bullets. bombs. mines.
Weapons and Abilities
Every ship in XS Space comes equipped with three primary weapon systems that upgrade as you collect green xenite. Beyond these, you'll find special abilities and tactical inventory items that add depth to every encounter.
Primary Weapons
Guns
Fast-firing bullets that scale from level 1 to 4. Higher levels deal more damage and fire faster. Upgrade by collecting green Xenite. With upgrades, you can fire multiple bullets at once or even bounce off walls!
Cannons
Heavy bombs that explode on impact. Massive area damage at levels 3-4. Upgrade by collecting green Xenite. Press Tab to fire. When these bombs explode on walls, they will emit shrapnel in all directions. The more powerful the bomb, the more shrapnel will be emitted. This is a great way to clear tight spaces and to damage multiple enemies at once.
Deployer
Your ship's Deployer will set stationary mines. They have all the power and effects of your bombs, but don't move and are perfect for area denial and traps. Press Backtick to deploy.
cloak. stealth. radar.
Special Abilities
Afterburner
Hold Shift to ignite your afterburner for a temporary speed boost, perfect for chasing down fleeing targets or escaping a losing fight. Be careful though — it drains 350 energy per second, so prolonged use will leave you dangerously low on health.
Cloak
Activate cloak with Home to vanish completely from enemy radar screens. While cloaked, you can set up ambushes or slip past dangerous encounters undetected. Costs 60 energy per second to maintain, so plan your approach before engaging. Only the Shade ship has access to cloak.
Stealth
A lighter alternative to full cloaking. Stealth makes your ship partially transparent, making you harder to visually track during combat. At 40 energy per second, it's more sustainable than cloaking and ideal for extended engagements where you need every edge.
X-Radar
Toggle X-Radar with End to reveal cloaked and stealthed enemies on your radar. Essential for countering Shade pilots who rely on invisibility. The Arachne ship specializes in this ability, making it the natural counter-pick against stealth-heavy opponents.
Multifire
Press Delete to toggle multifire mode, which spreads your bullets in a wider pattern instead of a single stream. This is effective for area coverage and hitting evasive targets, but spreads your damage across a wider arc. Best used in close-range dogfights where accuracy is less important than volume of fire.
Rockets
Press F3 to ignite your rockets for a massive 5-second speed burst that far exceeds even the afterburner. Rockets are a consumable item found in the arena, so use them wisely. Perfect for closing distance on a target, making a desperate escape, or repositioning across the map at incredible speed.
repel. burst. decoy. portal. thor. brick.
Inventory Items
Repel
Press Shift+Ctrl to emit a powerful shockwave that pushes away nearby projectiles and enemy ships. Repel is a lifesaver when you're surrounded or caught in a volley of incoming fire. It can also knock enemies into walls or mines for bonus damage.
Burst
Press Shift+Delete to unleash a 360-degree spray of shrapnel around your ship. Burst deals damage in every direction simultaneously, making it devastating in close quarters when multiple enemies are nearby. A well-timed burst can turn an ambush into a multi-kill.
Decoy
Press F5 to deploy a convincing copy of your ship that appears on enemy radar as a real target. Use decoys to bait enemies into traps, draw fire away from you during an escape, or create confusion in crowded areas of the arena.
Portal
Press Shift+PageDown to place a portal beacon at your current position. Place a second portal to create a linked teleportation pair. Fly through one to instantly appear at the other. Portals enable creative tactics like quick escapes or surprise flanking maneuvers.
Thor
Press F6 to launch Thor, a powerful homing missile that can pierce through walls to reach its target. There's no hiding from a Thor — it will track enemies through asteroid fields and maze corridors, making it the ultimate weapon against pilots who try to hide behind cover.
Brick
Press F4 to deploy a temporary wall segment that blocks incoming projectiles. Bricks are excellent for creating instant cover in open areas, blocking chokepoints to control enemy movement, or shielding yourself while you recharge energy after a fight.