Hello! My Name is Vampy! I'm a former semi professional Halo 2 player and I play for my own entertainment now. I've learned a lot in my tournaments in the most competitive console game of all time. I'd like to share some things I've noticed that are common mistakes and some tips and tricks. Some of you might not find these helpful, however, I hope at least someone finds some use in these.


Tips and Tricks to help you in any gametype:

Common Mistakes

• Rushing:If you're shooting a player and he turns the corner too fast to kill him whatever you do, DO NOT CHASE AFTER HIM AROUND THE CORNER! When put into this situation remember a few key points: he's hurt worse than you, he only has a few ways out of the situation, depending on what part of the maps he's on there's no more than a couple of ways for him to successfully get away, and also he's expecting the rush. What you want to try to do ESPECIALLY IN Search and Destroy is you want to wait. Camp. I know that sounds like a really cheap thing to do, however, by not rushing it causes the other player to panic and get scared. They don't know why you aren't rushing and they probably don't like it. If you don't want to camp try finding an alternate route to the room or area the enemy is in.
  
• Camping: I know this contradicts what I just said in my previous tip, but DO NOT CAMP UNLESS YOU HAVE A SPECTACULAR REASON TO! If you're in a 5v1 situation in Search and Destroy and want to camp a room, that's fine. Camping a CORNER however is NEVER GOOD. There are literally NO PLACES in this game where you can only be shot from one way. When it comes to camping, go into a roam mode. Roam around the room carefully checking places or roam around a certain area. Don't lay down in a corner with your gun scoped in, it makes you an EASY target.
  
• Sniping: A sniper does not sit in one position sniping people until he gets counter sniped. A sniper should snipe NO MORE than two people from a single spot in a row. These places can be common sniping areas or your own unique ones. He should take two shots from one places, move, and start over again. It's the snipers job to cover his teammates. You provide head on support and recon for your team. If you see people moving CALL THEM OUT! Tell your teammates how the enemy is planning to attack.
  
• Claymores: Try using claymores more for something like covering certain areas where you don't have an extra man to spare. THESE ARE NOT CAMP MACHINES! Do not use them to cover your back while sniping or camping an area. Try doing something like using them at a bomb site, or a domination point, or just a well traveled walkway. Then move to a different position. Knowing choke points is KEY when planning an ambush.
  
• Communication: It seems more and more this is happening. You're playing a game and it's a close score in domination or some other gametype. You're about to plant/capture the objective when you get killed by someone running across an open field. A split second later he dies. The teammate that shot him should have called him out. If I've learned anything in my days of Semi-pro Halo 2 I learned that if you're not talking to each other you're not playing. Even if it's a bunch of randoms saying something as simple as "They're coming from across the street from B" or even as simple as "They're going B" can make or break a game.

Tips and Tricks:

• Crouch Walking: When crouched you may move slower, however, you will make such little noise it's practically inaudible. Crouching has the same effect as one would get by using the "Dead Silence" perk, however you can still keep steady aim or any other 3rd perk beside dead silence. You can even use steady aim which, when coupled with crouching, will provide you with extremely accurate hip firing! In Search and Destroy when I'm the last one left and I'm facing 2 or 3 guys I crouch literally the whole rest of the match. I either crouch or try the next technique I will explain.
  
• Silent Sprinting: Alright. To do this, start crouched, then move forward. Click the left thumbstick to start running then crouch again. Keep repeating this and you can move around quietly, yet slightly faster than crouch walking. You have to do this repeatedly and quickly to achieve the desirable effect, however it is quite a helpful tool. Only use this when you want to be silent and know that there's no way you could get shot from any angle because it's hard to quickly break this pattern and shoot at a target. What I'll usually do is I will use this method to move around the side of a building, then once I'm in the door I will stay crouched so I can sneak through the building clearing rooms out. This method is EXTREMELY useful when chasing that pesky sniper!
  
