Combine the objective element of Domination with Search and Destroy’s survival aspect and you have Control, one of the most strategic team-based modes in Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War. Control, Seach, and Hardpoint are especially important to master because all three are featured in the 2021 Call of Duty League season.
Learn the ropes of the fan-favorite mode that dates back to Black Ops 4 and the 2019 Call of Duty World Season.
How to play Control
Both teams battle it out to take “control” of two strategic points on the map. Teams take turns defending and capturing the zones. The attacking team wins if they take both points, while the defending team comes out on top if time runs out.
Both teams have 30 lives, creating a risk, reward mechanic via an alternate win condition. Do you whittle down your opponent’s numbers for easy captures late in the game or push forward at the start without any concern for respawns? The ‘right’ answer depends on your tactics and coordination.
Matches last one and a half minutes between two teams of six. Don’t bank on timing out the offense when they’re on the brink of capture since they’ll gain more time upon completion. Unlike Domination, objectives disappear after they are taken.
The first team to three rounds wins the match.
Tips for how to improve and win Control
Plan ahead. One strategy is to focus all your energy on one objective, especially because the clock extends once an objective is captured. The enemy team will likely fan out at the start of the match to get a better idea of your team’s approach. Set up in lines of sight surrounding the objective as opposed to sending everyone into it for the best results.
Better safe. When defending, split up and sprint to key chokepoints overlooking both objectives as well as multiple lanes into the zones at the start of the round. This makes it easier to tell where the attackers are coming from and going. Your team can then communicate to adjust accordingly based on which objective the opponent prioritizes.
Adjust based on lives left. Control the pace, especially on defense. The enemy has to make the first move. Otherwise, they risk a time out. Both sides will likely be more aggressive early in the game. Either the start or when the enemy is at a deficit are the best times to run and gun with no concern for respawns. However, keep an eye on both team’s numbers to determine when you should slow down and take a more defensive/tactical approach to the objectives.
Balance. It’s great if you stop the enemy from capturing a single objective for most of the game, but if it was at the cost of most of your respawns, the tides might quickly turn in their favor during the final moments. Teams must strike a balance between the objective and lives.
Every life counts. Don’t recklessly charge into positions or spots you were just killed. Over aggression is like giving away lives. Every respawn is a cushion to secure an easier victory in the endgame. Even one can be the difference between winning and losing.
Communicate. Especially on defense, it’s important to communicate with your team so you’re not caught off guard by an opponent’s play. Also, don’t make individual plays, as it’s easier for an enemy team to pick you off. It’s much harder to stop a whole squad coordinating a forward push than it is to stop one player.
Perks. Cold-Blooded, Ghost, and Ninja are especially effective in Control. Anything that literally keeps you under the radar helps flank the enemy, while perks like Flack Jacket help players survive the inevitable bombardment of explosives on every position (Tactical Mask is the stun, gas, and flash grenade equivalent). Quartermaster and Scavenger are great because you can refill equipment and ammo as long as you can stay alive. Gearhead coupled with the Wildcard Danger Close turn any individual into a deadly arsenal of options.
Equipment. Lethal equipment like Semtex, Molotov Cocktail, C4, and Frag Grenades are all viable options since a blind toss into the objective is highly likely to hit. As for tacticals, Decoy (distract enemies), Stimshot (heal fast on the fly), and Smoke Grenade (hide or deter foes) are standouts.
Field Upgrades. It’s hard to go wrong with almost any of the Field Upgrades. Run Proximity/Gas Mines to discreetly set traps in or around objectives, Jammer/Field Mac to give enemies a hard time near key positions, or Trophy Systems to make areas harder to secure.
Scorestreaks. UAV (Spy Plane) and CUAV (Counter Spy Plane) are staples. They’re easy to access and will appear more frequently thanks to their low score requirements. Armor is another attainable option that should help teams stay alive longer to better capture or defend positions. Sentry Turrets are risky since they explode easily, however, the autonomous guns can be effective in the right spot (long-range of sight and hard for foes to reach). Lastly, Care Package is always an option for gamblers and the strikes are doable, albeit less likely to have as much of an impact on the game, assuming the average person isn’t able to obtain them very often.
What maps will run Control in the CDL?
This year, the CDL will play Control on Checkmate, Garrison, and Moscow. Practice these three maps to gain the edge in any competition.
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