Prepare for Titanfall

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Welcome to Pilot Training 101.

Here you stand amongst the best of the best, but it can be tough out there on the frontier.

Heed these words well and you'll fare better in action - so join me...

...and prepare for TitanFall.

As a pilot, you represent the vanguard of a fighting force - first on the ground, and instrumental in action.

It's your job to draw the margins of battle, and you're given the tools you need to get to the front lines as swiftly as possible.

Your mobility is a key asset, with your limb augmentations and jetpacks granting the means to outmanoeuvre opponents.

Instead of keeping boots on the ground, the best pilots use this ability to the maximum extent. While it can take some practice to master, wallrunning and double jumping can permit rapid traversal of the battlefield - getting you out of trouble and into an advantageous position.

Now onto combat - I presume most of you already know how to shoot straight - so I won't insult you with the absolute basics.

Just make sure you engage targets within your weapon's effective range where possible, and place your shots accurately to quickly down foes.

Most important is to know what you're facing: there are several different classes of opponent that you'll encounter, and each offers a substantially different level of threat.

Bottom of the pile are the grunts: common or garden meatheads who form the bulk of a fighting force, if only through numbers alone.

They lack your training, your equipment and your resources - but they will still shoot in your general direction if you give them sufficient invitation.

Spectres are a little tougher - re-purposed worker androids afforded some upgrades to make them more combat effective.

With added armour and equipment at their disposal, these machines might be dim - but can still pose a threat in larger numbers.

It's worth noting that you can hack enemy spectres: with judicious application of your dataknife, you'll find yourself some new mechanical allies.

Generally speaking, these enemy minions won't present too much of an issue - but don't let your guard down, else you might embarrass yourself.

By far the biggest infantry threat you'll face out there are enemy Pilots: these guys have access to exactly the same perks you do, and it's not likely they'll give you any quarter in a scrap.

Expect dirty tactics and unchecked aggression: the enemy will use every inch of their arsenal to eliminate you, and you should extend the same courtesy.

Be warned that your cloaking ability won't prove effective against them: minions and titans might be fooled, but pilots have enhanced vision.

Once you've got a bead on your opponent, waste no time in eliminating them: mistake a pilot for a grunt at your own peril.

Next thing to watch for: the big guys. Titans.

Don't even think about going toe-to-toe with one of these on foot - your primary arm won't even make it through their shields.

Instead, use your Anti-Titan munitions and strike from a covered position - in urban operations, rooftops can offer a great vantage point.

Otherwise, keep your distance and try to deal as much damage as you can - teamwork is essential to despatch such enemy threats in as timely manner as possible.

You can leverage your mobility against these leviathans, however - and should the opportunity present itself, you can hop onto the back of an enemy titan and deal critical damage to its weak spots.

This is a dangerous move, however - you run the risk of being trampled underfoot, and you'll be exposed for the duration of your attack.

A savvy Titan pilot will make use of countermeasures to repel you - either deploying electric smoke, or disembarking to tackle you directly.

It's best to whittle down the Titan's hull as much as possible before hopping aboard to finish the job.

Once doomed, get back to safety - and keep an eye open for the enemy's resultant ejection.

Now, they don't call you pilots for the fun of it - and when the time is right you'll get your very own bit of heavy metal to put to task.

Your Titanfall lags behind your insertion, but you can shuffle up the build order by securing kills.

The most effective pilots are rewarded with faster resource acquisition, and gaining an early lead can set a precedent for the remainder of a match.

With a titan at your command, you have the ability to sponge an impressive amount of damage - courtesy of a thick hull and protective shield.

Note that your shields will regenerate - but your hull will not.

It's imperative that you avoid hull damage whenever possible - when your shields are depleted you will want to retreat from combat until they recharge.

It pays to play conservatively with your Titan - if you're too aggressive you might find yourself overwhelmed - and when facing heavy firepower without a shield, you're toast.