Alot of people complain that vehicles are "too hard to kill" cause they retreat at the slightest sign of AV. The problem here is that allmost nobody has actually the balls to hunt them down. Which means you play AV for the entire match just to blow them up. Another problem is nobody bothers to actually team up or use existing resources and knowledge avaible. So lets talk about how to play AV:

-the stationary rock with a forgegun:
this is by far the most common way that AV players are chosing. Sitting in a spot and waiting for a vehicle to come by. Problem is that this method is easy to predict and aswell easy to counter. Which is basically wasting resources.

-The suicidal moron:
be it a heavy that runs stright at a tank or a medium frame with a swarm launcher. Attacking vehicles while there is hostile infantry around them is just suicidal and again waste of ISK cause you will die.

-Stealth AV:
Scouts with swarm launchers trying to sneak past infantry and attacking hostile vehicles. This can work but most of the time the ADS or tank will be aible to escape 8 out of 10 times.

-Organised AV play in combination with vehicles:
This might sound blasphemic but combining the mobility of a LAV/dropship with the firepower of forgeguns is devestating. However you will need a talented driver/pilot for this. If you do this with at least 2 forgegunners you can counter all vehicles without issues. The key is to actually get BEHIND a tank and follow it with some safety distance, once it stops moving you jump out with your buddy and start shoting the tank. Be sure to quickly escape with your vehicle once the job is done or angry infantry will come after you.

Out of all options the last one is the strategy which is the most successfull. You could argue about coordinated breach forgeguns but in most cases they just suck due to their long charge time. It is not the issue that AV doesnt work its more of a problem that people dont actually try to kill vehicles. Teamwork is the key and it is a joy to hunt tanks with a LAV.

Scuse me but the suicidal moron gets the job done far too often.

Destroying them is only a perk not a necessity.

Any Pilot who has ever faced me will know that my AV Methods are incredibly suicidal. However, due to the strength of CRs and the Matari Commando's bonus, I tend to survive most times.

Though I will note that a Light Frame with a Swarm Launcher is quite possibly the most garbage AV setup I've ever heard of. You won't be killing anything beyond an LAV or Scrub Pilot with that.

Assuming your using the Swarm Launcher, the best tactic is to wait until the HAV comes to a complete stop. Fire the first volley backwards, and then fire the next ones forward. The 2 Swarms hitting in an instant will allow you to alpha through it's shields, and the 3rd will negate any attempt to heal itself with a Shield Hardener, while also cutting into it's armor.

This tactic also works against Madrugars. though you'll need to circle strafe and bunnyhop to evade the 80GJ Blaster. While this may seem a bit much, I'd also suggest placing Proximity Explosives in areas to block escape routes. While they won't actually kill the HAV, the Pilot will have to stop in order to destroy them, which can buy you additional time.

I suggest anyone who has issues with killing HAVs invest into Matari Commandos

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The only vehicle which can actually be considered as completely superior to Infantry is the Assault Dropship, as it's DPS guarantees that it won't go down without a fight, and it's evasion abilities removes the risk of being killed by anything beyond Q-synced FGs/80GJ Railguns.

Quite possibly the most low-risk role DUST has ever offered.

To iterate;

HAV Blaster

4 Infantry escorts

Ran in like an idiot threw my nades and swarm launched twice as I ran in and rodeoed the HAV a short bit; killed it in the end despite his escort trying to kill me the entire time.

This advocates the ideal that a Vehicle pilot should never be put at a significant risk for loosing their vehicle.

Do I need to get into why this is terrible game design, again?

So, on a skirmish map with lots of objectives that need defended, you should have several people per tank dedicated to taking out just one player?

Yeah, sounds legit.

I have yet met a vehicle pilot I couldn't blow up.

Though I will note that a Light Frame with a Swarm Launcher is quite possibly the most garbage AV setup I've ever heard of. You won't be killing anything beyond an LAV or Scrub Pilot with that.

I have yet met a vehicle pilot I couldn't blow up.

I have yet met a vehicle pilot I couldn't blow up.

Oh no there is most certainly a risk, but a good enough pilot will retreat before that risk can be realised.
After all if they disappear of to the redline to lick their wounds your job as AV has been successful.

You are a deterrent, which necessitates you being a threat.

You know maybe its just my luck or the TZ but I've never seen you or Atiim in game......

If I can execute a list of tasks which ensure success, (for example, using the AB after getting hit), then no I am not at risk for loosing my vehicle because I will never lose it, and I am aware of that.

The buffs to the Python in Hotfix Charlie will easily make a good example of the above.

Best AV for an HAV is another HAV.

Best AV for an ADS is toRAM HIM WITH ANOTHER ADS.

Though I will note that a Light Frame with a Swarm Launcher is quite possibly the most garbage AV setup I've ever heard of. You won't be killing anything beyond an LAV or Scrub Pilot with that.

You forgot the 5th option

Cry on the forums to nerf vehicles and anything to do with vehicles to make them useless in PC because idiots only balance for pubs