Another year, another Call of Duty. Well, not exactly. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is set to evolve what you expect from a Call of Duty game. Don’t worry. It still builds on top of the foundational gameplay you know and love. Here are six quick Black Ops 4 multiplayer tips to get your boots on the ground running from bottom of the table to top of the ladder.
A HIT OUT ON HITSCAN
Black Ops 4 ditches the stock standard hitscan projectiles and replaces them with ballistic modeling. Translation: Black Ops 4’s shooting has changed. In the past, your bullets landed instantaneously when fired. For Black Ops 4, projectile-based ballistics means your lead overdose takes time to reach your target. That said, they’re bullets; they move incredibly fast.
Still, you need to slightly lead targets foolish enough to cross your crosshair. The longer the range, the greater the lead distance. Plus, bullet drop comes into effect, too. So long-range, tent-pitching snipers should get used to aiming for the top of an enemy’s noggin to score satisfying headshots.
IN CHARGE OF RECHARGE
Rechargeable health is gone but rechargeable equipment is in. For health, this means you need to manage it manually. Get into the habit of healing whenever possible. Heal after every shootout or, if you’ve soaked up too much damage, in the heat of battle. Best hide away while doing it, though.
As for rechargeable equipment, you’ve got to be mentally tracking when you can next pop your gear to gain an edge. If you survive for long enough, plan your next move on when your equipment is available.
PUT THE ‘XP’ INTO ‘EXPLOITS’
The more you play, the more experience you gain. The more experience you have, the more you can unlock. Simple. To get through the ranks faster, steer clear of the admittedly fun and popular deathmatch modes. Instead, focus on the objective-based modes. In these modes – like Hardpoint, Search & Destroy, and Heist – you’ll not only score points for frags, you’ll also net XP gains for playing the objective. Basically, helping your team can reap selfish rewards.
FOG OF PHWOAR
Black Ops 4 has a new mini-map that includes fog of war. Understanding how it works can mean the difference between digital life and death. You won’t see everything or, more importantly, every enemy on the map. Fire your gun, though, and you’ll appear on the mini-map. This tends to attract enemy attention. Because of this, you really only want to start fights you can finish; otherwise you’re just giving away your position. Use voice comms to keep your teammate notified of what’s happening around you to bait, flank, or ambush foes.
SPECIALISTS COMBO
Black Ops 4 features 10 specialists, and while they all have their own unique strengths, there are powerful Specialist combos that make winning a whole lot easier. For instance, Ajax’s Ballistic Shield can soak up enemy fire and provide valuable intel. Those bunched-up baddies on the other side of the shield can be obliterated with Ruin’s powerful Grav Slam.
Alternatively, use Recon’s Sensor Dart to reveal enemies, then obliterate them with Battery’s grenade-launching War Machine. When defending an objective, Torque’s Razor Wire and Barricades slow and damage enemies while blocking certain entrances. Combo these with Firebreak’s Reactor Core to damage and deter lingering foes.
MORE AMORE FOR ARMOUR
Armour means that enemies take more bullets to put down in Black Ops 4. It also means the best way to start and finish fights is to force enemies into engagement ranges that match your arsenal. Sniping? Keep them at range. SMGs and shotguns melt foes in close encounters, but aren’t as effective beyond. Assault rifles and LMGs dominate mid-range. Force your foes to fight you on your gun’s terms for a better chance at winning shootouts.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is now available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.
