XDefiant has dropped its Season 2 patch notes, and it looks like we are getting a new? map called Waterfront and a game mode called Bomb. U??bisoft, the developers, also fixed a bunch of gameplay issues, like the sliding mechanic and some sprinting quirks.

Plus, there are some solid weapon additions and tweaks that could change your strategy. They’ve also made adjus??tments for different factions, so it feels like a balanced experience.

XDefiant Season 2 patch notes

Gameplay

Fixes and Adjustments

• Fixed an issue preventing players from sliding after a jump when selecting the Hold option for Crouch and Sprint.
• Corrected a control issue that stopped players from sprinting if they fired while switching to ADS in mid-sprint.
• Melee attack victims now suffer a movement penalty of half speed for a quarter of a second.
• Updated the six Preset loadouts in the Loadout menu to provide full sets of attachments for primary and secondary weapons, along with complementary devices.
• Tuned Major and Daily Challenges:

  • Completing a Major Challenge automatically activates the next one.

• Fixed a weapons-progression glitch that wasn't granting weapon XP for kill assists.

Factions

Highwaymen

• The Highwaymen are cutthroat survivors with:

  • Deployable assault turrets
  • Speedy reload and rate-of-fire bonuses
  • Lethal makeshift tech like saw-blade launchers

GS-Kommando

• Improvements made to the Active Defense System:

  • Players can now cancel it after deployment.
  • Fixed bugs related to its functionality against enemy proximity mines.
  • Addressed camera-resetting bug caused by the Shock Wire.

DedSec

• Adjustments to Spiderbot deployment and movement sounds:

  • Deployment no longer cancels upon activating the ultra.
  • Increased volume of Spiderbot footsteps.

• Reduced the duration of DedSec's Lockout ultra from 25 seconds to 20 seconds.
• Fixed a glitch disabling the Hijack ability on moving devices.

Phantoms

• Removed an exploit allowing invincibility upon respawn.
• Fixed the Mag Barrier so it is no longer impervious to the AEGIS's electro-scattergun.
• Restored controller force feedback and added sound effects for the Blitz Shield.

Libertad

• Increased the effective range of the BioVida Boost.
• Fixed bugs related to the Médico Supremo ability and its deployment.

Maps

New Map: Waterfront

• A new Arena map ravaged by storm surge, featuring high ground and close-quarters combat.

Mayday

• Removed from CTF Unranked mode playlists for balance issues.
• Fixed various map-geometry exploits across several maps.

Game Modes

• Bomb!

  • New high-stakes game mode with attackers planting a Detonator on bombs.

• Escort

  • Fixed visual issues with Package paths.

• Team Death Match

  • Overtime has been removed, and now includes a Daily Challenge.

• Capture The Flag

  • Completing a CTF session now counts towards the Grand Tour achievement.
  • XP scores for Escort and Zone Control objectives have been doubled.

Ranked Mode

• Introduced Ranked Loadouts with 10 slots, allowing custom loadouts even for weapons not yet unlocked.
• Addressed issues preventing PC users from confirming pre-selected abilities.

Weapons

New Additions

• PP-19: A heavy-hitting SMG with a lower rate of fire.
• SPAS-12: A powerful semi-auto shotgun.
• L86: A nimble LMG with quick reloading.

Existing Weapon Tweaks

• M44: No longer aims down sights before reloading.
• MDR: Removed aiming obstructions when using the Skeletonized skin.

Devices

• Fixed glitches with EMP grenades affecting conventional grenades.
• Exploding Sticky grenades now damage enemies when thrown onto ceilings.

Netcode

• Improved issues with dying players not inflicting damage on enemies.

Social

• Quick Chat feature added for predefined messages.

Audio

• Significant changes made to footstep and clothing sound effects for better gameplay immersion.
• Adjusted volume levels for footsteps and improved sound quality.

Miscellaneous

• Players can now skip intro videos.
• Added custom framerate-limit options in the Settings menu.
• Fixed various graphical and interface issues.

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We're finally hitting the release of Season 1 in XDefiant, and the patch notes suggest that this will be a meaningful update ??that makes the game feel a lot more enjoyable to play while expanding its roster of factions to offer even more to choose from.?

While a new faction is exciting, the best part about the game's Y1S1.0 update is that it lowers the X?P threshold for battle pass tiers. If you played during the preseason, you know that it took about three or four wins to complete one rank, which killed the fun for me and many others. I don't know the exact ratio between wins and battle pass tiers yet, but based on the tuned win XP bonuses, we should be quickly smashing through them.

XDefiant's new faction is pulled from Rainbow Six Siege

As you can see in the official patch notes for XDefiant season 1, pretty much every end-of-match bonus has been doubled to improve player stickiness. I know I suffered from this and would play one match at a time ?because I was so disheartened by the rewards, so I hope this feels better.

Of course, the biggest new addition with season 1 is the GSK faction. These elite soldiers are part of Germany's Border Protection Command and are pulled directly from Rainbow Six Siege. Here, though, they're not balanced for either attacking or defending; they've mastered both and could ??make for some interesting new tactics in matches.

Alongside this new faction, Echelon??, The Phantoms, and DedSec have had a bit of rebalancing. Echelon's incredibly overpowered Intel Suit has an added 10 seconds on its cooldown for a total of 40 seconds. As someone who has died far too many times to these invisible ?soldiers, this is fantastic news.

The Phantoms' Mag Barrier has seen the same tweak to make it?? a bit easier to combat, and the faction's AEGIS now takes damage from EMP grenades. Overall, it just makes them less imposing as enemies when you load into a match.

DedSec's Spiderbot also has a longer cooldown but has been changed so that if multiple players unleash them, they shouldn't aim fo??r the same target. It'll be interesting to see how this impacts the game because I never really saw too many Spiderbots in matches, but that could now change if they're more efficient.

XDefiant also sees the introduction of Clubhouse, a new map, and Capture the Flag mode. I'm quite excited to try this classic game mode in such a modern shooter to see how the speed of each faction makes it feel. In addition, we've ???got a few new weapons in the game with season 1, including the L115 Sniper Rifle, LVOA-C Rifle, and the Sawed-Off Shotgun.

We won't fully know the impact of the weapon changes until players have had time to mess around with their loadouts for a while. The only o?ther change of note is for flash grenades, those tiny explosives that would blind you for what felt like a full minute in the preseason. Ubisoft admits they were way too intense, so I'm expecting something way less harmful to the retinas that don't make me put the controller down and reach for my sunglasses.

Season 1 for XDefiant is setting the ?standard for the type of content that should be coming over the next year or so. Players will judge the game based on this update, so it needs to be good enough to make them want to stick around.

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In XDefiant, players take on the role of some o??f the finest soldiers from across Ubiso??ft's shared Tom Clancy's game universe, but errors can easily disrupt online matches.

XDefiant is a fast-paced first-person shooter for fans of most of the Tom Clancy franchises Ubisoft has released a game for. It includes factions from The Division, Ghost Recon Breakpoint, and even Splinter Cell. However, it comes with all the issues that most online shooters face, including bugs and errors that can plague a community for days on end. One of the biggest is the Mike-01 error, which happens ??to have a relatively simple fix for those who ??need it.

How to fix the Mike-01 error in XDefiant

To fix the Mike-01 error in XDefiant, you need to make sure you have the correct version of the game downloaded. At the time of writing, Season 1 is being deployed, which is why this error is kicking off fo so ma??ny players. I just got it when I tried to launch the game.

Right now, the game is still down for maintenance, but you might experience it because you have an outdated v?ersion. Make sure you've downloaded all the updates so you can play the game without getting this error and being booted back to the start s??creen.

What is the Mike-01 error in XDefiant?

