By no means do I play BF2 as much as some people do but this is my overall conclusion of how to be an excellent sniper and what things to look for when sniping.
1. The Sniper.
During any BF2 battle, the sniper should never be on the frontline of combat. You may be an excellent sniper with a great aim, but generally speaking it is really hard for a sniper to take a flag. My advice is to lay back and be patient (more on this later). A sniper is meant to kill at long ranges covertly. If you are in a squad that is effectively taking flags and one member is a sniper. Have that member sit back and scan the area of the flag and look for aggressors. The sniper should cover his squad during a flag cap. This will make cappin flags much easier knowing that someone is out there watching your back that is on your squad.
2. Patience Is The Key
Some people may not agree with me, but the one thing that is essential to sniping in BF2 is PATIENCE!!!!! You may get several kills running all over the place and killing other players but your best bet is to be patient around a well contested flag and wait for unsuspecting enemies to come to cap the flag. If you have found your spot (later again) and you catch someone running out in the open you can do one of two things; try to shoot them on the run by leading them or wait for them to be still for that split second and take your shot. Rememer that leading an enemy is very hard at longer distances. I recommend waiting for the shot. If you fire on a moving target and miss they become aware of you and begin jumping or run for cover. Patience again is the key. Rushing any shot will most likely cost you a kill or even get you killed.
3. Where Did That Come From?
Choosing your perch to take your shots from are essential also. You need to think like a normal groundpounder when choosing your perch. If you were playing assault or support, where would you look first for snipers if you were trying to capture a flag. The norm seems to be partially built buildings (more later again), cranes, and top of hills. So you should choose other areas to snipe from. The best bet is just below the crest of the hill, that way you don't have a silhouette showing over the horizon. Also try corners of buildings. Corners of buildings where you are barely peaking around a corner can be very effective. Another good thing to use is distance. Look for good perches where you have good angles on the flag but from a distance. This is very effective. I use this personally all the time on maps like Surge, Kubra, Oman, Zatar, Daqing, Fushe, and Mass Destruction. The distance is your best weapon along with patience. PArtially built buildings can be used but be careful to chose the right area in the building. I would not use a common location. Rooftops are another are of concern. These can be 50/50. In maps like Karkand and Warlord there are so many rooftops that it only makes sense to use them, but remember so will everyone else. Some cranes can also be used, especially in Kubra. There are certain areas on cranes that are inpenitrable from ground fire. While your on a crane sniping it will take a well place artillery strike to hit you. The bottomline is distance and perches that are not obvious.
4. Which Weapon Is Right For You?
I know that BF2S has a ton of specs on each rifle and there are defintely personal prefrences, so choose as you will. This is what I have learned.
SVD & Type 88- These are excellent choices for rate of fire. If you use these, the best bet is to aim at the enemies chest and fire 2 to 3 rounds. Due to the lack of power behind these, one to chest and one to the head is the best for a kill.
M24- My second choice. The stopping power and accuracy are unprecedented. This rifle is in the elite class of rifles. The rule for this weapon, since the reloading time is longer, should be one shot:one kill. Always aim for upper chest or head for a sure kill.
M95- My personal favorite. Not the most powerful or most accurate, but the ability to kill through glass is the best advantage. You must remember that patience plays a key in killing pilots in heli's. Don't just fire off random shots at helo's trying to kill the pilots. If you don't have the shot, don't take it (see above). I know this may sound bad but try to get a distant good angle on an enemies helo pad, or even your own helo pad for theose contested helo pads to lie in wait for the unsuspecting pilot. I personally average a kill or two on pilots when using this principle. When using the M95, do not focus on just helo's, this can be a very effective rifle also. The rule for this rifle is a shot to the head is a definite kill.
5. Personal Security.
This is a commonly forgotten concept when sniping. Remember you only have 2 claymore's. Use them accordingly. You need to remember to use your sense when sniping. Look, listen, and visualize. Look around after each shot. If you are in a perch that maybe accessable from more than two sides, take a shot and look around to make sure that there are no enemies trying to track your position. Listen to your surroundings while your searching for a target. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard someone sneaking upon me trying to get a knife kill and suprising them by killing them first. Visualize a few different positions that you will be using. Take a shot and move. I recommend three perches that you rotate if available. Place claymore's in the most obvious approach to your position. This will keep your blindspots covered.
6. What Else?
This is definitely a opnionated post, so don't take everything to heart. This is just somethings I have found very useful in being a sniper. I just have read so many articles about being an efficient sniper and this my two cents. There are certain maps that being a sniper has a supreme advantage to other kits and some maps where being a sniper makes no sense at all. Choose appropriately but remember the info above and you will improve your accuracy and kill count.
Here is a little laugh:
Look at being a sniper like being Chuck Norris, "If you can see Chuck Norris, he can see you. If you can't see Chuck Norris, you may be seconds away from death."
