eastern black rat snaketip

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In this episode: the MK14 EBR - a modernised version of the American M14 battle rifle, designed for a designated marksman role.

The Mk14's damage is high - like all of the other marksman rifles, you'll kill in two shots out to a mid-long range, or with just a single headshot.

At a greater distance, you may need up to three shots to kill instead, or two shots where one is a headshot.

Rate of fire is limited to 480 rounds per minute, falling behind both the MR-28 and IA-2 in exchange for a greater effective range.

Still, this level of output is sufficient for most engagements, as you'll want to make sure your shots are accurately placed.

Unaimed fire is not particularly effective: hipfire performance is poor, with only the sniper rifles proving less reliable.

Recoil is moderate, and as such tackling distant targets mandates a slower rate of fire to be effective.

However, you can shoot more quickly in closer ranged engagements: the key is ensuring your sights are settled on your target before firing again.

Aim time is average, at 300 millseconds - the standard for both the marksman and assault rifle classes.

Your mobility is similarly middle of the road, as you'll move at 90 percent of the base speed.

Magazine capacity is 18 rounds, or 27 with extended mags - the same as most of the other marksman rifles.

Given the semi-automatic fire, the 18 rounds are normally sufficient for any engagement - the higher per-shot damage means you can successfully tackle small groups with just a single mag.

Reload times are average for the class, at 2.97 seconds: as long as you keep a buffer zone between yourself and your enemy, the brief downtime during resupplies shouldn't prove an issue.

When building a class with the Mk14 EBR, you should focus on both power and precision: the weapon can deal the highest damage in its class, but this is only useful if you can direct those shots accurately onto target.

As we'll be focussing on longer-ranged combat, the integrated scope is probably the best optical option to use: not only is it ideal for use at such distances, the integrated scope enjoys lower recoil than the alternatives - and doesn't occupy an attachment slot.

Selecting the Muzzle Brake as one of your attachments will enhance your two-hit kill distance to the maximum possible: a useful trait at the fringe of your effective range.

Pair this with Armor Piercing rounds for maximum punch per trigger pull: you'll be better able to slice through thin cover, and you'll deal more damage to killstreaks too.

While ideally you should be shooting your target directly - every so often, some scenery will intersect your shot: and the added penetration power might prove decisive.

For your perks, Focus is a must with all of the marksman rifles - as landing successive shots on targets near or far is heavily dependent on the steadiest sights possible.

Positioning is key, too - knowing where the enemy is will prove essential to choosing the most effective firing position.

Equipping Wiretap will enhance your ability to pinpoint the enemy team through use of their own Sat-Coms: this betrayal will prove their undoing, as you can efficiently pick them off from a prepared spot.

It can also be worth picking up resisitive options such as Tac Resist, to better weather enemies assaulting your position - and a good sidearm is absolutely essential to fend off foes intent on getting close.

It can be wise to pick up a fallen enemy's weapon if it's an SMG or other suitable close-range option: such weapons will normally prove more reliable than a handgun.

The Mk14 EBR is a powerful option within the Marksman rifle category that doesn't sacrifice too much in the way of controllability.

In terms of power, only the SVU can trump you within the class - and in most cases you'll enjoy similar performance with better overall handling.

A two shot kill can shut out the lower damage weapons at a distance, and when firing from a strong position you'll have a clear edge in ranged combat.

Of course, accuracy is paramount during successful use of this weapon - and if you're not able to place your shots, you'll find opponents with more forgiving weapons will have an easy time tackling you.

You'll suffer at the hands of shotguns and SMGs up close, too - even with precision the marksman rifle's slower handling will let you down in closer-ranged firefights.

Still, with good judgement and positioning you can lessen the risk of uneven odds - and with anticipation of your enemy's movement you can provide perfect interdiction.

There's no doubt - when on target, this Enhanced Battle Rifle...

...will enhance your performance.

