One of the most anticipated additions to the Battlefield 3 Aftermath DLC is the XBOW, or crossbow. This weapon comes in two variants – the Crossbow and the Rifle Scoped Crossbow. Each can be used with four different types of ammo or “bolt” – the standard bolt, HE bolt, BA bolt, and scan bolt. The crossbow gets a total of 10 rounds of each type and can be resupplied with an ammo box.

First off, you’ll need the Aftermath DLC to get the XBOW. Premium members have access to this automatically. Otherwise, you can purchase the Aftermath DLC individually for $15.

To use the XBOW, XBOW scoped, and the different types of bolts you need to complete assignments. Here are details on how to unlock the two versions of the XBOW and the three additional bolts:

Unlocking the XBOW

• Complete “Sticks and Stones” Assignment: Win three rounds of the new Scavenger game mode (tip: look for normal, not high ticket count servers to save time getting wins)

Unlocking the XBOW Scoped

• Complete “Sticks and Stones” Assignment
  -then-
•  Complete “This is my Boom Stick” Assignment: Get 50 carbine and 50 assault rifle kills
  -then-
• Complete “Go Play Close Quarters” Assignment: Get a total of 150 meters worth of headshots with sniper rifles, assault rifles, and carbines (tip – play the Scrapmetal or Operation 925 maps as they have longer open areas)

Unlocking the Scan Bolt

• Complete “It is Ok to Thank Me” Assignment: Get 20 spot assists, Designate 10 vehicles, Get 1 designated assist (tip – play a vehicle-heavy map such as Kharg Island where other players are likely to destroy vehicles you designate with your soflam or tank CITV station)

Unlocking the BA Bolt

• Complete “It is Ok to Thank Me” Assignment
  -then-
• Complete “Stay Away from My Tent” Assignment: Get 50 kills with sniper rifles, get 10 headshot kills with sidearm

Unlocking the HE Bolt

• Complete “It is Ok to Thank Me” Assignment
  -then-
• Complete “Stay Away from My Tent” Assignment
  -then-
• Complete “A Good Demo Man” Assignment: Get 5 kills with hand grenades, get 5 kills with underslung grenades, get 5 kills with C4 (tip – play Close Quarters or Team/Squad Deathmatch to get these kills more quickly)

Equipping the XBOW

Although the XBOW is a weapon, it’s equipped as a gadget and not a primary or secondary weapon. It can be used with any class. This means you can equip the following:
Assault: Rifle, pistol, XBOW, defibrillator
Support: LMG, pistol, XBOW, ammo box
Engineer: Carbine, pistol, XBOW, repair tool/mines/EOD bot
Recon: Sniper rifle, pistol, XBOW, radio beacon

This makes the crossbow a great gadget as you still get to keep your favorite weapons and most of the best gadgets.

Changing Bolts

Once you have the XBOW equipped, you can cycle through the type of bolt you’re using by using the firing mode button or key. This is done by pressing down on the D-pad on PS3 and Xbox 360 or the “V” key on PC.

Standard Bolt Tips

The standard bolt works against infantry only. It is much a slug for a pump action shotgun – standard bolts are a one-shot kill to the torso from close range, but a 2-shot kill from medium to long range. There is considerable drop, so try not to go for long-range shots. The XBOW has a very slow reload speed, so you’ll want to switch away from the XBOW to your main rifle or pistol after firing a shot if there are still enemies nearby.

Scan Bolt Tips

The scan bolt will spot all enemies within a 10 meter radius of where it hits. These enemies will stay spotted both on the minimap and on your screen (3D spotting) for several seconds. Aim for a wall or obstacle in the middle of where you expect enemies to be. If you’re approaching a building, try firing into the doorway or a window to spot enemies inside. The scan bolt will do a small amount of damage against infantry, but it’s very minimal so avoid using it for combat.

