This feature provides tips for playing the new Star Wars: Battlefront. We provide a basic overview of power-ups, Star Cards and vehicles to make sure you know the fundamentals of combat in a galaxy far, far away.
Good luck, and may the Force be with you!
Complete Your Training… There is No Try
When you first begin playing Star Wars Battlefront, you’ll see the following two modes: Multiplayer and Missions. The game will suggest starting with Missions first to get the hang of the controls. You can do whatever you want, of course, but Missions are a great way to grow accustomed to the buttons and general strategy.
Play Battlefront played alone or with friends. If you have dreams of leaving Tatooine and become a Jedi like your… ahem… dominating multiplayer, computer-controlled enemies don’t possess the same level of aggression as people you’ll meet online. That aside, the Missions teach you about the variety of weapons and Star Cards available to you.
Once you get through a few of these missions, you’ll be ready to go with multiplayer. Prepare for a real fight, as some more experienced players will quickly dispose of you. That’s perfectly OK at the beginning. Win or lose and you’ll unlock new abilities, including the use of a thermal detonator (Battlefront’s version of a hand grenade), as well as new weapons.
Weapons and Abilities
When you first jump into combat you receive a standard issue blaster, but you won’t need to worry about running out of ammo. Instead, make sure the weapon doesn’t overheat. While in use, the weapons heat gauge fills with each shot you take. Once it’s full, you’ll need to wait for it to cool down in order to continue shooting, which will leave you vulnerable for a little while. There is a small opportunity for a quick cooldown if you press the button in the “hot zone” (yellow section), but if you miss, you’ll have to wait until it fully depletes.
This also goes for Star Cards, including the thermal detonator and the thrust jump. You’ll only be able to use Star Cards sparingly, and must wait for these items to recharge in order to activate them again. Some perks speed up the wait time, but in the beginning you’ll have to be patient until you level up.
In terms of general combat, staying out in the open is a bad idea, since the enemy will mow you down. Find proper cover, either by using a shield to your advantage (which we’ll get to in a second) or environmental cover; rock formations and trees depending on the level. Snipers should have no problem staying in one spot, but if you’re a ground soldier, keep moving – even if it means circling around a defensive position of the map’s perimeter.
Regarding shields, you’ll be able to activate one or two depending on what you pick up. The Squad Shield generates a temporary protection spot in a small radius, which is good for holding defensive positions or surviving while in open areas during enemy bombardment. Meanwhile, the Personal Shield will keep you safe from a few hits, even though you’ll still go down while heavily attacked. Save shields for when you need them most.
Use Power-Ups
While exploring each map in Star Wars: Battlefront, you’ll come across power-ups in the form of blue icons. To activate one, usually you need to press the two shoulder buttons at the same time. They’re only good the one time you pick them up, so don’t waste them.
The first few power-ups you come across include the Shields we mentioned earlier, secondary firing units like the Sensor Droid and Vehicle Turret, an Orbital Strike which delivers a thunderous attack from above, and a Proximity Bomb, which sets off a huge explosion that takes out anyone in the blast radius. Check which power-up you have in your weapon loadout and find the proper time to use it.
As you get into the deeper multiplayer modes, you’ll notice more intricate power-ups to push your team closer to victory. This includes vehicles like the TIE Fighter or X-Wing, giving you the chance to blast enemies both on the ground and in the air. You can pilot one of these iconic vehicles for a decent length of time, especially if you rely on aerial maneuvers to escape enemy fire. That said, vehicles also come with gauges in need of refills, so as Han Solo once said, “Great, kid, don’t get cocky!”
Finally, watch out for repair icons so you can continue your aerial domination.
Heroes and Villains
If you’re lucky, you’ll find a Hero icon that activates a special super-powered character in the game for a limited time, including Han Solo, Emperor Palpatine, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, among others. They provide much-needed strength, and can help rack up a few more kills in the process. When you turn into this character, look for squadmates in need of assistance and lend them a virtual hand.
You’ll also have access to occasional ground vehicles. This includes the AT-AT and the AT-ST on the Empire side. The AT-AT’s movement is handled automatically, as you basically just aim and shoot with it. However, its firepower is very much welcomed, especially when you need to bring down turrets or Heroes. The AT-ST is also decent on firepower, but is very fragile when it comes to movement, and can be taken down within a matter of a few shots.
As for the turrets, they provide their own amount of power, as you can easily mow down enemies in the sky and on the ground with it. However, if you stay in one for too long, they’ll get wise and try to bring you down by blowing up the turret. Try to keep an eye on your surroundings, and once you think you’ve been made, don’t be afraid to make a run for it and stay on foot.
The general goal of multiplayer is to see each battle through, no matter how tough the going gets. You’ll level up either way as a result, opening up your character with new abilities and Star Cards that come with experience. Keep at it, and you’ll be a Jedi (or Sith) yet!
For more tips, visit our free Star Wars: Battlefront Guide hub to learn about using Star Cards, Heroes and more!
