Reconnaissance

Battlefield Specifics

Rising Cover

At first glance, this map’s central area doesn’t have much in the way of cover. But as players draw close to the edge, motion-sensing walls rise from the floor to provide cover. These rising walls feature pink lights, making them visible as you approach. Players can anticipate the walls rising up and slip into cover against them, even when they’re still down—they rise up in time for the player’s character to slam against them. Once they’re triggered, the walls stay up for the remainder of the round. They retract into the floor before the subsequent round begins.

Imulsion Plunge

Those who have ever worried about being knocked off a platform will have to overcome their fears if they hope to secure the Scorcher on this map. The central bridge over the Imulsion pool and the platforms on the sides near the Sniper Rifle and Torque Bow are places on this map where a Smoke Grenade blast can indeed knock a player off the platform. Falling off the bridge into the Imulsion causes instant death. Now, before you swear off ever going for the Scorcher, keep in mind that four walls rise up to provide some cover. Furthermore, you can get knocked off the bridge only if you’re near the edge.

Spawn Point Awareness

Never was there a map with such complete symmetry as Ruins. The only difference between the two halves on the entire map is that one side has the Torque Bow and the other has the Longshot. Unfortunately, the level’s architecture provides no obvious indication of which side of the map you’re on when you spawn. One extremely subtle clue can tell you which side you’re on: the glimmer of moonlight on the wall’s gold trim. Regardless which side you spawn on, your three options are the same: You can run up the stairs on the left and go for the Scorcher on the bridge, you can descend the lower steps just beyond the bridge to go for the Frag Grenades or Boomshield, or you can go straight ahead toward the pistol or around the corner for the long-range weapon on your side. There’s no way to tell which weapon (Torque Bow or Longshot) is on your side, but since they alternate between rounds it doesn’t really matter.

south Spawn

The spawn on the map’s southern side looks exactly like the one on the northern side except that the moonlight reflects off the spawn room’s right side. This is your tell, albeit a subtle one, that your team spawned nearer the Torque Bow.

north Spawn

The northern spawn point is identical to the southern one except that it lacks the moon’s shimmering glow on the gold embossing. Those who appear in this slightly darker corner of the map will know that they are closer to the Longshot than the other team.

Essential Tactics

• Form a Patrol Party: Stick together, grab the Boomshield and/or Frag Grenades, and go hunting for the enemies. Most teams can’t stick together no matter how hard they try. A group of five teammates circling the lower ring and gradually making their way up to the main level will no doubt encounter isolated opponents and quickly tilt the balance in their favor. Just watch out for Frag Grenades!
• Cross-Map Dash: Most people will run up to the bridge only to get the Scorcher, even if they plan on crossing over to the other side. However, the pickup alert notifies everyone to their presence. Split up your team and have two members cross the bridge without picking up the Scorcher to avoid alerting the enemy to their presence. This allows them to attack their adversaries from behind while your other teammates distract them up front. As powerful as the Scorcher is, sometimes it’s best to leave it alone and therefore keep your location secret.
• Hold the Bridge: There is just enough pop-up cover on the bridge that hosts Scorcher for a team to use the elevated spot to pick off enemies. Rush the bridge with three members of your team and have the other two secure the Longshot/Torque Bow before they rejoin the party atop the bridge. Spread out so that everyone is behind cover and away from the bridge’s edge. Use the superior elevation to rip the enemy team apart as they circle the area in plain view.