The Mike-01 error in XDefiant is known to be caused by trying to play the wrong version of the game. There have been many betas and playtests for this title, and while all will conne??ct to the game's servers successfully, only some are active at any given time.

As I mentioned above, the most recent cause for the Mike-01 error is the deployment of XDefiant season 1. This is a big moment for the game because it's when? things get real, and we can start to dive into meaningful changes and updates outside of the preseason.

A great way to ensure you've always got the latest version of the game is to check for updates each time ?you turn your PC or console on. Even if these updates are minor, they'll help you avoid the Mike-01 error if you make this a habit.

To avoid issues like this, I always ?try to delete the old versions of games I play Betas and Alphas for, just in case errors similar to this can occur. It resu??lts in more download time but avoids unnecessary faff when all I want to do is get into a game.

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Since XDefiant first launched, players have been begging for Team Deathmatch to be added as a game mode. An overwhelm?ing wave of demand worked, as Ubisoft f??inally confirmed its addition.

Ubisoft confirmed that Team Deathmatch goes live as a new game mode on June 21 a?t 10 a.m. PT. Playing the objective is fun and often rewarding when it leads to a victory for your team. However, sometimes, when ??you log on, you would rather turn your brain off and strictly go after enemies. Team Deathmatch is the perfect game mode for players seeking out that experience.

Team Deathmatch is a classic first-person shooter game mode in which the only objective is to get as many kills as possible. The winner of the match is the team that reaches the point limit first or the squad that has the most kills at the end of the time limit. As in the case with other titles such as Modern Warfare 3, this game mode will probably be one of the most played game modes?? when it goes live.

XDefiant features two different types of maps. Arena environments are designed for game modes like O??ccupy and Hot Shot, as they are smaller and ideal for fast-paced battles. On the other hand, liner maps are more tailored for modes like Escort and Zone Control because the game modes demand a larger battlefield. Ubisoft did not reveal which maps the game mode will be available on, but it will most likely only be available on arena maps, based on the criteria.

As for other highly requested game modes, XDefiant executive producer Mark Rubin previously confirmed on June 5 that Search and Destroy will be ??added in a future update.

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Ubisoft expedited XDefiant's weapon level?ing process by decreasing the XP requirement. However, to maintain player engagement, the development team made the weapon mast??ery unlock process harder, dividing players.

As part of the June 18 XDefiant update, Ubisoft lowered the XP needed to level up a primary weapon from 3.500 to 3,000 and a secondary weapon from 1,500 to 1,000. As a counterbalance, the Bronze camo level was increased from 50 to 100, Silver from 75 to 150, ?and Gold from 100 to 200.

Previously, XDefiant developer Patrick ‘ACHES�Price explained that one kill equals 100 XP, meaning it took around 35 kills per level. Considering ??that there are 18 primary weapons and all attachments aren't unlocked until level 43, that's a steep undertaking for a player of any skill level. Multiple double XP weekends have helped aid the cause, but it wasn't enough to satisfy a growingly frustrated player base.

XDefiant executive producer Mark Rubin stepped in and admitted that players were unlocking attachments slower than originally intended, so this update should make it easier. But it's the weapon mastery re-balancing that's raised eyebrows. XDefiant content creator NerosCinema argued that the update makes no sense because while the it's nice that you can?? unlock attachments for primary weapons 14 percent faster, doubling the level requirement for mastery camos is too harsh of a change.

In response to complaints, Rubin claimed, "Weapon Mastery on the other hand does not affect gameplay and is supposed to be something special that shows off your dedication to ??a weapon. And so the re-balance of levels was in response to that."

14 percent will make a substantial difference, and that will be even more noticeable on double XP weekend??s moving forward. But asking players to reach level 200 on every weap??on instead of 100 is a tall order and possibly too harsh of an ask. Players who have already unlocked all three mastery camos for a weapon won't lose them, but it's also not necessarily fair that players who missed out now have to work twice as hard for the achievement.

Another issue is players only get weapon XP from kills. As a result, players don't get rewarded for playing the objective, which leads to users only hunting kills. T?hankfully, this update is retroactive, meaning every player will have higher weapon levels than before. But it's clear that the system still needs work, and players aren't fully satis??fied.

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XDefiant's latest update addresses netcode issues plaguing multiplayer matches since launch and expedites the weapon leveli??ng process. Here is everything you need to know about the brief pa??tch notes.

Ubisoft has had its hand full lately. On June 12, an update finally added an aiming penalty for players who spam jumped. In addition, sniper rifles finally recieved a nerf as XDefiant increased flinch when getting fired at. As a result, it's harder for sniper rifle users to shake off bullets. As for this time around, the update? takes care of other issues that have been raised over?? the past few weeks.

XDefiant June 18 patch notes

Gameplay

Sped up the process of unlocking weapon attachments by lowering the amount of XP needed to level up your primary weapon, from 3,500 to 3,000, and your secondary weapon, from 1,500 to 1,000. This change is retroactive, meaning your existing? weapon levels will likely be even higher now. Pause for polite applause.

To counterbalance this speedier acces??s to performance-enhancing attachments--and provide a greater challenge to the community--Weapon Mastery level requirements have increased. However, any player who has already unlocked Bronze/Silver/Gold skins will get to keep them. We're not monsters.

Netcode

Improved how?? quickly your health reacts when being shot, which should reduce the feeling of being shot behind walls.

Weapons

Players wielding the MDR while strutting around in the Firestorm skin were experiencing?? an abnormal level of recoil, which ?has been reset to normal recoil. So strut away.

Factions

Restored the decorum of lying down when dead to players who previously remained on their feet after dying while under the infl?uence of Libertad's Medico Supremo ultra.

Miscellaneous

Additional crash fixes.

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XDefiant executive producer Mark Rubin had a perfectly executed joke locked and ready for a player who had all of their teammates leave a game, but the moment of fun also highligh??ted a troubling matchmaking issue that needs to get addressed.

An XDefiant player posted a picture on Twitter disappointed that all of their teammates left mid-match. Rubin joked that the user should have worn deodorant, which garnered laughs from community m??embers and the player themself. However, the ability to freely ??leave matches without getting punished has ruined the experience for others.

 XDefiant does not use skill-based-matchmaking, meaning players from all different levels of skill and experience can match up against each other. Overall, feedback has been positive, as it creates a unique experience and doesn't punish players for getting better, and gives them increasingly harder competition. Ubisoft argued, "Skill-based matchmaking means every casual game is repetitive—constantly repeating ?matches that are just as stressful and matched as ranked."

In saying that, having no skill-based-matchmaking does come with pitfalls. After a lobby is formed, teams are then divided based on a variety of factors to ensure that both squads are as effective as possible. However, there will always be the odd game or few where one team dominates another because of a large gap in skill level. In that case, it's no uncommon that players will leave the match out of pure frustration. Some FPS titles punish players for leaving early and will even temporarily prevent them from findin??g a new match for a set amount of time if they leave too often. But XDefiant has no such penalty, which creates problems.

Not only does early match leaving hurt the teammates left behind, it's also unfair to players who get added into a match late because ?they are put into an unwinnable situation. On June 9, Rubin responded to the concerns by confirming that the team is looking to implement a system that rewards players who stay more, meaning players lose out on an extra reward if they leave early. While this isn't the penalty some may have hoped for, it could at least potentially cut down on the maximum exodus of lobbies.

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XDefiant features five facti??ons, each providing unique abilities that cater to different play styles. Even though it comes down to personal preference, some factions provide more ver??satility than others.

In the absence of kill or score streaks, as you usually find in an arcade arena shooter, XDefiant leaned into the hero shooter genre and introduced an ability system. Ubisoft urges teams to work together and synchronize different faction abilities to make the most out of the system. So, with that in mind, here is a list of the best factions to use in XDefiant.

