Gauntlet is the new squad-first competitive mode inside Battlefield REDSEC, built around short, high-pressure rounds and elimination scoring. It trades sprawling 100‑player chaos for tight coordination: eight squads of four fight through a sequence of timed missions across Fort Lyndon, the series’ largest map, with the lowest performers cut after each round until a final faceoff decides the winner.

Gauntlet basics (at a glance)

Feature Details
Player count 32 players total — 8 squads of 4
Map Fort Lyndon (Southern California coastal city, suburbs, and blacksite)
Match structure Elimination tournament across 4 missions
Round timer Each mission runs in a 5‑minute window
Scoring Points for completing objectives, getting kills, and support actions
Eliminations Lowest‑scoring squads are removed after each mission
Progress boosts Top 3 squads earn bonus Training Path progress between missions
Squad integrity Top performers can be reassigned to active squads if teammates leave (not during the final mission)
Availability Included in Battlefield REDSEC, free‑to‑play and separate from the Battlefield 6 base game
Platforms PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC

How a Gauntlet match plays out

All eight squads drop into Fort Lyndon and receive the first objective. You have five minutes to rack up points through mission progress, eliminations, and team support. When time expires, the scoreboard determines who continues. The lowest performers are cut; the top three receive extra progression toward their class Training Paths, which can tilt the next round with stronger utility.

Mission two and three repeat the same cadence with different locations and objectives, ratcheting up pressure as the field thins. After the third elimination, the remaining two squads face a final mission to decide the match. If players quit mid‑operation, the game can redistribute high performers from eliminated squads to fill open spots between missions to keep teams full and competitive.

Gauntlet mission types and objectives

There are eight mission variants at launch. Four confirmed examples are below; the playlist rotates objective type and location each round.

Mission What your squad must do
Decryption Secure locator beacons and hold them while they transmit data under fire.
Wreckage Find bombs, transport them, and detonate at enemy M‑COMs spread across the area.
Vendetta Hunt marked enemy high‑value targets while protecting your own marked teammate.
Circuit Capture and defend control terminals; expanding your linked network yields more points.
Tip: Because objectives are short and varied, designate roles upfront. Assign one player to anchoring or denial (mines, suppression), one to objective interaction, and two to flex between flanks and cover.

How to play Gauntlet for free

  1. Install Battlefield REDSEC on your platform of choice; Gauntlet is included and does not require owning Battlefield 6. You can start from the official REDSEC download page at ea.com/en-us/games/battlefield/redsec/buy.
  2. Launch REDSEC and select Gauntlet from the mode picker.
  3. Squad up with three players; matchmaking will fill empty slots if needed.
Note: Cross‑ownership perks apply in Portal if you also own Battlefield 6, but Gauntlet itself is fully playable as part of REDSEC.

Gauntlet vs. Battle Royale and Portal

All three live under the REDSEC umbrella and share the Fort Lyndon playspace, but they target different rhythms and skills:

Mode Core idea Match size Time profile Progress hooks
Gauntlet Round‑based squad tournament with rotating objectives and eliminations. 32 (8×4) Short, fixed 5‑minute missions across a 4‑round bracket. Training Path bonus progress for top squads between rounds.
Battle Royale 100‑player survival with class twists, loot, vehicles, and tactical destruction. 100 (quads/duos) Longer sessions with macro rotations and escalating ring pressure. Class Training Paths level during matches via intel, missions, and combat.
Portal (REDSEC) Custom modes and spaces using Fort Lyndon segments and rulesets. Creator‑defined Variable, based on builder settings. Builder & Spatial Editor, updated SDK, cross‑ownership content if you have Battlefield 6.

Building on Fort Lyndon in Portal (what creators should know)

Portal in REDSEC brings the Builder and Spatial Editor to Fort Lyndon with six dedicated playspaces. Two playspaces are available now; four more will roll out in updates. The SDK has new assets tied to REDSEC’s content set. Gauntlet‑specific assets are planned for a later SDK update, so you can’t fully replicate Gauntlet’s missions at launch, but you can prototype similar small‑team, objective‑driven rules in segmented areas.

To start creating or browsing REDSEC Portal experiences, install the updated SDK from portal.battlefield.com/bf6/experiences.

Strategy notes for early wins

Priority Why it matters What to do
Time discipline Five minutes per mission leaves little slack for resets. Commit to an opening route and stick to it; avoid late‑round flips unless you can guarantee points.
Objective uptime Mission points outpace passive kill trading. Keep one player on the interact/hold task at all times while others screen and deny angles.
Class synergy Training Path perks can swing mid‑match tempo. Lean into Support for sustain on objective holds; flex Assault/Engineer for breach or denial depending on the draw.
Cut‑line awareness Survival is about staying above the drop, not always topping the board. Track scoreboard in the final minute and shift to safe point banking if you’re near the threshold.

Gauntlet’s appeal is clarity: short, objective‑led rounds, constant pressure, and meaningful squad decisions. With REDSEC’s seasonal schedule in motion and Portal’s Fort Lyndon tooling expanding, expect more mission locations and creator options to surface over the coming updates. If you’re jumping in today, bring a balanced squad, set roles early, and play the clock as much as the enemy.