Team Strategies

Warzone & Execution

The map’s power weapon locations—a Mulcher/Mortar flip and a Boomshot/Torque Bow combo—are both affected by the avalanche, which occurs each round. You can obtain the Mulcher/Mortar on the upper terrace right off the bat, but staying in that position is deadly once the snow pours down. The terrace’s elevated position is ideal for spotting and firing on enemies. Set up shop in the middle of the terrace until the sirens sound. Then move off to the left or right, outside the snow tracks’ permanent boundaries on the ground.

The Torque Bow/Boomshot spawn is atop a gazebo and is inaccessible until the avalanche comes to a rest and the snow clears. Get into position just outside the avalanche’s path and rush the position as soon as the snow stops moving. If the opposition also attempts to rush the location, use the stone walls as cover. Another option is to obtain the Boomshield and slowly advance to the weapon’s position behind its cover. Once you reach the weapon’s position, switch to the weapon that you intend to swap out. Doing so forces you to drop the Boomshield. Quickly swap weapons and then reclaim the shield. The upgraded offensive and defensive power at your disposal will turn the tide of the match.

The map’s northern end contains a Boomshield in the back of a pickup truck and two pistol pickups opposite one another. Pairing the Boomshield with either the Boltok or Gorgon Pistol is a lethal combo in this area. This spot is out of the way from the Mortar and Mulcher (assuming whoever claims them doesn’t run too far), and it’s safe from the avalanche threat. Securing this pair of weapons or helping a teammate do so sets you up nicely to go after either the Torquebow or Boomshot in the wide-open middle of the map.

Submission

The Stranded can spawn on either end of the map or down in the lower portion. The avalanche does not come into play, so the grenades in the middle are always available, but the Boomshot and Torquebow are out of play. The absence of those weapons places an emphasis on securing the Mulcher/Mortar, especially when the capture point is at that pickup’s location. Lay down covering fire from the elevated perch as your teammates drag the Stranded to the goal, confident that there will be no avalanche to leave you out in the cold.

Using the Boomshield and Gorgon Pistol combo can work wonders on this map. Grab both and advance ahead of the teammate who is dragging the Stranded. Keep the shield raised for cover and keep moving. Your progress is slow, but it matches that of your teammate with the Stranded. The combined defensive edge you both gain should keep you moving forward steadily while teammates harass opponents and scout ahead. We highly recommend this tactic!

Use the wooden structures near the two spawn points as you drag the Stranded across the map. These areas provide increased cover and allow teammates to protect you from both directions more easily. Leave proximity grenades on entrances to the rear of your advance to slow the enemy pursuit.

When the capture point is in one of the two pistol locations, plant a proximity grenade in the corner between the two windows. This position is hard to identify by an opponent dragging the Stranded in for a score.

Wingman

There’s always an advantage to gain in Wingman depending on where you and your partner spawn. On Avalanche, the team with the biggest initial advantage is the one that spawns in either of the pistol rooms. Have one teammate grab both the pistol and Boomshield. Then advance on enemies together, downing them from behind the Boomshield’s cover. The unencumbered teammate can run in for the execution.

Another good spawn position is nearest the Mulcher/Mortar pick-up. Grab it and fire a few Mortar rounds around the map, or mount the Mulcher on the central railing and see if anyone runs into your kill zone. However, don’t camp out too long, because racking up kills is the name of the game—and it doesn’t take long before the avalanche crashes down!

Guardian

Unlike most maps, the spawn areas on Avalanche do not present an ideal position for the Team Leader to assume a defensive stance.

Other than the space between the two doorways, there is no cover and no chokepoint of any kind. Advance as a team to the map’s northern end and allow the Team Leader to obtain the Boomshield before falling back into one of the pistol rooms. Place proximity grenades on the room’s doorways and between the windows. The Boomshield provides the necessary protection, while the upgraded pistols down charging enemies. The overhead cover neutralizes Mortar fire.

Another tactic is to move as a unit to the map’s southern end to obtain the sole power weapon available at the match’s start (Mortar/Mulcher). Have the Team Leader set up camp in the corner, next to one of the staircases that lead up to the elevated platform. This keeps the Team Leader out of the avalanche’s path and allows him or her to participate offensively with the power weapon. Place proximity mines on the stairwell nearest to your position and watch for Frag Grenades getting tossed from below. This setup can even lead to enemy casualties from the avalanche as it floods the area.

Occasionally rush a few players through the map’s lower portion in an attempt to storm the enemy leader. Grab the grenades for a chance to apply a Frag Tag or to flush out the enemy leader with an Ink Grenade’s toxic cloud. Many teams try to keep their Team Leader in either of the side houses or by the spawn point, so check their first.

