View source for Movement Techniques

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== Introduction ==
The movement mechanics in Natural Selection 2 are different from most games. You can maintain or gain speed by techniques called "Strafing", "Circling" or "Bunnyhop". These names originate from Games like Quake or Half-Life (Natural Selection 1).

The main difference to Natural Selection 2 is that you '''do not accelerate with these movement techniques, instead you maintain your speed at a high level'''.

The information in [[Movement#Movement General|General]] and [[Movement#Skulk|Skulk]] will help you master the [[Skulk Challenge]]!

=== Video ===
Explaining, and thus understanding movement mechanics can be somewhat tedious even though this article has no several short clips.
Here is a video that helps to better explain most of the movement mechanics of Natural Selection 2:<br>
<div style="text-align:center;"><HTML5video type="youtube" width="800" height="500" autoplay="false">OHyBrRaY2Go</html5video></div>
<br><br>

== General ==
=== Terms ===
In order to explain things better via text two (unofficial) terms are defined: ''Strafing'' and ''Counterstrafing''

{| class="ns2table collapsible"  style="background-color:#2a2a2a;" 
! colspan="2" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323;"|'''Terms'''
|-
! colspan="1" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323;width:750px;"|'''Strafing'''
! colspan="1" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323;width:400px;"|'''Video'''
|-
| style="  width:700px; height: 100px;"|     
* Moving the mouse smoothly in the same direction while you press your Strafekey: 
:e.g. ''Pressing the right strafe key {{Key|D}} while moving the mouse <u>smoothly</u> to the right''
| align="center" style=""|<HTML5video type="youtube" width="400" height="250" autoplay="false">xLigy07jhQ8</html5video> 
|-
! colspan="1" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323"|'''Counterstrafing'''
! colspan="1" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323"| 
|-
| style="background-color:#2a2a2a;  width: 400px; height: 100px;"|     
*   Moving the mouse smoothly in the opposite direction while you press your Strafekey: 
:e.g. ''Pressing right strafe key {{Key|D}} while moving the mouse <u>smoothly</u> to the left''
| align="center" style="background-color:#2a2a2a;"|<HTML5video type="youtube" width="400" height="250" autoplay="false">12jtfW6umAI</html5video> 
|-
! colspan="1" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323"|'''Air Friction'''
! colspan="1" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323"|
|-
| style="width: 400px;"|
* If you change direction while moving at higher speeds ''Air Friction'' will cause you to slow down quickly. 
:''Strafing'' and ''Counterstrafing'' are the best way to keep the speed you have already gained by different methods while staying versatile and doing quick evasive movements.
| align="center" style=""| (official term)
|-
|}
<br><br>

=== Techniques ===

These techniques work with almost all [[Lifeforms]] or [[Equipment]].

{| class="ns2table collapsible"  style="background-color:#2a2a2a;" 
! colspan="2" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323;"|'''Techniques'''
|-
! colspan="1" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323;width:750px;"|'''Queue your Jump'''
! colspan="1" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323;width:400px;"|'''Video'''
|-
| style="  width:700px; height: 100px;"|     
* '''Press and hold Space while you are in the air''' before touching the next wall or the ground.
: It helps you to instantly jump again and prevents you from losing any unnecessary speed by staying on the ground for too long.
| align="center" style=""|
|-
! colspan="1" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323"|'''Moving / Dodging backwards'''
! colspan="1" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323"| 
|-
| style="background-color:#2a2a2a;  width: 400px; height: 100px;"|     
*   Using the backpedal button {{Key|S}} is very slow for moving backwards. 
: Skilled players use strafe keys ( {{Key|A}} | {{Key|D}} ) to walk backwards while moving the mouse in the opposite direction to gain speed. ([[Movement_techniques#Terms|Counterstrafe]])
| align="center" style="background-color:#2a2a2a;"|
|-
! colspan="1" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323"|'''Jump backwards'''
! colspan="1" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323"|
|-
| style="width: 400px;"|
* You can do a jump backwards by e.g. pressing the {{Key|D}} while moving your mouse smoothly to the left. 
: With this you gain speed on the ground allowing you to jump backwards {{Key|Space}} quite quickly. ([[Movement_techniques#Terms|Counterstrafe]])
| align="center" style=""| <HTML5video type="youtube" width="400" height="250" autoplay="false">FSE93NUA3-s</html5video>
|-
|}
<br><br>

== Marine ==
{{Main|Marines|Marines}}

{{Marine Controls}}


As a Marine everything from [[Movement#Movement General|General]] applies as well, with the difference that you ''slow down significantly after doing one jump'' even if you [[Movement_techniques#Techniques|queue]] the next jump perfectly. <br>There are some tricks how you can remove the slow down quite a bit:

{{Marine Movement}}

<br><br><br>

=== Trickjumps for Marines ===
{{Main|Trickjumps|Trickjumps}} (Videos included)

=== Jetpack ===
{{Main|Jetpack|Jetpack}}


{| class="ns2table collapsible"  style="background-color:#2a2a2a;" 
! colspan="2" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323"|'''Jetpack Movement'''
|-
! colspan="1" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323;width:750px;"|'''Bouncing'''
! colspan="1" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323;width:400px;"|'''Video'''
|-
| style="  width:700px; height: 100px;"|     
* You can bounce off the ground with a jetpack if you hold {{key|Space}} right before you touch the ground in order to maintain your speed.
: Especially if your fuel is almost empty. 
: With this technique you can actually fly on [[ns2_veil]] from Marine Start to Cargo without slowing down.
| align="center" style=""|
|-
! colspan="1" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323"|'''Backwards flying'''
! colspan="1" style="align:center; background-color:#55b3ff; color:#232323"| 
|-
| style="background-color:#2a2a2a;  width: 400px; height: 100px;"|     
*   Jumping onto a higher platform will remove the slow-down effect a bit. 
: If you first jump onto a higher platform crouched then you can do one more additional jump on the same height without crouching with a smaller slow-down effect.
| align="center" style="width:400px;background-color:#2a2a2a;"|
|-
|}
<br><br><br>

== Alien ==
=== Skulk ===
{{Main|Skulk|Skulk}}

{{Skulk Controls}}

When you are close to a Wall or Jump off the Ground you can press {{key|Space}} in order to gain speed.


{{Skulk Movement}}
<br><br>

=== Lerk ===
{{Main|Lerk|Lerk}}

{{Lerk Controls}}


{{Lerk Movement}}
<br><br>

=== Fade ===
{{Main|Fade|Fade}}

{{Fade Controls}}


{{Fade Movement}}


'''Note:''' Sliding
A Fade can slide a bit more with the next new [[Patches/Build_327|Build 327]], so you don't lose as much speed if you don't queue your jump perfectly or in vents.
<br><br>

=== Gorge ===
{{Main|Gorge|Gorge}}

{{Gorge Controls Table}}

* '''Sliding and Strafing'''
: While Sliding you can also [[Movement_techniques#Terms|strafe]] a bit to the Left {{Key|A}} and Right {{Key|D}} while Pressing Forward {{Key|W}}. If you try to turn to much you will lose speed though
<br><br>

=== Onos ===
{{Main|Onos|Onos}}

{{Onos Controls}}
<br><br><br>

=== Sidenotes ===
* Never stay still by constantly pressing (or spamming) Left {{Key|A}} and Right {{Key|D}} even if you are only moving a few inches back and forth. 
: Your fingers stay warm and your enemy can never be sure in what direction you will move next. Also keep ping differences in mind.
* The backwards movement via Counter-Strafing works for all Lifeforms especially well while you are in the air

[[Category:Guides]]