Battlefield 6 Season 2 Already Beats Season 1 In a Big Way

Having played Season 2 of Battlefield 6, it’s clear it’s a strong improvement over the last season. This is mainly due to the new map, Contaminated, and the features that come with it. Compared to Blackwell Fields, the first map from Season 1, Contaminated is significantly better in almost every way – it could even be one of the best maps in Battlefield 6.

It’s a difficult choice, though, because the maps in Battlefield 6 are generally very good. Mirak Valley is perfect for tanks, and Siege of Cairo is great for infantry, but Contaminated is particularly impressive thanks to its well-designed environmental dangers – much better than the oil fires on Blackwell Fields. Ultimately, Contaminated is a better all-around map, excelling in its layout, pacing, how enjoyable it is to play, and its overall look and feel.

Contaminated and Battlefield 6 Season 2’s Stronger Seasonal Identity

Battlefield 6’s Season 2 features maps with special gameplay elements. The ‘Contaminated’ map introduces hallucinogenic gas clouds that appear in key areas and around objectives. This gas will also be available as a grenade. Periodically, the objective zones on ‘Contaminated’ will fill with the gas automatically. To cope, all players now have gas masks with a limited supply of filters, adding a new layer of challenge and tension to the gameplay.

The mask and gas system adds a lot to the game. If you don’t use it properly or run out of filters, you’ll start seeing enemies that aren’t actually there, or even worse, you might accidentally attack your teammates in the thick, orange fog. It works really well with the detailed maps, and it’s getting even more interesting with the addition of areas that require night vision in the upcoming Season 2 Phase 2 update. This will be available on the new map, Hagental Base, which releases on March 17th.

Contaminated’s Rock Solid Structure

The map Contaminated is unique in its design because its highest and lowest points are located close together, near the central flag in modes like Conquest. This flag is inside a tunnel that runs through a mountain, connecting both sides of the map. Players can reach the top of the mountain from either side or through smaller tunnels. This central location and the mountainous terrain around it heavily influence how players move and fight on the map, both on the ground and in the air.

Honestly, fighting for control of the air feels really important on the Contaminated map now. They brought back the AH-6 Littlebird in Season 2 for Battlefield 6, and it totally changed things up. It makes aerial combat worthwhile again.

The two routes around the mountain differ greatly in elevation and defenses. One side is lower, protected by bunkers and trees, while the other is higher and features a road with several industrial buildings. This creates a balance – the higher road is more cramped, while the lower side offers more open space and heavy weapons like an anti-aircraft gun. Aside from the occasional use of hallucinogenic gas, combat here will feel familiar: expect snipers to position themselves on one side and players with SMGs, LMGs, or assault rifles on the other.

Finding the Flow

The map’s mountainous landscape and rough terrain heavily influence how battles play out, creating a dynamic and natural flow, much like water around a rock. The central tunnel is a key hotspot for constant fighting and provides the fastest route to anywhere on the map. One exit leads to the military base and its open trench battlefield, while the other opens up to the town and a hillside spawn point. However, the mountain itself is riddled with smaller tunnels and structures, allowing players to sneak around and quickly escape from danger.

This map feels much more fluid and enjoyable compared to Blackwell Fields from Battlefield 6 Season 1. Blackwell Fields was mostly wide-open, which surprisingly made gameplay feel slow and frustrating. It was easy to get instantly taken out by snipers or tanks from long distances, sending you right back to the respawn screen. While Contaminated’s gas hazard isn’t as dramatic looking as the burning oil slicks on Blackwell Fields, it’s definitely less annoying to play with.

Taking Combat to the Mountaintops

While good looks aren’t enough to make a map truly great, Contaminated definitely benefits from its beautiful scenery of an active airbase nestled in the German mountains. It’s richly colored, though in a way very different from Blackwell Fields, which, despite some gameplay issues, stood out with its fiery look of burning oil and a dramatic sunset. Contaminated features lush, abundant trees that cleverly provide cover from snipers on the mountain.

Liberation Peak’s Cooler Older Brother

While Contaminated builds upon the design of Liberation Peak, it’s a clear improvement. Liberation Peak was initially criticized, particularly during the Battlefield 6 beta, for giving snipers an unfair advantage with its high ground. Contaminated, however, offers a better mix of open areas and cover, making for a more balanced and well-designed map that doesn’t feel as uneven or awkwardly shaped.

Battlefield 6 Season 2 Starts Strong

Battlefield 6 Season 2 looks like a strong update, and the ‘Contaminated’ map is a clear improvement over ‘Blackwell Fields’ from Season 1. While the ‘Hagental Base’ map is still largely unknown, what we’ve seen of it so far is encouraging. If the developers build on the new gameplay features and keep refining everything – including the new weapons, gear, and vehicles – Season 2 should be a great addition to the game when it releases on February 17th.

2026-02-17 14:06