Team-based online shooters, such as Call of Duty, Rainbow Six Siege, Overwatch, Valorant, and Battlefield, have revolutionized multiplayer gaming by emphasizing coordination, strategy, and teamwork. While individual skill plays a crucial part, it is the synergy between players in a squad that often leads to success. Each player brings a unique set of skills and responsibilities, known as roles, that contribute to the overall effectiveness of the team. Understanding and fulfilling squad roles is critical in these fast-paced, tactical environments.
In this article, we’ll explore the different squad roles commonly found in team-based online shooters, how each role contributes to team success, and how players can maximize their effectiveness within their designated roles.
1. The Leader (Shot Caller)
Role Overview:
In many squad-based shooters, there’s typically one player who takes on the role of the Leader or Shot Caller. This player is responsible for making key decisions during the match, directing the squad’s movements, and setting the pace for the team. The Leader often stays focused on the overall strategy rather than just individual firefights, ensuring that the squad is coordinated and working toward a common objective.
Key Responsibilities:
- Strategy Planning: The Leader sets the tactical direction for the squad, such as where to position, when to push or fall back, and which objectives to prioritize.
- Communication: Clear communication is vital for the Leader to relay strategies, enemy positions, and key objectives to the team.
- Decision-Making: In moments of crisis, the Leader makes split-second decisions about the team’s next move, balancing aggression with caution.
Skills for Success:
- Strong map awareness and game knowledge
- Ability to stay calm under pressure
- Excellent communication and leadership qualities
Example Games: Rainbow Six Siege, Overwatch, Valorant (in ranked modes)
2. The Entry Fragger
Role Overview:
The Entry Fragger is the player who takes on the high-risk job of leading the charge into combat zones, aiming to secure key positions and initiate engagement with the enemy. This player is typically the first one to push into a room, corridor, or objective area, looking to secure an opening kill and give their team a tactical advantage.
Key Responsibilities:
- Engagement: The Entry Fragger is often the first to engage enemies, with the goal of clearing rooms or securing areas quickly.
- Aggression: They are expected to be aggressive, but also strategic in how they move and position themselves.
- Killing or Disrupting the Enemy: Their primary goal is to open up opportunities for teammates by securing kills, distracting enemies, or drawing attention away from the rest of the squad.
Skills for Success:
- Fast reflexes and good aim
- Understanding of the map layout and choke points
- Risk management to balance aggression with team safety
Example Games: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Valorant, Call of Duty
3. The Support (Medic / Healer)
Role Overview:
The Support role is essential in keeping the team alive and operational, especially in the game last war best heroes where health regeneration isn’t automatic. Whether this means healing teammates, reviving fallen squad members, or providing utility, the Support player helps sustain the team’s longevity in battle.
Key Responsibilities:
- Healing/Reviving: The Support player is responsible for keeping teammates healthy, either through direct healing (e.g., medkits, healing abilities) or by reviving fallen squad members.
- Utility Deployment: In many shooters, Support players also deploy useful gadgets (e.g., smoke grenades, shields, medkits) to provide tactical advantages or cover during engagements.
- Area Control: Support players often control areas by deploying healing or defensive utilities in key locations, helping the squad hold ground during a firefight.
Skills for Success:
- Good awareness of teammates’ positions and health status
- Ability to prioritize healing under pressure
- Understanding of when to support the team versus when to be more aggressive
Example Games: Overwatch (Mercy, Ana), Rainbow Six Siege (Doc, Finka), Call of Duty (Medic in Warzone)
4. The Sniper (Long-Range Specialist)
Role Overview:
The Sniper is the long-range expert, providing overwatch and eliminating high-value targets from a distance. They often play a more passive role in direct combat but are crucial for providing information, suppressing enemies, and picking off key targets from afar. Snipers can control sightlines and provide essential information for the team by identifying enemy positions.
