[13-2] The Weapons

From the humble Axe to the devastating Rocket Launcher, learn the strengths, weaknesses, and best tactics for every weapon in Quake to dominate your enemies.

Alright, let's talk about the tools of the trade in Quake. Knowing your arsenal inside and out is key to surviving and thriving. We'll go through each weapon, from the absolute basics to the heavy hitters, so you know exactly what to pull out and when.

• The Axe — Your last resort. It's weak, but if you're in a pinch, get close, land a couple of hits, and back off. If your opponent has the Nailgun, just run. Seriously, don't even try it.
• The Shotgun — Surprisingly good at range, though it doesn't hit super hard. It's a decent sniping weapon and it's quick. If someone's shooting at you from afar, they'll likely try to close the distance. Your best bet is to strafe one way, then quickly switch to the other as they follow. This creates space for you to get some shots in.
• The Super Shotgun — This one packs a serious punch, especially up close. It loses effectiveness quickly at a distance, so always try to fight up close. Circle your opponent, get in for a shot, and dodge away. If they're too fast, try bumping into them, shooting, and immediately dodging. This works against most weapons, but be careful against the Super Nailgun; your best bet there is to dodge and weave until they run out of ammo.
• The Nailgun — Think of this like Doom's Chaingun. It's stronger than the Shotgun and great for finishing off elusive enemies or dealing consistent damage. From about 10-20 feet away, strafe left and right while firing. If your opponent has a Shotgun or Axe, charge them and unload nails point-blank – it's ammo-efficient and quick, though you might take a little damage.
• The Super Nailgun — This thing is a beast, eating ammo but killing fast. If you've played Doom, treat it like the Plasma Gun. Charge your opponent and unload up close for a quick kill, though expect to take some damage. Alternatively, strafe in tight patterns while firing; this makes your nails hard to dodge completely, but it'll drain your ammo fast. It's also great for suppressing fire – lay down nails around a corner to make opponents hesitate, then charge them when they least expect it.
• Grenade Launcher — This is one of the most versatile weapons. It's fantastic for 'corner fishing' (bouncing grenades around corners) and flushing enemies out of hiding spots, even from different elevations. If someone charges you, drop a few grenades just out of your own blast radius and let them run into them. If you're being picked off at long range, lure them around a corner and surprise them with a few well-placed grenades.
• Rocket Launcher — Arguably the best weapon, especially in shareware. It's deadly at long range due to its blast radius, but can be just as effective up close if you know how to use it. Remember you can aim up and down now! Aiming rockets at an opponent's feet (or the ceiling if it's low) makes them incredibly hard to dodge, especially if they're rushing you. It's also great for hitting enemies around corners; just keep firing rockets at the wall near their hiding spot until they're dead. You can even use it for area denial, lobbing rockets into frequently traveled areas to catch unsuspecting players.