Assault helicopter | Vehicles Battlefield 4 Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
Available models:
- Z-10W (CH)
- AH-1Z VIPER (US)
- MI-28 HAVOC (RU)
Assault helicopters are a powerful aircraft that's perfect for eliminating anything that moves because of its variety of missiles and a 30mm cannon for the gunner. Its agility and mobility lets it dominate the airspace. The most important thing in them is pilot-gunner cooperation, but we'll talk about it later.
Controls
Controls of an assault helicopter are basically the same as of its scout counterpart. Despite what a beginner might think, it's very easy. You control your altitude with W and S, turn with A and D, and tilt with mouse.
Others:
- changing view - C,
- looking around (in the cockpit) - RMB,
- shooting - LMB,
- reloading - R,
- changing weapons - F or 1 and 2,
- countermeasures - X.
For example, to fly forward, you have to ascend and then tilt the vehicle forward. To turn, you'll mainly use A and D, but there are some situations when you can make it more effectively by tilting the vehicle to the side where you want to fly. maneuvering the helicopter can be very easily learned.
Settings
Just like with scout helicopters, there's no need to change the controls. There are no complicated manoeuvres, you just need a little practice. Mouse sensitivity is quite important if you want to master the TV missiles. Recommended settings:
Sensitivity in the game: 35% - 45%
Sensitivity in Windows: 8/10
Sensitivity of mouse: 800DPI - 1200 DPI (You'll find information about it on the bottom of your mouse, in the manual or on the Internet)
You should have a big mousepad because maneuvering between buildings or with a limited mobility might be very difficult.
Stats
Armor | 500 |
Time until the start of regeneration (from the last damage taken) | 10 seconds |
Heavy damage (temporary strong difficulty in controlling the vehicle) | Shot above 29% of armor |
Limited mobility (temporary difficulty in controlling the vehicle) | Shot above 19% of armor |
Immobilization (losing control of the vehicle, a fire extinguisher might save you) | 10% of armor |
Number of seats | 2 |
Top speed | 160* (RU, US), 130* (CH) |
Default respawn time | 90 seconds |
* unit of helicopter speed in the game, not similar to any real unit but it allows you to compare helicopters.
Unlockables
Unlockable | Icon | Required points | Description |
Stealth Coating |  | 4000 | A special coating that makes your vehicle harder to detect. |
Gunner: Proximity Scan |  | 7000 | It detects enemy units around the vehicle and marks them on the minimap. |
Fire Extinguisher |  | 11000 | Fire Extinguisher that lets you make your tank usable again, therefore making regeneration possible. Using it is possible only when the vehicle is heavily damaged. |
Gunner: IRNV |  | 14000 | Thermal night vision for the gunner, it will let you spot enemy units on short and medium distance more easily |
ZUNI Rockets |  | 17000 | Anti-vehicle rockets. Most effective when they hit armor directly. There are less rockets in each salvo because of bigger warheads. |
ECM |  | 20000 | Makes the enemy unable to track you for a short time and disorientates all their missiles. Requires reloading |
Laser Guided |  | 23000 | Laser guided anti-tank missile - also from a distance, towards designated targets out of gunner's sight. Requires aiming at the target. |
Radar |  | 26000 | Replaces minimap with a long-range radar that marks all airborne targets around your vehicle. |
Gunner: Thermal Optics |  | 29000 | Black and white thermal vision that lets you see enemies more clearly at any distance. |
TOW missile |
| 32000 | Wire-guided anti-tank missile. Deals high damage to armored vehicles and nearby infantry. |
TV Missile |  | 35000 | A missile controlled with a camera. Effective against armored targets. |
DAGR Rockets |  | 38000 | Rockets that head towards the nearest armored target. |
Best combination:
Primary weapon: That part is quite difficult. Why?
ZUNI Rockets | HYDRA Rockets | DAGR Rockets | |
Maximum Range | 2250 m | 2250 m | 750 m |
Rocket Velocity | High | High | Low |
Rate of fire (RPM) | 200 | 300 | 300 |
Available rockets | 8 | 14 | 10 |
Number of rockets | 16 | 28 | 20 |
Resupply time | 20 s | 20 s | 20 s |
Reload Time | 4 s | 4 s | 4 s |
Damage dealt to boats | Very high | High | medium |
Damage dealt to armored vehicles | High*/Very high** | Very high* | High |
Damage dealt to aircraft | medium | Low | Low |
Damage dealt to infantry | Low/ medium** | Low/medium** | Low/medium** |
* hitting with all rockets, without reloading.
** depends on place and angle of impact.
There are no specific best rockets. All of them have strong and weak points. ZUNI rockets will be perfect if you need a bit of advantage over hostile helicopters (mainly in 1v1 on short distance). HYDRA Rockets are good for people who can aim at moving targets. DAGR rockets will find their targets, but deal less damage.
Secondary weapon: definitely choose heatseekers because they're perfect for all flying targets.
Countermeasures: Flares, because with them you can be sure that they will work, that can't be said about ECM.
Upgrade: gyro stabilizer is really useful because you'll encounter infantry and vehicles equipped with guided missiles. Sometimes flares won't be enough, gyro stabilizer will let you escape.
Secondary weapon (Gunner) - obviously the TV Missile, the gunner will do most of his job with it. Learning to use it is not easy but it's worth trying.