XDefiant faction tier list

5. Dedsec

Players can find success using the DedSec faction, but lackluster abilities and a situational passive trait hold the cyber attackers back. Lockout is a gre??at Ultra ability as it prevents enemies from using their ultra and normal abilities, which is debilitating in any game mode. The Spiderbot is also one of the most annoying abilities in the game as the robot latches on to an enemy's face and makes them an easy target. Despite that, DedSec lacks versatility and the loaded toolbox that other Factions have.

4. Phantoms

If not for a disappointing ultra-ability, Phantoms would earn a higher rank on this list. Aegis creates a spherical plasma shield that protects you and your teammates and a scattergun that one-shot kills enemies in close-range combat. However, the ability drastically slows down movement, and it's almost too easy for an enemy to slide into the shield and take you out before making much of an impact. Phantoms still remain a strong option because Mag Barrier is one of the best abilities in the game as it blocks enemy fire and grenades and makes it easier to?? play the objective. In addition, Hardened increases operator health from 100 to 125, which is great for any gunfight.

3. Echelon

Echelon outclasses Phantoms be??cause of a strong passive trait, a lethal supporting cast of abilities, and a devastating ultra. Inspired by Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, Sonar Goggles reveals enemies through walls and gives players a pistol capable of killing with one shot. The ultra ability is a nightmare to counter and frustrating to get killed by. Meanwhile, the Digital Ghillie Suit provides brief invisibility or the Intel Suit shares the position of enemies. Both abilities are worth giving a try, depending on your playst?yle. Finally, Low Profile removes you from the mini-map, making this faction perfect for aggressive players who enjoy flanking and catching enemies off guard.

2. Cleaners

There is an argument to be made that Echelon is a better fact??ion than Cleaners, but both have their own set of distinct strengths. Cleaners are also great for offensive-minded players, as Incendiary Rounds deal extra burn damage to enemies. Firebomb dominates game modes such as Occupy, Domination, and Zone Control, as you can easily clear off an entire point with the Molotov cocktail ability. And for the cherry on top, The Purifier ultra never gets old, as you are able to mow down enemies with a flamethrower.

1. Libertad

Other factions are flashier on paper and more fun, but you won't find a better collection of abilities than the Libertad faction offers. Libertad's passive trait constantly hea?ls you and your allies. Both activated ability options provide an instant health boost, and the ultra ability gives a massive health boost to your team. The ultra ability, in particular, poses a massive threat as it can give an entire team extra health on an objective and makes it very difficult to break.

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If you're trying to jump on to XDefiant on Ju?ne 12 but are being told that the game is offline, then I'm here to explain why that's happening.

Like any massive launch, server issues usually wreak havoc when players flood the servers for the first time. However, there are also instances where the devs temporarily take down the servers for maintenance. Regardless of why XDefiant might not be working properly?, her?e is everything you need to know.

XDefiant server status

The XDefiant servers are currently offline on XDefiant. Don't panic, however, as this is expected downtime as the developer introduces the Y1S0.3 patch to the game, which adds sniper flinch and aim penalties for players? who spam the jumping or crouching mechanics.

The downtime is expected to last for one hour, and once the patch has been fully deployed, the servers will come back up and you'll be able to jump into matches agai?n.

How to check XDefiant server status

Ubisoft always provides updates on Twitter if there are server issues or scheduled server maintenance. Players can also check Down Detector if they suspect issues. Sometimes Down Detector will detect the problem faster, so that might be the best option to check first. Other community hubs like Reddit can also provide ??updates?? on server status problems.

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If you've spent some time blasting in a few rounds, you may have already gotten accustomed to XDefiant's weapon and map collection. There's not a lot of content compared to some first-person shooters, primarily due to its recent launch. Fortunately, players can expect new features based on the XDefiant roadmap and Ubisoft Forward reveal, showcasing new locations, ??weapons, and many? more. 

XDefiant roadmap explained

According to the XDefiant Year 1 Roadmap and Season 1 annou??ncement, you can look forward to new seasonal cont??ent and features. Here's what to expect:

Seasonal Content

• Season 1 (July 2):

  • New Faction - GSK
  • 3 New weapons
  • 3 New maps
  • 90 tiers in the Battle Pass
  • Capture the Flag mode
  • Ranked Play full debut
  • Ranked Progression

• Season 2:

  • New Faction - Buzz
  • 3 New weapons
  • 3 New maps
  • 90 tiers in the Battle Pass

• Season 3:

  • New Faction - Orchard
  • 3 New weapons
  • 3 New maps
  • 90 tiers in the Battle Pass

• Season 4:

  • New Faction - Horde
  • 3 New weapons
  • 3 New maps
  • 90 tiers in the Battle Pass

New content

• New Arena
• Private Matches
• Caster Cams

The new Factions are one of the most exciting new features for XDefiant, offering unique abilities and playstyles. Ubisoft Forward confirmed Season 1's upcoming Faction with GSK, which derives from Rainbow Six Siege. While we don't know the specifics of this particular group, the reveal did give us some insi?ght into their gear. In particular, the ensemble comes with a formidable shield and an explosive grenade. The s?hield seems to cover much more ground than Phantoms, so it'll likely be catered to defense enthusiasts.

It isn't?? quite clear if GSK is the same 'Ruby' Faction that was mentioned previously in the roadmap. So, another Faction, outside of the ones mentioned earlier, could still be in the cards for a later season.

Ranked Mode will officially be released in Season 1. Currently, XDefiant only presents a Trial Run version to give players a small taste. Ubisoft will likely use the feedback from this mode to prepare for Ranked Mode's full debut. Ranked Progression rewards are also included to provide? you with exclusive content, making it all the more satisfying.

If you want more variety in XDefiant, the upcoming seasons will bring forth new weapons and maps. It will make the game much less tedious once these roll out, especially if you're gunning for another weapon. Plus, three new maps have been confirmed: Clubhouse, Daytona, and Rockefeller. These locations will help set the stage for the upcoming game mode, Capture the Flag, diversifying XDefiant's current lineup.

Ubisoft will also improve XDefiant altogether by maintaining a balanced experience for all players. This mission goes along with their choice of not including SBMM, which has become? a controversial topic in s??hooter games. More pushes like this will likely come up more and more to keep things fair in-game. 

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Ubisoft Forward has officially confirmed the new content update for XDefiant's Season 1. And f??ortunately, the wait won't be too long with its July 2, 2024 relea?se.

The trailer revealed all of the XDefiant updates in the pipeline, including the highly anticipated new Faction, GSK. What the latest group will entail is still a mystery, but I can't wait to try it out to see what other unique tactics will be available. In addition to a Faction expansion, we also got a look at three free Eruption weapon skins. These shiny, new gems will undoubtedly spice up you?r weaponry, but?? you'll need to play the game in the next 48 hours to get them.

New maps are expected to arrive per month, and we have already gotten the inside scoop into three of them. Specifically, XDefiant will offer Clubhouse, Daytona, and Rockefeller. If you're a? racing fan, you'll undoubtedly know all about Daytona. The other maps will also bring about plenty of shenanigans, especially if they are on a much smaller scale in terms of size.

Maps aren't the only thing to look forward to with the upcoming release of the new game mode, Capture the Flag. Every shooter game veteran will certainly enjoy this one, including the new ranked progression re??wards that are expected to come for Season 1.

Be sure to tune into XDefiant Season 1 on July 2, 2024, and get your hands?? on the Eruption weapon skins while they're hot.

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Spiderbots are widely considered the most annoying ability to deal with in XDefiant. Fortunately, there is a simple? trick to taking out the pesky rob?ots.

Every Faction in XDefiant has unique abilities that set them apart. The DedSec faction was designed to mess with the enemy team by disruptin??g and taking control of their devices. Hijack is a powerful ability as it allows players to gain the power to hack e??nemy abilities and gain control of them. However, most players use Spiderbot as it's a robot that chases after the nearest enemy, latches onto their face, and stuns them.

