Best weapons Battlefield 1 Guide
Last update: 13 December 2016
Each class has its role on the battlefield. The weapons they use are specifically selected for their roles. While assault rifles are deadly at close range, they are of little use at long distances. It is the other way round with sniper rifles though. In this chapter, you will find out which weapons are the best for each class. You will also find some hints on how to use each weapon effectively.
Assault
Assault rifles are characterized by quick rate of fire. They are very effective in close range combat, but useless at long distances. They are very difficult to handle. The Assault character class can also select one of three shotguns, which are even more powerful at close range.
Automatico M1918 (Trench)
M1918 is the fastest rifle in the game, able to fire off up to 900 rounds per minute. This is by far its greatest strength. In order to kill an opponent at close range you need to hit them 5 times. However, damage drastically decreases with distance - at 24 meters you need 7 hits. This obviously applies to shots in the body.
While using M1918, shoot from the hip a lot, because its recoil is very hard to control. Also, equip yourself with a pistol that effective at a long distance and use it for shooting targets that are 24 meters away or farther.
Hellriegel 1915
Hellriegel is a rifle unlocked quite late, at the Assault level 10. It's worth the time and effort though. Its rate of fire amounts to 650 rounds per minute, it has a clip capacity of 60 bullets, and maximum damage of 23 hit points. What is important, within a distance of up to 22 meters you just need 5 hits to kill an opponent, which is a very good score for an assault rifle.
While using Hellreigel don't use continuous fire too much. At 20 meters away from the target use bursts of 6-7 bullets. Hellriegel has a very large clip for an assault rifle, but it takes as long as 4.5 seconds to reload it. That is why you should save your bullets and avoid frequent reloads.
M97 Trench Gun Sweeper
M97 is one of three shotguns available for the Assault class. This one is the most effective at up to 10 meters - one accurate shot usually results in an instant kill. While using shotguns usually you have one chance - you either kill or get killed. That is why instead of shooting quickly you should focus on hitting your opponent with your first shot.
While using this type of weapon, you should also equip yourself with a short weapon that is effective at mid-range. Use that one in mid-range situations, but at any greater distances - just run. In order to escape more quickly you can use a bayonet charge, which is available with shotguns.
Medic
The Medic class is equipped with semi-automatic rifles. They deal twice as much damage as assault rifles, but have much lower rate of fire. They have good accuracy and versatility. They can be effective not only at close range but also at mid and even long distances.
M1907 (Trench)
One of the obvious advantages of M1907 is the quick rate of fire set at 300 rounds per minute. This may not be an impressive score when compared to assault rifles, remember though that M1907 takes even 42 damage with just one hit in the body. Another of its advantages is having as many as 21 rounds in the clip and automatic fire mode. Hence, you can use its rate of fire to the full at close range.
At close distances up to 20 meters you can effectively spray-shoot with M1907 by simply holding the trigger. At longer distances try to aim before taking a shot. At a distance of 27 meters it takes just 3 bullets to kill an opponent, but from 37 meters on the number increases to 5.
Selbstlader M1916 (Marksman)
Selbstlader is the most effective at mid and long range. It is slower than M1907, but it deals greater damage at long distances. It is also more accurate, has 26 rounds in the clip, and projects bullets much faster.
M1916 should be your weapon of choice on larger maps if you don't want to play as the Scout but prefer healing and reanimating instead. This weapon can also be useful at close range, but avoid hip shooting.
Support
The greatest strength of support rifles is their accuracy. You can use them for long bursts without suffering a drop in accuracy. Many of them have large capacity magazines, so you don't have to reload them too often. Ideal conditions for machine guns are middle distances.
BAR 1918 (Telescopic)
BAR 1918 is the fastest machine gun available for the Support class. Its quick rate of fire, amounting to 600 rounds per minute, combined with very good accuracy yields good results on the battlefield. BAR's weakness is having just 20 rounds in the clip.
When using this gun, you must make each bullet count. Fire short bursts of about 5 bullets. You should also mind your position, so not to encounter enemies at a close range, at which you cannot use the weapon's full potential. The peak of its effectiveness is at mid range.
Madsen MG (Low Weight)
If you wish for a larger magazine, choose Madsen MG instead of BAR. This one is a bit slower, but has a 31-round magazine. It also deals a bit higher damage at close distances, but lower at long.
While using Madsen, you can use a bit longer bursts - of about 6-7 bullets. Always reload with at least one bullet in the chamber left. In that case reloading takes 2.45 seconds, but if you fire off all bullets, the time of reloading increases to 4.2 seconds. This makes a huge difference - for other guns this difference is usually of about 0.5 second. You should remember that in the heat of battle.
Scout
Sniper rifles feel best in long range situations. They can deal high damage even over pretty long distances.
With most weapons damage drops over distance. But that is not the case for some sniper rifles. They have their ideal distance at which they are able to kill with just one shot. For example, M1903 takes 80 damage at a body shot at a distance of 0-80 meters, 100 damage at 100-150 meters, and 80 again beyond that. This is why you should find the ideal distance for each rifle you use.
SMLE MKIII (Marksman)
SMLE MKIII is the basic and best rifle available for the Scout class when it comes to mid and long range combat. The ideal distance for this rifle is 40-75 meters, which makes it suitable for an active, although not very aggressive play style. The bullet exhaust velocity for is 740 m/s, which means you don't have to worry about gravity too much when shooting at longer distances.
Damage dealt over distance:
Russian 1895 (Trench)
Russian 1895 Trench variant fires off 124 rounds per minute, which is a very good score when you set it together with its damage amounting to 79. This rifle is useful for more aggressive Scouts, who like to test their reflexes and fight along the Assaults and Medics. It takes 79 hit points on up to 30 meters. It does not have an ideal distance, its damage drops over distance.
Pilot and Tank Man
If you get to respawn in a tank or a plane, you cannot continue as a standard character class, but either as a Pilot or a Tank Man. They both have the same equipment. Theirs weapons are only effective at a distance of 20 meters or shorter. Because of this, if you are forced to leave the vehicle you should find another weapon on the battlefield and take it from a dead soldier's hands.
Frommer Stop (Auto)
Frommer Stop is an automatic pistol that shoots at a speed of up to 900 rounds per minute. It has only 15 bullets in a clip, so you can fire them all off in a second. This is useful only at very close range, just when you are leaving a tank.
Sawn-off
Sawn-off is a type of a short shotgun, which is effective only at close range. It can be useful for some specific situations, but it is best to find something else when you leave a vehicle.