XCOM: Enemy Withinintroduced several gameplay expansions and mechanical updates to the base game,XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Among the many added elements like Meld, MEC Troopers, and EXALT, there’s also room for quirky terminology and community-created slang. One such term that occasionally pops up in fan discussions is Fling. While not an official mechanic, it often refers to actions involving explosive knockback, launching enemies or objects, or unexpected physics interactions. Whether you’re exploring possible mod effects, MEC-powered punches, or rocket explosions launching aliens into the air, understanding this concept can add a bit of fun and tactical curiosity to your campaign.
Understanding Fling in XCOM: Enemy Within
Not an Official Game Term
To be clear, Fling is not a term that appears in any official documentation ofXCOM: Enemy Within. It is typically used by players to describe moments where an enemy or object is forcefully thrown or propelled across the battlefield. These events are usually the result of explosions, melee attacks, or in some cases, glitches in the physics engine. Despite its informal nature, the term adds flavor to the community’s understanding of gameplay events.
What Causes Flinging Effects?
There are a few common scenarios where enemies or objects appear to be flung across the map. While mostly visual, these can sometimes influence gameplay or change how players interpret outcomes:
- Explosives: Grenades and rockets may blast enemies out of cover or send ragdoll bodies flying on death.
- MEC Trooper Attacks: The Kinetic Strike Module from MEC units can produce powerful knockback effects.
- Environmental Collapse: Destroying supports for structures can lead to dramatic physics events.
- Glitches: Sometimes the Havok engine miscalculates impact forces, resulting in extreme flings.
The Role of Physics in Enemy Within
Havok Physics Engine
XCOM: Enemy Withinuses the Havok physics engine, which powers much of the object and character interaction with the environment. When something explodes or collapses, Havok calculates where the pieces go and how bodies move. While this usually adds realism and immersion, it can also cause hilarious or surprising moments. A body flying twenty feet in the air from a grenade is often referred to as being flung.
Visual Flair or Tactical Impact?
Most fling effects are purely visual and do not impact enemy behavior or damage output. However, in certain cases especially with explosive barrels or destructible terrain these interactions can change the flow of battle by removing cover, causing fall damage, or disabling access paths. Understanding how to leverage this in your favor can give a small strategic edge, even if the primary result is entertainment.
MEC Troopers and Fling Mechanics
Kinetic Strike Module
One of the most likely sources of fling moments is the MEC Trooper’s melee ability. The Kinetic Strike Module delivers a devastating punch that can obliterate enemies, destroy cover, and in some cases, launch targets across the map. This ability is especially effective against organic targets like Thin Men or Floaters, often sending them ragdolling in amusing ways.
Collateral Damage Ability
Another MEC tool, the Collateral Damage ability, allows for area destruction. This can cause multiple enemies or structures to be affected at once, potentially leading to large-scale physics reactions. Sometimes enemies caught in the edge of a blast will ragdoll dramatically, giving that sense of being ‘flung.’
Grenades, Rockets, and Knockback
Standard Explosives
Grenades and rocket launchers don’t have official knockback mechanics inXCOM: Enemy Within, but they can cause units to enter ragdoll physics upon death. A grenade that kills multiple enemies in cover might send limbs or weapons flying, creating the impression of a fling effect. It’s purely cosmetic, but it certainly adds flair to the battlefield.
Use in Strategy
While fling effects are visual, their underlying causes explosives do have strong tactical implications. Grenades can:
- Destroy enemy cover
- Force enemies to reposition
- Eliminate tightly grouped threats
- Trigger enemy death animations that result in visible flinging
In these cases, the dramatic fling may simply be a side effect of excellent tactical execution.
Environmental Destruction and Unexpected Movement
Structural Collapse
Blowing up the floor underneath enemies, walls beside them, or ceilings above them can result in sudden drops or flying debris. These events often trigger ragdoll behavior and, in some cases, appear as flinging. For example, shooting down a watchtower with a sniper may result in an enemy flying off it in a spectacular display of physics.
Fling as a Result of Bugs
Occasionally, the game’s physics engine bugs out and causes extreme launch animations. An alien may be hit with a grenade and be launched dozens of feet, even into invisible geometry. These events, though unintended, are part of the charm that makesXCOM: Enemy Withinmemorable for many fans.
Community Perception and Humor
Memes and Montages
Because fling moments are so visually absurd and surprising, they have become a staple inXCOMcommunity content. You’ll find countless clips online showcasing spectacular alien launches, flying Thin Men, or MEC punches sending enemies into orbit. While not official features, these moments add levity to an otherwise serious and punishing strategy game.
Replayability and Emergent Moments
These unpredictable flings contribute to the emergent storytelling that definesXCOM. A simple mission can become unforgettable when a rocket sends a Muton cartwheeling through the air, or a building collapse causes a Berserker to fly down two floors. It’s not just about tactics it’s about the moments that make each campaign unique.
Does Fling Affect Game Mechanics?
Not Usually
Most fling events are strictly visual. Once a unit is dead, its body follows physics rules for animation but does not affect gameplay. That said, if a living enemy falls from a platform due to structural collapse, it may take fall damage or even die, making these situations tactically relevant. MEC punches can also reposition enemies if they survive the blow.
Rare Gameplay Impact
Sometimes, flinging may affect loot collection or line of sight. If an enemy is killed and their body flies into an inaccessible location, you may lose a weapon fragment or Meld container. This is rare but something to be aware of, especially when explosives are used near map edges or high places.
InXCOM: Enemy Within, the term fling may not exist in the game’s official glossary, but it’s come to represent a shared experience among players one full of surprise, laughter, and occasionally, tactical success. Whether from a MEC’s punch, a lucky rocket shot, or just the game engine having a rough day, flings contribute to the dynamic and often unpredictable atmosphere of XCOM. While not a feature you can plan around, it’s certainly one you can enjoy when it happens. After all, nothing says victory quite like watching an alien cartwheel off a rooftop after a perfect grenade toss.