Battlefield 1 Elite Classes - How to get them, Flame Trooper, Sentry and Tank Hunter loadouts

Battlefield 1's Elite classes are a completely new addition to the series this year, with the Flame Trooper, Sentry and Tank Hunter pickups mimicing closely what we saw with Jedi and hero units in DICE's other shooter, Star Wars Battlefront.

A form of heavy, specially kitted-out super-soldier, the Elite classes are potentially game-winning when deployed correctly, but can just as much be completely ineffectual when played by someone without much experience or direction. With that in mind we'll be taking you through everything you need to know about each class, including full details of their loadouts, weapons, playstyles, and counters below.

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Battlefield 1 Elite Classes and how to get them

The Elite classes are distinct from the standard Assault, Medic, Support, Scout, and Pilot, Tanker and Cavalry classes in a number of ways. Here's everything you need to know about how they generally work:

• The Elite units are obtained via pickups, which spawn periodically on the map, appearing as a special weapon inside a long rectangular wooden crate.
• Elite class pickups will always spawn in a fixed location, for example the Sentry pickup in the bunker under capture point B on Monte Grappa
• The pickups will respawn five minutes after the last user of the class' death.
• Elite class pickups are often available right from the start of the game, so sprinting to their location once you know it can almost garauntee you access at least once per game.

Those details out of the way, let's get onto discussing each class and their releveant playstyles and counters.

Flame Trooper Elite class loadout, strengths and weaknesses

• Primary Weapon: Wex
• Weapon function: Flamethrower
• Strengths: Close to medium range against infantry; infinite ammo; regenerating health; heavily armoured; permanently equipped with a Gas Mask; capable of destroying scenery as well as soldiers.
• Weaknesses: No means of damaging vehicles; restricted sight from Gas Mask; no option for long range combat; slow-moving.

Flame Trooper Elite class playstyle and counters

• Official description:Wrapped in fire-resistant gear, a gas mask, and carrying a powerful flamethrower, the Flame Trooper brings with him chaos. Stay far away if you can, but if you find yourself eye-to-eye with the Flame Trooper, you'd best muster your courage, fix your bayonet, and charge into battle before he notices you. One wrong move and you're likely to spend your last moments seeing red.
• Playstyle: The obvious point here is to get up close and personal. Avoid open areas, sticking to covered routes like trenches and buildings. Find choke points, and built-up zones like the housing area on Sinai Desert, and use the network of houses to duck in and out of combat, healing up when you do. Support him with a squad of Medics to really amp up his potential.
• Counters: Explosives like the standard grenades are highly effective, as are bayonet charges which will take off a significant chunk of health. Attack from multiple angles, and of course keep your distance. Heavy focus from vehicles like the Light Tank, Heavy Tank, and Landship can also make short work of an unsupported Flame Trooper.

Sentry Elite class loadout, strengths and weaknesses

• Primary Weapon: MG 08/15
• Weapon function: Heavy Machine Gun
• Strengths: Close, medium, and some long range combat; huge ammo supply; very heavy armour; regenerating health; can fire through light cover like wooden panels.
• Weaknesses: Not capable of equipping a Gas Mask; not capable of firing from prone; slow moving; relatively weak at long range; no means of damaging armoured vehicles.

Sentry Elite class playstyle and counters

• Official description: The Sentry moves like a human tank. With a water-cooled automatic machine gun at his hip and strapped in plated armor, the Sentry can shower enemy positions with lead while still being able to withstand a lot of damage. His main weakness is his greatest strength - in order to keep up his defense, he eschews the use of a gas mask in favor of additional armor plating.
• Playstyle: Although he might seem like a ranged option, the Sentry is actually best up close, thanks to the hip-firing aspect of his heavy MG. Dart in and out of buildings as you would with the Flame Trooper, but don't lone wolf it, as tempting as it may be, as heavy armour doesn't translate to invincibility. At long range, you'll use up about half a clip, but consistently firing at a target will result in a kill thanks to the narrow spray of his gun - it'll just take longer than up close. Always run away from vehicles as soon as you see them.
• Counters: Explosives do well against the Sentry, as do multiple snipers who can catch him out in the open. Gas is okay, but his high health means that the Sentry will likely just walk right through it before much damage can really be done. Use vehicles to focus him down when possible, or multiple grenades and explosives of any kind from your squad.

For more tips on Battlefield 1, check out our main Battlefield 1 Guide, tips and tricks hub; our Battlefield 1 maps breakdown, our complete list of Battlefield 1 weapons stats, unlocks and War Bonds advice, and Codex Entries; how to get the tiny gun Kolibri; how to get Battlepacks, Scrap and Puzzle pieces; and class guides for the Battlefield 1 Elite Classes, Medic class, Support class, Scout class, and specialist Pilot, Tanker and Cavalry classes, too.

Tank Hunter Elite class loadout, strengths and weaknesses

• Primary Weapon: Tankgewehr M1918
• Weapon function: Anti vehicle gun
• Strengths: Capable of shredding vehicles; more mobile than the other Elite classes; can take out specific parts of vehicles like weapons and tracks; can quickly neutralise Behemoths with targeted fire; gun still strong against infantry when well-aimed.
• Weaknesses: Can only fire from prone; lower armour and ammo compared to other Elites; weak at close range and generally vulnerable to standard anti-infantry tactics.

Tank Hunter Elite class playstyle and counters

• Official description: The Tank Hunter has mastered the use of the 1918 Tankgewehr, an absolute beast of a weapon. Standing almost as tall as a man, the Tankgewehr is capable of damaging enemy vehicles over great distances. With a well-placed shot, the Tank Hunter can focus fire on particular parts of the enemy vehicles, taking out the tracks, machine guns, or cannons on armored vehicles.
• Playstyle: You'll want to use the Tank Hunter as an anti-vehicle sniper. Find a safe spot at very long range, and focus on taking out key targets that are causing the most trouble, like Behemoths, Bombers, or tanks on control points or choke points on the map.
• Counters: You can counter the Tank Hunter in the same way you'd counter a sniper. Once spotted, either counter-snipe if you're confident of your skills, or sneak up and around the back of him for a quick backstab, headshot or grenade. He's also nowhere near as resitent to vehicles as he is strong at taking them out, so a couple well placed tank shots will see him off.

That's it for our Elite class guides, but for more details on their loadouts in particular we recommend you check out our specific page on Battlefield 1 weapons, stats, and gadgets, too.