User:Blazedspawn/sandbox/mp matches

Overview
Multiplayer matches are missions run by a team consisting of up to four players. They are limited in both time and area, consisting of seven waves on a single firebase. A full match can take anywhere from ten minutes to nearly twenty-five minutes, depending on difficulty.

The best strategy varies depending on difficulty, firebase, task, and team. However, there is a single fundamental approach that applies in all missions: Pay attention to your teammates and to the wave objective.

Scoring
Each player earns XP, contributing to the total received by all players. XP is earned in a number of ways:
 * Completing objectives
 * Damaging enemies with weapons and powers
 * Killing enemies with weapons and powers
 * Reviving fallen teammates
 * Extraction

Waves
Each mission consists of seven waves. There are three types of wave: survival, task, and extraction.

Survival
The goal for a survival wave is to make sure that all enemies are eliminated and at least one team member survives. The more team members active at a time, the faster the enemies will be eliminated and the greater the odds that at least one person will survive. To that end, make the effort to revive a fallen squad mate.

Task
The goal for any task wave is to complete the task objectives before the timer runs out, with at least one team member surviving. With the exception of Hack, all tasks have multiple objectives. Once the task is complete, the remaining enemies must be defeated for the wave to end. Each objective is timed. If the clock runs out before the current objective is complete, the mission fails. Task progress is tracked in the upper right corner of the screen. There are six possible tasks, each requiring a different strategy.
 * Assassination - Kill three designated enemies in a specific amount of time
 * Boss - Kill three designated enemies in a specific amount of time
 * Devices - Disable four devices each on their own short timer
 * Hack - Hold a single location for a specific amount of time
 * Retrieval - Retrive four items and return them to the drop zone in a specific amount of time
 * Upload - Hold three different locations for a specific amount of time

Assassination/Boss
A number of specific enemies will be marked as targets for elimination, one at a time. Taking out the targeted enemies is the highest priority. If the clock runs out, the mission fails, no matter how many other enemies have been killed. Focus on the targets.

Devices
A number of marked surveillance devices must be deactivated, one at a time. All devices must be deactivated. The best approach may differ depending on firebase or enemy. Some firebases are cluttered; in those cases, it might be useful for the team to be spread out so as to have someone close to the next device when its location is revealed. Once that happens, it's not a bad idea to have at least one person provide covering fire for the person deactivating the device. Adhi in particular tend to be a nuisance and can interrupt deactivation. If the clock runs out, the mission fails, no matter how many enemies have been killed. Focus on getting the devices deactivated.

Data Recovery
Hack and Upload are two of the more difficult tasks. Both require holding a position for a period of up to four minutes. In both cases, the zone must be kept clear of enemies for the upload to proceed. Zones that are actively being completed will display green circles on the ground. Interrupted zones due to enemies will turn the circle on the ground amber in color. Zones that have lost signal and must be started again will display red circles on the ground. The best approach here is also the hardest: keep your head down and don't draw attention to the zone. If an enemy enters the zone, it must be eliminated. But firing on enemies not actively interfering with the upload will draw fire from additional forces. As with all tasks, if the upload fails, the mission fails, regardless of how many enemies have been killed. So keep your head down and clean up when the data has been recovered.

Both of these tasks are easier with at least one person who has Tactical Cloak or Stealth Grid. That person can hold the zone while others keep it clear from outside.

Hack This is a single-zone upload. The zone must be keep clear of enemies to remain active. If the hack is disrupted long enough, the mission will fail, no matter how many enemies have been killed. Focus on the hack. (see Hack for a detailed breakdown of this task.

Upload There are three zones, active simultaneously. All uploads must be completed to meet the objective. The zones will be marked A, B, and C. A zone must occupied by at least one team member and kept clear of enemies for the upload to work. The strategy varies by difficulty and firebase. In some cases, it's best to work one zone at a time. In others, the team can be split, allowing simultaneous upload from more than one zone. If the upload is disrupted long enough, the mission will fail, no matter how many enemies have been killed. Focus on the uploads.

