Smoke Grenade - Revision history

TBeholder: /* During deployment */

2025-06-15T15:37:15Z

During deployment

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:37, 15 June 2025
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	If the transport has landed in a high-risk area (facing a building, a UFO door, or several visible aliens), you may wish to drop an additional grenade inside the transport, to reduce the aliens' ability to fire upon your undeployed troops. Throwing it 1-2 tiles down the ramp does much the same, with more smoke outside.		If the transport has landed in a high-risk area (facing a building, a UFO door, or several visible aliens), you may wish to drop an additional grenade inside the transport, to reduce the aliens' ability to fire upon your undeployed troops. Throwing it 1-2 tiles down the ramp does much the same, with more smoke outside.

	This tactic may work less smoothly with another way of making bad deployments viable: using tanks as scouts. Since [[Heavy Weapons Platforms]] obstruct the line of throw, grenades cannot be thrown at the tiles under the tank and one or more (depending on the relative positions) steps beyond it. If your tank moved onto the ramp and already provoked reaction fire, your options are: to keep the HWP where it is and throw smoke grenade much further (then the exit may be insufficiently concealed), to detonate one inside (suboptimal and will result in more stun damage early on) or to move HWP further out (risking destruction from more reaction fire). Before the tank moved out, the first pair of soldiers still can target most of the ramp with a smoke grenade, thus committing to this tactic and using up the smoke and TUs before movement mostly avoids such problems.		This tactic may work less smoothly with another way of making bad deployments viable: using tanks as scouts. Since [[Heavy Weapons Platforms]] obstruct the line of throw, grenades cannot be thrown at the tiles under the tank and one or more (depending on the relative positions) steps beyond it. If your tank moved onto the ramp and already provoked reaction fire, your options are: to keep the HWP where it is and throw smoke grenade much further (then the exit may be insufficiently concealed), to detonate one inside (suboptimal and will result in more stun damage early on) or to move HWP further out (risking destruction from more reaction fire). Before the tank moved out, the first pair of soldiers still can target most of the ramp with a smoke grenade, thus committing to this tactic and using up the smoke and TUs before movement mostly avoids such problems.

	In [[OpenXcom]] grenades can be primed during the equipment phase. Giving the first soldiers primed smoke grenades allows somewhat more flexibility that prime-and-throw first round. First you roll out the scouting HWP and look around, then decide. If the deployment area appears low-risk (daylight, no visible threats, no windows or other places where enemies may hide), scouts still have TU to exit, reach cover (at least, undercarriage and area between the lower ramp and HWP), crouch and drop smoke underfoot (see ''Scouting'' part below). If it looks more dangerous, they can throw one on the ramp, another near HWP (see ''Protecting exposed friendlies'' part below), and wait for the next turn.		In [[OpenXcom]] grenades can be primed during the equipment phase. Giving the first soldiers primed smoke grenades allows somewhat more flexibility that prime-and-throw first round. First you roll out the scouting HWP and look around, then decide. If the deployment area appears low-risk (daylight, no visible threats, no windows or other places where enemies may hide), scouts still have TU to exit, reach cover (at least, undercarriage and area between the lower ramp and HWP), crouch and drop smoke underfoot (see ''Scouting'' part below). If it looks more dangerous, they can throw one on the ramp, another near HWP (see ''Protecting exposed friendlies'' part below), and wait for the next turn.

			The smoke cloud propagates the same way as [[Explosions]]. In the original it’s mostly flat, thus usually one grenade needs to be thrown outside so that the soldiers will be concealed when they exit on the second turn, and the other at the entrance tile to ensure dense 2nd floor cloud, so that the soldiers won’t be shot while in transport on the first turn. In [[OpenXcom]] the explosion model can be changed via [[Options (OpenXcom)\|Options/Advanced/Battlescape/Explosion height]]; in non-flat explosion modes both the ramp and exit can be covered with one smoke grenade, another can make the the cloud wider (sideways by throwing grenades a little left and right of the ramp or lengthwise by throwing on and beyond the ramp).