• Attachments: Ahhh! One of the most spectacularly fun things about this game is experimenting with different attachments. Every gun has its own set of attachments which are the same throughout each class. Lets start with assault rifles. When picking out your attachments for this class of guns you'll want to think about a few KEY aspects about the game. First off you need to think: Would I use this perk in a way that can not only benefit my team, but also benefit me. For example, don't take a grenade launcher and use it to get your two kills then die. This does not help your team out, it helps you out. Also, don't just run into a domination point and kill people with it to save the objective. You'll end up dying and overall hurting your score. Play strategically. Use the nade launcher to blow up cars or take out campers. Use your regular gun to effectively take out people until you need it. Each attachment has an advantage/disadvantage. Knowing how to effectively use it is step one. Next, you will want to think about the map and gametype. Certain gametypes on certain maps play differently. If you've played the game before you'll know more or less what to expect from each gametype on each map. Knowing this, adjust your attachments accordingly. Remember trying new attachments never hurts. You mind find an award winning combination that you never thought existed!
  
• Perks: Once again, one of the most unique, interesting, and strategic things about this game! Perks. When choosing your perks, you will want to know the pros and cons of a gun. For example: An M4, Low Damage, fast fire rate, low recoil, fully auto, and easy to use. You may want to put stopping power on it in order to make up for the low damage. Other guns, like the M16 have a slower firing rate so you might want to try something like double tap on it. It's more effective than most people think. A good setup to get a feel for just about any gun is to use special x3, UAV Jammer, and extreme conditioning. This will let you be effective in games that you will be trying guns out while still being able to be effective. Some underrated perks are things such as C4 x2, special x3, Overkill, extreme conditioning, and Dead Silence. Eavesdrop is a savior in competitive play also! I'm gonna talk specifically about some of these perks and how they're misused. C4 is usually used by people when they run out of grenades. This is an ok way to use them, yet sometimes ineffective. Try planting them ANYWHERE! They don't show up as easy as claymores, however they're remote triggered. I can't tell you how many times someone has been running through some grass and got their legs blown off. Another good perk is special x3. When combined with stun grenades and an SMG you're an unstoppable CQB fighting machine! Overkill. This one is VERY effective in all gametypes. Try combinations such as a recon class: Sniper and SMG, or maybe an ultimate sniping class: sniper and shotty (no one will ever beat you in Close quarters), or maybe even something as ridiculous as two assault rifles, or two shotguns. Any way you use this perk it's effective. Just put a little thought into how you would like to use each gun, what situation you would use each gun, and how each gun benefits you overall.
  
• Grenades: When used correctly, grenades can be the most effective tactical tool in this whole game! We've all been in a situation where you say "There's NO WAY he planned that grenade!" The problem is, he probably did. A good idea is to start a private match and find new places to throw grenades, also find ways to stay away from common nade points while still sustaining a good position to support your team. Stun grenades. In my opinion these are superior to flashbangs in a few ways, though they do have one flaw. These grenades, when used correctly, are VERY effective. They even do a small amount of damage! These grenades will not explode in the air, They make it hard for your enemy to aim his gun effectively, they do a small amount of damage, and they also blind your enemy a little. Also, the most important part of this grenade, they show a hit indicator. With these grenades it doesn't matter if you can't even see any enemy. These grenades are perfect for those corners that look "just a little too dangerous." Throw a stun in there and you'll know instantly what lies ahead. Great for a recon class! Another grenade is the flashbang. Flashbangs have a HUGE effect. They affect the enemy more than any other grenade. They make it impossible to see for around 10 seconds, and you can't hear anything for that duration as well. However, these grenades are only good for clearing out objectives that are close range because these grenades explode in midair. They also don't give you a hit indicator making them useful for clearing out headquarters, or crowded rooms. They also only effect an enemy who is looking at them when they explode. Otherwise, the effect is drastically reduced. These are useful in a sticky spot when you're getting chased, but otherwise you'll try to wanna lean away from these. Smoke grenades are, in essence, the cream of the crop when it comes to distraction. Some useful tactics when using these might be to try something like throwing them at areas that are commonly sniped, throw them into the snipers Line of sight and they won't be able to see anything. Very useful for creating distractions as well. Throw them one way, then move another. Instantly all of the other team's Guns will be pointed into the smoke, hoping to get an easy kill. Then run around or change positions. Smoke grenades are invaluable when sniping! Remember, KEEP MOVING! Last, but certainly not least, we have the frag grenade! Strategically this grenade is spectacular. When using this grenade you will want to cook it most times, even if it's just for a second. The fuse on this grenade is four seconds long. When using it you will usually want to throw this grenade into a high density of enemies. Sometimes they can be used effectively when lobbed great distances they can sometimes get some lucky kills! Just remember, you have four second, use them wisely.