Most XDefiant players can at least recall one time when they fell victim to this abi?lity, and there aren't many ways to counter it. However, there are a few options available so not all hope is lost.

How to counter DedSec Faction Spiderbots in XDefiant

XDefiant Updates posted a clip on Twitter of a player getting attacked by a Spiderbot and voiced their displeasure with the ability. A player claimed that they were able to punch a Spiderbot in mid-air t??o destroy it one time, but it didn't work again?.

XDefiant executive producer Mark Rubin confirmed that this?? is a bug and players should be able to punch Spiderbots. In the meantim?e, the only two ways to counter the ability are to either shoot them, which is extremely difficult, or to aim down when it's on your face and shoot. Both options aren't the best in terms of staying focused on your surroundings, but for now it's the only chance we have at countering the ability.

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Ubisoft rolled out a minor update to address crossplay and party invite issues. As for susbt??antial gameplay changes that's coming at a later date.

Following the update today, XDefiant executive producer Mark Rubin confirmed that there will be another patch next week dedicated to bunny hopping, sniper, and hit registration changes. Rumors suggested that there would be major movement changes in Season 1, but in reality there will ?just be an aiming sway penalty adde??d for jumping too many times in a row consecutively.

As for snipers, Ubisoft plans on adding more flinch to the weapons so it's harder for the weapons to hit their shots. Finally, a segment of the player base has claimed that "‘terrible" hit detection is XDefiant's biggest problem, and that's scheduled to get addresses as well. But for now, Ubiso??ft just rolled out a few m?inor backend changes.

XDefiant June 4 update patch notes

Here are the full XDefiant June 4 update patch notes.

Social

• While in a party, we now display the most restrictive Crossplay setting among the party members, as it applies to the whole party. Also fixed an issue where party members with differing Crossplay settings couldn't matchmake.
• Fixed an issue with displaying incorrect player names on some Social screens.
• Fixed a crash caused by spamming open/close View Party Invites, but who would even do that, calm down.
• On consoles, Ubisoft Connect party invites could display as if they were coming from Xbox or PlayStation Network friends. Fixed that, along with some other weird invite-related things.

Miscellaneous

• Fixed some missing terrain textures when players joined matches in progress on some maps.
• Input-Based Matchmaking setting status now updates correctly after changing it on Xbox.
• Fixed a thing on PS5 where people could sneak into places they shouldn't via PS5 Activities.
• Security improvements, various.

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Out of the four SMGs currently available in XDefiant, public perception leans toward the MP7 being the best option. However, XDefiant developer ACHES pointed out the V?ector as his favorite and provided a set of attachments that will help you elevate your game to another level.

During XDefiant's three-year development period, few people have had more time playing the free-to-play title than ACHES, who joined Ubisoft as a game developer to help finish the project. The former Call of Duty world champion is no stranger to dominating FPS titles, and he has an inside scoop on which weapons perform best. Consensus highlights the MP7 as the best SMG in XDefiant, but statistics tell a different story.

According to TrueGameData, the Vector has the fastest time-to-kill speed among all SMGS up to 13 meters at 300 milliseconds. In comparison, the MP7 clocks in at 345 ms. In saying that, the Vector does suffer a major drop-off after the first initial 13 meters, while the other SMGs remain relatively consist??ent. But for anything after that first damage range you are better off using an AR anyways, so this knock shouldn?'t be too much of a deterrent.

Another downside is the Vector's relatively small magazine size, which holds 25 rounds. In comparison, the P90 can hold 50 rounds but does kill slightly slower. To compensate for that? deficiency, ACHES upped that ammo count and made a few other modifications that make this ??SMG lethal in any short-range engagement.

Best Vector loadout in XDefiant

XDefiant posted ACHES' Vector loadout on Twitter, and the loadout receiv??ed a warm reception from players with similar class setups.

• Barrel: Chrome Lined
• Front Rail: Superlight
• Magazine: Extended Mag
• Rear Grip: Quick Draw
• Stock: Lightweight

The Extended Mag is arguably the most important attachment, as it increases the magazine size from 25 rounds to 40. Next, the Chrome Lined barrel improves short—and long-range damage at the cost of ADS time and sprint speed. To compensate for that mobility loss, the Quick Draw Grip improves ADS time and sprint to fire time. In addition, the Lightweight rear grip helps recoup lost sprint and ADS movement speed. And then to round off the loadout, the Superlight grip also improves ADS time and sprint speed to lean into the weapon's short-range str??engths.

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Rumors alleged that XDefiant movement mechanics could be hinder??ed in Season 1, but Ubisoft's Mark Rubin quickly stepped in and put those claims to bed.

Landon Apollo claimed that mid-air directional movement and strafing would be removed from XDefiant Season 1, along with a nerf to bunny hopping. Rubin responded, "I'm pretty sure that's no?t true. And I know a guy on the inside."

That isn't to say there won't aren't any movement changes coming down the pipeline. XDefiant developer ACHES confirmed that the team intends to punish players for repeated jumps and crouches by adding aiming sway. Ubisoft doesn't want to restrict players from using any of the free-to-play shooters' mechanics, but ACHES argued that there is a sweet spot between intended use and spam. As for when this update will go live, On May 25, the XDefiant developer reassured fans that the update would be added in soon.

If players had a chance to play the XDefiant close beta in 2023, they would have had an opportunity to see the aim sway penalty in action. If a player jumped consecutively too many times in a row, their weapon would shake back and forth, making it hard to quickly line up a shot on an enemy. So even though there won't be any substantial movement changes coming, players will hav?e to readjust t??heir plans once this patch goes out. Currently, most players like to use their momentum from a slide into a jump to catch an enemy off guard. Once jumping gets nerfed, players will have to be more cautious about the movement feature and pick their spots with more intent.

Movemen??t speed is always a contentious topic in FPS titles, and there will inevitably be a frustrated segment of the player base, regardless of how much of a difference this impending change makes. But if you are sick of getting killed by enemies jumping around you, there is at least a little bit of relief coming, even if it isn't wide-sweeping.

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A leak from a reasonably reliable source seems to h?int that the Rabbids, Rayman's iconic lagomorphic foils, could soon appear as a joinable faction in XDefiant. Where's the limbless wonder when you need him?

The leak comes to us courtesy of AgainTx, a data miner who has provided credible information about weapons, abilities, and features that made their way into XDefiant after the game's initial launch. According to AgainTx, the Rabbids are just one of several new factions that will debut in XDefiant's second year. Many of these factions are based on Ubisoft games that have not yet received? any representation in XD?efiant, including Assassins Creed, Ra??inbow Six, and The Crew.

Unfortunately, many of AgainTx's posts regarding this potential leak have been taken?? down to do copywrite strikes made against them by Ubisoft. Whi??le this means I can't technically back up AgainTx's claims, the fact that Ubisoft is going out of its way to censor their content does lend an air of credibility to them and their work.

If this leak turns out to be accurate, I'm amazed it's taken this long for the Rabbids to appear in XDefiant. The Rabbids have come a long way since their debut in Rayman: Raving Rabbids back on the Wii, to the point where they've effectively become the unofficial Ubisoft mascots. While I'm not afr??aid to admit that I feel the R??abbids' whole "so-random" schtick is a little played out, I'd be lying If I said I'm not excited by the sheer madness they could introduce into the straight-laced world of a first-person shooter like XDefiant.

Of course, this is still all speculation, and there is a real po??ssibility that AgainTx will be proven wrong once XDefiant's second year starts. Only time will tell, but it seems like this leak could be a fun, or at least funny, one if it turns out to be true.

