Call of Duty: Ghosts multiplayer guide - advanced tips

Call of Duty: Ghosts Advanced Multiplayer Tips - Covering weapons, perks, strike packages and ideal load outs to fit any playing style.

Now that we've had a chance to experience Ghosts' multiplayer in detail it's time to kick things up a notch. No matter what your skill or experience level, we'll help you fine tune your game and move up the scoreboard.

Primary Weapons & Attachments

Choosing a primary weapon isn't necessarily an exact science. Like each individual player, weapons have their own unique characteristics. Choosing one that works for you is about lining up your play style with the strengths of your gun. If stealth is more your style, try the Honey Badger which comes unlocked with the game. It features a built in Silencer to help keep you off the mini map, and can still be modified with two additional attachments. If you like to be in the thick of the action, give one of the Submachine Guns a go. They won't be as effective at range, but their Fire Rate and Mobility will give you a leg up in the close quarters combat.

Each of the primary weapons allows for two attachments by default, and three if you equip the Extra Attachment perk, which isn't really ideal. Most players will burn one of these attachments with their Sight, which means they only have one left. Try sticking to just the iron sights. It may be a bit of an adjustment at first, but it allows you to focus on attachments that directly impact the performance of your weapon.

Let's take a look at some suggestions. For players that find themselves reloading immediately after getting a kill, try purchasing the Extended Mags attachment. Not only will this cut down on your reloads, but it will also allow you to take down multiple opposing players with one magazine. Lastly, if you're looking for an attachment that has nothing but upside, try Armor-Piercing. This will give your weapon a boost in Accuracy, Damage and Range. In a game that's decided by fractions of seconds and one bullet, these two attachments will give you the edge you need.

Finding the Right Perks

Sticking with the load out screen we're going to turn our attention to perks. Broken down into seven different categories with five perks in each, the possibilities are endless. Much like choosing your primary weapon, choosing your perk is all about playing to your strengths and minimizing your weaknesses. Each player has a total of eight points they can use towards their perks. Each one is given a point value based on their perceived impact in matches. For example, you could equip eight perks which each carry a point value of one, or you could equip two high powered perks each with a point value of four. Let's have a look at a couple of the standouts from each category.

The Speed category is all about, well, speed. Whether moving from cover to cover, reloading your weapon or aiming down sight, this is the category to help you get it done quickly. Building on our suggestion to use the Extended Mags, try Sleight of Hand to give you faster reloading. Or, there's the always popular Marathon, which in Ghosts gives players unlimited sprint.

Moving along to the Handling category there are a couple of options which cannot be ignored. Early in the game we have noticed that we can't reload while sprinting. Try On the Go to eliminate this and consider pairing it with Quickdraw for faster aiming. As we mentioned, being a game that is decided by the smallest of details, these will definitely give you a leg up.

Stealth is one of our favorite categories. You see, we have a knife only junkie on our team. Whether you simply want to move without being detected, or absolutely have to stay off the mini map to succeed, we have some options for you here. Dead Silence will allow you to move silently, making you harder to pick up through high quality headsets. Pair this with Off the Grid and you'll be immune to SAT COM and radar pings. We're going out on a limb and predicting the latter will be one of the most popular perks in the game.

The Awareness category is one of the most unsuspecting of the seven but features two very powerful options for any player. Scavenger makes its return allow you to resupply from dead players. This is one to consider for players aiming for high kill streaks. It is not uncommon to run out of ammo after five or six consecutive kills. If you've played a few games of multiplayer you know that the SAT COM is active almost the entire game. Try the Wiretap perk which will utilize all friendly and enemy SAT COMs on the field.

Two things that you can count on in Call of Duty is getting shot, and getting blown up. The Resistance category has a couple underrated options in Focus which not only reduces weapon sway but also keeps you from flinching when being shot. All of this amounts to a big boost in your ability to win gunfights. Blast Shield would be beneficial for those who prefer to rush into high traffic areas. Increasing your resistance to explosive damage, this perk will reduce your Fran Grenade and I.E.D. related deaths.

