Battlefield: Hardline has just released, and it’s the first of several AAA first-person shooters coming this year. So, you’re probably back into a competitive mindset, battling and clawing your way to high kill/death ratios and round wins.
This is no ordinary Battlefield game, though. Succeeding in this requires a different skill set than past Battlefield games. You might be taking time to get used to the new format. Well, you aren’t alone. Let us give you a hand with information we’ve learned during the past week.
Also See: Battlefield: Hardline – Everything You Need to Know
Below you’ll find 10 tips for improving your game in Battlefield: Hardline.
10 Tips for Destroying Your Enemies in Battlefield: Hardline
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SMGs and shotguns are potent
If there's one thing that separates Battlefield: Hardline from other Battlefield games, it's the game's level design. Battlefield maps in the past have been vast and comprised mostly of outdoor terrain. Hardline is much more like Counter-Strike in that it has a lot of indoor sections, and smaller maps.
As a result of this, close ranged weapons are devastating. If you're finding yourself being sprayed down at close range often, don't hesitate to switch to a sub-machine gun or shotgun, weapons designed to tear people apart at close range. Though, be weary of your positioning with these weapons, as they're largely ineffective from afar.
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Stop reloading so much and switch to your handgun
One bad habit that nearly all players have is reloading too much. Truth is, you can kill several people with one magazine. When you're reloading you're completely unable to defend yourself. So, when you engage enemies try to use all the rounds of your primary weapon. If you run out of ammo and need to reload while in a firefight, swap to your handgun. It's much faster than reloading and allows you to keep pressure on your foes.
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Be adaptive
Every map, team, and situation is different. A large part of performing well consistently comes down to being able to adapt to different climates.
For example, you might find yourself performing well on a large map with vehicles, but then struggling on one that's indoor and close quarters. Try to identify how you can better take advantage of the map's design and how your opponents are playing. You will find yourself punishing enemies in short order.
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Nade choke points
Battlefield: Hardline's game modes have an emphasis on choke points. For example, Blood Money pushes both teams to converge on one of three locations to gather money. Grenades happen to be the perfect counter for choke points. So, what you'll want to do is pre-nade these locations any time you know your teammates haven't already secured them. Incendiary grenades are particularly effective, but gas and frag can be equally as potent if thrown correctly.
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Crosshair discipline
FPS games are games about advantages, and there are few elements more important to that equation than the position of your crosshair. Essentially, you want your crosshair to be positioned to kill at all times. That means keeping the crosshair level, not aimed at the floor. It also means placing it in positions where an enemy may appear at any given time, usually just a tick away from a corner to compensate for your reaction time. Get used to having your crosshair placed where an enemy body can appear so that you can begin pumping rounds into them at a moment's notice instead of having to swing your crosshair like most players do.
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Patience is key
Sure, it's possible to do well by running out guns blazing, but you need absolutely superb aim and crosshair discipline to pull it off. So, unless you're a pro you're going to want to be patient at all times.
Patience means slowly checking corners, and securing rooms as you sweep through the map. Patience means throwing nades into hot spots to clear them, and even crouching behind cover when you know an enemy is near. More than anything, patience is about being willing to let time pass so that you have the upper hand above your opponents. When you do that consistently, you're sure to have a good kill/death ratio.
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Cover all your angles
If you're finding yourself with a very poor kill/death ratio, it's probably because you're positioning yourself where you can be killed without retaliation. To avoid this, you want to have cover at all times so that there are as few angles as possible to be shot from. If you can, try to make it so that there are only one or two spots where an enemy can shoot you from at any given time so that your crosshair is ready for their appearance. Though, this isn't always possible. In order to achieve this many times you'll need to clear rooms or corners so that you don't have to worry about enemies popping out from those locations.
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Get into the habit of glancing at the minimap
The mini-map is your best friend. When players fire any weapon without a silencer they show up on it. When your teammates spot an enemy they show up on it. Also, all major objectives show up on it. So, keeping your mind up-to-date on all this information by glancing at the mini-map frequently is a great way to gain an advantage.
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Choose a secondary gadget that you'll use
There are quite a few secondary gadgets to choose from. What's most important than anything is that you get use from the item. The zip line, for example, is great for flanking enemies. But if you don't play aggressively you might find yourself not using it much. Experiment with the gadgets and see what fits into your play style.
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You can't do it alone
A large part of how well you perform in a match will be determined by how well your team is doing. Think of it like this, if your teammates are doing well, covering angles and preventing enemies from setting up in strong positions, you will have an easier time crushing enemies. So, stay near your squad, be aware of where they are, and support them.