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At launch, all five assault rifles in XDefiant can hold their own and compete with any other weapon in the free-to-play title. So, it wasn't an easy exercise to rank this loaded class, but here's a list of the best AR's in XDefiant.

Assau??lt rifles can do a little bit of everything. This class has weapons capable of taking down enemies in short, medium, and long-range engagements. Being able to kill faster, having a manageable recoil pattern, and having good mobility se?parate these four choices. With that in mind, let's jump right into the list.

Every XDefiant assault rifle loadout ranked

5. MDR

• Muzzle: Barrel Extender
• Barrel: Lightweight
• Optics: Reflex
• Front Rail: Small Vertical Grip
• Stock: Padded

Xdefiant's first Battle Pass weapon falls vi?ctim to landing in no man's land. The MDR was designed to be a hybrid SMG, but it gets outclassed by the ACR 6.8 in short-range engagements and falls short of every other AR in medium and long-range engagements.

4. M4A1

• Front Rail: Small Vertical Grip
• Optic: Reflex Sight
• Magazine: Quick Mag
• Rear Grip: Quick Draw Grip
• Stock: Precision Stock

The M4A1 is a good first weapon to pick up and is? easy to use, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's better than other ARs. Players will have an issue going toe-to-toe regarding firepower with the M16A4 and AK-47, but the speed and accuracy make up for that deficiency, if you still enjoy using the M4A1.

3. AK-47

• Barrel: Recon
• Front Rail: Angled Grip
• Optics: Reflex
• Rear Grip: Heavy Grip
• Stock: Padded Stock

If pla?yers want pure firepower, the AK-47 is the perfect AR. Thanks to its ability to shred through enemies almost instantly, we could easily put this weapon higher on the?? list. However, the M16A4 and ACR 6.8 slight edge

2. M16A4

• Barrel: Rapid Fire
• Front Rail: Superlight Grip
• Optic: Reflex Sight
• Rear Grip: Grip Tape
• Stock: Padded Stock

Ignore the time-to-kill stats because they don't paint the full picture for a burst weapon. If you are accurate, the M16A4 takes down enemies consistently in two bursts and outclasses most other medium and long-range engagements. The only thing holding the M16A4 back from holding the top spot its, you will ??get punished with any missed shots to a fully automatic weapon.

1. ACR 6.8

• Barrel: Lightweight
• Front Rail: Leather Wrapped
• Optic: Reflex
• Rear Grip: Quick Draw
• Stock: Lightweight

According to data provided by TrueGameData, the ACR 6.8 has the fastest time-to-kill speed for ARs up to 25 meters. The AK-47 takes over as the fastest-killing AR from 25 to 35 meter?s, but that first??-range difference is just enough to make the ACR 6.8 a better weapon and the best overall AR.

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After allowing players to level up their weapons faster in XDefiant last weekend, Ubisoft decided to come back and gift everyone another double weapon XP period??.

Ubisoft confirmed that double weapon XP will be available starting Friday at 10 a.m. ET and ending Monday at 1 p.m. ET. This comes after players complained that XDefiant's weapon progression is 'criminally slow.'

One XDefiant player claimed it takes over 100 hours to level up one w??eapon. XDefiant developer Patrick 'ACHES' Price clapped back and attempted to reassure fans by claiming that its 3500 XP per weapon level and one kill equals 100 XP. So, operating under that math, it is a maximum of 35 kills per level.

For secondary weapons, that requirement is even less, with 1500 XP per weapon level. Each weapon has 50 levels, me??aning it could take players a few hours to reach t??he max level on every weapon, but it all depends on their skill level.

Skilled players should be able to get around 20-30 kills per round, but that's also no easy feat. It's unclear how much of a difference it makes with double XP active, but users should take advantage of it while th??ey can. To get XP faster, Domination or Occupy. Both game modes are fast-paced and take place on the title?'s smaller-scaled maps.

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Players have yet to come around fully, but the MK 20 SSR is not only the best marksman rifle, but also one of the most powerful weapons in XDefiant.

According to stats provided by TrueGameData, the MK 20 SSR has a faster time-to-kill?? speed up to 35 meters away than the ACR 6.8, AK-47, M16A4, and M60. You must consider that the MK 20 SSR is a single-shot rifle with only a 10-bullet magazine. However, if you are accurate with your aim, it's possible to take down an enemy in two shots, or even one on an already weakened enemy.? This marksman rifle requires a bit of a learning curve, as you will get punished with missed shots.

Despit??e being a marksman rifle, the MK 20 SSR does not thrive in long-range engagements. A massive damage dropoff after 40 meters means you should prioritize shorter gunfights. In saying that, it's hard to find a better weapon than the MK 20 SSR offers from most ranges.

Best MK 20 SSR loadout and class setup in XDefiant

• Muzzle: Barrel Extender
• Front Rail: Pistol
• Optics: Reflex
• Magazine: Fast Mag
• Stock: Lightweight

Our loadout focuses on making the MK 20 SSR more mobile without sacrificing recoil control or damage? range. This marksman rifle barely moves when firing, so all the attachments ca??n be used in other areas. As mentioned earlier, the weapon only has 10 bullets per magazine, so the fast mag improves reload times. All of the other attachments improve ADS and movement speed. \

Best faction to use for the MK 20 SSR

The Libertad faction works with every weapon, as it’s always helpful to have abilities that heal you and your teammates throughout a match.?? But we wouldn’t recommend using the Echelon Faction, as the stealthy skills are more useful while using an SMG. Since the MK 20 SSR thrives in medium-range engagements, using the Phantoms or Cleaners Faction makes the most sense.

As a Cleaner, the MK 20 SSR deals more damage and? kills from further away thanks to the incendiary rounds passive ability. Additionally, the Incinerator Drone is great for drawing enemies out from behind cover and the Firebomb is one of the best grenade options in the game. For the cherry on top, the Purifier Ultra ability is a flamethrower that melts players almost instantaneously.

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Of the five SMGs currently in XDefiant, the MP5A2 is the least exciting on paper when you look underneath the hood and stack it against other options. However, something must ?be said about a well-balanced weapon that is easy to use.

Time-to-kill speed is not a strength of the MP5A2. According to TrueGameData, the Vector, MP7, and P90 kill faster than the MP5A2 from most ranges, and it's not particularly close in short-range engagements. Thankfully, a c??lass-leading ADS time and impressive sprint-to-fire time make up for that shortcoming. In addition, the versatile SMG performs better than other weapons in the class in longer-ranged gun fights thanks to an incredibly easy-to-control recoil pattern.

Don't let ??the stats fool you because this SMG performs surprisingly well in action and shines in multiple areas. 

Best MP5A2 loadout and class setup

• Muzzle: Muzzle Booster
• Barrel: Chrome-lined
• Front Rail: Superlight
• Magazine: Fast Mag
• Stock: Folded

First and foremost, the MP5A2 has the second slowest reload time among SMGs in XDefiant, so it's essential to equip the fast mag to improve reload times. Losing vertical and horizontal recoil is never ideal, but the muzzle booster is an excellent attachment fo??r any weapon as it improves bullet velocity. The rest of the attachments on this loadout focus on improving mobility to better compete with other meta SMGs.

Best XDefiant faction for MP5A2

There might be better options, but Echelon is the most fun fa?ction to have while using the MP5A2. The Low Profile Passive Trait hides you on the mini-map even if you fire your weapon unsuppressed, which is perfect for MP5A2 flank routes. Additionally, the Digital Ghillie Suit makes you invisible while you attempt to get behind and closer to enemy lines. Players can also choose to equip the Intel Suit instead, if they want to temporarily reveal the location of enemies. Finally, the Sonar Goggles Ultra ability reveals every enemy on th??e map and gives you a pistol that annihilates the competition.