Weapons:

• Pistols: Pistols are your best friend. When your primary runs out of ammo you turn to your trusty holstered beauty. No matter what weapon you're packing as your secondary you want it to be reliable, effective, high damage, and overall an asset to any class you're using.
  
• M9: This is a standard pistol. It comes default and can be used very effectively. It has weak damage but makes it for it with its sheer spammability. The lack of recoil and high capacity make this pistol PERFECT for repeated fire. Aim this baby and shoot as fast as you can, that's when this pistol REALLY shines!
  
• USP .45: Probably what many argue as the better of the two pistols that you start out with, the USP .45 is an effective secondary and a great asset to any class! Although this pistol is one of the default ones, it is easy to use, has little recoil, slightly less ammo than the M9, it does more damage. A great pistol to use when you first start the game!
  
• M1911 .45: This pistol is VERY similar to the USP .45. It's a great looking gun with the same exact stats as the USP, however, it does slightly more damage. This gun is unlocked very early, withing the first 15 levels.
  
• Desert Eagle .50: The last pistol you unlock (next to the gold version of this gun), the desert eagle is the strongest pistol in the game! Capable of killing in two shots, this gun has heavy, yet controllable recoil. This gun takes skill to use. The low capacity magazine combined with the recoil make you choose your shots wisely!

Assault Rifles:

• M16: Anyone who has EVER played this game knows of this widely used, versatile and all around great gun. The killing ability of this gun is unmatched. The M16 is pinpoint accurate, does AMAZING damage, and has an unlimited range! This gun seems to lack at short range due to its three round burst, however, scoping in with your sights and back out again between shots should help you track your targets and increase your effectiveness at closer ranges. This gun is used mostly with a red dot or an ACOG, however, the silencer is also hugely effective when you need a stealth class. Some recommended perks are: Stopping Power, this will allow the gun to kill in one shot to the chest area and higher. Dead Silence, Great asset to any class really, but this will allow you to move around easier and maybe give you a split second in close range which could be the difference between a kill or a death. Extreme conditioning, once again, a great perk to use for any class, but on an M16 it'll make you a flanking MACHINE. UAV Jammer, once again, like the last few perks, a great thing to use with any class, the UAV jammer will let you close in on your enemies without being seen, You'll be able to hold positions MUCH easier and even flank with ease. The M16 is a GREAT gun to use when you start off. It's even available right when you start!
  
• AK-47: The AK-47 is a high damage, medium rate of fire, high recoil, automatic weapon. This gun takes some getting used to in the beginning. Some argue it's better than the M16. The problem is, it's like trying to compare dogs to cats. You can't compare them. The AK does A LOT of things in a way that makes it a very appealing weapon to use. Firstly, the High damage allows it to take out about 5 guys per magazine. This makes it VERY effective for run n' gun! This gun has just about THE BEST IRON SIGHTS IN THE GAME! Slap a silencer on the barrel and you're a lean, mean, invisible killing machine! The high damage works well with UAV jammer. Lastly, slap on Dead Silence and you have become the ULTIMATE flanking machine. Combine with Bomb Squad and you can sneak behind enemy lines and be a scout for your team, or slap on Special x3 and be a close range, run n' gun animal! The decision is yours with this amazing gun!
• M4: The M4 is another assault rifle that really excels in certain areas. It has nearly unmatched range and the accuracy at range is made MUCH easier due to the fact that this gun has nearly no recoil. Even when using full auto, this gun barely moves it's sights. This leads this gun to be EXTREMELY accurate and easy to use. The only flaw for this gun is that it's a bit weaker than other stronger assault rifles. But, do not let that turn you off from using this gun! It's still a great assault rifle that has MANY uses. Stopping power is advisable if you're going to use this gun more for something more along the lines of a head on attack. UAV Jammer works well when this gun's silenced. The silencer reduces to recoil to literally none and if you're stealthy enough you can use this gun to easily kill people without stopping power. Steady Aim works good for close range due to this gun's low recoil and high rate of fire. Bandolier or Special Grenades x3 are good to use with this gun too!
• G3: This gun is a favorite among many avid hardcore players. The G3 is a single shot, high accuracy, high range, high damage assault rifle that is great for engaging targets at range! This gun has VERY low recoil making it easy to take people out across maps. This also allows you to be able to mash the trigger for closer targets without sacrificing too much accuracy to recoil. Combined with a silencer this gun will let you engage multiple enemies without sacrificing your position. Stopping power is great for this gun as it allows a 2-3 shot kill! UAV Jammer is good with this gun because you will be able to hold a position for a MUCH longer time while still providing support fire for your teammates. Steady Aim will make close range killing much easier! Overkill is a great perk to use too! Combine with an SMG or other gun that's effective as close range!
  
