The Star Wars Battlefront beta for PlayStation 4 is now out in the wild, although as with any new experience, it can probably prove a little intimidating for those who aren’t too familiar with the franchise. As such, and in a continuation of our Star Wars Battlefront week, we’ve cobbled together some essential tips that beginners should probably digest before they step into the boots of a Rebel or Empire footsoldier and start mixing it up with legions of other gamers in a bid for control of the galaxy.
Before you read the guide however, it’s probably best to first familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of the beta before you get started. In addition, keep in mind our guide for beating Walker Assault on Hoth and how to master the game’s Hero units, Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. In addition, if you’re just starting up the Hoth battle, you should probably take a look at our experience in video form too.
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1) Increase your level fast by participating in Drop Zone
Levelling up is paramount to increasing your enjoyment and prowess in Star Wars Battlefront. However, it’s easier said than done, although the best way to go about this is by taking part in the Drop Zone game mode. Yes, it’s not the best that Battlefront has to offer, but it’ll get your character levelled up in the fastest way possible. Playing Drop Zone for around an hour or so should have your level raised to 3 no problem, allowing you to have a better shot at the more challenging game modes, such as Walker Assault on Hoth. Crucially, ranking up will also unlock the Star Cards feature, which is a must-have tool for beating back the enemy.
2) Star Cards explained
As previously mentioned, Star Cards are an essential component in the Star Wars Battlefront experience, and something you’ll want to take advantage of as soon as possible. Once unlocked, they can be purchased in order to equip items during battle giving you access to some powerful weapons. Some of them are one-time purchases that come with a cooldown period and can be used as much as you like once it’s charged. These include items such as the Thermal Detonator and Cycler Rifle. Other items require charge drops to use, such as the Ion Shot, and are represented by tokens with a Lightning Bolt on them, so be sure to keep an eye out for them while exploring the map. Alternatively, you can purchase them with in-game currency earned by playing the game. Cards can be mapped to L1/R1 or Triangle.
3) The Cycler Rifle is one of your best friends
One of Battlefront’s most lethal weapons is also one of your best friends, so we recommend grabbing the Cycler Rifle as soon as possible. This handy device is a one-shot weapon that is not only accurate, but also delivers a deadly payload to your enemies. As such, due to its range, you should maintain a safe distance from your target and aim for the head; one well-placed shot to to the temple is enough to dispatch them outright. However, it’s worth keeping a few things in mind if you are going to use it. For starters, it has a long recharge time (about seven seconds), so you are highly susceptible to being picked off while you charge your next shot. In addition, due to its long-range sniping abilities, you are best advised to utilize the Cycler Rifle on the Walker Assault on Hoth mission—it’s not much cop in Drop Zone, so avoid wielding it in that mode if possible.
4) Ion attacks is deadly against Walkers and other vehicles
We touched upon this in our Hoth guide, although it’s a point we can’t stress enough: if you want to take down vehicles, then the Ion-based weapon is the best way to go about it. Going in with a blaster will probably result in the enemy laughing at you manically while stomping you into mush with their boot, so don’t even bother. The AT-ATs are AI-controlled, so you should be able to determine their route easily enough; attacking them with the Ion Grenade is your best bet at dealing heavy damage against them. For the faster vehicles, you are recommended to equip the Ion Shot Star Card, which augments your regular blaster which some much-needed firepower for a limited amount of time. Make every shot count.
5) Learn to use Active Cooldown
Star Wars Battlefront’s weapons are laser-based, which means you won’t be hunting around for extra ammo or reloading clips. Like Mass Effect however, you can only fire your weapon for a certain period of time before it overheats and needs to cool down. You’ll want to get the hang of keeping an eye on the bar in the middle of your screen and hit Square when it lands in the yellow section; this will instantly activate your weapon’s firing capabilities again. With vigilant use of this, you will be able to rake in kills far quicker than before in the middle of firefights, giving you the advantage. Keep in mind that the yellow bar will reduce in size as you land consecutive reloads, so you’ll need to practice to fully master the feature.