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While XDefiant has had a few errors and glitches after finally launching, most fans agree that it's a pretty solid shooter, even if the progression system is absolutely pants. However, some issues ??persist, and players have found that one ??of the strangest bends bullet arcs if you jump too much.

Jump spamming is a pretty big problem in XDefiant at the moment. A player's hitbox seems to become smaller or just harder to hit with gunfire when they're moving, so you can be almost invincible if you sprint for the perfect ?amount of time. Jumping works a treat, too, but now that appears to have its ??own problem, and it is bizarre. Not only does it increase your crosshair size, it makes shotgun bullets fly sideways out of the barrel.

If you jump too much in XDefiant, your shotgun will fire left and right, not forward

Fans on the XDefiant subreddit have been discussing th?is issue at length because they can't work out if it's intentional behavior or not. User bopchara demonstrates what happens to a shotgun's bull??et spray after you've jumped so much that the weapon's crosshair is as big as it possibly can be. While I'd expect to see some shots veer off to the side a little, shooting directly left and right feels like a joke.

Bullets shooting to the side of the barrel is obviously not how any weapon is designed to work in a first person shooter, and I'd be surprised if that wasn't a glitch here. However, as user Billy3King points out, "It could also be to stop people from jump spamming, just a thought." Herein lies the trouble. We don't know if?? crosshairs are meant to behave this way, widening with every jump to deter jump spamming or if it's a glitch that's yet to be fixed.

Is this an issue or a design choice?

I jumped into the game to test? this for myself and got the same results that others are reporting. If I jump to maximiz??e the crosshairs with any weapon other than a shotgun, I can still land pretty accurate shots in front of me. With a shotgun, I can barely see any bullet holes where my shots have landed because they fly around me instead of toward the intended target.

Ubisoft will almost certainly address this in a future XDefiant update, but user SuttonTM points out that making shotguns suffer more than any other weapons might be intentional. "It's almost certainly not intended to be that wide, but shotgun's they have to be very careful with when it comes to adjusting because if they become OP they will easily become the most annoying gun to play against and ruin fun in modes like Hard Point etc, just look at the Akimbo Shotguns CoD recently had like a month back, required no skill to one shot people j??ust by looking at them essentially, and ruined the flow of the game."

It's hard to argue that shotguns can ruin a shooter if they're overpowered. I remember playing Destiny 1 and using the good old slide and shotgun or shotgun and melee tactics while they worked in Crucible. For now, all I can suggest is that you don't jump spam in XDefiant so you can avoid an embarrassing encounter when an enemy is up in your face and your shotgun showers them in a glorious halo of pellets before they end you with a single pist??ol shot to the skull??.

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Many players have experienced a rollercoaster of emotions during the XDefiant end-match achievements. It's an unusual twist for the a??chievement, but they've made many players (m??yself included) feel either a genuine sense of pride or outright embarrassment. 

I know it sounds ironic for achievements to be demeaning, but it has to do with how XDefiant handles end-match achievements. Generally, shooter games showcase player stats at the end of the match to show who did the best in-game. However, rather than sticking to the standard shooter achievements like "Most Kills" or "Best K/D Ratio," XDefiant covers much more than that.

You'll see plenty of other accomplishments, from the most "Damage Blocked" to the top scorer as an Echelon Faction member. These rewarding?? bits bring out the "satisfying" part of the game, where no player can be deemed a loser. 

I've particularly enjoyed this when I haven't been killing too many enemies, focusing solely on a support role as a Libertad. Even when my eliminations have been sub-par, the achievements will at least comfort me with a most "Damage Healed" title. It's even better when the other players give a thumbs-up to these trophy cards,? acting as a victorious virtual high five. 

But XDefiant trophies will also make you want to run away in emba?rrassment after those matches where you just can't get it right and question if you're a true FPS player. I've experienced this after one of the worst matches of my life. My kills were terrible, I barel?y healed anyone, and I almost died every other minute. The end-game achievement of "Helped" feels like a participation trophy.  

What I actually "He?lped" with remains a myster?y to me. Yet, I couldn't help but laugh at my not-so-great achievement. I've also gotten one for the most LMG kills, which may sound impressive, except I only got six kills that match. The other players that round had more than 24 eliminations, so six kills sounds like child's play at that point. 

Fortunately, I'm not the only one getting these hysterical trophies. Reddit user Vince_- experienc??ed this when they were rewarded with a "Ran A??round" accomplishment.  

Although it sounds pointless, it's better than getting a "Hey, you suck" title. There are a few funny achievements, too; some of my personal favorites are "Moral Support" and "Tried." I've always liked the saying "A for effort," which definitely translates well in the world of XDefiant. 

Other players on Reddit have found the reward system exceptionally comical. One player mentioned how their entire group laughed when someone on the team got a "Showed Up" title after joining the round late. I like to see this type of camaraderie as it strays away from the relatively toxic side of shooters. I've run into that during some bad matches, and let me tell you, it can be brutal. Fortunately, XDefiant seems much more inviting, especially with its more player-friendly SBMM mechanics.  

XDefiant's match conclusions are a mixed bag of emotion??s but in a good way. Sometimes, you'll be on top of the world in a specific category, while other times, you may feel like a chump who only got a trophy for?? being there.  

It'??s a rollercoaster, but I'm enjoying the ride. It's exciting to see things done this way instead of feeling like I'll?? never reach the scope of the pros. It also adds humor to the game, an element that can often be left out in shooter games.  

For the first ti?me ever, I want to perform poorly in matches just to see what other humiliating achievements I can earn. It's different, sure, but I'm glad that Ubisoft has the sense of humor to make the game much more entertaining. 

Unique content like this may have contributed to its popularity surge. XDefiant has even reportedly become one of Ubisoft's fastest-growing titles yet. Hopefully, more games will learn from XDdefiant's tongue-??in-cheek achievements as a way to make a match feel more fun by having a surpri??se waiting for players at the end. 

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The second official update since the launch day patch introduces the Practice Zone and takes the first step in ??addressing net code issues.

During the public playtest, XDefiant featured a Practice Zone where players could learn the controls in an obstacle course or test out weapons in a firing range. Players appreciated the feature because it provided the perfect testing zone for players to experiment with lo???adouts and get comfortable with settings. However, when the title launched, the game mode was no longer available.

After a few days of confusion, XDefiant executive producer Mark Rubin confirmed that the Practice Zone would be included in an update soo??n. It turns out players didn't have to wait long, as one day later the Practice Zone is finally open for business.

XDefiant May 24 update patch notes

Game Modes 

• Sometimes players loading into the Practice Zone would spawn outside the world, in a hellscape, and now they (probably) will not. 

Devices 

• Fixed an issue where if the player died during the device deployment animation, their next deployed device would drop at their feet rather than be thrown as intended. 

Netcode 

• That issue where you’d get hitmarkers on an enemy as they killed you, but their health bar still appeared full to you? The health bar display was wrong â€?you did damage them. Should be fixed now. 

Localization 

• Fixed an issue where end-of-match UI text would display with the wrong orientation in Arabic. 

Miscellaneous 

• We’ve turned the Practice Zone back on but it’s possible weird things could still happen. 
• Fixed an issue that was causing low framerates with some AMD GPUs.

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After selecting play in XDefiant, there should be the option to either player Unranked, Ranked, or the Practice Zone. However, Practice Zone is mysteriously unavailable at launch, and XDefiant executive p??roducer Mark Rubi?n shed some light on when the game mode will be available.

Before jumping right into a match in XDefiant, players could start in the Practice Zone and learn the controls in an obstacle course of test weapons in a firing range. The firing range was an especially useful tool, as it allowed pla?yers to test out different attachments, and the firing range dummies had exact damage values from different ranges. This made it easy to tell which weapons did more damage than others and provided a testing ground for users to get more comfortable with their loadouts.