	=== During scouting ===		=== During scouting ===

TBeholder: /* During deployment */

2025-06-08T17:39:49Z

During deployment

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:39, 8 June 2025
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	If the transport has landed in a high-risk area (facing a building, a UFO door, or several visible aliens), you may wish to drop an additional grenade inside the transport, to reduce the aliens' ability to fire upon your undeployed troops. Throwing it 1-2 tiles down the ramp does much the same, with more smoke outside.		If the transport has landed in a high-risk area (facing a building, a UFO door, or several visible aliens), you may wish to drop an additional grenade inside the transport, to reduce the aliens' ability to fire upon your undeployed troops. Throwing it 1-2 tiles down the ramp does much the same, with more smoke outside.

			This tactic may work less smoothly with another way of making bad deployments viable: using tanks as scouts. Since [[Heavy Weapons Platforms]] obstruct the line of throw, grenades cannot be thrown at the tiles under the tank and one or more (depending on the relative positions) steps beyond it. If your tank moved onto the ramp and already provoked reaction fire, your options are: to keep the HWP where it is and throw smoke grenade much further (then the exit may be insufficiently concealed), to detonate one inside (suboptimal and will result in more stun damage early on) or to move HWP further out (risking destruction from more reaction fire). Before the tank moved out, the first pair of soldiers still can target most of the ramp with a smoke grenade, thus committing to this tactic and using up the smoke and TUs before movement mostly avoids such problems.

	In [[OpenXcom]] grenades can be primed during the equipment phase. Giving the first soldiers primed smoke grenades allows somewhat more flexibility that prime-and-throw first round. First you roll out the scouting HWP and look around, then decide. If the deployment area appears low-risk (daylight, no visible threats, no windows or other places where enemies may hide), scouts still have TU to exit, reach cover (at least, undercarriage and area between the lower ramp and HWP), crouch and drop smoke underfoot (see ''Scouting'' part below). If it looks more dangerous, they can throw one on the ramp, another near HWP (see ''Protecting exposed friendlies'' part below), and wait for the next turn.		In [[OpenXcom]] grenades can be primed during the equipment phase. Giving the first soldiers primed smoke grenades allows somewhat more flexibility that prime-and-throw first round. First you roll out the scouting HWP and look around, then decide. If the deployment area appears low-risk (daylight, no visible threats, no windows or other places where enemies may hide), scouts still have TU to exit, reach cover (at least, undercarriage and area between the lower ramp and HWP), crouch and drop smoke underfoot (see ''Scouting'' part below). If it looks more dangerous, they can throw one on the ramp, another near HWP (see ''Protecting exposed friendlies'' part below), and wait for the next turn.

TBeholder: /* Usage notes */

2025-06-08T10:10:16Z

Usage notes

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:10, 8 June 2025
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	If the transport has landed in a high-risk area (facing a building, a UFO door, or several visible aliens), you may wish to drop an additional grenade inside the transport, to reduce the aliens' ability to fire upon your undeployed troops. Throwing it 1-2 tiles down the ramp does much the same, with more smoke outside.		If the transport has landed in a high-risk area (facing a building, a UFO door, or several visible aliens), you may wish to drop an additional grenade inside the transport, to reduce the aliens' ability to fire upon your undeployed troops. Throwing it 1-2 tiles down the ramp does much the same, with more smoke outside.

	In [[~~OpenXCom~~]] grenades can be primed during the equipment phase~~, thus you can simply give~~ the first soldiers primed smoke grenades. If the deployment appears ~~less dangerous~~ (~~scouting HWP does not see~~ threats, or ~~windows etc~~ where enemies may hide), ~~they may proceed~~ to ~~scouting~~ (~~below~~) and drop smoke underfoot, ~~otherwise~~ throw ~~down~~ the ramp.		In [[OpenXcom]] grenades can be primed during the equipment phase. Giving the first soldiers primed smoke grenades allows somewhat more flexibility that prime-and-throw first round. First you roll out the scouting HWP and look around, then decide. If the deployment area appears low-risk (daylight, no visible threats, no windows or other places where enemies may hide), scouts still have TU to exit, reach cover (at least, undercarriage and area between the lower ramp and HWP), crouch and drop smoke underfoot (see ''Scouting'' part below). If it looks more dangerous, they can throw one on the ramp, another near HWP (see ''Protecting exposed friendlies'' part below), and wait for the next turn.

