Gauntlet: Fighter Sweep Mode Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• PREPARE FOR TAKEOFF
• YOUR NEW PROVING GROUND FOR AERIAL COMBAT
• FIGHTER SWEEP - THE BASICS
• TOP FIVE TIPS AND TRICKS

PREPARE FOR TAKEOFF

Tsuru Reef’s skies are yours to command.

The Season 4 Top Gun update for Battlefield REDSEC introduces the brand-new Gauntlet: Fighter Sweep mode, a jets-only experience where your and your wingman’s precision, speed, instincts, and aerial combat abilities will be tested at maximum altitude. Featuring the F-74A Seacat and F/A-81F Super Spectre aircraft, two vehicle roster additions as of this Update, this Gauntlet variant puts you right into the danger zone against rival squads ready for dogfights over mission-critical drone stockpiles.

Whether you are a seasoned aviator looking to test your mettle or a newer recruit ready to take flight, this is everything you need to know about Fighter Sweep.

YOUR NEW PROVING GROUND FOR AERIAL COMBAT

Battlefield is at its best when war is waging on the ground, on the sea, and in the air.

With the return of Naval Warfare in Season 4, this mid-season update was Battlefield Studios’ opportunity to expand the Battlefield in terms of altitude. Since launch, Battlefield 6 has featured two jet types that elevated modes like Conquest, Escalation, and the breadth of amazing Portal Community Creations to new heights. However, Battlefield REDSEC did not have the airspace for these vehicles.

That’s where Greg Black, Principal Game Designer at Battlefield Studios, provides solutions for those opportunities:

“Aerial combat has always been one of the features that makes Battlefield great, so we were very excited to finally have a place to introduce it into REDSEC,” Black said. “I’m a huge jet enthusiast and the lack of a dedicated air mode in Battlefield 6 has left me wanting a mode where I could get consistent practice honing both our dogfighting and ground attack skills.”

Outside of having a dedicated mode for aerial combat, a key concern among Black and other developers was aerial vehicle complexity. In the real world, aviators spend years learning how to fly, let alone be prepared for air operations. How, then, does this concept translate into a fun, playable experience?

Combined with the introduction of Simplified Jet Controls, which are built for players preferring fewer inputs when piloting jets (more on this and how to fly Jets in an upcoming guide at Season 4 Top Gun update launch) Fighter Sweep is specifically designed as a mode for learning aerial combat.

“Mastering air to air combat is always a challenge in every Battlefield game, so we looked to design this mode in ways where players could gradually build up their skills and confidence without being in the high pressure situation of a normal Conquest or Escalation match,” Black said. “For starters, whenever you need one, a new jet is ready to go. But if you’re not ready to fly yourself, the new two seater jets allow you to get your feel for aerial combat by back-seating while someone else does the flying for you.”

“Also,” he continued, “you don’t need to immediately chase air to air; there are stationary ground stockpiles that are a much easier target. We’ve also introduced a new cloud cover system that gives you a place in the sky to hide from enemy jets and break targeting locks when you’re out of flares. Finally, and most importantly, we have the new simplified Jet Controls which are designed to help players that are entirely new to flying have a more safe and intuitive way to fly.”

Of course, like other Battlefield Studios developers, Black was excited to have his work be involved in the partnership between Battlefield and Top Gun: Maverick.

“Top Gun: Maverick was my favorite movie of 2022 and I’ve watched it many times since then, so I was incredibly stoked when I heard we were going to be partnering to make Fighter Sweep and Carrier Strike,” Black Said. “I think this is as pretty close to a perfect fit for Battlefield as you can get.”

FIGHTER SWEEP - THE BASICS

Fighter Sweep is an intense, singular 10-minute round aerial experience inspired by legendary Battlefield modes like Air Superiority.

Six squads of two players each launch into the skies over Tsuru Reef in a high-octane battle to reach 1000 points or secure the highest score before time runs out. Dissimilar to Gauntlet, Fighter Sweep is just one round to win it all, but the points are still doubled in the final minute.

There is no ground spawn in this mode; upon loading into the match and when respawning, you and your squadmate deploy in the F-74A Seacat or the F/A-81F Super Spectre. One is designated as the pilot - the Squad Leader is pilot by default - while the other is the Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) that manages weapons and systems that can target the sides and behind.

Your primary objective is eliminating targets, both enemy jets and neutral drone stockpiles on the islands and water below. Each enemy jet destroyed is worth 50 points, while each drone stockpile is worth 15 points. And don’t think about using your jet as the weapon, because each intentional jet crash awards four points to all other teams.

Unlike other modes where aerial combat has clear skies, Fighter Sweep includes clouds: this aerosol body can be flown and fired through, but is also a visual obstruction that removes spotting and allows for lock-on breaks. For example, when attempting to lock-on to a jet that flies into the cloud, the targeting system will malfunction and prevent lock-on.

TOP FIVE TIPS AND TRICKS

1. FIGHT’S ON! Dogfighting yields the most points - focus on bringing down enemy jets, although don’t forget to target those drone stockpiles.
2. MASTER CLOUD COVER. It’s not just scenery: when an enemy spots or locks onto your jet, break right (or left) to shake them off.
3. COORDINATE, COMMUNICATE, CONQUER. A good pilot informs their WSO of evasive maneuvers, because it can throw off their ability to maintain target acquisition and land munition strikes.
4. THE BEST OF THE BEST STAY AIRBORNE. Don’t fly recklessly: crashing awards four points to all other teams, so an enemy taking you out - while not ideal - is better than flying out of bounds or going down without a fight.
5. FINAL MINUTES = STOCKPILE DANGER ZONE. If any drone stockpiles are still available in the final minutes of the match, light them up for a quick points boost.

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