Multiplayer Game Modes

Welcome, Black Ops III operative! This detailed guide will walk you through the core Multiplayer Game Modes, offering actionable strategies and loadout recommendations to dominate the competition. Understanding each mode's objectives and adapting your playstyle is crucial for victory and maximizing your XP gains.

Team Deathmatch (TDM)

Objective: Be the first team to reach the score limit (typically 75 or 100 kills) or have the most kills when the timer expires. This is the quintessential Call of Duty experience, focusing purely on eliminating enemy players.

• Strategy:
  • Stick Together: While not a strict objective mode, moving with at least one teammate can significantly increase your chances of winning engagements and trading kills effectively.
  • Map Awareness: Pay close attention to the mini-map. Red dots indicate enemy gunfire, giving you vital information about their positions. Use this to flank or anticipate pushes.
  • Power Positions: Identify areas on each map that offer good sightlines and cover. For example, on Nuketown, controlling the upper windows of either house can provide a strong advantage. On Combine, the central elevated platform is often contested for its overview.
  • Scorestreaks: Focus on earning your Scorestreaks. A well-timed UAV can turn the tide, while a Hellstorm Missile or Lightning Strike can net multiple kills. Higher-tier streaks like the Wraith or HATR are game-changers.
• Recommended Loadout:
  • Primary Weapon: Versatile Assault Rifles like the Man-O-War (for range and damage) or the HVK-30 (for faster fire rate) are excellent choices. SMGs like the VMP or Kuda are great for aggressive, close-quarters play.
  • Attachments: Quickdraw, Stock, and Extended Mags are generally strong picks for most weapon types.
  • Perks: Ghost (to stay off enemy UAVs), Fast Hands (for quicker weapon swaps and equipment use), and Dead Silence (to mask your footsteps) are highly effective.
  • Specialist: Consider Ruin for his Gravity Spikes (multi-kill potential) or Prophet for his Tempest (chain-kill capability).

Domination

Objective: Capture and hold three designated flags (A, B, and C) across the map. Teams earn points for each flag they control, with more points awarded for holding two or three flags simultaneously. The first team to reach the score limit (typically 200 points) or have the most points when the timer expires wins.

• Strategy:
  • Control B Flag: The B flag is almost always central and the most contested. Securing and holding B is paramount for consistent point generation. On maps like Fringe, the B flag in the barn is a critical choke point.
  • Two Flags are Key: Aim to hold at least two flags at all times. Holding all three can lead to a "spawn trap" where the enemy is constantly pushed back, but be wary of overextending and flipping spawns.
  • Defend Caps: Don't just capture and run. Defend your captured flags, especially B. Use tactical equipment like a Trip Mine or Shock Charge to protect entry points.
  • Teamwork: Communicate with your team. Call out enemy positions on flags and coordinate pushes.
• Recommended Loadout:
  • Primary Weapon: Assault Rifles or LMGs like the Dingo or Gorgon are excellent for holding lanes and suppressing enemies on objectives. Shotguns like the KRM-262 can be devastating for defending flags in close quarters.
  • Attachments: Grip for LMGs, Fast Mags for quicker reloads when defending, and Suppressor for flanking routes.
  • Perks: Flak Jacket (to survive grenades on objectives), Tactical Mask (to resist tactical equipment), and Engineer (to see enemy equipment and Scorestreaks).
  • Specialist: Firebreak with his Purifier (clears objectives quickly) or Battery with her War Machine (area denial and multi-kills).

Hardpoint

Objective: Capture and hold a rotating "Hardpoint" location on the map. Teams earn points for every second they control the Hardpoint. The Hardpoint moves to a new location every 60 seconds. The first team to reach the score limit (typically 250 points) or have the most points when the timer expires wins.

