The earthquake-ravaged landscapes in Aftermath aren’t the only things that are a little worse for wear. A complete logistical breakdown has forced soldiers from both sides of the conflict to wage war with what little resources they have at their disposal. The results are some truly inventive, yet crude, implements forged from scavenged weapons, vehicles, and other miscellaneous debris. The improvised weapons and vehicles introduced in this expansion may not look pretty, but they’re more than capable of getting the job done.

Xbows and Bolts

Improvised from a heavily modified M4, the Xbow is a single-shot projectile weapon, much like a bolt-action sniper rifle. The difference lies in how ammunition is handled. The crossbow fires arrow-like bolts instead of bullets. In addition to the default Standard Bolt, there are three other bolts to unlock and choose—you can only select bolts you’ve unlocked by completing specific assignments. Each bolt has its own characteristics that affect range and damage output. This allows you to choose the proper ammo for different tactical situations. For example, the Standard Bolt does nothing to vehicles, but the High-Explosive (HE) Bolt can inflict some serious damage to all units, including tanks. By pressing the fire mode select button, you switch bolt types on the fly—the firing mode icons are replaced by bolt type indicators while wielding the Xbow or Xbow Scoped. Unlike standard firearms, the Xbows aren’t fed through magazines. Instead, bolts must be loaded manually, one at a time. As a result, the Xbows are difficult to use in chaotic close-quarter firefights. It’s best to equip this weapon when engaging single, unsuspecting opponents. Each soldier can carry a maximum of 10 bolts for their Xbow. But new bolts can be acquired from the support class’s ammo box or from the new ammo crates available during Scavenger mode. The best part about the Xbows is that they’re available to all classes and don’t occupy a weapon slot. Instead, they occupy the soldier’s first gadget slot. This gives each soldier the opportunity to carry a pistol and primary weapon in addition to their Xbow. However, it also means you’ll need to leave behind valuable gadgets like medic kits, rocket launchers, and ammo boxes in favor of carrying an Xbow.

Xbow Achievements and Trophies

Name	Criteria	Gamerscore	Trophy
Handyman	Unlock all Xbow parts.	20	Bronze
Homemade Javelin	Destroy a vehicle using the Xbow.	20	Bronze
Pockets Full of Death	Without dying, get a kill with an Xbow, primary weapon, and hand grenade.	30	Silver

Xbow

Ammo: Standard Bolt (default)

Rate of Fire: Single-Shot

Magazine Capacity: 1

Range: Short to Intermediate

Unlock: Sticks and Stones assignment

Win 3 rounds in Scavenger

Xbow Scoped

Ammo: Standard Bolt (default)

Rate of Fire: Single-Shot

Magazine Capacity: 1

Range: Intermediate to Long

Unlock: Go Play Close Quarters assignment

Total of 150 meters headshots with sniper rifles
Total of 150 meters headshots with assault rifles
Total of 150 meters headshots with carbines

Bolts

Bolts are smaller and heavier than arrows fired by bows. They use similar ballistics as bullets, but travel slightly slower. Cumbersome to load and slow in travel, bolts make up for their drawbacks by packing some serious power. As long as a target is within optimal range, scoring a center mass hit or headshot with a bolt is almost always lethal.

Standard Bolt

Damage: Medium

Range: Short to Intermediate

Unlock: Default ammo for Xbow and Xbow Scoped

Scan Bolt

Damage: Medium

Range: Short to Intermediate

Unlock: It Is OK To Thank Me assignment

Get 20 spot assists
Designate 10 vehicles
Get 1 designated assist

Field Notes

The Scan Bolt combines the lethality of the Standard Bolt with the reconnaissance benefits of a T-UGS motion sensor. It displays enemy movement on the minimaps of your teammates. Unlocking this bolt is fairly straightforward, but it helps to have access to the recon class’s SOFLAM to designate vehicles and get a designated assist. If you don’t have the SOFLAM yet, you can laser-designate vehicles from the third seat in a tank equipped with the CITV Station gadget or by using a helicopter’s Laser Painter pilot upgrade. Once unlocked, fire this bolt into high-traffic areas to help direct your teammates toward opponents—this is a great way to score some Motion Sensor Assists. The bolt is also lethal when fired directly at an opponent. The motion sensor will continue detecting enemy movement at the spot where your victim fell.

HE Bolt

Damage: High

Range: Short

Unlock: A Good Demo Man assignment

Get 5 kills with hand grenades
Get 5 kills with underslung grenades
Get 5 kills with C4

Field Notes

To unlock this devastating bolt you must first score a few kills with a variety of explosive weapons. The HE Bolt is a modified Standard Bolt with a small C4 charge taped to the tip. Due to the extra weight on the tip, the bolt flies only a few meters before dropping to the ground and exploding on impact. Due to the extreme bolt drop, always aim high, just as you would when firing a grenade launcher—but aim even higher. The C4 charge exhibits minimal splash damage, but inflicts massive damage when scoring a direct hit, particularly against infantry. In a pinch, this bolt can also damage vehicles, including tanks. But the HE Bolt does significantly less damage than an engineer’s rocket launcher or a standard C4 charge carried by support troops. Still, for classes with no anti-vehicle capability, it’s a nice addition.

