Power Weapons: 3 Gorgon/Boltok, Boomshot, Torque/Sniper, Ink/Frag

Mansion such a fun map, I’ve found out that 5 to Boomshot seems to work great, the sniper and torque don’t seem to be effective enough on mansion due to its small map. However like jacinto you can send 3 to torq/sniper and 2 to Boomshot, sending one down the bottom level to flank enemies. Very simple map, if you’re a lancerjunkie, watch out for using the chainsaw in the mansion plenty of chainsaw magnets that wil get you killed.

Pavillion

Power Weapons: 2 Gorgon/Boltok, 2 Ink/Frag, BoomShield, Mortar, Mulcher.

I love this map. My favorite strategy is 2 to the shield hall, 2 to the middle and 1 to mortar. The one to mortar goes grabs fires, the top tries to push, if they meet 0 resistance grab the shield and come down on the enemies. The 2 middle people rush to the mulcher one guards(the shotgunner) and the other grabs the Mulcher and fires cover fire. Again with the other maps you can cut up your 5 people between the 3 paths.

River

Power Weapons: 2 torque/Sniper, 2 Ink/Frag, Boomshot, Mortar, 2 Gorgon/Boltok

My old favorite map. However everyone is learning how to intercept the torque/sniper. My favorite strategy is 1 to Torque/Sniper, 1 intercepts sniper/torque, 2 to Boomshot, 1 to bridge. 1 Torque sniper should look out window to check on a grenade thrower in the river, the interceptor grabs frags/ink and throws the grenades onto the enemy’s sniper/torque. The person to the bridge should check for resistance, if none he crosses and flanks Boomshot or power house, if there is he backs up and covers his sniper/torque teammate. With this map there’s 3 paths bridge, boom, and powerhouse, you can divide equally as long as you send 1 to each path.

Ruins

Power Weapons: 2 Gorgon/Boltok, 2 Frag/BoomShield, 2 Sniper/Troque, Scorcher

My favorite map, the only map I truly believe a 5 on 1 is easily done. As for strategies their abundant and far and few between perfection. I truly believe there is no one solid route to run this map, 5 to any side works wonders, middle left right it doesn’t matter. Oh? Want to know how the 5 on 1 works don’t ya? Easy grab sniper/Torque (dropping your hammer/lancer) and from there its cake, run long enough to create distance between your pursuers, stop to take a shot, keep moving. The strategy is simple fight one on one, do your damage and run. Works almost every time. If you get pinned? Easy whoever has the power weapon is who you want to fight unless it’s a scorcher, if it’s a scorcher go to the opposite opponent try and defeat him, if you see this going badly simple stun and run. As for strategies, simply make sure you don’t let your enemy have your power weapon or your frags, then its all skill from there. There are some cheap tricks like rushing to a certain point on the bridge and hammering down your opponents sniper/torque guy. Or fragging the opposing torque/sniper.

Security

Power Weapons: 2 Ink/Frag, Boltok/Gorgon, Mulcher/Mortar, Scorcher

Simple grab grenades, 2 to tunnel and 3 in the middle, and flank. This map is mainly based on player skill no true strategies to make this map easier unfortunately.

Stasis

Power Weapons: 2 gorgon/Boltok, 2 Ink/Frag, Boomshot/Mulcher, Torque/Sniper

More complicated but the perfect strategy is sound. 2 people go straight to the middle grabbing frags/inks and heading for torque/sniper, 2 more go straight down the path that leads to the enemys Boomshot stairs, one goes to Boomshot stairs and fires along the rafters keeping his opponents of of the Boomshot. As long as everyone on the bottom floor does their job and the opponents don’t get the Boomshot. Cake map.

Subway

Power Weapons: 2 ink/frag, sniper, Mulcher/torque, scorcher.

This map is intricate as well, each side is different therefore there is no one set strategy for this map, the best thing to do is to play to your teams strengths. Speed or defense? But no matter which strength it is don’t let your sniper/torque or grenades fall into the opposing teams hands.

Tyro Station

Power Weapons: 2 sniper/torque, Frags/inks, 2 gorgon/boltok

I hate this map, but I know how to work it. Its simple send 2 bottom 3 top, one top for power weapon 2 to cross the tracks. CAREFUL the train is fast, but once you learn how to cross fast and perfect its an easy map, the two bottoms should flush through and use grenades on sniper/torque spot(unless you had to use them to win the fight down bottom). Perfect strategy if executed correctly.

UnderHill

Power Weapons: Scorcher, BoomShield, 2 frags/inks, 2 gorgon/Boltoks, torque/sniper, Mortar

Simply put the faster team wins, with so many power weapons and such a large map, whoever can navigate and swarm faster will have an advantage over the other team, plus Hammerburst and pistols become key for the long range combat that takes place on this level. 2 to middle, one to mortar 1 to grenades then to opponent’s grenades fighting and killing on the way there, and 1 to scorcher. Speed and accuracy are keys on this map.

