Battlefield 6 and REDSEC Season 5 Combat Changes Nerf the Little Bird and Add BR Reconnect

Little Bird pilots, enjoy it while it lasts. Battlefield Studios has laid out the first wave of Season 5 combat changes for Battlefield 6 and REDSEC, and the list hits vehicles, anti-air, gunplay and almost every system in Battle Royale.

Season 5 marks the start of Year 2 for both games, with Battlefield 6 turning one this October. EA’s post is an early look at changes the team is still exploring, and it says everything is subject to change based on Battlefield Labs testing. Full update notes go live the day before the season starts. No Season 5 date has been confirmed yet.

Vehicle Health, Anti-Air and the Little Bird Nerf

The headline for all-out warfare is a shift in power back toward infantry. Vehicle health regeneration and damage are being changed to better reward foot soldiers who flank and position well. Anti-Air is getting a stronger role too. Mobile Anti-Air cannons will be more effective against aircraft, while laser designators now need you to track a target more consistently to keep a lock.

The vehicle balance list is specific. The Little Bird’s splash damage against infantry is coming down. Secondary turrets get a higher rate of fire but overheat faster. Main Battle Tank munitions are being tuned to work better against the targets they’re meant for, and missiles are getting a balance pass across the board. Air vehicle resupply pad cooldowns are now class-specific, so a jet can rearm right after a helicopter without waiting on a shared timer.

On the gunplay side, there’s an attachment tuning pass aimed at more loadout variety and an animation polish pass for certain weapons, gadgets and poses.

REDSEC Reconnect, Ranked Bands and Drop Zones

REDSEC gets the bigger rework. Ranked matchmaking bands are being improved for more accurate skill brackets. A reconnect feature will put you back into an ongoing Battle Royale match if you crash or disconnect, which is long overdue. Casual BR also gets Recommended Drop Zones that guide newer players toward points of interest and nearby loot away from immediate squad fights. Armor mechanics and application speeds have been significantly sped up.

This all lands alongside Rapid Royale, a shorter and more intense BR format, and the return of the Open and Elite Series. We covered REDSEC’s last big shake-up when it added proximity chat and a $1.3M competitive season in September.

REDSEC Class Changes and Loot Pool Gadgets

Classes are being reshuffled for Battle Royale. The Drone Specialist and Hazmat Breacher alternate training paths are gone. Engineers start with guided function on the Aim-Guided Launcher already unlocked. Support’s Supply Bag and Smoke Launcher move to the loot pool, replaced by Supply Pouches and Deployable Cover. Recon’s Drone also goes into the loot pool, with the Handheld Jammer taking its slot.

Training paths have been rebalanced with new upgrades for each class. A few standouts: Assault’s level 3 makes High Explosive Launcher blasts spawn five fused submunitions. Engineer’s level 3 lets Aim-Guided Launcher hits immobilize vehicles for five seconds. Support’s level 3 gives a revived teammate an armor plate. Recon’s level 3 lets the Handheld Jammer disrupt enemy Redeploy Points and reveal whoever activated them.

Previously class-locked gadgets including the Smoke Launcher, Supply Bag, Defibrillator, Breaching Dart and Anti-Drone Gun are now in the loot pool.

REDSEC Weapon Changes Against Armor

The REDSEC meta is in the crosshairs. Battlefield Studios named the KTS100 Mk8, SCW-10, SVDM, SG553R and KV9 as getting changes. Several weapon categories also need one more bullet to kill against armor at set ranges. 9mm and 10mm PDWs take an extra bullet past 9 meters, 7.62x39mm weapons and .300BLK carbines within 31 meters, and 5.56 and 5.45 ARs and LMGs past 46 meters. 7.62mm DMRs take an extra bullet past 21 meters and lose bonus headshot damage on downed enemies.

My take: the reconnect feature alone is worth the season. Losing a strong run to a crash is the most frustrating thing in any battle royale. The Little Bird nerf will also be popular with anyone who has been farmed from the sky. Battlefield Studios says more is coming through 2027, including a review of explosives and bolt-action sniper rifles.

Source: press release from Electronic Arts. Images courtesy of Electronic Arts.