Infantry Fighting Vehicle | Vehicles Battlefield 4 Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Available models:
- ZBD-09 (CH)
- LAV-25 (US)
- BTR-90 (RU)
IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) are vehicles equipped with anti-tank guns and MGs. Moreover, IFVs can hold up to a few players at once so they're good as transport vehicles.
Controls are not very different from basic tanks - you control the direction with WSAD, while the mouse controls the turret. General movement, combat and positioning are the same as in tanks. IFVs' armor is weaker but their speed, mobility and rate of fire is much higher.
IFVs can destroy any armored vehicle - even tanks. Mobility is essential in fighting against a tank - amount of ammo and rate of fire gives you an advantage despite of dealing less damage than tanks. Your speed can be really helpful, so try to move as much and as fast as possible. Don't forget about cooperating with your mechanic because he'll help you in dangerous situations.
Stats
Armor | 1000 |
Time until the start of regeneration (from the last damage taken) | 14 seconds |
Critical damage (temporary strong difficulty in controlling the vehicle) | Shot above 39% of armor |
Limited mobility (temporary difficulty in controlling the vehicle) | Shot above 29% of armor |
Top speed | 65 km/h |
Number of seats | 6 |
Default respawn time | 60 |
Basic movement
Settings
In case of vehicles like IFVs, Settings are not very important. Your most important change should be about graphics (playing should be comfortable but without a loss of frame rate). You should set grid quality to ultra because it will let you see enemies with Q more easily. Don't forget about relative aim (Controls tab) that you set according to your preferences. Just like with tanks, mouse sensitivity has to be high enough to turn the turret comfortably but it can't make aiming at infantry hard. Recommended settings:
Sensitivity in the game: 20%-30%
Sensitivity in Windows: 8/10
Sensitivity of mouse: 1200DPI - 2000DPI (You'll find information about it on the bottom of your mouse, in the manual or on the Internet)
Using the minimap
Just like with tanks, as an IFV driver you can't forget about the map. You can expand it with M or use a Battlescreen. It will give you information about the danger and current situation. As an IFV driver you must know your strong and weak points. Your role will depend on how your team handles tactical locations (flags, beacons). As a mobile and fast vehicle, support your team when they can't eliminate the enemy in tactical locations. Probably a 1v1 (vehicle vs vehicle) fight and contact with infantry will happen. If the situation is balanced, decide which locations you should defend, but don't forget about attacking. Don't overestimate your abilities, you can be destroyed much faster than a tank by most land and air vehicles. Use your map to avoid it. Remember that many engineers, snipers and support soldiers use explosives and anti-tank launchers. They will use it against you only if you make a mistake. You should therefore avoid situations like too much anti-tank rounds. As a last resort, since your vehicle is quite fast, you might try escaping a fight, but as a good driver you should not let that happen.
Attacking and defending key locations
When you decide how you want to play, don't forget about your weak and strong points. As an IFV you have a weaker armor than a tank, so fighting one of them with low armor might be a suicide. You have, however, a more diverse weapons (you can shoot more rounds than a tank), you can take more allies with you (like engineers or support who will help you in a dire situation) and you can escape a fight quickly.
While playing defensively, position your vehicle away from open spaces (increased danger from aircraft). Have a way to escape. You have to feel comfortable on your position. Don't forget to keep moving to reduce a chance of being hit. Use all forms of covers like buildings. Acting like that will give you confidence and make your vehicle difficult to eliminate. If you play with engineers, ask them to place some anti-tank mines. You can set a trap for your enemy. Additionally, don't forget about the map - you'll see the enemy before they see you!
If you think it's time to play offensively, remember that it's harder than protecting your flags and beacons. When you leave your position, you lose covers. Before you do it, check the map to be sure that nobody surprises you, especially a vehicle in a better position. Statistically, the closer you are to tactical locations, the more threats may interrupt you. They are mostly anti-tank mines, C4 and engineers with anti-tank launchers. Avoiding them requires experience and cooperation between the driver and the gunner. Try to press Q from time to time so you don' get into an explosive.
Unlockables
Unlockable | Icon | Required points | Description |
Thermal Camo
|  | 4 000 | A coating that make s your vehicle harder to track. |
TOW missile
|  | 6 000 | Wire-guided anti-tank missile. Deals high damage to armored vehicles and nearby infantry. |
Gunner: Proximity Scan
|
| 9 000 | Only for Gunners - it detects enemy units around the vehicle and marks them on the minimap. |
IRNV
|  | 11 000 | Thermal night vision, it will let you spot enemy units on low and medium distance more easily. |
APFSDS-T
|  | 13 000 | A round with no explosive, its velocity is much higher than other rounds. |
Smokescreen
|  | 15 000 | A smokescreen that makes your vehicle impossible to designate as target, moreover the enemy won't achieve shots with critical damage. |
Gunner: IRNV
|  | 17 000 | Thermal night vision for the gunner, it will let you spot enemy units on short and medium distance more easily. |
Auto Loader
|  | 19 000 | Significantly reduces reload time. |
Thermal Optics
|  | 21 000 | Black and white thermal vision that lets you see enemies more clearly at any distance. |
Gunner: Soflam
|  | 23 000 | For Gunners: it designates targets for laser guided weapons. |
Canister shell
|  | 25 000 | 25mm round with tungsten pellets inside. Used mainly for eliminating infantry. |
Fire Extinguisher
|  | 26 000 | Fire Extinguisher that lets you make your tank usable again, therefore making regeneration possible. Using it is possible only when the vehicle is heavily damaged. |
Reactive armor
|  | 28 000 | An armor that significantly reduces the chance to be hit with critical damage. |
Gunner: Thermal Optics
|  | 30 000 | For Gunners: Black and white thermal vision that lets you see enemies more clearly at any distance. |
ZUNI Rockets
|  | 31 000 | Guided rockets. Effective against infantry and armored vehicles. |
Gunner: Incendiary
|  | 33 000 | Creates smoke that deals damage to enemies nearby. |
Best combination:
Primary weapon: definitely 25mm shell. Although it deals less damage to vehicles (1%-1.5% less than APFSDS-T) but it's better at eliminating infantry.
