Update 1: I removed the section claiming being prone made you immune to standing One Hit Kills. You can be one hit killed while prone. However the normal rules for countering also apply so you can still turn the tables. Additionally if the enemy ends up doing a regular brainer melee or swing that will miss you.

One of the first obstacles you will probably run into online is dealing with brainers. Brainers are the axes you utilize in the Melee Stance that allow the ability to do one-hit kills against your foes, provided you can get near them without dying. Due to the quick movement speed of Melee Stance, the confined hallways of many stages, and the likelihood of running into someone around a corner, this weapon can initially feel like an insurmountable challenge. However the game does provide some techniques to counter the brainer.

As a note, when in Melee Stance you have two separate moves at your disposable. The first move is done with the regular Fire button, where you automatically run up to your opponent and, once close enough, do a one-hit kill animation on them. The other is a normal melee attack done with the Melee button. In this guide, when I write “brainer attack” I will refer to the one-hit kill move done with the Fire button since this is the most regular move used with a brainer. “Brainer melee” will refer to doing a melee attack with the Melee button.

1. Perform a Counter-Attack
When someone attacks you with a brainer attack you can perform a counter-attack, stopping their axe swing and automatically following up with your own instant kill move. This is done by pressing the Melee button when your opponent does their brainer attack. You can perform a counter-attack no matter whether you have a gun equipped or are in Melee Stance.

You have to predict when your opponent attacks but there are some useful bits of information that can guide you to choosing the right timing. Remember that the brainers have a large conic range in which they can lock on to an enemy player but they still need to be relatively close to you to attack. Also, typically in Melee Stance a player will have their axe to the side and their shield over their face but once they initiate a brainer attack their character will automatically start running towards their target with both hands outstretched to their sides. Using these bits of information you can intuit when your opponent is probably about to attack. After all, if they are standing in front you they are at risk of dying from your gunfire. If they aren’t going to attack when in range they are potentially just going to die without getting the chance to do anything.


2. Do your own brainer attack to cause a clash
If you and your opponent use a brainer attack on each other at the same time your weapons will clash and bounce off each other, pushing both players away from each other. Then you’re back to guessing what your opponent will do next. They could attempt to do another brainer attack, they could wait and do a counter-attack in response to your brainer attack, or they could just pull out a gun and shoot you (maybe even going prone while they’re at it).

See a video example here (the embedded version didn't seem to work): https://youtu.be/87OUsmzSeYA?t=4

Now that you know you can counter brainers, what can the person attacking with the brainer do about that? The answer is charging your brainer. When you hold the Ready Weapon button while in Melee Stance your brainer will make a noise and start to glow until it is red hot. Once charged your brainer cannot be countered. The time to charge and the length of time your brainer remains charged is the main differentiator between the various brainers you can equip. The shorter the charge time, the quicker your brainer attack become un-counterable. The longer time it holds its charge the longer it remains un-counterable.

The main drawback of charging your brainer is the extremely loud sound it makes, alerting anyone nearby that you’re coming. So if you charge your brainer be careful of your target being ready to shoot you before you get to them!

Another, more risky tactic, to getting around a counter-attack is to delay your brainer attack. If your opponent presses melee at the wrong time they will be stuck doing a melee attack and will be completely open to your brainer attack. The risk here is that your target may just be shooting you until they see your brainer attack animation; if you delay your brainer attack you may just take bullets to the face for no reason.

In situations where your target is prone you can still do a one-hit kill if you are prone as well.

The game is still new and the strategies around these mechanics may change as players become more knowledgeable. If you have any extra tips or corrections please post them in the comments! But I hope this information makes the brainers less scary for you when playing online.