Discover our guide and tips to get started and secure that coveted victory medal in Call of Duty BO4’s Battle Royale mode.
Landing and Looting
In typical Battle Royale fashion, Blackout invites players to parachute into their chosen area. A helicopter will take you across the map in a straight line, with its trajectory changing from match to match. You’ll be equipped with a wingsuit that allows you to cover distance in the air. The parachute deploys automatically at a low altitude to slow your descent and prevent deadly falls.
To maximize your distance while using the wingsuit, reach a speed of 60 meters per second by pointing towards the ground, then stabilize yourself in the air. Be cautious not to tilt backward, as this will only slow your descent.
The loot is abundant in the Battle Royale map of Black Ops 4, meaning there’s no specific area needed to find quality gear and powerful weapons. If you wish to avoid early confrontations at your landing spot, dropping outside of towns won’t penalize you in terms of gear, weapons, or attachments.
Weapons and Equipment
You can equip up to two primary weapons in Blackout. Beyond the early moments of your match, you will rarely face close-range duels. Shotguns and submachine guns should not be prioritized outside the early game, with the exception of the GKS, which offers reasonable range.
Favor precise, automatic assault rifles to avoid a disadvantage in close-quarters combat, with the ICR topping the list. Your secondary weapon should be a sniper rifle, a lethal choice for the late game due to its firepower and ability to keep enemies at a distance. Keep a submachine gun handy if you can’t find a sniper.
Your inventory has five slots for weapon attachments, healing items, grenades, or perks. The backpack adds five additional slots. Ammunition is stored separately and does not affect your inventory capacity.
For attachments, long-range scopes (x2, x3, etc.) are essential for one of your rifles if you lack a sniper. Any other attachments are beneficial if you have open slots on your weapon. To quickly unequip all attachments from one gun and equip them onto another, simply select “drop and remove” on the gun in the inventory while holding the square button (or X on Xbox).
Perks enhance your abilities for a limited duration. Many are situational and may not be worth storing. Favor: Dead Silence, a must-have that’s useful at any time, and Engineer or Paranoia, which can help you detect enemies and vehicles or inform you when you’re being targeted.
Health and Armor
Like in PUBG, Blackout players can equip themselves with level 1, 2, or 3 armor, providing protection against a few bullets before taking damage. Three types of healing items are available: bandages, kits, and med packs, usable with the L1 button.
Bandages can fully restore your health if you have enough of them, and unlike most Battle Royale games, you can heal while sprinting.
Vehicles
Extremely loud, the various vehicles on the map serve more as a means of transportation from point A to B rather than genuine strategic tools. The awkward driving mechanics on often rugged terrain don’t lend themselves to taking advantage of vehicle mobility against a rival team.
You can stash weapons and gear in trucks, turning them into a mobile arsenal.
Movement
Similar to the multiplayer mode in Black Ops 4, players can sprint indefinitely and slide. You can also jump through windows by breaking them, an effective tactic for speeding up looting phases or ambushing opponents in buildings. Numerous ladders are scattered throughout the map; to slide down without injuring yourself, position yourself facing the rungs.
Most building doors can be opened, except for barricaded ones. Shutters and garage doors can also be opened.
The zone management is significantly easier than in other Battle Royale games; it inflicts little damage during the majority of the game, and the ability to heal while moving makes it nearly impossible to die from simple zone damage. A marker located beneath the mini-map allows you to assess your positioning between the gas zone and the safe circle without needing to check the map.
Soldiers, you seem well-equipped to secure your first medal in Blackout! You now have the theoretical knowledge; it’s time to let your skill and survival instinct take over.
