Official designation: S2 AM Sniper Rifle
Projectile Type: 14.5mm x 114 Armor-Piercing, Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot (APFSDS)
Dual-wield: No
Damage: Very High
Range: Very Long (With Scope)
Accuracy: Very High (With Scope)
Rate of fire: Fast
Autofire capability: No
Magazine Capacity: 4 bullets
Ammunition (Additional): 20 (5 Magazines)
Reload speed: 2 s
Melee attack: Average
Scope: 5x, 10x
Advantages:
The sniper rifle is equipped with a scope that offers two levels of magnification: 5x and 10x. A lethal armament when equipped by a proficient marksman, it enables you to pick off enemy forces from afar with impunity, unless your opponents have their own snipers. Always (with the exception of Hunters and Flood) aim for headshots to inflict the maximum possible damage. Even the mightiest Elite can be dispatched with one to four such shots as the sheer power of the 14.5mm rounds pierce their energy shields.
Disadvantages:
Ammunition for the Sniper Rifle is rare, so conserve it carefully and make every shot count. It is slow to reload, so always try to have at least two bullets available at all times. During multiplayer matches, it takes considerable skill to keep an enemy in your sights at 10x zoom. Try finding a spot that will require your opponents to approach you directly. Always have a good secondary weapon to equip if discovered, as the sniper rifle is not a wise choice at close range. Though limited ammunition and reloading time hinder close-quarter combat efficiency, skilled snipers may be able to use this weapon in close combat (known as "no-scoping"). The zoom does not include the motion detector, so be sure to get out of scope and check the immediate area every so often.
Multiplayer Role:
Aim for the head. Two shots to the body is needed for a kill; if you are attacking a group, then you will only be able to hit two targets before having to reload. Some targets are easier than others, so don't waste ammo on a target that is unlikely to be hit. Choose carefully and focus on players controlling turrets, players camping, snipers not focusing on you, players sneaking, and players running in an open space.
When you are able to snipe a group of players, select a single target at a time, preferably one in the back of the group or a target offering a clean head-shot. If you kill a player in the back, the group is likely to suspect the attack came from the opposite side which might give the vapor trail time to dissipate before they spot it.
Getting hit by anything disables the scope, so spamming needler ammunition and SMG rounds in the general direction of a sniper can help. Also, erratic strafing ensures that the sniper can only hit you with a lucky shot, unless the sniper is very, very good.
The sniper rifle is key to winning battles on larger maps, such as Coagulation, Waterworks, and Burial Mounds, among others.