Post by RedCaesar97 on Oct 15, 2016 20:35:15 GMT
ATTENTION: The information in this post was originally posted on a BioWare blog by thisisme8 on the old BioWare Social Network (BSN). I am copying it here so it does not get lost when the old BSN shuts down.
Hi all, This Is Me and I wanted to make a quick and easy guide for anyone wanting to get the most out of their characters and squad while facing the infinite horde of opposition in ME2. I'm calling this guide, Controlling the Battlefield, because that's exactly what its about: Using basic strategies to turn any battle in your favor.
I'll be using four simple concepts called: The Assault, Holding the Line, Flanking, and Surrounding. By themselves, they are great ways to give you an edge in the fight. Together, they can be used to completely overwhelm the enemy. They're all short and build off of each other, so if you have one down, don't worry, just read on.
Note: In the videos I am using Squadmates based on 3 things: Randomness, because I just got them, or because they seem like terrible choices for that mission. The focus is not on their individual strengths, but on using your team to mount effective strategies and tactics in any situation.
The Assault:
An Assault is very simple. It is simply taking ground away from the other side through direct, aggressive force. Sometimes I call it a push since you are quite literally pushing forward. Techniques like staggering, flushing enemies out of cover, and aggressive maneuvering can all help to apply pressure and gain enemy ground.
Most useful on narrow maps or when enemies seem to infintely spawn, pushing forward grants you the advantage in both situations by leaving little ground for the enemy, and ending the respawn. Also key if you don't want to run out of ammo.
ME2 - Controlling the Battlefield - Assault Basics.
ME2 - Controlling the Battlefield - Assault and Cover.
ME2 - Controlling the Battlefield - Assaulting the High Ground.
Holding the Line:
Following the Assault comes the other "easy" tactic, Holding the Line. Taken straight from Kirrahe, Holding the Line is not allowing the other side past a certain point. Archangel's mission is a great mix of Assaulting and Holding the Line. Think of the part where Eclipse mercs are coming over the wall while you (and the YMIR Mech, if you found it and reprogrammed it) are trying to keep them from getting to Archangel. That's a perfect example. If the Assualt is offensive, Holding the Line is defensive.
Holding the Line can help you defend against flanking enemies, prevent advancing enemies from taking back ground you've already won, and most importantly, allow you time to devise your next plan of attack.
ME2 - Controlling the Battlefield - Defense.
Flanking:
This is probably the biggest, best, and most important thing to know about aggresive combat. While the concept is simple, implementation can be troublesome. Flanking is best describes as diverting around to hit the enemy from the side or the rear.
The perfect flank will have all the enemies focusing on the main force ahead of them while you position yourself to the side for a surprise attack against many unwitting enemies. Sadly, all baddies in ME2 seem to have a special Shepard Radar and know where you are at 100% of the time. However, flanking still works for you since enemies will take cover based on their line of sight to the enemy they are attacking. That means by moving to the side and pulling fire towards you, they will be exposed for your Squad mates to unleash hell on.
Use it. Love it.
ME2 - Controlling the Battlefield - Flanking Basics.
ME2 - Controlling the Battlefield - Advanced Positioning.
Surrounding the Opposition:
Slightly advanced and very similar to flanking, surrounding the enemy requires you to coordinate multiple flanks with both Squadmates. How does it work? Place your first Squadmate in cover then flank with your second Squadmate following you. Once successfully flanked, place your second Squadmate in position and -alone- flank again. Now you have fire coming from 3 different directions and not a single enemy can find cover. Well done.
Controlling the Battlefield:
Being able to advance to key positions, holding against charging enemies, and flanking when openings present themselves will give you what everyone wants. Real Estate. It's as important to you in ME2 as it is to Home Owners. The more ground you hold, the less they have to work with and the more they are right where you want them: Backs to the wall with you on 3 sides and moving in fast.
A solid grasp and execution of all four of the above while on-the-fly and in a fluid manner is the secret to success. It separates players who simply trade blows with the enemy from players who out-think and out-maneuver them.
