Shootmania Joust - Overview and Top Tips

It's utterly terrifying, yet incredibly exciting at the same time. At some points it's almost intoxicating; the adrenalin pumps so hard you can taste it.

No, I'm not talking about true love. This is Shootmania: Joust – and it might be the next best thing.

If you haven't tried Shootmania yet, I encourage you to check it out! It's downloadable from Steam, or from www.shootmania.com. At the time of writing, it's still in open beta, so act fast if you want to try it for free!

Gameplay Overview

Joust is 1-on-1 combat in a small arena. Players spawn from the same point, beginning the match with 7 armour, and no ammo. To recharge their ammo, they must reach one of the (usually) two poles which are placed at either end of the map.

This is the HUD as seen in a Joust match. The 5 bars on the left represent a full stock of rocket ammo, the 7 bars in the middle indicate a full armour count, and the bar to the right is the player's remaining stamina, which is used for sprinting and jumping, and charges when not in use.

The gameplay mechanics are quite simple to understand. When you charge your ammo from pole A, it becomes inactive and you cannot receive any more from this pole. You must proceed to touch pole B if you want a refill. When you touch pole B, the active pole switches back to A.

A player who has no ammo is unable to harm his/her opponent, so it's essential to keep an eye on how many rockets you have left, and keep a mental note of which pole you must reach next.

One more thing; you can't just hide. When you load your ammo, you have a minute to reach the next pole. If you fail to touch it in time, you lose the round.

And so begins a desperate race back and fourth across the map, as players exchange rockets, exhaust their ammo, and dash to reach next pole. The intensity kicks up a notch when a player has 1 armour left. This means the other player has Break Advantage, and it will take only one more rocket to close up the game. If the player with 1 armour manages to damage the opponent down to 1 as well, they gain a 'Counter!' bonus, and they're awarded one armour back; effectively stealing an armour point.

Let's imagine Player A is on 1 armour and Player B is on 2 armour. If Player A hits Player B, their armour counts would be reversed - but this will also take place if Player B hits Player A back. Since the armour is awarded instantly on impact, it makes for some ferociously intense moments when each player is only one shot from victory or defeat, and the players endure reversal after reversal for minutes on end!

Milliseconds ago in the example image above, the player on the left hit the Dignitas player (right), and achieved a Break! The Dignitas player has only one armour remaining, but fortunately his return fire rocket is just about to connect. This will counter the Advantage, so he will soon be on 2 armour vs his opponent's 1.

Reaching a pole will instantly and fully recharge ammo of all types. This means 5 rockets, 2 nuclei and 1 laser charge are loaded. Once you've fired all of that type of ammo, you can't recharge it until you reach the correct pole. Each ammo charge is completely unique; so if you run out of rockets, you still have one laser available to you, providing you can get onto a laser pad.

ZechS' Top 10 Tips:

These are my Top 10 Tips for winning at Joust. If you can follow these, you'll be able to go toe-to-toe with even the best players. You're welcome.

1. Run as fast as you can to the pole. Generally speaking, it's more important to reload your ammo than it is to shoot the enemy, or jump on a laser pad.
2. When you first spawn, if you're both heading for the same pole and your opponent is winning the footrace, change course and head to the other pole instead.
3. Try to make your way to the next pole without firing any of your ammo. If you can get to that pole before your opponent, then you might be able to catch them with no ammo – and then instantly reload your own, for a total of 10 free shots.
4. BE PATIENT WITH YOUR ROCKETS! Don't blow your entire load too soon; you'll regret it when you miss. Instead, let your opponent waste their ammo, and fire yours only when you're sure it will hit.
5. Ration your stamina for when you need it most.
6. Watch for when your opponent reaches a pole. If you get there first, that means they can wait longer than you can before you both have to touch the next pole. Use this to your advantage; look out for situations where your opponent needs to move, and you can wait them out for a mistake.
7. Try to make sure you keep at least 1 rocket on you at all times.
8. When your opponent does eventually make a mistake, you must take advantage of it somehow.
9. Never let your opponent have anything for free. If they hit you with a rocket during an exchange, make sure you hit them back just as hard.
10. The top players count their opponents rockets; not just their own.

Joust is one of the most exciting gaming experiences I've had in recent years. After a tough match, my team and I might be visibly shaking with adrenalin - it really is that intense! Many regular players are high-skilled, so I recommend honing your fundamental moving and aiming skills in other gametypes first. Mastering the game may not be easy, but it is extremely rewarding!

If you really feel up for a challenge, keep an eye out for online Joust cups. They attract some of the best players in the world, and often have nice prizes! See you in the arena ;)