Team Strategies

Warzone & Execution

Each round is likely to start with an initial dash to the barn in the distance. This brings you to the Longshot/Torque Bow drop, located on the structure’s second floor. There is an identical location on the opposite side of the map, so be wary of the opposing team grabbing the same weapon at roughly the same moment and opening fire on you. This corner perch and the window near it provide an excellent sniping spot. To cover your flank, use proximity mines on the pillars near the stairs that lead to the second floor.

Each round, the central bridge that connects the map’s two sides contains a Mortar. The Mortar is within equal reach of both teams, thus making this weapon drop a highly contested location. Smoke Grenades, suppression fire and superior numbers all come in handy when you try to capture this weapon. Should you get the Mortar, fire one shot immediately into the opposite barn to scare off a possible sniper there. Then fall back to your side of the map before you fire any shells. The Mortar can be very useful for flushing out or killing enemies on the barn’s upper floor, where the roof is mostly open.

The Mortar isn’t the only explosive weapon on the map. Each round, the Boomshot is in the river, directly beneath the bridge. The bridge supports provide cover from which one can fire and hide. This drop’s somewhat isolated location can often lead to one-on-one standoffs, not unlike the rush for the Torque Bow on the Canals map. Wait for your enemy to make the first move and down him in the water before you finish him off and claim the Boomshot as a prize. Move up the ramp on your enemies’ side of the river and flank them. At this point in the round, most of the enemy team is often in or near the barns and not expecting someone to advance from the area of the spawn.

Submission

One can initially find the Stranded on or below the central bridge, as well as near either of the two barns. The capture points are the two pistol locations. Because the spawn and capture locations are sometimes very close to one another, you have to be aggressive in claiming the Stranded at the start of the match for a quick win. Doing so can also help avoid a speedy loss.

There are several options for moving the Stranded from one side of the map to the other. You can go over the central bridge or under it, through the river. Going through the river can be a longer trip, but it can be an easier path if the enemy has the bridge covered. Have a teammate scout ahead to obtain the Boomshot and clear the way.

Grab the Mortar and move to the side of the map opposite your team’s capture point. Fire a continuous volley at the area surrounding the capture point as your team moves in. Your fire will keep the enemy suppressed and score some kills as they attempt to block your impending score. One can use the Longshot and Torque Bow in a similar fashion, but the Mortar’s blanketing fire is preferable in a game mode that requires brute force and persistence.

Wingman

As with other maps, your team’s spawn point location can give you an advantage right off the bat if you know how to exploit your good fortune. When you spawn near one of the barns, quickly acquire the Longshot or Torque Bow. Begin firing on the enemy teams spread across the map. Move quickly to secure the upper barn vantage point, as most players are still out in the open and present easy targets.

Each round, one team spawns in the river near the Boomshot. When your team spawns there, quickly acquire the weapon and move together up to one side of the river. Take cover behind the low wall opposite the ramp out of the river. Acquire the grenades if they’re available. From here, you should have no problem blasting distant enemies and picking off downed opponents. Try to coordinate your attacks. Have the teammate with the grenades lob them at a group of foes to down them, and then finish them off with the Boomshot.

Resist the urge to go for the Mortar when you play Wingman. You’re way too susceptible to fire from teams in the two barns. Remember that there are four enemy teams, not just one, so both barns are likely hostile territory! Instead, try to hang back and cherry-pick enemies engaged in other fights.

Guardian

The small cabin near the spawn point presents one potential camping spot for the Team Leader. The steady supply of grenades helps to fortify the position. However, with two entrances, the location is not ideal. At least one teammate should hang back with the leader for extra protection. Be prepared to run for the barn at a second’s notice.

The barn provides a more defensible position than the cabin, but teams should alternate between the two positions to keep the enemy guessing. Grab the Frag or Ink Grenades on your way there. If a teammate has already taken them, grab the Smoke Grenade that he or she dropped. Set proximity mines on either side of the barn’s sole entrance and watch over the entry from the sandbag cover on the first floor. The Longshot/Torque Bow upstairs can bolster your team’s offense, but be very cautious, as a sniper is likely waiting to line you up from the opposing barn.

Rush three players through the river for the Boomshot. When you’re attempting to assassinate the other Team Leader, continue straight to the enemy’s side of the map. Try the barn first, as this is the most likely place for the Team Leader to camp. Then move to the cabin, checking behind the two vehicles where the pistols spawn.

