How to Avoid Enemies and Stay Alive in PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds

Use the stealth approach to spot them before they spot you.

In PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, knowing how to avoid enemies is one of the best ways to stay alive until the very end. The name of the game is to be the last man standing, and in order to succeed, you’ll need to learn how to avoid enemy players when necessary.

This can be easy in the beginning, as many enemy players will fall while fighting for supplies and territory during the first half of the game. At this point, you’d think the fewer players the better the odds, right? Well, sort of.

Once the map restriction aspect of Battlegrounds comes into play, it will gradually become more and more difficult to avoid enemy players. In this guide, we’ll explain how you can avoid enemy players in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and (hopefully) stay alive long enough to win the game.

Drop Zone

Avoid enemy players in Battlegrounds by choosing an isolated place to land.

We’ve covered this one briefly, but it’s always an important component to keep in mind when it comes to avoiding enemy players in Battlegrounds. In the beginning of a match, you board a plane, then eject and parachute down towards the map. After ejecting from the plane, you have a small degree of control over where you choose to land.

Use this to your advantage!

As you’re parachuting down, you’ll also have the opportunity to see where your enemies are dropping. Try to eject midway through the flight rather than at the very beginning, as you don’t want too many players knowing where you’re going to land. A good rule to follow when dropping is to avoid large zones in Battlegrounds like Georgopol and player hotspots like the Sosnovka Military Base.

The main reason being that this is where most players die in the first 5-10 minutes of the game. With so many spots on the map to choose from, it really isn’t worth it to fight over the same batch of supplies. We recommend aiming for an area just outside of a small house like those on the outskirts of Stalber. Despite their initial appearance, these tiny homes can actually contain pretty decent loot.

Furthermore, you won’t have to worry about a swarm of players battling it out for the same supplies. Just remember to not stay in one place for too long at the beginning of a match, as enemy players will inevitably begin to disperse, and map restriction (red zone) will soon begin.

Proper Car Usage

Know when and how to use a car in Battlegrounds. 

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has a vehicles feature that allows players to quickly traverse the map. Once you come across a car, you may find it tempting to hop in and drive to a different spot on the map. If you’re playing the stealth approach, though, this idea could prove fatal without proper planning.

The main problem is that cars make a lot of noise, are larger than your character (thus more visible), and can prevent you from really knowing who’s hiding where. With this in mind, try to use these cars in short bursts if possible. Additionally, a good time to use a car is when the map restriction begins. Not only will you want to move yourself to safety, but enemy players will have the same idea as well.

If you remain outside the safe zone for too long, you die. To figure out where to go, open up your map and check for the restricted zone, which appears in dark blue. If you’re close enough to walk into the safe zone, this is usually a better option as you can easily hide behind cover should you come across an enemy player moving in the same direction. 

Always pay attention to the map when playing Battlegrounds.

Something important to remember is that you shouldn’t plop your car (or yourself) right in the middle of the new safe zone. With players converging from all sides, you really don’t want to set yourself up to be surrounded. As the game winds down, the safe zone will grow smaller and smaller, thus reducing your need for a car.

Personally, we feel the cars can be a bit of a trap, as you can easily die should an enemy player decide to shoot at you (especially if you're playing solo). Unfortunately, you'll likely need to use a car at least once in order to avoid map restriction. Because of this, you’ll want to keep a car close by in case you need to race off to the safe zone.

It can be hard to know where to go in order to find a car, so be sure to reference our other guide on where to find cars in Battlegrounds.

When In Doubt, Hide

Surprisingly, the "hide in a bush" tactic works in Battlegrounds. For a little while, at least.

In PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, you have the opportunity to hide and either surprise an enemy player, or let them pass by before moving to a new location. For example, we tried hiding in a plain, old bush. And it worked. We stayed there for a few moments until it was safe to proceed forward (as we were surrounded by enemy players), then left to stock up on supplies before moving into the new safe zone.