2.) Ok so the second thing on my list is knowing where your teammates are. Now honestly I won’t explain how to do this, because.. really… But I’ll stress that its key knowing where your teammates are, especially if you get downed or if they get downed. Now on strategy point of view the more you have with you the more likely your opponent will break offense and retreat into a corner. And when retreating if you retreat at a slower pace than your normal ability to run away, you can entice the greedier player to walk right into your teammates/plants. That’s really all that should be said on that matter.

3.) Active reload as much as possible. Active reloads decrease reload time and allow bonuses to your weapons, here is the active chart: Note: Active reload damage only lasts for a few seconds, all other bonuses stay until you switch your weapon. The damage bonus stays for roughly 8-10 seconds. Any time you switch weapons all actives are nullified.

4.) Fourth on the list, predicting common moves from your opponents. Surprising them with some crazy plan has an increased chance of success. Defensively speaking though as you play gears you will see common moves like the 1-2(two piece). And that ability is simple to see coming and easy to defeat, as you play more you will see common moves and learn to intercept them. With each move I explain I’ll explain its counter.

5.) Communicate everything, whatever you see wherever their going, don’t give false information even if you really think that’s what the enemy will do. No information is better than false information. Call out who is doing what or who is carrying what. Information is key for a team to win.

Go to Part 1 | Go to Part 3

Top Ten Golden Rules

1. Know the maps
2. Know where your teammates are
3. Active reload as much as possible
4. Predict common moves
5. Communicate everything
6. Learn how to Shotgun effectively
7. Learn how to Hammerburst effectively
8. Learn how to Power Weapons
9. Learn how to Grenades
10. Speed and Accuracy

1.) First off I’ll explain the maps and some common ways they are worked. I’m assuming players will know the map layouts as I give strategies.

Avalanche

Power Weapons: Mulcher/Mortor, Ink/Frag, BoomShield, 2 Gorgon/Boltok, Torque,Boomshot(after avalanche)

There are a few different ways to run this map. The grenade path is to run out of the spawn and turn right, then left outside, and up and left again down to the grenades. Often times tossing a smoke across the map towards your mirror position, will slow down their grenade rushers.

Next, Mortart/Mulcher can be powerful if used as support and not a main weapon. The best thing to do in round 1 is to send 2 to each side and one grenade runner to measure your opponents. Then you can decide how many you need on each side, or you can simply flush all five down one side, and even 4 down one side leaving 1 down the other to hold them off until the 4 flank his opponents. The only bad thing about this map is the avalanche, it comes at random times and can be deadly if your not watching for it, however it doesn’t reach past the grenade spawn, so if your by the truck it will never reach you. Some advanced campers will post up in the spawn, and use the balcony to down their opponents, having a boltok makes this easier.

BloodDrive

Power Weapons: Torque/Sniper, 2 Gorgon/Boltok, Scorcher, 2 Ink/Frag

There are numerous strategies on this level. Starting with My favorite 3 to the middle 1 to the grenade and 1 down towards the middle but cut to the right for the scorcher, the scorcher then turns around and runs to support the middle, or if its an ink round runs up the enemy grenade tunnel. Another notable one is 4 to the middle 1 to the frag/ 5 into the middle. Some teams even post all 5 members on their stairs, using grenades and long range rifles to defend their grenade hall, the boltok/gorgon helps defend the stairs. The only problem with posting up there is sniper/torque can be devastating in a veterans hands, especially against campers. Now there are several strategies where you mix how many go middle and how many go down the tunnel and through the back into the enemy’s grenade tunnel. If your outnumbered, near the end of a round or its 3 of you and 2 bots posting up in the spawn can be efficient to the mediocre teams. This won’t stop a veteran team however.

Canals

Power Weapons: 2 Snipers, Torque/Boomshot, Boltok/Gorgon, Ink/Frag

My favorite strategy for this map is 3 to the center for boom/torq and 1 to our sniper, then I usually run up our center stairs to the back long hall and rush through the hall and past the grenades to go and kill their sniper immediately. Other strategies are 4 to the middle and one to the sniper, 3 to the middle and 1 to the sniper and 1 to the grenades, Some bizarre teams will send 5 to the middle or 1 to the middle to at least stop the boom/torq and 4 down the back hall. However I recommend all teams pick up their sniper, some veteran teams know how to rush fast enough for it not to matter, but not many.

Courtyard

Power Weapons: Boomshot/Torq, 2 Boltok/Gorgon, Ink/Frag, Sniper/Mortar

One of my favorite maps from the DLC, statues that can fall? Sweet. Common strategy is the simple 2 top, 2 bottom, 1 middle. My favorite strategy is 2 to the top and 3 to the bottom, however only 2 go to the torq/boom while the third runs on the other side of the wall and comes up on the backs of the opponents at the torq/boom. Again with most maps you can put 5 to any side, the 1 and 4 crush. Not many unique strategies on this map, mediocre teams commonly camp the top side though.

