OVERVIEW
Marksman is ideal for players who prefer engaging enemies from a distance, avoiding close-quarters melee. Pistols excel in quick, close-range skirmishes; carbines offer balanced medium-range firepower; and rifles provide high-damage sniping from afar. The Ranged Support branch adds utility with abilities that allow posture shifts while attacking, granting temporary defense bonuses. It acts as a gateway to elite professions like Rifleman, Pistoleer, Carbineer, Commando, Smuggler, Combat Medic, Bounty Hunter, and Squad Leader, while offering hybrid potential with other combat or support trees. Marksmen master weapon accuracy and speed, special attacks for damage and debuffs, long/medium/short range optimization, and tactical support like aiming, posture maneuvers, and enemy suppression. This makes them ideal for players who thrive on direct damage, PvE grinding, PvP skirmishes, or building toward versatile ranged endgame builds.
If there's a profession that's truly versatile for ranged firepower, it's the Marksman: pistols for fast close-quarters bursts, carbines for sustained mid-range control, rifles for sniping distant threats, plus support tools to dictate fight tempo.
SKILL TREE
The Marksman skill tree progresses from 'Novice Marksman' at the base to 'Master Marksman' at the apex. It consists of four parallel branches: 'Rifles', 'Pistols', 'Carbines', and 'Ranged Support'. Each branch has four levels (I-IV), and mastering all branches unlocks Master Marksman. Mastery requires '77 skill points' and '91,000 Pistol/Carbine/Rifle XP' plus '30,550 Combat XP'.
Use the [https://nexus.swgtools.com/char-builder/ Character Builder] to allocate skill points into the Marksman tree.
SKILLS OVERVIEW
Rifles
The Rifles branch grants 'Rifle Accuracy' and 'Rifle Speed' skill mods. These mods allow devastating long-range damage (60-65m) with mind pool focus. Progression unlocks concealed firing for cover use and sniping for precision high-damage shots.
Pistols
The Pistols branch optimizes short-range combat (~35m) with fast attacks and low special costs. Gain 'Pistol Accuracy' and 'Pistol Speed', plus dynamic attacks like dive/body shots while maneuvering for close-quarters dominance.
Carbines
As a Marksman progresses through the Carbines branch, they master medium-range (45-50m) balanced firepower with 'Carbine Accuracy' and 'Carbine Speed'. Full auto bursts, action interrupts, and leg shots control groups and slow pursuits.
Ranged Support
The Ranged Support branch provides tactical edges like 'Aim' for accuracy boosts, threaten/warning shots to demoralize, and suppression fire to pin foes. Posture maneuvers (tumbles) enable fluid combat positioning, with mods enhancing overall ranged defense and control.
ABILITIES & COMMANDS
Marksmen gain access to core ranged specials for damage, debuffs, and utility. Advanced weapon attacks are detailed in branch sections.
| Ability / Command | Dmg Multiplier | Action Cost | Mind Cost | Accuracy | Description |
| Beginner’s Shot | 1 | 200 | 50 | — | Basic ranged attack for novice marksmen. |
| Knockdown Recovery | — | 100 | 450 | — | Recover quickly from being knocked down. |
| Roll Shot | 0.8 | 570 | 174 | — | Fires mid-roll, improving evasion but lowering damage. |
| Dive Shot | 0.9 | 625 | 178 | — | Dive to the ground and fire, trading mobility for cover. |
| Kip Up Shot | 0.9 | 635 | 180 | — | Spring up from prone or kneeling to shoot rapidly. |
| Overcharge Shot | 1.3 | 605 | 58 | — | Overload weapon power for a strong single shot. |
| Placed Shot | 1.1 | 515 | 51 | — | Aimed shot with improved accuracy and moderate damage. |
| Rapid Fire | 1.2 | 655 | 326 | -15 | Fires a quick burst of shots at reduced precision. |
| Aimed Shot | 1.2 | 590 | 232 | +10 | Carefully aimed shot that improves hit chance and damage. |
| Firearm Strike | 0.5 | 460 | 312 | +15 | Strikes the target with your weapon at close range. |
| Quick Draw | 1.2 | 580 | 56 | — | Fast-draw attack for quick reaction shooting. |
| Aim | — | 380 | 138 | — | Temporarily boosts your accuracy for following shots. |
| Lethal Shot | 1.7 | 750 | 156 | +5 | High-damage precision shot meant to finish weakened foes. |
SKILL MODIFIERS
- Carbine Damage
- Carbine Defense
- General Ranged Accuracy
- General Ranged Damage
- Melee Defense
- Pistol Accuracy
- Pistol Damage
- Pistol Defense
- Ranged Defense
- Rifle Accuracy
- Rifle Damage
- Rifle Defense
TRAINERS
Full coords at https://nexus.swgtools.com/trainers/.