Battlefield 6 Vehicle Gunner Guide

Guest blogger ElliotLH is a member of the EA Community Superuser Program.

Hi everyone,

I've not seen too many guides about how to get to grips with the weapons when you're a Gunner in a vehicle, so I thought I'd throw one together. This is more of a quick-start guide rather than an in-depth analysis, but hopefully you find something useful that you can use in-game.

Before anything else, The Golden Rules.

Don't start randomly shooting the moment you get into a vehicle. Admittedly, I do sometimes forget this myself and tap out a few rounds to play the Battlefield theme tune, but in general, you should try to save your bullets for the enemy. Not because you'll run out before you get into the action, they're infinite after all*, but more because you're broadcasting the vehicle to every enemy nearby and more than likely causing the driver a bit of panic and/or annoyance.

*Excluding RedSec. Vehicle ammo is limited in that gamemode.

Be aware of your surroundings at all times. While it's incredibly fun to sit there and mow down hordes of enemies, you need to be mindful not to get tunnel vision. Your primary job as a Gunner is to protect the vehicle from any incoming threats, so you need to scan around the vehicle as much as possible, check any hiding spots, keep an eye out for mines and destroy them, and prioritise killing enemy Engineers and Recons. Usually, I just assume that anyone trying to rush or sneak up on the vehicle is likely a Recon with a load of C4 (sometimes it's an Engineer with a repair tool in a surprise twist), so I'll try to move from more distant targets and prioritise the nearest first instead. In a similar vein, keep an eye out for the EOD bot, as their mini-mines and repair tool can quickly wreck a ground vehicle.

I'd recommend trying to prioritise targets in the order below:

1. Anti-vehicle infantry within close range.
2. C4 rushers (usually flanking or sprinting directly at you) and EOD bots.
3. Enemy vehicles actively engaging yours.
4. Mines in your path.
5. General infantry.

If you want the vehicle to last as long as possible, be an Engineer. Ultimately, your job as a passenger is to keep the vehicle fighting fit. The best way to do this is to make sure you've spawned as an Engineer, as you can simply hop out of a ground vehicle or change seats in a helicopter to use your repair tool. You can also help in vehicle fights by sending a few rockets towards the enemy. Engineer also has a class perk where they will passively repair a vehicle from inside, which can obviously be incredibly helpful. I have this set on a custom loadout that I switch to if I intend on being a Gunner, and use it along with the vehicle supply crate.

Communication is key when you're controlling a vehicle and a crew working effectively together can be unstoppable on the battlefield. There are a variety of ways to communicate with the driver or pilot, although it is admittedly easier to do when you're playing with friends rather than solo since there's no proximity chat in vehicles. The tips below should give you some basic ways of communicating with drivers and pilots, even if you're not able to speak with them over mic. 

• Call out and spot mines before the driver advances if you can't shoot them.
• Spot or call out enemy vehicles and infantry (spotting is RB on controller or Q on PC).
• Confirm when a target is painted.
• Let the pilot know when you’ve locked a missile.
• Tell the driver or pilot when you’re overheating.
• Instruct the driver to reposition if necessary.
• Use the ping system if the driver or pilot are in your squad.
• Ask for nose alignment in helicopters to improve accuracy.
• Use text chat for tactical advice or requests if using a mic isn't possible.
• Remember that if the driver is in your squad but you don't know if they're wearing a headset, keep speaking to them. They should still be able to hear you through their speakers.
  
  
  

So, on to the weapons and equipment.

The MBT, IFV, and ATP all have three flavours of Gunner remote weapons to choose from, one of which the driver will have pre-selected for you in their loadout.

Light Machine Gun:

This gun is fantastic at close-to-mid range, but loses out a bit when it comes to longer ranges. It's fast-firing and will shred infantry up close, so it's ideal if you're the Gunner for an aggressive driver who is attacking objectives. It has a decent overheating time, so you can spray a little bit with it, but I find it works best in bursts, so you can keep firing for as long as possible. The LMG will also do damage to light vehicles, like the Light Transport, but not as much as the HMG.

Heavy Machine Gun:

The HMG is great for picking off infantry from longer ranges. It's a slower-firing but accurate weapon, so it's handy when the driver is playing with a bit of distance. It's also pretty effective against unarmoured vehicles. You'll need to be fairly accurate as it does overheat quite quickly, but it's powerful when you're hitting your targets. I find this weapon particularly helpful in Breakthrough as the battle lines are a bit more static, so drivers often hang back for pushes.

Grenade Launcher:

This one is a bit more situational, and you might find it works better in some gamemodes over others. Basically, it's an automatic grenade launcher that will lob grenades over a fairly impressive distance. The launcher is definitely better up close than at a distance due to weapon accuracy, but it can be devastating in the right situations. This is another weapon that is probably better in Breakthrough rather than Conquest, as it works very well at close range and can also be effective at harassing enemy infantry on the capture point.

Countermeasures:

This is a really helpful bit of equipment that will detect nearby mines and C4 and destroy them when activated. It's available on the MBT and ATP, and if the driver has it selected, you'll see a prompt on-screen when mines or C4 are detected. When you press the corresponding button (left D-Pad for controller and 3 for PC), you should safely detonate the explosives before they become a threat.

