Double Agent is a game of deception and deduction for up to 10 players in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.

Players are secretly assigned one of three roles each round: Double Agent, Investigator, or Operative.

• Double Agent: Eliminate the other team or detonate dirty bombs to win.
• Investigator: Find clues to help the Operatives identify and eliminate Double Agents.
• Operative: Assist the Investigator to wipe out the Double Agents.

Social deduction games like Double Agent are often filled with gamers who don’t know how to play. They kill for no reason, sprint toward others, and fail to communicate.

Learn how to play Double Agent the right way so you can out the imposters or successfully stab the rest of the lobby in the back.

How to win as the Operative

Most players take on the role of the Operative. Operatives help uncover clues for the Investigator and work together to eliminate Double Agents.

• Protect the Investigator: The Investigator has skills that make it easier to identify the Double Agents, so you want them to stay alive as long as possible. Stay close to protect them, but don’t accidentally charge them around corners. The last thing you want is to raise suspicion as a good guy. If the Investigator is attacked, you’ll know who to call out.
• Communicate your findings: Communication is something many Double Agent players forget. Relay as much information as you can. If you find a dead body, are off by yourself, or notice someone being suspicious, tell everyone. Each small insight adds up to identify a clear culprit. Take advantage of every opportunity to prevent a disadvantageous situation where you’re scrambling to defuse bombs under pressure.
• Only shoot when confident: Shooting another Operative will not only result in their death but yours as well. Only pull the trigger if you are certain a Double Agent is in your crosshairs. Extra numbers is one of the few advantages you have over the bad guys. Don’t waste them.
• Prove your innocence: Consistently do the right thing throughout the round as an Operative. Grab clues, destroy Drop Dead Caches, and remove enemy Field Mics. Conversely, don’t hang around dead allies or bombs that were just set. You’ll also never want to oppose the Investigator.

If you play your role as the Operative right, no one will ever doubt which side you are on.

How to win as the Investigator

There’s only one Investigator. It is also the only role visible to every player (shield icon). The Investigator has unique abilities like the power to mark suspicious players or see a killer’s footsteps.

• Use your abilities: The Investigator can label another player as Wanted, see footsteps that lead away from a dead body, and view Autopsy Reports. The Autopsy Report details what weapon was used, how much time passed since the death, and the dead player’s role. Inform the lobby of every detail to give Operatives a better idea of the bad guy.
• Take charge: As the Investigator, you have more power than the typical Operative. Don’t be afraid to give orders. If you have a hunch who is a Double Agent, ask the Operatives to take them out. You should also split side objectives with Operatives to uncover clues faster.
• Stay in a group: The worst thing an Operative can do is die without providing any clue about the Double Agents to their team. If the Double Agent decides to mow you down while in a group, there is a chance one of the other Operatives will take them out.
• Don’t trust anyone: Your goal is to uncover the Double Agents and take them out. Someone around you will lie about their role every single round. Listen to what everyone has to say and use your judgment, but don’t trust anyone until you have proof.

How to win as the Double Agent

The Double Agent must detonate both dirty bombs or eliminate everyone else to win. There are 1-3 Double Agents depending on the total number of players.

• Talk in special comms: Double Agents have an extra communications channel. Plan your hijinx in the special channel if there is another Double Agent. Just make sure you don’t accidentally bring up your sabotage in the wrong comms.
• Get creative: There are a few things you can do as a Double Agent to cause confusion. The first is to take out another player and say you found the body. Another is to play along with the Investigator to make them think you are innocent. Finally, there is a big brain play with the dirty bombs. Plant one and defuse it yourself to make them believe you’re on their side.
• Be aware of your surroundings: This may be the most important tip. Keep your wits about you and your eyes peeled when you are ready to kill or sabotage. Nothing is worse in Double Agent than taking down an Operative only to inadvertently reveal your identity.
• Cause chaos: A bit of confusion can go a long way in this mode. Point the finger. Scream about another player doing something they didn’t. Make noise on one side of the map, then move to the other. Do whatever you can to cast suspicion elsewhere.

General tips and objectives

There are side objectives that the Operatives, Investigators, and Double Agents can tackle:

• Loot: There are 25 seconds of looting before each round starts. Use that time to open crates for weapons and equipment as fast as you can. Then find a secluded area to start the round. You don’t want the pre-round pause to halt you in front of a bad guy who could immediately end you.
• Field Mics: Field Mics are located throughout the map. Double Agents can activate them to learn when players enter the area. Investigators and Operatives should destroy these Field Upgrades when possible.
• Dead Drop Caches: Dead Drop Caches are another objective that the Investigator and Operator should either destroy or use to bait Double Agents. Double Agents can open them to retrieve Epic and Legendary Blueprint weapons.
• Bomb Sites: This has been touched on, but is the main objective aside from killing your foes. Two bomb sites can be armed with dirty bombs by the Double Agents. If they are, the Investigator and the Operative need to disarm them.
• Scorestreaks: Operatives can obtain Scorestreaks through airdrops. The Investigator can earn enough score to gain Trophy Systems, Stimshots, and Hand Cannons. Double Agents can gain access to Gas Mines, Counter Spy Planes, Combat Bows, and Attack Helicopters.

Focus on these extra elements of Double Agent to give yourself an advantage or take it away from the opposition. Check out the Open Series for more thrilling Call of Duty action with a little something extra.