I. Overview
II. What Do I Use?!
III. Damages
IV. Playing Styles
V. General Tactics
VI. Secondary’s
VII. Preferred Perks / equipment
VIII. Kill Streaks
IX. Sniping For Noobs
X. Tests
I. Overview:
A sniper or marksman is usually a marksman that shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles. In addition to marksmanship, military snipers are also trained in camouflage, field craft, infiltration, reconnaissance and observation techniques. (according to Wikipedia)
I really enjoy sniping, its basically all I do. I enjoy knowing that the enemy has little chance at combating against me (if im far enough away). I’m more of a traditional sniper. I don’t run around with a (excuse my language) GayCog attached to a barrette and think im “1337 Pro” when I no-scope a guy. No I do what most “jealous guys” would like to call “camping” and “Hard-Scoping”.
Sniping generally involves a Sniper scope attached to the top of usually a rifle.
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II. WHAT DO I USE?!:
I personally like all Sniper rifles in this game, some of you say, “how could you like X? Its soooo weak!”. Not at all actually. All Sniper rifles serve a purpose in this game, some don’t fit other peoples playing styles and so they are immediately labeled “bad”.
Intervention M200:
- The only Bolt Action Rifle in this game.
- 5 round mag.
- slowest firing rate
- 2nd Highest damage
My thoughts on this sniper:
The M200 is a great sniper, but it is not the strongest sniper. This only makes sense because it does not fire the same bullet as the Barrette 50 cal. Anyway this is a GREAT sniper for anyone, but the way I see it, NEW snipers would benefit from it the most. Why? Because of its Firing rate. “But it’s the slowest” you say. Why yes it is, that is what makes it so good for new snipers. Its Slow Firing Rate forces the player to make the FIRST shot count.
If you want to get really good at pulling off 1 shot kills, this is the sniper for you.
Available Attachments:
- Silencer
- Heart Beat Sensor
- ACOG scope
- Thermal Scope
- Full Metal Jacket Rounds (FMJ)
- Extended Magazines (im pretty sure ext. mags. Double any guns round capacity per mag.)
Barrette 50 Caliber:
-The high powered sniper of this game, it is the strongest sniper in the game, and also the First of 3 Semi-Auto Sniper Rifles in this game.
- 10 round Mag.
- High fire rate
- Highest Damage
My thoughts on this Sniper:
The 50 Cal. Is a great starting sniper, and quite frankly my #1 sniper rifle. With this guns faster firing rate you can take out multiple targets at once no problem. But it does have High Recoil.
Available Attachments:
- Silencer (even though that is physically impossible in real life)
- Heart Beat Sensor
- ACOG scope
- Thermal Scope
- Full Metal Jacket Rounds (FMJ)
- Extended Magazines
WA2000:
- The first Semi-Auto you unlock with very little recoil!
- 6 round Mag.
- High firing rate
- decent damage
My thoughts:
Im going to be totally honest here. I am not to fond of the WA2000… Why? You ask? Im not really sure, maybe I just have not given it enough time, or have had enough success. Anyway it’s a good gun, its low recoil, fast fire rate make it very good for taking out multiple enemies. Even at closer ranges than usual.
Available Attachments:
- Silencer
- Heart Beat Sensor
- ACOG scope
- Thermal Scope
- Full Metal Jacket Rounds (FMJ)
- Extended Magazines
M21 EBR
-The last unlocked Sniper Rifle in this game
- 10 round Mag.
- Super High rate of Fire
- lesser damage
my thoughts:
FANTASTIC is the M21, even though the M21 is really just an M14 with a scope that is besides the point. This gun can function with any attachment and any perk. Its fantastic at all ranges. Even close range. Due to its low recoil.
Here is a quick snip of Vid that really does not do this tank Just-Us:
Available Attachments:
- Silencer
- Heart Beat Sensor
- ACOG scope
- Thermal Scope
- Full Metal Jacket Rounds (FMJ)
- Extended Magazines
FAL:
-Why not? Lets label the FAL the M1 Garand of MW2.
- 20 round mag.
- Super High Firing Rate
- good damage
My thoughts:
This is the only Semi-Auto Assault Rifle in this game… so lets give it some just-us. The best part about this gun is that you can kill a person with 1 shot to the head (provided you use Stopping power). Throw a thermal or ACOG scope and you can treat this gun just like a Sniper rifle.
