Support

Core Strategy

While all four classes can turn the tide of battle, nobody can breathe life back into the squad like a Support soldier.

Literally, the Support class grants access to an instant-revival Gadget, as well as a few other tools to more easily heal allies. However, health isn’t the only form of wealth for Support: resupplying ammunition, intercepting explosives, and shifting battle lines through suppressive fire means or providing cover are all within the class’ expertise. 

This class is built for the selfless, the patient mastermind, the team player, the ones who don’t play for personal glory, but for the pride of lifting the entire squad up and bringing out the best in everyone. These are the gadgets and signature abilities that will help you be every soldier’s greatest ally:

Gadgets

Defibrillator - Brings a downed teammate - either on your squad or anyone on your team - back to life with full health on the spot. This immediate means of revival can put someone right back into danger, so use sound judgement when deciding to defibrillate someone who could be in a direct line of fire. For example: dragging an ally behind cover before using a Defibrillator offers a slightly slower, but more defensive, way of revival. It also instantly shocks enemies to a flatline, for those curious enough to put the “clear” in breach and clear.

Supply Pouch  - A compact Supply Bag that only refills weapon ammunition (not gadget ammunition nor grenades) and refills a small amount of health once. Although it has a one-time use effect, it’s harder for enemies to spot and hit, which is great for high-intensity spots like objectives or perches near enemy lines. You’re also given more pouches compared to Supply Bags, allowing for better coverage across the Combat Zone.

Deployable Cover - Create a temporary barrier from infantry weapons or a portable mounting point for suppressive fire purposes with a Light Machine Gun or bipod-equipped weapon. Best placed in areas where enemies tend to fire upon, such as tight hallways or on objectives with exposed sightlines. Engineers can use their Repair Tools on these; buddy up and get their help whenever that cover takes a beating.

Grenade Intercept System - As the name implies, this system shoots down incoming projectiles, specifically slower-moving grenades tossed out of hands or out of launchers. A great answer for grenade-happy enemies who shell objectives, or for sniper perches where a cooked Frag or Flash Grenade can disrupt their work.

Missile Intercept System - These stop fast-moving missiles in their tracks, including the Engineer’s suite of free-fire and lock-on launchers, as well as various mortar and tank shells. Place on objectives to counter missiles, or near - and even atop - a ground vehicle as an additional defensive tool. Just remember it cannot intercept grenades; work with a fellow Support (if necessary) to have both on hand for objectives.

Smoke Grenade Launcher - Obscure enemy vision, prevent the lock-on capabilities of launchers and other munitions, and block the ability of the enemy to spot targets while removing spotted markers from all infantry inside the smoke. Use this to disrupt otherwise clear sightlines onto objectives or, in desperate situations, your headquarters.

Airburst Incendiary Launcher - This Gadget launches a projectile that explodes mid-flight, which has several benefits compared to traditional explosives. It can fly over cover and hit enemies in hiding, such as those behind windows, rooftop ledges and walls, rain down flames onto a small area, which is especially useful on objectives, or provide a direct minor hit on enemy ground vehicles and equipment. It can also block visibility and clear and prevent spotting, if that is of concern to you and your team. Remember to lock onto a certain distance while aiming down its sight, and prepare to fire several follow-up projectiles - or bullets from a regular weapon - to ensure swift eliminations.

Portable Mortar - An area-denial tool at its core, a Portable Mortar can be set up to pummel an objective or an enemy-occupied building. It can be aimed via the minimap or manually, and the more it fires mortars, the more accurate it becomes. It also has two payloads: a high-explosive mortar for direct damage, or smoke shells that conceal movements and deter lock-on and spotting capabilities. Use this as the tip-of-the-spear for an allied offensive charge, a bunker buster that clears out a hostile sniping operation, or as a means to stall enemy forces trying to advance. However, once a mortar shell is fired, all enemies will not only know what area is affected, but also where the Portable Mortar launcher is located, so get ready to defend it after its first volley.

Signature Trait, Weapon, Throwables and Training Paths

Signature Gadget: Supply Bag - Refills all weapon ammunition, grenades and gadget charges or ammunition for allies within a designated radius. Drop this among allied groups, whether they are taking a position in a building, near an objective or any time they say they are running low on ammo. Alternatively, throw this on top of a vehicle to become a mobile resupply unit.

