Game:

Mass Effect 3 (2012)

Duration: 1:44

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2

This video shows a very important mechanic for slow reloading sniper rifles in Mass Effect 3 like Mantis, Widow, Black Widow and Javelin. It is called reload canceling and you might have encountered it in other quick paced games. But if you haven't, it is used to skip the reload animation of a gun, so you could fire again sooner.

In Mass Effect 3 specifically they are not that hard to execute. All you have to pay attention to is when your ammo counter at the bottom left fills back up. You can immediately cancel the reload animation after that.

Timestamps for the different types of reload canceling:

00:00 - Normal reload time. Meh.

00:12 - Reload canceling using a side combat roll. This one is best used when you are under fire and you have to evade a projectile while continuing to fire back.

00:22 - Reload canceling using cover. Quickly get into cover and tap backwards or scope in to exit the animation. Again, its use depends on the situation. Keep in mind that entering cover quickly doesn't always protect you from projectiles like Banshee's warp or Geth Prime's pulse. So a roll is better imo, unless your character can't roll.

00:30- Reload canceling using Cloak, Adrenaline, Marksman or any duration based personal buff. Since they don't really have an animation to be played, besides the effect on your character and screen, they are the second best way to cancel a reload in terms of time saved. But since the skills require some time to charge back, you will have to mix this one with some of the other ways in different situations (like the rolling or the upcoming grenade one).

00:37 - Reload canceling using any offensive non-grenade skill like Cryo Blast, Incinerate, Overload, etc. It's close to the previous one and I personally like using it when my enemy's movement is too unpredictable and I have to stun him using a skill, making it easier for me to get a headshot.

00:50 - Reload canceling using an empty grenade skill. My absolute favorite! No animations, no delays, no recharge time! Just press the grenade skill when your clip pops back and you are good to fire again. Although you lose your ability to throw grenades mid-fight, I think that the dmg increase from the saved reloading time makes up for the loss from the grenades. You can always throw the grenades when you encounter a crowd before you start firing with your sniper rifle so you could use the skill after that for reload canceling.

01:13 - Reload canceling using sprint. Maybe if you are pushing the enemy or are being chased. Rolling is better! :D

So in conclusion, if you character has a grenade skill, it would be best to use it as reload canceling, since it's the quickest one of all.

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