Recon Overview: The C4 Thieves.

We all know the Recon class to be the sniper class. They are designed for long distance engagements, great for both defensive and offensive gameplay. However, the Recon class isn’t just limited to sniper rifles; they also have access to Carbines, DMRs and Shotguns. Back in BF3 Recon was considered to be one of the most limited classes, despite having access to weapons other than the sniper, their equipment was generally only for defensive purposes. Now though, BF4 has granted the Recon access to C4. This gives the class more offensive capabilities and more mobility on the battlefield. No longer will you be stranded helpless when a tank approaches you, no longer will you have to beg your engineers and supports for assistance! No, now you can deal with that pesky tank yourself in epic explosive fashion.

As Recon you start off with access to the CS-LR4 an incredibly high damage, high accuracy weapon as to be expected from snipers. Each of the snipers Recon has access to vary slightly in their stats, for example the SR338 has a lower damage and accuracy but it is the only sniper rifle which is semi-automatic. If you love long range gameplay and pinpoint accuracy, Recon is probably the best class for you. It’s recommended that you try out each of the different rifles in different game modes and maps to see which one works best for you. Having access to Carbines and Shotguns also means that you can join in close range fights more often and easily play Recon even on smaller maps.

Recons can be vital tools to the team in a battle. Their ability to laser designate targets and set traps around objects means that the team can hold down objectives for longer and it also makes it easier to find and kill your enemies. They start off with the PLD gadget, which you may recognise from the campaign if you played it. This is the Portable Laser Designator, equipping this gadget allows you to laser pinpoint targets as long as lock on is maintained. This allows your engineers to lock onto targeted vehicles and quickly dispose of them. You also have C4 unlocked from the beginning, perfect for sticking onto surfaces – walls, vehicles, faces – then pulling the trigger and everything goes boom!

At 5000 Recon score you unlock the Motion Sensor, pretty self-explanatory; it detects enemy movement in a 25m radius for a short period. Any enemies picked up will pop up on your team’s minimap for up to 24seconds after deployment. These are especially useful if you’re unsure if an area is safe and don’t want to run into a massacre. Next up is the Radio Beacon, this is basically a portable spawn beacon, once placed, any squad members may spawn on its location. If it is placed outside with no overhead obstructions the squad member will paradrop to its general location. Great for locking down areas of a battlefield, spawning behind enemy lines or in close vicinity to an objective. Be warned though, if an enemy finds it they may well just wait at the location for someone to spawn on the beacon and then kill you instantly. Do not make the same mistake twice if this happens!

With 54,000 Recon score you’ll unlock the T-UGS. This is a Tactical Unattended Ground Sensor, similar to the Motion Sensor it detects enemy movement in a 25m radius and anything it picks up shows on the minimap. The T-UGS lasts until you die or it is destroyed though. Therefore they’re more helpful than the Motion Sensor for longer lasting vision of an area, they are particularly useful when they are placed near an objective so your team can see when some sneaky enemy is trying to assault one. The SOFLAM is next on the Recon list of gadgets. Standing for Special Operations Forces Laser Marker. Once deployed in a stationary, safe position (usually somewhere high up with a good view of the battlefield is best) it automatically laser designates enemy vehicles. It can also be used remotely. Similar to the PLD it allows anyone with missile systems to lock onto targets and destroy them.

Micro Air Vehicles or MAVs are the next unlock, you can remotely fly them over the battlefield. The MAV has a 35m motion sensor so it can detect enemies and it can be used to destroy enemy deployed gadgets. They can be a great nuisance to the enemy team. Second to last is the M18 Claymore, the Support class also has access to this gadget although it is accessed a lot earlier. The Claymore launches 3 trip wires, when one or more are broken the Claymore detonates, killing the culprit. These are particularly useful for the Recon class though, especially if you are set up inside a building watching over an objective through the scope of your sniper rifle. This position can be very dangerous as you can’t cover your back at all and getting knifed is always a possibility. However, if you place M18 Claymores in the doorways, then normally enemies can’t get in without breaking the wires or destroying the Claymore and alerting you to their presence.

Finally is the SUAV, unlocked once you have completed the “Safe Raiding” assignment. The SUAV is a remotely controlled Unmanned Air Vehicle that can be remotely controlled, generally used for reconnaissance of an area and laser designating targets. With this array of gadgets at their disposal the Recon class is incredible at supporting their team members and protecting objectives from the enemy. Positioning is probably the most key skill for this class, if you place your gadgets well then you can hold objectives for an entire game if your team takes advantage of your gadgets and works well with you.

This is just a general overview of the Recon class that should give you a good idea of what it’s good for, how best to utilise its class specific weapons and gadgets and hopefully help you work with your team to win the game.