Demolition is back in Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War Season 5.

The classic, team-based mode first appeared in COD: Modern Warfare 2. It originally had a spawn delay and a tie breaker round that put the team with the most kills on defense. Once Modern Warfare 3 arrived, the rules you know today became the norm.

Let’s rotate through everything you need to know about Demolition — how to play, when to plant, where to defend, and more.

What is Demolition?

Respawns, fewer rounds, two sites to destroy, and plants from any attacker make Demolition a more chaotic version of Search and Destroy.

Players are split into two teams of attackers and defenders.

• The attackers must plant bombs on two sites, then prevent any defuses. Detonate both sites to win.
• The defenders must prevent plants and defuse bombs. Run out the clock to win.
• Once a round ends, both teams switch sides. The first to two wins the game.

A tie-breaker begins if the score is 1-1. This third round features only one centralized bomb site, which both sides must race to blow up.

Demolition in Black Ops Cold War is currently playable on the following maps:

• Moscow
• Garrison
• The Pines
• Raid
• Apocalypse
• Yamantau
• Standoff
• Rush
• Echelon
• Drive-In
• Slums
• Zoo

Offense tips and tricks

• Target one site: Go after one site to ensure your team sticks together and can overwhelm opponents that split up. When a bomb is detonated, the round-timer resets. That means you can spend all the time you need planting one bomb rather than splitting your focus to get both at once. Pick the site that is closer to their spawn (easier to defend) to destroy first and the second will be a breeze.
• Give roles: If you play with friends or teammates who actually communicate, give roles. This will ensure everyone knows what to do at all times. Designate who will plant the bomb, distract the enemy, and hold the flanks.
• Adapt otherwise: If your team doesn’t respond to your unification efforts, just adapt. Take a look at who is doing what and fill in the gaps. For example, if two players focus on kills then you should aim to plant the bomb.
• Rush: Rushes can net early kills that send the enemies back to spawn. The opposition is going to be flustered if the first plant happens right at the start of the round. They’ll have to run all the way back to wipe out your team from potentially disadvantageous lines of sight.

How to play defense

• Lockdown one site: This is similar to the offensive strategy of targeting a single objective. If all of the defenders post up near one site, it will be difficult for the attackers to get a bomb planted. Give up the first site early and spend the rest of the round thwarting the offense at key junctions through effective lines of sight.
• Keep your eyes on the timer: It resets after the first bomb goes off. If you can’t get your team to cooperate early on, be ready to see that timer go back to two and a half minutes. Know when you’re almost at the finish line and don’t make any mistakes. That could be the difference between victory or a last-second plant, especially since plants freeze the clock.
• Spawn trap: Spawn traps are one of the biggest gripes players have about Demolition. The mode does not rotate spawns across the map. Each team will always spawn on their respective side. This makes it really easy for the defense to sit just outside of the offense’s spawn, then pick them off. The attackers can’t attack if they can’t even make it to the bomb sites.
• Use Field Mics: Field Mics are invaluable for Demolition defenders. This Field Upgrade will give you intel on enemy locations. Place one near bomb sites, in key map junctions, or even by the attacker spawn. The extra mini-map visibility on enemies in range will prevent flanks from pushing back your team.

How to win overtime

• Hold your Scorestreaks: Score carries over round every round. If your team wins the first round, save your Scorestreaks in case of a tie-breaker. Anything from a simple Spy Plane to a brutal Attack Helicopter will allow your team to plant quickly and protect the objective.
• Eliminate first, plant second: Both teams must plant a bomb at the neutral site to win. That’s hard to do when you’re dead. If your team can eliminate a couple, if not all of the other squad near the start of the round, you’ll be able to plant with no problem. Take a couple of enemies out to force them back to their side while you or a teammate gets the bomb down.
• Spawn trap in OT: Spawn traps work just as well in overtime. If you want to rack up kills for a challenge or win quickly, spawn trap your opponents right after you finish the last tip. Eliminate them early, then move over to their side. You’ll be able to defend and simply destroy from there.
• Stick the defuse: You have teammates for a reason and hopefully they will have your back. Don’t worry about who or what is coming your way when you are defusing a bomb. If you get off of it to kill enemies and come out on the losing end, the bomb will keep ticking. Go prone and keep your finger on the button until the bomb is no longer a threat.

General Demolition tactics

• Utilize equipment: Equipment can give you the upper hand in Demolition. Grenades, flashbangs, and stuns will clear corners and bomb sites easily. Smoke grenades are your best friend when it comes to concealing lines of sight. Use them to block vision on defuses and plants.
• Field Upgrades are vital: We already touched on Field Mics, but other Field Upgrades like Proximity Mines can also alert you of enemies and even prevent them from interacting with the bombsite. Trophy Systems will block the onslaught of throwable equipment, while Jammers have their worth in Demolition as a viable anti Field Mic strategy.
• Play the right Perks: Ninja will keep you off enemy Field Mics. Flak Jacket reduces explosive and fire damage. Tactical Mask resists flashbangs and stuns with immunity to gas. Gearhead reduces the Field Upgrade cooldown and provides two in the slot. Quartermaster recharges equipment. These Perks will help prevent many of the nuisances you will encounter in Demolition.
• Stay alive: This should go without saying, but some Black Ops Cold War players don’t fully understand. Your life is the most important tool you have in Demolition. If you die and have to respawn, you’re out of the fight for a long time. Be cautious of how many teammates are available to take your spot when engaging in firefights. Even though you can respawn, losing ground is damning.

Now that you know how to handle this fast-paced game mode, you can explode into the more methodical 2v2 Search and Destroy Open Series for exclusive prizes.