Basic tank | Vehicles Battlefield 4 Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Available tanks:
- TYP 99 MBT (CH)
- T-90A (RU)
- M1 ABRAMS (US)
Tank is one of the most useful vehicle on the battlefield. It's incredibly durable and its rounds can penetrate any vehicle's armor. Controlling a tank and other tracked vehicles is very easy. You drive in a selected direction with WASD and control the gun (it can move 360 degrees horizontally, but only 30 degrees vertically) with mouse. As a driver you can access the main gun armed with anti-tank rounds and a machine gun with which you can destroy enemy infantry and light armored vehicles.
Except the driver, also a gunner may be in a tank. He controls the machine gun. A gunner is very useful for eliminating enemy infantry and aircraft. Unlike the driver, he can shoot at a much bigger vertical angle. Obviously, the damage is definitely lower, but it might save you in many situations. It's a good idea to shoot whenever it's possible, especially that the gunner's ammo is unlimited.
Remember that on the battlefield (especially in Conquest), there are usually several tanks and you'll have to face one of them sooner or later. During a fight like that, mobility and cooperation between the driver and the gunner are crucial. If you play alone and you want to spend most of your time in a tank - you should choose Engineer class. You'll be able to repair your tank to stay in the game.
Stats
Armor | 100 |
Time until the start of regeneration (from the last damage taken) | 14 seconds |
Critical damage (temporary strong difficulty in controlling the vehicle) | Shot over 29% of armor |
Limited mobility (temporary difficulty in controlling the vehicle) | Shot over 19% of armor |
Immobilization (losing control of the vehicle, a fire extinguisher might save you) | 10% of armor |
Top speed | 56 km/h |
Seats | 2 |
Default respawn time | 90 seconds |
Basic movement
Settings
Luckily, in case of heavy vehicles like tanks, you don't have to worry about settings too much. You should, however, get some advantage from the very beginning. Graphics are obviously your personal choice, but don't set them too high, because it may negatively affect your performance. Set grid quality to ultra, it will make it easier to see enemies with Q not only for you, but also for your teammates. Relative aim is often being turned off, but it's your decision whether you need it or not. The most important thing is your mouse sensitivity. It should be high enough to turn the turret and gun comfortably, but it can't make aiming at infantry and vehicles hard. Recommended settings:
Sensitivity in the game: 20%-30%
Sensitivity in Windows: 8/10
Sensitivity on mouse: 1200DPI - 2000DPI (You'll find information about your mouse on the bottom of it, in the manual, or on the Internet)
Using the minimap
The minimap is an element you should never forget about (you can expand it with M or use it in Battlescreen). It will help you assess the danger and inform about current situation. The role of a tank driver depends on some dynamic factors. First of them is how your team handles tactical places (flags, beacons). When you see that the map is full of red squares, you should focus on taking over the places of tactical importance. It often means 1v1 combat (vehicle vs vehicle) or facing enemy infantry. What if the situation is more balanced? Then think about which places are worth defending or attacking. The same applies to danger assessment. Despite the fact that your tank weighs 50 tons and is armored, it's easy to destroy in the game. Most air and land enemy vehicles are also dangerous, so finding them on the map is essential for evaluating the situation. Remember that engineers, snipers and support just wait for you with their rocket launchers and explosives, therefore you should avoid no-win situations like facing too much anti-tank rounds.
Attacking and defending key locations
If you decide to play defensively, be sure that your position is correct. You can't be in a open space, but don't get yourself into a cul-de-sac. You have to feel comfortable on your position. Don't forget to keep moving to lower your chances of being hit. Use all structures, buildings and other covers to increase your chance of survival. Such behaviour will give you confidence and make destroying your tank hard. Remember about the map - you'll see the enemy before they see you!
Being an offensive tanker is often harder than defending your tank while surrounded by teammates and buildings. While attacking the enemy, remember that seeing an enemy tank or aircraft may result in a quick transfer to respawn menu. Before you attack, make sure using your map that you won't run into half of the enemy's army on your way. Statistically, the closer you are to a key location, the more anti-tank mines and C4 there is on the ground. There are exceptions, obviously, because experienced engineers know some popular routes used by tanks. Avoiding traps like that requires experience and cooperating with the gunner. On your way, try to press Q from time to time so you don't hear an explosion. Don't forget that you may encounter hostile armored vehicles and engineers who defend their positions.