BA Bolt Tips

The BA bolt, or balanced bolt, is for long-range. This bolt has very little drop, so it can be used much like a bolt action sniper rifle. This makes it a good combo with the scoped crossbow. It does a bit less damage than a standard bolt so it still takes 2 torso shots to kill at range. Still, it’s a one-shot headshot kill even at long range. This is a much better choice than the standard bolt in hardcore mode, since it will kill with one torso shot but has less drop. Stick to the standard bolt for close range maps but use the BA bolt for more open maps.

HE Bolt Tips

The HE bolt, or high explosive bolt, is the only bolt effective against vehicles. It’s not as powerful as an RPG, SMAW, or C4, but gives the assault and recon classes a way to defend themselves against vehicles. The drop is high on this weapon so it is not effective at long distances, but it is easier to hit vehicles than with an M320. Speaking of the M320, it does similar damage against vehicles. Here’s a list of how many shots it takes to kill various vehicles:

2 shots: Attack helicopters, scout heli’s, transport heli’s, jets, boats, Humvees and other unarmored cars
4-5 shots: LAV, Mobile AA, Mobile Artillery
4-10 shots: Tank

The damage varies against armored vehicles. As with other explosives, hitting the rear of a tank will do the most damage. Keep in mind that while it takes 2 hits to kill a jet or attack/scout heli if it has full health, the HE bolt does nearly enough damage to destroy them. So if you see a smoking or burning heli or jet, you’ll be able to destroy it with one HE bolt hit. It’s not easy with due to the drop of this bolt, but it gives Assault, Recon, and Support players a way to take out aircraft on foot. Similarly, if enemy armor is already damaged, one shot from your HE bolt may be enough to disable or destroy the vehicle.

Once you get used to the slow reload of the XBOW and cycling through the different bolts, it can be a very useful gadget to equip. Once you’ve unlocked all the bolts, give each of them a try to find out which suits you best for different maps and situations.

Amazon has Battlefield 3 Premium Edition on sale for $39.99 with free shipping.

BF3 Premium Edition contains the Battlefield 3 game AND Premium membership, which gives you the following expansion packs:

Back to Karkand

• Close Quarters
• Armored Kill
• Aftermath
• End Game

You also get access to the Premium prioritized queue, extra dog tags, skins, assignments, and double XP events.

Battlefield 3 previously was priced at $60, so the price has been dropped $20 for this sale.

Here are the links to each edition of Battlefield 3 Premium Edition on Amazon:

PS3 Battlefield 3 Premium Edition: $39.99 w/ free shipping
Xbox 360 Battlefield 3 Premium Edition: $39.99 w/ free shipping
PC Battlefield 3 Premium Edition: $39.99 w/ free shipping

(Thanks, user “Discombobulated” at SlickDeals for this sale price!)

Today Amazon is offering a great deal on Battlefield 3 for the PC. Simply click here to order then enter coupon code OCTOFUN1 for 25% off the $9.99 price during checkout.

This is a digital download, which is available to play immediately after purchase.

Keep in mind this is for the Standard Edition of BF3; Battlefield 3 Premium is priced at $59.99 on Amazon but you can get it from greenmangaming.com for $37.50 with coupon code GMG25-EVFWS-4Z4ZN.

Credit: EA/DICE

There’s little doubt that Rush mode in Armored Kill is imbalanced. Defenders are given fewer ground vehicles than attackers, and the AC-130 has a Low Orbital Death Cannon to easily wipe out defenders, even in cover. Add to that the paradrop ability of the gunship, and defending on rush seems hopeless.

I expect we’ll soon see more balance changes to AK rush. Perhaps a nerf to the AC-130’s cannons, fewer ground vehicles on attacker, or more defensive vehicles and emplacements.

Until then, all hope is not lost for defenders. I’ve been having a decent rate of success as a defender, so long as fast vehicle respawn is off and the ticket count is normal.

What follows is a guide for a shot at winning as a defender on Armored Kill rush.