	=== During scouting ===		=== During scouting ===
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	For best results, place the smoke grenade between yourself and the attackers. Placing it on yourself or on the aliens you wish to blind does not work as well because the aliens will have only half as much smoke to look through.		For best results, place the smoke grenade between yourself and the attackers. Placing it on yourself or on the aliens you wish to blind does not work as well because the aliens will have only half as much smoke to look through.

	=== Protecting exposed ~~soldiers~~ ===		=== Protecting exposed friendlies ===

	If a soldier is moved and ends up stranded in an open field with an alien in full view, the chance this soldier of surviving tend to be very slim. You can alter the odds very slightly by throwing a '''0 turn''' smoke grenade between the soldier and the alien to provide cover.		If a soldier is moved and ends up stranded in an open field with an alien in full view, the chance this soldier of surviving tend to be very slim. You can alter the odds very slightly by throwing a '''0 turn''' smoke grenade between the soldier and the alien to provide cover.
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	Rockets are an instant means to provide similar support, but the cloud generated will not be as dense.		Rockets are an instant means to provide similar support, but the cloud generated will not be as dense.

	During terror missions smoke often is the only practical way to protect civilians in more dangerous areas. ~~It works~~ much the same ~~way~~, ~~except~~ the success rate is lower, since NPCs don’t crouch and may run the wrong way.		During terror missions smoke often is the only practical way to protect civilians in more dangerous areas. Considerations are much the same, but the success rate is lower, since NPCs don’t crouch and may run the wrong way.

	=== Outside UFOs ===		=== Outside UFOs ===

TBeholder: /* Usage notes */

2025-06-08T09:47:19Z

Usage notes

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:47, 8 June 2025
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	A simple and highly-effective use of smoke grenades is to throw one at the base of your transport's ramp on the first turn of deployment (do not deploy until Turn 2, after the grenade has detonated). This will mask your soldiers' movements as they emerge from the transport, greatly reducing the chance of their being killed by as-yet-unseen aliens. Additionally, aliens have their full [[Time Units]] at the start of combat; on subsequent turns they will usually have walked around a bit, making their reaction fire less deadly.		A simple and highly-effective use of smoke grenades is to throw one at the base of your transport's ramp on the first turn of deployment (do not deploy until Turn 2, after the grenade has detonated). This will mask your soldiers' movements as they emerge from the transport, greatly reducing the chance of their being killed by as-yet-unseen aliens. Additionally, aliens have their full [[Time Units]] at the start of combat; on subsequent turns they will usually have walked around a bit, making their reaction fire less deadly.

	If the transport has landed in a high-risk area (facing a building, a UFO door, or several visible aliens), you may wish to drop an additional grenade inside the transport, to reduce the aliens' ability to fire upon your undeployed troops.		If the transport has landed in a high-risk area (facing a building, a UFO door, or several visible aliens), you may wish to drop an additional grenade inside the transport, to reduce the aliens' ability to fire upon your undeployed troops. Throwing it 1-2 tiles down the ramp does much the same, with more smoke outside.

			In [[OpenXCom]] grenades can be primed during the equipment phase, thus you can simply give the first soldiers primed smoke grenades. If the deployment appears less dangerous (scouting HWP does not see threats, or windows etc where enemies may hide), they may proceed to scouting (below) and drop smoke underfoot, otherwise throw down the ramp.

	=== During scouting ===		=== During scouting ===
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	Rockets are an instant means to provide similar support, but the cloud generated will not be as dense.		Rockets are an instant means to provide similar support, but the cloud generated will not be as dense.

			During terror missions smoke often is the only practical way to protect civilians in more dangerous areas. It works much the same way, except the success rate is lower, since NPCs don’t crouch and may run the wrong way.

	=== Outside UFOs ===		=== Outside UFOs ===

Magic9mushroom: Smoke doesn't affect accuracy, cover has few benefits in UFO, and we don't need to hear about YouTubers.

2018-06-27T10:34:34Z

Smoke doesn't affect accuracy, cover has few benefits in UFO, and we don't need to hear about YouTubers.

