Engineer

Starting Loadout

Strengths: Anti-vehicle specialist; vehicle repair

Weaknesses: Limited anti-infantry capability

Engineers are great at taking out vehicles as well as fixing them. Out of the gate, the engineer is equipped with the MBT LAW rocket launcher. Use this weapon, and the kit’s vast arsenal of other launchers, to take out enemy vehicles, including heavily armored tanks, IFVs, and even aircraft—the FIM-92 Stinger and SA-18 IGLA shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles are perfect for shooting down helicopters and jets. While the engineer is strong against vehicles, the kit’s PDWs are a bit underpowered, particularly at long range. So when you’re not facing tons of vehicles, consider choosing a different kit with better performance against infantry. Alternatively, equip your engineer with a carbine or DMR for better performance at range. In addition to demolishing vehicles, the engineer can also repair them with the Repair Tool. Repairing manned friendly vehicles can earn you Repair points, a great way to supplement your score. Try to use the vehicle you’re repairing as cover to avoid getting picked off by enemies. Or send an EOD Bot in to handle dangerous repair, armament, and disarmament jobs. The engineer is essential to any squad, so take the time to learn this class.

Unlock Progression

Gadgets

Repair Tool

• Unlock: Engineer Kit Start
• Description: Handheld oxy-fuel welding and cutting torch that repairs friendly vehicles and damages enemy vehicles and infantry.

Field Notes

The engineer kit’s Repair Tool is the only way to repair disabled vehicles. To deploy, simply stand next to a damaged vehicle (while aiming at it) and hold down the trigger. Watch the circular meter in the center of the HUD fill in a clockwise fashion. Once the meter is filled completely, the vehicle is fully repaired. You’re vulnerable while using this tool, so make sure you have adequate cover. During tank duels, stand behind a friendly tank and repair it as it takes damage. Repairing vehicles manned by a team or squadmate earns you Repair points—a great way to boost your score while playing as an engineer. The Repair Tool can also be turned against enemies—torching an occupied enemy vehicle causes it to lose health rapidly. But be careful when using the Repair Tool on an enemy vehicle. If the vehicle’s health is completely depleted, the vehicle will explode, killing you. In addition to damaging enemy vehicles, the repair tool is also lethal against enemy infantry. All it takes is a quick hit with this torch to send your opponent back to the deployment screen.

RPG-7V2

• Unlock: 109,000 Engineer Score
• Description: Powerful rocket-propelled anti-vehicle launcher capable of disabling even heavily armored vehicles from the sides and rear. Capable of locking on to laser-designated targets.

Field Notes

The RPG-7V2 is an extremely powerful anti-tank weapon. Unlike most AT weapons, this rocket launcher has no optical sighting system. Instead you must use the rudimentary ironsights to aim the weapon prior to launch. Aim high when firing at distant infantry or vehicles because the rocket tends to drop when traveling great distances. Despite its somewhat crude targeting mechanism, the RPG-7V2 is capable of locking on to laser-designated targets as well. When you spot a bright red diamond icon on the HUD, an enemy vehicle (or stationary weapon) has been painted by a teammate. Aim at the diamond icon while peering through the RPG-7V2’s ironsights to acquire a lock. When the word “SHOOT” appears above the diamond icon, the target is locked—this is your cue to fire. Once launched, the rocket automatically homes in on the painted target, scoring a hit. Given the RPG-7V2’s limited accuracy, firing at laser-designated targets is recommended, particularly when engaging moving or distant threats.

FIM-92 Stinger

• Unlock: 18,000 Engineer Score
• Description: An anti-air missile with a focused targeting system for locking on to and guiding the missile towards long-range targets.

Field Notes

With helicopters and jets firing rockets and missiles from above, the battlefield is a dangerous place for troops on the ground. Fortunately, engineers have a powerful way to counter these airborne threats. Simply aim the missile at an enemy jet or helicopter and wait for a red diamond-shaped icon to surround the aircraft while peering through the weapon’s sight. When the word “SHOOT” appears above the diamond icon, the missile has attained a lock and is ready to fire. At this point the missile automatically tracks the targeted aircraft and slams into it, dealing heavy damage. But before spending an entire round looking skyward, make sure a teammate is watching your back. While peering through the Stinger’s sight, you’re extremely vulnerable to sneaky knife attacks. It’s also a good idea to be near a support teammate so you can resupply from an Ammo Box.

