Pilot Fundamentals

Completing the training is a good way to get your feet wet, but there’s still more to learn about being a Pilot. Here we take a look at some of the most fundamental aspects of playing as a Pilot, complete with some helpful tips from the developers at Respawn Entertainment.

Mobility

Wall running and double jumping are essential for taking the high ground.

Utilizing Jump Kits, Pilots have a distinct advantage on the battlefield, capable of wall running, wall hanging, and double jumping. While the basics of movement are covered during training, putting these moves into practice during combat takes some getting used to. For starters, look for opportunities to take the high ground. Advance to rooftops and other elevated positions to gain a better perspective of your environment. If you stay on the ground you’ll be at a serious disadvantage as enemy Pilots (and Titans) attack from above. Furthermore, moving on the ground (even when sprinting) is much slower than utilizing wall runs and other Jump Kit-assisted techniques.

Zip Lines

Zip lines are a fast way to move across a map, whether traveling up or down a cable.

Some environments feature zip lines, offering Pilots a speedy way to get around. When within close proximity to a zip line, attach to it by pressing the Reload button/key—you can even do this while in mid-air. The direction you’re facing when you attach to a zip line dictates the direction you’ll travel. But don’t let the angle of the zip line fool you. All zip lines are two-way linear paths, allowing you to travel up or down zip lines at a consistent speed. Zip lines are often arranged to offer quick movement from one side of a map to the other. Sometimes you may need to utilize multiple zip lines to cross an environment. Learning the zip line paths for each map can give you a huge advantage, allowing you quickly to flank the enemy team or a score a flag during Capture the Flag matches. While moving along zip lines is fast and efficient, you’re vulnerable to incoming fire. So avoid using zip lines in hotly contested areas, as you’re likely to draw fire from enemy Pilots and Titans—cloaking while speeding along a zip line makes you much tougher to spot.

Weapons

Each Pilot has an impressive arsenal of weapons at their disposal, including a primary weapon, a sidearm, an Anti-Titan weapon, and ordnance, such as grenades, mines, and explosive charges.

Primary Weapons and Sidearms

Take aim through your weapon’s sight for better accuracy, particular when engaging distant targets.

Although distinct, the primary weapons and sidearms all function similarly, firing cartridge-based projectiles. If you’re familiar with other FPS titles, the gunplay in Titanfall should feel very familiar. For best results, always take aim before firing, using the weapon’s iron sights or optical attachment to acquire your target—headshots inflict the most damage. Aimed fire is always more precise than shooting from the hip, greatly increasing your odds of hitting a target. However, there may be some instances where hip fire is preferred. Hip fire is less accurate, but allows for better tracking of moving targets in close-quarter fire fights—automatic weapons with high rates of fire and large magazine capacities are most effective when hip firing. Fire modes differ from firearm to firearm, with automatic, semi-automatic, and burst-fire weapons available. Experiment with different primary weapons and sidearms until you find a combination that works for you.

Reloading

Scout your surroundings and check the minimap before reloading your primary weapon.

Eventually all firearms must be reloaded. Reloading should always be conscious decision and not a reaction. In these chaotic battles, you can’t afford to reload after each kill—this is a bad habit that will get you killed. Instead, keep an eye on your magazine status and consider reloading once its capacity dips below 50%. The frequency of your reloads are largely determined by your magazine capacity. But that shouldn’t be the only consideration. Only reload when you’ve reached cover and can safely swap out magazines. Also, overcome the urge to reload during heated close-quarter firefights. Instead, switch to your sidearm and finish the fight—it’s always faster to draw your sidearm than it is to reload your primary weapon.

Anti-Titan Weapons

Wait until an enemy Titan is distracted before engaging it with an Anti-Titan weapon.

Even when enemy Titans come raining down, Pilots have a way to directly counter this threat. There are four Anti-Titan weapons to choose from, each with their own characteristics and functionality. But they’re all designed to inflict heavy damage against enemy Titans. Unlike the Titan-wielded weapons, Anti-Titan weapons inflict damage to a Titan’s shield and health simultaneously. If a Titan’s bodyshield is active, the bulk of the Anti-Titan weapon’s damage is dealt to the shield while a small percentage bleeds through and deals permanent damage to the Titan’s health. So no matter what condition a Titan is in, all hits by Anti-Titan weapons inflict permanent damage. But don’t expect to drop a Titan with one of these weapons. Instead, these weapons function best when deployed in a supporting role. So while a friendly Titan is engaging an enemy Titan, consider scoring a few hits with your Anti-Titan weapon to tilt the odds in your teammate’s favor.

