Sniping¶

Difficulty: Intermediate

Overview¶

Sniping is when you target a player who wasn't expecting the rocket. Instead of deflecting back to the player you're engaged with, you redirect it to hit someone else entirely.

How Sniping Works¶

flowchart TD
    A[Rocket comes to you] --> B[You deflect]
    B --> C{Where do you aim?}
    C -->|At your opponent| D[Normal play]
    C -->|At different player| E[Snipe attempt]
    E --> F[Target has less time to react]

The sniped player often has poor positioning or isn't paying attention to you.

SelectTarget Abuse¶

The homing system uses SelectTarget logic to choose who the rocket will chase. This can be exploited:

Scenario	What Happens
Player A is closest	Normally targeted
Player B is slightly further	May be favored by SelectTarget
Player C is in the middle	Might not be targeted at all

Target Selection Logic

The SelectTarget system doesn't always pick the closest player. It can favor players further away, allowing you to snipe past someone in the middle.

The Middle Player Problem¶

A common snipe scenario:

flowchart LR
    A[You] --> B[Player in middle]
    B --> C[Player further back]
    A -.->|Rocket| C

The rocket may skip the middle player and target the one behind them because of how SelectTarget prioritizes targets.

Executing a Snipe¶

Step	Action
1	Identify a vulnerable target
2	Aim toward them when deflecting
3	Let SelectTarget do its work
4	Watch for the kill

The key is understanding that you're not directly controlling the target - you're influencing where the rocket goes and letting the homing system pick up a different player.

Snipe Targets¶

Good snipe targets:

Players not watching you
Players out of position
Players behind other players (SelectTarget abuse)
Players who just spawned

Poor snipe targets:

Alert players watching the rocket
Players in defensive positions
Players who expect snipes

Defending Against Snipes¶

Defense	Why It Works
Stay aware of all rockets	Not just "your" rocket
Position well	Don't be an easy snipe target
Watch other players	See what they're aiming at
Be ready to steal defensively	Save yourself if sniped

Positioning Matters

If you position yourself poorly and get sniped, it's generally your fault. Stealing to save yourself in this case may not be allowed.

Snipe vs Switch¶

Technique	Description
Snipe	Exploit targeting to hit unexpected player
Switch	Intentionally change target during deflect

A switch is a deliberate technique. A snipe is exploiting the targeting system.

When Sniping is Effective¶

Situation	Effectiveness
FFA servers	High - chaos helps
Team modes	Depends on rules
1v1	Not applicable
Competitive	Often discouraged

Server Rules¶

Different servers have different attitudes toward sniping:

Server Type	Typical Rule
Casual FFA	Usually allowed
Competitive	Often restricted
Team modes	May be punished

Ethics of Sniping¶

Arguments For:

Part of the game mechanics
Rewards awareness
Creates dynamic gameplay

Arguments Against:

Feels unfair to the target
Exploits targeting quirks
Disrupts intended gameplay

Know your server's culture.

Stealing: Taking rockets not meant for you
Switch: Intentional target changes
Rally: Can be disrupted by snipes

Summary¶

Sniping exploits the SelectTarget system to hit players who weren't expecting the rocket. It's particularly effective when players position themselves behind others, where the targeting logic may skip the closer player. Whether it's considered fair play depends on the server and community.