M15 AT Mine

• Unlock: 55,000 Engineer Score
• Description: A heavy explosive that is triggered when an enemy vehicle rolls over it.

Field Notes

This is a powerful anti-tank mine, effective against any ground vehicle. It takes two of these mines to take out a tank, but a single mine is powerful enough to instantly disable all other vehicles. Scatter these around high-traffic areas such as control points or M-COM stations. Chokepoints like bridges or narrow urban streets are also good ambush spots. Enemy mines can be destroyed with explosives, such as grenades or tank rounds—any mine can also be picked up by engineers. Although they’re only triggered by enemy vehicles rolling over them, an anti-tank mine can still be lethal to all nearby infantry given its large blast radius. So keep your distance, or else you may be killed by your own detonating mine. Even after you die, the mines you’ve placed on the map remain for several minutes.

MBT LAW

• Unlock: Engineer Kit Start
• Description: A guided homing missile weapon for taking out enemy land vehicles. Achieve and maintain lock-on until the missile reaches its target.

Field Notes

All engineers begin their tank-busting career with the MBT LAW, equipped with an onboard tracking system. Take aim through the weapon’s optic, keeping the target centered in the middle of the reticle. Fire the missile and watch it zoom toward your target. As the missile approaches the target, it suddenly climbs before crashing down on top of it. This is ideal for scoring critical hits on a tank’s weak top armor. While your target is disabled, quickly fire a follow-up shot. While the MBT LAW’s homing missile is a welcome feature, it doesn’t have the same power as some of the other launchers, like the RPG-7V2, requiring more hits to inflict serious damage. If you want to fire the MBT LAW without exposing yourself, consider engaging laser-designated targets. This allows you to stay and engage distant targets without exposing yourself to retaliatory fire.

SA-18 IGLA

• Unlock: 127,000 Engineer Score
• Description: Equipped with anti-air rockets and a targeting system with a wider field, the user can easily acquire a lock and then maintain it while guiding the missile towards its target.

Field Notes

The IGLA is a shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile system. It functions much like the Stinger, but requires the shooter to maintain a lock on the target until the missile strikes. Begin by tracking an air target through the IGLA’s aiming optic. If the target is within the weapon’s range (approximately 550 meters), a red diamond icon appears around the enemy aircraft surrounded by red brackets. When the brackets converge and form a crosshair icon within the diamond, and the word “SHOOT” appears, a lock has been achieved and the missile can be fired. However, after launch, keep aiming at the enemy aircraft to maintain a lock. If the lock is lost, the missile will veer off-course and miss the target. The IGLA is most effective against high-flying jets, helicopters, and the commander-deployed Gunship. It’s much more difficult to maintain a lock on low-flying aircraft, as trees, buildings, and other objects can be used by skilled pilots to break the weapon’s lock.

M2 SLAM

• Unlock: 164,000 Engineer Score
• Description: Selectable Lightweight Attack Munition (SLAM) usable as either an off-route anti-tank mine or a traditional land mine. Blast damage is less than the M15, but is still capable of a critical hit on heavily armored vehicles.

Field Notes

These small mines don’t pack the same punch as the M15 AT Mines, making them far less effective against tanks and IFVs. But one M2 SLAM still contains enough explosive power to temporarily disable light vehicles and Armored Fighting Vehicles like the SPM-3 and MRAP. Still, you’ll want to scatter several of these mines at narrow chokepoints to guarantee optimal damage—it takes three M2 SLAMs to take out a tank or IFV. Given their small size, these mines are also much tougher to spot, particularly if concealed within grass. Once deployed, any engineer can pick up an M2 SLAM.

EOD Bot

• Unlock: 182,000 Engineer Score
• Description: Remote-controlled Explosive Ordnance Disposal robot, which can repair friendly vehicles, sabotage enemy assets, disarm explosives, and arm or disarm Rush objectives.