After being available during the public test sessions, players assumed the Practice Zone would be available at launch. However, the game mode is currently unavailable and was listed in the year one roadmap blog as a feature to be added later. Fortunately, Rubin stepped in and reassured players before frustrations boiled? over.

When is Practice Zone coming to XDefiant ?

XDefiant YouTuber NerosCinema claimed, "It's a bit odd that the XDefiant Practice Zone still isn't available. It was in previous play tests and? was fantastic for testing everything in the game out."

Rubin responded, "It's coming with the first patch or soon (hour or so) after the patc??h goes live to be specific. Next question, when is the first patch? Glad you asked, but I can't tell you yet but it should be before the weekend if all goes we?ll."

The XDefiant dev wouldn't provide a specific date, but players should keep an eye on the official Twitter account for any infor?mation on the title's first update.

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Often, first-person shooter players put time-to-kill at the top of their priority lists for what makes a weapon better. While how?? fast a weapon kills is not the end all be all, it's a good place to start.

Time-to-kill refers to how long it takes to kill an enemy with a specific weapon. All weapons have different time-to-kill figures and can also vary based on missed shots and which part of the body you hit. Hitting headshots does extra damage, but players won't hit every headshot perfectly, leading to skewed numbers. Those speeds are further skewed in XDefiant, because the Echelon facti?on gives users ??125 health points instead of 100, and the Cleaners faction has a passive ability that makes weapons do more damage.

Our list ignores the faction abilities and applies a combination of different shots to determine an average time-to-kill speed for every weapo??n. These numbers aren't set i?n stone but are a good baseline to determine which weapons are stronger than others.

Which weapons have the fastest TTK in XDefiant

Here is a list of all of the time-to-kill statistics in XDefiant. All stats are provided by XDLoadout. These numbers are measured in milliseconds and account for the weapon's firs??t da??mage range.

ARs

1. ACR 6.8 (384 ms up to 33 meters)
2. MDR (392 ms up to 20 meters)
3. AK-47 (400 ms up to 43 meters)
4. M14A1 (414 ms up to 38 meters)
5. M16A4 (Three-round burst made data inconclusive)

SMGs

1. Vector.45 (300 ms up to 12 meters)
2. MP7 (343 ms up to 17 meters)
3. P90 (364 ms up to 18 meters)
4. MP5A2 (375 ms up to 16 meters)

LMGs

1. M60 (360 ms up to 38 meters)
2. M249 (400 ms up to 42 meters)
3. RPK (457ms at all ranges)

Shotguns

1. Double-Barreled (One shot kill up to 12 meters)
2. M870 (One shot kill up to 10 meters)
3. AA-12 (200 ms up to 7 meters)

Marksman rifles

1. MK 20 SSR (558 ms at all ranges)
2. SVD (603 ms at all ranges)

Pistols

1. M1911 (537 ms up to 10 meters)
2. M9 (600 ms up to 20 meters)
3. D50 (600 ms up to 10 meters)
4. 686 Magnum (800 ms up to 60 meters)
5. 93R (857 ms up to 10 meters)

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XDefiant's launch day experienced a rough series of se?rver issues, but that didn't get in the way of a landmark achievement for Ubisoft.

Insider Gaming reported that XDefiant brought in one million unique players within two and a half hours of its launch, which is remarkable given the unfortunate server circumstances. When the new free-to-play title went live, matchmaking issues prevented players from consistently finding matches for several hours. Even so, the the slip-up didn't result in a loss of interest, and Ubisoft may have a hit on its hands. Insider Gaming added that after 48 hours, XDefiant has over three million unique players and around 3?00,000 concurrent players, including a peak concurrent player count of 500,000.

For the cherry on top, the report claims that XDefiant became Ubisoft's fastest title to reach one million unique players. It certainly helps that the arena shooter is free-to-play. However, it's safe to say that this is still a resounding success story, given the project's turbulent development period, which included several?? delays.

As for what's next, Ubisoft has plans to keep players invested long-term. After a six week preseason period, XDefiant will receive a new seasonal update every three months. Ov?er the course of the title's first year, there will be four factions, 12 weapons, and 12 n??ew maps added. In addition, the devs plan on adding a Ranked Play game mode, private matches, and other new game modes.

This is all in addition to the 14 maps, five maps, five factions, and 24 weapons XDefiant launched with. Players have raised issues with a few problems, such as the title's "criminally slow" weapon progression, but reception has overall been positive. In saying that, Ubisoft will have its hands full retaining interest, as Treyarch recently pushed to steal back the spotlight after releasing a series of teasers for the upcoming Call of Duty title, Black Ops 6.

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Former professional Call of Duty legend Seth 'Scump' Abner shared the best controller settings for XDefiant.

In XDefiant, controller settings are personal preferences, but choosing the right ones could be the difference between performing well or poorly in a match. With that in mind, here's what the second winningest player in Call of Duty history has to say about which settings work best for XDefiant.

Best XDefiant controller settings

Here are Scump's preferred controller settings for XDefiant.

• Aim Response Curve Type: Reverse S-Curve
• Horizontal Sensitivity: 30
• Vertical Sensitivity: 30
• ADS Sensitivity Multiplier (Low Zoom): 1.00x
• ADS Sensitivity Multiplier (High Zoom): 1.00x
• Dead Zone - Left Stick: 4
• Dead Zone - Right Stick: 4
• Acceleration Speed Multiplier: 1.00x
• Invert Horizontal Axis: Off
• Invert Vertical Axis: Off
• Controller Vibration: Off

To start, the aim response curve offers standard, linear, or reverse s-curve aim as options. Standard is ideal for beginners as the thumb sticks gradually move based on your input, but does so in a smooth and controlled fashion. Meanwhile, linear removes guard rails and the movement on screen directly emulates your input meaning there is less margin for error. Lastly, dynamic curve operates? as a hybrid of both. This means? that you get a gradual build-up in rotation speed relative to thumb stick movement, but it will then accelerate towards raw input to provide the feeling of snapping on to an enemy.

Next up, horizontal and vertical sensitivity dictates how fast the camera? moves. Players can either use a high sensitivity to move around quicker and engage enemies quicker or use a low number that offers more control and consistency while aiming. Dead zones are areas around both thumb sticks that don't respond to movements and could feel like a delay when a controller is worn out. When choosing a dead zone in a first-person shooter, players should attempt to get to get as close to zero as possible without suffering stick drift.

Finally, ADS sensitivity refers to how fast sensitive the controls are when aiming down sights. This works?? similarly to regular sensitivity but only applies when a weapon is aiming in.

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Faction abilities give you the edge you need to exceed in XDefiant's many modes. Some are tailored for defense, while others excel in fast-paced rounds. Understanding these abilities is crucial for enhancing your gameplay, so let's delve into the best XDefiant Factions for each mode.

Which Factions should you use with each mode in XDefiant?

There are five modes players can dive into in XDefiant: Escort, Zone Control, Domination, Occupy, and Hot Shot. Depending on the game mode, specific Factions will work better, so we'll break each one d??own. 

Escort

• Echelon
• Phantoms

If you've landed on or chosen Escort, it's best to go with high-defense Factions like Phantoms. Their protective a??bilities, such as the Blitz Shield and Ultra Aegis, are tailor-made for fending off enemy attacks and safeguarding the payload radius. With the need for constant movement in this mode, the Phantom's mobile defense is a game-changer, i?nstilling you with the confidence to navigate the battlefield with ease. 

The Echelon Faction also pinpoints enemy locations with the Intel Suit. You'll often find yourself in vulnerable spots when guarding the payload, areas where you??'re exposed and more likely to be targeted by enemies. However, knowing where your foes are makes it much more manageable. If you're on the attack side for the payload, the two Factions are still great assets, especially with the invisibility of Echelon's Digital Ghillie S?uit and Phantoms' defensive Mag Barrier.