Hacking: The Data Knife

Hacking turrets and Spectres with the Data Knife leaves you vulnerable for a few seconds—have a teammate watch your back.

All Pilots are equipped with a Data Knife, a specialized bladed weapon designed to hack enemy systems. In battle, the Data Knife is used to hack turrets and enemy Spectres, reprogramming these assets to fight and score kills for you. To hack a turret, look for an upright console near its base. Interact with the console to initiate the hack—it takes several seconds to complete a hack, leaving your Pilot vulnerable. So make sure the area is clear of threats before attempting a hack. Once the hack is successful, the turret will automatically engage enemy units. Spectres are hacked in a similar fashion, but you must approach them from behind. When a Spectre is hacked, it follows you around the map and attacks enemy units. Hack multiple Spectres to create a small army of loyal robots.

Tactical Abilities

Active Radar Pulse allows Pilots to detect enemies hidden behind walls and other obstructions.

Each Pilot can choose from three different Tactical Abilities. When activated, these abilities remain active for a few seconds, giving the Pilot a temporary tactical advantage. The Cloak ability renders a Pilot nearly invisible, allowing them to sneak around the battlefield. Titans and minions have a hard time detecting cloaked Pilots, but other Pilots can see a slight silhouette. The Stim ability boosts the Pilot’s speed and health regeneration for a few seconds, aiding in fight-or-flight situations. While Stim is active, a fast-moving Pilot can jump farther, allowing for greater parkour skills, perfect for retreating or chasing down enemy Pilots. The Active Radar Pulse ability is like x-ray vision for Pilots, illustrating the locations of enemy units on the HUD, even if they’re concealed behind walls and other pieces of cover. This versatile ability is perfect for getting the jump on enemies by anticipating their moves.

Rodeo

Although risky, rodeo attacks are a great way to heavily damage enemy Titans.

Pilots show no fear when facing down enemy Titans, sometimes resorting to risky rodeo attacks. During a rodeo attack, a Pilot leaps onto the top of a Titan and tears off the cranial hatch on the outer hull. With the Titan’s internal systems exposed, the Pilot can then attack these critical components directly with weapons. So how do you get on top of a Titan in the first place? The easiest way is to drop from above, leaping down from a nearby rooftop or other elevated position. But even if you’re on the ground, you can perform a rodeo attack. Double jump toward an enemy Titan, then press the Reload button/key as you make contact to initiate a grapple, causing your Pilot to automatically assume a position atop the Titan. Once in position, the cranial hatch is automatically torn free by your Pilot. As soon as the hatch is open, fire at the Titan’s internal systems using a primary weapon or sidearm—Satchel Charges are also very effective. However, exercise extreme caution when using explosives weaponry, like the Sidewinder or Mag Launcher Anti-Titan weapons, as the splash damage will kill you. Damage dealt in a rodeo attack depletes the Titan’s health, even if its bodyshield is still intact, making rodeo attacks extremely effective.

Titan Build Time

Dish out damage to enemy Grunts, Spectres, Pilots, and Titans to reduce your Titan’s build time.

Pilots always deploy to the battlefield first, while their customized Titan is still under construction. By default, it takes four minutes for a Titan to be constructed—this time is visible in the Build Timer, located in the lower-right corner of the HUD. However, you can reduce your Titan’s build time by damaging enemies. Damaging high-value targets, like enemy Pilots and Titans, greatly reduces build time while damaging lesser targets, like minions, results in a smaller time reduction. But every bit of damage counts, so don’t miss a chance to mow down enemy Grunts and Spectres. The more effective you are in combat, the less time you have to wait for your Titan.

Titanfall

Once Titanfall is initiated, a green holographic ring on the HUD indicates where your Titan will arrive.

Titanfall isn’t just the name of the game. It’s the name of the iconic event when your Titan comes rocketing down to a planet’s surface. Once the Build Timer ticks down to zero, your Titan is ready for deployment. Titans can be deployed at any exterior spot on the map as long as there’s no overhead obstructions. Simply aim where you want your Titan to land and it will come crashing down within a few seconds. But before initiating Titanfall, look for tactical opportunities—an incoming Titan can crush your opponents, including enemy Titans. Try dropping your Titan on unsuspecting enemies. Also, choose your deployment area carefully. It’s best to deploy your Titan in a relatively safe spot of the map, allowing you to embark without incident. Or you can drop your Titan in unison with other friendly Pilots, allowing you to roam the map together—when it comes to Titan-on-Titan combat, it’s best to outnumber and overwhelm your opponents.