Field Notes

When you don’t want to expose yourself to incoming fire, send an EOD Bot to do the dangerous work. However, before you deploy an EOD Bot, find a very good hiding spot. While controlling this robot you’re completely vulnerable to attacks, so drop prone behind some cover to make yourself as invisible as possible. Once the EOD Bot is deployed, the camera switches to the robot’s vantage point, a black-and-white camera view. The EOD Bot controls just like a vehicle. Drive next to a friendly vehicle and repair. Or drive next to an enemy vehicle and damage it with the EOD Bot’s own Repair Tool. The EOD Bot is most effective in Rush matches where it can be used to arm and disarm charges on M-COM stations. But don’t expect your new friend to go unnoticed by enemies. Although this little robot can absorb some damage, it won’t last long when exposed to high concentrations of enemy fire. The EOD Bot can kill enemy infantry with its Repair Tool, but it’s much easier to simply run them over. Scoring a road kill with an EOD Bot is sure to be the highlight of any match.

MK153 SMAW

• Unlock: 200,000 Engineer Score
• Description: High-speed, low-drag anti-vehicle launcher with flatter trajectory but lower damage than the RPG-7V2. Most effective against the sides and rear of armored targets. Capable of locking on to laser-designated targets.

Field Notes

The Shoulder-launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon (SMAW) fires an 83mm High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) rocket ideal for targeting tanks, IFVs, and light vehicles. The rocket’s high speed translates into better accuracy than the RPG-7V2, particularly when firing at distant targets. This means you don’t have to aim as high. In addition to firing in its unguided mode, the SMAW can also lock on to laser-designated targets. But if teaming up with a recon player equipped with a PLD or SOFLAM, consider going with the RPG-7V2 over the SMAW. The RPG-7V2 inflicts considerably more damage than the SMAW, and laser-designation practically guarantees a hit, despite the projectile’s relatively slow speed. But if you don’t have the benefit of engaging painted targets, the SMAW comes out on top thanks in large part to its unguided accuracy.

FGM-148 Javelin

• Unlock: 236,000 Engineer Score
• Description: Guided anti-tank missile launcher that locks on to land vehicles. Warhead does medium damage to armor from any angle of attack. Launcher must maintain lock until the missile hits the target.

Field Notes

Firing a 127mm High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) missile, the Javelin takes tank killing to whole new level. The weapon is aimed through a small TV screen that totally blocks all peripheral vision, so make sure a buddy is watching your back while aiming this weapon system. When you place the green crosshair over a vehicle, a red diamond appears and a beeping sound is heard. When a set of red crosshairs fill the diamond icon and the beeps transition into a solid high-pitched tone, the missile has acquired a lock on the targeted vehicle. Fire the missile, but keep aiming to maintain the lock—if the lock is lost, the missile will fly off-course. When launched, the missile flies straight up then comes crashing down on the target, ideal for scoring critical top hits on tanks and IFVs. However, tanks can break locks by deploying IR Smoke. So consider waiting for a tank to use their smoke before firing a missile. The Javelin can also hit laser-designated targets, allowing you to fire the weapon from behind cover, limiting your exposure. When engaging a laser-designated target, you don’t need to keep aiming—as long as the target is painted, the missile will find its mark without your assistance.

FGM-172 SRAW

• Unlock: 250,000 Engineer Score
• Description: Wire-guided anti-tank missile launcher. Can be manually guided to the target as long as the launcher is in aimed mode. Capable of locking on to laser-designated targets.

Field Notes

Veterans of Battlefield 2 are very familiar with the wire-guided Short-Range Assault Weapon (SRAW). Unlike the other anti-tank weapons in the engineer’s arsenal, this weapon is manually guided. Directional inputs provided by the shooter are fed to the missile in-flight via a thin wire connected to the launcher. The ability to provide course corrections while the missile is in flight makes the SRAW the most accurate anti-vehicle weapon, ideal for hitting moving targets. However, while guiding the missile to a target, you’re vulnerable, particularly given the weapon’s narrow field of view, blocking all peripheral vision. Another drawback is the weapon’s relatively weak explosive payload—even when scoring critical top hits, it can take more than four SRAW missiles to knock out a single tank. Like other anti-vehicle weapons, the SRAW can also lock on to laser-designated targets. But when engaging painted tanks and IFVs, all other anti-vehicle weapons inflict more damage than the SRAW. As a result, this weapon is best deployed against fast-moving light vehicles and other soft targets when laser designation is not available.