Domination

• Cleaners
• Phantoms

In Domination, you and your team must get a hold of three Capture Zones. Unlike Occupy, these zones are stationary, forcing pl??ayers to stick within one spot at a time. One of my favorite Factions for this one is the high-damaging Cleaners. You'll see their value with their Firebomb ability, igniting and inflicting damage within a radius. The Incinerator Drone can also be excellent for oncoming enemies, unleashing a fiery flight path. 

Phantoms come in clutch onc?e again during this mode. Use their Mag Barrier to guard the zone from the opposing side's bullets and grenades. 

Occupy

• Echelon
• Libertad
• DedSec

XDefiant's Occupy mode forces you to use mobile and defensive strategies. Considering that the capture zone will continuously change, Echelon's stealth c??apabilities are among the best. The Digital Ghillie Suit is exceptional for both defense and offense. For instance, you can initiate a surprise attack on enemies or utilize it to sneak around the map. Plus, Echelon's Low Profile keeps you off the opponent's mini-map. 

Libertad is anoth??er fantastic choice for Occupy mo?de due to its healing skills. Whenever your team is guarding a zone, throw the gas canister of El Remedio to heal yourself and allies within its radius. Even more so, their Ultra Medico Supremo makes it almost impossible for the enemies to eliminate the team. It's all partly due to Libertad's large health boosters, which act as temporary shields. 

Those who unlocked the hacker DedSec Faction in XDefiant can also stop any threatening equipmen?t. This mode often forces opp??onents to use their gear and abilities whenever your team is guarding the zone. Thus, players can activate Hijack to steal their skills or send a Spiderbot to eradicate them from a distance. 

Zone Control

• Phantoms
• Libertad

Zone Control resembles Occupy and Domination, tying into the standard capture zone gameplay. However, one of the significant differences is the fact that it takes longer to capture, indicating that defense is a strong suit here. Given that Phantoms excels in this category, it's wise to use this Faction in XDefiant. Yo?u'll need to bas??ically use all their abilities to last longer, from their Blitz Shield to their Aegis. 

If you prefer support over defense, then go with Libertad instead.? Similar to Occupy, throw the El Remedio to restore nearby allies' health. You can also use the BioVida Boost whenever you're on the move to increase your health even more. 

Hot Shot

• Echelon
• Phantoms
• Libertad
• Cleaners

The Hot Shot mode is all about going on the offense, differing from the heavy defense of some modes. The goal here is to collect Bounties from fallen players, in which targets can sometimes be placed upon you. Most of the Factions work considerably well in this XDefiant mode. 

As a Cleaner, players can inflict more damage with their incendiary ammo and Purifier Ultra (flamethrower). Alternatively, survivability can be increased with the Phantom's Hardened or Libertad's Espiritu de Lib??ertad Passive Traits. Enemies often shoot at you in this mode, so use these skills for better chances. 

Since everyone will be coming at you, you could use Echelon's Sonar Goggles to see nearby enemies. Players can also take a sneakier route?? with their other abilities. But if a target has been placed upon you, settle for the Intel Suit to get an opponent's ?exact position. 

The post Best XDefiant Factions to use for each mode appeared first on Destructoid.

Semi-automatic weapons often get overlooked by their fully automatic counterparts, yet the M16A4 deserves plenty of at?tention.

The M16A4 requires an abundance of skill and patience to perfect. Instead of firing and forgetting like other assault rifles, the M16A4's three-round-burst firing type eliminates any margin for error and forces players to be accurate with their shots. When perfected, it will become second nature to take down enemies in two bursts, but in the beginning, there will be plenty of instances where you get punished for missing a shot by fully automatic weapons. That persistence will eventually payoff, as the M16A4 is arguably one of the best weapons in XDefiant.

Best M16A4 loadout in XDefiant

• Barrel: Rapid Fire
• Front Rail: Superlight Grip
• Optic: Reflex Sight
• Rear Grip: Grip Tape
• Stock: Padded Stock

Every second ma??tters while using a burst weapon. The quicker you can aim down sight with the M16A4, the more effective it will be. With that in mind, our loadout focuses on improving ADS speed, r??ate of fire, sprint speed, and recoil recovery. This set of attachments slightly hinders vertical and horizontal recoil, but not enough to be worth worrying about.

Best XDefiant faction for the M16A4

Choosing a faction comes down to personal preference. Still, the Cleaners provide the best set of abilities to make the M16A4 flourish. To start, the Incendiary Rounds kill enemies faster in short to medium-range engagements, which is perfect for the burst rifle, and the Firebomb ability is perfect for trying to clear o??ff an objective on offense, or weaken an enemy to make them killable with one burst.

The post Best M16A4 loadout in XDefiant appeared first on Destructoid.

XDefiant's loadout selection offers an abundance of powerful weapons to dominate the matches. Yet, a few of them feel slightly less robust or are just downright tricky to move around with. We're here to show the best XDefiant guns with our tier list, ranking both Primary and Secon??dary Weapons. 

What are the best guns in XDefiant?

For this XDefiant weapon tier list, we'll begin with the best guns through the S Tier. Then, it'll shift over to other standouts that can bene??fit ??other playstyles. 

S Tier

• AK-47
• M16A4
• ACR 6.8
• MP7
• M60

A Tier

• Vector .45 ACP
• MP542
• TAC-50
• MP5A2
• P90
• SVD
• TAC-50
• RPK-74
• 686 Magnum

B Tier

• M4A1
• Double Barrel
• M249
• MK 20 SSR
• M44
• M1911
• 93R

C Tier

• MDR
• M870
• AA-12
• M9
• D50

The XDefiant S Tier compiles the best Assault Rifles, SMGs, and LMGs to use. Most of the list showcases ARs, each with their own beneficial us?age. For example, the M16A4 excels in both long and close-range attacks. It's rare to see an Assault Rifle have such a range, but this unique feature will undoubtedly make matches much more accessible. 

Although I've always been an SMG enthusiast, I was surprised that an LMG could have enough power to reach S Tier. Considering their massive size, these weapons are usually challenging to wield, yet their mobility is easy to manage with the right controller settings. The M60 is an excellent choice as an LMG due to its significant ammo size and elite firepower. I've gone up the rank?s several times using this bad boy, and it always comes in clutch, no matter the distance. 

But if you prefer even more mobility, the MP7 SMG is your best bet. Everything about ?this gun feels smooth in movement speed, which could make it easier to run fro?m gunfire. 

Aside from the MP7, the Vector .45 ACP is one of the best-starting weapons in XDefiant. The only reason it's at the A Tier is due to its reduced mobility stats. It's still a good SMG, but if you want more ammo, go for the P90.&nb??sp;

For those who prefer a more strategic, long-range approach, the Marksman SVD and Sniper TAC-50 are your bes?t friends. The SVD, with its one-shot kill potential, and the TAC-50, a super??b choice for precision shots, will give you the edge you need in long-range combat. 

The 686 Magnum is a standout among the Secondary Weapons in XDefiant, earning its place in the A Tier. It boasts the highest firepower and superior accuracy for long distances, making it a formidable choice?.

Unfortunately, Shotguns aren't the best weapons to use, so only one made it to B Tier. The Double Barrel offers the highest amount of damage at the cost of accuracy. Others, like the MDR and AA-12, aren't up to&nbs?p;par, but ?this could change with buff updates. 

Dependi??ng on your playstyle, the B and C Tiers could still prove valuable. ;Though, I would steer clear of the C Tier?? to save you the headache, especially with their lower damage rates and slower movement.

The post XDefiant weapon tier list �Best XDefiant gun?s, r?anked appeared first on Destructoid.