Working to get a strong squad or two together is the most important step to winning in any game of rush. First off, join a server with your friends and communicate by VOIP. If you’re on PC, use party voice, Mumble, TeamSpeak, Ventrilo, etc. to communicate. If you don’t have any friends available, look for a server with VOIP info and join up. If all else fails, move between squads until you find one where teammates respond via squad chat.

Coordinate roles for each player in your squad. When defending, no matter which AK map, players should be in one of two roles: 1) Destroy the AC-130 *or* 2) Defend the MCOM’s from ground vehicles and infantry. Be sure to ask players outside of your squad to help fill a role, and be specific.

For players in the “destroy the AC-130” role:

• If you’re a pro in the jet, keep the enemy jet out of the air. When it’s down, focus on the AC-130 (and lastly the attack chopper if there’s one on the map). If you’re not amazing in the jet, leave it for a better pilot.
• Spawn as engineer with IGLA (anti-air) equipped. Also select the SQD EXPL (Squad Explosives) perk for more rockets. Get familiar with the AC-130’s preset flight path, and stay near the path so your IGLA is in locking range. Always focus on the AC-130 if it’s in the sky. When it’s down, look for attack helicopters, jets, or nearby infantry to hit while you wait for the gunship to respawn.

For players in the “defend the MCOM’s” role:

• Spawn as support with C4 equipped. Equip SQD EXPL if someone in your squad hasn’t already. Alternatively, you can spawn as engineer with RPG, but C4 will be most versatile here.
• Pick an MCOM and stick close to it. If teammates seem to be sticking around one MCOM, go to the other. Let your squadmates know which MCOM you’re at, and stay with it.
• Lay C4 near the MCOM while you’re waiting for attackers to show up. Drop ammo to reload your C4 and your squadmates’ IGLA. Get ready to detonate the C4 when enemies come near.
• Find areas with good cover near the MCOM, such as inside of metal shipping containers or behind buildings. This will keep you out of sight from the AC-130’s thermal optics as well as enemies advancing on the MCOM.
• When you see infantry, you should be hidden well enough that you see them first. Spot them for your teammates, then engage. The maps are wide open, so it’s tough for a large group of infantry to get to an MCOM. You should have the upper hand and be able to win most 1-on-1 infantry encounters.
• When you see a vehicle, use the heavy amount of cover near the MCOM to sneak around. Watch the turret for a better idea when the driver’s looking away from you. When you see an opportunity, hit the vehicle with C4. Tank destroyers and mobile artillery should take two bricks of C4, AMTRACs will take four bricks at full health.
• If an enemy arms the MCOM, clear the area as quickly as you can and disarm.
• Remember to not stray far from the MCOM. If you die, get back to the MCOM you’re covering as fast as you can.

What not to do when defending on Armored Kill rush:

• Don’t snipe. Ever. It’s called “Armored Kill,” and sniper weapons are useless against armor. The SOFLAM is not effective enough on the AK maps if left to auto-aim. Rather than aiming the SOFLAM and relying on a teammate with Javelin, you could be destroying vehicles on your own with a different class. Unless you really have a tough time destroying vehicles, stick with support or engineer.
• Don’t bother with the Assault class – it has little defense against vehicles. Sure, there will be plenty of dead teammates to revive, but tickets don’t matter on defense. You’ll soon be caught with your paddles out or struck down by the gunship while running to a fallen teammate.
• Don’t push up past the MCOM’s or defend from far behind. There are too many places for attackers to flank where you won’t see them, including paradropping from the AC-130.
• Don’t run after an attacker at the expense of leaving an MCOM unguarded. That attacker only becomes a serious threat once they get near an MCOM.
• Don’t use the tank destroyer unless you stay close to an MCOM and are very effective at using cover to keep yourself alive. The gunship will have it out for you along with any vehicle approaching the MCOM.

Remember, you can only lose at rush defense if all 8 MCOM’s are destroyed. If you manage to hold out at just one of them, you win. It’s not easy, but if you follow these tips you’ll have a good shot a very rewarding win on defense.

