete by the vastly improved quality of [[Laser_Pistol|Laser]] [[Laser_Rifle|Weapons]], and actually have a WORSE chance of OHKO'ing early aliens. Incendiary rounds are glitched to always deal low damage, making both ammo types fairly useless. Feel free to use the Heavy Cannon strictly with HE rounds as a glorified [[Grenade]] launcher, for when you need the power of a grenadier but don't have time to prime grenades. Consider using it when an agent is too weak for a [[Rocket Launcher]]. | |
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| + | Both Heavy and Auto-Cannons become extremely safe to use on Personal Armor troops. As long as you don't get an underside hit from a point blank explosion, you will never suffer more than scratches when using these weapons in short range combat. This is an excellent combination in any indoor setting such as UFOs or even enemy installations. | ||
This weapon appears in ''[[X-COM|UFO: Enemy Unknown]]''. For the ''[[TFTD|Terror from the Deep]]'' equivalent, refer to the [[Gas Cannon]]. | This weapon appears in ''[[X-COM|UFO: Enemy Unknown]]''. For the ''[[TFTD|Terror from the Deep]]'' equivalent, refer to the [[Gas Cannon]]. | ||
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* Try to keep your second hand free while using the Heavy Cannon. The accuracy already sucks, so avoid [[Firing Accuracy#Influencing_Factors|the 20% penalty]]. | * Try to keep your second hand free while using the Heavy Cannon. The accuracy already sucks, so avoid [[Firing Accuracy#Influencing_Factors|the 20% penalty]]. | ||
* Until you have Laser Rifles available, there is no better weapon for selectively destroying hard cover than a Heavy Cannon with AP rounds. | * Until you have Laser Rifles available, there is no better weapon for selectively destroying hard cover than a Heavy Cannon with AP rounds. | ||
| + | * On superhuman HE shells can OHKO Sectoids ~90% of the time, floaters 60%, and can typically 2-hit Snakemen. The Auto Cannon-HE sits at 75%, ~40%, and 3 hits respectively. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 14:49, 28 April 2015
While the regulation pistols and rifles can technically attack soft targets, veteran commanders quickly learn that survival requires maximum firepower. Enter the cannons - the Heavy Cannon and the Auto-Cannon - two highly versatile man-portable cannons with a selection of shells tipped with armour piercing, high explosive or incendiary warheads. Their versatile ammunition allows their user to switch strategies in the field by simply feeding a different ammunition clip into the cannon.
The Heavy Cannon is heavy as its namesake and lacks the speed of the smaller firearms. It makes up for this by being very powerful. The biggest detriment is its 6 round magazine, which is quickly emptied in battle. While it lacks an automatic firing mode, it remains more powerful and much more accurate than its weaker yet louder cousin, the Auto-Cannon.
Do not be fooled by the reduced damage of HE ammo- most alien types have softer underside armor and large terror units suffer QUADRUPLE hits from explosives. This makes the Heavy Cannon a great weapon for pulping Reapers, and the direct fire can wound a flying Cyberdisc where thrown explosives fail. The narrower damage range for explosives (50-150%) means that even the weakest rolls will maim early game aliens, crippling their ability to reaction fire. These perks make the Heavy Cannon a valuable weapon to survive the early months on Superhuman Difficulty.
AP rounds are quickly made obsolete by the vastly improved quality of Laser Weapons, and actually have a WORSE chance of OHKO'ing early aliens. Incendiary rounds are glitched to always deal low damage, making both ammo types fairly useless. Feel free to use the Heavy Cannon strictly with HE rounds as a glorified Grenade launcher, for when you need the power of a grenadier but don't have time to prime grenades. Consider using it when an agent is too weak for a Rocket Launcher.
Both Heavy and Auto-Cannons become extremely safe to use on Personal Armor troops. As long as you don't get an underside hit from a point blank explosion, you will never suffer more than scratches when using these weapons in short range combat. This is an excellent combination in any indoor setting such as UFOs or even enemy installations.
This weapon appears in UFO: Enemy Unknown. For the Terror from the Deep equivalent, refer to the Gas Cannon.
Stats
Heavy Cannon:
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AP Clip:
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HE Clip:
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Incendiary Clip:
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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
Limitations of incendiary damage
The listed damage using incendiary rounds is misleading. Incendiary rounds do ~6.4 damage on a direct hit. The damage values listed in the UFOpaedia do not determine how powerful an incendiary round deals damage; it only determines how wide an area will be blanketed with flames.
Furthermore soldiers cannot gain any form of experience shooting any weapon loaded with incendiary rounds.
Tips
- Carry a reload or two; you don't have many shots per clip.
- Try to kneel when firing.
- Aimed mode takes extremely long, but is probably the most effective use of ammunition.
- Try to keep your second hand free while using the Heavy Cannon. The accuracy already sucks, so avoid the 20% penalty.
- Until you have Laser Rifles available, there is no better weapon for selectively destroying hard cover than a Heavy Cannon with AP rounds.
- On superhuman HE shells can OHKO Sectoids ~90% of the time, floaters 60%, and can typically 2-hit Snakemen. The Auto Cannon-HE sits at 75%, ~40%, and 3 hits respectively.