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:34, 27 June 2018
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	Smoke is difficult to use effectively in X-COM, although when properly deployed, it can be even more effective than armor. A well-placed smoke screen can help you to see the aliens before they see you and allow you to fire upon them without risk of return fire. It will also limit the number of aliens that can spot your troops at any given moment, allowing you to concentrate your firepower on the aliens nearest to you.		Smoke is difficult to use effectively in X-COM, although when properly deployed, it can be even more effective than armor. A well-placed smoke screen can help you to see the aliens before they see you and allow you to fire upon them without risk of return fire. It will also limit the number of aliens that can spot your troops at any given moment, allowing you to concentrate your firepower on the aliens nearest to you.

	Smoke should not be permitted to cause complacency. While it can mean the difference between dead units, and units which can be kept up with medikits until the end of a mission, smoke is still not a complete substitute for physical cover. There are videos on YouTube by otherwise very good players, who still show said players leaving their units in smoke with no physical cover, and then being surprised when said units get shot by aliens. Use smoke to cover rapid charges across open terrain, but get your units back behind physical cover again as quickly as possible.

	Smoke is also a double edged sword. While it reduces firing accuracy for the aliens, it does so for your own soldiers if they have to shoot through it as well. If you are going to use it, practice to the point where you know when you should use it, and when not to.

	Conventional explosive (HE) weapons and [[incendiary]] weapons will produce a smoke cloud, but it is believed that only smoke grenades will produce a high-density cloud, which has as much as three times the obscuring power.		Conventional explosive (HE) weapons and [[incendiary]] weapons will produce a smoke cloud, but it is believed that only smoke grenades will produce a high-density cloud, which has as much as three times the obscuring power.

Petrus4 at 00:17, 10 November 2017

2017-11-10T00:17:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:17, 10 November 2017
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	Smoke should not be permitted to cause complacency. While it can mean the difference between dead units, and units which can be kept up with medikits until the end of a mission, smoke is still not a complete substitute for physical cover. There are videos on YouTube by otherwise very good players, who still show said players leaving their units in smoke with no physical cover, and then being surprised when said units get shot by aliens. Use smoke to cover rapid charges across open terrain, but get your units back behind physical cover again as quickly as possible.		Smoke should not be permitted to cause complacency. While it can mean the difference between dead units, and units which can be kept up with medikits until the end of a mission, smoke is still not a complete substitute for physical cover. There are videos on YouTube by otherwise very good players, who still show said players leaving their units in smoke with no physical cover, and then being surprised when said units get shot by aliens. Use smoke to cover rapid charges across open terrain, but get your units back behind physical cover again as quickly as possible.

	Smoke is also a double edged sword. While it reduces firing accuracy for the aliens, it does so for your own soldiers if they have to shoot through it as well. If you are going to use it, practice to the point where you know when you use it and when not to.		Smoke is also a double edged sword. While it reduces firing accuracy for the aliens, it does so for your own soldiers if they have to shoot through it as well. If you are going to use it, practice to the point where you know when you should use it, and when not to.

	Conventional explosive (HE) weapons and [[incendiary]] weapons will produce a smoke cloud, but it is believed that only smoke grenades will produce a high-density cloud, which has as much as three times the obscuring power.		Conventional explosive (HE) weapons and [[incendiary]] weapons will produce a smoke cloud, but it is believed that only smoke grenades will produce a high-density cloud, which has as much as three times the obscuring power.

Petrus4 at 00:15, 10 November 2017

2017-11-10T00:15:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:15, 10 November 2017
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	Smoke should not be permitted to cause complacency. While it can mean the difference between dead units, and units which can be kept up with medikits until the end of a mission, smoke is still not a complete substitute for physical cover. There are videos on YouTube by otherwise very good players, who still show said players leaving their units in smoke with no physical cover, and then being surprised when said units get shot by aliens. Use smoke to cover rapid charges across open terrain, but get your units back behind physical cover again as quickly as possible.		Smoke should not be permitted to cause complacency. While it can mean the difference between dead units, and units which can be kept up with medikits until the end of a mission, smoke is still not a complete substitute for physical cover. There are videos on YouTube by otherwise very good players, who still show said players leaving their units in smoke with no physical cover, and then being surprised when said units get shot by aliens. Use smoke to cover rapid charges across open terrain, but get your units back behind physical cover again as quickly as possible.