Final thoughts:
Home Base - I usually start every encounter with a hard push (or Assault) to the first key position I see and call that my Home Base. Your Home Base is usually the closest spot with not only the best cover, but also the best view of the battlefield. From there you can put Squadmates into position and implement your next plan, or you can begin by thinning the ranks.
Attrition - Sometimes the map, the spawns, and even the sun is working against you. You've pushed as far as you can and set off all the triggers, but you're stuck and fighting enemies on multiple sides. Attrition. Stay in cover as much as you can and just keep bringing them down one at a time. If they aren't on an infinite spawn, then the best you can do is to win by just killing them off from right where you are. If nothing else, find a break and advance or flank.
Crowd Control - Don't do everything on your own. Use your Squad to its full potential. With you and your Squad's combined abilities, there shouldn't be anything you can't handle. Know your class' strengths and bring Squad members to compliment. Keep the enemy where you want them by freezing, hacking, knocking them down, or pulling them up... whatever it takes, keep them under control.
I hope keep updating the blog with more information and more short vids after each section showing how each is done successfully in the game. Also, below is a link to a video that has been up already from my CQC Infiltrator. It has annotations and a little walkthrough under it with how I implemented the above strategies in each encounter. There are several used throughout.
ME2 - CQC Infiltrator - Horizon.
Video contains annotations.
1st Encounter:
First thing's first, place Squad in a position to prevent them from flanking me. Next, I make an aggressive push to my Home Base and Hold the Line. Notice I'm changing targets several times to prevent them from flanking me. When all enemies are accounted for, I flank and eliminate.
2nd Encounter:
Again, place Squad in position and establish my Home Base. Hold against Husks and slowly advance... while under heavy fire.
3rd Encounter:
Straight for Home Base, Hold for a just a bit then Assault. Vs. the Second group, I flank to thin them down (using explosives to my advantage) and then aggressively assault them.
Final Encounter:
The best one yet. Can't see it in the video, but the first thing I did was place Mordin in position. Once the video starts I take one Collector down and begin to flank with Grunt. Remove opposition, place Grunt in position, wait for reinforcements and flank again. Now I have complete control of the battlefield with team members on all sides. Yes, Mordin went down, but notice how they were surrounded, and once revived we were firing on the Collector General from all angles? Awesome.
I do understand that I made heavy use of Cloak, but it can be done without it.
Hi all, This Is Me and I wanted to make a quick and easy guide for anyone wanting to get the most out of their characters and squad while facing the infinite horde of opposition in ME2. I'm calling this guide, Controlling the Battlefield, because that's exactly what its about: Using basic strategies to turn any battle in your favor.
I'll be using four simple concepts called: The Assault, Holding the Line, Flanking, and Surrounding. By themselves, they are great ways to give you an edge in the fight. Together, they can be used to completely overwhelm the enemy. They're all short and build off of each other, so if you have one down, don't worry, just read on.
Note: In the videos I am using Squadmates based on 3 things: Randomness, because I just got them, or because they seem like terrible choices for that mission. The focus is not on their individual strengths, but on using your team to mount effective strategies and tactics in any situation.
The Assault:
An Assault is very simple. It is simply taking ground away from the other side through direct, aggressive force. Sometimes I call it a push since you are quite literally pushing forward. Techniques like staggering, flushing enemies out of cover, and aggressive maneuvering can all help to apply pressure and gain enemy ground.
Most useful on narrow maps or when enemies seem to infintely spawn, pushing forward grants you the advantage in both situations by leaving little ground for the enemy, and ending the respawn. Also key if you don't want to run out of ammo.
ME2 - Controlling the Battlefield - Assault Basics.
ME2 - Controlling the Battlefield - Assault and Cover.
ME2 - Controlling the Battlefield - Assaulting the High Ground.
Holding the Line:
Following the Assault comes the other "easy" tactic, Holding the Line. Taken straight from Kirrahe, Holding the Line is not allowing the other side past a certain point. Archangel's mission is a great mix of Assaulting and Holding the Line. Think of the part where Eclipse mercs are coming over the wall while you (and the YMIR Mech, if you found it and reprogrammed it) are trying to keep them from getting to Archangel. That's a perfect example. If the Assualt is offensive, Holding the Line is defensive.