• Strategy:
  • Pre-Rotate: Anticipate the next Hardpoint location. As the current Hardpoint timer winds down (around 15-20 seconds left), send a few teammates to the next location to get an early setup. On Evac, knowing the rotation from the central building to the lower courtyard is crucial.
  • Anchor the Point: One or two "anchor" inside the Hardpoint to accumulate points, while others defend the approaches.
  • Cut Off Rotations: Intercept enemies as they try to rotate to the next Hardpoint. Use grenades and tactical equipment to slow their advance.
  • Sacrifice for Time: Sometimes, diving onto the Hardpoint to contest it, even if you die, can buy crucial seconds for your team to regroup and push.
• Recommended Loadout:
  • Primary Weapon: SMGs like the Weevil or Razorback are excellent for aggressive pushes and close-quarters combat within the Hardpoint. Assault Rifles with good mobility can also work.
  • Attachments: Stock for increased mobility while aiming, Rapid Fire for higher damage output in tight spaces, and Extended Mags.
  • Perks: Overclock (to earn Specialist abilities faster), Hard Wired (immune to Counter-UAVs and EMPs), and Blast Suppressor (silent jumps for flanking).
  • Specialist: Reaper with his Scythe (devastating for clearing Hardpoints) or Seraph with her Annihilator (one-shot kill potential for clearing enemies off the point).

Search & Destroy (S&D)

Objective: Teams alternate between attacking and defending. The attacking team must plant a bomb at one of two designated bomb sites (A or B) and defend it until it detonates, or eliminate all enemy players. The defending team must prevent the bomb from being planted, defuse a planted bomb, or eliminate all enemy players. No respawns per round.

• Strategy:
  • Communication is Key: Call out enemy positions, bomb site pushes, and defuse attempts. This is arguably the most team-reliant mode.
  • Attackers:
    • Rush or Plant: Decide as a team whether to rush a bomb site aggressively or play for picks before planting.
    • Smoke Grenades: Essential for covering bomb plants and defuses. Throw one to conceal your actions.
    • Flanking: Use alternative routes to catch defenders off guard. On Infection, the church flank can be very effective.
  • Defenders:
    • Hold Angles: Set up crossfires and hold key angles overlooking bomb sites and common push routes.
    • Listen for Plants: The distinct sound of a bomb being planted is a critical cue.
    • Defuse Safely: If the bomb is planted, clear the area before attempting a defuse. Use a Trophy System if available to protect the defuser.
  • Economy: Every round matters. Play cautiously and prioritize staying alive.
• Recommended Loadout:
  • Primary Weapon: Snipers like the Locus or SVG-100 are powerful for holding long lines of sight. Assault Rifles with Suppressors are excellent for stealthy pushes.
  • Attachments: Suppressor (crucial for stealth), High Caliber (for faster kills), and Fast Mags.
  • Perks: Ghost, Dead Silence, and Awareness (to hear enemy footsteps more clearly).
  • Specialist: Outrider with her Vision Pulse (reveals enemy locations) or Spectre with his Active Camo (for stealthy bomb plants or defuses).

Kill Confirmed

Objective: Similar to Team Deathmatch, but kills only count towards your score if you collect the "Dog Tag" dropped by the fallen enemy. Collecting enemy tags adds to your team's score, while collecting friendly tags prevents the enemy from scoring. The first team to reach the score limit (typically 100 or 120 tags) or have the most tags when the timer expires wins.

• Strategy:
  • Prioritize Tags: Don't just go for kills; actively seek out and collect both enemy and friendly tags.
  • Risk vs. Reward: Sometimes, pushing into a dangerous area to grab a crucial tag is worth the risk.
  • Deny Tags: If a teammate dies in a vulnerable spot, try to collect their tag quickly to deny the enemy points.
  • Flank and Collect: Use flanking routes to get behind enemy lines and collect tags that they might be overlooking.
• Recommended Loadout:
  • Primary Weapon: Any weapon you are comfortable getting kills with. SMGs are good for quick movements to grab tags.
  • Attachments: Quickdraw, Stock, and Laser Sight (for hip-fire tag grabbing).
  • Perks: Scavenger (to resupply ammo after collecting tags), Fast Hands, and Hardwired.
  • Specialist: Nomad with his H.I.V.E. (can protect areas with tags) or Reaper with his Scythe (for clearing out areas around multiple tags).