The Equipment category has options that will help build off our previous suggestions and neutralize others. Fully Loaded starts you off with maximum ammo capacity, which like Scavenger is best suited for the player aiming for the high kill streaks. At the same time, if you're a perimeter player who likes to target those in the thick of the action, Danger Close neutralizes Blast Shield by increasing the damage your explosives do.

Lastly we come to the appropriately named Elite category. Boasting some of the most attractive perks in the game, these are intended to put you over the top. For those hoping to reach the devastatingly high kill streaks, Hardline is a must. All kill streaks require one less kill, and every two assists counts as a kill. Combine this with the Deadeye perk, which causes consecutive kills to increase the amount of damage dealt, and the Loki kill streak within your grasp.

Strike Packages & Killstreaks

When choosing a Strike Package one must consider what type of player they are, and what their skill level is. Strike Packages are broken down in the Assault, Support and Specialist categories. Since Assault is all about killing opposing players, it's the most popular. However, depending on your style of play and skill level it may not be the best option. The Assault Strike Package is not persistent, which means that when you die, it resets. If you want to use Juggernaut Maniac you need ten consecutive kills. If you die at nine, you're starting from scratch.

If you're a an average skilled player (which mathematically most of us are) then consider lowering your Assault Strike package to more reasonable kill streaks. Try SAT COM (3 kills) to reveal enemy movement on the mini map. Equip the Guard Dog (5 kills) to watch your back and avenge your death. Finally, try the Trinity Rocket (7 kills) to engage ground targets with remote controlled missiles. What's the point in having a Strike Package that requires ten kills if you only earn it once a month?

Perhaps as a more casual player you are finding that even the smallest of kill streaks are hard to string together. Head on over to the Support Strike Package. This one is persistent which means that even if you die, the kills stack up. Just be warned that there isn't a lot in terms of offense here. Support, as the name suggests, is all about being a team player. You still have the very useful SAT COM, but it's followed by things such as the Ammo Crate to resupply teammates and Ballistic Vests to increase they resistance to damage. If you find that you're getting ten kills a game, but not consecutively, this is the perfect Strike Package for you.

Lastly, for the soldier that wants to maximize their individual skills there's Specialist. This isn't a Strike Package at all but rather an extension to your perks. Although it isn't persistent, meaning if you die it resets, this can be very useful. Rather than spend five points on Deadeye as one of your actual perks, you can use it as you first kill streak. Once you get two consecutive kills it will be equipped until you die. Although there are players who will find this useful, it is highly suggested that you stick with Assault and Support to maximize the benefits.

Suggested Load Out

To bring all of our information and suggestions full circle, we're going to outline a few load outs for you to try. Veteran and highly skilled players may already have their own preferences, but for most people who are still finding their way in Ghosts, this will give you a taste of everything. Plan to use these as a starting point and then fine tune it to fit your play style. Some of these suggestions may require you to unlock them as you progress through multiplayer.

Spec Ops

• Primary Weapon: Honey Badger (Extended Mags/Armor-Piercing)
• Secondary: M9A1
• Lethal: Throwing Knife
• Tactical: Smoke
• Perks: Sleight of Hand (2 points), Off the Grid (3 Points), Wiretap (3 points)
• Strike Package - Assault: SAT COM (3 kills), Guard Dog (5 kills), Trinity Rocket (7 kills)

Assaulter

• Primary Weapon: CBJ-MS (Foregrip/Extended Mags)
• Secondary: MP-443 Grach
• Lethal: Frag Grenade
• Tactical: Concussion
• Perks: Ready Up (1 point), Sleight of Hand (2 points), Marathon (2 points), Quickdraw (3 points)
• Strike Package - Support: SAT COM (4 kills), Ballistic Vests (6 kills), Oracle (14 kills)

Knife Only

• Primary Weapon: Combat Knife
• Secondary: None (Perk points increased from 8-10)
• Lethal: Throwing Knife
• Tactical: 9-Bang
• Perks: Agility (2 points), Marathon (2 points), Takedown (1 points), Dead Silence (2 points), Off the Grid (3 points)
• Strike Package - Specialist: Wiretap (2 kills), Resilience (4 kills), Ping (6 kills)