• M14: The M14 is a very high damage, very accurate, very long ranged rifle. However, it has an impressive recoil! This gun is basically an M21 sniper rifle without the sniper scope. This is also the only gun in the game other than a sniper that can achieve a one shot headshot kill. The recoil on this gun is massive. It will take getting used to, but when you can effectively use this gun, it will become very easy to kill people with it. This gun is an accuracy monster, much like the G3. When using this gun you should always be prepared to wait about a half a second between shots in order to compensate for the recoil. Once you get your timing down it almost becomes second nature. This gun is capable of killing in 1-2 shots anywhere on the body with stopping power! UAV Jammer is also AMAZINGLY effective with this gun! A red dot or ACOG is recommended because the sights may seem clunky and hard to use at first. However, like everything else in this game, with a little practice, you should be just as effective using iron sights. This gun's recoil is reduced quite a bit with the silencer, but it's still very hard to use at first. This gun takes a lot of practice and, like all the one shot guns in the game, a lot of patience. Close range with the M14 is a near impossible feet to pull off at first, but after you get used to the gun, it becomes just as easy as any other gun.
• G36C: Medium damage, high rate of fire, and low recoil combined with long range capabilities make the G36C a well rounded assault rifle. This gun has highly accurate high fire giving it short range capabilites as well! Very similar to the M4, the G36C has a little more power, but, as they say, "With great power, comes great responsibility!" Therefore, the G36C has a tad more recoil as well. Still, with a silencer this gun becomes "The King of Stealth Classes." Combine the silencer with UAV Jammer, Dead Silence, and Special x3 and you are ready to take on anyone! Stopping power is also very effective with this gun making it a middle ground between the M16 and the M4. Some argue the M4 is better, while others argue the G36C is better. Since this is an unbiased guide, I will not express any opinions at all.
• MP44: The MP44 is rarely used in this game. Many people find that the iron sights are unsatisfactory and because you can't equip any attachments they refuse to use it. However, the MP44 is actually a very good gun when you get used to it. It has high recoil, much like the AK47, but the hipfire accuracy is INCREDIBLE. You can practically hip fire with this gun the whole game and still do fine! High damage, High recoil, high accuracy make this gun very effective! The iron sights may be a turn off, but after a little practice they become very easy to use! A good idea is to burst fire with this gun until you get used to the recoil. Stopping power is always good to use with a gun. It will let you kill your target faster. Extreme conditioning can help you move around the map easier. Steady aim will make this one of the best hip fire guns in the game. This gun is more for nostalgia than anything and it pays tribute to Call of Duty's long line of World War 2 shooting games.

Sub-Machine Guns:

