Battlefield 1 is finally available on PC and consoles, and pretty great if you ask us , giving gamers a chance to dive back into the chaotic multiplayer action we expect from the franchise. But many continue to find themselves at the (largely absent) mercy of snipers who seem to be sitting in every nook and cranny. As a result, many Battlefield 1 players are looking to improve their own Scout performance, presumably in hopes of countering the barrage of incoming rifle fire we seem to encounter in every. single. match. And we want to help!
We won’t claim to be the world’s best digital snipers. But we’ve spent a fair amount of time with the Scout class in Battlefield 1, during the beta and post-launch, and we’re pretty confident we can help you improve your average match score by at least a few hundred points. Your daily/weekly practice and natural talent will still play a role in your overall performance. But we’ve rounded up tips that even the most inexperienced sniper can follow the next time they play Battlefield 1.
Here are our tips for sniping in Battlefield 1:
Positioning Is Key
There is nothing more important to your success as a Scout than proper positioning. Sadly, it’s not as simple as memorizing a spot or two on each map and returning to them religiously. Your needs will change based on the situation. Do you have the high ground? Is your team currently fighting uphill? Do you have suitable cover or are you having to hope you go unnoticed? Are you trying to force a sniper out of their nest?
As a general rule of thumb, one of the best things you can do is stay away from any build-up of friendly infantry forces. That’s where most of your enemies will be looking. Instead, try to move around and get eyes on the enemy formation from their flank. Another thing that rarely changes: Scouts should stay far away from the frontline. In most cases, it’s not your job to worry about capturing an objective. Provide cover fire for your squad, spot anyone you see and use your rifle’s range to keep yourself alive as long as possible.
Don’t Spawn Too Close
The most common mistake I see people making as a Scout is spawning too close to the frontline and then trying to retreat to high ground. In the rare instances where they aren’t shot 10 seconds after their soldier popped into existence, they’re almost always spotted by enemy forces who then proceed to unload on the would-be sniper’s chosen perch. Nobody likes inactivity in a game like Battlefield, but taking the time to spawn 50-100 meters away from the area where you plan to make camp is a great way to reduce the chance of being spotted before you’ve fired a shot.
Spot Before Shooting
I’ve mentioned it in passing twice already, but tagging enemies plays a much bigger role in the success or failure of a team than many Battlefield 1 players realize. Fortunately, performing the task is as simple as pressing a button and Scout’s can even spot enemy forces while looking through their scopes. No need to put away your firearm, to temporarily equip binoculars, like the rest of the team. As such, take the half second needed to tag an enemy (especially if it’s a tank) before firing at them.
On the off chance you miss, nearby soldiers will be aware of the enemy soldier’s position and have an opportunity to fire upon (or retreat from) the target(s) in question. Sure, you don’t get all the glory that way. But you’re playing the wrong game if you want to be a one-man wrecking crew. And if the increased chance of a win isn’t enough to convince you, take solace in the 25 points you receive anytime an enemy is killed after you’ve tagged them.
Focus On Stationary Targets At First
If you’re looking for sniping tips this early in the game, then it’s probably fair to assume you aren’t the best shot in the Battlefield 1 community. But that’s not nearly as much of a problem as you might think. In fact, you can rack up quite the score just by focusing on stationary targets who think they’re currently safe from enemy fire. Keep an eye out for opposing snipers, wounded soldiers waiting for their health to regenerate and/or medics trying to rack up easy points by tending to the injured. All three tend to stop moving for long periods, particularly when “safely” standing behind cover, and provide a steady supply of points for up-and-coming snipers.
Headshots Aren’t Mandatory
It’s 2016 and everybody wants to have their own viral headshot highlight reel on YouTube, Twitch, etc. I (sort of) get it. But they certainly aren’t the only shots that award points in Battlefield 1 . More importantly, they aren’t always necessary to get the kill. Plenty of soldiers are running around with much lower health than they realize, and/or can do anything about, making them easy targets whenever they inevitably stop moving for a few seconds. If you know your target isn’t going anywhere, take the time to line the up the guaranteed one-shot kill. But if you aren’t sure they’ll be hanging around for long then take a body shot and hope you hit the jackpot.
Upgrade Your Gear
This one is pretty self-explanatory. Buy a better rifle, preferably one with 4x magnification, and whatever secondary weapon you’re most comfortable with ASAP. I’d also advise switching to smoke or gas grenades because both can make it easier to escape from enemy infantry if/when the action gets too close.
Watch Out For Scope Glare
Another easy one here. You’ve probably noticed the glint of opposing snipers’ scopes during your time with Battlefield 1 . Guess what? Other people can see yours too! If you’re currently giving away your own position, put your rifle down long enough to change the direction you're facing and see if that’s enough to eliminate the issue. If not, lower your rifle and pivot a bit more. Rinse and repeat as needed. It only takes a few seconds to do but carefully monitoring your scope glare can drastically reduce the frequency with which you’re counter-sniped.
Zero Your Scope Properly
If you haven’t spent much time with the Battlefield series, or real firearms, you might have been confused when the game taught you how to zero your scope. If you weren’t aware, zeroing your scope is adjusting the scope to match the distance you believe yourself to be from the current target. By default, it’s set to 75 meters, meaning you could headshot any soldier standing roughly 75 meters away by lining up the center of their head in your crosshair, steadying the scope and pulling the trigger. But you can also zero the scope for 150- and 300-meter shots, a necessary adjustment on some of the larger maps in Battlefield 1.
Use All The Tools At Your Disposal
Most of the time, you’ll be relying on a combination of spotting bonuses, rifle shots and kill assists to rack up points as a Scout. But you’ll occasionally have to rely on other tools, like the pistol on your hip and the grenade you’re probably still carrying. Both can get you out of a jam when used properly. So don’t try to be Cpt. No Scope if/when an attacker gets too close. And don’t forget to use your flare gun when the action bottlenecks to make it harder for enemies to flank your team.
Do you have your own tips to share with would-be snipers?
Let us know in the comments section!
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Battlefield 1 is currently available on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
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