Hemlok BF-R - Titanfall Weapon Guide

You need discipline to manage a fully automatic weapon: but don't worry, there's still an option for those who lack it. This time, we're covering the Hemlok BF-R. The Hemlok BF-R, or Burst Fire Rifle, is an infantry weapon that fires a three-round burst by default. Such a fire mode exists as an intermediate between semi-automatic weapons and fully automatic: preserving ammunition while enhancing hit probability versus a single shot. The Hemlok platform is a configurable one: and part of the same family as the Spitfire LMG. The Spitfire is the heavyweight option, designed for sustained fire from large magazines: whereas the Hemlok better fits a more general-purpose role, more nimble and with better ergonomics. The Hemlok fires the same round as the Spitfire, the standard 8.19mm round as used in many contemporary rifles across the frontier. Damage is higher than most other automatic weapons, with the Hemlok never needing more than 5 shots to kill an enemy pilot. Up close, you may need 4 shots to kill - which means a single burst will not provide a reliable kill on an uninjured opponent. Headshots can make the difference, however - and should one round from your burst strike the head, the other two will finish the job. Versus Titans, damage is quite high - but the delay between bursts will limit your output. This means you might not need too many reloads to doom, but emptying your magazine will take longer than with an automatic weapon. Effective range is quite good, on par with the R101C Carbine. For most engagements out to a middle range, you can expect consistent per-shot damage: and your key concern should be landing all three shots within your burst. Thankfully, recoil is quite mild - so within this effective range it is usually possible to land multiple hits on a man-sized target. Recoil is sufficient to draw you off target at a distance, however - so be prepared to fire a follow-up burst. Hipfire is adequate, but far from reliable - spread is on par with other rifles, but the slower overall output of the burst fire might let you down. Within the burst, your rate of fire is quite enviable, however - comparable to the fastest firing SMGs, at 915 rounds per minute. This can shut down targets quickly when a burst secures a successful kill, but your average output is much lower than most other weapons. This does mean your ammunition consumption is moderated, making your magazines last longer between reloads - with the default 24 rounds offering 8 full bursts before a resupply is needed. Reloads are a touch slower than comparable weapons, taking at least 2 and a half seconds to complete. Otherwise, handling is generally acceptable: aiming down your sights takes 300 milliseconds, the same as the carbine; and switch times are about average too. Finally, your mobility is on par with the slower tier of weapons - at 95 percent of the base speed. Your loadout with the Hemlok should focus on placing your enemy at an arm's reach: burst fire weapons demand good initial shot placement. A missed burst will punish you with a delay before the next, and successive misses will open an opportunity for automatic weapons to simply spray you down. The Hemlok's Iron Sights provide a clear red dot for target acquisition - but given the need for precision with this weapon, it might be worth equipping one of the optical choices on offer. The HCOG is your standard close-range choice, providing a clearer sight picture with more space around its chevron reticle. It's the strongest option for aggressive use of the Hemlock, as the lower magnification will assist in rapidly acquiring targets at a closer range. At the other extreme is the AOG, a 2.4x telescopic sight better suited to locking down a long-ranged sightline. With the Hemlok, this extra precision can be useful - as you'll want to make sure your target is dead centre in your sights before you unleash a burst. Perhaps a good middle ground is the 2.1x zoom of the Holosight - with a blend of close range ability and precise midrange targeting. Overall, it largely comes down to your own preference - but it's worth considering the higher magnification option, as precise burst placement is essential. There are 3 mods available for the Hemlok, with one unique to the weapon: the Starburst. This makes the weapon fire a 5-round burst instead of just 3 rounds, increasing your output and reducing the number of bursts required to kill a target. It also increases your magazine size by 1, for a total of 25 rounds - or 5 bursts. This increased consumption will mandate more frequent reloads, however - but you will find the weapon much more forgiving in closer quarters. As such, starburst is probably the most effective option for an aggressive Hemlok build - but for ranged use the tighter grouping of the default 3-round burst is best. Next: the Suppressor is a poor fit for the Hemlok, as burst fire weapons are reliant on their lethality - and silencing it compromises your ability to kill quickly. While you'll only need a single extra round to kill at all ranges, this will often mean you need an additional burst, which can greatly delay a potential kill while leaving you vulnerable. Finally, the Extended Mags is a straightforward benefit: taking each magazine from 24 rounds per reload to 30 instead. This extends your defensive ability, permitting 10 full bursts instead of just 8 without pause.

While 2 extra bursts is a mild boost to your overall performance, avoiding the inconvenience of a reload can often prove decisive. Overall, I'd recommend the Extended Mags for ideal usage of the BF-R: the weapon is best suited to providing sustained mid-ranged fire, and a larger magazine means more uptime. The weapon can be used outside of this comfort zone, however - and the starburst mod can shine as part of an aggressive loadout. If you are taking this route, then the quick reload kit is an almost essential inclusion - with only 5 bursts per magazine, you'll spend more time reloading than usual. Otherwise, there's not much else you can do to improve the Hemlok's performance - it comes down to your ability to repel the enemy with well-placed bursts. As with all weapons that are less effective in close quarters, you'll want to make frequent use of your secondary as a more reliable defence against attackers: and one choice that can prove very effective is the Satchel Charges in your ordnance slot. With their selective detonation, you can put paid to an enemy assault with a little anticipation and a deftly tossed sack of explosives: their large lethal blast radius will quickly shut down an incoming foe, without the need for an awkward close range kerfuffle. The Hemlok BF-R is a capable weapon, able to suppress the enemy at a middle distance. It does this while enforcing good fire control and recoil management with its 3 round burst.

These 3 shots are delivered in quick succession, which when paired with relatively high damage and a favourable headshot multiplier, means you can potentially shut down an opponent in a very short window: denying any opportunity for retaliation. Unfortunately, the weapon does demand specific circumstances to exert an advantage: in close-ranged gunfights the burst delay can leave you vulnerable, and at a distance the weapon's recoil renders each burst less lethal. Still, the Hemlok does carve out a niche for itself when tackling enemies at a mid-range: and if the slower pace of a burst-fire rifle fits your style, you can do quite some damage. Fired accurately, the Hemlok will prove your opponent's bane: a quick 3 round dose... ...will poison your enemy's will. Thank you very much for your presence, and do join me for the penultimate presentation - when we'll be covering the CAR SMG. Until then, farewell.