Scope Sway

Scope Sway is a mechanic unique to high-magnification sights, particularly those found on Sniper Rifles.

While aiming down a high-magnification sight, the reticle will naturally drift left to right, up and down, to simulate the character's breathing, which can prove a hindrance to the usage of the weapon at longer ranges. This occurs on 6x Scopes, 7x Scopes, 8x Scopes, 10x Scopes, and 12x Scopes. Weapons that do not feature in-built 6x scopes but can attach them as an alternative optic, such as the TRAC-5 S, do not suffer scope sway while using 6x scopes.

This mechanic automatically moves the player's crosshair and thus also moves their cone-of-fire, affecting accuracy, although the cone-of-fire will always be centered on the reticle's current location. When leaving the scope after experiencing scope sway, the player's crosshair will be centered on the new location.

Hold Breath
The Hold Breath mechanic allows players to temporarily dampen the effects of scope sway on all relevant weapons.

Holding breath greatly decreases the effect of scope sway temporarily, but does not fully remove it. The player's scope will still move, but only very slightly.

To use the hold breath mechanic, look down a high-magnification sight that features scope sway and hold the Sprint/Hold Breath key ( by default.)

Related Implants
Certain implants feature effects that improve the efficacy of the Hold Breath mechanic.

Target Focus
Target Focus is a starting implant that increases the range at which the player's crosshair will turn red or green when looking at hostile or allied players, respectively, from 8 meters to 55 meters. In addition, the health of hostile units will be shown to the player when hovering over a spotted unit.

Target Focus also increases the amount of time the player can hold their breath.

With the exact strength of the effect dependent on the rank of the implant, Target Focus increases the duration the player can keep a high-magnification sight steady when holding their breath.

Athlete
Athlete is a common implant that increases the rate at which the player accelerates into, and decelerates out of sprinting, as well as the speed at which they pull their weapon up after sprinting. The player's hold-breath recharging speed is also increased.

At rank 5, the implants additionally provides a 10% sprint speed increase if the player has been moving for at least 6 seconds.

With the exact strength of the effect dependent on the rank of the implant, Athlete increases the speed at which the player regains their breath after holding it to steady a high-magnification sight.

Ballistics Computer
Ballistics Computer is a rail attachment available to select sniper rifles.

While attached, a ballistics computer will remove scope sway from weapon the weapon completely, and the reticle will remain exactly where the player leaves it as with any lower magnification optic.