Available Attachments:
- Red Dot Sight
- EO-Tech Sight
- Silencer
- Heart Beat Sensor
- ACOG scope
- Thermal Scope
- Full Metal Jacket Rounds (FMJ)
- Extended Magazines
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III. Damages:
Now moving on to damages. I will be referring to this video, I would like to thank CFI Don’t Stab You for recording:
Vid Containing Sniper Damages WITH Stopping Power:
>>>SP:
Vid Containing Sniper Damages WITHOUT Stopping Power:
>>>CB:
(please note that in core you have 100 health, and in Hardcore you have 30)
Alright its all about where you hit your target. As you can see In that link the higher you go up on a person, the higher the damage multiplier:
-Any hits in the legs or arms is a 1.0 damage multiplier. (so nothing)
-Any hits in the guts or abdomen is a 1.1 damage multiplier.
-Any hits in the chest or collar bone OR head is a 1.5 damage multiplier.
(this only pertains to Sniper Rifles, the FAL is different, but holds the same principle)
• So what does this mean? It means if you hit them in the center body WITH stopping power on, it’s a 1 shot kill. And if you hit them in the chest or above WITHOUT stopping power on, it’s a 1 shot kill. (Excluding the *gasp* M21 for some reason)
• So what you can see from the Videos you unlock the most powerful sniper rifles right off the bat. And for some reason the M21 (which is the last unlock, is infact the weakest!)
Simply put, aim for the chest or above:
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IV. Playing Styles:
To me there are 4 ways to use a sniper. “Camp” “Run and Gun” a thing I like to call “mobile camping” and Scouting.
Camping: this involves going to 1 spot and holding that position for the whole game. This can be very effective if you find the right “nest”. What you need for this to work out well are Claymores. Simply put, they cover your rear so that you can focus on what is in front of you.
Finding your nest is half the battle, don’t pick obvious spots that will get you killed (IE: Afghan’s Cliffside). Pick places a bit off the beaten trail, or places that overlook that beaten trail. Try to look for Shadows, they help conceal you so that the enemy cannot see and find you.
Once you have found that special spot, place Claymores on your flanks and wait. I suggest Scavenger, Stopping Power / Cold Blooded, and Steady Aim Pro ( to get that 1 good shot off)
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Run and Gun: I personally don’t do this much but it can be affective. You should probably use a sniper with an ACOG scope and Sleight of Hand Pro.
Check out this Vid, fairly helpful:
Like what was shown in the Vid, take your time with the shot. Your guy (especially in Core) can take quite a few shots, so just take your time. And I suggest stopping power, sleight of hand Pro / Scavenger and Steady Aim.
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Mobile Camping: This is something I really enjoy. And I tend to go between this method and the “camping” method. What you generally do is try flanking the enemy hard left or hard right in the beginning of a match. Then you sit and wait, just like “camping” get a few kills and then move up. You might want to have a equipment like tactical insertion, this allows you to get behind the enemy and stay behind the enemy. I personally like making circles around Wasteland using this method. The perks I use for this method include: Scavenger / Marathon Pro, Cold Blooded Pro, and Ninja Pro. This allows you to go through out the entire map unseen and undetected.
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Scouting: another favorite. So this method basically involves stalking your prey. You you might want to add a silencer to keep you from getting noticed, for that might make the “pack” of players trying to find your position. You basically just go around the map find the enemy and tell your comrades. Your like an infinite Recon Plane, it can be very helpful and your allies just might thank you. You might not get as many kills as you would like though. I would suggest the same perks as Mobile Camping: Marathon, Cold Blooded, Ninja Pro.
__________________ CaMp <~~~~ Cry Alittle More Please
Last edited by D0ntT4seMeBr0; 07-21-2010 at 02:46 PM.
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to D0ntT4seMeBr0 For This Useful Post:
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V. General Tactics:
Now we apply both the damage sections and Methods section.
When sniping don’t just shoot the first guy you see. He may not be alone, asses the situation Every Time. Look out and find your opponents, if theres two people running around and you notice that one has an SMG and another has a Sniper Rifle. Common sense tells you to shoot the sniper first… right? Kill those who can kill you easier first to guarantee your survival.
Playing with your enemy in this way can really tic them off and throw off their “game”. By putting on a Silenced Sniper, and hurting but maybe not killing the enemy, this might make them too scared to get out of cover or go for the next flag. And they won’t know where you are!
And don’t forget about your trusty sidearm. Don’t think you’re some “leet, pro, no-scoper” hell I know im not. That Secondary Weapon will save your life time and time again, because lets face it, you will eventually be found thanks to those darn Kill Cams. Just don’t forget it is there in your pocket!
