PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Beginner's Guide
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) is a Battle Royale Shooter playable in both first and third-person. Like all Battle Royales, the objective is to be the last person standing. One hundred players jump out of a plane and drop in on an island — one survives. Players start with nothing but their fists and must scavenge, forage, and hunt their way to victory.
Still, PUBG is noticeably different from other Battle Royale games such as Fortnite and Apex Legends. The skills, tactics, and strategies required to succeed in PUBG are vastly different from most other games in the genre.
With PUBG releasing for free to PS Plus on September 1, it felt like an appropriate time to go over some simple beginner tips to get players started on their journey to that luscious Chicken Dinner.
Landing
Landing in PUBG is similar to other Battle Royale games. Each map has many different named points of interest (POIs) that contain high-tier loot. Additionally, there are unnamed locations that bring in less traffic but also less loot.
If you’re looking to battle, land near the centre of the map at one of the POIs. However, we recommend new players choose a more remote location. This will allow them to get the hang of things and figure the game out without getting decimated off the rip.
From there, all that’s left is to loot up.
Recommended Guns and Attachments
PUBG's cast of weapons is impressively balanced. Players can make do with pretty much anything. It comes down largely to personal preference.
Beginners should target Assault Rifles. This category of guns is well-rounded overall. The Scar, M4, M16, and AK perform well at both short, medium, and long-range. Choose one of these guns if you want something for all occasions.
PUBG has a few exclusive guns that can only be obtained via Care Packages. The weapons are extremely powerful - and for that reason, highly contested. Be on the lookout for Care Package drops. Chasing after one is risky, but if you can get your hands on an AUG, you’ll be at a considerable advantage.
Gun Attachments play a major role in PUBG. Attachments can completely change the way a gun performs. Certain guns can have up to five different attachments at one time. New players should familiarise themselves with what each attachment does. Readers looking for specifics can check out our guide discussing the best gun attachments for close-quarters combat.
Click to enlargeCheck The Firing Mode!
We cannot stress enough the importance of checking your gun's firing mode. Many of the weapons in PUBG can switch between single, burst, and automatic mode. While this is a great feature, nothing is worse than dying in a gunfight because you thought your gun was in auto mode, but it was actually in single fire. Please make sure the gun is in the right firing mode before engaging.
Personally, we recommend players to run with both a single fire and automatic weapon. For example, an ideal setup would include a Scar in single fire with a 2x Scope paired with a UMP45 in auto mode with a Laser Sight. With this loadout, players don't need to worry if they are in the right firing mode or not. Just use the gun best fit for the situation.
Recommended Gear and Equipment
Don't underestimate the importance of armour and equipment. Helmets can be the difference between life and death in PUBG. Without a helmet, most every gun will one-shot you. With a helmet, the player may be given a new lease on life. Seek out and acquire at least a level one helmet and Police Vest as soon as possible.
Backpacks allow the user to carry more weight. This is crucial for carrying items like Energy Drinks, First-Aid Kits, and ammo.
Go Prone
PUBG is a very slow, tactical game. Players that treat it like Fortnite and casually run out in the open will die in an instant. Beginners should lay low - literally. Unlike competitors like Fortnite and Apex Legends, PUBG players have the ability to go prone. Going prone in places such as grassy forests and cornfields will essentially make you invisible. Players laying prone attract no attention and are often left alone. Additionally, the third-person camera angle allows players to monitor their surroundings closely. It's a viable strategy to lay prone below a window and wait for enemy players to make a move.
It's a change-of-pace from some of the fast-pace, high-octane Battle Royales out there, but that feeling of a Chicken Dinner is unmatched.
Click to enlargeThe Blue and Red Circles
Every Battle Royale has a system in place to condense the map and force action. Without it, the game would never end. Fortnite has the storm, Hyper Scape has decay, PUBG has the Blue Circle.
PUBG's maps are massive. It's more important than ever to pay attention to the Blue Circle. Escaping the Blue Circle when near the edges of the map is sometimes impossible. Always make sure you have a plan. Whether that's moving in early on foot or scooting in late with a car.
PUBG also has a circle not found in any other game. This circle is the Red Circle. The Red Circle appears randomly in different locations on the map. The arrival of the Red Circle indicates that the area is about to be bombed. Players inside the Red Circle should immediately run for cover and hide until it passes.
Loot Quickly
Looting In PUBG is a bit clunky. Navigating the inventory screen can be a struggle. This is more evident than ever while looting an enemy's body. New players may accidentally find their heads stuck in the inventory screen for minutes at a time.
Looting too long almost always leads to death in this game. Players looting are stuck in an inventory screen while the world around them carries on. It is pertinent to loot quickly and efficiently. And make sure you are 100% safe before entering the loot screen.
Frying Pan
The Frying Pan is an icon of PUBG. This melee weapon has a secret to it not obtainable anywhere else in the game. When equipped, the Frying Pan will literally deflect bullets. Even players not interested in melee should pick up the Frying Pan if they find it. Placing it on your backside works basically like a mini-shield. Any enemy bullets that make contact with the Frying Pan will be 100% negated.
PUBG is a deep game, so this beginner guide is only just scratching the surface. However, the tips and tricks listed above will have you miles ahead of the rest of the PS4 community on launch day. Before you know it, that sacred Chicken Dinner will be yours.
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Images via PUBG Corporation