Mortars in Battlefield 1 are often seen as simple-to-use support weapons, but when utilized correctly, they can be devastating tools for both offense and defense. This guide will cover the best game modes for mortar use, strategic positioning, ammo types, and priority targets to help you maximize their effectiveness on the battlefield.

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Best Game Modes for Mortars

Mortars shine in specific game modes where battles are concentrated, and players have predictable movement patterns. Here’s a breakdown of the most and least effective game modes for mortars:

Highly Effective Game Modes

• Rush & Operations
  • These game modes feature a progressive map structure, meaning one team attacks while the other defends.
  • Less risk of flanking, as enemies are mostly in front of you.
  • Clear objectives, allowing for concentrated mortar fire on key points.
  • Tactics: Use mortars to bombard objectives where enemies are clustered or to prevent bomb defuses in Rush mode.

Situational Game Modes

• Conquest
  • Wider, open maps make mortar usage more risky.
  • Enemies can be spread out and unpredictable.
  • Risk of being targeted by snipers while stationary.
  • Tactics: Use mortars to weaken vehicles or clear out entrenched enemies on objectives, but avoid overusing them, as you’ll appear on the mini-map.

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Mortar Ammunition Types & Their Uses

Mortars come with two different ammunition types, each with its own advantages:

High-Explosive (HE) Rounds

• Deals higher damage but has a smaller blast radius.
• More effective when directly hitting infantry or vehicles.
• Best for:
  • Targeting other mortar users (since they’re stationary and easier to hit).
  • Damaging enemy vehicles, especially light armor.
  • Destroying enemy cover and buildings.

Airburst (IB) Rounds

• Larger explosive radius but deals lower damage.
• More effective against groups of enemies.
• Best for:
  • Clearing entrenched infantry behind cover.
  • Suppressing enemy advances on objectives.
  • Hitting enemies moving frequently (as splash damage can still deal damage even with near misses).

Which Ammunition Type Should You Use?

• If vehicles are present, use HE rounds for increased damage.
• If infantry is grouped up, use IB rounds to cover a wider area.
• Switch between the two based on the battlefield situation.

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How to Use Mortars Effectively

1. Prioritize Taking Out Enemy Mortars

• When firing a mortar, you appear on the enemy mini-map for a brief moment.
• A skilled enemy mortar user will try to counter-fire and kill you before you can reposition.
• Tip: Before deploying your mortar, check the mini-map for enemy mortar positions and take them out first. HE rounds are best for this since enemy mortar users are stationary.

2. Utilize Cover & Positioning Wisely

• Place your mortar behind obstacles to protect yourself from snipers.
• Avoid open areas where enemy planes or infantry can easily spot and eliminate you.
• If pinned down, quickly relocate after a few shots to avoid retaliation.

3. Target Objective Areas

• Rush & Operations: Spam mortars near bomb sites or capture points to disrupt defenders.
• Conquest: Aim for crowded enemy strongholds to soften up resistance before pushing in.
• Destroy buildings where enemies are camping, forcing them into the open.

4. Laying Traps with Mortars

• If enemies frequently pass through a specific area, preemptively drop IB rounds to weaken them.
• Rush & Operations: When the enemy is pushing forward, use mortars to slow their advance.

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How to Deal with Enemy Vehicles Using Mortars

• HE rounds are more effective against vehicles than IB rounds.
• Damage breakdown:
  • Light vehicles: 9-20 damage per hit.
  • Heavy tanks: 3-7 damage per hit.
  • HE rounds can deal up to 25 damage per hit on light armor.
• While mortars alone won’t destroy tanks, constant fire forces tank drivers to reposition, making them easier targets for teammates with explosives.

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Conclusion: Why Mortars Are a Game-Changer

Mortars provide an underrated tactical advantage in Battlefield 1, allowing players to: ✅ Disrupt enemy movements✅ Defend or attack objectives more effectively ✅ Eliminate other mortar users before they can retaliate ✅ Assist in vehicle takedowns ✅ Create chaos and soften up defensive positions

By following these strategies and knowing when to switch ammunition types, position yourself wisely, and focus on key targets, you’ll make the most of this powerful but often underutilized weapon.

If you haven’t used mortars much yet, now is the time to start—they are both fun and effective!

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Try out these tips and let us know how they work for you on the battlefield!