- Covering the beginning of the tunnel with only one row of blocks
Not covering the tunnel at all
Using the faster one block tap
Covering the beginning of the tunnel with gray blocks
Having too many players in a squad (Everyone will try to dig and will just hit their team mates)
They don't stop to listen
Having the tunnel only two blocks high
Now let's go over the basics of effective tunneling right before we get to the nitty gritty.
First rule. Always color the blocks before you cover up the tunnel. This is one of the most important rules. I see many people effectively covering their tracks...with gray blocks. Then, three rows later after digging through the tunnel cover, Airsoftr has killed the Deuce. Some new players may ask: "How do I color the blocks like the outside layer of the building/terrain?". This is simple. Just look at the color you'll need to camouflage the first row of your tunnel, and press E. Then, cover up the first row of your tunnel. Then, look at the blocks surrounding you. They are most likely colored brown, since you are under dirt. Look at one of the brown blocks and press E. Then cover up the other rows of your tunnel with that block until you either run out of blocks or you're at the last place you stopped digging.
Second rule. Cover up your tracks effectively, not quickly. I see many people using only a one block layer to cover their tracks. While it might fool some, others may be looking for you and hear you tunneling. Cover up your tracks with at least 7 rows of blocks. If they are looking for you but can't find you within 5 block rows, they usually figure they're digging in the wrong place and go back. This is actually not always a solution. While they're digging and getting closer to you, they may hear you digging. If you hear extra digging near your position and don't see an ally nearby you on the minimap, then dig down and cover your tracks. If you can't dig down, then ready your weapon and look in the direction in which the enemy is coming from.
Third rule. Make your tunnel 3 blocks high as opposed to the infamous 2 block high tunnel. It's essential to make a quick escape from the enemy's base. Crawling your way out the tunnel after you made that epic run to the intel will give them enough time to take a drag, then walk down the steps you made and kill you.
Fourth rule. Don't dig directly up to get into the enemy's base. Make a staircase. The staircase allows for quicker escapes rather than trying to find the block you dug out of.
Fifth rule. Mark your tunnel's staircase. Don't mark it with your team's color; That makes it obvious that it was an intruder that dug the staircase and not a team mate. Mark it with an inconspicuous color, like pink, light purple, or black. These colors are usually not used as fog colors, so it will be easy to spot. Make it only two blocks high. Anything higher and the enemy will think it's funny to knock the tower down.
Sixth rule. Cover your staircase. Only one row of blocks is suggested, and I previously told you how to camouflage blocks according to their surroundings. You will be able to spot your staircase by remembering which direction it was facing the marker block.
Seventh rule. Don't use the one block tap. This is one of the most important rules. The one block tap is a lot louder and more consistent than the slower three block tap. The one block tap can be used only for the last row of blocks.
Eighth rule. Stop to listen every few rows of blocks. It's important you do this. It helps you listen to hear other tunnelers, as well as enemies coming your way. Look around as well, but make sure you remember the direction you were originally facing so you don't tunnel your way back out of their base unintentionally.
Ninth rule. Only recruit about 2 to a squad. If there are more than two players joining, make a new squad. If they don't get the idea, then decide to fly solo or make a rendezvous point for you and the other two to meet. Having only two in a squad makes it easier to dig after they spawn on you, rather than having 5 whole users spawn on you and try to dig all at the same time. Most of us have had that experience and it is not fun at all.
Tenth rule. Set up rules with your squad. You are to be (tunneler, guard, whichever you want) and they are to be whatever position(s) are left. If you set up rules and take charge quickly, they most likely won't question your leadership unless you and them keep dying under the same circumstances or if they're little 8 year olds.
Now for the three ways of tunneling. Each involves one more player than the last.
FLYING SOLO
Flying Solo is a simple way of tunneling. You do all of the jobs yourself; Guarding your position, covering your tracks, listening, and digging. Flying solo is fairly easy; you have no one to command or protect.
DUAL DEUCE
Having two people tunneling is less simple than Flying Solo; but it has more benefits. It's more efficient. You have two people, doing two jobs each. One player digs and listens, the other covers up your tracks and guards. Make sure you're at least a block away at all times to prevent the guard from hindering your tunneling process.
THREE MUSKETEERS
Having three people tunneling is hard. You have to make sure everything is running smoothly, which most times it won't be. You will have three people doing at least one job. One will guard and cover up your tracks, the other will listen, and the third will dig. Make sure you're each two blocks away at a time so the listener can listen, the guard can guard, and so on.
I hope you enjoyed my guide on effectively tunneling. Any constructive feedback, suggestions, or questions are encouraged.
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