Snowbreak: Containment Zone combat mechanics
Want to know about Snowbreak: Containment Zone’s combat mechanics? You’re going to need to understand how the mechanics work, and how to utilise them during combat scenarios, especially early on. Understanding how to utilise your skills, the enemy’s weak spots, and the part destruction for vulnerability mechanic will help you take down formidable boss enemies.
One of the first mechanics you learn in the game is a white bar that acts as your armor. As you take damage, the white bar depletes and when it disappears, you take damage. There’s a catch, however, as you can use skills that allow you to damage this white bar, thus lowering the enemy’s defenses and making them more vulnerable to attack.
Certain skills use up the skill gauge, which is located at the bottom of the screen. When you use a skill, it uses up part of the gauge. Once the gauge is full, you can use the skill again. Some skills, however, require two or three bars to use, which is usually indicated by the skill name. In these instances, you can use two or three skills in a row.
Certain enemies are susceptible to critical hits as they have weak spots on their bodies. These are indicated on the enemy’s sprite and are usually the head, back, or chest. You can use skills that deal extra damage to enemies with weak spots, which can be especially useful against bosses.
Certain skills also destroy parts of the enemy, such as their arms or legs. While this doesn’t inflict extra damage, it makes them more vulnerable as they’re unable to attack. Some skills inflict this penalty, and others can be used to finish off the enemy once they’re weakened.
Another mechanic is the need to destroy Shrines. As you progress through the story, you’ll move into new areas that are under the influence of the Titan. These areas are covered by a purple fog that represents the Titan’s influence. If you stay in these areas for too long, then you’ll take damage. Your goal is to destroy the Shrine, which acts as a beacon for the Titan. Destroying the Shrine removes the fog, allowing you to move about safely.
There are five weapon types in Snowbreak, and each is assigned to a specific Operative. With a variety of weapon skills and star ratings, you can increase your skills to be more in-line with your combat preferences. Some weapon skills vary depending on the star rating, with higher ratings providing more interesting and in-depth skills.
Operative skills also come into play during battles. These skills are active skills that are already mapped to your controller and can be used during combat. Usually, these skills require skill points to use, but some can be triggered when the Operative is not on the field. These are known as support skills, and you can learn about them in our Snowbreak: Containment Zone skills guide.
Sniper rifles
Sniper rifles are your long-range weapon of choice, excelling in high-damage, long-range, high-impact shots. These are best used by the Agent, who has the highest range of any character, and the best marksman skills. Some of the best sniper rifle skills include:
Shotguns
Shotguns are very mobile-friendly, but they leave you extremely vulnerable. They’re also very effective at close range, especially if you have skills that inflict more damage against enemies with weak spots. Some of the best shotgun skills include:
Pistols
Pistols are your all-rounders, offering high ballistic damage and impactful skills. These are best used by the Operative, as they’re the only character that can use two pistols at the same time. Some of the best pistol skills include:
Assault rifles
Assault rifles are all-rounders, with decent ballistic damage and versatility. These are best used by the Agent, as they’re the only character that can use two assault rifles at the same time. Some of the best assault rifle skills include:
Submachine guns
Submachine guns are niche weapons, as they have a high fire rate, but they aren’t as effective at long range. These are best used by the Agent, as they’re the only character that can use two submachine guns at the same time. Some of the best submachine gun skills include:
When you’re about to engage in combat, you can select your Operative, and team composition should be on your mind. Depending on the difficulty mode, you may want to have a healer or shielder in your team, as they’re invaluable in difficult modes. A main DPS character with high damage output is also crucial, and the support skills from certain Operatives can be triggered when they’re not on the field. A team consisting of a healer or shielder, a main DPS, and an Operative with good Support Skills is ideal.