Secondary weapon: don't use LMG and canister because they're made for eliminating infantry (for this you have 25mm). Choose between TOW missile and ZUNI rockets.
TOW missile | ZUNI rockets | |
Resupply time | 15 seconds | 20 seconds |
Number of rounds | 2 | 16 |
Damage dealt to land vehicles | 23%- 50% | 4% - 9% |
It's your choice. If you prefer higher damage with less shots, choose TOW missile. Remember that missing an enemy usually results in a loss. But if you prefer dealing less damage but having more rockets, choose ZUNI rockets.
Countermeasures:
Duration: | Reload Time: | Range: | |
IR Smoke | 7.5 seconds | 17.5 seconds | 20m |
Smoke Screen | 7 seconds | 5 seconds | 4m |
Active Protection | 5 seconds | 25 seconds | N/A |
Fire Extinguisher | N/A | 25 seconds | N/A - works below 37% of armor |
IR Smoke will only protect you from guided missiles so it's not the best choice. Active protection will probably be better. Despite having a longer reload time and shorter duration, it will also stop any anti-tank rounds and aircraft.
Optics: according to your preferences, choose either 3x scope that's useful for eliminating enemies from a distance, or thermal optics, helpful while fighting infantry.
Upgrade: Definitely choose reactive armor that will make achieving a critical hit harder for the enemy.
Gunner upgrade: proximity scanner might be the most useful upgrade. With it, enemies near your vehicle will appear on the minimap (often soldiers with C4).
Combat
Driver-gunner cooperation
Just like with tanks, you have to learn to cooperate with your gunner. It looks the same but I will say it one more time. You have to keep talking. The gunner, who plays as an Engineer, should be best at repairing the IFV. Remember that if you leave the vehicle you become an easy target and you might not be able to come back. To avoid it, turn the turret to the side you think is safe. You'll get out of the IFV on this side. Moreover, you have to help your driver with your anti-tank launcher. Exit the same way you would to repair the IFV. Right after the enemy shoots at your vehicle, get out of it, wait for a good moment and use your anti-tank missiles. Synchronizing these actions requires some experience.
Basic combat against land vehicles
During the game, you'll have to fight against other land vehicles. Tanks and IFVs are most dangerous. Don't forget to keep moving. Protect the back of your vehicle because it has the weakest armor. Don't let the enemy hit your back or you might end up in the respawn menu.
When you fight against other IFVs, use your ZUNI rockets or TOW missiles first. When you do it, activate the active protection so the enemy's counterattack doesn't kill you. Then, while your secondary weapon is regenerating, use your 25mm rounds. When you use all of them, come back to the previous weapon. This will let you eliminate the enemies more quickly and effectively. It's not a golden rule, add something from yourself if you think it's necessary. Cooperate with your gunner who can help you.
If you fight against a tank, it gets more interesting. A tank has a much better armor and weapons. It's best to set an ambush. Like all armored vehicles, tanks are weakest at the back. If you can't hit it and you must fight, don't forget about advantages of your vehicle. Like with fighting the IFVs, use the pattern: ZUNI rockets/TOW missiles => active protection => 25mm rounds => repeat. Avoid hitting the front because of the strongest armor. Don't forget about your gunner and engineers, use their help to eliminate the enemy more quickly.
Fighting against infantry
Considering your light armor and quite good weapons (25mm rounds), fighting against infantry should not be a problem. Your primary weapon, except the direct hits, can harm the infantry even if you shoot next to them. Use this for example when you know that there are enemies in a building.
Fighting against aircraft
The difficult part starts here. Airborne vehicles are your biggest threat. Destroying them with your weapons might be impossible because the angle at which you can shoot is too low. Experienced pilots will use it to their advantage and they'll stay above that angle. Even if the enemy is within your range, very low damage of 25mm rounds and ZUNI rockets will make it impossible to destroy them. TOW missiles are your last hope, but using them against aircraft requires a lot of experience.
Gunner's help is the best option. His gun can eliminate hostile planes and helicopters much more quickly.
Help
Don't be aggressive, evaluate the situation dynamically
It often seems that the current situation is favourable and you may leave your position or go into an open area. It's the biggest mistake you can make. Most airborne vehicles will destroy you before you even think about it. Moreover, if you use your countermeasures too fast, engineers will see a red light on your vehicle and will probably fire a salvo of anti-tank rounds. If you evaluate the situation dynamically, you won't fall into an ambush. In the beginning, don't count on a high K/D. Focus on supporting your team and gaining experience more than on your score. K/D is not always equal to your skills.
Change the view to third person
When you move in tight places surrounded by building, you'll need to change the view with C. You'll extend your field of view and you'll be able to see what's going on around you. It's quite important because soldiers with C4 often use their advantage over careless tankers.
Sometimes escape is the best option
As an IFV driver, you have one big advantage - the option of escaping. It is so because IFVs are faster than tanks, which might be a major advantage. Don't turn your back towards the enemy, your armor is weak there and it might lead to elimination of your vehicle.
Save your ammo
It might seem that in the beginning you have a lot of ammo. It's not true. Killing infantry and shooting aircraft is important, but other land vehicles pose the biggest threat. You should always have some spare rockets and rounds. It's better to wait a moment and kill the infantry later than create a situation when you have to leave your vehicle.