Day One

Power Weapons: 2 Boltok/Gorgon, BoomShield, Sniper/Torque, Mulcher/Hammer

The strategies on this map are common enough, since there are only two paths from the start its basically how you wish to divide your team, I prefer 3 towards torq/sniper and 2 towards hammer/Mortar. There’s an arcade that can be camped in as well, inside the arcade theirs a certain machine that nobody checks if your trying to stall the game. Other than that there is not much else to say about this map, other than 5 to one side doesn’t work that often.

Fuel Depot

Power Weapons: 2 Torque/Sniper, 2 Ink/Frag, Hammer/Mortar, 2 Gorgon/Boltok

This map is a classic. Tip for your expert Torq user, if you rush to the torque fast enough and get out of the trailer quick enough you can tag the opponent who is going for their torque. Favorite strategy, 1 left 2 middle 1 right, leaving whoever got the torq/snipe to roam between which 3 paths he/she wants. 5 to the middle is not bad. 5 grenade side is not bad but requires speed. Another common strategy is 2 grenade side, 1 middle and 2 factory side. The gas pumps explode enough said. Despite the mortar being inside it can be effective if you fire it inside, it’ll land on unsuspecting foes also in the factory.

Flood

Power Weapons: 2 Boltok/Gorgon Torque/Boomshot, 2 Ink, 2 Frag, Mortar/Hammer

Wait 2 Ink and 2 frag? This must be a joke right? Nope sure enough there are Inks and Frags every round. I hate this map though, it was not built well at all. However it’s a basic map, think Avalanche with except the center has all the power weapons. Generally I say 4 to one side then one to the other but the 1 moves slower so he can flank the enemies. If you get the hammer/mortar first that helps in the big brawl. Really this map is too simple not to get.

Fuel Station

Power Weapons: Gorgon/Boltok, Ink/Frag, Mortar, Mulcher, Scorcher

I love this map, don’t get me wrong the setup on it is really strange, but it is a fun map. My favorite strategy is 5 men to the gas station. Collect mulcher go up top, collect frags go up top and tag elevator and stairs for defense, grab scorcher, and avoid mortars. The common strategies are rush for power up weapons, there is no flow to this map, simply everyone goes to the middle or behind the gas station, not much to it really. That’s one of the things I love about this.

Gold Rush

Power Weapons: 2 Gorgon/Boltok, Mortar/Boomshot, Ink/Frag, Torque/Sniper.

The flow for this map is high vs low. Perfect strategy is 2 high 3 low. Or 5 to either side works really well. That’s pretty much it for this map.

Gridlock

Power Weapons- 2 Gorgon/Boltok, Frag/BoomShield, Boomshot

This map is fun, my favorite strategy is 3 to Boomshot, and 2 to torq/sniper. The three that go to Boomshot should do: One to the far end of the wall closest to the BoomShield, one should grab the Boomshot, the last should be against the wall right behind his teammate grabbing the Boomshot in order to pick him/her up in the event he/she is downed, its likely. You could also 5 to one side, on either side, but if your going to do it do it on the Boomshot, plus there’s the 2 top 2 middle and 2 bottoms strategy, I’m not fond of it because most people going middle cant decide whether to help Boomshot or torq/sniper, and end up wasting time instead of killing.

Grindyard

Power Weapons: Boomshot, Scorcher, Frag/Ink, 2 Gorgon/Boltok

This map is awesome, simple enough. The strategy I like is 3 to Boom, 1 to frag, and 1 to scorcher, in the event that its ink send 2 to scorcher. Also 5 to Boomshot is not bad, or 4 to Boomshot and 1 to grenades is not bad either. This map is kind of like Fuel station its an open fighting ring.

Hail

Power Weapons: 2 Ink/Frag, Torq/Sniper, Sniper/Torq, Boomshot/Mulcher, 2 Boltok/Gorgon

Watch out for the rain, seriously I get tired of seeing people die to the hail of their own accord. My favorite strategy is 3 topside no matter what and 2 bottom, the bottom pushes through and around, unless top asks for help faster. This map can only be 5 to topside, never send all 5 to bottom your asking for it if you do. This map is simple, you can even send 4 top and one bottom, if the bottom has to much trouble he can simply run up the stairs to join the middle.

Jacinto

Power Weapons: Torque/Sniper, Boomshot/Hammer, 2 Ink/Frag, 2 Boltok, 2 Gorgon/Boltok, Mortar

This map has been overplayed lately so I have plenty of strategies. My favorite is 3 to middle and 2 to Boom/HoD. The three that go to the middle go as follows, your best sniper/torq grabs torq, someone supports him incase he is downed, your best shotgunner goes to the mortar stairs(top) and runs past the pillars and sneaks up on anyone trying to oppose the Boom/HoD. If your having trouble getting to the torq/sniper have someone with accuracy grab the Boltok across from the snipe/torq and fire across, plus smokes can cause good cover. As for other strategies you can put 4 to any side and 1 to the other and do decent, 5 to one side is never good on this map. Plus the grenade spawns can make good camping spots with proper plants and common sense.

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