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VI. Secondary’s:
Well you can’t really go wrong with any Secondary’s in this game, but ill narrow it down.
But there is one thing I will tell you: Do NOT put a Launcher on your sniper class… Not even the thumper. Why? Because even the thumper won’t defend you well against enemies that manage to flank or get to close to you.
Machine Pistols:
PP2000- Quality side arm. This gun has both low recoil and a large clip size, something both the TMP and G18 lack. (G18 = recoil / TMP = low clip size)
M93 Raffica- An odd 3 round burst side arm, Think of it as a Mini M16, because it’s just as strong. With this thing silenced you can easily get into the enemies base and then start sniping them in and around there. If an enemy is in your #1 camp spot you can take them out quickly with this gun.
Shot Guns:
-Truly ANY shotgun is a fantastic choice. They all have their perks, but one defiantly sticks out for me:
SPAS-12- Say hello to the new Model 1887 boys. Not only does this gun have near equal range (especially with a grip), it also has plenty of attachments to make it able to adapt to many situations.
Hand Guns:
M9- Fantastic when silenced. If you want to keep a low profile, this is the gun for you. Its fairly large clip size and minimal, if at all, recoil makes it a great side arm for a sniper.
44. Magnum- If you are looking for power this will do the trick. Even though it only holds 6 rounds you only need 2-3 to kill an enemy. Its manageable recoil is 10X better than the Desert Eagle’s. (Again the Deagle sucks in this game too! [Opinion])
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VII. Preferred Perks:
Although I mentioned a few perks in the “methods” section. I think I will go through all of Perks that I use / I suggest you should use when sniping.
>>>Blue Perks:
Marathon: The NEW Extreme Conditioning… But 10X better! Now you can run forever, making it even EASIER to get to that perfect position even faster. Typically the enemy wont expect a sniper to have this perk on, so use that to your advantage from time to time. Marathon Pro allows you to climb obstacles faster! Making even easier to get to that camp spot or flanking position.
Scavenger: Infinite ammo and equipment? Hurray! Thanks to Scavenger now you can see what no one else can see! Little blue purses that issued to every soldier of every faction… for some reason. In these little purses is anything and everything that will keep you going. This perk just might be a sniper’s best friend! Scavenger Pro allows the player to spawn with full ammo. Think of it as the new Bandolier.
Sleight of Hand: Need some faster reloading? Are there several enemies trying to break down your Fortress of Solitude? … or are you just a bad shot and need to reload constantly? Here is the perk for you! Sleight of Hand Pro allows you to Aim Down your Sights (ADS) faster. This might be helpful if you want to pull off a quick scope in Close Quarters Combat (CQC).
One Man Army: I just recently started using this perk and lets just say that I am impressed. This perk is the New Overkill, allowing you to switch to any class, but having to sacrifice your secondary weapon. I only have this on one class. Its great because you can switch to a rocket class mid sniping if there is an AC130 in the air. Or what have you.
>>>Red Perks:
Stopping Power: Very useful in Core. This allows you, like stated before, to get a 1 shot kill if you hit your target in the Center Body. You waist less bullets taking out the enemy I guess would be the #1 reason for using this. With Stopping Power Pro, you can even take out Air Support easier… but at most I only recommend shooting down UAV’s with a sniper class.
Cold Blooded: My favorite perk ever in the history of history. I personally don’t like the enemy knowing where I am. This perk helps you get behind the enemy lines very easy. And allows you to stay in a general area without the enemy ever pinpointing your exact location. I personally have it on all my classes. With Cold Blooded Pro there is NO red name over your body, and NO red reticule. I can’t tell you how many times idiots run right past me thinking im on their side. I reward them with a knife to the back.
Hard Line: Not getting those kill streaks fast enough? Not getting any kill streaks at all? Then this is the perk for you. Lets face it snipers will (usually) not be on the top of the list as far as kills go. So sometimes using this perk might help you gain what you must faster, to better the team, or yourself. Hard Line Pro allows you to take 1 less death for a death to take effect.
>>>Green Perks:
Steady Aim: Good for the “run and gun” snipers. It allows you to react to situations quickly, because some times there isn’t enough time to hold that Left Trigger. Steady Aim allows you to have higher hip fire accuracy. And then you have Steady Aim Pro. This is the NEW Iron Lungs! I see a lot of snipers using this. It allows you to hold your breath for a longer period of time!