While we don’t advocate this method (and it's not very fun), it serves as an example of how you can avoid enemy players in Battlegrounds in a pinch. Especially at the end when the map has restricted 5 players into a tiny sliver of land and everyone is trying to snipe. You can hide in buildings, behind doors, lie in a patch of tall grass (as one pro player we encountered did), use a bush, crouch behind a rock, and more.

The name of the game is to survive till the end, so don’t feel bad for spending a few minutes cowering in a shed upon noticing an enemy player entering the house you were about to raid. Let them pass through and leave. It’s easier than trying to get the jump on your enemy, only to be shot from behind.

Shut the Door/Avoid Windows

When entering this Battlegrounds farmhouse, remember to close the door behind you! 

When raiding a house in Battlegrounds for supplies, if you entered through a doorway, remember to shut that door behind you. This will give you a few extra seconds should an enemy player try to enter, and can potentially alert you to their presence. Additionally, try to crouch as you make your way through the house and avoid windows.

You don’t want an enemy player walking by and spotting you. This could cause them to either take a shot at you from outside, or venture into the house to track you down. While some suggest leaving the door open to convey the house has already been raided, this is not the best idea. Mainly because this can result in an enemy gaining the confidence to head inside where they otherwise might have moved along to a new spot.

If your back is turned when they walk through the open door, you run the risk of being shot and killed before you ever turn around. By hearing an enemy enter the house, you have time to prepare and strategize. Try to avoid backing yourself into a room with only one entrance. Sure, you can wait for them to open the door before firing, but you don’t exactly know what gear they’re carrying.

If possible, you want to move through the house and get up behind them. That way they don’t have an opportunity to fire too many shots at you, thus damaging your health. You never know, that slim portion of your health bar could help save your life at the very end.

Outfits for Stealth

Try to avoid flashy outfits that stand out in Battlegrounds.

We’ve briefly tackled how to get a trench coat in Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds. If you’re unable to get one of these sweet accessories, there are other articles of clothing scattered throughout the map that you can equip. You typically want to avoid clothing that stands out, such as bright red t-shirts and khaki pants. The less flashy your clothes are, the less likely you are of being seen.

If you chose a bright hair color, picking up a dark motorcycle helmet can help you conceal your vibrant locks. Whether you choose to use camo items, black items, or neutral colors to help you blend into your environment better, trying to outfit yourself for stealth play is usually a good idea.

Just remember to always pay attention when raiding an area for clothing and supplies. As stated above, shut the door behind you and make sure to listen for the telltale signs of an enemy player.

Be Prepared

Have a game plan ready before starting a new match in PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.

Last but not least, another way you can avoid enemy players in Battlegrounds is by being prepared. This clumps together all of our other tips and tricks into one neat package. Try to plan where you want to go, keep track of other enemy players, hide when necessary, and don’t make a moving target of yourself by driving everywhere if you're playing solo.

Use our guide on Battlegrounds map locations to plan where you want to drop. Next, reference our weapons guide for where you can find guns in Battlegrounds and which ones you should pick up. Additionally, always pay attention to your map and the ongoing restrictions. If you need to move, try to use cover and if absolutely necessary, take a car into the new area.

Be prepared for a fight if you make it to the end of Battlegrounds.

As the map restricts, the harder it becomes to avoid enemy players. As such, you’ll want to be prepared with enough supplies to protect yourself, especially if you're one of the last 10 alive. Try to claim a particular spot and defend it, rather than going around hunting down the remaining enemy players. Essentially, let them come to you; then at the very the end, play aggressively.

When you boil everything down, the way in which you choose to employ stealth depends heavily on your play style and preferences. Perhaps you want to play stealth for the first half, or the second. No matter which way you choose to play, learning how to avoid enemies can help you stay alive when playing PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. 

By reading this guide, you should now have a better idea of how to avoid enemies and stay alive in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds.

Morgan is a writer, indie game lover, and socially awkward coffee addict. Need something? Morgan can be reached at morgan.shaver@allgamers.com or if you like, you can say hello using GIFs on Twitter.

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