Aliens Dark Descent: Best skills Aliens Dark Descent guide, walkthrough

Marines from the game Aliens Dark Descent can not only use weapons, but also rely on skills. On this page of the guide, we've compiled the best active skills with hints on when to use them.

Last update: 12 July 2023

Active abilities in Aliens Dark Descent can help members of your squad stay alive and eliminate xenomorphs. This guide page contains recommendations for the best skills you should get with action points. We also described the most important uses of the recommended skills.

• Suppressive Fire
• U1 Grenade Launcher
• Shotgun Blast
• Sentry Gun
• Mine
• Precision Shot

Suppressive Fire

1. This is one of the skills you should use frequently, although it's worth noting that each use requires 1 command point.
2. This ability helps in situations where the team is defending themselves against approaching enemies. After selecting the skill, you must also determine the direction which the marines will be facing. Check the map to determine where the threat is coming from.
3. Enemies move 30% slower in areas covered by suppressive fire, and the fire rate of weapons is doubled. Unfortunately, this comes at the expense of reduced accuracy, and marines cannot run. Always turn off the skill after eliminating the danger.

U1 Grenade Launcher

1. You can check this skill for the first time in the prologue when you have to kill a group of facehuggers - a grenade launcher shot can weaken or kill a group of enemies standing next to each other. If you play with slow-motion instead of pause, make sure that enemies do not have time to leave the area of your planned attack.
2. Unfortunately, firing a grenade launcher consumes 1 command point meaning you should not use it against single enemies.
3. Further in the game, you can also use a rocket launcher that works in a similar way. You need to purchase it in the workshop and set it as a special weapon for at least one of the marines.

Shotgun Blast

1. You will unlock the skill in the prologue, after Maeko joins the group of 3 marines. This skill makes the shotgun deal high damage at short range. This works perfectly in situations when a xenomorph dodges the fire and approaches the marines. Then you have a chance to stop it before it attacks or kidnaps a squad member. Remember to aim carefully when using a shotgun, especially when you have to deal with a very fast opponent. It's best to shoot when it's running in a straight line towards your squad.
2. Every use of the shotgun consumes 1 command point. However, you do not have to worry about it using up ammunition.

Sentry Gun

1. You will unlock the skill when you obtain your first sentry. By default, this should take place in mission 1 while rescuing Veterinarian McNeil from the Dead Hills colony. You can later find more sentries, and, eventually, have 4 you can use.
2. When placing a sentry, you can set the direction it will be facing - this is a very important step. It is best to place them near narrow passages.
3. A sentry has a supply of 250 rounds. You can reload it after it runs out of ammo. A damaged sentry can also be repaired, and you don't have to worry about losing it quickly.
4. Placing 1 sentry costs 1 command point. After you finish the fights, don't forget to take the sentry.

Mine

1. You have to buy mines in the workshop after at least 1 marine reaches level 2. It costs 100 materials. You must also equip at least 1 soldier with it on the mission preparation screen (special weapons category).
2. Placing a mine costs 1 command point, but it does not consume any other resources. This means that you can wait for points to renew and place more mines "for free".
3. Mines should be placed in narrow passages and corridors, because that's when there is the greatest chance that the enemy will activate them. They can help you in defensive missions (together with sentries) and securing your back while exploring the map (e.g. when an Alien suddenly appears in a corridor).

Precision Shot

1. This skill is unlocked after equipping Recon class marines with a sniper rifle. Also make sure to choose the Silencer upgrade, which will make your shots quiet. We described this in more detail on a separate page - How to use a sniper rifle?.
2. The sniper rifle is not the primary weapon and every shot from the rifle requires 1 command point. After you take a shot, you can immediately fire again and this is useful for killing a few enemies.
3. Kill the enemy before you're spotted, i.e., before the yellow line turns 100% red. This mean that the marines have been spotted - if by xenomorphs then they will alert the entire swarm.