Optics (Gunner) - 3x Scope useful for shooting at distant targets seems the best.
Upgrade (Gunner) - out of the not too diverse possibilities, you should choose belt feeder.
Combat
Before you learn about situations on the battlefield, you should know some facts. As I have already mentioned, constant cooperation between the gunner and the pilot is crucial. It requires some experience so don't worry if it's not perfect from the first time. There are two styles of playing in which both gunners and pilots need different skills. In passive style, the more popular one, the pilot stays on a constant altitude, usually around 250-300m. Doing it lets the gunner look around and shoot infantry and armored vehicles. When you fly like this, you fight on a long distance, mainly with TV missiles. Hostile planes are a big threat and they have to be seen early enough. Watch out for incoming TV Rockets, if you stay in one place for too long, even infantry with SRAW launchers may destroy you. In aggressive style the pilot changes his position dynamically. You have to fly on much lower altitude than in passive style. It's dangerous because your vehicle might be destroyed by tanks and anti-tank launchers. The best pilots will combine both styles and adapt to every situation. It requires experience.
1v1 Combat
Before you start hunting enemy tanks, aircraft and infantry, focus on localizing and destroying the enemy's assault helicopter. If it's possible, stay away from it. Gunner will use TV missiles. Unfortunately, in the fourth installment of Battlefield you need two TV missiles to destroy an assault helicopter, so accuracy is very important. Practising using them takes hours. While training, focus on moving the mouse slowly, firmly but not chaotically. If you can't hit the helicopter and distance between you decreases, the pilot might help you. Try to shoot the enemy vehicle with rockets and cannons. Don't try to approach the enemy because distance gives you an advantage. While the gunner uses his TV missile, the pilot has too look around for any threat, usually AA vehicle or planes. in aggressive style, distance doesn't matter because you usually encounter other helicopters rather directly, so the Gunner will mostly use his cannon.
Fighting against planes
After you destroy the hostile helicopter, you and your crew may focus on dominating the airspace. Only pilots of planes might interrupt you. While fighting them, heatseekers are really useful. Use them to scare the enemy away. Wait until the jet is really close and shoot both of them at once. Flares and ECM probably won't work. A gunner might try using TV missiles but it's really hard and only best players can do it. There is one thing that makes it easier. When a jet approaches your vehicle, it has to fly straight for a moment. Then you have a better chance of hitting it with a TV missile. If it comes closer, use your cannon. In aggressive style, planes should not pose a threat because when you keep moving, it's harder to hit you. You can also use trees and buildings as cover.
Fighting against land vehicles
The pilot's task is to look around the airspace. If it's safe, you can support your team by eliminating tanks and IFVs. Don't forget about AA guns that will wait aimed at the sky. It's easiest to destroy with TV missiles because If you stay far away from the enemy, they won't be able to hit you. When you deal with this problem, look for some armored vehicles. The easiest, in passive mode, is to use TV missiles. Their high range (1 km) gives you a wide range of possibilities. When you master flying them, tankers don't stand a chance. In aggressive style, you have to combine gunner's cannon and pilot's rockets to do as much damage as possible. Remember that when you fly low, you're prone to tanks and anti-tank missiles.
Fighting against infantry
The gunner has to eliminate enemy infantry. It's really simple in both styles of playing because his cannon has a high range and damage. Focus on accuracy and shooting with bursts. 2-3 rounds at a time are recommended against the infantry but you can work out your own method. Don't forget that engineers can use anti-tank weapons, don't give them an opportunity to do so by lowering your altitude.
Help
Gunner and TV Missile as a whole
Except for cooperating with the pilot, the Gunner must learn to use TV rockets perfectly. The fact that you have two of them gives you an advantage against many vehicles, and the missiles' damage is high enough to eliminate most jets or AA vehicles. As a beginner, practise shooting helicopters even on empty servers, you'll need it!
Save your ammo
The gunner's cannon is very strong but it doesn't have too much ammo. Sometimes it's better to save one magazine than go for many kills, because you'll never know when a plane or a helicopter will attack you. As a pilot, be careful not to use all your rockets because you'll need them in combat.
Map is your friend
It's not easy to see anything when you fly a few hundred metres above the ground. Using your map or the Battlescreen you can see more. When you're in mid-air as a pilot, try to mark targets for the gunner and the whole team with Q. You can see an incoming jet on the map, which is very useful when you must focus on something else.
If you're a gunner, set fire extinguisher as a countermeasure.
It's not used very often, but when you perfect it, it might become your last resort. As a gunner, set fire extinguisher as a countermeasure. If your vehicle's armor is below 10%, the pilot leaves it while the gunner moves to his spot and uses the extinguisher. The perfect scenario would be if the pilot could get out and in again. To do it, press E twice very quickly while the gunner moves to the pilot's seat. Then repeat and switch seats again. However, this strategy works only for very coordinated teams. In a easier version, the pilot jumps with a parachute and his teammate flies back to take him. Practise it on an empty server because if you do it properly, it will give your crew an advantage.
Mind your armor
Sometimes it seems that you should approach the enemy and strike. It's not true because when you reduce the distance, you increase your vulnerability to other vehicles and anti-tank launchers. Especially when the armor is below 40%, hide near your base or a building so that the vehicle could regenerate to at least 80%. Alternatively, you can land, get out of the vehicle and repair it with a repair tool.