Key Responsibilities:
- Long-Range Eliminations: The Sniper focuses on eliminating enemies from a distance, typically targeting high-priority threats like enemy leaders or gunners.
- Reconnaissance: Snipers gather valuable intelligence about enemy positions, relaying information to teammates for tactical advantage.
- Control of Choke Points: Snipers excel in holding key sightlines and choke points, preventing enemies from advancing.
Skills for Success:
- Exceptional accuracy and precision
- Patience and good positioning
- Ability to communicate enemy locations and status
Example Games: Battlefield, Call of Duty, Sniper Elite, Valorant
5. The Tank (Heavy Gunner / Frontline Fighter)
Role Overview:
The Tank is the frontline fighter, designed to absorb damage and protect more fragile squad members. Tanks are often equipped with high health or armor and powerful weapons to push into enemy positions or hold critical objectives. They are designed to draw enemy fire and give their teammates space to maneuver and execute their strategies.
Key Responsibilities:
- Absorbing Damage: Tanks take on the bulk of enemy fire, drawing attention away from squishier teammates.
- Area Denial: Tanks often control space on the battlefield, pushing into enemy positions and denying them critical areas.
- Objective Holding: Tanks are ideal for securing and holding key objectives, such as control points or bomb sites.
Skills for Success:
- Strong situational awareness to avoid getting trapped or outmaneuvered
- Good team coordination to ensure that other squad members stay safe while the Tank holds the line
- Understanding of when to be aggressive and when to fall back
Example Games: Overwatch (Reinhardt, Winston), Call of Duty, Battlefield (Assault roles), Paladins
6. The Lurker (Flanker)
Role Overview:
The Lurker is a player who takes on a more stealthy, elusive role in team-based shooters. The Lurker’s job is to sneak around the map, avoiding the main line of engagement, and attack the enemy from unexpected angles. Lurkers are often responsible for cutting off enemy rotations, flanking unguarded positions, and generally creating chaos in the enemy’s ranks.
Key Responsibilities:
- Flanking: Lurkers avoid the direct confrontation by moving through less-trafficked areas to catch enemies off guard.
- Disrupting Enemy Plans: They create confusion by forcing the enemy to watch multiple directions, complicating their positioning.
- Controlling Key Choke Points: Lurkers can secure valuable map areas that disrupt the enemy’s lines of communication or retreat routes.
Skills for Success:
- Good map knowledge and spatial awareness
- Stealth and patience
- Strong timing and ability to capitalize on openings
Example Games: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), Valorant, Rainbow Six Siege
7. The Engineer (Tech Specialist)
Role Overview:
The Engineer is a role designed for players who focus on technical aspects of the game, including deploying gadgets, hacking enemy systems, or repairing equipment. Engineers are often responsible for giving the team a technological edge on the battlefield.
Key Responsibilities:
- Device Deployment: Engineers set up traps, deploy turrets, or hack enemy drones or equipment.
- Defensive Strategy: Engineers can build or fortify structures, such as barricades or barricaded doors, to help the team hold positions.
- Equipment Repair: In certain games, Engineers are responsible for maintaining or repairing team vehicles, weapons, or defensive structures.
Skills for Success:
- Good knowledge of gadgets and their uses
- Effective communication with teammates
- Ability to adapt to changing battlefield conditions and adjust tech usage
Example Games: Rainbow Six Siege (Maverick, Bandit), Battlefield (Engineer class), Call of Duty (engineer perks)
Conclusion
In team-based online shooters, the roles that players take on are crucial to the overall success of the squad. Whether you’re an aggressive Entry Fragger, a strategic Leader, or a defensive Tank, understanding and fulfilling your role within the team dynamic can make all the difference in a match. By coordinating effectively with your teammates and utilizing your unique skill set, you can maximize your impact and help lead your team to victory. Whether you’re playing for fun or in a competitive environment, understanding the economics of effective squad roles is essential for a fulfilling team-based experience in online shooters.