Battlefield 6 and REDSEC Challenge Guide: Year of the Horse

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Year of the Horse Challenge Set Overview
• Two Free Weapon Packages
• Additional Year of the Horse Bundles
• Five Tips for Year of the Horse Challenge Completion
• Need More? Prepare for Free Daily Red Envelope Gifts!

Happy New Year!

Even if you do not observe today as the start of the new year, we are excited for you to join us and the community in celebrating the Year of the Horse.

On February 17, 2026, the day of the Season 2 Update for Battlefield 6 and REDSEC, a new challenge set will be available for all players to complete until March 3, 2026 (at 12 p.m. UTC, 4 a.m. PT). All challenge rewards are free* with no additional purchase required; in other words, you can earn two Weapon Packages and three customization items themed around the Year of the Horse, as well as two XP Boosts,  by simply completing challenges within Battlefield 6 and REDSEC.

Here is everything you need to know about this limited-time challenge set.

Year of the Horse Challenge Set Overview

The following challenges are for the Year of the Horse set, scheduled to be live on February 17 (at 12 p.m. UTC, 4 a.m. PT), until March 3 (at 12 p.m. UTC, 4 a.m. PT):

The use of the number 8 throughout this challenge is not arbitrary: it represents luck and good fortune, two virtues we hope all in the Battlefield community have this year.

As you may also notice, the challenge set is broad to suit a wide variety of playstyles. The biggest experimentation will come when using Assault Rifles, Sidearms, and Shotguns, as well as driving a vehicle or being in the gunner seat. 

Two Free Weapon Packages - Breakdown and Loadout Guide

Show off your horsepower with two free weapon packages - the “Lunisolar” AK-205 Weapon Package and the “Gilded Fortune”  P18 Weapon Package - included in the Year of the Horse Challenges. These two weapons can fit perfectly into any close-to-mid-range Loadout across all classes, with little luck required when using them in the field.

Primarily speaking, the “Lunisolar” AK-205 Weapon Package is a Carbine Rifle configuration for a dependable damage-dealer at longer ranges with class-leading precision. The 3.00X Scope Optic is great for finding targets at a distance, while the Folding Vertical Underbarrel mitigates recoil for more accurate sustained fire without sacrificing too much aim down sight (ADS) accuracy while moving. The Light Barrel - 314MM Fluted - is essentially the Basic Barrel with better Mobility, effectively cancelling out the Folding Vertical’s penalty while also providing faster transition to ADS.

You can easily take this Weapon Package as is, using its indomitable spirit to thunder into battle with the force of a thousand hooves, although there are 50 attachment points open to outfit your warhorse. Perhaps you throw a Muzzle on it to stay off the radar or further reduce recoil for pinpoint accuracy. Or you swap out the standard ammo for Hollow Points or Synthetic Tips for significant damage multipliers when landing those headshots. The choice is yours, but the “Lunisolar” gives a great foundation to start building a formidable Primary Weapon.

The “Gilded Fortune” P18, a Sidearm, is a reliable back-up in close-quarters or in situations when your Primary Weapon runs dry. It includes a Flashlight for better hip-fire recovery and to blind enemies not using thermal optics. Otherwise has 25 attachment points open for further customization. Specifically for REDSEC Battle Royale, that “Gilded Fortune” is a perfect starting weapon for infiltrations; keep levelling this weapon up to unlock more paths to victory through its suite of attachments, especially in the Ammunition and Muzzle categories.

Additional Year of the Horse Bundles

In addition to these free challenges, two bundles at the start of Season Two will celebrate the Year of the Horse.

First, the “The Searing Steed” is for those ready to ride into battle with sheer determination. The “War Horse” Soldier Skin, which is for the Pax Armata Espada Patrol Assault Class, blends together modern armor with that reminiscent of warriors from legendary battles. The other marquee item,  the “Lunar Herd” ES 5.7 Weapon Package, is a silent and deadly Sidearm with an incredible red, gold, and black finish. This bundle also will include the “Persistent Trample” Traverser Mark 2 Vehicle Skin, the “Igniting Stomp” Sledgehammer Weapon Skin, and five additional Customization items: A Weapon Charm, Parachute, Player Card Background, Weapon Sticker, and a Dog Tag.

The other bundle, “The Equine Hearth” features two Primary Weapon Packages, the “Ambition” 18.5KS-K Weapon Package and the “Prosperity” M44 Weapon Package. The former, a Shotgun, is a fully-loaded semi-automatic buckshot beast that prioritizes speed and mobility across all its attachments. The latter, a Sidearm, is a punishing revolver equipped with Frangible ammunition and an Extended Barrel for better damage down range. The bundle also includes five Customization Items: Two Weapon Charms, a Smoke Grenade Launcher Skin, a Player Card Title, and a Weapon Sticker.

Five Tips for Year of the Horse Challenge Completion

1. Easier with a Squad. All challenges, especially the one where you must win matches, can be more easily completed when you squad up with friends, as they can help you be in the most advantageous position for the challenge you want to complete. For example, having a full squad makes it easier to secure and maintain a ground vehicle: one person can redeploy directly into some of the most powerful ground vehicles in the game, the others can spawn directly onto them, then the whole squad can rotate between driving and firing off its turrets so that everyone can complete a damage-dealing challenge.
2. Learn “Effective Range”. Shotguns, Assault Rifles, and Sidearms are most effective against enemies at specific ranges. In other words, it might not be a good idea to use a Shotgun when trying to counter-snipe a Recon soldier 200 meters out. Use the Firing Range, available in the Loadouts menu, to hone in the ideal range for the weapon of your choice, taking note of the numbers on the walls as distance markers for each target.
3. Pulverizing with the P18. Because Sidearm kills and assists from the P18 are worth double, it’s time to learn this tool before unlocking its opulent weapon package. The P18 is the standard Sidearm option that can be best used as a rapid fire weapon - repeatedly pulling the trigger - either while aiming down sights or from the hip. When aiming down sights, do note the high upwards recoil and adjust accordingly to stay on target down range. 
4. Revenge May Be Best Served in Small Modes. “Revenge” or “Payback” kills are when you eliminate an enemy who previously killed you. In larger modes, like Battle Royale or Conquest, it may take time to search the map for revenge. Consider Gauntlet as a place to rack up these kinds of kills or, if you own Battlefield 6, Squad Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Domination, and King of the Hill.
5. Find Opportunities to Stack Challenges. You can efficiently complete Year of the Horse challenges and even go beyond this set by completing other challenges at the same time. For example, if you have yet to unlock all Assault Rifles, Shotguns, or Sidearms through challenges, then this is a great time to familiarize yourself with the Weapon category and learn what it takes to unlock even more Hardware. Take an extra minute to plan out an efficient challenge completion strategy and reap the rewards of your efforts.

Need More? Prepare for Free Daily Red Envelope Gifts!

Watch out for fireworks! From February 17, 2026 (at 12 p.m. UTC, 4 a.m. PT), until February 24 (at 12 p.m. UTC, 4 a.m. PT) - all Battlefield 6 and REDSEC players are eligible to receive Red Envelope Gifts in their in-game EA Inbox for each log-in within a 24-hour window. Simply look to the top right corner of the main menu to see an envelope icon; select it, or press the corresponding button on your controller, to view EA Connect.

Here is where you can unlock the following free items within each 24-hour log-in window:

*Applicable platform account and platform subscription (sold separately) may be required. Persistent internet connection and EA account required.