BF:BC2 – Rush Mode Tips

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 reminded me how much I’m addicted to it’s online multiplayer a few days ago by awarding me the Superior Service Duty insignia, indicating that I’d played online for one full day. I’ve actually managed to rack up 27 hours all told, the majority of those being spent on the Rush game mode, where Attackers and Defenders wage war against each other for destructible M-Com Stations.

Although I’m no pro, and my kill/death ratio is only just above 1, I often find myself amassing a large number of points, being part of the best squad and even best player. Hopefully a few of these tips will help you do the same.

Rush Multiplayer Tips

1. Socialise – Persuade your friends to pick up a copy of the game, if they are insane enough not to have picked it up already, each of you get your headsets on, and each one of you play a different class. Then make sure you help out your fellow squaddie – heal his stricken ass, raise him from the dead, fix his ride, finish off that sniper he sunk a few bullets into. All of these will net you points quickly and easily. Team work is the key to victory and huge points tallies – lone wolves who have briefly migrated from Modern Warfare 2 need not apply here.

2. Spot – Although spotting is not the breeze it was in the demo (see my multiplayer First Impressions for more details) it still plays an integral part to how the battle will play out. Have you seen a sniper skulking around in the bushes but don’t want to give away your position by flushing him out with a hail of bullets? Hover your crosshair over him and press Select (for PS3 owners) or Back (for X360 owners). A red triangle will appear above his head for all your teammates to see, effectively marking him for death. Not only will you save someone a frustrating across-the-map shot to the face, you’ll also bag yourself +20 points for every Spot Assist you get, but only if that enemy is eliminated while the triangle is still active. Re-apply as needed.

This also applies to any tanks you see, whether you are Attacking or Defending. It may be painfully obvious to you that the enemy occupies a tank when it rolls over you on one side of the map, but it may not be to any teammates on the other side. Before it crushes your skull under its tracks, spot it. Your teammates will thank you for it.

3. Survive – As an Attacker, staying alive is pretty important. With only 75 respawn tickets available to the entire team, every prevented death could be vital to your success. It’s notice how important it is once you have made it all the way across the map to arm the M-Com Stations, only for all of your squadmates to die on you. It is now imperative to survive so that your squadmates can spawn on you and you dont all have to start back from the base, also known as square one! Lie low, get into camouflage, preferably behind concrete, and do nothing. Don’t give yourself away by shooting. Don’t be a hero by rushing to the nearest M-Com Station. You will die without people to support you. Do them a favour and STAY ALIVE!

4. Support – It is absolutely imperative to use your class gadgets if you want to score big points in Bad Company 2. As a Medic, hang around a few paces behind your front line (ideally your squadmates) and throw out a Medi-pack under each soldier’s feet. Whenever the pack comes off cooldown, throw down another. A particularly good trick is to throw them down in the immediate vicinity of the M-Com Stations, whether you are Attacking or Defending. Your teammates are bound to be shot at whilst they either arm or defuse a charge, and your Medi-pack under their feet means a rising points tally for you. Staying behind cover and behind your squaddies allows you to quickly dart out and revive them and return to cover, netting you points and saving them a frustrating wait on the spawn screen. If you only have time to pick up one fallen teammate before you die yourself, revivesomeone from your squad – you’ll get an extra 30 points.

Assault class should throw down their Ammo boxes wherever clusters of their teammates are cowering, particularly if they are playing as Defenders. Another good tactic is to throw one down under any well-hidden snipers, particularly if you know the favoured sniping spots.

Engineers should be wherever friendly tanks are, ideally travelling in them and hopping out when the tank takes damage. If there is no room for you, follow behind your tank, making sure to stay in the middle so you are not seen or caught by a stray bullet. Nothing frustrates the enemy faster than a tank that refuses to die because you are standing behind it, constantly repairing it and racking up points. Beware of sneaky players flanking the tank and getting easy knife kills while your busy with your drill. Stay alert.

Those who play Recon class should be activating their Motion Mines around the M-Com Stations. These are likely to be hot-beds of activity, particularly on the last two stations of a map when all hell breaks loose.

5. Snipe -  If you are going to play as Recon, please dont just sit and be a dirty camper. This is especially important if you are playing as the Attackers. The odd kill from across the map is doing nothing to help your team destroy the stations. Your k/d ratio will be impressive, but your points tally will be low. However, please do flank enemy tanks and plant C4. Please do plant C4 charges around an M-Com Station and blow them whenever you hear the alarm – don’t worry, the damage you do to your own station will be minimal. Don’t expect too many revives or heals if you simply hide in some bushes taking random potshots and not contributing to the overall ebb and flow of the map.

So, there you have it. A few tips borne out of my observations of 27 hours of play with the online multiplayer of Battlefield: Bad Company 2. I hope these help you rack up a few more points. Any additional hints and tips are welcomed in the comments, so please feel free to share.