			Smoke is also a double edged sword. While it reduces firing accuracy for the aliens, it does so for your own soldiers if they have to shoot through it as well. If you are going to use it, practice to the point where you know when you use it and when not to.

	Conventional explosive (HE) weapons and [[incendiary]] weapons will produce a smoke cloud, but it is believed that only smoke grenades will produce a high-density cloud, which has as much as three times the obscuring power.		Conventional explosive (HE) weapons and [[incendiary]] weapons will produce a smoke cloud, but it is believed that only smoke grenades will produce a high-density cloud, which has as much as three times the obscuring power.

Petrus4 at 00:12, 10 November 2017

2017-11-10T00:12:02Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:12, 10 November 2017
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	Smoke is difficult to use effectively in X-COM, although when properly deployed, it can be even more effective than armor. A well-placed smoke screen can help you to see the aliens before they see you and allow you to fire upon them without risk of return fire. It will also limit the number of aliens that can spot your troops at any given moment, allowing you to concentrate your firepower on the aliens nearest to you.		Smoke is difficult to use effectively in X-COM, although when properly deployed, it can be even more effective than armor. A well-placed smoke screen can help you to see the aliens before they see you and allow you to fire upon them without risk of return fire. It will also limit the number of aliens that can spot your troops at any given moment, allowing you to concentrate your firepower on the aliens nearest to you.

	Smoke should not be permitted to cause complacency. While it can mean the difference between dead units, and units which can be kept up with medikits until the end of a mission, smoke is still not a complete substitute for physical cover. There are videos on YouTube by otherwise very good players, who still show said players leaving their units in smoke with no physical cover, and then being surprised when said units get shot by aliens.		Smoke should not be permitted to cause complacency. While it can mean the difference between dead units, and units which can be kept up with medikits until the end of a mission, smoke is still not a complete substitute for physical cover. There are videos on YouTube by otherwise very good players, who still show said players leaving their units in smoke with no physical cover, and then being surprised when said units get shot by aliens. Use smoke to cover rapid charges across open terrain, but get your units back behind physical cover again as quickly as possible.

	Conventional explosive (HE) weapons and [[incendiary]] weapons will produce a smoke cloud, but it is believed that only smoke grenades will produce a high-density cloud, which has as much as three times the obscuring power.		Conventional explosive (HE) weapons and [[incendiary]] weapons will produce a smoke cloud, but it is believed that only smoke grenades will produce a high-density cloud, which has as much as three times the obscuring power.

Petrus4 at 00:11, 10 November 2017

2017-11-10T00:11:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:11, 10 November 2017
Line 2:		Line 2:

	Smoke is difficult to use effectively in X-COM, although when properly deployed, it can be even more effective than armor. A well-placed smoke screen can help you to see the aliens before they see you and allow you to fire upon them without risk of return fire. It will also limit the number of aliens that can spot your troops at any given moment, allowing you to concentrate your firepower on the aliens nearest to you.		Smoke is difficult to use effectively in X-COM, although when properly deployed, it can be even more effective than armor. A well-placed smoke screen can help you to see the aliens before they see you and allow you to fire upon them without risk of return fire. It will also limit the number of aliens that can spot your troops at any given moment, allowing you to concentrate your firepower on the aliens nearest to you.

			Smoke should not be permitted to cause complacency. While it can mean the difference between dead units, and units which can be kept up with medikits until the end of a mission, smoke is still not a complete substitute for physical cover. There are videos on YouTube by otherwise very good players, who still show said players leaving their units in smoke with no physical cover, and then being surprised when said units get shot by aliens.

	Conventional explosive (HE) weapons and [[incendiary]] weapons will produce a smoke cloud, but it is believed that only smoke grenades will produce a high-density cloud, which has as much as three times the obscuring power.		Conventional explosive (HE) weapons and [[incendiary]] weapons will produce a smoke cloud, but it is believed that only smoke grenades will produce a high-density cloud, which has as much as three times the obscuring power.

Hobbes: categorizing

2013-07-23T02:41:28Z

categorizing

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:41, 23 July 2013
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	[[Category:Equipment (EU)]]		[[Category:Equipment (EU)]]
	[[Category: Tactics]]		[[Category: Tactics]]
			[[Category:Enemy Unknown/UFO Defense]]