Signature Trait: Field Sustainment - Distribute health packs to teammates when they directly interact with you

True to its name, the Support Class is a walking health replenisher. Look to the bottom of your screen to see the current health values for allies; if they are at low health, run over and heal them. Or, more likely that not, the squad will let you know when they are damaged.

Secret Trait: Team Revives. The Support Class is the only Class that can revive teammates, not just squadmates. That means on a 32-person team, a Support Class can not only revive the three other members of their squad, but every single one of their 31 allies.

Signature Weapon: Light Machine Gun - Does not suffer sprint speed penalty with this weapon type.

LMGs are usually bulky, but can dish out pain over several seconds of uninterrupted fire. The Signature Weapon boon allows a Support player to more easily reposition themselves in active combat areas without needing to switch to their sidearm or melee tool.

In Closed Weapon experiences, Support LMG-users are suppressive fire and vehicle chip damage dealers. Even if all your shots don’t hit, simply causing danger down range is enough to be an effective light machine gunner.

Get more intel on Light Machine Guns in our dedicated loadout and weapon guide.

Exclusive Throwable: Smoke Grenade - Primarily designed to conceal allied movements - blocking the enemy ability to spot them -  or sightlines to an objective and smaller spaces. Smoke grenades also prevent proper lock-on capabilities against vehicles. However, smokes work both ways: when choosing to throw one out, be mindful of nearby allies using long sightlines or attempting to lock onto enemy vehicles.

Exclusive Throwable: Incendiary Grenade - A handheld provider of damage-over-time flames, capable of slowing down enemies to the point of expiration. Use on objectives and in small rooms to deny access. While it rarely is the sole cause of an enemy’s demise (albeit, it’s still possible), it can at least whittle down their health and cause panic before a better offensive tool comes into play.

Incendiary Tip: On Fire? Stop, Drop and Prone. Fire damage is reduced on any player who goes prone within it. If you are in an incendiary zone, drop down to a prone stance and crawl to safety.

Active Ability: Restock Allies - Resupply and heal nearby friendly forces for several seconds. Reviving teammates only takes [a shorter amount of time].

Become the ultimate Support soldier with Active Medic, handing out health and ammo to all those near you in need of those services. Activate this ability when all seems lost in an all-out brawl for objective control, or when multiple squadmates need a serious resupply. Given the included faster revive benefit, it’s also effective after a massive teamfight with several downed allies.

Combat Medic

Passive Ability - Urgent Aid: Drag downed soldiers faster and revive them quicker.

As a Combat Medic, your mission is to stay close to at least one teammate at all times and stay alive for as long as possible. Faster revives are a boon in any situation, while increased drag speeds allow for quick, serpentine-like movements to avoid incoming bullets, which is incredibly helpful when cover pieces are few and far between.

Level 1 - Revive Recovery: Regenerate health while reviving teammates. Incoming damage temporarily halts the effect.

This ability overrides the typical regeneration buffering times, which helps in after-action situations where an ally is down and you’re running low on health. Drag and revive a teammate to get them out of harm's way, using your renewed health to take a potshot or two before re-engaging.

Level 2 - Defense-Focused: Defensive gadgets recharge faster and have increased capabilities.

This capstone passive ability reinforces all Support Gadgets to last longer - and be replaced quicker - in high-intensity situations. Among these improvements are more interceptions for both the Grenade and Missile Intercept systems, longer tracking times for the Missile Intercept System and less damage taken by Deployable Cover. If there was ever a moment to use these Gadgets more often, it’s when Defense-Focused is in effect.

Fire Support (Unlocked via Support Class Assignment)

Passive Ability - Logistics Expert: Faster ammo resupply when using the Supply Bag.

Is your squad prone to unloading clips and magazines? Fortunately for them, you can give them all the ammo they desire. Stick close to those trigger-happy allies or move up towards the frontlines to resupply those in between intense battles with your Supply Bag.

Level 1 - Explosives Resistant: 25% reduction on incoming explosive splash damage while prone or shooting from mounted positions.

While this is not an excuse to jump on every grenade, it does allow you to keep a defensive position and lay down suppressing fire while softening the blows from incoming explosives. If you see, or sense, an explosive coming through, go prone or mount onto a nearby ledge or wall to reduce its damage.

Level 2 - Steady Aim: Improved weapons control when shooting from mounted positions.

A mounted weapon has significantly reduced recoil; improved weapon mounting bolsters this effect and turns a Support player into a mobile turret. While this is active, use the Portable Cover Gadget to create mounting points in unexpected sightlines down hallways or onto objectives.

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