Annex & King of the Hill

The avalanche does not occur during Annex or King of the Hill matches, so the Mortar/Mulcher are the only long-range power weapons. Unfortunately, the continual need to run from capture point to capture point in Annex matches limits their usefulness. Instead of trying to drag around one of these heavy weapons, focus on obtaining the Boomshield early and hold onto it for its defensive boost as you defend capture points.

Make every effort to be the first team to secure the capture points on this map. The central Frag Grenade location can be a back-and-forth affair, but the Boomshield and Mortar/Mulcher capture points offer great opportunities for extended defense. The elevated position and ability to obtain the Mortar or Mulcher make the map’s southern end very easy to hold. At the northern end, the Boomshield, the cover objects in the street, and the two Pistol rooms make breaking that position very difficult.

When you try to break one of these positions, be sure to pick up the Frag or Ink Grenades on the way. Lob them in ahead of your attack. When you attack the Boomshield position, consider grabbing the Mortar to clear the area, as there is very little interior cover here. This is especially important during King of the Hill matches, when at least one enemy player must be inside the capture circle in order to score.

Horde

Although the level’s signature cascade of snow doesn’t manifest itself during Horde matches, this is still a very tricky area for playing Horde. Teams should congregate on the raised platform near the Mulcher to gain superior elevation. Spread out along this southern area to protect the upper region and trap Horde members in a crossfire on the street below. Instructing one swift player to secure the Boomshield from the map’s opposite end during an early round proves very helpful later in the game.

It’s important to protect the person manning the Mulcher or Mortar, but do not group the entire team in this area. It’s much better to spread out toward the stairs on either side of this upper area. Use the park benches in the plaza below for cover. This puts your team in position to cut down the enemies as they leave the cabins. It even provides a chance to shoot them through the fence on the left spawn point.

Securing the map’s southern portion forces the Horde to spawn at the northern end. This provides plenty of opportunity to kill them with the Mortar as they cross the yard. Many other Locust spawn in the two side-areas behind the cabins, where the teams spawn during Warzone matches. Avoid straying into either of the cabins, as you run the risk of getting vastly outnumbered, and you open the opportunity for the Horde to spawn closer to the Mortar position.

Know Your Role

The following tactics correspond to the numbered positions marked on the accompanying map. Follow these tips carefully for maximum survivability. These tips assume a five-person team.

The person least skilled at run-and-gun tactics should head to the Mulcher/Mortar position and put it to use from atop the platform. This player’s primary responsibility is to eliminate the distant enemies, before they get too close and render the Mortar useless. Avoid drifting too far to the left or right. Whatever you do, stay on the raised platform to maintain your superior elevation. In addition to eliminating distant enemies, this player should serve as a spotter, calling out where the Locust are coming from and where other players may need help.

Claim a position on the left stairs, with your back to the mountains. Place grenades at the top of the stairs to serve as a last line of defense against any Locust that get past you. The person on the left staircase has a somewhat harder job than player #3 because many of the spawning Locust shoot through the metal fence behind the cabin. Use the side of the stairs for cover. Focus your attention on the cabin exit and the enemies appearing in the spawn area behind it. Maintain communication with player #4 and help revive one another as necessary.

Player #3 must maintain a last line of defense on the fortified area’s right side by keeping enemies from scaling the stairs on this side of the map. Plant proximity mines at the top of the stairs to disrupt any enemies that make it past. Focus on assisting player #5 with the enemies exiting the right cabin. Keep your sights on the cabin exit and the courtyard stairs near the center, as this is where a lot of enemies go. Player #3 needn’t worry about getting shot by Locust hanging out in the right side spawn point. But this also means he or she can’t see how many are about to emerge from within the cabin. Keep your head up and assist player #5 by reviving him as necessary.

We recommend that this player get the Boomshield at the match’s start and then quickly retreat to the sandbags near the bottom of the left stairs. This player must be skilled with close-range combat. Watch for enemies emerging from the cabin and from the courtyard, as well as those that shoot through the spawn point’s iron fence behind the cabin. Gather up dropped weaponry from the slain Locust, and try to make periodic dashes for Frag Grenades. You can place them at the cabin exit and on the corner of the building near the courtyard.

Player #5 should take cover at the far end of the benches near the stairs. He or she is in prime position to rack up a number of kills as enemies exit the right cabin. Assist player #3 by keeping the Locust from advancing up the stairs toward player #1’s position. Coordinate ammo grabs with player #4. The player in this position can freelance a bit at this end of the map. But stay out of the cabin to avoid giving the Locust a chance to spawn too close to your team’s fortified area. Watch the number of remaining Horde to make a dash for grenades and other weaponry—especially a dropped Boomshield—before anyone kills off the final enemy.