M14 or Xbow better?

[Tech]

which one is better (Hell on earth difficulty)?

[Lore?]

The M14 does less damage per shot, but overall has a higher DPS output.

[Tech]

So,M14 is a better weapon.Xbow actually has a higher dps but use it to against sc and fp, you will get a ridiculous low dps due to their high resistance.Xbow is effective for boss only.

[Lioness 西施]

The crossbow is great on lower difficulties. On higher difficulties, the M14 is better.

The M14 has a higher learning curve, especially since it's best paired with the LAR or Musket. It's not newbie-friendly.

Once you learn it, though, it's an amazing weapon with several advantages over the crossbow like a better rate of fire, making it a more versatile weapon. It can do all of the things the crossbow can, it just takes more practice.

[Miiiiiiiiiiiiike]

Xbow is more 'noob friendly'. It is a fine weapon in the hands of a skilled, or partially skilled sharpshooter.

M14 is harder to master, but paired with the LAR it is quite effective.

Xbow good as it has optics which help. And, if you have a good team whereby the demolitions/support spec deals with the fleshpounds a Sharpshooter would be called on to deal with husks, sirens and maybe scrakes.

I personally try the M14 and LAR combo, but only on normal/hard as I am not a good sharpshooter and I don't want all that responsibility when I play HoE.

At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter. All that matters is that you can do your role with whatever weapon combos you have.

[Tech]

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=482069836
Xbow need perfect 4shots to decapitate fp while m14 can miss a few shots

[Lioness 西施]

It's about the versatility of the M14. You have a lot of ammo and a high rate of fire that make it good for killing everything - trash, sirens, husks, scrakes, and FPs.

The crossbow serves one purpose and only shines under ideal conditions. The M14, on the other hand, can save lives when things go bad. It's brilliant under ideal conditions and can carry a stupid team.

[Mutant]

I prefer M14, because it is more fun to use. Take it along with dual-handcannons and you will hit at some interesting situations.
But I think it depends on whether you play with friends or in public games, because pubs tend to go insane when a FP/SC approaches which often results in you dying. In that case the xbow is better so you can kill them from distance.

[PoVVer]

Xbow better for scrakes and Fleashpounds. M14 for clots and others.

[Tech]

Originally posted by PoVVer:

Xbow better for scrakes and Fleashpounds. M14 for clots and others.

Xbow requires longer time to take down Scrakes and Fleashpounds.

Dps of Xbow against FPs=300(base dmg)*4(Xbow headshot multiplier)*2.4(perk headshot multiplier)*0.35(FP resistance)/1.125(reload speed)=896dmg/s

Dps of M14 against FPs=80(base dmg)*2.25(M14 headshot multiplier)*2.4(perk headshot multiplier)*0.75(FP resistance)/0.25(rate of fire)=1296dmg/s

Dps of Xbow against SCs=300(base dmg)*4(Xbow headshot multiplier)*2.4(perk headshot multiplier)*0.5(SC resistance)/1.125(reload speed)=1280dmg/s

Dps of M14 against SCs=80(base dmg)*2.25(M14 headshot multiplier)*2.4(perk headshot multiplier)*1(SC resistance)/0.25(rate of fire)=1728dmg/s

[Pitspawn Fouldog]

The m14 is only as good as you are. The xbow should only be used by newbs.

[GunsForBucks]

Number of shots is more important to me. Solo HOE off-perk Medic with a Xbow can decapitate a FP in three headshots... one good headshot on a Scrake will put it in slo-mow and can be left to die with no further shots.

A Xbow used by a Sharp on HOE can drop a FP pretty quick esp. with shooting from the hip on second or third shot.
The main issue I have with M14 is that 1. Im not super consistant with moving targets and 2. with many players shooting FPs rage on Aggro so it can weave all over the place as you are trying to shoot it. For Scrakes you stun them with a Xbow.. super no worries when done right. Scrakes will aggro on nearest target but often Sharps sit in back so again you have to shoot as they move at an angle to you making it a more difficult target.

I just find the Xbow the "safer" choice... I know people who use the other weapons well but I would rather have things die "back there" rather than while charging in mad. Noob friendly indeed it is.

Most of the time people I see in pubs using M14 die alot trying to prove how leet they is.

[SunnyC]

for me its a matter of preference. I dont care which kills faster or which does more damage. sometimes I just feel like using m14 or xbow cause of the mood. if you know how to manuver the zed mechanics even a knife will do the job. if someone has something to say about it in game, well tell them to stfu. or do what i do lose the game on purpose so the person learns a lesson :3. im usually the last one alive. so I do often have that power.

[Lioness 西施]

I tested the crossbow against a 6-man HoE fleshpound. I have to change my tune a bit.

The crossbow and M14 seem to take about the same amount of time to kill a fleshpound, with the same amount of technique and accuracy required.

It's definitely easier to kill a scrake with the crossbow, though.

I spoke with NatniiK about this a while back. He said the main advantage to the M14 is a higher ammo pool, but the crossbow works better when you're camping an area because of its penetration.

I'm starting to love the crossbow again. It feels more elegant to me. By elegant, I mean intuitive and smooth. The pistols have one purpose, the crossbow has another.

I think the loadouts are dead even in terms of effectiveness now.

I wouldn't even say the LAR+EBR requires more skill. They each require a different technique.

[Lioness 西施]

I just learned how to flinch-lock scrakes with the EBR. If this is so easy to do, why do we carry the LAR?

It makes the EBR alone tied with the crossbow for scrake removal, in my eyes. It's less safe, but a lot more versatile and presumably easier to kill fleshpounds with.

It sounds like pistols and the EBR would be the best loadout in the game for someone who knows how to do this.

[Lioness 西施]

Yep, you're right. It takes a single headshot to bring them down in 6-man HoE.

I understand now.

I have to agree with NatniiK then. The LAR/Musket + EBR is probably the best loadout in the game. Both guns handle everything extremely well.

In terms of practicality, the LAR is probably better than the Musket because of the latter's broken scope. If both guns do exactly the same thing in the end, you might as well use the gun with the better sights and cheaper price tag.