Tactics are some of the most important things you can practice in Star Wars Battlefront. Your shots must be accurate and they should land if you are going to be successful in a gunfight, however being able to shoot your enemy isn’t enough to keep you alive for an extended amount of time. Good tactics combine both your skill with a blaster and your wit on the battlefield to score the most points for your team, as you defend the Empire or fight for the Rebellion.
Pack for the Occasion
The most frustrating thing that happens in any first-person shooter game, let alone what happens in specific modes here in Star Wars Battlefront, is being dropped into a match without the right tools for the job. Taking a “shotgun” to a Blaster Rifle fight may lead to your demise more than you might think. However, a “shotgun” like the CA-87 in a game mode like Blast, and on a map like the Rebel Base on Hoth could put you on the top of the leaderboards because of how effective this weapon is in this situation.
Generally, game modes such as Supremacy, Walker Assault, and Droid Run are going to be the modes that call for the utmost range for weaponry. Blast, Cargo, and Drop Zone are game modes that play at a more mid-range to close range engagement, but Hero Hunt and Heroes Vs. Villains are special circumstances due to the differences in playstyle of the Star Wars heroes.
Pick Your Battles
Picking your battles carefully can lead you to the most success. See an enemy equipped with a mid to long-ranged blaster in the distance? Try to avoid them and take an alternate route in your immediate area to close the gap with this foe to reduce their advantage.
Distance is a very important factor in the gameplay of Star Wars Battlefront, especially in some of the larger game modes like Supremacy and Walker Assault. Equpping both a blaster for close to mid-ranged firefights and a Cycler Rifle or Pulse Cannon will keep you ready for most situations. However, it is still important to stay keen about the types of enemies you are fighting against.
Cover
Use everything in your vicinity as cover and protect yourself with a Squad Shield or Personal Shield to protect yourself when there just isn’t any cover. Because of the regeneration aspect in the game, cover is sometimes the only way you can regain health without being killed first. The Star Wars universe is extreme in the sense of terrain and ground cover. If there isn’t a piece of ship wreckage nearby, a cargo container or structure, there is more than likely a cliff, some bushes, a couple of trees, or at least some giant rocks to hide behind either for stealth or for protection while you regenerate health.
As it was stated before, there are several uses for both natural cover and manufactured. For the most part, it does not matter which mode you are playing because there is always a need for cover. The best way to use cover is to always stay behind something no matter the situation. If there is a wall you can see over, try crouching and popping up to shoot your enemies. Keep the lower half of your body covered by the object to make yourself a much more difficult target to hit. When you are up against an object that covers your entire body while standing, don’t completely jump out of cover to engage an enemy. The best way to go about engaging the enemy is to quickly peek out and attempt to aquire your target. If no one is there, and the coast is clear, move forward and find another piece of cover, or slip back behind the object and wait for your opportunity to strike another target.
Vehicle Combat
There are a plethora of vehicles in Star Wars Battlefront, both ground and air vehicles. It is important to know when to use these vehicles and determine if it is a better idea keep your boots on the ground and take an objective on foot. Because of the overwhelming firepower that comes from the Empire, Imperial forces have a much greater number in vehicles, but that does not ultimately make them more powerful. Between the AT-AT, AT-ST, Speederbike, and each of the starfighters there is always a counter to these vehicles, or some way to avoid them.
Ground Vehicles
In modes like Walker Assault and Supremacy, AT-ST walkers can be extremely dangerous when they are being used to hold down specific locations. This is where Star Cards like Ion Grenade, Ion Torpedo, and Ion Shot come into play. A well placed Ion Grenade can destroy an AT-ST if it has taken a bit of damage. The problem with this is you must sacrifice a Star Card slot in order to carry one of these items with you. This is the time where you and your partner must maintain coordination to remain as a well balanced duo. It is a good idea to designate one partner to focus on vehicle watch, while the other is equipped for full trooper battle. Obviously there will always be more troopers on the battlefield than vehicles, but having the tools to deal with a walker is incredibly more safe than not having the tools when you really need them.
As the Empire, using walkers and Speederbikes to control the battlefield is extremely advantageous. Block choke points with heavy blaster fire for a short amount of time. This slows down any enemies attempting to escape an area or infiltrate one of your objectives. Keep your enemy busy and move on. The longer you sit in one location, the longer the Rebel forces have to set up an anti-vehicle ambush or counter-attack. Remember to attack or block, then move on to the next location. It is a good idea to move from one location, to the next, and then back again. Be sure to alternate and don’t stay in one position for too long.
Air Vehicles
Starfighters and speeders work on power distribution. The amount of energy you are using matters and it affects your actions. The more power you have cycling to your engines affects your speed and increases your thrust, causing your vehicle to travel faster. However, when you cycle your power to your engines, you take that power away from your blasters and make them weaker. Slowing down and conserving thruster power affects the strength of your blasters, so they are much stronger when you lower your speed. When dog fighting in big game modes, but especially in Fighter Squadron, there are several reasons to pay attention to your thruster gauge. Speed up to chase down enemies, but slow down to splash them with damage quickly.
Take your skills into battle and maneuver through the terrain to take advantage of your air superiority. Blaster fire from air vehicles will not take out enemy forces on the ground at an extreme rate, but they will do damage to both vehicles and infantry. More importantly, being able to attack from the sky and and fly away at extreme speeds leaves you with the advantage to attack without real fear of retaliation. Assist your teammates on the ground while the air space is yours. Use the blaster fire from air vehicles to support your troops. Keep an eye on your radar to stay keen to your surroundings, but try not to fly around aimlessly. Your team needs you to take advantage of your powerful weaponry at all times.