The September 4th v1.06 patch (sometimes incorrectly referred to as 1.6) has released. This update is approximately 2.2GB in size for the PC, 1.5GB for the Xbox 360 and PS3.

In addition to including content for the Armored Kill DLC, there are a number of gameplay changes and bug fixes. The complete list is available at the Battlefield Blog, but to keep from boring you to death, I’m listing only the biggest changes below.

Weapon Changes:

• Reload times slightly changed for most weapons to better match animations
• Minimum damage increased on UMP, PP2000, M1911, M5K, and 12 Gauge buckshot rounds
• Slightly lowered the range bonus of the heavy barrel on most Assault Rifles
• Slightly reduced range penalty of the suppressor on most guns
• More recoil on M16A3 and M4A1
• Less recoil on SG553, MG36, M416, and G36C
• Improved bipod bonuses on several assault rifles and LMG’s
• Belt-fed LMG’s more accurate when standing and aiming down scope
• .44 Mag rate of fire reduced, MP412 REX rate of fire increased
• M320 LVG lethal damage area increased
• M417 suppressor and foregrip bonuses reduced
• Extended mags available for MG36, QBB-95, and RPK; foregrip available for ACR; heavy barrel available for RPK and SKS
• In Gun Master mode, MK3A1 shotgun now uses flechette instead of frag rounds
• IGLA and FIM92 lock onto aircraft at lower altitudes and from further away

Vehicle Changes:

• Attack helicopter gunner can no longer equip flares
• Air radar shows friendly aircraft
• Helicopter weapons can destroy equipment with splash damage
• Scout helicopter laser designator changed from pilot equipment to 4th seat passenger
• AA vehicle does more damage to infantry and tanks
• Repair tool damage to enemy vehicles reduced 10%
• Tank driver’s two weapons can no longer be fired in quick succession
• Jet and helicopter rocket damage to helis, jets, and infantry increased
• Helicopter gunners and IFV’s do more damage to helis and jets

Other Changes:

• Fixed hit indicator displaying when spawning, closing menus, or entering vehicles
• Fixed bug where spawn menu sometimes appears after revive
• No longer able to revive a player who suicide and changed teams
• Mortar strike explosions appear for the shooter on the minimap

One fix that is not mentioned is that enemy Recon equipment properly registers damage when you shoot it with a soldier weapon. Previously it was necessary to aim at the bottom of the equipment to register a hit.

Some new bugs have been introduced with the patch:

• When players are automatically assigned to squads, no squad leader is assigned. To work around this, players must create a join a new squad.
• Most PC players are unable to join servers after installing the patch. To fix this, update the browser plugin. Then open Origin, right click BF3, and choose “Repair install.” You should then be able to join game servers.

Be sure to give your favorite weapons another look, since many have been changed. Attack helicopters are now more challenging to keep in the air. Gun Master mode is a little less frustrating with the changes made to the MK3A1 and M320 LVG.

The loadout feature has been introduced to Battlelog for all Battlefield 3 players. Battlefield Premium is not required.

To access your loadouts, log into Battlelog. Look for the “Loadout” button as pictured below.

You will then be shown loadouts for the Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon classes along with sections for each vehicle with unlocks.

Each class has the following selections available to change:
·    Primary Weapon plus 3 accessory slots
·    Side arm
·    Specialization
·    Gadget 1
·    Gadget 2
·    Camouflage

Each vehicle has 3 perks available to be selected.

To change a selection, simply hold your cursor over the unlock, then click the right or left arrow which appears until the desired unlock is shown. Once you’re done making all your changes, be sure to click the orange “Apply” button at the top left to save the changes. A confirmation message will appear stating “This loadout is now being used.” Once you load up Battlefield 3, your new loadout will be selected.

You can also use the Loadout feature under your friends’ profiles to see what unlocks they have or to copy their entire loadout to your own profile. Simply click the “Copy to my loadout” button to do this.

