How to Destroy a Titan in Titanfall

Even though it’s in beta, everyone’s talking about Titanfall. Just the other day, we had a chance to jump into the action, where we quickly learned that some things are much harder than they seem. For instance, killing a Titan looks great in all the trailers, but when it’s time to do it yourself, it’s not such an easy task. Given that we initially struggled with this, we thought we’d save you the painful learning curve with these helpful tips.

Perform a Rodeo Kill as a Pilot

Even though Pilots are vulnerable to Titans, it’s a fair fight once you get going. Where the Titans have strength and size, Pilots have speed and maneuverability. One of the coolest ways a Pilot can take down a Titan is with a Rodeo Kill. This is done by jumping on a Titan’s back, ripping off a panel and shooting the circuitry. Even this isn’t an instant kill on a Titan with full health. It might take you several magazines to pull it off.

This move isn’t without risk. If you try to jump on the Titan from the front, there’s a good chance you will be crushed. Even once you’re on its back, enemy Titans and Pilots can still shoot you off. If that wasn’t bad enough, the opposing Titan could always use its ELECTRIC SMOKE counter-measure, or the pilot could just get out and shoot you. Keep in mind though, with great risk comes great reward. If you pull this move off, you’re sure to embarrass the enemy.

Use an Anti-Titan Weapon

Aside from their Primary and Secondary Weapons, Pilots also have Anti-Titan Weapons. There are several to choose from, but we really enjoyed our time with the Archer Heavy Rocket. It locks-on to Titans so it tends to hit its target, meaning you deal damage with almost every shot. Still, one of these alone is not enough to bring a Titan down. It’s also not advised to use them at close range. Frankly, getting close to a Titan isn’t smart. Try locking on to a Titan from a distance where even if the pilot sees you, there’s a chance to make your escape.

The Titan’s Main Weapon

One of the most effective ways to take a Titan down is to use another Titan. Still, there are a couple tricks you can use to increase the odds in your favor. There are many options for the Main Weapon, but two of our favorites are the XO-16 CHAINGUN and the 40 MM CANNON. In addition to your Main Weapon, you can also choose an Ordnance, such as the ROCKET SALVO. Combining these two attacks back-to-back can be devastating so long as your opponent doesn’t use the VORTEX SHIELD, which brings us to our next point.

Use the VORTEX SHIELD

When you are engaged in a one-on-one battle with another Titan, this can be the difference between winning and losing. The VORTEX SHIELD not only blocks enemy projectiles from hitting you, it also collects and fires them back at the enemy. Pulling this off successfully means you not only save yourself from damage, you also use the enemies’ own ammunition to cause damage against them. Using this can be tricky. Catching the incoming fire isn’t particularly difficult, but throwing it back and actually getting a hit can be. Remember, the opposing Titan can also use a VORTEX SHIELD against you.

Rip the Pilot Out and Toss Him or Her Aside

This is saved for the end of the fight, when the opposing Titan has taken critical damage. If you try to a melee attack a Titan with full health, it’s just a standard punch. If you do it when they’re near death, you will rip the Pilot out of the cockpit and toss them aside like the enemy scum they are. Don’t try to force this maneuver, just take it when the opportunity presents itself. There’s no sense in running head on at the enemy Titan, taking damage just to finish them with a melee attack.

If you would like to see some of these strategies in action, be sure to check out the video. Stick close to Prima Games, where you can find everything you need to know about Titanfall.

What’s your favorite way to take down a Titan? Let us know in the comments. For more, check our Prima’s official Titanfall game guides.