Battlefield 1: In the Name of the Tsar offers a wide-range of snow-covered locations to do battle on, ranging from frozen islands to breathtaking cathedrals. For those who are looking for an up close and personal infantry focused battle, Brusilov Keep doesn’t disappoint. Use this guide and quick tips to stay one step ahead of the enemy team.
Map Overview
Brusilov Keep primarily revolves around players battling for control of a town situated between two bridges, with the southernmost bridge actually being a railroad that exists for the armored train behemoth to ride in on. A river divides the map into east and west, with the town in the center attracting most of the fighting. The map is situated on a mountainside that rises up the further north and east you go, allowing those with the high ground to look down upon the fighting below.
Spawn Information
The Russian army spawns on higher elevation near the A capture point on one side of the river. The Austro-Hungarian forces, on the other hand, spawn closer to town on the opposite side.
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.
Stay Off The Bridges
It might be tempting to cross the river via one the map’s two bridges, but doing so is often a death sentence. Players inside buildings within the town have clear view of the bridges, and since there’s no cover on the bridge, you are essentially a sitting duck once you walk onto it. When crossing the river, go down into the riverbed instead and seek cover behind the bridge support structures and various boulders littering the landscape.
Don’t Sweat The Horses
New and improved cavalry gameplay is a major part of the “In The Name Of The Tsar” DLC, but horses don’t help all that much on Brusilov Keep. Because most of the fighting takes place in town and the map isn’t all that large to begin with, there’s no real need to saddle up and ride into battle. Additionally, the terrain isn’t well suited for mounted combat either. It’s better to head into town on foot.
Use The Armored Car Wisely
The new Putilov-Crawford heavy armored car is available on Brusilov Keep, and while it’s tempting to drive the vehicle straight into town to deal some damage, it’s also a bit of a waste. The car is extremely vulnerable on the map’s central bridge across the river. That means it’s oftentimes better to use the car to drive to the outskirts of the map away from the heavy fighting and attempt to capture points from behind enemy lines, where infantry lacking in anti-vehicle weapons will be helpless to stop you.
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
The close-range, building-to-building fighting that takes place in the center of Brusilov Keep is an assault player’s dream come true. In town is where assault players will want to try and stay, as there are more open areas outside of town, as well as along the river, where the weaponry of other classes will outperform the assault’s close range weaponry.
Medic
To be a medic is to be where the action is, and most of the action on Brusilov Keep happens in the center of the map in-town. With that in mind, equipping a trench variant medic rifle isn’t a bad idea. Not only will you be able to fight in close quarters, but you’ll also be able to take shots at enemies running around outside of town or down in the riverbed. The medic’s rifle grenades are also excellent for clearing out rooms in-town that are occupied by pesky enemy squatters.
Support
Laying down suppressive fire on enemies in the riverbed is a great use of the support class’s heavy weaponry, as is picking off enemies foolish enough to try and cross one of the map’s two bridges. Support players will also want to consider bringing along the mortar gadget. While the town itself isn’t a suitable target thanks to the numerous buildings to hide inside, areas near capture points A and C on conquest are far more exposed, allowing mortars to deal some serious damage to infantry that may be grouped up there.
Scout
It may not seem like it at first, but there are plenty of opportunities on Brusilov Keep for players who prefer to fight long range. North of town and to the east, the landscape rises upwards, allowing players to look down into town. It’s there that snipers are going to want to position themselves, but there are also plenty of sniping opportunities along the river and bridges. Scouts in-town will want to set up in a building that gives a view of the bridges and riverbed, as that is where most players will be entering town from.
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.