Battlefield 1: In the Name of the Tsar delivers a slew of new frozen battlefields all across the snowy eastern front of World War I, but there is perhaps no better showcase for the expansions new vehicles and environments than the massive new map Albion. To help you navigate this brand new area, we’ve created a comprehensive guide with quick tips and strategies to help you get started.
Albion Map Overview
Albion transports players to a snow-covered archipelago (i.e. a group of islands) and stands out from other Battlefield 1 maps because of it. Though previous maps have featured small streams for players to contend with, Albion goes a step further by having the entire outer perimeter of the map be open ocean, and that’s in addition to the various bodies of water that separate the inner islands that make up the core of the map. The action takes place across the coastal mainland and two larger islands, along with two smaller islands situated in the middle.
Spawn Information
The Russian army spawns on the western mainland, while German forces spawn on a boat in the sea to the east.
Key Features And General Tips
Want to learn more about the map’s features and how to utilize them to your advantage? Here are some helpful tips to help you achieve victory.
Don’t Let Enemies Get Close to Coastal Gun Batteries
These massive cannons are situated on the northern and southern sides of Albion’s largest island, and they pack a massive punch. The guns can be a huge help when it comes to softening up enemy positions from afar, but there is a downside to their power; they are unable to fire up close. That means if your position is swarmed by the enemy, you’re as good as dead. Make sure you plan accordingly.
Claim the High Ground on the Largest Island
The largest island on Albion is also the most important. The two coastal guns (which are also capture points in Conquest) call the island home, and the peaks of the island’s hills offer map’s the best vantage points. As such, controlling the guns and the hills they sit on can give a team a huge advantage.
Watch Out for Lack of Cover When Swimming
Though players won’t be swimming from one side of the map to the other, you’ll have to get your feet wet if you want to go between islands without the use of a boat. That, however, can be dangerous, as swimming leaves you completely defenseless. While swimming, there is no place to seek cover and no way to return fire if an enemy spots you making a crossing. Thankfully, most of the ravines in Albion are rather small and can be crossed relatively quickly, but it pays to always be aware. Choose the wrong moment to begin your crossing and you might be respawning on your nearest squadmate instead of taking that objective like you planned.
Spawning as the German Army? Indulge in Naval Warfare
Those spawning as the German army on this map will begin aboard a large ship on the easternmost side of the map. Players can them embark aboard smaller landing craft and make their way to the various islands of the archipelago. Torpedo-equipped assault boats also spawn at different locations throughout the map. Use the landing craft and attack boats to maneuver throughout the islands, rather than going about it on foot. Fill up the boats with your squad and perform your own miniature D-Day invasion on an unsuspecting enemy objective. They’ll never know what hit them: unless an enemy attack boat stops your invasion early with a well-placed torpedo, that is.
Class Tips
As is the case with every map, each class will have areas and tasks they excel at and others that they will want to avoid. Make sure you’re prepared with these class-specific tips.
Assault
Aside from a small village on the westernmost side of the map and another at the top of the eastern main, there aren’t a whole lot of areas where the close-combat expertise of the assault class can shine on Albion. It’s a huge map with a lot of distance between points and some large open spaces. You’ll want to avoid those if you can, but if you can’t, equipping smoke grenades and using them to mask your movement from one island to another isn’t a bad idea. If assault is your bread-and-butter, you’ll want to stay on the villages objectives or hunker down and defend the two coastal gun batteries atop the main hill for maximum impact.
Medic
A good medic is always where the action is – healing teammates, reviving squadmates, and taking out enemies from a distance. As such, Medics on Albion will most often find themselves fighting for the two coastal gun control points on the northern and southern end of the main island. Medics are also an essential part of any aspiring amphibious assault force. Join forces with your squad to use a landing craft and assault an enemy objective via the ocean. If a teammate goes down, you’ll be there to revive them and keep the invasion going.
Support
The support class, with their heavy machine guns and mortars, can really shine on Albion. Setting up your weapon with a bipod and covering a popular river crossing is a great way to rack up some kills. As the coastal guns can be huge threats when in the hands of the enemy team, using the Support class’s mortar gadget to destroy them (and any enemies around them) from a distance is a great way to help out your team as well. Support players can also hang out near the coastal batteries and use their wrench gadget to repair the guns, just as you would a vehicle.
Scout
The hilltops of the largest island near the coastal gun batteries are home to plenty of great spots for scouts to set up camp. Snipers will love sitting up high and raining death from above on enemies attempting to cross the various streams that weave between islands. Hiding out on some of the smaller, objective-less islands is also a great way to score some kills while keeping a safe distance between you and the heavy fighting.
For more information on the weapons, maps and vehicles of Battlefield 1, be sure to check out the Battlefield 1 Wiki. Battlefield 1: In the Name of the Tsar expansion is available now for Battlefield 1 premium members and arrives September 19 for season pass holders.