---
key: mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-reloading-gun
type: mechanic
id: game-mechanics--gm-reloading-gun
lang: en
title: Reloading gun
summary: >-
The player moves ammunition from reserve into the magazine, trading a short
pause in firing for another burst.
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
status: active
url: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-reloading-gun/
jsonUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-reloading-gun.json
markdownUrl: >-
https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-reloading-gun.md
aliases:
- Reloading
tags:
- Game design techniques
- Weapons
sourceIds:
- source-e2195d37e2e0d97c
- source-b676004ebda95b5a
- source-be6db619f845a24c
- source-c906f91c5dca53b4
- source-0a031a39aeeef0d8
sources:
- id: source-e2195d37e2e0d97c
title: 'Game Mechanics: Reloading gun'
url: 'https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/reloading-gun'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-b676004ebda95b5a
title: Return to Castle Wolfenstein (2001)
url: >-
https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/reloading-gun/game/return-to-castle-wolfenstein
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-be6db619f845a24c
title: Doom 3 (2004)
url: 'https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/reloading-gun/game/doom-3'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-c906f91c5dca53b4
title: 'Amnesia: The Bunker (2023)'
url: 'https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/reloading-gun/game/amnesia-the-bunker'
verifiedAt: null
- id: source-0a031a39aeeef0d8
title: Deep Rock Galactic
url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/'
verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
- catalogId: game-mechanics
id: gm-reloading-gun
title: Game design techniques
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/game-mechanics/#gm-reloading-gun'
categoryIds:
- gm-category-weapons
supersededBy: []
attributes:
preview:
updatedAt: '2026-10-21'
title: Reloading
description: >-
The player moves ammunition from reserve into the magazine, trading a
short pause in firing for another burst.
image:
src: images/mechanics/drg-autocannon.webp
width: 1440
height: 810
game: Deep Rock Galactic
sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/'
originalUrl: >-
https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/548430/ss_e6e1d97ee0a5fc8b82c5a9a1aacba178206e3522.1920x1080.jpg?t=1792497307
credit: Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing
rights: © Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing. All rights reserved.
caption: Autocannon magazine and reserve
alt: >-
Deep Rock Galactic: an autocannon fires at bugs; its built-in display
shows 73 rounds loaded and 330 in reserve.
markers:
- x: 84
'y': 70
label: '73 loaded, 330 in reserve'
tips:
- Show reserve ammunition separately from the loaded magazine.
- Make it clear when reloading can be interrupted.
examples:
- title: Deep Rock Galactic
url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
Editorial reference index based on the 199 public Game Mechanics pattern pages
checked on 2026-10-20. Original concise RU/EN definitions by
gamemechanics.pro; pattern names, category associations and game-reference
URLs retained from gamemechanics.org. The source gallery includes a film
analogy. Linked materials retain their original rights; references are
upstream attributions, not independent verification.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/game-mechanics
---
# Reloading gun
id: game-mechanics--gm-reloading-gun
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-reloading-gun
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/game-mechanics--gm-reloading-gun/
The player moves ammunition from reserve into the magazine, trading a short pause in firing for another burst.
## At a glance
[Deep Rock Galactic](https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/) · © Ghost Ship Games / Coffee Stain Publishing. All rights reserved.
1. 73 loaded, 330 in reserve
- Show reserve ammunition separately from the loaded magazine.
- Make it clear when reloading can be interrupted.
- [Deep Rock Galactic](https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/)
## How it works
The player spends time replenishing ammunition ready to fire.
## Variants
### How the technique works
- The player spends time replenishing ammunition ready to fire.
## Context and limits
All 199 Game Mechanics entries at the check date: player actions, systems, presentation techniques and contested patterns. Entries are grouped by their first source-card category; all categories appear in their descriptions. Definitions use original wording. References link to game-specific galleries; images and videos remain at the source.
## Connected materials
## Sources and provenance
Editorial reference index based on the 199 public Game Mechanics pattern pages checked on 2026-10-20. Original concise RU/EN definitions by gamemechanics.pro; pattern names, category associations and game-reference URLs retained from gamemechanics.org. The source gallery includes a film analogy. Linked materials retain their original rights; references are upstream attributions, not independent verification.
- [Game Mechanics: Reloading gun](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/reloading-gun) (id: source-e2195d37e2e0d97c)
- [Return to Castle Wolfenstein (2001)](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/reloading-gun/game/return-to-castle-wolfenstein) (id: source-b676004ebda95b5a)
- [Doom 3 (2004)](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/reloading-gun/game/doom-3) (id: source-be6db619f845a24c)
- [Amnesia: The Bunker (2023)](https://gamemechanics.org/patterns/reloading-gun/game/amnesia-the-bunker) (id: source-c906f91c5dca53b4)
- [Deep Rock Galactic](https://store.steampowered.com/app/548430/) (id: source-0a031a39aeeef0d8)
CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors