Basics of Airsoft Tactics – All about You Should Know

Basics of Airsoft Tactics: Airsoft is a command military tactical game. In this article, we will look at the basics of airsoft tactics, so to speak, the basics.

The material is aimed at new players – after all, knowing the basics will allow you to act on the battlefield in a meaningful and more effective way, which means that the fighter will not be a burden, but one of the team’s screws that can influence the course of the game.

Basics of Airsoft Tactics

So, how do you play airsoft? What should you pay attention to, and what should you keep in mind first?

First, let’s select the main blocks:

• Personal preparation
• Weapons and equipment
• Pre-game briefing
• Teamwork
• Battlefield behavior
• Radio exchange

Personal Training of an Airsoft Player

Let’s consider the indicated topics in more detail.

Good Physical Form

Despite the fact that airsoft is just a game (albeit close to reality), you still need to have some stamina and physical data in order to be successful during the day phase, which lasts from 3 to 6 hours.

This is the duration of the “resurrection” or classic scenario game. Do not forget that you will need to move in equipment and with a game “weapon,” which is plus 8-15 kilograms to your weight. Short but quick runs from cover to cover will alternate with marches on foot, defense of positions, and other fun activities.

What do you need to be able to do? Normal physical training: jogging for 1-2 km., Pulling up 3-5 times on the horizontal bar, 20-30 squats, 20-30 push-ups. If you cope with such training, then there should be no difficulties with resurrection. Quite enough for a start, we will not talk about the limits.

Personal Qualities

Be sure to read the editions of the airsoft rules according to which the game is played. Without this knowledge, you shouldn’t go to the event at all. Basically, all editions of the rules are similar to each other. Still, depending on the region and the organizer, they may differ in terms of tolerances for tuning and other points.

Honesty

You must be prepared to confess against any hit on you. This is perhaps the most important point. And psychologically, not everyone is ready for this.

The ball flew in at the end, or it is not clear from where, the grenade exploded nearby, but nothing hit you – you need to admit yourself “dead” under any circumstances, even if you go far into the “ghoul,” or it seems to you that no one has seen the hit.

Airsoft is a fair game. And it is not so important that cheating is punishable, how important is the moment that the meaning of the game is lost, and the impression for other players is spoiled.

The outcome of the Battle of Good and Evil (or a beaver with a donkey) does not depend on the result of the game, so you need to confess with a light heart and a clear conscience.

Adequacy

You need to have a cold head and a warm heart. Do not get lost in emotions, quickly assess the situation, make a decision, avoid conflicts with other players, and have initiative.

Do not be afraid to ask questions, participate in the discussion of the plan, express your ideas for teamwork, and take command on the battlefield. Inaction leads to defeat, and initiative can turn the tide of any “battle.” Surely you will not lose anything in the course of the game, but on the contrary – at least you will gain experience.

Weapons and Equipment

Let’s consider a variant designed for a daytime phase up to 6 hours – this is how long a classic scenario game can last. A recommended minimum list of equipment for an airsoft player:

1. Protective glasses
2. A uniform
3. Headdress
4. High top boots
5. Weapon – electro-pneumatic machine gun (“drive”) with a firing speed of no more than 120 m / s + magazine (bunker) + weapon belt
6. Lithium-polymer (Li-Po) battery with a capacity of 1200 mAh (in cold weather or during a long game, you will need a spare battery, or with a capacity of 2400 mAh)
7. Protective mask (for combat at short distances)
8. Unloading vest
9. Protective gloves
10. Balls package
11. Airsoft grenades (2-4 pcs.)
12. Flask with water
13. First aid kit (tourniquet, plaster, bandage, antiseptic, pain reliever, personal medicine)
14. Some food for a snack
15. A radio station with a headset
16. Tactical flashlight
17. Wrist Watch
18. Compass
19. Tourist knife

With such equipment, you will be able to operate on the vast majority of Sunday games and in almost any condition effectively. With a 120 m/assault rifle, you don’t need a spare “barrel” to play in buildings, and a bunker store is enough to get you started. It is only later that you will be overgrown with mechas and other cool equipment. But that’s all later.

Be sure to fully equip yourself before the game, adjust your equipment, and try to move around in it. Think about how to adjust the unloading and how to place the pouches on the body so that it is convenient for you to operate.

Now that we have figured out what you need to come with let’s take a closer look at how to act in a “combat” situation.

Pre-game Briefing

Very often, both experienced and new players do not attach due importance to the briefing from the organizers and listen half-heartedly.

In the pre-game construction, the master brings important information that concerns the rules of the event, safety measures, the boundaries of the training ground, and, most importantly, communicates the scenario’s mechanics to the participants.

We recommend that you take the briefing as seriously as possible, listen carefully, and immediately ask questions if they arise.

So you will always be aware of the script’s tasks, where the ghoul is, and what you definitely cannot do. This knowledge will definitely be useful to you. There is even a saying that “Only cheaters read the rules” – but this is actually just a sad joke about most players’ attentiveness.

The second important part is the side command briefing. When the participants are deployed to their starting points, depending on the party’s size, the unit commanders or all players will take part in this briefing.

Here, issues of general strategy, specific tactical maneuvers are resolved, radiofrequency, and other important issues of the side’s behavior on the “battlefield” are determined. It is imperative to understand the general concept and tasks of you or your unit. This will make the game meaningful and help you achieve the most effective actions, which is the key to victory.

Teamwork in Airsoft

The next step is teamwork. Only coordinated actions of the side can lead to victory, and they will be possible only when all units of the side understand what is happening, keep in touch with each other and quickly change tactics depending on the situation.

To begin with, you must understand your role in the overall scheme. Either you are a saboteur with a personal task from the commander of the side, or you are acting as part of two or three players or a fighter of a unit with a commander at the head.

If you came to the game alone, be sure to approach the side commander so that he assigns you to the unit. You can also join a team or group of players on your own by just getting to know them. Airsoft players are friendly people and don’t bite. Newcomers are welcome here.

Once in the unit, carefully listen to the plan of action from the commander, ask questions.

Key points to know:

• Command structure: commander, his deputy in case of “death” and so on;
• The general concept of the unit’s actions throughout the game;
• Radio channel/frequency for communication within the squad;
• What to do after “resurrecting” after the game “death”;
• Your role in the squad.

Having clarified the above questions, get a game card, if any, or study the command card, remembering the main landmarks.

During the game, always stick to the squad, do not lag behind, and do not clump together to create a group target. Maintain eye contact with the fighter closest to you and listen to introductions from the team leader.

Successful interaction in a detachment means being on the alert, responding to orders and changes in the situation in time, keeping in touch, briefly and clearly reporting changes in your sector of responsibility, at any time to understand the task of the unit and your own in particular.

A very important nuance – after the game “death” and the first trip to the “ghoul,” interaction and coherence often go to hell because players instead of looking for their unit are nailed to another group. The first thing to do after leaving the “ghoul” is to contact your immediate commander, request instructions, and find your squad as soon as possible.

Battlefield Behavior

Let’s move on to specific actions in the battle. Of course, we will not consider such nuances as with what grip to hold the machine gun and how best to go into the roll. But let’s touch on general questions that will be useful in the vast majority of situations.

