With the blackout mode, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 now has its own battle royale. We provide tips that will help you get started and thrive in blackout.
“Those who come second here are already losers!” The quote, originally from the Hollywood film Top Gun, captures the essence of the battle royale principle. However, it’s not just about killing as many enemies as possible – survival is also an important keyword. There are many other aspects to consider.
What is Blackout? With Blackout, Black Ops 4 expands the classic multiplayer experience of Call of Duty with a proprietary battle royale mode.
In familiar battle-royale fashion, 88 players (100 in quads) drop into an ever-shrinking playing area to fight for survival. They use various weapons and gear from the world of Call of Duty. Vehicles can also be utilized on the largest map in the history of Call of Duty.
You can find all important information about Blackout here: Call of Duty Blackout – Everything about the battle royale mode of Black Ops 4
The following tips and tricks should help you ease into the battle royale mode Blackout.
What is important when jumping in Blackout?
Your first action is to jump from the helicopter. After deciding on a landing spot while still on board, it is advisable to go straight into a dive after jumping.
This way, you can move across the map quickly while still maintaining good control. You will arrive quickly at the bottom, which could already have a significant impact on the course of the match.
Where should new players land if they don’t want to die immediately?
The map has specific hot spots where action goes down – usually right after the jump. Newcomers should initially avoid these danger zones. On this heat map, the heavily contested areas are clearly visible.
Try as a newcomer to land as far away from these spots as possible – somewhere on the edges of the map. There are plenty of wooded areas, smaller outposts, or single buildings that are not in the center of action but already contain weapons and gear.
Where should experienced players land who are looking for immediate action?
Intense fights occur at almost all named locations such as Firing Range, Rivertown, Nuketown, or Cargo Docks. The heat map can also be used here as a reference to clearly see the hot spots.
However, caution: even as an experienced player, there is a risk of being shot immediately after landing if you’re not quick enough.
What should you do first after landing?
It’s simple: find a weapon! Whether you are a beginner or a pro. If you don’t, you risk running into an armed enemy with every step you take, which leaves you defenseless if they notice you. This usually results in a swift end to the match.
It doesn’t matter which gun you find first – as long as you have one. You can always swap it later for a better one.
Improve your arsenal: Once you have found a firearm, proceed strategically. Try to avoid engagements until you have enough equipment (better weapons, armor, bandages) to handle a fight with better chances.
Important: Especially after landing, make sure to close the doors behind you. An open door immediately signals that someone was here. This invites practiced or well-equipped players to hunt you down.
The shrinking collapse circle: Stay on the edge or in the center?
Both strategies have their pros and cons. With increased experience, however, you’ll quickly find which playstyle suits you better.
What to keep in mind in the center: There are many players who swear by barricading themselves in the center of the circle and waiting in defense mode. In this case, you are not immediately affected by the circle’s contraction and can focus on players who are wandering around or are forced to move.
The downside, however, is that opponents can approach from all directions, and you quickly lose overview.
What to pay attention to at the edge of the circle: The other option is to stay at the edge of the collapse and move cautiously with the circle. This has the advantage that you can focus on a smaller area where potential opponents might appear. It is unlikely that opponents will come from behind.
The downside is that you might also be forced to move by the shrinking circle at an inconvenient moment.
What are the blue light pillars shooting into the sky? Should I go there?
Have you wondered about the blue light pillars shooting into the sky and visible for miles? These pillars indicate the position of a mystery box. They contain guaranteed valuable loot, such as a level-3 body armor and a good weapon.
However, these crates are protected by zombies. And here you must be cautious. While fighting against the zombie NPCs is fun, you could be taken out from behind by another player. You are rarely the only one wanting to secure the loot from the box.
What gear and weapons should you look for?
At the beginning, you should focus on the following three aspects:
Healing: In Blackout, you can heal yourself after being wounded, allowing you to stay in the game longer. But it doesn’t happen automatically – you must manually initiate the healing by pressing the corresponding button. It is generally advisable to quickly tend to your wounds after each hit, which also works while sprinting.
You can use first-aid bandages, med kits, and trauma kits that heal you significantly, but take longer to use. Trauma kits can even “overheal” you by 50 extra health points, bringing you to a total of 200 health points, provided you used the trauma kit while fully healthy – highly recommended before any fight.
Armor: Armor, or rather body armor, is extremely important and provides you with significant advantages in combat, which vary depending on the level. One of your goals should be to find and equip the highest possible level (1-3) armor as quickly as possible.
Body armors of level 1 or 2 can be found quite often and are generously spread across the map. Level-3 armor is rare but offers the best protection – including headshot protection, which none of the other armor levels provides.
Weapon mix: The right weapon mix can be crucial during a blackout match. It is advisable to have a mix that covers both close-range and long-range combat. An assault rifle and a sniper or an SMG and a tactical rifle are desirable all-around combinations for the fight.
If you master these three areas as a beginner, you can start experimenting with additional equipment, attachments, and perks to further enhance your skills.
How can you generally improve?
Even though you can get quite far in blackout with a defensive play style, you will eventually have to face your opponents in combat.
That’s why you shouldn’t shy away from playing aggressively – even though you might die quickly and lose initially. Because you will only get better in this area if you practice – so shoot and fight.
You can best practice this in the numerous hot spots spread across the blackout map. Just dive into the action from the start once you feel somewhat familiar with the game.
Further important information about blackout can be found here:
