Baiting and trading kills are advanced tactics that leverage enemy aggression and predictable behavior to gain an advantage in gunfights. Baiting involves intentionally exposing yourself briefly or making a sound to draw an enemy out of cover or into a disadvantageous position. For instance, a player might peek a common angle on a map like Rooftop, knowing an enemy is likely holding it, and then quickly retreat. The enemy, seeing this perceived opportunity, might push out, exposing themselves to your teammates or a pre-aimed position. This requires a good understanding of enemy tendencies and map flow. A successful bait often leads to a trade, where you or a teammate eliminate the baited enemy, but not before taking some damage or even being eliminated yourself.
Trading kills is the act of ensuring that if you are eliminated, you take an enemy with you. This is most effective when coordinated with your team. If you engage an enemy and know you are likely to lose the gunfight, you can call out their position to a teammate who can then capitalize on the engagement. For example, if you are in a 1v1 on the objective in Lockdown and are losing, you can try to inflict as much damage as possible and then communicate the enemy's health and position to a teammate who can then secure the kill and trade your life. This prevents the enemy team from gaining a significant advantage in numbers. A common mistake is to bait too aggressively, leading to an easy kill for the enemy without any benefit, or to engage in a losing fight without communicating, resulting in a lost player and no trade. Effective baiting and trading require strong communication, map awareness, and an understanding of when to push and when to disengage. These tactics are crucial for maintaining map control and winning rounds, especially in objective-based modes like Demolition.