At this time, changes made to the camo selection will save in the Battlelog loadout screen, but do not get changed in-game. Premium camo and weapon camo do not appear in Battlelog. As this is the first iteration of the Battlelog loadout feature, look for improvements to be added in the future.

In the last few years, 120Hz monitors have been getting a lot of attention from PC gamers.

I’m going to cover some of the benefits of a 120Hz monitor and whether it’s suited for your Battlefield 3 experience on the PC.

How 60Hz and 120Hz monitors differ

Let’s say you’re playing BF3 and watching your frame rate through the in-game command or a 3rd party program, and you average 90 FPS. If you have a 60Hz monitor, it will display no more than 60 frames each second. If you have a 120Hz monitor, it will display all the way up to 120 frames per second, so you will see 90 FPS. With the 60Hz monitor, some of your graphics processing power is wasted since you’re not seeing the extra frames.

Why frame rate is important in Battlefield 3

BF3 is a very fast-paced FPS. Milliseconds count whether on foot or in vehicles. Competitive gamers should be looking to make their game run as smoothly as possible. A lower frame rate can cause enemies to “jump” from one spot on your screen to another, making them much more difficult targets to hit. This is most noticeable when an enemy quickly passes from one side of your screen to the other while shooting you. It can be especially hard to get headshots when your target is jumping from one spot to another. A higher frame rate will fill in the missing gaps when an enemy moves quickly. The effect is more noticeable to some people’s eyes than others, but a higher frame rate never hurts.

Eliminate screen tearing with 120Hz and no VSync

VSync is a setting which allows you to “lock” your framerate in place. For instance, if your video card can render 70 FPS, it will lock it to 60 FPS. The main benefit is that it eliminates screen tearing – this is when graphics displayed on the top of the screen don’t exactly line up with what’s at the bottom. It’s most noticeable if you turn your view quickly, and can be especially distracting in jets or when moving a turret. Here is an example of this effect from Wikipedia.

However, I don’t recommend using VSync. If your video card renders 59 FPS, it will force your frame rate to lock at 30 FPS (unless using NVidia’s recent Adaptive VSync). A lower FPS is never a good thing, and this negative outweighs the benefit of removing screen tearing.

Enter 120Hz monitors. When running at a high frame rate on a 120Hz monitor, screen tearing is usually eliminated without the need to enable VSync.

Should I buy a 120Hz monitor?

A common misconception is that our eyes can only perceive up to 30 frames per second. This is a myth – many people can perceive differences in frame rate well above 60 FPS. Personally, I can tell the difference between 60Hz and 120Hz just by moving my mouse cursor across the screen. But not everyone notices the difference. For this reason you should try to use a 120Hz monitor in person before buying. Online videos won’t let you see the difference, because you’re still limited to the refresh rate of your own screen.

When you try a 120Hz monitor out, be sure that the monitor settings in Windows are set to 120Hz, and that the frame rate in the game is as close to 120 FPS as possible. This will allow you to see the effects in full.

If you’ve been PC gaming for a number of years, you may have played Counter-strike or a Quake game on a CRT monitor. Chances are, you used a refresh rate of 85Hz or 100Hz. If you remember it looking smoother than when you switched to a 60Hz LCD, chances are you can perceive frame rates above 60 FPS.

120Hz monitors can have some additional benefits over 60Hz monitors which you should look for. Most 120Hz models have a very low input lag (the effect of your mouse and keyboard inputs being delayed on-screen). Input lag is another effect which is very noticeable to some people, but not to others. While nearly all 120Hz monitors have reduced input lag, I bought the BenQ XL2420T to replace my 60Hz LCD. I feel it’s currently the best 120Hz gaming monitor, in part because it offers the lowest input lag out there.

Is my PC powerful enough to take advantage of a 120Hz monitor?

If you’ve tried out a 120Hz monitor and you notice the improvement, don’t rush out to buy one unless your PC is equipped to put it to good use. Your gaming rig should be capable of running Battlefield 3 as close to 120 FPS as possible. This takes fairly high-end hardware and the right settings.

