Throwing Accuracy
Overview
Throwing Accuracy is one of the simplest skills in the game and only performs one task. It controls how well a soldier is able to actually hit the target tile with a thrown object. Nothing much else.
Throwing Accuracy works in conjunction with Strength, where one controls the accuracy of the throw, the other controls the range of the throw depending on the weight of the object.
Starting Values
New recruits will always begin with a value between 50 and 80.
Improvement
Throwing Accuracy points are awarded (at end of combat) depending on how many times you throw objects. (How obtuse is that?) If your throw misses its intended target/square, it still counts as a throw.
You are awarded an average of 2 skill points (range 1-3) per combat mission if you make at least 3 throws, and an average of 4 (range 2-6) for 11 or more. The point award does not depend on your current skill level, only on the number of throws. For more particulars on skill-point increases, see Experience. Note that unlike any other primary skill, throwing does not trigger an increase in secondary skills (TUs, Health, Strength, Energy). That would've been too easy!
All in all, few people bother much with this skill. But if you're interested in it, note that the maximum gain for minimum personal (real world) time spent, would be to have your soldiers throw 3 things each mission. Probably just before ending a mission.
Note that throwing live grenades gives you both Throwing and Firing Accuracy skill increases as long as enemies are caught in the blast.
Maximum Caps
An X-COM soldier's Throwing Accuracy is capped at 120. However, because you can get a +6 roll when at 119, a soldier can have up to 125 Throwing Accuracy (if they're really lucky — and dedicated as hell to chucking stuff!!). For more info, see Regarding Caps.
Influencing Factors
Throwing Accuracy is also affected by other factors:
- Wounds: -10% per wound up to but not beyond -90%.
- The percentage of remaining health: Throwing Accuracy × (max health – current health) / (max health)
Throwing Distance
While not exactly Throwing Accuracy, this is as a good a place as any for this:
Throwing Distance roughly = 2.5 × Strength / Weight
So, Strength directly affects throwing distance (range). Refer to the handy list of Item Weights for weight information.
The "2.5" appears to vary from ~ 2.1 to 3.3 and/or there is some other variable not yet understood.
When weapons are tossed, the weight of the ammo (if loaded) is not counted. (But weight from loaded ammo does otherwise count for weighing down a soldier carrying the weapon.)
As NKF points out, the throw always travels in an arc. Sometimes this arc is blocked by Skyranger wings, overhanging trees, ceilings, or even the 4-level-high virtual ceiling of the Battlescape itself. This results in the message "Can't throw here!" even when the line of sight is clear.
Kneeling allows you to throw farther under ceilings, increasing this distance slightly.