Amped Hardpoint
Playing Amped Hardpoint on Black Water Canal shows you the meaning of chaos as a Pilot. There are three lanes, but for the most part the action takes place on the main road, which runs down the middle of the map.
The bridge is home to the B hardpoint and is incredibly dangerous, especially if the other team has an operational Titan. Titan battles can get very hot in this area, so as a Pilot, you want to put pressure on the area to make sure you help turn the tide to your team’s favor. However, it’s a good idea not to get too close and avoid getting stepped on or take a Titan melee attack straight to the body.
Make use of the Filtration building when both holding the bridge as well as attacking it. The pointed roof on the building allows you some cover to hide behind when being shot at from a distance. This is also a great place to utilize when either team is attempting to double their points by amping the hardpoints. Make sure you’re keeping an eye out on both hardpoint B and hardpoint C to keep the advantage on your side when worrying about the double point value.
Bounty Hunt
Like Armed Hardpoint, Bounty Hunt on Black Water Canal is split up into three different zones, but they are a lot closer together. The first wave takes place on the bridge, and this is where the initial carnage takes place. This is a good time to get some early Pilot kills from the buildings surrounding the bridge and earn your Titan as quickly as possible. This will make taking collecting the first Titan bounty a lot more manageable, rather than leaving it up to chance.
The neutral faction will often hide inside buildings on Black Water Canal, use grenades, or sneak in the back way of said buildings to take the enemy minions by surprise. Take out as many as you can from inside because it can also be your way of staying in cover.
Mid- to long-range weapons are only useful on this map if you can take control of the rooftops and overwatch the Drop Zones. If you’re a good shot, this is also a great way to collect bounties on the enemies while also killing the distracted enemy Pilots. Just remember, getting killed will cause you to lose half of your bonus. Do everything you can to protect yourself above all else, or at least the teammate that is racking up the most kills.
Capture the Flag
You might have to get a bit creative when looking for a route from the enemy base back to yours. Whichever route you choose, do what you can to stay away from the canal on either side. Obviously, you must use the bridge in order to cross over to the other side, but try doing so without spending too much time actually on the bridge.
When you’re playing defense, get on one of the buildings near the center of the map, or more specifically, the Filtration building. Using the Filtration building to defend the mid-field is a bit of a gamble because the enemy can always take the far end of the canal. However, due to the large gap between buildings, taking said route will slow the Pilot down, giving you the chance to catch up to them or for a Titan to squash them with its fist.
Use the indoor areas as coverage from snipers and Titans. It is not possible to stay indoors the entire way from one flag to the other, but you can stay inside for enough time to gain some ground before anyone can pinpoint your location. Try getting some speed and know exactly where you’re going when you make the move to launch out into the open. You literally have a large target above your head and the enemy will know almost exactly where you are, so move fast and get to your next location as quickly as possible.
Pilots Vs. Pilots
Playing Pilots Vs. Pilots on Black Water Canal is all about finding the hotspots on the map. Either take these hotspots head-on or keep your distance while attacking from afar. A few of the hotspots will be along the main street, specifically near the Repair Bay and the Marvin Garage, which are on either side of the canal north of the bridge.
The Repair Bay is the building that is most central on the map and has many entrances to said location. Including the several doors and windows that Pilots can easily travel through or mantle, there is a giant opening in the roof straight above. This allows for Pilots to both enter and escape from every angle. It’s a good idea to check and scope out this location, but do not stay there for too long, or you might get ambushed. If you’re feeling adventurous, try climbing your way to the top of the tower located here, but be careful not to be taken out before you get to the top.
Across from the Repair Bay, there is another building right in the middle of the major focus of the battle, and that building is the Marvin Garage. From here, you can see right into the Repair Bay from the roof or the alleyway between the buildings. This vantage point gives you a great view onto the center of the map, which allows for some deadly mid-range combat.
Last Titan Standing
Like most maps, Black Water Canal plays to a few specific Titans’ strengths. However, there is room for each Titan to excel. Scorch is a great Titan to use on this map because the small cooridors and narrow road are perfect for setting Incendiary Traps whenever possible. Set your Incendiary Traps to both damage enemy Titans and lure them closer to you. Keep your Thermal Shield available for those tight situations, because when enemy Titans get in close on this map—and they will—you can burn them where they stand.
Use the Phase Shift and quick speed of Ronin to move from cover to cover and behind buildings to keep the enemy Titans firing while you find your opening to charge and strike them. Ronin is very much a close-quarters Titan, and because of the streets and closely built buildings you will be able be right in your enemy’s face to overwhelm them with your Titan Sword.
Even though most of your encounters on Black Water Canal will be somewhat at close range, there are a few specific locations that will force some longer-ranged attacks. Using Titans like Tone and Ion to control the edges of the map is useful and can help balance out your team. Beware of entering the center of the map as the close-ranged Titans will dominate these mid-ranged Titans, making it incredibly difficult to compete. Use each Titan wisely and stay alive long enough to support your team.
Attrition
On Black Water Canal, it is important to pay attention to the lanes that exist here. Do your best to stick to the three lanes and communicate with your team in order to cover all three. Now, the ultimate goal is to earn your Titan and start wreaking havoc on the enemy. The fastest way to do this is to jump on one of the major roofs, like the ones near the Pump or the Data Center and start taking down as many AI as possible. If you are able to earn your Titan well before the other team has a chance to, you can dominate the bridge and get an early lead on the scoreboard.