How does body armor differ in regular multiplayer from the blackout mode? And what should you pay attention to regarding armor in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 ? We have summarized the key aspects of armor in the new CoD for you.
Armor is available in the battle royale mode blackout as well as in the traditional multiplayer of Black Ops 4. However, there are significant differences between the two modes regarding the types and behavior of body armor. What should you know about armor in Black Ops 4?
The benefits of armor in the Black Ops 4 multiplayer
This is what armor can do in the multiplayer part: In the multiplayer of Black Ops 4, the damage from all weapons is reduced by 50% due to armor. A notable exception is sniper rifles, which reduce damage by 30%.
No matter how the armor looks – it protects not only the body but also the player’s arms, legs, and feet. Only the head remains unprotected.
The biggest weakness of armor in multiplayer: The biggest weakness of armor in multiplayer is the full metal jacket rounds that can be unlocked for most weapons.
A full metal jacket round ignores the opponent’s armor and destroys it immediately with the first hit – even from a pistol. All subsequent hits, even from allies, then deal regular damage to the target.
The benefits of armor in the blackout mode of Black Ops 4
This is what armor can do in blackout: In blackout, armor behaves somewhat differently. There are three different armor levels. As the level increases, so does the damage reduction of the armor:
- Level I Armor – 30% damage reduction
- Level II Armor – 40% damage reduction
- Level III Armor – 50% damage reduction
Level III armor is clearly the best choice, but it is also rarer. Additionally, the highest armor level in blackout provides extra protection against explosions, fire, and harmful effects from other equipment, as well as reducing headshot damage from all weapons.
The main differences between blackout and multiplayer
In blackout, you can switch armor: Once armor is destroyed in regular multiplayer, there is no way to replace or repair it until death. Only after respawning will you receive new armor. In blackout, however, armor can be found in the game world or picked up from fallen enemies.
In blackout, it can be worthwhile to swap a higher quality but damaged armor for a weaker but better-preserved one. It is advisable to switch to the next lower armor level if the weaker armor has 25% or more durability than your currently equipped armor.
If you have a Level 2 armor with 50% durability left and find a Level 1 armor with 95% – go for it! The difference in damage reduction is only 10%, but due to the better durability, you can take 2-3 more shots with the Level 1 armor in such a case.
Durability differs significantly: A major difference between the two modes lies in the durability of armor. In multiplayer, armor provides its wearer with an additional 75 HP – health points. In blackout mode, armor of all 3 levels brings approximately 225 HP in addition.
The protection from damaged armor is different: Another significant difference between the traditional multiplayer and blackout is the protection that a damaged armor provides.
In multiplayer, a damaged armor with 3 remaining HP will only reduce incoming damage by those 3 HP. In blackout, however, the armor still provides full damage reduction according to the respective armor level – regardless of the remaining HP.
A detailed analysis of the differences, as well as all pros and cons, can also be found in this video by Call of Duty expert Drift0r:
Is armor worth it in Black Ops 4?
In multiplayer: Most rifles destroy armor in multiplayer with 2-3 shots, while most SMGs do so in 5 or more. Once the armor is destroyed, it cannot be repaired. Only after a respawn will the armor become active again.
If your goal is to achieve multiple kills and potentially rack up scorestreaks, other equipment pieces are recommended – armor is therefore not as crucial. It essentially only provides an advantage for a single direct confrontation and loses its usefulness significantly with increasing damage – which happens very frequently and quickly.
In blackout: In blackout, armor is extremely important and can decide victory or defeat in almost any encounter. It still offers full protection until its complete destruction. Furthermore, you can find replacements throughout the game world when your armor is heavily damaged.
In blackout, armor is therefore an absolute must-have. The higher the level and the better preserved the armor, the better.
