A brand-new narrative in the iconicAlienfranchise has hit consoles, withAliens: Dark Descentintroducing a whole new tale of survival against the ongoing threat of the famous Xenomorphs. With a variety of marine classes and an assortment of weapons, players must traverse the invested planet of Lethe as they attempt to repair their ship, the Otago.
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In the face of a variety of threats on Lethe, players will need to ensure that their marine squad is equipped with adequate weapons, gadgets, and gear to ensure their survival. Among the most important decisions to guarantee the team’s success is the weapons used on deployment.Aliens: Dark Descenthas a multitude of different short, medium, and long-range weapons, but which are the most effective at serving their intended violent purpose?
10SA.357 Revolver
When deep in the trenches and low on ammunition, havingthe right backup weapon can be the differencebetween survival and demise. There isn’t a deep archive of secondary weapons inAliens: Dark Descent, but the SA.357 Revolver packs more than enough punch to do the job.
The SA.357 is the most powerful secondary weapon available for marines, dealing up to 3x more damage than the M4A3 Service Pistol. However, unlike the M4A3, the Revolver has limitations in its clip size. With a magazine of just 6 bullets, players will look to ensure that every bullet counts.
9M42A3 Sniper Rifle
The Recon class has several perks that help to give their squad an advantage on the field, one of which is their ability to dispatch enemies from a great distance. They can do this with their class-exclusive special weapon, the M42A3 Sniper Rifle, which is capable of finding its target for up to 80 meters.
While the M42A3covers more distance than almost any other weaponand has a high-damage projectile, the rifle comes with limitations. Due to the immense power required to deliver its lethal blow, the gun has a very high recoil that requires a significant cooldown before it can be used again. This is a great weapon for doing damage, however, it is best kept in reserve when the enemy is closing in on the unit.
8XM99A Phased Plasma Pulse Rifle
Another long-range source of lethal power, the XM99A Phased Plasma Pulse Rifle is an alternative to the sniper rifle and can fire charged plasma projectiles to impale any in its path. Unlike the alternative long-range weapon, the M42A3, it opts for plasma to attack foes rather than bullets.
While the XM99A has an incredibly high damage rate, its major downside is its slow fire rate. As it is a plasma weapon that uses energy as its ammunition, the gun requires the bearer to completely charge its projectile before firing. Because of this, the XM99A is best used in stealth scenarios, or the early stages of an incoming assault when the squad is not under distance pressures.
7M56 Smartgun
Exclusive to the Gunner marine class, the M56 Smartgun is a step up from the standard issue Pulse Rifle and will mow down human and Xeno adversaries alike with precision and power. The game boasts this gun as being not just a weapon, but a complete system, with the combat harness, head-mounted sight, articulation, and gun itself.
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An upgrade from the default weapon, the M56 Smartgun shows improvements in the length of shooting bursts as well as an increased clip size with 150 bullets per clip. A perfect complement for the Gunner class, this weapon isan effective assault toolagainst foes great or small.
6M37A2 Shotgun
The perfect companion when the alien threat becomes overwhelming, the M37A2 Shotgun will deliver an unparalleled amount of power from close range that won’t just kill foes, but will potentially leave them in pieces. The weapon can be unleashed using the Shotgun Blast skill at any time during deployment and has the potential to fell multiple adversaries at once.
While the M37A2 is ineffective from long range, it makes up for this by being incredibly destructive from its intended distance. When using the Shotgun Blast, players have a 15% chance of dismembering enemies in the firing line when they are within 12 meters of the marine. For those unfortunate enough to be within 6 meters of the weapon, this probability doubles to 30%.
5U1 Grenade Launcher
No matter the threat, the U1Grenade Launcher is one of the best ways to flat-line any foe. This under-barrel artillery weapon has a 4-round magazine and is capable of launching explosives from a distance with devastating effects. This weapon can be used by commanding the associated skill, killing any within the blast radius.
While the U1 is a great tool to deal with the many foes the marine squad faces inAliens: Dark Descent, it is particularly effective on nests that have Facehuggers in them. To deal with the small xenomorphs, players require the Extraction skill, but regardless of whether players have it, a quick round from the U1 will curb any risk of quickly losing comrades to the small threats.
4M5 RPG
The M5 Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) is a compact source of explosive power. With the ability to fire high-power rockets directly at targets with devastating effects, the M5 can quickly clear out groups of hostiles in a heartbeat.
The M5 RPG has the same offensive potential as the U1 Grenade Launcher, however, can deliver its damage with better accuracy. In contrast to the U1’s lob-type attack, the M5 will directly propel its projectiles toward a target. This means that timing will be less of a factor in an effective strike, rather relying on accuracy.
3M240 Incinerator Unit
Endearing itself to players for its ability to burn any enemy to a crisp, the M240 Incinerator Unit, also known as the “Bake-a-Flake”, is theAliens: Dark Descent’s fiery answer to the alien pest problem. Used as a special skill during deployment, marines can use this short-range weapon to cloak hostiles in flame, leaving behind a burning patch that can cause further damage to any who walk through it.
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The M240 is the perfect close-quarter weapon to cause mass damage to any adversaries within the squad’s immediate vicinity, as well as burn any who enter the effect zone. While this weapon lacks range,it is flawless in performing its intended purpose.
2M41AE3 Heavy Pulse Rifle
The older sibling of the M41A Pulse Rifle, the M41AE3 packs a greater punch with more power, a bigger clip, and a higher rate of fire. The M41AE3 is a perfect ally for the marine squad as it is ideal for laying down covering fire as well as effectively dispatching enemies.
The M41AE3 is one of the strongest offensive weapons due to its damage rating when taking into consideration the number of projectiles a marine can unload before needing to reload. To make this highly-effective weapon available, players will need to build up one of their marines to level 6.
1UA 571-C Automated Sentry Gun
The best kind of weapon is one that players can set and forget, doing all of its damage without needing to pull the trigger. The UA 571-C Automated Sentry Gun is just that, acting as an additional member of the marine squad. The UA 571-C can detect hostile movement and immediatelyrain down heavy fireuntil the threat is neutralized.
Players are able to carry up to 4 mobile sentry guns, which can be set up in an endless number of arrangements to support and protect the unit. The one downside to this weapon is its inability to move once set up. However, when used effectively it will eliminate any threat before they can launch their own offense.
Aliens: Dark Descentis available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