• MP5: The MP5 is the standard machine gun and is one of the first machine guns you start off with. It has a high rate of fire, medium recoil, high damage, and very very good mobility. When using this gun it's good to keep in mind that the range isn't very far and the recoil makes it even that much harder to shoot at medium range. Extreme conditioning is a great idea to help you move to the enemies quicker. Steady aim is also helpful for close range firefights. Stopping power is also a great perk to use because you can get 4 or even 5 kills per magazine if you get good enough. UAV Jammer works very well because the damage is so high that it can be very easily used without stopping power effectively. Dead Silence is also a help when trying to be sneaky. Special x3 will help you get close range kills with ease. A good idea is to use a silencer with this gun since it'll reduce recoil and the iron sights are very managable.
• Skorpion: The Skorpion is a rarely used, yet very effective SMG. It has a very high rate of fire, very low recoil, it is extremely accurate and there are some glitches that allow this gun to be very effective at ranges. The Skorpion's iron sights are very easy to use and very accurate. The key to using this gun is to use it with a silencer. The stats in the weapon screen will say that this gun has pretty much no range after equipping the silencer. However, if you use it you can practically snipe with it! With a silencer the gun has reduced accuracy and reduced recoil and I find that that helps with shooting at range. The Skorpion is a very consistent gun and it's a good idea to use stopping power. The magazine is only 20 bullets and the extra damage will help you take your enemy down even faster. Sleight of hand is a good idea too because you will find yourself reloading often. UAV Jammer is also effective, along with dead silence. Extreme conditioning never hurts either!
• Mini-Uzi: The Mini-Uzi has, probably, one of the most difficult learning curves in this game. This gun has a VERY high rate of fire which, when combined with it's VERY high recoil make it very hard to use immediately after unlocking it. It compensates for these by also having VERY high accuracy and very high damage. After unlocking the silencer, you should be able to reduce the recoil. Stopping power is a good perk because the shots that will hit the target will be more effective. Steady aim is good too because the trick to this gun is spray and pray. After you get better you should experiment with different perks for this gun. Bandolier is a good idea too because you'll be using A LOT of ammo in missed shots with this gun. The recoil is like trying to shoot a handheld cannon!
• AK-74u: The Ak-74u or "Mini-AK" is the strongest SMG. It has a high rate of fire, high recoil, and medium accuracy. The silencer with GREATLY reduce the recoil of this gun and make it much more managable. The iron sights are also VERY good to use with this gun, making a silencer very hassle-free. When using this gun you will hip fire often so steady aim is always a good way to go. This gun does have a tad steep learning curve so it's also a good idea to get used to it before you try some better perks. Overkill is very effective when used with this gun because of the high damage. Stopping power can be used, but UAV jammer can be more effective at times. Extreme conditioning, Dead Silence, and Steady aim are all great perks for the third slot.
  
• P90: The P90 combines high rate of fire, medium damage, high accuracy, low recoil, and high magazine capacity into one SMG. It has great hip fire accuracy and with steady aim you literally NEVER have to even use the sights and you can still be effective. A silencer is generally the way to go with this gun and it is PERFECT for stealth classes. Combine UAV Jammer and Dead Silence and you have an SMG that will NEVER be detected. Unless you are seen of course. Extreme conditioning is also very effective. Stopping power is a good perk to use as well. Special x3 practically speaks for itself. Bomb squad is also effective. You can flank without having to worry about claymores or any other devices. Juggernaut is also effective allowing you to win almost all close range fights.
  
  
  

STILL MORE COMING!!! KEEP POSTING!!!


~~~There will also be FAQ Section so post any questions in this thread!!!!~~~

***MORE TO BE ADDED LATER!!!!!***

I did. The one about not chasing a guy around a corner. I find that chasing in general is bad news. I almost always take off after someone an they have a player or 2 trailing and they nail me every time. I am learning to discipline myself to wait and see if there are any trailers before chasing.

thanks for the post. a bit helpful but most things i knew already...

thanks for the effort though vampy

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Good post.. keep it up

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Is our children learning?

Nice job Vampy, all tips are welcome and helpful.

This is nice! I liked the part where you explained corners. For all you know he could have a shotgun -.-

The camping section also helped with my HQ gametype. Thanks for all the work!

Great guide

nice one good tips especially the corner one

I got one. If a guy runs by you wait a second before chasing because he will usually have someone following behind him.

In a fire fight between teams seperate and flank the other team to get easy kills( preoccupied enemies are the best kind).

In domination always keep two flags forget the third you don't need it and it spreads your team out too thin. Just get two!

if someone has a silencer on your team and you dont leave them alone dont follow them and give away there position this will help you win in the end.

use smoke to throw enemies off. Sometimes I throw random smoke to draw enemy fire and nades. Not always though I also use it to take flags and headquarters and to blind snipers.

Last never use overkill just switch to you secondary and pick up a drop weapon.

this helped alot!thanks!