Sniper Rifle

Lore & Background

In XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the Sniper Rifle is the signature weapon of the Sniper character class. The game's source material states that the Sniper class 'is equipped with a sniper rifle, allowing it to kill enemies from afar with a high critical-damage bonus.' This establishes the weapon's core role: delivering high-damage, precision shots from a distance. The source does not provide specific details on the weapon's design, manufacturing, or history within the XCOM organization. It is known that soldiers can be promoted and specialized, and that the Sniper class is one of five possible specializations (including the MEC Trooper from Enemy Within), each with unique weapons, gadgets, and abilities. The Sniper Rifle is the weapon that defines this class's long-range combat niche. It also does not describe the weapon's appearance, ammunition, or any specific in-universe anecdotes about its use.

In Their Own Story

The source does not provide any specific narrative or story moments involving the Sniper Rifle. The plot summary describes the early mission in a major German city, where a squad of four soldiers investigates alien activity. The soldiers are described as using various weapons, but the specific armament of each soldier is not detailed. The source focuses on the strategic and tactical elements of the game rather than providing a narrative account of a specific weapon's use in combat.

Reader's Guide

The Sniper Rifle is the starting weapon for the Sniper class in XCOM: Enemy Unknown. The source states that the Sniper class 'is equipped with a sniper rifle, allowing it to kill enemies from afar with a high critical-damage bonus.' This indicates the weapon's primary tactical role: engaging enemies at long range to deal significant damage, with a bonus to critical hits. The source does not provide specific statistics such as damage values, range in tiles, accuracy modifiers, or ammunition capacity. It also does not detail any upgrade paths, research requirements, or alternative sniper rifle variants. The weapon is acquired automatically when a soldier is assigned the Sniper class upon promotion. The source notes that 'classes are assigned randomly and cannot be changed,' so the Sniper Rifle is tied to a specific, randomly-determined class. The weapon's effectiveness is tied to the soldier's positioning and the player's ability to keep the sniper at a distance from enemies to maximize the critical-damage bonus.

Did You Know?

• The Sniper class is one of five character classes in XCOM: Enemy Unknown (including the MEC Trooper from Enemy Within), alongside Assault, Support, Heavy, and Sniper.
• The Sniper Rifle allows the Sniper class to kill enemies from afar with a high critical-damage bonus.
• Classes in XCOM: Enemy Unknown are assigned randomly, but can be changed later using the Training Center in Enemy Within.
• The Sniper Rifle is a starting weapon for the Sniper class, with no research required to obtain it.
• The source does not specify any upgrade paths or alternative sniper rifle variants for XCOM: Enemy Unknown.

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