Holding the Line can help you defend against flanking enemies, prevent advancing enemies from taking back ground you've already won, and most importantly, allow you time to devise your next plan of attack.
ME2 - Controlling the Battlefield - Defense.
Flanking:
This is probably the biggest, best, and most important thing to know about aggresive combat. While the concept is simple, implementation can be troublesome. Flanking is best describes as diverting around to hit the enemy from the side or the rear.
The perfect flank will have all the enemies focusing on the main force ahead of them while you position yourself to the side for a surprise attack against many unwitting enemies. Sadly, all baddies in ME2 seem to have a special Shepard Radar and know where you are at 100% of the time. However, flanking still works for you since enemies will take cover based on their line of sight to the enemy they are attacking. That means by moving to the side and pulling fire towards you, they will be exposed for your Squad mates to unleash hell on.
Use it. Love it.
ME2 - Controlling the Battlefield - Flanking Basics.
ME2 - Controlling the Battlefield - Advanced Positioning.
Surrounding the Opposition:
Slightly advanced and very similar to flanking, surrounding the enemy requires you to coordinate multiple flanks with both Squadmates. How does it work? Place your first Squadmate in cover then flank with your second Squadmate following you. Once successfully flanked, place your second Squadmate in position and -alone- flank again. Now you have fire coming from 3 different directions and not a single enemy can find cover. Well done.
Controlling the Battlefield:
Being able to advance to key positions, holding against charging enemies, and flanking when openings present themselves will give you what everyone wants. Real Estate. It's as important to you in ME2 as it is to Home Owners. The more ground you hold, the less they have to work with and the more they are right where you want them: Backs to the wall with you on 3 sides and moving in fast.
A solid grasp and execution of all four of the above while on-the-fly and in a fluid manner is the secret to success. It separates players who simply trade blows with the enemy from players who out-think and out-maneuver them.
Final thoughts:
Home Base - I usually start every encounter with a hard push (or Assault) to the first key position I see and call that my Home Base. Your Home Base is usually the closest spot with not only the best cover, but also the best view of the battlefield. From there you can put Squadmates into position and implement your next plan, or you can begin by thinning the ranks.
Attrition - Sometimes the map, the spawns, and even the sun is working against you. You've pushed as far as you can and set off all the triggers, but you're stuck and fighting enemies on multiple sides. Attrition. Stay in cover as much as you can and just keep bringing them down one at a time. If they aren't on an infinite spawn, then the best you can do is to win by just killing them off from right where you are. If nothing else, find a break and advance or flank.
Crowd Control - Don't do everything on your own. Use your Squad to its full potential. With you and your Squad's combined abilities, there shouldn't be anything you can't handle. Know your class' strengths and bring Squad members to compliment. Keep the enemy where you want them by freezing, hacking, knocking them down, or pulling them up... whatever it takes, keep them under control.
I hope keep updating the blog with more information and more short vids after each section showing how each is done successfully in the game. Also, below is a link to a video that has been up already from my CQC Infiltrator. It has annotations and a little walkthrough under it with how I implemented the above strategies in each encounter. There are several used throughout.
ME2 - CQC Infiltrator - Horizon.
Video contains annotations.
1st Encounter:
First thing's first, place Squad in a position to prevent them from flanking me. Next, I make an aggressive push to my Home Base and Hold the Line. Notice I'm changing targets several times to prevent them from flanking me. When all enemies are accounted for, I flank and eliminate.
2nd Encounter:
Again, place Squad in position and establish my Home Base. Hold against Husks and slowly advance... while under heavy fire.
3rd Encounter:
Straight for Home Base, Hold for a just a bit then Assault. Vs. the Second group, I flank to thin them down (using explosives to my advantage) and then aggressively assault them.
Final Encounter:
The best one yet. Can't see it in the video, but the first thing I did was place Mordin in position. Once the video starts I take one Collector down and begin to flank with Grunt. Remove opposition, place Grunt in position, wait for reinforcements and flank again. Now I have complete control of the battlefield with team members on all sides. Yes, Mordin went down, but notice how they were surrounded, and once revived we were firing on the Collector General from all angles? Awesome.
I do understand that I made heavy use of Cloak, but it can be done without it.