Shooting

Shooting Mechanics

Musket fire in Holdfast: Nations at War is governed by a combination of projectile physics, historical inaccuracy, and class-specific buffs. Mastering weapon fire requires understanding the differences between Napoleonic-era smoothbore muskets and the more accurate rifles found in both eras, particularly in the Frontlines mode.

PC/Console Controls (Xbox Series X/S & PlayStation 5)

The table below outlines the primary controls for weapon handling on console platforms.

Mechanics

Action	Xbox Control	Playstation 5 Control	PC Control
Aim/Ready Weapon	Left Trigger (LT)	L2	Left CLick
Fire Weapon	Right Trigger	R2	Right Click
Reload Weapon	X Button	Square Button	R
Melee Mode	Y Button	Triangle Button	X

Weapon Type Differences and Aiming

The main difference in shooting mechanics lies in the weapon types used in the two main historical periods of the game: Napoleonic (Muskets) and Frontlines (Rifles/Modern).

Napoleonic Era Weapons (Muskets & Rifles) The Napoleonic era features two primary long-arm types with vastly different accuracy profiles:

Caption text

Weapon Type	Class	Key Characteristics	Aiming Difference
Musket	Line Infantry, Guard, Light Infantry	High Random Lateral Spread (side-to-side deviation). Slow reload (≈12 seconds). Uses a simple circular or square crosshair (no iron sights).	Rely on Volley Fire. Aiming is primarily to compensate for bullet drop (see Ranging Guide). Horizontal accuracy is largely luck/RNG.
Rifle	Rifleman (Skirmisher)	Significantly Higher Accuracy and better range. Less lateral spread. Slightly slower reload than a Musket.	Precision Shots. Allows for aiming at individual targets at longer ranges. The need to compensate for bullet drop remains, but the bullet path is more predictable.

Aiming Mechanics

Accuracy in Holdfast is affected by significant bullet drop over distance and random lateral (side-to-side) deviation, which cannot be completely compensated for. The general rule is to use the bottom quadrant of your crosshair as the main reference point.

Ranging Guide (Muskets & Light Infantry Rifles)

Muskets and carbines do not use iron sights; the crosshair is your only guide. Adjust your aim vertically to compensate for bullet drop based on distance:

Caption text

Range	Aiming Tip (Using Crosshair Bottom
0 - 20 meters (Close)	Aim centre mass (body) with the bottom of the reticle at about knee height.
50 meters	Aim with the reticle's bottom around the lower chest or waist height.
100+ meters (Long)	Aim with the reticle's bottom at the enemy's head height.

Tip: For Riflemen (Skirmisher class), the weapon is more accurate, but the principle of vertical compensation remains the same. The center dot or "Nail" crosshair option is often preferred for long-range rifle shots.

Frontlines Era Weapons

The Frontlines mode shifts the combat to World War I, introducing modern weapons that dramatically change the shooting experience.

Caption text

Weapon Type	Key Characteristics	Aiming Difference
Bolt-Action Rifle	Higher accuracy than Napoleonic Rifles. Features Iron Sights when aiming down sights (ADS). Fast reload (clip/stripper clip) after the magazine is empty.	Precise Aiming. Compensate for bullet drop, but the primary method of aiming uses the iron sights (Right Trigger / L2). Shots are generally consistent.
Machine Guns/Pistols	High rate of fire, varying accuracy.	Follow standard first-person shooter aiming conventions. Hip-fire is possible but less effective than ADS.

• Aiming Difference in Frontlines:
• Napoleonic: Primarily crosshair-based, focusing on estimating vertical drop against a simple crosshair, with a high degree of randomness.
• Frontlines: Primarily Iron Sights (when aiming with LT / L2). Accuracy is high, and the emphasis shifts to leading moving targets and judging distance for minor bullet drop.

Crosshair Options

Players can change their crosshair style in the settings to options like 'Nail' or 'Herald', which may offer better points of reference for judging distance. It is also recommended to turn off Aim Assist for fine-tuned aiming.

Reloading and Firing

A crucial part of combat is managing the long reload time of muzzle-loaded weapons.

1. Reloading
2. To reload, press X (Xbox) / Square (PS5) after firing.
4. Crouch Reload: Crouching while reloading (B / Circle) will slightly speed up the entire process. This is essential for surviving a prolonged engagement.
6. Movement Penalty: Moving while reloading will not cancel the process but will slow you to a crawl, making you an easy target.

Factors Affecting Accuracy

Several in-game mechanics can boost your otherwise inaccurate fire:

1. Line Fire Buff: Ranker (Line Infantry) and Guard classes receive an accuracy boost when firing in tight formation ("In Line") with two or more friendly soldiers side-by-side.
3. Officer Commands: If you are near an Officer (Command class), their abilities can significantly boost your accuracy and reload speed.
5. Musician Buff: Being close to a Musician (Support class) who is actively playing a tune will grant a cumulative boost to your reload speed and accuracy.
7. Bayonet: Removing the bayonet (by switching to melee mode, then back to fire mode) may provide a marginal accuracy increase, although it sacrifices the ability to instantly defend yourself in close quarters.
9. Stillness: Do not move while preparing to fire. Firing while moving dramatically increases the horizontal bullet spread.

Improving Your Aim (Universal Tips)

1. Crouch to Shoot: Crouching (B / Circle) provides an immediate and significant buff to accuracy for all long-arms, especially the Rifleman class (+15% accuracy bonus when crouching).
3. Stand Still: Do not move while firing. The loss of accuracy from movement is drastic.
5. Use Buffs: Stand near Officers (for accuracy/damage buffs) and Musicians (for reload buffs) to gain a competitive edge in the Napoleonic era.
7. Target Clumps: With Muskets, your best chance of a hit, especially at range, is by firing into the largest mass of enemy soldiers.
9. #Remove Aim Assist (Console): Many console players report that turning off the in-game Aim Assist allows for better manual control and more reliable aiming, particularly with the sensitive analog stick input.
10. Numbered list item