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In this episode: the L115 - the British designation for the Arctic Warfare Magnum bolt-action rifle from Accuracy International.

Damage is very good, with the L115 boasting the largest one hit kill area of all the sniper rifles, alongside the Lynx.

You'll kill at any range with a shot to the head, neck, torso - and even the upper portion of the legs.

This makes the rifle even more deadly than its bolt action peer, the USR - although the L115 pays for this extra damage with a few negative adjustments to its handling traits.

For one, your maximum rate of fire is lower - the bolt-action will slow you down to 40 rounds per minute, slower than any other weapon in the game.

This abysmally slow output will severly hamper your performance in close quarters: and given the colossal hipfire spread, landing an unaimed shot requires a huge dose of luck.

Recoil is present but not a factor in your accuracy, with the rifle settling as you cycle the action.

As with the USR, the L115 has the benefit of a recoil compensator that gains effectiveness with every kill, resetting upon death.

The lower recoil permits retention of your scope's view on target, which can prove helpful when tackling multiple opponents: better tracking movement to line up a second shot.

Aim time is slow, albeit faster than some of the sniper rifles on offer: at 400 millseconds.

This is the same as the USR, with the two bolt-action weapons having marginally faster ADS times when compared to the semi-automatic options.

Your movement speed is a little on the slow side, however - you'll move at 85 percent of the base speed, some 5 percent slower than the USR.

Magazine capacity is the lowest in-class, at 5 rounds: but the lower fire rate of the sniper rifles mean that this isn't a significant issue.

In any case, the L115 reloads faster than any other sniper: at 3.36 seconds.

Building a class for this weapon should focus on the core feature of a bolt-action rifle: reliable one shot kills.

With the slowest rate of fire in the game, anything you can do to enhance the odds of a successful shot will pay dividends.

The logical first attachment choice is the Chrome-lined barrel, then: this will increase your weapon's one-hit kill area to cover additional portions of the limbs.

While ideally you'll aim for centre mass to maximise your odds of a kill, any enhancement to your one-hit-kill area will yield more consistent results.

The attachment does increase recoil and idle sway, but the enhanced kick shouldn't matter - as you won't be able to fire until the bolt has been cycled.

Next, Armor Piercing rounds will enhance your ability to shoot through cover, as well as increasing the damage you deal versus enemy killstreaks.

While you should aim to land a clear shot on a target, sometimes cover may occlude your foe - and in this case, the extra penetration ability can sometimes prove decisive.

For your perks, there are few that will directly affect your lethality - so accuracy is perhaps the best investment.

Focus will reduce both idle sway and view flinch from incoming fire - helping to reign in some of the chrome lined barrel's negative effects by keeping your sights as steady as possible.

Positioning is another key part of effective sniping, as you must anticipate where your enemy will spring from: Wiretap can be a good investment if your enemy makes heavy use of SatComs, as you'll be able to use them as your own for better situational awareness.

Similarly useful is Amplify: when occupying a firing location you may attract some attention from foes who would seek to displace you with a forced close-range engagement.

With this perk, you'll be able to hear them coming more clearly - giving you time to switch to an alternative weapon.

The L115 is a precision weapon with uncompromised one-shot ability, able to quickly extinguish the opposition at any range.

Only the Lynx can compare to this weapon's lethality, and unlike the heavy semi-automatic option, the L115 retains some favourable handling characteristics.

Like the USR, aim time is faster than the semi-auto rifles: and while the USR's mobility is superior, you'll still leave the Lynx in your dust.

However, you must be accurate with this weapon, else the slowest fire rate in the game will punish you: your enemy given generous opportunity to retaliate while you cycle the bolt.

The limited magazine capacity may harm your sustained support, too - with a short period of downtime required every 5 shots.

Nevertheless, the sniper rifle's single-shot ability is their key trait, and the L115 excels in this regard.

With careful positioning, and a precisely placed shot: the Arctic Warfare...

...will leave your enemies in the cold.