bf3 tips: tanks

[gibson66]

120 mm main gun that can demolish buildings.

 

the ability to brush off rpg's like flies.

 

The ability to drive straight through buildings.

 

The ability to run over and eat jeeps.

 

Small arms fire bounces off.

 

If that doesn't interest you, then you shouldn't be playing bf3.

 

The main battle tank is the heaviest hitting machine in the game. Nothing is as awesome is rolling into the battle in a 60 ton MBT and eating your opponents.

 

But like all things, it takes skill. Chances are the MBT can take on any other ground unit with ease besides another mbt. Infantry, even the engineer, don't stand a chance one on one. Things can get iffy if you come across another tank.

 

At first glance, tank on tank is closer to turn based combat than it is actual combat. FIRE!!!!!!wait....get hit...FIRE!!!!!  and repeat. It's usually comes down to who shoots first in CQC tank action.

 

Well, that's if you don't know what you're doing. 

 

Believe it or not, tanks can be stealthy son's a bitches. At least with other tanks. Sure, when you're in a 60 ton behemoth you're first reaction might be to charge into battle, but tactics pay off in tanks. The trick with tanks is to go for the ass. It might seem like a great idea to charge at the first vehicle you see, but more often than not, it's better to wait. Hold back until they've moved into a congested area they can't get out of, and when they least expect it, cripple them with a forceful, 120 mm rear penetration (What, you think that's sexual innuendo? Shame on you. Get your filthy mind out of the gutter.)

 

Why do I say this? Because BF3 isn't predictable. Sure, the MBT is one tough SOB, but you never know if there's another tank right around the corner that can beat you silly before you even know what's going on. The math is simple: 2 tanks is more than 1. So always use sneak attacks to engage other tanks before backup arrives.

 

Now let's talk setup: Infrared, reactive armor, and canister shell. Sure, there are other things you can use, but screw em. These are the best.

 

infrared provides a huge advantage. Not only can you see all of the enemies, but you can now spot those pesky mines. 

 

Reactive armor provides another layer of security (literally). Having some extra protection can really give you the upper hand in combat, as you now have a few extra seconds to locate and destroy whatever's shooting at you.

 

canister shell is an absolute must. Infantry are soft and squishy compared to tanks, and the canister shell turns them into swiss cheese. Plus, the canister shell can get head shots, so even at absurd ranges, you can one-shot-one-kill enemies.

 

Early on, I thought the lock-on missile was a good secondary because it let you hit targets accurately from distances. But as my aim got better, I started to use it less and less. The other downside of the lock-on missile is that you are now useless against infantry (well, besides running them over). Not only are you now incapable of engaging infantry, but you have two completely redundant means of taking on tanks.

 

Another secondary attachment I see a lot is the smoke. Smoke, theoretically, should be very useful. But in reality, it's kind of useless. Most engineers run with stiglas or rpg's. In fact, it's pretty rare to see anyone use javelins these days. You're far better off with the night vision/ infrared.

 

The biggest threat to the MBT actually comes from the sky. A skilled helicopter pilot can disable a tank from 500 meters away. The best option when in a tank is to avoid helicopters. Even with canister shell, hitting a helicopter is nigh impossible and is more likely to get the pilot's attention than it is to hit him.

 

And on a final note, watch out for C4. That shit is the black plague for tanks. When you've got c4 on you, jump ship and run. Your first reaction might be to try and run them over, but that takes time and usually by the time you get positioned to flatten them, they've hit the detonator. so remember: you can't win. Don't try. 

 

 

 

 

TLDR version: tanks are tough, but don't pretend they're invincible. Act accordingly.