Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 has arrived, and the title brings with it a selection of gameplay modes. Although a story-driven campaign is out this time around, traditional multiplayer modes are still here, as is the franchise's well-loved Zombies mode. There's also a new addition: Blackout, the Call of Duty take on the battle royale genre.
All in all, Blackout has impressed those familiar with battle royale gameplay modes. Although it still remains to be seen as to whether it can compete with the likes of Fortnite or PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds as a long-term option, the player base for Call of Duty games means that it's going to be given as good a chance as it can.
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That said, those players who haven't tried out battle royale games so far may feel a bit intimidated by such a big change of pace within a Call of Duty title. As such, read on for some tips on how to get up to speed with the game mode.
Understand The Rules
To begin with players should learn how Blackout works before jumping in, so here's a brief rundown of how the game mode functions. Blackout can be played solo, as a pair, or in teams, and the end goal is the same: eliminate all opposition. Players are airdropped into the Blackout map, and must then choose a safe landing spot. From there, they will want to scavenge to get hold of some weapons, and then make sure - by any means necessary - that they are the last ones alive on a shrinking map.
How someone chooses to do that, however, is up to them. They could choose to go on the offensive, tracking down other combatants and taking them out, or could go for a more stealthy approach, escaping from dangerous situations and leaving the more challenging firefights to others. As long as the end result is a victory, anything goes (except for cheating, that is).
Stick The Landing
The first thing players will want to think about is where they want to land. Jumping from a helicopter, gamers will then want to use their wingsuit to try and get to as strong starting location as possible. That said, making a decision fast - and getting to the ground quickly - is also important to avoid being left at a disadvantage against speedier competitors.
Choosing where to land is extremely important, though. Although landing at settlements is a surefire way to get some good equipment to start with, this brings with it some dangers, as these areas are more likely to have attracted attention from others. That said, landing further away can leave players at a disadvantage without gear, so it's really a question of risk and reward.
Scavenge With Smarts
Getting hold of good equipment is perhaps the top way to make sure that someone has the best chance possible of succeeding in Blackout. However, rushing in without caution is the most common reason for a game of Blackout to end early. As such, it's important to stay aware at all times, and simple things like steering clear of areas ripe for sniping can make a real difference.
That said, scavenging is essential for success in Blackout, and sticking with some basic weapons isn't ideal. As such, it's best for players to keep moving when they can to try and find new gear, because an upgrade can make all the difference when locked in battle with another player.
Page 2 of 2: Stay Quiet, Watch Out For Zombies, And More
Stay Quiet
Drawing attention to yourself is Blackout is a bad idea. There are obvious places where this cannot be helped, such as when stuck in a shootout with an opponent, but when it's possible to stay stealthily it's definitely recommended to do so, and moving from cover to cover is always recommended.
Because of this, the use of vehicles is definitely a double-edged sword. Having a quick means to get around the map is extremely useful, but there's then the issue of the noise that any mode of transportation creates. After all, nothing is more obvious to other players out for blood than the sound of a loud engine.
Watch Out For Zombies
It's not just Call of Duty: Black Ops 4's Zombies mode that includes the shambling undead. Zombies also appear in Blackout, although here they often form more of a hindrance than a major threat. In most cases, it's a much better idea to try and escape a run-in with zombies rather than shooting your way out, as once again this could attract the attention of more difficult opponents.
There are some benefits for taking down zombies, however. In larger infested areas there's the chance for a much more powerful zombie to spawn, and these could potentially drop some rather tasty rewards for those who take them down. It's a personal decision as to whether this is worth potentially bringing in other players, though.
Remember It's Still Call Of Duty
Although Blackout comes at gameplay in a way that the Call of Duty series has never done before, it's essential to remember its heritage. If players have kept up with the franchise's releases regularly, there's not much from a shooting mechanic perspective that feels too different here, so those lessons learned from previous games shouldn't be entirely forgotten.
On top of this, it means that playing the other gameplay modes is a great way to have a bit of a practice and keep those instincts honed. Don't disregard the likes of the standard multiplayer or Zombies modes just yet, because they could prove not only to be fun in their own right, but also useful to keep topped up when player's aren't in the mood to play Blackout.
Learn From Mistakes
In a battle royale game mode, failure is always going to happen. It's essential not to become overly frustrated or disheartened if the wins aren't coming fast, because players are always more likely to lose than to win. Instead, try and learn from where that failure came from, and work on those weaknesses for future fights.
It's also worth keeping an eye on the spectator options in Blackout. Following what other players do, and seeing how they stay alive, is a great way to both learn new tricks and also learn how others play the game. This can then be exploited, so if there are any obvious patterns that rivals follow it's important to take note.
That concludes our overview of Blackout, which will hopefully give a solid starting position for players new to the battle royale genre as a whole. With these tips, players will be up to speed with veterans in no time, but there's no replacement for getting stuck in and finding an individual style of play.