Unlockables
Unlockable | Icon | Required points | Description |
Thermal camo
|  | 4 000 | A coating that make s your vehicle harder to track. |
Guided shell |  | 12 000 | Anti-tank rounds that require keeping aim on a target. They can be guided to targets out of your sight with laser. |
Gunner: Proximity Scan |  | 17 000 | Only for Gunners - it detects enemy units around the vehicle and marks them on the minimap. |
IRNV Optics |  | 21 000 | Thermal night vision, it will let you spot enemy units on low and medium distance more easily. |
HE Shell |  | 25 000 | Rounds fired from the main gun - damage dealt is significantly larger, but velocity is lowered. |
Smokescreen |  | 29 000 | A smokescreen that makes your vehicle impossible to designate as target, moreover the enemy won't achieve shots with critical damage. |
Auto Loader |  | 32 000 | Significantly reduces reload time. |
Gunner: IRNV |  | 36 000 | Thermal night vision for the gunner, it will let you spot enemy units on short and medium distance more easily. |
Coaxial HMG |  | 39 000 | Cal .50 HMG mounted on the turret. Used for eliminating enemy infantry and light armored vehicles. |
Thermal Optics |  | 42 000 | Black and white thermal vision that lets you see enemies more clearly at any distance. |
Canister shell |  | 46 000 | 120mm round with tungsten pellets inside. Used mainly for eliminating infantry. |
Fire Extinguisher |  | 49 000 | 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. |
Gunner: SOFLAM |  | 52 000 | For Gunners: it designates targets for laser guided weapons. |
Reactive Armor |  | 55 000 | An armor that significantly reduces the chance to be hit with critical damage. |
STAFF Shell |  | 58 000 | 120mm round that identifies enemy units and explodes right above them, dealing high damage. |
Gunner: Thermal Optics |  | 61 000 | For Gunners: Black and white thermal vision that lets you see enemies more clearly at any distance. |
Sabot Shell |  | 64 000 | A round with no explosive, its velocity is much higher than other 120mm rounds. |
Gunner: Incendiary
|  | 67 000 | Creates smoke that deals damage to enemies nearby. |
Active Protection |  | 69 000 | Active protection detects incoming missiles and eliminates them before they reach your tank. It's deactivated after missiles are eliminated or when it doesn't detect any threat for some time. |
Best combination:
Primary weapon: HE Shell. It deals more damage than a regular 120mm round.
Secondary weapon: according to your preferences, LMG or HMG. The former has a higher rate of fire while the latter deals more damage. Alternatively, you can select STAFF Shell that will help you with 1v1 situations but it will make eliminating infantry harder.
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 while the vehicle's armor is below 37%. |
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 optics: just like for the driver, choose between 3x scope and thermal optics.
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).
Fighting the enemies
Cooperation between driver and gunner
Cooperation between driver and gunner is essential for using a tank successfully. The gunner, who plays as an Engineer, should be best at repairing the tank. 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 tank on this side. Moreover, you have to help your driver with your anti-tank launcher. Exit the same way you would to repair the tank. 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 each round, you'll fight against other land vehicles. The most dangerous are obviously tanks and IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles). Don't forget to keep moving to lower your chances of being hit. Remember to use countermeasures and cooperate with the gunner. Since tanks have the most durable armor in the front, try to keep facing the enemy. Unfortunately, tanks also have a weak spot - armor on the back. You must not let the enemy use it against you. If you use STAFF shells, use them to eliminate vehicles more quickly.
Sometimes you'll be able to spot an enemy vehicle much earlier. In this case it will be hard to hit other vehicles, especially when they keep moving. Perfecting shooting at moving targets is a matter of time. To avoid enemy shots, keep moving and use covers.
Fighting against infantry
Since your vehicle is heavily armored, soldiers of classes other than Engineer should not pose a threat. To kill them effectively you need LMG or HMG. Remember that when you're close to buildings, hostile units might be waiting inside. Use your main gun to get rid of them. Sometimes it's better to tear down one building than avoid combat.
Fighting against aircraft
That's where the difficult part starts. Eliminating aircraft might be very difficult or even impossible for a tank driver. It's a skill possessed only by the best tankers and it requires a lot of experience. Your main gun can't shoot at a high angle, 120mm rounds are slow and have a very high drop. Additionally, airborne vehicles are much faster. You'll have to predict where the enemy will fly next. You can use guided shells, but they require aiming at the enemy.
A Gunner will be much more effective in eliminating aircraft (especially helicopters). He'll be much more effective in destroying vehicles with his gun. He can also get SOFLAM upgrade that will let him designate targets.
Help
Don't be too aggressive
It might often seem that you should go to a place with many enemies. It's the most common mistake of tankers. Always adjust your location to a situation and avoid too many enemies. You never know if they are cooperating with, for example, an assault helicopter. Moreover, when you use your countermeasures (like active protection), you'll be prone to attacks of engineers and their anti-tank launchers. Don't get tempted by the highest score or K/D balance. Try to support your team with defence and attacking key locations. Remember to cooperate with other vehicles, obey the commander's orders (if you think they're right) and don't pay too much attention to scores.
Don't run out of main gun rounds
In Battlefield 4, the developers gave tanks only 5 120mm rounds. Obviously they will regenerate, but you can't run out of them. Sensible use of weapons is a very important aspect of using a tank. Don't waste your rounds on targets that move too fast because the chance of hit is very low. It's a very important matter because if you face a hostile vehicle and you have your last round, you might not be able to defeat your enemy.
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.