The word high-octane gets thrown around a lot with first-person shooters. Things are “fast-paced” and “exciting.” This is sometimes an exaggeration, but the return of Gunfight in Call of Duty Black Ops: Cold War is not.
Gunfight, which originated in Modern Warfare, is a slapdash 2v2 bullet festival that requires real skill to win.
Players need to react fast and fire accurately to survive.
How to Play Gunfight
Gunfight features two teams of two duking it out in a 40-second time crunch. Players need to eliminate the other duo to win a round. The first team to six takes the match. There is no way to respawn or regenerate health.
How to Win Overtime
If time runs out, overtime is a race to capture the position in the middle of the map or eliminate any remaining enemies. The team with the most health snags victory if the overtime clock runs out. Teams can tie if they have the same amount of health.
Random Loadouts
Another key component of this mode is the loadouts. Unlike traditional multiplayer, players have identical randomly chosen loadouts. Everyone’s arsenal changes every two rounds, constantly keeping players on their toes with different tactics.
General Gunfight Tips
- Pay attention to your health. Because of the way the mode works, if you reach overtime and you’re ahead, play smart. The other team is going to run for the flag, especially if you have more round wins. Shoot them as they try.
- Get to the middle. Most of the action in the mode happens in the middle of the map. Find a spot to hunker down with a line of sight over key chokepoints and you’ll be ready for when the enemy team descends.
- Gain the high ground. Higher ground is paramount in this mode, and purviews are important as well. Always try to position yourself where you can see from above if possible.
- Keep moving. Don’t stand around and wait. There’s not enough time in the match to camp, and the other team will surely be looking for you. Plus, the more empty places they check, the more confident they’ll be of your location. Don’t let them catch you unaware.
- Learn the maps. These are unique maps, so learn every hiding place, line of sight, and distance from cover at all times. The lack of health regeneration makes playing safe more important than ever.
- Learn a variety of loadouts. Look at what options you have in your loadout and plan accordingly. Be aggressive with pistols and keep your distance with sniper rifles. Also, don’t forget to use your equipment. Remember everything changes every two rounds. Practicing with a variety of weapons outside of Gunfight is an excellent way to prepare for the mode.
- Communicate. Since this is a two-man operation, be aware of your teammate and what they’re doing. Formulate a plan and stick to it. Staying right on top of each other might not always be the best move. If you get flanked, then you’re probably both dead.
- Use your position. If enemies are trained on your teammate, use that to your advantage and slip into their blind spot for an easy kill.
Map Tips
There are four different maps as of Black Ops Cold War season one: Game Show, U-Bahn, KGB, and ICBM.
Game Show Tactics
Game Show is on a (surprise) game show set. It has a few clear lanes around the stage and the dressing rooms. There’s plenty of cover in the area behind the podiums. Dive under the stage and flank foes on the other side.
Watch out for enemies from multiple sides, carelessly sprinting into the center by the car and the infamous flying lethals that always seem to find their target.
U-Bahn Tips
U-Bahn is underneath the street in a subway tunnel. Many teams will run to the train and subway carriage on this tight map for cover. Fall onto the tracks if you’re feeling aggressive, or set up shop behind the two pillars painted with graffiti for an alternate line of sight.
KGB Overview
KGB is set in the intelligence headquarters of the Soviet Union. It’s one of the wider maps with plenty of cover behind bookcases and desks, as well as a few special vantage points from balconies.
ICBM Guide
ICBM is a missile silo. It features an unconventional circular design, but the irregular shaped walls can actually serve as ways to bounce equipment at enemies. The tunnel underneath the facility is great for flanking, and there are plenty of desks and large boxes to hide behind.