Balanced Bolt

Damage: Medium

Range: Long

Unlock: Stay Away From My Tent assignment

Get 50 kills with sniper rifles
Get 10 headshot kills with sidearm

Xbow-Related Assignments

Sticks and Stones

Criteria:

Win 3 rounds in Scavenger.

Reward:
Xbow

Go Play Close Quarters

Criteria:

Total of 150 meters headshots with sniper rifles.
Total of 150 meters headshots with assault rifles.
Total of 150 meters headshots with carbines.

Reward:
Xbow Scoped

It Is OK To Thank Me

Criteria:

Complete Sticks and Stones assignment.
Get 20 spot assists.
Designate 10 vehicles.
Get 1 designated assist.

Reward:
Scan Bolt

Stay Away From My Tent

Criteria:

Complete Sticks and Stones assignment.
Get 50 kills with sniper rifles.
Get 10 headshot kills with sidearm.

Reward:
Balanced Bolt

A Good Demo Man

Criteria:

Complete Sticks and Stones assignment.
Get 5 kills with hand grenades.
Get 5 kills with underslung grenades.
Get 5 kills with C4.

Reward:
HE Bolt

Archery 101

Criteria:

Get 5 Xbow kills.

Reward:
Old School Warrior Dog Tag

William Tell

Criteria:

Complete Archery 101 assignment.
Total of 150 meters headshots with the Xbow.
Get 50 kills with Xbow.

Reward:
William Tell Dog Tag

Light Vehicles

The Aftermath expansion adds three new light vehicles. These heavily modified transports are the fastest land vehicles available on the new maps, useful for rushing control points and M-COM stations at the start of a battle. But their light armor and exposed positions make them death traps if they are driven into heavy action. Most explosive munitions can disable these vehicles with one hit, potentially killing the driver and passengers. Their greatest defensive asset is their speed and off-road capability. To ensure survival, use these vehicles to traverse terrain on a map’s periphery and stay away from heated battles near control points and M-COM stations. Although these vehicles can attain high speeds on roads, most roads are traveled by larger and more deadly vehicles like tanks and IFVs. When possible, stay off-road and out of sight. Such tactics are essential when staging raids on distant enemy-held control points or M-COM stations. There are no vehicle unlocks or loadout options for these vehicles.

Rhino

Nationality: US and RU
Description: Modified van with remote turret and open passenger seats.

Vehicle Performance

Speed
Armor
Firepower

Vehicle Occupancy

Seat	Position	Weapon
1	Driver	HMG .50
2	Passenger	Troop Kit
3	Passenger	Troop Kit
4	Passenger	Troop Kit

Phoenix

Nationality: US
Description: Modified armored jeep with grenade launcher and HMG.

Vehicle Performance

Speed
Armor
Firepower

Vehicle Occupancy

Seat	Position	Weapon
1	Driver	None
2	Gunner	HMG .50
3	Grenadier	Grenade Launcher

Barsuk

Nationality: RU
Description: Modified armored jeep with grenade launcher and HMG.

Vehicle Performance

Speed
Armor
Firepower

Vehicle Occupancy

Seat	Position	Weapon
1	Driver	None
2	Gunner	HMG .50
3	Grenadier	Grenade Launcher

Field Notes

This modified GAZ-3937 Vodnik performs similarly to the Phoenix. However, the turret positions are reversed: the grenade launcher is on the front, and the heavy machine gun is on the back. While the front-mounted grenade launcher can rotate only 180 degrees, the rear-mounted machine gun can traverse a full 360 degrees. This allows the gunner on the back the ability to engage targets in all directions. Since the machine gun is mounted slightly higher than the grenade launcher turret, visibility is unobstructed when engaging targets straight ahead as well. Given the improved visibility of the rear gunner, the Barsuk is harder to sneak up on from the rear—or any direction for that matter. Structurally, the Barsuk has a slightly higher profile than the Phoenix, therefore it is a bit unstable on uneven terrain. Watch your speed when turning, otherwise you may inadvertently roll the vehicle onto its side.

Light Vehicle-Related Assignments

Riding Shotgun

Criteria:

Get 5 kills in the Phoenix.
Get 5 kills in the Barsuk.
Get 5 kills in the Rhino.

Reward:
Grease Monkey Dog Tag

Light Vehicle Tips

Park a Rhino near a control point, loaded with C4. Use the Rhino to bait enemies in, then detonate the C4 once they’re close enough.
Avoid prolonged solo use of the Rhino, as it is prone to being disabled or destroyed if proactive repairs are not made.
While driving the Rhino, avoid tanks and IFVs at all costs because they will quickly destroy the vehicle with one or two direct cannon rounds.
The best method to keep this murder bus in operation is to have passengers repairing the vehicle as it comes under fire. While sitting in the passenger seat you are also able to drop ammo boxes and medic kits, in turn, healing and resupplying the occupants of the vehicle.
The Rhino has little to no cover, which means that occupants are exposed to incoming fire. But in contrast, these openings also give a clear view of anyone attempting to plant C4 on the vehicle.
The Rhino is also great for getting through tight spaces, so don’t be afraid to lose a tank by turning down a small alley. Driving through narrow openings also lends itself well to getting across a map quickly to flank control points during Conquest matches.
In light engagements, the Phoenix and Barsuk are useful as a stationary turrets. Just be sure that an escape route is already available in the event that the fire-fight escalates.
The Phoenix and Barsuk are highly effective patrol vehicles. Make use of their speed and firepower to control objectives and choke points.