Engineer: Scoring Opportunities

Unique Field Upgrades

Engineer Tactics

• The PDWs associated with this kit are excellent during close-quarter fire fights thanks to their blazing rates of fire and high hip fire accuracy. Consider equipping a Laser Sight to these weapons in an effort to blind your opponents, giving you a slight advantage in dark environments. A Laser Sight also improves the PDW’s hip fire accuracy.
• If the PDWs don’t have the range you seek, consider switching to a carbine or DMR. The engineer unlocks the first carbine, the AK 5C, soon after acquiring the FIM-92 Stinger. Carbines offer greater accuracy and damage output at intermediate range.
• Make friends with the support class. You’ll need Ammo Boxes dropped at your feet if you want to keep firing rockets and missiles. Given the greater emphasis on laser-designation, a recon squadmate equipped with a SOFLAM or PLD is also essential.
• If you have plans for driving or riding in a tank or IFV, bring along a Repair Tool. As the vehicle takes damage, hop out and repair while your crewmate continues fighting. But when you exit, be careful to use your damaged vehicle for cover to avoid falling victim to incoming fire.
• When serving aboard a vehicle, consider choosing the Mechanic Field Upgrade path. The upgrades in this path increase your efficiency when repairing. If you reach the end of the path you can take advantage of the Repair Unit upgrade. When driving (or riding) in a vehicle, this upgrade emits a repair radius, automatically repairing nearby friendly vehicles. Two tanks driven by engineers with this upgrade are a force to be reckoned with, allowing the tanks to repair each other when side-by-side.
• The engineer’s Stinger and IGLA help even the playing field when enemy jets and helicopters are present. But you must maintain line-of-sight with the target to achieve a missile lock. If your target flies behind a hill or line of trees before a lock is achieved, the missile cannot be fired. The missile cannot be dumb-fired at any other targets either. So don’t bother equipping these missiles unless there’s plenty of air traffic.
• Never attack tanks or IFVs head-on with a rocket launcher. For one, the driver will probably see you and return fire, sending you back to the deploy screen. Second, the front armor on these vehicles is very thick, reducing the effectiveness of your weapon’s warhead. Instead, try to hit the vehicle from the side or rear, where you’re less likely to be spotted. Furthermore, the side armor is weaker than the front and the rear and top armor is weakest of all, ensuring your rocket inflicts maximum damage.
• Try to hit tanks and IFVs at perpendicular angles when attacking with the rocket and missile launchers. Glancing shots may deflect, inflicting considerably less damage. A rocket striking armor at a perpendicular angle ensures maximum penetration by the warhead’s shaped charge. The vertical surfaces covering the wheels and treads on the side are good targets, as is the engine compartment at the back of each vehicle, and the weak top armor. Hitting any of these areas at a perpendicular angle increases the likelihood of scoring a critical hit, temporarily immobilizing the vehicle.
• Anti-tank mines, like the M15 AT Mine and M2 SLAMS, are extremely powerful explosives capable of instantly disabling any ground vehicle. Consider deploying mines when defending a static position with predictable avenues of attack, such as bridges.
• If defending a static position, such as in Rush, consider opting for the Anti-Tank Field Upgrade path. This significantly increases the number of mines and rockets you can carry and deploy.

Pro Tip: StrongSide

This is the most important class when playing on vehicle-heavy maps. I like to run with one or two engineers in my squad and gang up on all the enemy vehicles throughout the map. Doing this will ensure you have the advantage against the enemy vehicles. In Rush, the EOD Bot is extremely useful and fun. The EOD Bot is extremely fast and if you can master driving it you’ll be able to pull off some incredible plays. My favorite thing to do is sneak by enemy defenses and arm M-COM stations with the EOD Bot before the enemy knows what happened.

Pro Tip: Flamesword

This class is one of the most important classes in the game. The RPG-7V2 plays a big role in destroying vehicles. I especially enjoy using the RPG-7V2 to clear out squads hiding behind cover or in buildings—the impact of the rocket will destroy anything in its path, either killing the enemy or destroying their cover.

Pro Tip: Elumnite

When playing as the engineer class I like to keep it basic and use the RPG-7V2 for some quick explosive action. I find myself using this just for the great mix of indoor/outdoor combat availability. Whether engaging infantry in buildings, or IFVs and tanks out in the open, this high-damage rocket launcher is ideal for taking out opponents nice and fast.

Pro Tip: Walshy

When playing as an engineer I am focused on one thing—vehicles. Whether it is destroying enemy vehicles or repairing my team’s vehicles, I always make sure to have both options available to me by equipping the Repair Tool and my favorite rocket launcher, the Javelin.