What Do Ranks Do in Battlefront 2?

Ranks in Star Wars Battlefront II (the 2017 version) serve as a primary marker of your progression and dedication to the game. They unlock Star Cards, weapons, weapon modifications, and character appearances. More specifically, Player Rank, Class Rank, Hero Rank, and Starfighter Rank all contribute to your overall power and customization options within the game. Let’s dive deeper into how each of these ranks impacts your gameplay experience.

Player Rank: Your Overall Progression

Player Rank, often referred to as your “Level,” is the most visible indication of your overall progression. It increases as you gain Experience Points (XP) from playing matches, completing challenges, and earning milestones.

What Player Rank Unlocks

• Milestones: Reaching certain Player Rank milestones often unlocks specific challenges or milestones within the game, leading to further rewards.
• Star Cards: While Class, Hero, and Starfighter Ranks are more directly tied to specific Star Card unlocks, Player Rank can sometimes unlock general Star Cards applicable to multiple classes or heroes.
• Crates (Less Relevant Post-Progression Overhaul): While the loot crate system was significantly overhauled, some Player Rank milestones might reward you with credits, which can be used to purchase appearances and upgrade Star Cards. (This is less common than it was at launch.)

How to Increase Player Rank

The most effective way to increase your Player Rank is by playing the game! Focus on:

• Objective-Based Gameplay: Prioritize playing the objective in game modes like Galactic Assault or Capital Supremacy. You’ll earn significantly more XP.
• Completing Challenges: Daily and Milestone challenges offer substantial XP boosts.
• Playing Regularly: Consistent play, even for shorter sessions, will gradually increase your rank.

Class Rank: Mastering Your Ground Troops

Each of the four main trooper classes (Assault, Heavy, Officer, and Specialist) has its own independent rank. This rank directly dictates the Star Cards and weapons you can unlock and equip for that specific class.

What Class Rank Unlocks

• Star Cards: This is the primary purpose of Class Rank. Reaching specific rank thresholds unlocks the ability to craft and equip more powerful and specialized Star Cards for that class. These cards can significantly enhance your abilities, weapons, and survivability.
• Weapons: New weapons for each class are also unlocked as you increase its rank.
• Weapon Attachments: Class rank also gates the unlocks of different weapon attachments.

How to Increase Class Rank

• Play as the Class: The simplest method: play as the class you want to level up. Every action you perform while playing as that class contributes to its XP.
• Focus on Class-Specific Objectives: Utilize the class’s strengths. For example, as an Officer, focus on buffing teammates and supporting the front lines. As a Heavy, suppress enemy fire and hold strategic positions.
• Complete Class-Specific Milestones: Keep an eye on milestones related to specific classes. These offer targeted XP rewards.

Hero Rank: Unleashing the Power of the Force

Similar to classes, each hero and villain also has its own individual rank. Leveling up heroes allows you to unlock and upgrade Star Cards that drastically alter their abilities and playstyles.

What Hero Rank Unlocks

• Star Cards: Hero Rank is almost entirely focused on unlocking and upgrading Star Cards. These cards can enhance a hero’s damage output, survivability, movement speed, and ability cooldowns. They are essential for optimizing a hero’s performance in battle.

How to Increase Hero Rank

• Play as the Hero/Villain: The only way to level up a hero is to play as them in game modes where heroes are available (e.g., Galactic Assault, Heroes vs. Villains, Capital Supremacy).
• Use Their Abilities Effectively: Master the hero’s unique abilities and use them strategically to defeat enemies, support your team, and contribute to the objective.
• Survive: Keeping your hero alive for longer periods maximizes your XP gain. Don’t be afraid to retreat and heal if necessary.

Starfighter Rank: Ruling the Skies

Just like heroes and trooper classes, each starfighter (and bomber, interceptor, etc.) has its own rank. Leveling up starfighters unlocks Star Cards that enhance their performance in Starfighter Assault and other relevant game modes.

What Starfighter Rank Unlocks

• Star Cards: As with heroes and classes, Star Cards are the primary reward for leveling up starfighters. These cards can improve their maneuverability, firepower, shield strength, and ability effectiveness.

