Port Valdez

Port Valdez is a popular map in the game, set in Alaska, along an oil pipeline that the Russians are seeking to seize control of. Port Valdez was the map made available in the Xbox 360 beta of the game, which was released before the official title. The map has very open sightlines, but there are commonly close-quarters fights, where shotguns and SMGs reign supreme. Many of the M-COM stations are situated inside buildings, meaning that two different playstyles are often needed to secure or destroy the point. You need to be able to make it to the station, and then you need to be able to hold it down in an area where more than likely, your rifle of choice will not be as potent as it needs to be. Furthermore, when enhanced with Frostbite 2.0, complete destruction of the map can become a reality - will you enter the building to destroy the M-COM or just flatten it with the T-90? The spawning point for the Russian team is unique in this map, as they parachute from a large aircraft which flies over their spawn. This happens only at the first set of M-COM stations. Occasionally combat on this map can come down to vehicular warfare, as there are a decent amount of vehicles available. When the American defenders are pushed back to their third base, they can grab an Apache gunship, which potentially could turn the tide on the Russkies. However, this may not always be the case, as the Russian base contains a BMD-3 AA, which is a gunship's worst nightmare. Of course, there is also the risk of someone sneaking over and stealing the gunship whenever it respawns. Vehicles available on this map include a Vodnik, T-90, Apache, Black Hawk, BMD-3, and ATV. Some of these vehicles only appear at selected bases, but they can always be difference makers.

Many players on the Attacking team choose to snipe at the first base, as there is a large rock directly ahead of the spawn which provides a good vantage point across the first base. However, the Defenders spawn in a building that is currently under construction, and is therefore able to provide many areas to snipe from - not to mention the fact the rock can be seen from virtually anywhere at the Defenders' end of the map. Sniping effectively may provide your team with a temporary boost, but there will always be another marksman who will pose a significant threat to you. Point A at Base One is a common place for the T-90 to be taken to, as it is a standard house, and will not stand up to the power of the T-90's tank shell for very long. As such, Point A is one of the more difficult areas to defend, unless the Defenders have an Engineer who is handy with his launcher, or a C4 wielding teammate. For the Attackers, they can use the two-floored building directly beside Point A to suppress the enemies, as there is a mounted machine gun at the top of the stairs which gives a good view of the construction site at which they spawn. Ultimately, most battles end at either Base Three or Four. Which team it ends with varies, but the Apache and Black Hawk can really aid the Defenders if the pilot and gunner are both competent in their roles.