But that's not the case. Again, Praedith's Revenge is one of the finest, if not the finest, crucible sniper rifle, and it has a very low magnetism number.

Dwarf_loa said "all else equal." That phrase means that if two guns were otherwise identical, but one had higher magnetism, that one would perform better.

It does NOT mean that guns with higher magnetism are automatically better than those with lower magnetism, regardless of other factors. It means precisely the opposite.

From reading the replies it sounds like nobody really knows.

Logically, more magnetism is always helpful (if there was 100% magnetism, you would not even have to aim, therefore this is beneficial at lesser values). Whether or not the reticle follows targets is a separate issue.

Weapons with higher aim assist are the better guns, all else equal. In fact, this may be one of the more important stats.

But that's not the case. Again, Praedith's Revenge is one of the finest, if not the finest, crucible sniper rifle, and it has a very low magnetism number.

Logically, more magnetism is always helpful (if there was 100% magnetism, you would not even have to aim, therefore this is beneficial at lesser values). Whether or not the reticle follows targets is a separate issue.

Weapons with higher aim assist are the better guns, all else equal. In fact, this may be one of the more important stats.

I wonder if the value is more like how long it takes before the reticle becomes sticky?

I never posted it though because it's completely qualitative/anecdotal, and I didn't notice any great increase in bullet magnetism either (when intentionally aiming slightly off-target). I do find those sights easier to headshot with though, so something must be happening.

I know YOU are talking about reticule magnetism. I'm trying to clarify whether OP was also talking about that. And, in fact, whether that's actually what the "magnetism" stat refers to at all.

It always happens when I aim for the head (because, sniper), and the head of a closer opponent is 'close' by line of my site, but not actual distance to each other.

I try to aim at distant head that visually is 'just over the shoulder' of close opponent - reticle keeps sticking to closer opponent's head.

In my comment below, I am definitely talking about reticule magnetism, which I love when it helps me, but hate it even more when it hurts me. I'd turn it off if I could.

The first would be the tendency of the targeting reticule to follow or latch on to enemies.

The second would be the tendency of bullets to go toward an enemy (or to go toward a critical zone) even if the reticule position is slightly off.

I've always understood the "target acquisition" property mentioned on some gun sights to be based on the SECOND property, bullet magnetism, and initially I contributed to this thread under that assumption. However, several people have made posts which suggest they're talking about reticule magnetism. I may be right or I may be wrong, but I think we need to definitively establish which one this thread is actually about.

But in PvE I often take a sniper role, and deliberately ignore close opponents and leave them for my team. It's annoying having my intention thwarted when the weapon keeps 'sticking' to unintended targets, particularly when rounds are limited.

Also where do planet destiny find these stats?

I don't know. I was under the impression that the sight had a lot to do with the amount of aim assist, in that it added or took away from the gun's basic stat.

I would imagine the numbers Planet Destiny is showing are the base numbers for each gun, and any given sight will add (or possibly subtract?) a different amount from those.

On the other hand, it's also possible Planet Destiny screwed up and pulled the numbers from guns with sights equipped. Hard to say without a source.