Retrieval
A number of marked artifacts must be retrieved from around the firebase and returned to the extraction zone, one at a time. Interacting with the artifact puts a container on the character's back and slows down the character's movement. Again, strategy varies depending on difficulty, firebase, and team composition. While some characters are smaller and quicker than others (humans and asari tend to move faster than turians and krogan), invisibility is an asset. The Angara Avenger isn't as fast as an asari, but she can move unseen with Stealth Grid. Charge can also be used—targeting an enemy in the extraction zone will get you there quickly.

The objective for the rest of the team is to protect the carrier as they make their way to the extraction zone. That may mean providing an escort, keeping a travel lane open, or picking off enemies approaching the extraction zone. If the carrier is taken out, the artifact is dropped and returns to its pickup point.

If the clock runs out, the mission will fail, no matter how many enemies have been killed. Focus on retrieving the artifacts.

Extraction
The objective is to survive until the shuttle arrives to extract the team. A timer counts down to the extraction. While Survival requires eliminating all of the enemies, Extraction does not. Once you've reached this wave, the only requirement for a successful mission is that one person be extracted. However, the more people extracted, the higher the amount of extraction XP and the more MP Credits awarded.

It should be noted that enemies will swarm the extraction zone if all team members go there immediately, making a concentrated attack that can be difficult to defeat. It's better to wait until about thirty seconds remain on the clock. As always, strategy will vary. Highly relevant here are character speed and firebase size and layout.

There are three outcomes from this wave: Full Extraction, Partial Extraction, and Failed Mission.

- All players are in the extraction zone when the timer runs out. This is the best outcome.

- Some of the players are not in the extraction zone when the timer runs out. This is the less than ideal outcome.

- If all players die or none of the players are in the extraction zone when the timer runs out. This is the worst outcome.

Death and Revival
If a team member's health and shields are both completely depleted, they will begin to die. A large red arrow will mark the location of the downed team member and a red circle will appear, showing the deterioration of their condition. During this time, they may be revived by a teammate or use a Revive Pack. In many cases, it only takes a moment to revive someone—reach down, hit the button, hold until they recover. In other cases, you have to fight off attackers to reach your squad mate. If the circle runs out or they are executed by an enemy, they may not be revived. The player enters Spectator Mode. In this mode, the player can cycle through the team members, watching from their point of view.

If the wave is successful—if the objectives are completed and at least one team member remains alive—all deceased team members will be resurrected for the next wave.

In Task Waves, if a choice must be made between completing the objective and reviving a fallen teammate, it makes more sense to complete the objective.

In the Extraction Wave, at least one person must get out for the mission to succeed.

Everything is easier with a full team. If a player has acquired enough Capacity Increases, a maximum of five Revive Packs can be carried during a mission. There are seven waves. It is easy to use all available Revive Packs. If you are dying, wait as long as possible before using a Revive Pack. Keep an eye out for Raiders or Saboteurs, Assemblers, and Chosen—these enemies can execute you, making revival impossible.

If you are able to revive a fallen teammate, do so. Not only is it the right thing to do, it will help the mission and earn you points toward a Revive medal.

Kett
Ascendants and Fiends are particularly dangerous—they'll both grab you and hang on. Odds are good you'll die if they get too close.

Outlaws
Krogan Berserkers are tough.

Remnant
Some miscellaneous tips: Destroyers are usually accompanied by Nullifiers. Take down the Nullifier first—it can knock you back through cover, disrupting your attack. The Destroyer can't. Assemblers are relatively easy to take out, but they tend to duck behind cover, making it hard to hit them. They will deploy Breachers given the opportunity. Breachers will fly into your face and explode.

General
There are a few common spawn points on each firebase. Some are easy to hit from a little distance—standing on one of the high spots on Firebase Zero, it is possible to toss a grenade or two at one of the spawn points, damaging or destroying enemies before they get too far.