Call of Duty: Warzone has been getting a lot of flack lately for its notorious cheating problem, and it doesn’t seem to be going away. Activision is currently in the process of instituting massive ban waves to try and deal with the fallout, but history has shown this is easier said than done. Cheaters are generally the bane of the online community, to put it mildly, and will quickly tank the fun factor on any server that’s unlucky enough to host them.
However, that’s not to say a cheater is responsible for one’s less-than-stellar performance in Warzone. Just like any modern FPS shooter, a number of factors can mean the difference between battlefield supremacy and the polar opposite. So, how can one tell if they’re the victim of a cheater, or if they’re simply a bad player? Let’s find out.
10 Cheaters Have Abnormally High Kill Counts
One of the first methods of judging whether there’s a cheater in your midst is to check the multiplayer scoreboard. If this individual is racking up kills every few seconds while eluding gunfire, chances are they’re using cheating methods. Some cheaters have attempted to throw suspicious players off their scent by purposely limiting their kills to give the impression of balance.
This method is not foolproof. There are some players who are absolutely legendary and possess fast reflexes and top-notch skills honed through abnormally long hours of gameplay. Still, it should be the first thing one looks for before rooting out any other potential signs of cheating.
9 Bad Players Need Practice
Many gamers enter Warzone believing that the skills they’ve accrued through single-player campaigns are enough to net them a high rank on the score charts. In truth, battling against AI NPCs is nothing compared to going up against real-life opponents.
Once the human factor is injected into the equation, one can quickly become crushed by the harsh reality that they’re nowhere near the best Warzone player on the books. In fact, there’s a strong chance they’re not the best in their neighborhood! Practice makes perfect.
8 Cheaters Use Aimbots
Aimbots come in a variety of forms, but they’ve become more sophisticated throughout the years. Some aimbots are so well designed that they require a monthly subscription model to maintain. Aimbots can be purchased for many AAA multiplayer titles, but the function is nearly always the same.
These cheats allow unscrupulous players to target their foes with imprecision, allowing the Aimbot to do the rest. Keep an eye out for an abnormally high percentage of headshots, as most Aimbots lock onto the head in order to score a quick kill.
7 Bad Players Lack Strategy
Every multiplayer gamer who first fired up a new game has been dropped into unfamiliar territory without proper knowledge of the terrain, or the gameplay. As such, it’s no wonder they get sniped after stepping foot off the landing area.
The key to winning in Warzone is dying, coming back, dying again, rinse and repeat. It really is that simple. As one grows to understand the nature of the game, they’ll start implementing new tactics and strategies to stay alive longer, inch forward further, and start racking up those kills.
6 Cheaters Use Wall Hacks
Another infamous tool used by cheaters is the wallhack, which follows the same principle as Aimbots. These too can be purchased for a subscription fee or downloaded from nefarious cheating websites to give players a blatantly unfair advantage in a fight.
Wallhacks render metadata on the user’s HUD that allows them to see the precise location of every player on the map, even through walls. If players find themselves ambushed by the same player who seems to conveniently know just when to strike, that’s an indicator. Wallhacks come in several other forms as well, including the ability to pass or shoot through walls.
5 Bad Players Need To Hone Their Reflexes
Speed is another key ingredient in winning at Warzone, and it’s no different from any other multiplayer FPS title. Split-second reflexes can mean the difference between life and death, especially during a heated firefight when both players are attempting to dodge each other’s gunfire while trying to zero in for the kill.
Much like strategy, gamers need to continuously hone their reflexes against FPS vets who have graduated from the master class. Different tactics such as alternate strafing are recommended on top of controlling one’s emotions. Adrenaline is a wonderful thing, but without a cool head, it’s easy to lose focus.
4 Cheaters Know When You’re Aiming At Them
Warzone cheats also involve the use of certain kinds of ESP hacks that give players proximity alerts when enemies are getting too close. This gives them another layer of unfair advantage over the competition by allowing them to prepare for an oncoming attack.
Other variants of this hack will notify cheaters when another player is targeting them. This means that even if other players attempt to attack from behind, the cheater will realize what is happening, and can evade gunfire. Look for abnormal behavioral patterns while scoping a potential cheater. It could be a dead giveaway.
3 Bad Players Might Need Better Peripherals
It’s arguable whether a mechanical gaming keyboard is absolutely vital for scoring in the high ranks of multiplayer titles, but one should still make sure they have decent peripherals to play with. Sometimes the right mouse can make all the difference when it comes to aiming, which is why it’s important to test out different models.
Players should also tweak their mouse and other peripheral settings to make sure they’re optimized for that person, specifically. Out-of-box presets and settings may be doing more harm than they realize, which is why tweaking and optimizing peripherals can help players react faster. If you’re playing on consoles and the standard controller isn’t working, consider picking up a third party pad.
2 Cheaters Tend To Brag
Though not always a smoking gun, many cheaters will brag openly about their exploits over chat in an attempt to troll and enrage other players. Sometimes, great gamers are simply arrogant, but oftentimes a cheater looks for an excuse to rile up fellow players, which should be analyzed.
Cheaters are no strangers to gaslighting when accused of cheating, either. They will openly insinuate cheating without actually admitting it. Some players even take screen names reflecting this, such as “Hackusations Incoming,” which may or may not be an attempt to gaslight the community.
1 Bad Players Need To Chill
Speaking of hackusations, sometimes gamers become so riled up by their failures that they end up compounding them even more. Warzone is a sprawling multiplayer game with a lot going on. Those yearning to rush into a firefight and claim multiple kills might become frustrated by the need for patience and strategy.
When overwhelmed by this frustration, gameplay ends up suffering. As a result, players end up pursuing rash tactical choices in an attempt at revenge. It’s even worse if one particular player keeps mowing them down. While it’s very possible such a player is using cheats, it might also be a case where cooler, calmer, and more strategic heads will prevail.
NEXT: The 10 Best WW2 Multiplayer Games