Any other input is welcome, let me know.
1. The Sniper.
During any BF2 battle, the sniper should never be on the frontline of combat. You may be an excellent sniper with a great aim, but generally speaking it is really hard for a sniper to take a flag. My advice is to lay back and be patient (more on this later). A sniper is meant to kill at long ranges covertly. If you are in a squad that is effectively taking flags and one member is a sniper. Have that member sit back and scan the area of the flag and look for aggressors. The sniper should cover his squad during a flag cap. This will make cappin flags much easier knowing that someone is out there watching your back that is on your squad.
2. Patience Is The Key
Some people may not agree with me, but the one thing that is essential to sniping in BF2 is PATIENCE!!!!! You may get several kills running all over the place and killing other players but your best bet is to be patient around a well contested flag and wait for unsuspecting enemies to come to cap the flag. If you have found your spot (later again) and you catch someone running out in the open you can do one of two things; try to shoot them on the run by leading them or wait for them to be still for that split second and take your shot. Rememer that leading an enemy is very hard at longer distances. I recommend waiting for the shot. If you fire on a moving target and miss they become aware of you and begin jumping or run for cover. Patience again is the key. Rushing any shot will most likely cost you a kill or even get you killed.
3. Where Did That Come From?
Choosing your perch to take your shots from are essential also. You need to think like a normal groundpounder when choosing your perch. If you were playing assault or support, where would you look first for snipers if you were trying to capture a flag. The norm seems to be partially built buildings (more later again), cranes, and top of hills. So you should choose other areas to snipe from. The best bet is just below the crest of the hill, that way you don't have a silhouette showing over the horizon. Also try corners of buildings. Corners of buildings where you are barely peaking around a corner can be very effective. Another good thing to use is distance. Look for good perches where you have good angles on the flag but from a distance. This is very effective. I use this personally all the time on maps like Surge, Kubra, Oman, Zatar, Daqing, Fushe, and Mass Destruction. The distance is your best weapon along with patience. PArtially built buildings can be used but be careful to chose the right area in the building. I would not use a common location. Rooftops are another are of concern. These can be 50/50. In maps like Karkand and Warlord there are so many rooftops that it only makes sense to use them, but remember so will everyone else. Some cranes can also be used, especially in Kubra. There are certain areas on cranes that are inpenitrable from ground fire. While your on a crane sniping it will take a well place artillery strike to hit you. The bottomline is distance and perches that are not obvious.
4. Which Weapon Is Right For You?
I know that BF2S has a ton of specs on each rifle and there are defintely personal prefrences, so choose as you will. This is what I have learned.
SVD & Type 88- These are excellent choices for rate of fire. If you use these, the best bet is to aim at the enemies chest and fire 2 to 3 rounds. Due to the lack of power behind these, one to chest and one to the head is the best for a kill.
M24- My second choice. The stopping power and accuracy are unprecedented. This rifle is in the elite class of rifles. The rule for this weapon, since the reloading time is longer, should be one shot:one kill. Always aim for upper chest or head for a sure kill.
M95- My personal favorite. Not the most powerful or most accurate, but the ability to kill through glass is the best advantage. You must remember that patience plays a key in killing pilots in heli's. Don't just fire off random shots at helo's trying to kill the pilots. If you don't have the shot, don't take it (see above). I know this may sound bad but try to get a distant good angle on an enemies helo pad, or even your own helo pad for theose contested helo pads to lie in wait for the unsuspecting pilot. I personally average a kill or two on pilots when using this principle. When using the M95, do not focus on just helo's, this can be a very effective rifle also. The rule for this rifle is a shot to the head is a definite kill.
5. Personal Security.
This is a commonly forgotten concept when sniping. Remember you only have 2 claymore's. Use them accordingly. You need to remember to use your sense when sniping. Look, listen, and visualize. Look around after each shot. If you are in a perch that maybe accessable from more than two sides, take a shot and look around to make sure that there are no enemies trying to track your position. Listen to your surroundings while your searching for a target. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard someone sneaking upon me trying to get a knife kill and suprising them by killing them first. Visualize a few different positions that you will be using. Take a shot and move. I recommend three perches that you rotate if available. Place claymore's in the most obvious approach to your position. This will keep your blindspots covered.
6. What Else?
This is definitely a opnionated post, so don't take everything to heart. This is just somethings I have found very useful in being a sniper. I just have read so many articles about being an efficient sniper and this my two cents. There are certain maps that being a sniper has a supreme advantage to other kits and some maps where being a sniper makes no sense at all. Choose appropriately but remember the info above and you will improve your accuracy and kill count.
Here is a little laugh:
Look at being a sniper like being Chuck Norris, "If you can see Chuck Norris, he can see you. If you can't see Chuck Norris, you may be seconds away from death."
Any other input is welcome, let me know.