• Do not stick out, and do not stick out in-sight. Most of the game “deaths” occur as a result of the player not hiding. This usually happens due to the underestimation of the degree of threat. Always take cover, or lie down. Disguise yourself. When shooting from cover, minimize protruding parts of the body – keep your elbows pressed, do not protrude completely.
• During combat, a fighter has only three types of actions: move/shoot/reload. You either approach/retreat using the cover, or fire at the enemy, or reload. Aimless sitting in place without action during a battle in 95% of cases will lead to the fact that some of the fighters will “die” in the attack, and the part that sat idle and did not support the attackers with fire will “die” after them, separately. This does not apply to defensive combat.
• It is necessary to move under fire by minimizing the silhouette as much as possible, and as quickly as possible. The run from cover to cover should take no more than 3 seconds and a distance of no more than 5-8 meters – this way, the enemy will have fewer chances to react in a timely manner. Having visually inspected the area, draw up a movement plan.
• Watch your sector. Don’t be distracted by a sector that is already being held by a teammate. The group should look 360 degrees around them. Sectors must be distributed among the fighters. This eliminates the possibility of a surprise attack to the rear or flank of your group. It is enough to assign one fighter to the rear patrol, and two fighters on the flanks (left and right), and the enemy will not be able to sneak up to you unnoticed. Ignoring this rule can lead to the destruction of most or even the entire squad.
• Do not neglect the lying position. Most players either stand behind cover or, at most, sit. And they greatly simplify the enemy’s task – to get off a sitting or standing target is much easier than to target a lying fighter. In a prone position, your chances of survival, like camouflage, are greatly increased even in open areas. And do not forget about crawling – “in bellies.” So you can generally get close to the enemy’s position at a grenade throw distance. Even during the fight.
• An attack should always be accompanied by fire support (except when using stealthy movements). According to the principle of twos, the easiest way to attack is the group is divided into two fighters (numbers 1 and 2). When the first number shoots for suppression, the second number advances to cover, after which he already fires for suppression, and his partner moves forward.
• Always keep your distance when moving in a group or just in pairs. Depending on terrain and visibility, the distance between fighters should be between 5 and 15 meters. This increases the chances of the unit surviving in the event of an ambush for any type of group formation.
• Always be on the alert and look around carefully and listen. And in defense, and on patrol, and in the offensive. The first one who discovers the “enemy” gets a serious advantage and initiative.
• Never shoot from one position for a long time – it’s easier to neutralize you. On the defensive, think about reserve positions in advance and change them as needed.
• Use airsoft simulated hand grenades to assault fortified positions or buildings. Trenches, ravines, dugouts, and premises are the right places to use grenades, where they will be most effective. In the forest and in open areas, the effectiveness of grenades decreases sharply.

Radio Exchange Rules in Airsoft

A walkie-talkie is just a must-have for any player. Without a walkie-talkie, you are not in control of the situation, you cannot communicate anything, and they cannot convey anything to you, except with a messenger or pigeon mail.

In order for the radio broadcast not to be a continuous booth and does not cause a desire to turn off the radio, you must follow simple rules:

1. If you want to send a message, and there is already a radio exchange on the air, wait until it ends, do not wedge in if the interlocutors have not finished the conversation.
2. When communicating, first clearly press the transmission key – PTT (Push-To-Talk), and only after a second (mental “once” in your head) start speaking into the microphone. If you do not pause, the first part of the phrase will be lost for the interlocutor.
3. Be sure to say at the beginning of the program who is being called and who is calling, use the callsigns. For example: “Shooter-one, answer the dot.”
4. Always convey your message as succinctly, concisely, and to the point as possible. Is always! First, think over what you want to say, build a sentence, and only then get in touch. You shouldn’t hold down the transmission key and start to form thoughts aloud: “Uh … well, here, in general, the enemy. Goes to the left, well, this is, from the west side, probably from the first brick building, and not, not brick, like concrete …” and stuff like that. So you clog the air, paralyzing the control and actually jamming the connection. Clear, clear, and concise commands and reports.
5. Wait for confirmation of the information. If you send a message and there is no answer, duplicate the information and ask how you were understood. It will not be superfluous to complete the radio exchange by confirming the information and the phrase “End of communication.” This is usually done by the one who first got in touch.

And to conclude this section with a few more tips:

• If you have frequency rather than channel radio stations, then choose a frequency for the squad, as far as possible from amateur bands such as LPD, so that it is more difficult to intercept you when scanning the air.
• When playing in a small area, or during an extended game, put the radio in power saving mode (if available) – this way it will last longer on a single charge.
• Keep the radio in the pouch, and not just hanging on the equipment – so there is less chance of damaging it with a hit from an airsoft “weapon.”
• Consider using a headset while communicating via radio to ensure that only you can hear the transmission. This can prevent unmasking yourself during an ambush with a recognizable voice from the radio.
• If your side is large, you will need a command frequency for command and your own frequencies for individual units. This is a headache for the commanders, but you also keep this moment in mind.

Conclusion

These tips are the basics of airsoft tactics that we suggest that new players learn first. We hope that the tips will be useful to you in the game. Play fair, act intelligently, work as a team, and airsoft will bring you only positive emotions and new experience. Good luck with your games!