Connecting to a Server
Install and update Battlefield 2. In order to play online, you will need to have the latest version of Battlefield 2 installed. The patches can be downloaded directly from the EA website. If you are installing Battlefield 2 from a disc, you will need to download and install the 1.41 patch followed by the 1.50 patch.
Install PunkBuster. This is the anti-cheat program that Battlefield 2 uses, and you need it in order to connect to servers. PunkBuster can be downloaded for free from the PunkBuster website. On the PunkBuster main page, click the "Download PBSetup" button to download the PunkBuster installation files. Once PunkBuster is installed, click the "Add a Game" button and select Battlefield 2 from the drop-down menu. Click the "Check for Updates" button to ensure that you have the latest PunkBuster files installed.
Create an account. Once you have the game up and running, click the "BFHQ" button and then click "Manage Account" button. Fill out the fields to create your account. You will need to create an account in order to play the game online. Your account name will need to be unique. If it is already taken, you will have to come up with a different one. You will need a valid email address in order to create an account.
Find a server. Click the "Multiplayer" button at the top of the screen. Click the "Join Internet" button that appear underneath to load a list of servers. The server list will display the map the server is playing, the number of connected players, the game mode being played, and the ping, which is a representation of your connection speed to the server. A lower ping means a better connection. You can use the filters at the bottom of the screen to adjust what is displayed in the server list.
Connect to the server. Once you have selected the server you want, click the "Join Server" button in the lower-right corner to connect to the server. You will connect to the server and the map will begin to load. Once the loading is complete, the game will begin and you will be taken to the Spawn menu.
Update your Battlefield 2 game. In order to connect to the community server list, you will need to make sure that your game client is updated to 1.50. In order to do this, you will need to upgrade to 1.41 first, and then upgrade to 1.50. The patch files can be downloaded from the Battlelog.co website, in the Downloads section. Note: The Project Reality and Forgotten Hope 2 mods have independently developed a custom server list, and will be playable after the GameSpy shutdown as long as you have the latest version of the mod installed.
Register your name. Use the "Register Now" button on the Battlelog.co website to register your soldier for the community server list. This will let you continue to upgrade and rank up. Be sure to register with the same name that you used in the past to play Battlefield 2, so that your stats will be properly imported. If you never played BF2 before, register with whatever name you'd like.
Install the Revive BF2 patch. This is the community-made patch that replaces the GameSpy functionality with a community-driven server list. You will need to install this patch in order to connect to servers after GameSpy shuts down. The patch will be available from the Battlelog.co website, in the Downloads section. The patch is still in development and not currently available. Keep checking Battlelog.co for information on when the patch will be released. The patch should become available before the GameSpy servers shut down on June 30th.
Start Battlefield 2. Once the patch is installed, you can start Battlefield 2 and open the server browser. Select the server you want to join and connect to it as you normally would.
Playing the Game
Pick a kit. When you start a game, you are taken to the Spawn screen. This is where you choose where to appear on the map, and where you choose your loadout, or "kit". Your kit determines what weapons and equipment you have, and will have a large effect on your playstyle. Special Forces - Special Forces are equipped with a good mid-range carbine and C4 which can do lots of damage to vehicles and infantry. Support - Support kits feature heavy machine guns which work best for defending positions. Support kits can also provide resupply packs which help out your teammates and earn you points. Medic - The Medic has a decent weapon, but the primary focus is on healing and reviving teammates. Because of the number of points this can earn you, and the relative ease-of-use of the Medic's primary weapon, this is a great starter-class. Sniper - The Sniper kit is designed for long range engagements with a powerful anti-infantry rifle. Sniper's can also lay Claymore mines to protect defensive locations or sniping nests. Snipers will usually die in close-quarters combat, so move often. Engineer - Engineers have a shotgun for close-combat, but have no means of engaging enemies at range. Instead, they can repair vehicles and lay anti-vehicle mines. Anti-Tank - Anti-Tank soldiers are equipped with a shoulder-mounted anti-tank rocket. This powerful rocket can disable most vehicles, but you'll want to hit them from behind to do the most damage. Assault - Assault soldiers don't have any specific skill that they can use in battle, but they are equipped with the best rifles and armor, making them perfect for direct engagements with other infantry and for taking Capture Points.
Play as a team. Battlefield 2 is a very team-focused game, and the team that plays well together will come out on top nearly every time. Working with a team will be much more effective than going out on your own, as you'll be able to rely on other players for support, healing, and revives. Join a squad from the Spawn menu. This will allow you to spawn directly on your squad leader, and you will be able to track each other's movements on the map much easier. Use your microphone if you have one. You don't have to talk all the time, but having a microphone can make it easier to call out targets and acknowledge orders and information from your teammates.
Learn the maps. The maps in Battlefield 2 are huge. Staggeringly huge in some cases. While you won't be able to learn all the maps immediately, or even ever, you should work on remembering landmarks and important areas. Since games revolve around capturing specific points, it will be very helpful to know the general layout of each Capture Point. Map knowledge comes with time. As you play, you'll subconsciously learn the maps and become more familiar with the flow of the game. Don't get discouraged at the beginning because you can't tell where you're getting shot from. As you learn how the maps work, you can start using advanced tactics such as flanking to catch your enemy from the rear by surprise.
Go prone and take cover. You won't last long running out in the open. If you need to stop to plan your next move, make sure that you are well-hidden so that a sniper across the map can't take you out. Going prone (crawling) will make you move slower, but you will be a much smaller target and can often slip past enemy positions unseen. When you are prone, your weapons are much more accurate.
Fire in short bursts. If you hold down the trigger of your automatic weapon, you will soon find your bullets hitting everything except your target. Accuracy is incredibly important in Battlefield 2, and firing in short, controlled bursts can help improve your accuracy tremendously. Many automatic weapons let you change the fire mode to single shot, which will greatly improve your accuracy. You can toggle the fire mode by pressing the weapon selection number key (for example, to change the fire mode on your primary weapon, press 3 after you've selected it).
Aim for the head. Headshots with any weapon are much more devastating than body shots. Practice lining your shots up so that you hit your opponent's head. You are much more likely to drop them in one or two shots this way. Press the right mouse button to aim down your sites and make your gun more accurate.
Reload often. Reload your weapon any time you are not actively in combat. You always want to have as many shots available as possible in case things go south and you need to unload your clip. Avoid reloading in the middle of a fight. Instead, switch to your pistol and continue firing. It is much faster to switch to your pistol than it is to reload your weapon.
Use vehicles. Vehicles are one of the primary features of Battlefield, and are crucial to a successful match. Vehicles are complex machines and can take a while to get used to, making them intimidating for newcomers. This is especially true for aircraft. Join an empty server if you want to practice flying aircraft or driving tanks. This will let you fly around the map without having to worry about killing your own teammates or wasting a vehicle.
Capture points to win. The main mode for Battlefield 2 is Conquest mode. In this mode, each team will attempt to capture and hold various points on the map. Each team is given a limited number of reinforcements, and if a team controls more than half of the points the opposing reinforcements drain quicker. You can capture points by standing within the capture radius of the flag. As long as there are more of your teammates nearby than there are enemies, you will capture the flag.
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