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

Before starting a match, take a moment to customize your Pilot and Titan loadouts.

Initially all players have three preset Pilot and Titan loadouts available. But after playing Titanfall for a short period of time you’ll unlock the Custom Pilot and Custom Titan loadouts. Here you can completely customize your loadouts, selecting different weapon, ability, and kit configurations to suit 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 customizing your Titan—weapon choice largely dictates the range at which you engage targets. So when selecting your ability and kits, ask yourself how those options complement your weapon. 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 or Titan more effective in combat.

Combat Scenarios

In Titanfall, 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 you need to prepare for. 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

Think of hunting minions as a way of getting your Titan faster—but watch out for enemy Pilots doing the same thing.

This is by far the most common scenario you’ll face throughout your Pilot career. Enemy Grunts and Spectres make up the majority of hostile forces you encounter in every battle. 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, earning you XP and reducing your Titan’s build time.

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. Spectres only appear once Titans are on the battlefield.
• IMC and Militia Grunts often engage each other in prolonged firefights. Look for small red dots on the minimap to find large concentrations of minions. But exercise caution when approaching these conflicts, as enemy Pilots are likely in the area also looking for easy kills.
• A Pilot’s primary weapon is the best way to deal with both Grunts and Spectres. For best results, score headshots to quickly down these threats and conserve ammo. Spectres 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.
• If you happen to sneak up on an enemy Spectre from behind, hack it with your Data Knife. A hacked Spectre will follow you around the map and fight for you, crediting you with any kills it scores.

Pilot vs. Pilot

You never know when you’ll come face to face with an enemy Pilot—be prepared.

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 100 XP, 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 Pilots fire an unsuppressed weapon, they appear as a large red dot on the minimap. But the same goes for you as well. Consider equipping your primary weapon with a Suppressor mod 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 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 wall runs and other Pilot-specific maneuvers. Or hide amongst a group of Grunts and try to go unnoticed.
• When monitoring a Titan battle, watch for enemy Pilots ejecting from doomed Titans. Even when cloaked, Pilots are vulnerable when 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 the preferred ordnance when 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 wall runs and wall hangs.

Pilot vs. Titan

Always approach enemy Titans from behind and blind them with an Arc Grenade before attempting a rodeo attack.

There’s no getting around it—Pilots at are 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, netting them a whopping 200 XP in the process. 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 red 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.
• Hacking turrets and Spectres is a good way to harass enemy Titans indirectly. While these hacked assets don’t dish out a ton of damage, they can serve as a distraction, allowing friendly Titans to move in and score an easy kill. Or better yet, perform a rodeo attack while the enemy Titan is distracted.
• 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 dish out a ton of damage by targeting the Titan’s internal systems—the Spitfire LMG equipped with the Slammer mod is the best rodeo attack weapon, capable of dropping any Titan without the need to reload.
• 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 if their bodyshield is still active. Once the Titan’s bodyshield is down, target the red glowing sections on the Titan’s hull to score critical hits—only the Sidewinder and Charge Rifle are capable of damaging these weak spots.
• Instead of taking on a Titan by yourself, work together with teammates to overwhelm opponents. While 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

Blast any Grunts and Spectres you encounter to gain your Core Ability sooner.

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 and Spectres reduces the amount of 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. Both Grunts and Spectres are capable of launching anti-armor weapons, potentially depleting your Titan’s bodyshield and health. So don’t let these units gather around your Titan.

Tactics

• While piloting a Titan, minions are low-priority targets. Use the minimap to help find them, looking for the small red 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.
• Due to their rapid fire, the 40mm Cannon and XO-16 Chaingun are two of the most effective weapons against minions. The 40mm Cannon’s rounds benefit from splash damage, meaning you don’t need to score a direct hit to inflict damage on nearby Grunts and Spectres.
• The Cluster Missile ordnance 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.
• Minions sometimes arrive via dropship. These dropships can be shot down, but you’ll probably need the help of a friendly Titan (or two) to do so. Dropships are only present for a few seconds before taking off. You’ll need to focus your fire on one of these dropships to knock it out of the sky.
• 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 Plasma Railgun, rely on other options to eliminate minions. Either crush them with your Titan’s feet, blast them with ordnance, or smash them with a melee attack. Dashing through a group of minions is also very effective.

Titan vs. Pilot

Enemy Pilots are most vulnerable when they’re on the ground—make them pay!

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 best off keeping their distance from enemy Pilots and engaging them from long range. Otherwise Pilots can quickly chip away at a Titan’s bodyshield and 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 red dot on the minimap, but only when firing an unsuppressed weapon. If you see one of these red dots near your Titan, immediately move out and put some distance between your Titan and the enemy Pilot.
• Anti-Titan weapons not only wear down your Titan’s bodyshield, but they also deplete your health, even if the shields are still up, so don’t take these weapons lightly. Incoming Anti-Titan weapons can be blocked with either the Vortex Shield or Particle Wall. If you can’t locate or engage the enemy Pilot pelting your Titan with these weapons, simply retreat, particularly if your bodyshield is down. Pilots equipped with the Sidewinder and 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, weapons with a high rate of fire give you the best chance of hitting enemy Pilots. Go with the XO-16 Chaingun or 40mm Cannon. The Arc Cannon is also effective, particularly when engaging enemy Pilots who have ejected from their Titan.
• 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 Tactical Ability 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 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 Pilots 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

Make an effort to melee doomed Titans before the enemy Pilot can eject, killing the Titan and Pilot with one gruesome attack.

Succeeding in these epic battles requires more skill than brawn. Although protected by a bodyshield and 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

• 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 red 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 bodyshield and health bar. Before you can damage the Titan’s health, you must first deplete its bodyshield. Once their bodyshield is gone, don’t let the enemy Titan take cover, otherwise the bodyshield will regenerate. Keep hitting the Titan with weapon fire to deal damage to its health while preventing the bodyshield from regenerating. However, don’t forget to monitor your own Titan’s status too—if your bodyshield is gone, consider disengaging.
• When a Titan’s bodyshield is down, it is vulnerable to critical hits. Target these red glowing weak spots on the Titan’s hull to inflict heavy damage. Only the 40mm Cannon, XO-16 Chaingun, and Plasma Railgun can score critical hits.
• 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, such as those fired by the Quad Rocket, Rocket Salvo, and Cluster Missile. Or dash behind cover to break the locks of guided projectiles, like the Archer Heavy Rocket, Slaved Warheads, and Multi-Target Missiles—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 advantage. The Atlas’ Core Damage greatly increases damage output of all attacks—try to score critical hits to take down enemy Titans fast. Activate the Ogre’s Shield Core ability to strengthen the Titan’s bodyshield, allowing it to absorb much more damage. Or stay on the move using the Stryder’s Dash Core ability, constantly dashing around your prey, making your Titan extremely difficult to target.

Teamplay

Whether playing the campaign or any of the multiplayer game modes, Titanfall 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

You can speak to all players in the game’s Lobby before a match. Use this opportunity to establish a rapport with your teammates.

A team who communicates will always have a huge advantage over those who don’t. Titanfall supports voice chat on all platforms, making setup as easy as connecting a microphone. In the Lobby screen you can talk with all players, including those on the opposing team. 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 are playing one of the game modes on your own, 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 and 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 passive. 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 Tactical Abilities, Titans excel in bait and switching. One Titan can use the Vortex Shield to stop enemy Titan fire. At the same time, an ally with Vortex Shield can attack the enemy Titan from the side.
• A Titan equipped with a 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 shields. 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 immediately.
• 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 regenerated bodyshields assume front line positions.