The Four F's

The "Four Fs" are basic military tactics that apply to this game. A bit of liberty is needed to extend these principles into the game’s parameters but they are a sound way of thinking about squad-based tactics.

Find

This is perhaps the most important stage because finding means scouting the enemy and determining the plan of attack. Unlike real-world situations, in the game you can see the entire map at a glance so there is no need to send out scouts or gather intel.

Still, the importance of this first step is to review enemy positions, check what type of cover they have, and find out how they are equipped. The first scan of the map will give you a good idea where enemies have great cover and where some might be exposed and open to an assault.

It is also important to notice what type of guns and armor they have. Although you can’t control what they are using or find out any specifics, you should at least get an idea of what weapon type they have to know its range and effectiveness.

Once you find a weak spot to exploit, use Command Mode to verify line of sight and effective range. This initial scouting should expose some enemies that are far enough away from the strategic target and other foes that you can wipe out without drawing attention. Always pick off patrolling guards and small groups first and as far away from others as possible.

Fix

When the plan of attack is set, position your team as needed to ensure they all have the ability to open fire. Use the Plan and Go system to sync up their shots so that all the incoming fire arrives at once and overwhelms the enemy.

If you are using multiple groups or an initial stealthy attack, try to coordinate the strike using the timeline so that enemies aren’t tipped off too early or get out of range.

Flanking

Flanking, in simple terms, means to shoot the enemy from different sides of the battlefield. Typically, this means maneuvering a separate team to the side during combat. Although that is possible in the game, flanking in Jagged Alliance generally means shooting from multiple positions.

It’s not always possible or necessary to flank your foes, but it is a good tactic to implement whenever you get the chance. Also, it may not be practical to group all your mercs and fire from one direction, especially considering the different types of guns with varying effective ranges.

The crossfire that flanking generates will pin down the enemy and can confuse them, which will make it harder for them to pick their target. Keeping your team spread out can also let you move one group to a better position while the other keeps the enemy pinned down with suppressive fire. Use the Plan and Go system to coordinate these more complex assaults.

Finish

Gunning for the kill sounds like an obvious conclusion, but the real focus is on eliminating each priority target as quickly as possible. This means teaming up on enemies to bring them down fast. Even a wounded enemy is a threat. The sooner you reduce their numbers, the sooner the tides of battle shift in your favor.