Multiplayer Maps Overview

Welcome, operative, to the comprehensive breakdown of Black Ops II's multiplayer battlegrounds. Mastering these maps is paramount to achieving victory, as each offers unique tactical advantages and challenges. This guide will delve into key strategies, power positions, and optimal loadouts for several prominent maps, ensuring you're always one step ahead of the enemy.

Hijacked

A luxurious superyacht serves as the setting for this fast-paced, close-quarters map. Hijacked is characterized by its tight corridors and limited cover, making it a haven for SMG and Shotgun users. Expect constant engagements and rapid objective changes.

• Central Deck: This open area is a high-traffic zone. Utilize the various crates and containers for cover. A well-placed Sentry Gun or Guardian can lock down one side, funneling enemies into your team's firing lines.
• Engine Room: Located below deck, this area is a labyrinth of machinery and pipes. It's ideal for flanking maneuvers. Consider equipping Dead Silence to move undetected through here. The small, enclosed spaces make Concussion Grenades or Flashbangs highly effective for disorienting opponents before pushing.
• Mid-Deck Corridors: These narrow passages connect the central deck to the cabins. Be wary of campers around corners. Pre-firing with an SMG like the MSMC or PDW-57 can give you the edge.
• Spawn Traps: On Hijacked, it's relatively easy to establish spawn traps, especially in game modes like Team Deathmatch. If your team controls the central deck and one side of the yacht, pushing into the enemy's spawn area near the helipad or the stern can lead to rapid eliminations. Be mindful of enemy UAVs that can reveal your position.
• Recommended Loadout:
  • Primary: MSMC with Fast Mag and Laser Sight.
  • Secondary: KAP-40.
  • Perks: Lightweight, Toughness, Dead Silence.
  • Lethal: Semtex.
  • Tactical: Concussion Grenade.

Raid

A sprawling mansion nestled in the Hollywood Hills, Raid offers a mix of open areas, tight interiors, and elevated positions. This map rewards strategic movement and map awareness, catering to a wider range of weapon types.

• Courtyard: The central courtyard is a major choke point and objective area. Control of the fountain and the surrounding cover is crucial. Snipers can utilize the elevated positions in the mansion's windows overlooking the courtyard.
• Mansion Interiors: The various rooms and hallways within the mansion provide excellent cover and opportunities for close-quarters engagements. The MP7 or Vector K10 excel here. Be cautious of enemies holding angles from doorways.
• Pool Area: This semi-open section offers some cover from the pool house and surrounding walls. It's a common flanking route for teams pushing from the lower spawns. A Combat Axe thrown from the balcony overlooking the pool can surprise unsuspecting enemies.
• Garage: The garage area, often an objective in Domination, provides limited cover but offers a direct route to the courtyard. Use Trophy Systems to protect objectives here from incoming grenades.
• Elevated Positions: The second-story windows of the mansion (e.g., overlooking the courtyard and the pool) are prime locations for snipers or players with assault rifles like the AN-94. However, these positions are vulnerable to flanking and well-placed grenades.
• Recommended Loadout:
  • Primary (AR): AN-94 with Red Dot Sight and Quickdraw Handle.
  • Primary (Sniper): DSR 50 with Ballistics CPU and Variable Zoom.
  • Secondary: B23R.
  • Perks: Flak Jacket, Scavenger, Engineer.
  • Lethal: Frag Grenade.
  • Tactical: Smoke Grenade (for pushing objectives).

Nuketown 2025

The iconic Nuketown returns with a futuristic twist. This tiny, chaotic map is a constant firefight, perfect for racking up kills and testing your reflexes. Expect extreme close-quarters combat and rapid scorestreak accumulation.

• Bus and Truck: These central vehicles are the primary points of contention. They offer minimal cover but are crucial for controlling the middle of the map. Expect constant grenade spam around these areas.
• Houses: Each team has a two-story house at their spawn. The second-story windows are excellent for overlooking the center, but are also prime targets for snipers and grenade launchers. Use Black Hat to hack enemy equipment placed in these windows.
• Backyards: The small backyards behind each house offer a flanking route, but are extremely exposed. Use Extreme Conditioning to sprint through quickly.
• Garage: The garage on each side offers a slightly more protected route to the center, but is still very tight. Shotguns like the Remington 870 MCS are devastating here.
• Scorestreak Management: Due to the small map size and constant engagements, scorestreaks are earned rapidly. Prioritize defensive streaks like the UAV and Counter-UAV, or offensive ones like the Lightning Strike to clear out the central area.
• Recommended Loadout:
  • Primary: Peacekeeper SMG (DLC) or MP7 with Extended Mags and Laser Sight.
  • Secondary: Executioner.
  • Perks: Hardline, Fast Hands, Tactical Mask.
  • Lethal: C4 (for quick area denial).
  • Tactical: Shock Charge.

Express

A modern train station with a high-speed bullet train passing through, Express is a medium-sized map featuring long sightlines and multiple levels. It encourages a balance of close-quarters and long-range engagements.

• Train Tracks: The central train tracks are a dangerous but often necessary route. Be aware of the periodic train that passes through, instantly killing anyone in its path. Use the train's passage to create diversions or block enemy sightlines.
• Station Interior: The main station building offers multiple levels and pathways. The upper walkways provide excellent vantage points over the tracks and the opposing side of the station. Snipers can find good positions here, but are vulnerable to flanking.
• Parking Lot: This open area outside the station offers limited cover. It's a common spawn point and a route to the station's side entrances. Assault Rifles like the FAL OSW or M8A1 perform well here.
• Ticket Booths: These small, enclosed areas offer cover and a good angle into the main station. They are often contested in objective game modes.
• Flanking Routes: Utilize the various side passages and stairwells to flank enemies holding down the main pathways. Awareness can help detect enemies attempting to flank you.
• Recommended Loadout:
  • Primary (AR): M8A1 with Quickdraw Handle and Stock.
  • Primary (SMG): Chicom CQB with Long Barrel and Fast Mag.
  • Secondary: Five-seven.
  • Perks: Ghost, Cold Blooded, Dexterity.
  • Lethal: Bouncing Betty (for covering flanks).
  • Tactical: EMP Grenade (to disable enemy equipment).

Remember, adaptability is key. Experiment with different loadouts and strategies on each map to find what works best for your playstyle and the current game mode. Good luck, soldier!