Dropping your BF3 video settings down from Ultra to High, or even Medium, will give you a big boost in FPS. Turning off anti-aliasing completely will also give you a large improvement, and isn’t too much of a compromise if your resolution is set at 1920×1080 (1080p) or higher.

I’ve found the following video cards are capable of running at 100+ FPS on average when paired with a good CPU. This is based on medium detail at 1080p.

2x Radeon HD 6870 in CrossfireX
1x Radeon HD 6990 or HD 7970
2x GeForce GTX 480 in SLI
1x GeForce GTX 590 or GTX 680

If you already own a powerful PC and are ready to get a 120Hz monitor, first test your frame rate and make sure you’re getting an average of 100+ FPS. Be sure you’re okay with the reduced detail you may see due to any video setting tweaks needed to reach this frame rate. If you’ve gotten this far and are ready to buy, you won’t regret your purchase! If your eyes can tell the difference, a 120Hz monitor will make a big difference in the smoothness and responsiveness of Battlefield 3, along with any other fast-paced games you play.

Below is a complete list of weapons and their attachments in the Gun Master mode for Close Quarters. These weapons and attachments are the same each round, regardless of map or server settings.

For Gun Master tips and strategy, see the previous article.

Gun Master Weapons and Attachments

1) MP443 (Pistol, 2 kills)
2) 93R (Pistol, 2 kills)
3) .44 Magnum (Pistol, 2 kills)
4) PP19 + Suppressor (PDW, 2 kills)
5) P90 + Red Dot (PDW, 2 kills)
6) SPAS-12 + Buckshot (Shotgun, 2 kills)
7) MK3A1 + Frag Rounds (Shotgun, 2 kills)
8) ACW-R + Red Dot + Laser Sight (Carbine, 2 kills)
9) MTAR-21 + Holo + Foregrip + Laser Sight (Carbine, 2 kills)
10) AUG A3 + Red Dot + Foregrip + Laser Sight (Assault Rifle, 2 kills)
11) SCAR-L + Holo + Foregrip + Laser Sight (Assault Rifle, 2 kills)
12) LSAT + 3.4x + Foregrip + Laser Sight (LMG, 2 kills)
13) L86A2 + 4x + Foregrip (LMG, 2 kills)
14) M417 + 4x + Foregrip + Flash Suppressor (Sniper Rifle, 2 kills)
15) JNG-90 + 4x + Straight Pull Bolt + Laser Sight (Sniper Rifle, 2 kills)
16) M320 LVG (Low velocity grenade launcher with timed fuse, 1 kill)
17) Knife (…a knife, 1 kill)

The Close Quarters DLC for Battlefield 3 introduces a new game mode: Gun Master. This mode is similar to the “Gun Game” mode introduced as a mod to Counter-Strike.

Here I will explain the game mode, then go into tips and strategy.

How does the Gun Master mode work?

All players are locked into using a single weapon. Everyone begins with a pistol and must get kills to advance to the next level. When a new level is reached, a new gun is equipped. There are a total of 17 levels – the first player to complete the 17th level wins, ending the round.

Some additional info:

• Dying does not cause you to lose your progress.
• Ammo is unlimited, but guns must be reloaded as usual.
• Specializations, such as SPRNT, are unavailable in Gun Master.
• Weapon attachments are set by the game mode and cannot be changed.
• You’re equipped with a knife at all times, but getting a kill will only advance your own rank if you’re on the final level (17).
• Killing a player with the knife instead of your main weapon with demote them to the previous level.
• Levels 1-15 require two kills each.
• Levels 16 and 17 (the M320 LVG and Knife) require one kill each.
• This is a team-based mode; players are split between two sides. All teammates of the winning player are also credited with a victory.
• You can earn points (XP) toward your next level, weapon unlocks, assignments, and ribbons/medals in the Gun Master mode. However, no points toward classes are given as you’re not allowed to select a class.
• Weapon progression is as follows: 3 pistols -> 2 PDW’s -> 2 shotguns -> 2 carbines -> 2 assault rifles -> 2 LMG’s -> 2 sniper rifles -> grenade launcher -> knife. (Full Gun Master weapon and attachment list)
• You can see your current level and kills towards the next level just above the minimap in the bottom left corner, as shown below.

