---
key: mechanic/tactics-defense--t079
type: mechanic
id: tactics-defense--t079
lang: en
title: 'Positioning, flanking and cover'
summary: >-
  Position changes protection and target access, while flanking circumvents the
  advantage of a frontal engagement.
updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
status: active
url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/tactics-defense--t079/'
jsonUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/tactics-defense--t079.json
markdownUrl: >-
  https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/tactics-defense--t079.md
aliases:
  - 'Position, flanks and cover'
tags:
  - Tactics and defense
  - Mechanics and variants
sourceIds:
  - source-32d0598945d8807a
  - source-135697a6b5dd7a69
sources:
  - id: source-32d0598945d8807a
    title: OpenRA
    url: 'https://www.openra.net/'
    verifiedAt: null
  - id: source-135697a6b5dd7a69
    title: XCOM® 2
    url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/268500/'
    verifiedAt: null
relations: []
placements:
  - catalogId: tactics-defense
    id: t079
    title: Tactics and defense
    url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/tactics-defense/#t079'
    categoryIds:
      - mechanics
supersededBy: []
attributes:
  preview:
    updatedAt: '2026-10-22'
    title: 'Position, flanks and cover'
    description: >-
      Position changes protection and target access, while flanking circumvents
      the advantage of a frontal engagement.
    image:
      src: images/mechanics/strategy-xcom2-04.webp
      width: 615
      height: 346
      game: XCOM® 2
      sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/268500/'
      originalUrl: >-
        https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/268500/ss_50b987ea0074e44de58a9b4df87efb529cc8f625.1920x1080.jpg?t=1772813016
      credit: >-
        Firaxis Games / Feral Interactive (Mac) / Feral Interactive (Linux) / 2K
        / Feral Interactive (Mac) / Feral Interactive (Linux)
      rights: >-
        © Firaxis Games / Feral Interactive (Mac) / Feral Interactive (Linux) /
        2K / Feral Interactive (Mac) / Feral Interactive (Linux). All rights
        reserved.
      caption: Position affects the shot calculation
      alt: Position affects the shot calculation
      markers:
        - x: 24
          'y': 88
          label: Aim and weapon range contribute to the shot calculation
        - x: 73
          'y': 88
          label: Flanking the target adds a bonus
    tips:
      - Explain changes in hit chance through the actual position and cover.
    examples:
      - title: XCOM® 2
        url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/268500/'
endsAt: null
provenance: >-
  Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on
  2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design
  examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests.
  Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not
  every proposed variant.
license: CC-BY-4.0
codeLicense: MIT
attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors
catalogKey: catalog/tactics-defense
---
# Positioning, flanking and cover

id: tactics-defense--t079
type: mechanic
key: mechanic/tactics-defense--t079
lang: en
status: active
url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/tactics-defense--t079/

Position changes protection and target access, while flanking circumvents the advantage of a frontal engagement.

## At a glance

![Position affects the shot calculation](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/strategy-xcom2-04.webp)

[XCOM® 2](https://store.steampowered.com/app/268500/) · © Firaxis Games / Feral Interactive (Mac) / Feral Interactive (Linux) / 2K / Feral Interactive (Mac) / Feral Interactive (Linux). All rights reserved.

1. Aim and weapon range contribute to the shot calculation
2. Flanking the target adds a bonus

- Explain changes in hit chance through the actual position and cover.

- [XCOM® 2](https://store.steampowered.com/app/268500/)

## How it works

Position changes protection and target access, while flanking circumvents the advantage of a frontal engagement.

## Variants

### Mechanic variants

<a id="t079-variants"></a>

- Cover protects only against specified directions. <a id="t079-v1"></a>
- Crossfire removes a safe facing direction. <a id="t079-v2"></a>
- Height expands vision at the cost of exposure. <a id="t079-v3"></a>
- Suppression restricts a change of position. <a id="t079-v4"></a>

## Design example

Two fighters occupy separate doors so one barricade cannot protect the opponent from both.

Prototype check: Test that protection is shown relative to the selected attacker rather than as a fixed cell property.

## Context and limits

Tactics and defense turn positioning, action order and preparation into limited resources. Each overview separates player actions, state changes and alternative rules. Examples are hypothetical design scenarios, not claims about a named game. A prototype check states an observable question for the next iteration. Existing detailed references remain separately linked from the direction map.

## Connected materials


## Sources and provenance

Original bilingual editorial overviews authored for gamemechanics.pro on 2026-10-20 and reviewed on 2026-10-21. Scenarios are hypothetical design examples; prototype checks describe work to perform, not completed playtests. Primary sources support the stated techniques and implementation context, not every proposed variant.

- [OpenRA](https://www.openra.net/) (id: source-32d0598945d8807a)
- [XCOM® 2](https://store.steampowered.com/app/268500/) (id: source-135697a6b5dd7a69)

CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors