Advanced Combat Tactics

Learning the basics of Pilot mobility and Titan operation should be enough to get you started. But how do you apply this knowledge on the battlefield? Here, we take a look at some practical, field-tested tactics with the aim of giving you the edge in each in each battle.

Loadout Customization

Initially all players have a few preset Pilot and Titan loadouts available. But after playing for a short period of time, you’ll have a better grasp of which weapons, kits, and Titans fit your style of play. Consider customizing your Pilot loadout around your primary weapon, selecting an ability, kits, and ordnance that complement this weapon. The same goes for choosing your Titan. Your choice of Titan largely dictates the range at which you engage targets. Scorch and Ronin are great for close-range combat, while Tone and Northstar are better suited for long-range combat. So when selecting your Titan kits, ask yourself how those options complement your Titan. Of course, there are other factors to consider when making these decisions. But try to build loadouts where all elements work together to make your Pilot and Titan more effective in combat. Skip ahead to the Pilots and Titans sections for more information on customizing your Pilot and Titan loadouts.

Combat Scenarios

In Titanfall 2, every battle plays out differently. But by understanding the fundamentals of each possible scenario, you can gain an edge over your opponents. Whether playing as a Pilot or Titan, there are numerous combat engagements for which you need to prepare. Here’s a quick breakdown of each major combat scenario you’re likely to face, with tips on how to overcome each one.

Pilot vs. Minion

This is by far the most common scenario you’ll face throughout your Pilot career. Enemy grunts, Spectres, Stalkers, and Reapers make up the majority of hostile forces you encounter in Bounty Hunt. Collectively known as minions, these AI-controlled units pose little threat to fast and nimble Pilots. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore them. Hunting minions plays a big part in the game, helping you gain access to your Titan.

Tactics

• Grunts are standard infantry armed with a mix of small arms and anti-armor weapons. They usually deploy in small three-man squads, arriving via dropship and Drop Pods.
• Spectres are durable robotic warriors designed to counter Titans with their heavy weapons, but they also carry small arms and can be dangerous in large groups.
• Stalkers function much like Spectres, but feature weak spots on their backs. Target this red “backpack” to trigger an explosion with a large blast radius. Alternately, you can shoot off their legs, making it easy to target their backpack as they crawl along the ground.
• Reapers are extremely dangerous and should be engaged from long range, preferably with an anti-Titan weapon. Wait until a Titan has engaged the Reaper, and then help by providing long-range fire support.
• A Pilot’s primary weapon is the best way to deal with grunts, Spectres, and Stalkers. For best results, score headshots to quickly down these threats and conserve ammo. Spectres and Stalkers take significantly more damage than their Grunt counterparts, so be ready to expend a few more rounds on each target. Grenades are also effective against these enemies, often wiping out multiple targets with a single explosion. Minions pose the biggest threat at close range, so keep your distance, particularly when engaging multiple Spectres and Stalkers.

Pilot vs. Pilot

Facing off against enemy Pilots is extremely dangerous, as they benefit from the same Jump Kit-enabled mobility as you. As a result, these fights often favor the Pilot who can stay on the move while returning accurate fire. If you stand still you don’t stand a chance against a skilled veteran Pilot. Eliminating enemy Pilots nets you merits, and depending on game mode, may even give your team the lead in close matches. But hunting Pilots is risky business, requiring quick reflexes, fluid mobility, and constant situational awareness.

Tactics

• When a Pilot fires a weapon, they appear as a large orange dot on the minimap. But the same goes for you, as well. Consider equipping a pistol with a Suppressor to avoid giving away your position. Then use the minimap as a radar, guiding you to your next enemy Pilot.
• Activating the Stim tactical ability during a heated firefight with an enemy Pilot may just give you the edge required to survive. Stim not only boosts your Pilot’s speed, but it also improves health regeneration. This makes Stim very helpful if you’re hunting Pilots.
• Due to their enhanced mobility, Pilots are very easy to spot in a battle; look for the red silhouette outlining enemy Pilots. Also, take note of enemies running along walls or double jumping onto buildings. A Jump Kit’s thrusters are a dead giveaway. To avoid being spotted, consider activating the Cloak tactical ability when performing wallruns and other Pilot-specific maneuvers.
• When monitoring a Titan battle, watch for enemy Pilots ejecting from doomed Titans. Even when cloaked, Pilots are vulnerable while flying through the air following an ejection. Track their movements through the air and try to pick them off before they reach the ground. Automatic weapons are most effective when trying to hit ejecting Pilots.
• Arc Grenades are extremely effective when you’re engaging enemy Pilots. In addition to dealing damage, Arc Grenades blur a Pilot’s vision, making it difficult for them to maneuver and defend themselves. Arc-based weapons also disrupt a Pilot’s Jump Kit, causing them to abort wallruns and wallhangs.

Pilot vs. Titan

There’s no getting around it: Pilots are at a serious disadvantage in these engagements. Encountering a Titan in direct combat is an intimidating experience, even for the most veteran Pilots. But that doesn’t mean Pilots have to run away. Utilizing anti-Titan weapons, rodeo attacks, and ordnance, Pilots have a shot at downing a Titan on their own. So even if you’re seriously outgunned, look for opportunities to take on enemy Titans. Your team will thank you for it.

Tactics

• When firing their weapons, enemy Titans appear as orange arrow icons on the minimap. If an enemy Titan is nearby, make sure you have adequate cover and consider getting to high ground. You don’t want to engage a Titan toe-to-toe on the ground, where you stand the chance of getting crushed. Instead, look for opportunities to crush enemy Titans by initiating your own Titanfall.
• When performing a rodeo attack on an enemy Titan, start by activating the Cloak tactical ability. This makes you nearly invisible to Titans, making you tougher to spot during your approach. Once cloaked, hammer the Titan with an Arc Grenade to temporarily blind it before hopping aboard. By the time the Titan has recovered from the Arc Grenade (and the enemy Pilot realizes they have a stowaway) you can steal their battery and escape.
• When you don’t feel like risking a rodeo attack, keep your distance and engage enemy Titans with your anti-Titan weapon. These weapons are designed to inflict damage on a Titan’s hull, even they have a shield. Once the Titan’s shield is down, target the red-glowing sections on the Titan’s hull to score critical hits.
• Instead of taking on a Titan by yourself, work together with teammates to overwhelm opponents. When a friendly Titan is battling an enemy Titan, stay back and score hits with your anti-Titan weapon and Arc Grenades. Or if a teammate is rodeo attacking an enemy Titan, provide support by engaging the enemy Pilot who disembarks from the Titan, allowing your teammate to complete the rodeo attack without interruption.

Titan vs. Minion

Of all possible engagements, this scenario is the least threatening. However, don’t overlook the significance of engaging minions with your Titan. Inflicting damage on grunts, Spectres, Stalkers, and Reapers reduces the time it takes for your Titan’s core ability to come online. The more damage you dish out, the quicker you get your core ability. But don’t get overconfident. All minions are capable of dealing damage to your Titan, potentially depleting your Titan’s health. So don’t let these units gather around your Titan.

Tactics

• When you’re piloting a Titan, minions are low-priority targets. Use the minimap to help find them, looking for the small, orange dots. But shift your focus when enemy Pilots and Titans appear on the minimap. Pilots and Titans pose a bigger threat and should be dealt with first.
• Of all the minions, Reapers pose the biggest threat to Titans. By firing bolts of plasma and deploying Ticks, Reapers can dish out some serious damage. Keep your distance and return fire, dashing laterally to evade incoming plasma bolts.
• Due to their high rate of fire, the Ion Titan’s Splitter Rifle and Tone Titan’s 40mm Tracker Cannon are two of the most effective weapons against minions. The Splitter Rifle’s alternate fire mode fires a wide spread, ideal for taking out multiple minions with one shot. The 40mm Tracker Cannon benefits from splash damage, perfect for damaging multiple minions as they emerge from their Drop Pods.
• The Northstar Titan’s Cluster Missile is devastating against minions. When fired, this volley of missiles sets off a series of secondary explosions over a wide area. This is a good way to take out minions inside buildings. Simply fire this weapon through a door or window and watch all the secondary explosions go off inside, killing all within the expansive blast radius.
• While all Titan weapons are capable of killing minions, not every Titan weapon is effective in doing so. When carrying a specialized weapon, like the Northstar’s Plasma Railgun, rely on other options to eliminate minions. Either crush them with your Titan’s feet, blast them with missiles, or smash them with a melee attack. Dashing through a group of minions is also very effective.

Titan vs. Pilot

In some respects, engaging enemy Pilots is just as dangerous as facing off against an enemy Titan. While Titans have a definite advantage when it comes to armor and firepower, they trail far behind Pilots when it comes to mobility. This makes Titans vulnerable to anti-Titan weapons and rodeo attacks. As a result, Titans are better off keeping their distance from enemy Pilots and engaging them from long range. Otherwise Pilots can quickly chip away at a Titan’s health. This cat-and-mouse dynamic leads to some intense engagements.

Tactics

• Keep a close eye on the minimap at all times while piloting a Titan. Enemy Pilots appear as a large orange dot on the minimap, but only when firing an unsuppressed weapon. If you see one of these orange dots near your Titan, immediately move out and put some distance between your Titan and the enemy Pilot.
• Anti-Titan weapons wear down your Titan’s health, so don’t take these weapons lightly. Incoming anti-Titan weapons can be blocked with Ion’s Vortex Shield, Scorch’s Thermal Shield, or Tone’s Particle Wall. If you can’t locate or engage the enemy Pilot pelting your Titan with these weapons, simply retreat—particularly if you don’t have a shield. Pilots equipped with the Charge Rifle can score critical hits, potentially crippling and destroying your Titan.
• Enemy Pilots are fast and nimble, capable of evading incoming fire. Instead of relying on accuracy and precision, utilize a weapon with a high rate of fire to give you the best chance of hitting enemy Pilots. Go with the Ion Titan’s Splitter Rifle or the Tone Titan’s 40mm Tracker Cannon. The Legion Titan’s Predator Cannon is also effective, assuming you can master the weapon’s long spin-up delay.
• Rodeo attacks are extremely dangerous to Titans. Watch for the notification atop the HUD to determine when your Titan has been boarded by an enemy Pilot. The Electric Smoke countermeasure is by far the best way to counter rodeo attacks. Stay within the electrified smokescreen until the enemy Pilot is dead or jumps off. Then immediately dash out of the area.
• If you’re rodeo attacked and don’t have Electric Smoke, try to trick the enemy Pilot into jumping off. While still in the Titan, stop and make the Titan crouch down. This mimics the motion the Titan makes when you disembark. But instead of disembarking, remain motionless. In many cases, the enemy Pilot will hop off your Titan, thinking you’re about to emerge. As soon as the enemy Pilot hops off, dash to safety. This tactic doesn’t work every time, but it beats jumping out of your Titan and shooting the enemy Pilot with your primary weapon.

Titan vs. Titan

Succeeding in these epic battles requires more skill than brawn. Although protected by a thick hull, Titans don’t last long in a toe-to-toe slugfest with each other. As a result, Pilots must constantly monitor the tactical situation, keeping an eye on both their Titan’s health and the health of the enemy Titan, while weighing the pros and cons of each action. Always respect your opponent and be careful not to overcommit. Otherwise you’ll be ejecting from your Titan in no time, wondering what you did wrong.

Tactics

• Even before initiating Titanfall, start scouring the map for batteries. This allows you to install a battery as soon as you hop in your Titan, giving it a shield. Acquiring a shield early during deployment is the key to keeping your Titan in the battle.
• When enemy Titans enter the battlefield, you’re notified over the Titan’s communication system. Take this opportunity to study the minimap for contacts. Enemy Titans appear as orange arrow icons on the minimap. Before rushing toward the location of an enemy Titan, enlist the help of a friendly Titan or two to assist. Titan-on-Titan battles are much easier when you have the help of a teammate.
• Upon engaging an enemy Titan, make note of their and health bar. Do they have a shield? Before you can damage the Titan’s health, you must first deplete its shield. Once a Titan’s shield is gone, don’t let the enemy Titan take cover. Otherwise they may retreat and install a new battery, restoring the shield. Keep hitting the Titan with weapon fire to deal damage to its health while preventing new battery installations. However, don’t forget to monitor your own Titan’s status, too. If your shield is gone, consider disengaging and seeking out a new battery.
• When a Titan’s shield is down, it is vulnerable to critical hits. Target these red, glowing weak spots on the Titan’s hull to inflict heavy damage. The Northstar’s Plasma Railgun is ideal for scoring precise, high-damage hits to these vulnerable areas.
• Instead of standing still during a Titan battle, stay on the move, dashing laterally to evade incoming fire. Lateral dashes are a great way to evade incoming dumb-fire rockets and missiles. Or dash behind cover to break the locks of guided projectiles, like the Archer Heavy Rocket. Electric Smoke can also negate lock-ons.
• Have you been saving up a core ability? Titan battles are the perfect time to deploy these powerful abilities, giving your Titan a significant offensive advantage. The Ion Titan’s Laser Core is great for damaging (and potentially destroying) multiple enemy Titans. Or send a wall of fire at a group of enemy Titans with Scorch’s Flame Core. Just be sure to use your core ability before your Titan is destroyed.

Teamplay

Regardless of game mode, Titanfall 2 is a team-based game. While individual skill plays a big part in each team’s success, teams are much more effective when working together, particularly when Titans enter the battle.

Communication

A team who communicates will always have a huge advantage over those who don’t. Titanfall 2 supports voice chat on all platforms, making setup as easy as connecting a microphone. In the lobby, before launching into a match, you can talk with all players. Take this opportunity to discuss what kind of game modes everyone wants to play. But once a match starts, voice channels are isolated between teams, ensuring your discussions aren’t heard by the enemy. Communicating with complete strangers can be awkward at first, but as long as you keep the discussion focused on the gameplay, you’ll find most players are receptive to your comments. After all, you’re all on the same team, and you all want to win. Even if you aren’t playing with friends, you should always communicate with the players you are teamed up with. Calling out the position of enemy Pilots allows your teammates to make the right play.

Team Pilot Tactics

• When playing Capture the Flag, if you’re bringing the flag into your base to capture, have an allied Pilot storm the base first to make sure it is safe and there aren’t any enemy Pilots hiding inside. The worst way to lose a flag capture is to die right inside your own base.
• Before the start of the match, make a game plan. This will let you know where to go off the start of the match, who to work with, and where to watch for incoming enemy Pilots.
• A Pilot equipped with a sniper rifle can hang back and play a bit passively. As the Pilot with the sniper rifle, find an elevated position and provide cover for your teammates moving into battle.

Team Titan Tactics

• Teamwork becomes even more important when inside a Titan—bait and switching becomes essential. With the various Titan abilities, Titans excel in bait and switching. An Ion Titan can use the Vortex Shield to stop enemy Titan fire. At the same time, an ally can attack the enemy Titan from the side.
• A Tone Titan with Particle Wall can stay behind the barrier for cover and call out for help. The wall buys you some time, while allies try to reach your location. The Particle Wall comes in handy when friendly Pilots are nearby. Drop the Particle Wall and allow them to hide behind the barrier until the area is safe to move about.
• When playing Capture the Flag, allow a flag-carrying teammate to hop on your Titan’s back. This will protect the Pilot from being killed as long as your Titan has a shield. Dash back to your base with your Titan and drop off your teammate to capture the flag.
• As a Titan you’ll want to work with other friendly Titans. If you are rodeo attacked by a enemy Pilot, communicate with your teammate quickly so your teammate can shoot the enemy off your back as soon as possible.
• When fighting with a group of Titans, be sure to stay near the back of the pack if you are the weakest. You’ll still want to deal damage, but you’re much better alive than dead. Consider rotating with teammates, allowing the weaker Titans to slip to the rear while Titans with shields, Vortex Shields, Particle Walls, or Thermal Shields assume front line positions.