Target Designator:

The Target Designator is available on the IFV and will let you paint a target for the driver. It's great for drawing their attention to enemy vehicles, and is a big help for the driver too, as they can keep on target easily when trying to deal with the enemy vehicle with all the chaos going on around them. 

Since the Target Designator is a default piece of kit on the IFV, you can use it in conjunction with the secondary piece of equipment, the Smoke Wall. If you want to activate it, simply press Y/Triangle on your controller or the 2 key if you're on PC. Use the left trigger on your controller or ADS key on PC to zoom in, and then hold the right trigger or the fire button on PC to paint the target. 

Smoke Wall:

Available on both the MBT and IFV, this will let you launch smoke grenades to create a cloud around the tank. It's great for providing cover when attacking a point or when the vehicle is being repaired in the middle of battle, so don't be afraid to use it.

The smoke wall is default equipment for the Gunner in the IFV and can be used along with the Target Designator. You can activate the smoke wall simply by pressing the right D-Pad button on your controller or 3 key on PC.

The Light Transport comes equipped with a mounted Heavy Machine Gun and can quite often prove effective when used on the move with hit-and-run tactics. Personally, I wouldn't try to use it for long when the vehicle is static, since the operator is exposed and can be killed very easily, but you can still get an impressive kill-streak sitting when you're fighting less observant enemies. Other passengers can also use their primary weapons from the comfort of their seats. 

 

(Image provided by EIGuimaraes).

The Gunner weapons in the Attack Helicopter can't be changed as they can with the ground vehicles, so you'll only have access to two. They are incredibly effective, though. 

- Autocannon:

The Autocannon is brilliant at dealing with infantry. Especially if they're clustered up on a point. Aiming can be a bit challenging at times, depending on what manoeuvres the pilot is having to make, but if you try to be accurate, you'll wipe any enemies out in seconds. The Autocannon is pretty effective at dealing with vehicles, too, and if you're working in tandem with the pilot, you should take them down quickly.

- Lock/Aim-Guided:

This is a missile that can be guided to a target with your cursor. It's effective against both air and ground targets, but can be a bit tricky to use if the pilot is taking evasive action. The missile can also lock on to targets, so keep an eye out for target boxes appearing on your screen. It's advisable to keep your view facing towards the front of the helicopter, to give you a good idea of what the pilot is aiming at and allow you to send your rocket towards the same target.

You'll only be able to use the mounted Miniguns on the Transport Helicopter. They're best used against other enemy aircraft, but they can also be effective against infantry as well. If you're fighting long range, then you might find that you need to lead your shots more, or fire in bursts to avoid overheating and to maintain accuracy. Up close, though, they should take down most targets efficiently. It's also best to ensure that you're aiming when the nose is pointing. This way, you'll need to compensate less when shooting, and you'll also be fully aware of what the pilot is seeing. 

There aren't any weapons available to the Gunner in this little helicopter, although it does offer some handy equipment that you can use instead.

Thermal Scanner:

This allows you to use an infrared scanner to spot enemies for your team. When activated, there will be a bar in the centre of your screen to show how much charge is remaining. It'll recharge passively when not activated, and it's great for quickly picking out targets when the pilot is making attack runs.

You can activate the Thermal Scanner by holding down the right trigger on your controller or the fire key on PC. Also, you can zoom in by holding the left trigger or ADS button for PC.

Target Designator:

This is the same piece of equipment that is on the IFV, and will let you lock onto and paint vehicles to make it easier for your teammates to lock onto and take down.

Directional Jammer:

The Jammer is particularly helpful for keeping the helicopter safe from being locked onto by enemies. You'll need to be mindful that it will overheat from extended use, so ensure you use it efficiently. To activate the Directional Jammer, press the right-D Pad on your controller or 2 key on PC, aim at vehicles, and press the fire button.

 

Nobody is perfect and you will make mistakes as a Gunner at some point. However, there are some very simple ways for you to minimise potential errors. Keep these basic things in mind and you will keep the vehicle alive as long as possible.

• Firing randomly and reveals your position.
• Avoid tunnel vision on one lane.
• Don't ignore the rear of the vehicle.
• Don't stay in the gunner seat when the vehicle is critical instead of repairing.
• Try not to focus on farming kills instead of eliminating clear anti-vehicle threats.
• Communicate with the Driver if you can.
  
  

While I recommend playing around with all of the weapons and equipment available to find what works best for your own vehicles, at first glance it can be difficult to get an idea for setups for specific situations or gamemodes. The suggestions below should help quickly get you up and running with some simple setups for your own Gunners when you're a Driver. 

• Aggressive driver pushing objectives → LMG.
• Defensive or long-range driver → HMG.
• Breakthrough or Rush  → Grenade Launcher.
• Enemy team running light vehicles → HMG.
• Close-quarters pressure on capture point or clearing buildings → Grenade Launcher.
  
  

That brings this guide to a close. I hope that you found it useful and feel more confident in being the best Gunner possible. Also, if anyone has any tips that they'd like to share, don't be shy. Feel welcome to post them in the comments.

See you on the Battlefield – as always, if you kill me, please don’t forget to t-bag me!

Thank you EIGuimaraes, EA_Leeuw, EA_Rtas, and EA_Failroader for the feedback, suggestions, and encouragement. I really appreciated all of your help and guidance.