Teamwork is hugely important in any online multiplayer game and Battlefield V is no different. However, in this game’s multiplayer modes you can build things to help your team — let’s discuss fortifications and how to get the most out of them.
The Breakdown
What Are Fortifications?
Fortifications are things that you can build within the game. There is a variety of fortifications that you can build but the types that are available can vary between the maps.
You cannot place them down just anywhere, you need to build them where you are prompted to — which is the only real downside to this feature.
Tip: The Engineer Combat class can build fortifications much faster than the other classes.
How Do I Build Them?
When you are in the mode you want to play, you will see a small list of your weaponry on the right-hand side of your screen along with the buttons you need to press in order to access them.
On there will be a toolbox — this is how you access building fortifications (for PlayStation players this is the down button on your directional pad). Just like that, you’ll have a hammer in your hands!
You can only build fortifications in certain areas. If you are holding a hammer and do not see a little hammer symbol anywhere around you, you cannot build anything there.
If you do see a hammer symbol then head over to it and use your firing button (R2 for Playstation users) to begin building your fortifications.
Be Careful
It’s important to remember that you are vulnerable whilst you are building fortifications. You cannot hold a hammer and a gun at the same time, so it is one or the other.
If you are choosing to build fortifications then it’s a good idea to make sure you are in an empty area or that you have other teammates around you to defend you.
How Do I Use Them Best?
Before placing down any fortifications you should think carefully and strategically about whether they will be a help or a hindrance to your team.
Not all fortifications are helpful at all times.
If you are in an area where a sniper has a brilliant position then it would be rude and unhelpful to build a fortification wall right in front of them as it will block their sight.
Protection
You can use some fortifications as shields for you or your team to hide behind.
Commonly, these types of fortifications will be sandbag walls — they can be built quite high in certain maps and can protect you from enemy fire.
TIP: This is particularly useful for you or your teammates when you need to replenish your health or if you are reviving someone.
In some maps, when you build sandbag fortifications you are left a gap where you can crouch down fire from.
TIP: This is particularly useful for Recon and Engineer class weapons.
It does not completely shield you from being shot as you can be targeted through the gaps, but it is better protection than no protection at all.
Herd Your Foes
Some fortifications can block off the existing entry and exit points whilst creating brand new ones.
The ones that are created by fortifications are very useful as they are typically narrow and give enemies only a few options for entering your area, fabricating effective chokepoints to defend.
Also, certain fortification builds with sandbags will create new pathways.
This is extremely useful in areas where there are buildings close together or vast warehouse spaces that you need to defend to hold your objective.
Help Your Team
Fortifications also include fixing and building supply stations.
Supply stations are where soldiers can go in order to restock their ammunition or health. Building supply stations is a particularly useful tip for playing in the Conquest mode.
There are vehicle supply stations too, where vehicles can go to stock up their ammunition and ability to repair themselves.
Important Note: The vehicle supply stations have rather large fuel canisters near them. These can and will explode if an enemy shoots at them. So if you are nearby, you will be caught in the explosion.
Block Tanks
There are a few types of fortifications that can actually slow Tanks down from entering your area. They are typically gigantic metal crosses or concrete cubes that you can build on roadways leading into or out of the area.
Metal barbed wire fortifications and sandbag fortifications can slow down tanks but they cannot stop them from getting through.
Tanks can ram into the fortifications to break them.
Can They Be Destroyed?
Yes, they can be destroyed. But you can rebuild them once they have been damaged.
They can be destroyed in a number of ways but, the easiest ways are to attack them using heavy weapons, artillery, tanks, or planes.
Are They Worth It?
The protection that it creates for your team and its potential to sway which side has the advantage absolutely makes them worth building, but they’re generally underrated.
Learning how to use fortifications properly can seriously increase your teams’ chances of winning if the other team is overlooking them, so make sure you’re taking advantage of them at every opportunity.
NEXT: Battlefield 1 Vs Battlefield V – Which Is Better?
