Warhawk offers many game modes, but my personal favorite is definately Zones. This is the only game mode that do justice to the weapon and vehicle balance Warhawk have to offer. Fast pace, tactics and skills are key words when playing Zones.

The idea of zones is to own all the zones. Pretty basic, but still it contains a few refinements. As the game start, each team start with their home base (marked with C(hernovan) or E(ucadian)) at level 1. If you open the mini map you will see a few white (neutral) towers scattered around the map. The goal is to capture those towers for your team. The number of zones depends on the map and layout, usually no less than 3 (2 home and 1 neutral). You can not take over the opposing teams home base.

As previously stated, the main objective is to own all zones on the map, but the twist doesn't end with that. Let's look at the basic first. Capture a Zone

To capture a zone, all you have to do is to move to a free/white/neutral zone (or one owned by the enemy), and get so close to the flag pole that you see a bar at the bottom of your screen looking something like this:

3_2_1N1_2_3

The right side is Eucadian (blue) and the left side is Chernovan (or red). What you want to achieve is to get the bar all the way to 3 on your teams side (N means neutral, or that nobody owns it). Once you have gotten it to at least 1, your team mates can start spawning in that base, and some times the base is locked at a certain level, in example you can't raise it above level 1 (more on this later).

An important part of Warhawk is reading the mini map, and paying attention to the on screen messages. This is, if you want to win, of major importance in zones as well. If you are able to master some simple techniques, you will be able to notice things happening all over the map with minimal effort. The most important one would probably be checking if any of your teams zones have been reduced. Most maps/layouts are designed so that all zones (in sequence) that are level 3 will be connected (or chained). Also, the mini map will also show a small ring to show what level the zones is at. So if you look at a level 1 zone, you should see 1 ring around the blue/red area which shows the area that zone will “cover” when at level 2, and another one showing the same thing for level 3. By catching this before the zone is neutralised is crucial. Use this knowledge to spot zones that are under attack. You will also get messages on the screen telling you that “Your team lost zone X” or “The other team gained zone X”. Catch this early on and get back those zones!

Including the basic rules there are some advanced strategies you can employ as well. Most notably is chaining your own zones, and breaking the other teams chain. Also attacking on multiple points at one time is always a good idea, in order to break up the opposing team's forces.

A Zone chains is basically to zones next to each other raised to level 3. By chaining your zones, you increase the SPM (Score Per Minute) for your team, and effectively win the match faster. But you can also use this to slow down the score of the opposing team, by breaking their chains, which also help you expanding your own chain. A pretty easy to understand feature, but using chain breaks and increasing your own chain is crucial to win a zones game.

This age old truth never gets out of fashion, and can even be used in Warhawk. By attacking several zones at one time, you break up the opposing teams forces, and reduce the pressure in the zone you need in order to increase your chain. This is most effectively used right after the opposing team have failed a major offensive on one of your zones. What you do is to move to a zone close to their home base, preferably so you have at least one zone between the one you are taking over and the enemy zone closest to your teams “front zone”. Most of the time you will be able to neutralize it and capture it before the other team have any idea that you are there. Once you have that zone captured, move to the zone closer to your teams “front zone”. By doing this, you remove people from attacking your team and defending the zone you need in order to increase your teams chain. Most effectively used if there are at least two people attacking a zone each.

Most have probably noticed that capturering a zone often can take for ever, or at least longer than what is healthy. This is where more people comes in handy. just having one more guy there will halve the time it takes to take over that zone. But the magic number seems to be 3 or 4, then the reduction/capturering goes the fastest. So being a lone wolf isn't always the smartest of choice. Also, if you are in a Warhawk, and see one person standing alone, taking over a zone, you basically have 2 choices:

1. Get out of the Warhawk, and help him take over the zone.
2. Stay in the Warhawk, and give him air cover while taking over the zone.

Either method could be equally good, it is not always easy to see what is the best. But the important thing is to remember that you can help your team winning by giving 1 guy air cover, instead of getting out, maybe get 2 points, and then both of you get killed.

If you look at the mini map, you will probably notice that each zone have it's “area” (which usually get bigger with increased level). When it is the opposing teams zone, this doesn't mean much to you, but you should be aware of that you can raise your teams zone by just staying within that area. This is especially important in the beginning of a match, as you can move out as the zone expands. But if an enemy takes over your zone, the only way to raise it back up, is to either kill him, or get him away from the flag pole. If two soldiers from opposing team are close to the flag pole, the zone gets “locked” in neutral (until one of them is “removed”).

Use your mini map! This is of extreme importance, and learning some simple tricks you can probably double your average score per round. Learn the maps and layouts, learn to use the terrain to hide, to shield you from fire and to cause general mayhem! The match is won within the first minutes of the round, so never leave the base alone, and NEVER EVER use a Warhawk to fly to the closest base. If you do this, you should be kicked in the back end!! Always support team mates trying to take over zones, do what it takes to win, and you will prevail!