Annex & King of the Hill

The weapon locations are capture points for Annex matches, and the Longshot/Torque Bow is an ideal position from which to cover or attack the other locations with long-range attacks. This also positions you to quickly capture one of the hardest locations to break. Swap out the Gnasher for the power weapon, and keep your Lancer (or Hammerburst) to supplement your upgraded weapon.

When you hold the Boomshot location in King of the Hill matches, have one teammate stay in the circle to maintain scoring. Have all other teammates take cover behind the bridge’s support columns. The player in the middle should keep moving back and forth, keeping the bridge’s legs between him and incoming fire.

The pistol locations can be hard to break thanks to the cover provided by the two trucks surrounding them. Use Mortar fire to blanket the location while teammates rush in to capture the point. When you defend the pistol locations, use the Grenades in the nearby cabins to place plenty of proximity mines around the point.

The highly visible Mortar location can be difficult to defend in King of the Hill matches. Use the sandbags as cover when you’re in the circle, and have your teammates fall back to the end of the bridge to provide suppressing fire. The Longshot/Torque Bow drop is an ideal position from which to snipe. Try taking both to defend from both directions. Use proximity mines to cover your rear while you provide cover for your teammate out on the bridge scoring the points.

Horde

River is a difficult map on which to play Horde, thanks to the power weapons and superior elevation in the area’s center. These factors make it very hard to isolate the Horde spawn points, mandating that you defend two lines of approach. Fortunately, there is so much offensive firepower and so much cover that it’s not as bad as it could be. In other words, the barn gives you a chance.

The two-story barn is an excellent source of cover. Use it as your team’s home base when you play Horde. Its location and construction provide adequate cover and plenty of good sightlines. And you can use it to lure enemies through a chokepoint in a last-ditch effort. Hopefully, you won’t have to let Horde members get this close, but placing proximity mines on the doorway just might save your team in a tough fight.

Using the barn as a home base allows two members to snipe from the upper level: one from the balcony and another out the front door. Meanwhile, the other three can bring the fight to the Horde on the street outside. Having a pair of teammates provide covering fire allows the others to gather up dropped enemies, the Mortar, and even the Boomshot. The team members outside the barn should return to the area near the vehicles and sandbags as soon as possible. Avoid splitting up unless you’re making a quick run for a weapon or ammo.

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 best sniper on your team should take the second-floor walkway inside the barn. This person should use the cover from the wall to the right of the pickup. Focus on eliminating Horde units in the opposing barn, those crossing the bridge, and any Locust in the river. It’s a tough job, but it carries little risk of getting eliminated, provided this player stays behind cover. Alternate weapon pickups with player #2, who also uses the Torque Bow and Longshot in this location.

Player #2 watches player #1’s back and hangs out on the middle landing inside the barn to snipe enemies outside. When necessary, this player also takes down enemies out on the bridge. Take turns collecting the weapon pickup with player #1 and lend support from inside the barn whenever possible. Climb to the upper level to snipe with player #1 or to lend support to the ground by sniping distant foes marching down the street. This person is a bit of a freelancer, but he or she shouldn’t leave the barn.

The team member most skilled at using the Mortar should take this role. It’s important for this player to maintain a pair of proximity mines near the barn entrance. He or she should be able to fight at close range. This person also has to get the Mortar and quickly retreat without getting downed. Take the Mortar back to the sandbags in front of the barn and open fire wherever the other players say the enemies are congregated. The Horde often come from your spawn point and across the bridge. Get a feel for the distances required to hit certain spots, and wait for the Horde to get within your preferred targeting range.

Player #4 should take the crucial position between the ramp leading up from the river and the bridge. The enemies come from down the street, across the bridge, and up from the river. It’s up to player #4 (with help from player #5) to cut them down before they get too close. If the others do their jobs well, there shouldn’t be too many units coming from across the street. But it’s difficult to track the Horde as they go under the bridge. Try planting a proximity mine on the wall near the path that leads into the water. Make occasional forays down into the water to collect dropped weapons and, more importantly, the Boomshot. Just be careful not to fire it at enemies near COG units.

The wall running between the parked vehicles and the small cabin serves as a great piece of cover for the freelancing player #5. This team member’s primary job is to soften enemies for the others and lend fire support when possible. But this person must also make frequent trips into the cabin to replenish his or her grenade stash. It’s up to player #5 to replace detonated proximity mines outside the barn.