Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Gunfight Guide

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare features a brand new fast-paced mode called Gunfight, which challenges two sets of two players to face off in tiny maps with random guns. It’s fun, it’s frantic, and it’s very challenging to the newcomer.

That’s why we thought we’d put together this handy little guide to help ease you into the new mode. We’ll provide you with a bunch of tips that should help improve your game.

How Gunfight Works

Before we move onto our tips, let’s just take a few moments to explore how Gunfight works. It’s a 2v2 mode that’s intense and fast-paced. All four of you have the same, identical loadout and the goal is to win six rounds before the opposing team. Usually, a round ends when a team has been wiped out, but on the rare occasion that this doesn’t happen within the first few seconds a flag appears that you can capture instead. If neither of those two objectives haven’t been passed after a few more seconds the round ends and the winner is the team that has the most health left.

The maps are absolutely tiny so it’s incredibly rare that a round will end without at least one team falling to a hail of bullets almost instantaneously. In fact, on certain maps you practically spawn right in front of each other, and a simple move left or right at the beginning of the round puts you right in the firing line. Basically, if you really just want a fast-paced mode that puts the shooting first, Gunfight is the mode for you.

Adapt Your Strategy to Your Gun

Each round of Gunfight provides you with a different gun, and it’s best to adapt your approach to the weapon. Here’s our recommended strategies depending on the weapon:

• Assault Rifles: Separate and try and outflank the enemy. Stay on the move, using cover, and don’t get too close. Assault Rifles shine in the mid-range.
• SMGs: Rush. Get up close and personal with the enemy and allow your superior fire rate and mobility to dominate. You do not want to allow your opponent to fight you from a distance.
• Shotgun: You can either find a decent spot to camp or perform the same method as SMGs. Either way, just try not to be seen before you’re very close. Stay down and use cover.
• LMGs: Adopt a similar strategy to the Assault Rifle, though ideally you don’t want to move as much. Find a safe spot to mount your gun and fire endlessly without worrying about recoil – just make sure your teammate is watching your back.
• Marksman Rifles: The same strategy as Assault Rifles or Sniper Rifles works here. You don’t want to get too close, as these weapons perform best at range.
• Sniper Rifles: Camp. Unless you’re very confident about your aim, it’s best to find a safe spot to bed in and allow your enemy to come to you. Go prone, find cover, and don’t let shame get in the way. Keep an eye on the flag though, as your opponent might use this is an opportunity to grab it.

Play With a Friend

Naturally, you’ll have a lot more success if you play with a friend rather than a random. Communication is key in Gunfight, as you’ll want to actually adopt a strategy to overcome your opponent. Use a headset and actually talk to your friend. Let them know as soon as you see movement and act as their eyes if you die. Play different roles. Distract enemy’s with fire and let your teammate flank them, or rush in together and go all guns blazing.

Keep Moving (But Use Cover)

Gunfight is a fast-paced game mode, and unless you have a weapon that favors remaining stationary (LMG or Sniper Rifle) it’s best to keep moving. A moving target is more difficult to hit, after all. That being said, you’ll want to move while also using cover, as the maps are so small that you’re going to be spotted eventually.

Use a Headset and Listen Carefully

This slightly counters our above tip to play with and talk to a friend, but we also recommend you wear a headset to help you better hear your opponents. If you can hear them, you’ll have a better idea of where they’re coming from.

Don’t Neglect Your Equipment

That’s right, you have equipment, including flash bangs, smoke grenades, regular grenades, and more. Take a quick glance as the round starts to check what you have available and don’t be afraid to use it. Chuck that flashbang ahead or use the smoke grenade to provide cover. Cook and throw your frag grenade and throw it forward at the beginning of the round and you might catch an opponent off-guard.

Get to Know the Maps

This is important in all modes of Modern Warfare but perhaps even more so in Gunfight. You, and ideally your friend, should know the map intricately. It helps that they’re not very big, so it shouldn’t take you too long to create a mental map, but it will pay dividends. You’ll know the best places to approach an enemy from and where they’re probably moving to as we speak.

Grab the Flag or Use it as Bait

If the round doesn’t end in mere seconds in a storm of bullets, a flag will appear that you can grab as an alternate method of beating your opponents. This can work in your favor, as you could try and sneak and camp near the flag spawn, but it can also result in your failure, as your opponent can do the same thing.

Increase Your Sensitivity

Gunfight is incredibly fast-paced, and enemies can pop up from anywhere on the tiny map. We found it really helps to turn your sensitivity up, as that allows you to aim quicker, potentially giving you a few extra milliseconds to bring them down. Every millisecond counts in Modern Warfare, due to its incredibly fast time to kill.