Battlefield Hardline Multiplayer Tips and Tricks

Our top tips and tricks Battlefield: Hardline multiplayer

Don’t listen to the meh-sayers who’ve never played beyond the first beta: there’s more to Battlefield: Hardline than a quick cops and robbers reskin of Battlefield 4. Sure, your existing Battlefield skills will transfer along with some strategies in the Conquest game mode, but with new modes, new tools and new situations to get used to, there’s a lot to learn about Hardline if you want to come out on top.

Don’t forget to read our full Battlefield Hardline review.

1) Don’t be a target

Battlefield: Hardline’s multiplayer modes aren’t as rewarding for snipers as Battlefield 4’s, but that doesn’t mean you should make yourself an easy target. In maps like Block, Growhouse, Derailed and Bank Job you need to take care when moving through open spaces, look for opportunities to move through buildings, and move fast when you can’t find cover. Watch for windows, low walls,  ramps, doorways and holes you can use for shortcuts, and learn how to time mantle and slide moves to get from A to B faster.
 

2) Load for the map and mode

Hardline’s classes are well balanced, but as you play you’ll find that certain loadouts will suit different play styles better, and that these won’t necessarily be the same from mode to mode. The specialist, for instance, might work for you in modes with static objectives like Rescue or Conquest, but might not be versatile enough to cover Hotwire, Heist and Blood Money. Similarly, weapons that work well on a small map with lots of close quarters combat might not work so well when you need more mid-range or long-range firepower. Pack SMGs and shotguns for a Heist mission in Growhouse, but grab the assault rifle to tackle Riptide or Bank Job.
 
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3) There’s more to winning than the Kill/Death ratio

Too many Battlefield players focus on the K/D ratio, and not on the stuff that wins the game. If you’re playing Heist, focus on the bags and the extraction points. If you’re playing Crosshair, make the VIP your priority. If you’re playing Blood Money, concentrate on the cash pile and the vaults. What’s more, remember you’ll get points for fulfilling class roles, handing out health or ammo or repairing vehicles, and for spotting the enemy. Play the objectives, not the other team.
 

4) Spawn Smarter

When you die, take a second to check the map before you respawn. Spawning on a squad-mate will get you back in action faster, but if they’re in the middle of a firefight you might not last long. Try to weigh up the situation and work out if spawning back at base is a better idea. Spawning in an occupied vehicle can also work brilliantly, particularly if you’re playing Blood Money, Conquest or Hotwire on a large-scale map. You can give your squad-mate additional firepower by leaning out of the windows (click R3) and leap out when you near an objective.

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5) Be a Team Player

There are some modes, like Rescue or Crosshair, where playing as a lone wolf can sometimes make it easier to surprise the opposition and tackle the main objective, but in most cases you’re better off working together to outgun or outsmart the enemy and meet your goals. While you’re at it, try being considerate. If you spawn at base, don’t race for the last vehicle, leap in and gun straight for the next objective; take a look around and see if anybody needs a lift. They can ride shotgun and help you complete objectives. If you’ve ever seen a fully loaded van race into the enemy vault and grab the takings in Blood Money, you’ll know exactly what we mean.
 

6) Keep Moving

Hotwire, Conquest, Blood Money and Heist are all about mobility, particularly on large-scale maps. Use the vehicles, cadge a lift and keep moving towards the next objective, or you’ll simply miss out on too much action. This goes double for Hotwire. Once you have a control point vehicle, keep it moving and try to take it off track; if the other team can’t find you, they can’t stop you or blow you up. If you don’t have a control point vehicle, pursue one relentlessly. If you can’t find your own car, leap into someone else’s and leap out as soon as you’re in range.

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7) Avoid Ambushes

If a control point vehicle in Hotwire isn’t occupied, take care: some sneaky players use them as a trap and try to snipe you from safe distance. The same goes for control points in Conquest, the cash pile in Blood Money and the bags and extraction points in Heist.
 

8) Use the Gadgets

Zip-lines and grappling hooks are there to be used, opening up new routes to and from the bank vault in Bank Job or the mansion roof in Riptide. Quick drop, smash and grab raids can be surprisingly effective, as can assaults from above. The T62 CEW laser, meanwhile, isn’t just great for humiliating your opponents, but for a quick interrogation to reveal enemy locations. Gadgets are there for a reason – use them.
 

9) Try the Mechanic

The Mechanic can be a great class in Hotwire. You can rack up points just for sitting in the passenger seat with the repair tool equipped, while the grenade launcher is a great way to take enemy-occupied control point vehicles off the map.