Who are the best Specialists to use in Battlefield 2042? With the latest entry in this popular online shooter series, developer EA DICE has changed things up a bit, leaving many new players with this one burning question.
Instead of rolling with the same class system seen in previous games, Battlefield 2042 leans more in the direction of games like Overwatch, Rainbow Six Siege, and Apex Legends with characters known as Specialists. When you deploy, you will no longer select from roles such as assault or recon. You will choose one of ten named Specialists, each with their own unique pair of abilities.
What’s the point of Specialists, you may ask? They offer a variation on the tried and tested Battlefield classes, all of them now sharing the same universal pool of weapons and equipment, but with their abilities give them a more specific role or opportunities when caught in a combat scenario. Love them or hate them, they’re now a fundamental part of Battlefield 2042, with more Specialists set to arrive as DICE advance from season to season.
The best Specialists to use in Battlefield 2042
Let’s explain what defines these new characters. Each of them has an active ability as well as a passive power, the two intended to gel well together. For example, Dozer carries a ballistic shield into battle and also has explosive damage resistance. Combined, these make him a tougher soldier that should be able to outlast his enemies and potentially bait them into giving away their location. Meanwhile, Falck acts as a medic, able to pull out a syringe pistol to heal from range with the added perk of restoring fallen allies to full health when zapping them with her Defib.
In this guide we’ll be highlighting the best Specialists to use in Battlefield 2042 and why. Just note that, over the coming months, there will no doubt be tweaks and buffs to help balance them all, improving the less desirable Specialists with a lower pick rate.
Boris
Specialty Gadget: SG-36 Sentry Gun – Capable of support fire and spotting enemy units
Trait: Sentry Operator – Close proximity to Sentry Gun will enhance its abilities
If there’s one Specialist we’ve taken a particular liking to, it’s Boris. This grizzled veteran isn’t the most dynamic or exciting of the ten available elite operators, but he’s great for the defensively minded. His deployable Sentry Gun packs a deadly punch – if it can’t gun down nearby enemies, it will spot them for you. Placing the turret can be clunky and takes a couple of seconds, so it’s not much good if you’re in a tight situation, but Boris is designed to be a defensive force and can also help clean out control points if you find a good vantage point.
Casper
Specialty Gadget: OV-P Recon Drone – Able to spot enemies (and can be “parked” for continuous overwatch), as well as fire EMP darts
Trait: Movement Sensor – Provides alert to approaching enemies, if they move above a certain speed
One quick look at Casper pretty much sums up what this Specialist is all about. He’s as close to a traditional sniper archetype as you can get in Battlefield 2042. However, when playing Casper, you can become a huge asset to your entire team when approaching enemy territory. While it’s tempting to focus on sniping stray soldiers, you should be wired into the Recon Drone instead, marking enemy infantry while also tagging and zapping vehicles with its EMP – even when not directly controlled, the drone will mark enemies that pass through its line of sight. Casper’s Movement Sensor is another big bonus, alerting you when your sniping nest has been compromised, or being useful on the frontline to alert to enemies nearby.
Angel
Specialty Gadget: Loadout Crate – Call in a crate where allies can gain armour, ammo and switch loadouts
Trait: Trauma Specialist – Revive allies more quickly and restore their armour
For the team player, Angel outshines fellow support Specialist, Falck, by restoring ammo and equipment to his comrades. Death comes quick in Battlefield 2042 and although Falck’s healing pistol is handy, anyone can now equip and toss out a medical crate during a match. What they can’t do, however, is call down a Loadout box, letting them and their allies top up on special ammo and explosives or switch to a different loadout. If none of the other Specialists have taken your fancy, you should always roll as Angel to keep your squad replenished, earning experience points every time you lend a helping hand. Battlefield is a game that needs teamwork.
Irish
Specialty Gadget: Fortification System – DCS Deployable Cover protects from bullets and explosives, while APS-36 Shootdown Sentinel can take down explosive projectiles
Trait: Veteran – Provides armour with bonuses from downed enemies
This Battlefield 4 fan favourite character makes a return as a Specialist, but there’s more to him than simply getting to see Michael K. Williams commanding the fight – his acting talents will be sorely missed across all mediums. While the maps of Battlefield can be busy with objects and scenery, you’ll often find yourself with little no meaningful cover, especially in some of the more open maps, or needing to set up a more defensible position. Using multiple DCS walls, Irish can form an effective barrier to shield him and his squad mates as they dig in, the transparent window attached to this cover allowing you to maintain sight lines. You can also use the alternate APS-36 to nullify incoming explosives.
These four Battlefield 2042 Specialists are easy to master and useful in just about every combat scenario, including Hazard Zone matches. All are solid starter choices, complimenting any team composition.