• The progress bar, shown below, tells you what level you’re on compared to all the other players. Your level is the one highlighted with a white box. This can be seen either when dead, or at the bottom of the screen while alive.

• Battlelog shows the progress bar under the scoreboard. You’ll have the best shot of winning if you join at the start of the round (as in the upper part of the image below). As another option, you can join near the end of the round and wait a short while for the next round to begin.

Gun Master tips and strategy:

• Set your spawn to “auto-deploy” and start moving as soon as you’re ready.
• Always seek out enemies to shoot. You won’t kill enough enemies to keep the lead if you stay in one place.
• Put your minimap to use. Set the zoom level to medium for a full view of the map. Whenever you don’t have a target, look at the minimap for locations of enemies who have fired their weapons and chase after them.
• Listen for gunfire and watch for dead teammates. This can help you track enemies, even when they’re on different floors of the map and don’t appear on your minimap.
• Master the pistols. If you can progress to PDW’s while your enemies are stuck with pistols, you’ll have a big advantage.
• The MK3A1 shotgun (level 7) has Frag Rounds equipped – you may find that shooting through cover and at your enemies’ feet is more effective than trying to get direct hits.
• The JNG-90 (level 15) is a bolt-action rifle with a very slow fire rate. It’s possible to get kills by setting up at the end of a long hallway and waiting for enemies, but that often isn’t the fastest way as it relies on wounded enemies, headshots, or multiple hits. Since the JNG-90 is equipped with a laser sight, it’s fairly accurate firing from the hip. At short range, it will kill an enemy with full health. Practice running around and hip firing the JNG-90 at your enemy, aiming center mass, for fast kills.
• The M320 LVG (level 16) is probably the most difficult weapon to get a kill with. The grenade will only explode after its 2-second timer runs out, much like a hand grenade. This means enemies will often run away from it. Fortunately, you only need 1 kill with it to progress. You have unlimited ammo, so fire often. Watch the minimap for groups of enemies to shoot at. Since they appear on the minimap, these enemies are often in a firefight and may be wounded. The larger the group of enemies, the better your chances that one will get caught in the explosion.
• The knife (level 17) requires only 1 kill. Knife takedowns from the back can be tricky with this fast-paced mode. If you encounter an enemy who sees you, it’s possible to kill them by slashing them from the front. If they were already wounded by another player, 1 slash may be enough to get a kill and win the game.

Credit: Dice/EA

EA/DICE has listed details for the PC’s double XP weekend. This works just as it did on the console double XP weekend which ran May 12th to 14th.

Here is the full info.

Start Date/Time:
Saturday, May 26th at 00:01 PDT (late night Friday/early AM Saturday)

End Date/Time:
Sunday, May 27th at 23:50 PDT (late Sunday night)

How this works:
Although called a “double XP weekend,” BF3 uses a points system rather than experience (XP). This weekend, all your points will be doubled. For instance, if you get a 1000 combat score (kills, spotting, revives, flag captures, etc.) plus 1000 points worth of ribbons, you would normally get 2000 points; this will be doubled to 4000.

The extra points will help you rank up faster. If you’re below level 45, you’ll get a new weapon or specialization at each level, so this will help you get unlocks twice as fast. Also, new weapons/equipment for each class are unlocked by getting more points when using that class. So if you play a class you need unlocks for, you’ll earn them twice as fast.

If you’re level 45 or above and have all the class weapon unlocks, this will only help you rank up faster. This does not double the amount of kills towards weapon attachment and vehicle unlocks.

Finally, if the double XP works as it did for the consoles, your SPM (score per minute) will go up very rapidly since you’ll effectively be scoring twice as much each minute.