How to Increase Starfighter Rank

• Play as the Starfighter: Spend time piloting the starfighter you want to level up in Starfighter Assault or other game modes where starfighters are available.
• Dogfighting: Focus on engaging and eliminating enemy starfighters.
• Objective-Based Play: In modes like Starfighter Assault, prioritize completing the objectives (e.g., attacking capital ships, defending objectives) to earn bonus XP.

Star Cards: The Key to Customization and Power

Star Cards are at the heart of Battlefront II’s progression system. They provide significant gameplay advantages and allow you to customize your classes, heroes, and starfighters to suit your preferred playstyle.

Crafting and Upgrading Star Cards

• Crafting: You craft Star Cards using Crafting Parts, which you earn through gameplay, completing challenges, and from daily crates.
• Upgrading: Star Cards can be upgraded from Common (white) to Uncommon (green), Rare (blue), and Epic (purple). Upgrading a Star Card increases its effectiveness, such as reducing ability cooldowns or increasing damage output. You need to reach a certain rank and spend crafting parts to upgrade a Star Card.

Equipping Star Cards

• You can equip up to three Star Cards at a time for each class, hero, or starfighter.
• Experiment with different combinations of Star Cards to find the loadouts that work best for you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ranks in Battlefront 2

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about ranks in Battlefront 2, designed to provide further clarity and guidance.

1. How do I check my current rank?

You can check your Player Rank, Class Ranks, Hero Ranks, and Starfighter Ranks in the Collection menu. Select the specific unit (trooper class, hero, starfighter) and view its details.

2. What’s the maximum rank in Battlefront 2?

The maximum Player Rank is 999. The maximum rank for classes, heroes, and starfighters is 70.

3. Do I lose rank if I perform poorly in a match?

No, you cannot lose rank. You only gain XP, so even a bad match contributes to your progression.

4. Can I level up my classes, heroes, and starfighters offline?

No, you need to be connected to the internet to earn XP and level up. Offline modes do not contribute to your progression.

5. How important are Star Cards?

Star Cards are extremely important. They can significantly enhance your performance and provide you with a competitive edge. Prioritize unlocking and upgrading them.

6. What are Crafting Parts used for?

Crafting Parts are used to craft and upgrade Star Cards. They are a crucial resource for improving your classes, heroes, and starfighters.

7. How do I earn Crafting Parts?

You earn Crafting Parts by playing the game, completing challenges, and through daily crates. Participating in special events often provides bonus Crafting Parts.

8. What’s the best way to farm XP?

Objective-based gameplay in modes like Galactic Assault and Capital Supremacy is generally the most efficient way to farm XP. Also, focus on completing daily and milestone challenges.

9. Do different game modes offer different amounts of XP?

Yes, some game modes offer more XP than others. Larger-scale modes like Galactic Assault and Capital Supremacy tend to provide more XP due to their longer duration and higher number of objectives.

10. Are there any double XP events in Battlefront 2?

Yes, DICE occasionally hosts double XP events. Keep an eye on the game’s news feed and social media channels for announcements.

11. Can I reset my rank?

No, you cannot reset your rank in Battlefront 2. Once you’ve earned XP and leveled up, your progress is permanent.

12. Does spending money in the game affect my rank progression?

While the game originally had loot boxes, those have been removed. Now, spending money primarily allows you to purchase cosmetic appearances. It does not directly affect your rank progression or give you a gameplay advantage.

13. What happens when I reach max rank with a class, hero, or starfighter?

Once you reach max rank (70) with a class, hero, or starfighter, you can no longer earn XP for that specific unit. However, you can still continue to play as them and utilize your fully upgraded Star Cards.

14. Are all Star Cards created equal?

No, some Star Cards are more effective than others. Experiment with different combinations to find the ones that best suit your playstyle and the specific game mode. Also, keep an eye on community discussions and guides for recommendations.

15. Where can I find more information and tips about Battlefront 2?

There are numerous online resources available, including the official Star Wars Battlefront II website, YouTube channels, and community forums. You can also find valuable insights and discussions related to gaming and learning over at the Games Learning Society, found at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.