When would you equip your Rangers with an assault rifle over a shotgun?

[Neoco]

I'm just wondering if anyone remembers that Rangers (and Assaults from Enemy Unknown) can still use assault rifles. It seems like everyone thinks that shotguns are the only weapons Rangers can use

[XeidiDent]

Never. Maybe the Disruptor Rifle. But even then, nope.

[red255]

In XCOM:EW I would give my assaults plasma rifles, as I could stun mutons to pick one up for them and if you are rushing thru the game a plasma rifle is better than a not having one.

I would eventually get them Plasma shotguns but as money was tight, they made due with their plasma shotgun for several months while I upgraded the rest of the team first.

In XCOM2? maybe if you researched and purchased plasma rifles but hadn't gotten the shotguns yet? or if you heavily modified your rifles and not your shotguns yet.

Or if you got breakthrus increasing rifle damage and not shot gun damage.

being equal? I'd take a shotgun, the range fall off isn't as severe as XCOM:EW so you barely even get that going for them.

[IronSheep]

I'd take shotgun any day, the range drop off isn't that bad and I primarily flank with my rangers, and it just goes so cohesively with the melee abilities

[red255]

yes but theres a period of time where you've researched plasma rifles but haven't researched storm guns.

so I might give them a plasma rifle instead of a mag shotgun.

[talkingmute]

Never. Even if there's a field 16 wide with no cover I'd rather have my rangers dug in with the rest of my forces on overwatch. When it's time to advance I need accuracy and damage when I run them up.

[grapplehoeker]

Originally posted by talkingmute:

Never. Even if there's a field 16 wide with no cover I'd rather have my rangers dug in with the rest of my forces on overwatch. When it's time to advance I need accuracy and damage when I run them up.

Are you kidding? I'd never have my rangers dug in anywhere. I send them out to frag and slash and they can overwatch after their action next to their target. Once you have their Bladestorm and Untouchable abilities, it makes no sense to 'dig in'. They have to go skirmish and as long as they keep hack and slashing, they don't need overwatch.
Whether they use a firearm or not is just a case of not being able to reach their target with their blades. So, as long as they can get close, but not close enough for the slash, then I'll take the shotgun, thank you very much ;)

[EspressoWhisky]

Assault rifle over shotgun? Simple: Whenever the mix of arms, abilities, tactics or the terrain suggests that range is more important.

E.g. when: already several rangers on board; role of rooftop scouting and flanking desired, staying close to the rest of the team or to a certain team members favorable, little cover present, many strong pods are present that a rushing ranger could uncover, the ranger's experience is too low to provide sufficient survivability ... or when the assault rifle tech is more advanced.

The shotgun has clear strengths and good use of it certainly is an asset. Sometimes I find the range of an assault rifle more flexible. Analog with SMGs.

[Barrelz]

Rangers are just awesome with shottys. Why swap out one of the most op weapons in the game.

[talkingmute]

Originally posted by grapplehoeker:

Originally posted by talkingmute:

Never. Even if there's a field 16 wide with no cover I'd rather have my rangers dug in with the rest of my forces on overwatch. When it's time to advance I need accuracy and damage when I run them up.

Are you kidding? I'd never have my rangers dug in anywhere. I send them out to frag and slash and they can overwatch after their action next to their target. Once you have their Bladestorm and Untouchable abilities, it makes no sense to 'dig in'. They have to go skirmish and as long as they keep hack and slashing, they don't need overwatch.
Whether they use a firearm or not is just a case of not being able to reach their target with their blades. So, as long as they can get close, but not close enough for the slash, then I'll take the shotgun, thank you very much ;)

Yeah pretty, that's my point though, the only time I'd think about that rifles would be worth it is if there was no cover in an area 16 wide (which never happens) then I'd still use shotguns. Although I do feel like pointing out early game they don't have bladestorm or untouchable (both are skills that you should have as soon as you have access to them) and is quite different from mid-end game. Early game is much harder (in comparision) to mid-end game, which are basically a breeze.

[Veritas]

There's no reason to because crits roll independently from chance to hit, you can get crits from a fair distance away with late game rangers using crit boosting gear

[talkingmute]

Originally posted by Snazzy Dragon:

There's no reason to because crits roll independently from chance to hit, you can get crits from a fair distance away with late game rangers using crit boosting gear

I just need to correct really quick, by default the roll to hit is the same roll to crit as well. Meaning a 10% hit and 10% crit will always crit if it hits. You actually need a mod to have crit chance roll seperate.

[Giblix]

I know they can use rifles... and no i never give them any.

1. Shotguns always get prioritized over rifles when it comes to upgrading to the next tier. Heck rifles are usually the last I upgrade since the support class is the only one that uses it anyway. Rifles are the last I upgrade, since they are the least used/useful, so yeah...

Even when research forces you to get an upgrade for rifles before other weapons.... I rarely use rifles.

2. Shotguns have higher crit chance and crit damage. So much higher damage output. The game offers tons of ways to mitigate and turn situations in your favor. So even if my damage would temporarily fall behind I'd manage. However with proper development planning I haven't fallen behind in damage output since the first month of playing Xcom in the late 80's.

3. Assault/Rangers are very mobile and there is no reason NOT to run in, get your shots in, get out. Especially the further in the game you get with proper skill choices.


Changing weapon setup to fight in open areas with rangers dug in?? I got a sniper and grenadier to deal with those situations. With WotC you even have the hero classes to deal with that quite easily.

[lentracey]

I always give my assault rangers shotguns but often give my scout rangers plasma rifles. I use the scouts to skirt around and spot for my snipers, so if they need to shoot it is often at range. This has worked well for me. Assault rangers though go straight in to use sword and shotgun. I tend to use more assault rangers than scout rangers though.

[talkingmute]

Originally posted by lentracey:

I always give my assault rangers shotguns but often give my scout rangers plasma rifles. I use the scouts to skirt around and spot for my snipers, so if they need to shoot it is often at range. This has worked well for me. Assault rangers though go straight in to use sword and shotgun. I tend to use more assault rangers than scout rangers though.

Might want to consider using reapers for scouts, they're a bit more tactical and have better stealth. The reaper's skill "high-definition" is one that's not really talked about, but gives a huge boon planning wise.