Battlefield 1 released in October 2016 and put the series in the First World War, where Operations chains two or three maps into one long attack and defence battle fought across a stack of battalions. When a team falls badly behind, the game hands it a Behemoth: the six seat Airship L30, the six seat Armored Train or the four seat Dreadnought. Gas grenades, bolt action rifles and cavalry horses make it the most deliberate shooter DICE has shipped in the modern era.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Role | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assault | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Medic | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Support | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Scout | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Cavalry | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Battlefield 1 tier list.
A-Tier: Assault
Assault is a top-performing option in Battlefield 1.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Hellriegel 1915 | Assault submachine gun with an oversized drum magazine and manageable recoil, so it wins extended close range fights that would leave other SMGs reloading. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Operations mode | Attackers spend battalions pushing through linked sectors on consecutive maps while defenders try to drain every battalion. |
How to Play Assault
Assault focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Hellriegel 1915 does the damage and Operations mode keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Medic
Medic is a strong option in Battlefield 1.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Automatico M1918 | Assault submachine gun firing at roughly 900 rounds per minute, which shreds anything inside ten metres and empties the magazine almost as fast. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Behemoths | The Airship L30 flies over St Quentin Scar and Monte Grappa, the Armored Train runs the rails on Amiens, Sinai Desert and Argonne Forest, and the Dreadnought shells coastal maps from open water. |
How to Play Medic
Medic focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Pair Automatico M1918 with Behemoths and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Support
Support is a strong option in Battlefield 1.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Lewis Gun | Support light machine gun with a pan magazine and a bipod. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Elite kits | Sentry, Flame Trooper and Tank Hunter sit on the map as pickup crates. |
How to Play Support
Support focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: Elite kits covers the gap Lewis Gun leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Scout
Scout is a specialized option in Battlefield 1.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | Martini-Henry | Single shot Scout rifle that kills with one torso hit at almost any range, followed by a slow reload that punishes a miss badly. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Weapon variants | Almost every primary exists in two or three factory variants such as Trench, Optical, Storm, Factory, Low Weight and Sweeper. |
How to Play Scout
Scout focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: This one leans on Weapon variants rather than raw numbers, and Martini-Henry is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Cavalry
Cavalry is a specialized option in Battlefield 1.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Weapon | M1907 SL | Medic self loading rifle. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Bayonet charge | Sprinting with a bayonet fitted rifle triggers a locked lunge that kills in one hit. |
How to Play Cavalry
Cavalry focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this role works: M1907 SL and Bayonet charge pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed weapons breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Medic: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Assault once you understand core mechanics and have access to Hellriegel 1915
- Keep a Support setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Cavalry for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary weapon first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Choose the weapon variant deliberately. A Trench variant adds hip fire accuracy and drops the sight quality, an Optical variant does the opposite, and picking the wrong one makes a perfectly good gun feel broken.
- Operations is the mode the maps were built for. Attackers get several battalions, so losing the first attempt is normal, and later battalions arrive with better support including a Behemoth.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Battlefield 1 Guides
- Battlefield 1 Battlefield 1 Overview
- Battlefield 1 Tier List
- Battlefield 1 Walkthrough
- Battlefield 1 Beginner's Guide
- Battlefield 1 Tips & Tricks
- Battlefield 1 Weapons Guide
- Battlefield 1 Combat Guide
- Battlefield 1 Boss Guide
- Battlefield 1 Maps & Locations
- Battlefield 1 Crafting Guide
- Battlefield 1 Classes & Characters
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