Upgrading Your Battlefield 4 Boat: A Simple Guide

Battlefield 4's attack boats are becoming more popular than helicopters. The DV-15 Interceptor, used by the China faction, is fast and deadly, and available on maps featuring waterways, such as Siege of Shanghai. The RCB is similar to the DV-15, and appears on naval-themed maps such as Flood Zone and Paracel Storm. The most popular secondary feature of the attack boat is the TV Guided Missile. This could be the most powerful rocket in the game, as it is guided and has a quick reload time. The IR Smoke feature can be used to hide from airborne vehicles, which are a threat to boats. To upgrade boats, players must pick a set path of four upgrades when editing a Kit. Each path unlocks from level one to four as players perform squad actions like resupplies, repairs, healing, and following orders.

Utilise the Active Protection mod to become immune to rockets and tank shells

Battlefield 4's Active Protection is a countermeasure against threats to armoured vehicles. It is a hard-kill vehicle countermeasure that will detonate any incoming projectiles upon activation by firing counter-projectiles. It is highly effective against anti-vehicle weapons, offering temporary protection.

The Active Protection module has a few drawbacks. It is complicated for newer players to use, as the timing of activation is crucial. If activated too early or too late, the vehicle is left vulnerable. It is also unable to break missile and laser locks, leaving the vehicle open to multiple guided munitions.

The Man-Portable Active Protection System (MP-APS) is a very powerful weapon that can be used by the Support class. It is a portable system that stops rockets and tank shells. It has a 180-degree arc and requires a cooldown between shots, but it can be a very effective defence against tanks.

To utilise the Active Protection mod to become immune to rockets and tank shells, timing is key. Activating the system too early or too late will leave your vehicle vulnerable. It is also important to note that Active Protection does not break missile or laser locks, so your vehicle may still be targeted by guided munitions.

The MP-APS, available to the Support class, can be a powerful tool when facing tanks. It can stop multiple incoming projectiles and has a cooldown timer. However, it only has a 180-degree arc and requires a cooldown between shots, so be mindful of its limitations.

Combining the Active Protection system with other upgrades can further enhance your vehicle's defensive capabilities. For example, pairing it with Active Armour or Air Radar can provide additional protection or early warning against incoming threats.

Make use of the TV Guided Missile, one of the game's most powerful rockets

The TV-Guided Missile is a powerful weapon in Battlefield 4, but it requires skill to use effectively. It is available as a secondary weapon for the Attack Boat and Attack Jet, and as an alternate weapon for the gunner position in Attack Helicopters. The missile is remotely controlled by the crew, with a camera mounted on the nose of the missile feeding closed-circuit TV to the operator, who steers it.

The TV missile is challenging to control and can be unwieldy, especially if you are experiencing high latency or packet loss. It is also difficult to guide when fired at close targets or those with a small silhouette. To make the most of the TV missile, the pilot or gunner must aim the nose of the aircraft or boat towards the intended target, using the guidance camera pod. The closer the target is to the centre reticle, the easier it is to guide the missile.

The TV missile is a good option in games where the airspace is heavily contested, as it can complement other weapons like Heat Seekers. It is also useful in maps where air vehicles are commonplace, as it provides an excellent attack and defensive measure. The TV missile is an instant kill for anyone it hits, and one missile is enough to destroy all light vehicles and aircraft. It is also not affected by electronic countermeasures such as IR Smoke, IR Flares, or ECM Jammers, and can bypass Active Protection systems.

The TV missile does have some drawbacks. It travels at a constant, very fast rate, and leaves an obvious exhaust plume and missile streak, making it easy for targets to spot and act accordingly. It can also, on rare occasions, impact the launch vehicle, causing a team kill or suicide.

To unlock the TV missile, you must progress through the Field Upgrade system, which encourages team play. Each playable class has five upgrade careers to choose from, with three being available to all kits and two being class-specific. You can pick a set path of four upgrades when editing a Kit, and each path unlocks as you perform squad actions.

Use IR Smoke to hide from airborne vehicles

IR Smoke is a countermeasure vehicle upgrade that can be used to hide from airborne vehicles in Battlefield 4. It is available for Main Battle Tanks, Infantry Fighting Vehicles, and Mobile Anti-Air Vehicles. IR Smoke fires canisters of vaporised brass and graphite particles that interfere with the tracking of hostile missiles and laser designations. It also prevents spotting and provides a temporary cover around the vehicle, making it harder for anti-tank crews to aim.

