Enlisted Guide | How to Destroy Tanks and Avoid their Fire

This series looks at common problems faced by players on Enlisted and shows some easy ways they can be solved with tactics.

One of the key issues for players on Enlisted is the threat from tanks. Often players will complain that there is a tank preventing them from carrying out the objective or winning the game.

One thing that is important to remember in Enlisted is that there will normally be some kind of enemy armour or tanks present. Even if you have only recently turned one of them into a burning pile of scrap metal, there will surely be another to take its place as each team has 2 heavy armour slots.

This means you will need to have an effective method to either avoid the fire from the tanks or take them out yourself.

How to deal with tanks 

If you find yourself being constantly blown up by tanks on Enlisted you should ask yourself these questions - 

Did I avoid the kill zone or the area where the tank would typically be aiming its gun? 

Did I equip at least one member of each squad with an effective Anti Tank weapon?

Did I use the lay of the land, dips, craters, walls and cover to avoid being hit?

If your answer to all 3 is no then this may explain the problem.

Let's look at these in more detail and see if we can stop our squads being turned into a grisly wallpaper before they have their chance to shine.

Using Cover and Avoiding the Kill Zone 

Tanks in Enlisted certainly have their advantages in terms of firepower and armour.

However as an infantry soldier you have certain strengths compared to a big bulky tank you should use to your advantage, for example mobility and stealth - the ability to dodge and hide which you cannot do when you're sat inside a large chunk of metal.

Let's focus on where the formidable looking tanks actually are at a disadvantage compared to a squishy human running around on two legs.

Tanks are good at blasting things directly in front of them, hiding behind a wall may not work as each shot from the main gun is like a mini grenade and has “splash damage”.

However tanks are not very good at hiding, seeing what is behind them, or moving their aim sideways quickly to deal with different angles of attack.

How to use this in Enlisted to defeat tanks

Stunning Enlisted wall art now available on Amazon

When the shells start flying many players on Enlisted have the natural instinct to hang back and cower behind a wall, although this is often a surefire way of being turned into mincemeat and exactly what the enemy wants you to do.

A stationary target is an easy target for a tank, running away down the street won't help and marching towards the barrel of the main gun seems like suicide, so what's the best approach?

Bizarrely charging towards the tank is normally the better option and the safest place to be around a tank is right next to it.

The closer you get, the safer your soldier is.

If you get close enough you can reach a point where you are actually underneath the barrel of the main gun and it is impossible to be shot at.

Directly in front or behind the tank there's a good chance of being squished so you want to aim for a point close up on either the left or right side.

Make use of the tank's inability to track lateral movement - run to the side and watch the tank commander panic as they try to swing their gun around to reach you.

Use the lay of the land and try to put a hill in between you and the tank as you approach. On flat maps with no hills use craters, buildings or any cover you can find to mask your movement and protect you from incoming shots.

The trick is to avoid what is known as the kill zone where the tank is typically aiming and approach from a different angle.

If this all seems a bit weird and complicated just try to imagine it from the tank players point of view.

The most likely place they are pointing their gun is right on that corner of the street where all your guys are popping out. Try a different angle of approach where the tank cannot see you until it is too late.

Smoke shells with the mortars are good for blinding the tanks and blocking their vision.

Which AT weapons work best and who should have them in your squad?

Of course you can use the previous tactics to avoid fire from tanks and get on with the objective.

When it comes to dealing with them directly and blowing them up, which is the best option and who should be doing this in the squad, AT soldier or a different team member?

Firstly it is important to remember that many anti-tank weapons can be equipped by all soldiers and not just the specific AT class.

These include the TNT charges, explosion packs and anti-tank mines.

This means you can give a tank killing weapon to every soldier in your squad including the riflemen, engineers and radio operators.

This can be useful for assault teams and machine gunners who are operating on the front lines. If every soldier has some kind of device to blow up a tank this means you will never get caught out on the battlefield.

Top 3 AT weapons ranked - universal equipment

3 - AT Mine

Ease of use: easy

Blast power: good

Benefits: stays in place even after the squad has been killed, can be used as a trap

Best way to use: set AT mines on roads and choke points or narrow gaps that you know a tank will drive through at some point. Do not try to chase the tank with it. Set up traps on the way to the objective and vehicle kills are almost guaranteed.

2 - TNT charge

Ease of use: tricky

Blast power: good

Benefits: can be attached directly to tank for a surefire hit

Best way to use: sneak up to the side of the tank, attach the TNT charge to a vulnerable looking part of it, step clear and press the plunger with RT.

1 - Explosion pack

Ease of use: easy

Blast power: bit weak depending on where it hits

Benefits: can be thrown like a grenade and equipped in grenade slot along with other AT weapons such as bazooka or panzerfaust.

Best way to use: throw directly into the path of a moving tank so it drives over the charge as it explodes. Like a grenade you can cook the timer by holding down LT before you throw it.

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Tips for Defensive Maps

If you are looking for some top tips for winning defensive game modes on Enlisted check out the full Guide to Defensive Game Modes on Enlisted here.

Enlisted Scoring System Under Review

To check out the latest updates on our discussion about changing the scoring system on Enlisted, view the full article on the Enlisted Points Scoring System and the Changes Players are Demanding.