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 General and 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:
General
Terms
In order to explain things better via text two (unofficial) terms are defined: Strafing and Counterstrafing
Terms | |
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Strafing | Video |
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Counterstrafing | |
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Air Friction | |
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(official term) |
Techniques
These techniques work with almost all Lifeforms or Equipment.
Techniques | |
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Queue your Jump | Video |
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Moving / Dodging backwards | |
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Jump backwards | |
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Marine
- Main article: Marines
Marine Player Controls | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Movement | Abilities | Inventory | Contextual | ||||
W
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Forward | Mouse 1
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Attack | 1
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E
|
| |
A
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Left | Mouse 2
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Bash (with Rifle equipped) | 2
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S
|
Backward | R
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Reload Weapon | 3
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D
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Right | G
|
Drop or Pick Up Weapon | 4
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Space
|
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V
|
Last Weapon | 5
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Shift
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Sprint | C
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Map | ||||
Ctrl
|
Crouch |
As a Marine everything from General applies as well, with the difference that you slow down significantly after doing one jump even if you queue the next jump perfectly.
There are some tricks how you can remove the slow down quite a bit:
Marine Movement | |
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Vent Jump | |
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Video Clip 2 |
Platform Jump | |
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Slope Jump | Video |
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Trickjumps for Marines
- Main article: Trickjumps (Videos included)
Jetpack
- Main article: Jetpack
Jetpack Movement | |
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Bouncing | Video |
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Backwards flying | |
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Alien
Skulk
- Main article: Skulk
Skulk Player Controls | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Movement | Abilities | Contextual | |||
W
|
Forward | Mouse 1
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Attack | E
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Use |
A
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Left | Mouse 2
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Leap | F
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Alien Vision |
S
|
Backward | 1
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Bite | B
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Evolve Menu |
D
|
Right | 2
|
Parasite | C
|
Map |
Space
|
Jump | 3
|
Xenocide | X
|
Voice Overs Menu |
Shift
|
Sneak | V
|
Last Weapon | ||
Ctrl
|
Detach |
You can Improve your Wall Walking skill in the Skulk Challenge and get a Skulk Challenge Badge based on how well you do.
Skulk Movement | |
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Prevent slowing down | Video |
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Strafing on the Ground | |
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Upwards Jump | |
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Ceiling Jump | |
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Leap Jump | |
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Lerk
- Main article: Lerk
Lerk Player Controls | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Movement | Abilities | Contextual | |||
W
|
Forward | Mouse 1
|
Attack | E
|
Use |
A
|
Left | Mouse 2
|
Spikes | F
|
Alien Vision |
S
|
Backward | 1
|
Poison Bite | B
|
Evolve Menu |
D
|
Right | 2
|
Umbra | C
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Map |
Space
|
Flight (tap), Glide (hold) | 3
|
Spores | X
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Voice Overs Menu |
Shift
|
Roost | V
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Last Weapon | ||
Ctrl
|
Crouch Diving |
Lerk Movement | |
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Gliding | Video |
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(Counter-)Strafe Mechanics | |
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Crouch Diving | |
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Flapping upwards | |
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Spiking Mines | |
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Fade
- Main article: Fade
Fade Player Controls | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Movement | Abilities | Contextual | |||
W
|
Forward | Mouse 1
|
Attack | E
|
Use |
A
|
Left | Mouse 2
|
Blink | F
|
Alien Vision |
S
|
Backward | 1
|
Swipe | B
|
Evolve Menu |
D
|
Right | 2
|
Metabolize | C
|
Map |
Space
|
Jump | 3
|
Stab | X
|
Voice Overs Menu |
Shift
|
Metabolize | V
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Last Weapon | ||
Ctrl
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Crouch |
Fade Movement | |
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Counter-Strafe Mechanics | Video |
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Tapping blink | |
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Holding blink (not recommended!!) | |
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Metabolize | |
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Crouching | |
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Note: Sliding
A Fade can slide a bit more with the next new Build 327, so you don't lose as much speed if you don't queue your jump perfectly or in vents.
Gorge
- Main article: Gorge
Gorge Player Controls | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Movement | Abilities | Contextual | |||
W
|
Forward | Mouse 1
|
Attack | E
|
Use |
A
|
Left | Mouse 2
|
Heal Spray | F
|
Alien Vision |
S
|
Backward | 1
|
Spit | B
|
Evolve Menu |
D
|
Right | 2
|
Build Menu | C
|
Map |
Space
|
Jump | 3
|
Bile Bomb | X
|
Voice Overs Menu |
Shift
|
Belly Slide | 4
|
Babbler Bait | ||
Ctrl
|
Crouch | V
|
Last Weapon |
- Sliding and Strafing
- While Sliding you can also strafe a bit to the Left Aand RightDwhile Pressing ForwardW. If you try to turn to much you will lose speed though
Onos
- Main article: Onos
Onos Player Controls | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Movement | Abilities | Contextual | |||
W
|
Forward | Mouse 1
|
Attack | E
|
Use |
A
|
Left | Mouse 2
|
Stomp | F
|
Alien Vision |
S
|
Backward | 1
|
Gore | B
|
Evolve Menu |
D
|
Right | 2
|
Bone Shield | C
|
Map |
Space
|
Jump | V
|
Last Weapon | X
|
Voice Overs Menu |
Shift
|
Charge | ||||
Ctrl
|
Crouch |
Sidenotes
- Never stay still by constantly pressing (or spamming) Left Aand RightDeven 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