Scoring & Ranking System — Call of Duty: World at War Guide

Scoring & Ranking System

In Call of Duty: World at War, understanding the scoring and ranking system is key to unlocking new weapons, perks, and equipment in multiplayer, and to achieving high scores in the campaign. Unlike an RPG, progression is primarily tied to your performance in competitive multiplayer matches, with a separate scoring system for the single-player campaign.

Multiplayer Rank Progression

Multiplayer in Call of Duty: World at War features a robust rank progression system. Players earn Experience Points (XP) by participating in matches, achieving kills, completing objectives, and performing various in-game actions. Accumulating XP allows you to climb through 65 military ranks, starting as a Private and culminating in Commander. Each new rank unlocks access to specific weapons, perks, and killstreaks, enhancing your loadout options and strategic capabilities.

Earning Experience Points (XP) in Multiplayer

XP is the primary currency for multiplayer progression. Focus on these actions to maximize your gains:

• Kills:
  • Standard Kill: 50 XP per enemy.
  • Headshot Kill: An additional 50 XP bonus (100 XP total). Precision is highly rewarded.
  • Melee Kill: 100 XP. Risky but provides a significant bonus.
  • Explosive Kill: 50 XP per enemy. Effective use of grenades or launchers against groups can yield multiple kill bonuses.
  • Killstreak Bonus: Earn escalating XP for rapid successive kills without dying. For example, a 3-killstreak might grant a bonus 100 XP, a 5-killstreak 200 XP, and so on.
• Objective Play:
  • Capturing a Flag (Domination): 200 XP. Actively participating in objective modes is crucial.
  • Defending a Flag (Domination): 100 XP per enemy killed while near your captured flag.
  • Planting/Defusing a Bomb (Search & Destroy): 250 XP. These high-stakes actions offer substantial rewards.
  • Killing the Flag Carrier (Capture the Flag): 100 XP.
  • Returning the Flag (Capture the Flag): 150 XP.
• Support Actions:
  • Assist: 20 XP for damaging an enemy who is then killed by a teammate.
  • Destroying Enemy Equipment: 50 XP for taking out tripmines, bouncing betties, or other deployables.
  • Destroying Enemy Killstreaks: Significant XP awarded for shooting down enemy planes (e.g., Recon Plane, Attack Dogs, Artillery Strike). This can range from 100-250 XP depending on the killstreak.
• Challenges:

  Completing various in-game challenges provides substantial one-time XP bonuses. These range from weapon-specific challenges (e.g., "Get 100 kills with the MP40") to game mode challenges (e.g., "Win 50 Team Deathmatch games"). Always check the 'Challenges' menu to see what you can work towards.

  • Weapon Challenges: Unlock attachments and earn XP for reaching kill milestones with specific weapons.
  • Perk Challenges: Earn XP for using perks effectively (e.g., "Get 50 kills while using the Juggernaut perk").
  • Game Mode Challenges: Reward participation and success in various multiplayer modes.
  • Career Challenges: Long-term goals that reward overall playtime and performance.

Multiplayer Rank Unlocks

As you gain ranks, you unlock access to new weapons, perks, and killstreaks. Here's a general overview of what unlocks at various stages:

Note: This table provides examples; specific unlocks may vary slightly.

Prestige System

Once you reach the maximum rank (Commander, Rank 65), you have the option to "Prestige." This resets your rank back to Private (Rank 1) and re-locks all your weapons, perks, and killstreaks. In return, you receive a unique Prestige Icon next to your name, showcasing your dedication, and unlock additional custom class slots. Prestige is purely cosmetic and for bragging rights, offering no direct gameplay advantages beyond the extra custom classes. There are 10 Prestige levels in World at War.

Campaign Scoring

The single-player campaign in Call of Duty: World at War also features a scoring system, though it does not contribute to your multiplayer rank. Your score is displayed at the end of each mission and is primarily based on:

• Kills: Each enemy killed contributes to your score.
• Headshots: Headshots provide a bonus to your score.
• Accuracy: Higher accuracy generally leads to a better score.
• Difficulty Multiplier: Playing on higher difficulties (e.g., Veteran) applies a significant multiplier to your final score, allowing for much higher totals.
• Mission Completion Time: Completing missions quickly can also contribute to a higher score.

While campaign scores don't unlock anything, they are a great way to challenge yourself and compare your performance with friends or on leaderboards.

Maximizing Your Score and Rank

To climb the ranks efficiently in multiplayer and achieve high campaign scores, adopt these strategies:

1. Play the Objective: In multiplayer, simply getting kills won't always win the game or maximize your XP. Actively capture flags, plant bombs, and defend objectives. Objective play often grants more XP than just kills alone.
2. Aim for Headshots: The bonus XP for headshots in both campaign and multiplayer is substantial. Practice your aim to consistently land these critical shots.
3. Complete Challenges: Regularly check your multiplayer challenges. Many offer thousands of XP for completion and are a fantastic way to boost your rank quickly. Focus on challenges that align with your playstyle.
4. Utilize Killstreaks Effectively: Learn when and where to deploy your Recon Plane for team support, or your Artillery Strike for clearing objectives. Effective killstreak use can lead to more kills and objective completions, thus more XP.
5. Experiment with Loadouts: Don't stick to just one weapon or perk. Experiment to find combinations that suit different maps and game modes. Mastering various weapons also helps complete weapon challenges.
6. Play on Higher Difficulties (Campaign): If you're aiming for high campaign scores, always play on Veteran difficulty. The score multiplier is essential for achieving top results.
7. Teamwork (Multiplayer): While not directly rewarded with XP for "reviving" or "supplying" teammates (as those mechanics don't exist in WaW's core gameplay), working as a team to control areas, share intelligence (via Recon Planes), and push objectives will lead to more wins and overall better personal performance, translating to more XP.

By understanding and applying these scoring and ranking principles, you'll not only progress faster through the multiplayer ranks but also become a more effective and valuable soldier on the battlefield, whether fighting alongside your squad online or pushing through the harrowing campaign.