There are five game modes spread across nine different maps, offering plenty of variety for all. Most of the game modes are familiar classics, but the addition of Team Deathmatch ramps up the intensity for those who prefer nonstop action.
Conquest/Conquest 64
In Conquest, you must be within a flag’s capture radius to raise or protect your team’s flag.
Max Players: 24 Console/64 PC
This classic Battlefield game mode is back. Your team must dominate the area of operations by capturing control points and holding them. Simply stand next to a flag pole at a control point to raise your team’s flag as long as you are in majority in the area – the more teammates there are in the flag’s capture radius, the faster the flag is raised. You can drain the enemy ticket count by holding more than half of the control points on the map and killing enemies also reduce their available tickets.
Once captured, some control points provide vehicles and stationary weapons, so leave some personnel back to defend these locations. Both teams have a limited number of reinforcements known as tickets. The ticket count for both teams appears just above the minimap—the team who runs out of tickets first, loses the match.
You can drain the enemy ticket count by holding more than half of the control points on the map. So if there are four control points, all you need to do is hold three to initiate a ticket drain. So capture a majority of the control points early on and stay put, thereby forcing the enemy to attack your defended positions.
Hardcore Mode
Hardcore mode is back, available on all game modes. This setting removes most of the HUD elements, including the reticle. Therefore, you must aim using the weapon’s ironsight or scope view. Friendly fire is turned on, so watch your fire around teammates, especially when using explosive weapons. The weapons also inflict much more damage, making for a hyper-realistic Battlefield experience designed specifically for experts.
Rush
Destroying and defending objectives known as M-COM stations is the focus of Rush matches.
Max Players: 24 Console/32 PC
In this game mode, one team is the attacker while the other is the defender. On the map there are several bases controlled by the defender—the US team always attacks and the RU team always defends. The attacker’s objective is to destroy the two M-COM stations at each base.
Once both stations have been destroyed, that base is considered destroyed and the defender receives a new base to defend with two more M-COM stations. The attacker has a limited number of tickets at the beginning of a match, which is shown just above the minimap. Whenever an attacking soldier dies, it costs a ticket for the soldier to respawn on the map.
Once the tickets run out, the attackers can’t spawn new soldiers back onto the map and the defenders win. However, once the attacker destroys a base, the team gets more tickets as well as a new set of vehicles. The defenders do not have to worry about tickets—they have an unlimited number of respawns. The defender wins by eliminating all attackers and reducing their tickets before they can destroy all the M-COM stations on the map.
Squad Rush
Despite the low player count, always approach an M-COM station cautiously in Squad Rush.
Max Players: 8
Squad Rush is a modified version of Rush that pits two squads against each other in a compact attack/defend style game. In this mode there are only two zones, with only one M-COM station positioned at each.
It’s the job of the defending team’s four-player squad to defend each base’s M-COM station against the four-player attacking squad. The gameplay is identical to Rush, but on a much smaller scale that emphasizes infantry combat. Teamwork is essential if you wish to come out on top, so stay together and keep the lines of communication open at all times.
Squad Deathmatch
In Squad Deathmatch, try to take control of the IFV to give your team a big score boost.
Max Players: 16
In this mode there are four four-player squads, each representing a different team: A, B, C, and D. The team that scores 50 kills first wins—the score is listed on the left side of the screen above the minimap. To make things more interesting, each Squad Deathmatch map contains one Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) that spawns in one of four possible locations.
Whoever can take control of this vehicle gains a huge advantage in firepower. But while manning the vehicle, be aware that there are three other squads gunning for you. As you can imagine, this is a very fast-paced game mode that is best played with good squad mates you can rely on to watch your back. Stay together, and stay alive!
Team Deathmatch
If you can’t find any teammates nearby, immediately seek cover—this game mode does not favor solo players.
Max Players: 24 Console/32 PC
Team Deathmatch is a no-holds-barred infantry-only battle in a confined area. The two teams struggle to score the most kills to win the match. Each kill is counted, so take down your enemies to increase your team’s score, which is represented by the numbers and status bars above the minimap.
It’s your choice whether to stick with your team or to go on a solo hunt. But be warned, the tempo is high and enemies can pop up from behind almost any corner. Monitor the scoring status bars to see how the fight is going, and make tactical adjustments as necessary.
For example, if both teams are close to scoring the requisite points for a win, play it safe to avoid giving the enemy team the kills they need. Squads are still available in Team Deathmatch, but you can’t spawn on squad members.