Ninja: My favorite Green Perk. This combined with Cold Blooded makes you the invisible man. You can go ANYWHERE undetected, and that kind of freedom allows you to assist your allies by getting behind enemy flanks and doing stuff like Reconnaissance. Just watch out for explosives! Ninja Pro just adds on to that freedom. Ninja Pro is indeed this games “Dead Silence”, you basically have no footstep sound!
Sit Rep: I use this when it’s unlocked (sometimes). It allows you to know exactly where all explosives are. Very helpful if at least one team member has it on. This allows you to move around the map freely and help spot explosives that are either at the enemies flanks or near a flag. Sit Rep Pro makes enemies footsteps even louder! Making it easy to know where they are so you can either avoid them… or flank them if you so choose.
>>>Equipment:
-Don’t use Frags, Semtex, Blast Shields or C4. The sniper is usually on D-fence!
Claymores: The Snipers BEST FRIEND! People cry that there is only 1 claymore that you can place… WRONG! Remember Scavenger is your best friend! You can place 2 Claymores at a time and continue to place them thanks to Scavenger. These help you defend your flanks so that you can focus on your front.
Tactical Insertions: Do you NEVER want to leave that dream camping spot? Does it take forever to do a series of jumps to get to a certain area? Now you can place a TI down and stay there. Note that the enemy will wait by your TI waiting for you to spawn… so place them in places that would not typically be visible.
Tactical Knife: Yes you heard me. I have this on my Ghost Sniper class. If you want to flank the enemy HARD you might want this on. It’s a fantastic way to take out campers quietly from a distance.
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VIII. Kill Streaks:
-Now this will differ from person to person. I will tell you now that I have gotten 2 Nukes by Sniping. Once was with the Barrette 50 Cal. With Cold Blooded. And another was with the M21 (silenced) with Cold Blooded.
It Depends on what you are trying to achieve. Are you a Team player? Then put on UAV. Are you for yourself then go with a 5, 7, 11 KS.
If you are trying to defend your little sniping self, then put on a Turret. Seriously these guys are like a 3rd Claymore.
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IX. “Sniping for noobs”:
I would suggest looking at the “camping” section of this post. Just a little above this.
Camping is how I started back in CoD 3, it can be very effective, just like stated above, if you camp in the right spot.
As for perks I would use:
*Scavenger Pro (all the ammo you need!)
*Stopping power (making it easier to get the kill)
*Steady aim Pro (this gives you all time in the world to get the shot off, and by all the time in the world I mean +5 seconds added onto the breath holding original time)
If you have the WA200 or M21 unlocked, I would use these. It allows you to get another shot off if you missed the first one. If you don’t have those use the Intervention.
Just take your time and focus.
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X. Testing:
Well I thought i might as well do some testing of my own.
<(please post any theorys that you would like for me to test [sniping related] or post what you have personally tested yourself)>
CFI DontStabYou and I Tested (as you can see above) the various sniper damages. We used NO attachments for all the snipers and we used Stopping power for the first run. Then we used Cold Blooded for the second run.
Nice guide, thanks to SCO Hi11Bi11y
__________________ CaMp <~~~~ Cry Alittle More Please
Last edited by D0ntT4seMeBr0; 07-21-2010 at 02:48 PM.
Very good guide. The only thing I have to comment against it is: The FAL is NOT the only Semi-Automatic Assault Rifle. Both The M16 and the Famas are also Semi-Automatic.
On top of that, at least from my experience in the Marines, nobody uses the M16 on burst (the way Call of Duty has it setup). It's used like the FAL, or rather a single shot weapon. But regardless, it is still semi-automatic weapon. Any who, that's besides the point.
Great job on this guide. I didn't read everything, but from what I saw, it looks very-wisely done. Hopefully this will convince people to try actual sniping instead of this no-scoping stuff.
as a camping, hard-scoping purist (none of that quick scoping BS please, thank you) i do like your sniping guide. I know why I don't like the WA2000. it has too big of an on screen profile, takes up too much room on the screen, giving you a huge blind spot where enemies who are hiding or crouching won't be seen til they've nailed you. some maps are great for sniping (wasteland, storm, etc.) but others are not. I do have to say my favorite sniper is the Barret. always was in CoD4 too.
M9- Fantastic when silenced. If you want to keep a low profile, this is the gun for you. Its fairly large clip size and minimal, if at all, recoil makes it a great side arm for a sniper.
The M9 is glitched. When you silence it you still show up on the radar. There is no purpose to using the silencer on this pistol unless you have cold-blooded on. Otherwise you are just reducing the damage.
Sniping Guide
Linear Mode
