KRAFTON

Destructible PUBG?

Destructible PUBG? So, what’s this all about? We’re talking about the PUBG: Battlegrounds 29.1 update.

With the new “destructible terrain” feature added to the Rondo map, players will experience a different gameplay style while playing the same map. They can employ strategic gameplay tactics like hiding and taking cover, and explosive items can be used on the terrain as well as against the enemy. Using the newly added pickaxe, along with some throwables and vehicle explosions, you can destroy terrain up to a maximum depth of 1.3 meters.

The KRAFTON Blog has explored the new destructible terrain feature with two die-hard PUBG users and KRAFTON employees, Splatter and Tythonic S.R. (Tythonic Senior Researcher). What exciting things will we discover?

※ This review was conducted after the Patch 29.1 update.

※ Please be advised that this review consists of the reviewer’s opinion and is based on the reviewer’s concept. It is not the official stance of KRAFTON or the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS developers.


#By Tythonic S.R.

How are you doing? PUBG players!

It’s been a long time. This is Tythonic S.R.

Have you adjusted to the new Rondo map I introduced last time? (Link) There are many new things to see, such as the emergency cover flares, electric bus, and EMP zone.

But did you know that the RONDO battleground is easily destructible? If you didn’t, pay close attention to this explanation and use it to enhance your battling experience.

First, it is important to check if the terrain is destructible. Basically, consider all terrain that appears diggable to be destructible! Especially if the area is covered with dirt or grass, it should definitely be diggable. On the other hand, rock or concrete is not destructible, no matter how hard you try to dig into it. So, keep that in mind.

[Destructible terrain]
[Destructible terrain]
[Indestructible terrain]

Now, I will show you how to destroy the terrain. I expect that grenades will be used the most. Grenades are typically used to damage enemies, but they also cause destruction to the terrain at the same time. If grenades are not enough, you can also use C4, mortars, or panzerfausts. Among these, C4 creates the widest and deepest holes. Therefore, if you want to dig a cover, I recommend having C4 handy. If you know that explosions from C4 and grenades can cause terrain destruction, I think you would have already anticipated this. Yes. Vehicle explosions can also destroy terrain (laugh).

Lastly, the pickaxe is used for destroying terrain. The pickaxe is a newly added close-range weapon for Rondo. It can be used both to dig the ground and as a weapon. Of course, it is easier to blow up the ground with explosives than to dig manually, but it is excellent for creating cover quietly.

[Player with pickaxe]

Using the means of terrain destruction I introduced above, I created a few situations where they can be effectively employed.

If you are outside the safe zone and the only way into the safe zone is across flat land, you can use vehicles to create cover. You can do this by rolling the remaining vehicles into the designated area and blowing them up. If you improvise a bit more, you can attach the C4 to the vehicles before rolling them into place, effectively turning flat land into cover.

[Terrain destruction via vehicle explosion]

A similar method involves inducing terrain destruction in areas you plan to move into using long-distance weapons like the panzerfaust or mortar to create cover.

[Environmental destruction via panzerfaust]
[Environmental destruction via mortar]

You can also discreetly use the pickaxe to dig a pit and hide, surprising your opponent where they least expect you.

[Using the pickaxe to hide]

That was my initial thought, but I believe you will be able to come up with even more innovative ideas.

With the introduction of the terrain destruction feature, I anticipate that many changes will occur in the battle situations of PUBG. I predict that more people will carry a pickaxe to dig into the ground, replacing the frying pans they used to save their butts. With more players using terrain destruction to create cover, the survival rate will increase. Consequently, even in smaller safe zones, many squads will survive, leading to fiercer battles.

I hope you can adapt swiftly to these changes and survive, and I will see you in the next explanation!


☞Who is Tythonic S.R.?

Tythonic S.R. is a senior researcher at KRAFTON and a renowned master-class PUBG player with a playtime of nearly 7,000 hours. He has a great affection for the PUBG IP, and loves watching PUBG esports events, reading PUBG webtoons, and collecting merchandized goods.

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#By Splatter

Hello. This is Splatter. I rushed over here to inform you of the news. After hearing about the pickaxe and destructible terrain in the PUBG update 29.1, I became eager to try out some new play strategies. On our company play day, I finally had the opportunity to try out the pickaxe and explore the destructible terrain, so I went ahead. I’m sure many of you are also curious about the performance, so I will give you some tips while providing answers to three main questions that I had.

First question: “How long do you need to dig with the pickaxe to create a decent cover?” Is it a stupid question? (Laughs). But that was the first thing that came to mind.

If you strike down with the pickaxe about twenty times, it gets deep enough for you to lie down on your stomach. If you want to go as deep as possible, you need to strike about forty times. The maximum depth is approximately 1.3m, which is not wide enough for a vehicle but just large enough for a person to fit in. In the pit, you can stand and shoot comfortably, and when sitting, you would not be visible.

Now, there are ways to throw smoke grenades and secure a more favorable position to counter your enemy, which opens up a wider range of play patterns.

Second question: “How effective are explosives in terrain destruction?”

Among explosives, while grenades proved to be effective, the C4 stood out with superior performance. All explosives can destroy to a depth of twenty strikes of a pickaxe, allowing you to lie on your stomach in them. A frag grenade can provide cover for one vehicle, while the C4 can cover four vehicles and one squad. If you find yourself in a barren area of land, you can use a smoke grenade to be visibly hidden and use explosives twice to create the deepest pit possible.

Third question: “How do you destroy terrain on a hillside?” I tried it out on a hill that didn’t have much cover.

Strategically, terrain destruction is effective when climbing a hill. Since pits are created using pickaxes and explosives, I think it would be fun to use the craters formed by enemy explosives thrown at you. Similarly, if your explosives fail to kill the enemy, the pit they create can be used by the enemy for cover in unfavorable situations. So, it occurred to me that moving forward, I should be more cautious when using explosives.

I look forward to discovering more innovative play methods and strategies using the panzerfaust and mortar!


☞Who is Splatter?

Splatter is an old fan of PUBG who has seen the release of every new item and map. He has played the game since the early access days when Erangel was the only map in PUBG. He’s also known as a skilled player who won a company-wide PUBG tournament in KRAFTON, recording over ten solo kills.