To use IR Smoke effectively to hide from airborne vehicles, wait for the locking or locked-and-fired warning from hostile sources. Once you hear the warning, activate the countermeasure by pressing the designated button. This will release the smoke canisters, creating a cloud of smoke around your vehicle. Stay within the smoke cloud until its effects dissipate, as hostile forces cannot acquire a target lock while you are obscured.

It is important to note that IR Smoke does not protect against all missiles. Unguided weapons, such as rockets or bombs, will still be able to hit your vehicle. Additionally, laser-guided AGMs from strike aircraft can still lock on to your vehicle even through the smoke screen. Therefore, it is crucial to use IR Smoke carefully and tactically. It is best used for providing cover to your vehicle while retreating or giving cover to nearby infantry.

Keep in mind that the smoke screen only lasts for a few seconds, and reloading takes additional time. So, make sure you use it effectively and only when necessary.

Have an engineer in the back to repair the boat

To put upgrades on your boat in Battlefield 4, you'll need to have an engineer in the back seat. The engineer class has five upgrade paths to choose from, three of which are universal and two are specific to the engineer class.

The engineer class-specific upgrades include the Anti-Tank and Mechanic upgrade paths. The Anti-Tank upgrade path is great if you like using rockets and mines, as it increases the maximum inventory of AT mines or M2 SLAM to 6, the maximum inventory of AT and AA ammo to 7, and the maximum number of deployed explosives to 6.

The Mechanic upgrade path is perfect for those who are part of a squad that uses vehicles, as it increases the speed and sabotage of repairs by 35%, decreases damage from explosions by 15%, decreases the amount of incoming suppression by 50%, and slowly repairs nearby vehicles when inside an occupied vehicle.

To unlock these upgrades, you'll need to perform squad actions like resupplies, repairs, and healing, as well as following orders. You can track your progress through the Field Upgrade Progress Bar. It's important to note that if your entire squad is wiped out, you will lose some progress in your upgrade path.

In addition to the engineer-specific upgrades, there are three universal upgrade paths that can be chosen by any class: Defensive, Offensive, and Shadow.

The Defensive upgrade path reduces incoming damage to the chest by 7%, decreases the amount of incoming suppression by 50%, decreases damage from explosions by 15%, and decreases the time before "out of combat" heal by 20%.

The Offensive upgrade path increases maximum sprint speed by 10%, increases the maximum inventory of bullets by 50%, increases the maximum inventory of hand grenades by 1, and increases the height you can fall without taking damage.

The Shadow upgrade path reduces the time you are spotted by 2 seconds, increases maximum sprint speed by 10%, increases the height you can fall without taking damage, and keeps you undetected by motion sensors except when sprinting.

Remember, you can always choose a new upgrade path on the battlefield, and changing paths will not set back your current level of progress.

Practice controlling the preview missiles in Training Mode

To practice controlling the preview missiles in Training Mode, players can utilize the Test Range mode in Battlefield 4. This mode acts as a tutorial and allows players to practice firing weapons and operating vehicles without the threat of enemy attacks.

In the Test Range, players can choose from any unlocked weapons or equipment and have access to all vehicle types and Battle Pickups. This provides an ideal environment to practice controlling the preview missiles, which are available as secondary weapons for the Attack Boat.

The preview missiles, also known as TV-Guided Missiles, are remotely controlled by the operator and are not affected by electronic countermeasures. They are challenging to control due to their high latency and sensitivity to packet loss. They also have a wide turning radius, which requires practice to master.

When practicing with the preview missiles in Training Mode, it is essential to aim the nose of the helicopter or aircraft toward the intended target. The closer the target is to the center cross reticle, the easier it is to guide the missile. Leading moving targets can help compensate for the turning radius.

Additionally, communication with the pilot is crucial. Working together will allow the pilot to position the helicopter or aircraft optimally, increasing the chances of a successful missile strike.

Practicing in Training Mode will help players improve their skills in controlling the preview missiles and make them more effective in combat situations.

Frequently asked questions