Multiplayer Tactics in Modern Warfare
Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare™ is as fierce online shooter as
you'll find anywhere. Every move and tactic is fraught with peril, and yet
without the risk comes no reward. Beyond the combat intensity, though, COD4
is a little different from your average online first-person shooter. Thoughtful
strategy, steady aim, teamwork, and a firm grasp of the ever-evolving classes
are all required for online success.
Dot Awareness
Awareness of your enemy's location will save you more and net you more kills
than anything else. Knowing that an opponent lies lurking around a corner before
you make the turn gives you an instant advantage. Keep a sharp eye out on your
minimap, which shows the locations of enemies shooting their weapon. In order to make the best use of the minimap, coordinate the use of your UAV with your teammates. It's not efficient
for two allies to use it at the same time, so make sure to stagger the use.
Directional Logic
Enemy awareness can also be achieved by simple, proper use of directions. If you
spot an enemy bearing down on an ally, don't shout "left" or "right", but
instead, use compass directions like east, west, north, etc. Your minimap also
provides a compass, precisely so that these kinds of directions can be
universally understood.
Three on one. This is
why you move in packs.
Slow, Prone and Sprint
Moving while crouching or crawling while prone accomplishes three crucial goals:-
1) You're harder to spot and your a smaller target to aim at.
2) You shoot more accurately.
3) You Move silently, so the enemy cant hear you, but you can hear others.
Unless you're out in the open, there should
be little reason to stand upright., nearly any time you spend out in the open should find you
sprinting. If you need to cross a courtyard to get from cover to cover, sprint to haul ass across the open ground. Sprinting is also a good
technique to avoid fire, no matter where you are. Getting shot, but you're not
sure from where? Try sprinting. It's always harder to hit a fast-moving target.
Kill/Death Ratio
Call of Duty 4 rewards patience and a willingness to stay alive as long
as possible. The more consecutive kills you get, the more abilities you have at
your disposal. At three kills, you can call in a UAV to spot enemies, at five
you can order in an air strike, and at seven you can call for an attack chopper.
Anything beyond that is just bragging rights, but you get the idea. You can run
and gun in other shooters, but it's better for you and your team in COD4
if you play a bit more cautiously.
Move On
Speaking of cautious, the "kill cam" allows anyone you've just shot
down to know not only exactly where you were but just how you killed them as
well. This means you shouldn't stay in one spot for more than a few moments at a
time. Get your kill and then move on to greener pastures. This is a MUST in Clan
wars where the other team will tell each information like this on Coms.
Alternatively, you can use your opponent's knowledge to your advantage. Once
you get a kill, try moving to a spot with a clear line of sight on where you
just were. Then, when your enemy comes around seeking revenge, you've got them
right where you want them.
The high ground is
sometimes a good idea.
Perk Awareness
The different classes and unique combinations of Perks mean that every player
functions just a bit differently. While it's great to mix and match your own
Perks to create your own favorite class, it's important to be aware of your
enemy's abilities as well. Luckily, you can spot an opponent's selected Perks
from the kill-cam after they've taken you out.
Say for example you notice an enemy with the UAV Jammer Perk (which ensures
they don't show up on the minimap), You'll want to be just that extra bit more
careful about rounding corners and examining the environment. Likewise, if you
notice an opponent with Last Stand, fire a few extra bullets after you take an
enemy down, so they don't whip out a pistol and take you with them. Every little
advantage counts.
Swap Sidearm
Your sidearm is largely useless from the get go, so unless you plan on just
showing off by killing opponents with your pea shooter, take the first
opportunity to swap it with another weapon. Every killed enemy and ally
leaves their primary weapons behind. When you find one, switch to your
pistol and swap it out immediately. This is also a great way to
find uniquely modified weapons, as well as guns that you haven't even unlocked
yet (P90, anyone?).
Buddy Up
There's nothing like a team working together for massacring a team of renegades,
all running solo. It can be difficult to get more than a few people to work in
unison though, all agreeing on a focused strategy. However, it's not tough to
work with a dedicated buddy. Try suggesting to the whole team that you always
work in groups of at least two and you'll find that firefights end up going your
way on a much more regular basis.
That's it for now, I'm heading back into the fray. See you online!