Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is the newest iteration of the Modern Warfare franchise and was created in an attempt to refresh the franchise— an attempt which has been largely successful. A renewed focus on tactical realism in multiplayer combined with a character-driven Modern Warfare campaign has drawn well-deserved praise, while more content and regular updates promises to keep the game alive for a long time.

As good as the campaign is, the multiplayer experience is the real draw for most players. This Modern Warfare’s multiplayer offerings include a wealth of interesting gamemodes and a masterfully crafted weapon progression system that can keep players invested. New features like Gunfight bring a flare of creativity and intensity to the game. Meanwhile, classic games offer a great run-and-gun experience just as Hardcore mode and night battles compete in intensity.

RELATED: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare - Learning from Other Shooters Brings Good Changes

However, as many modes Modern Warfare offers and as many tweaks as players can make to their own weapons, imposing some self-made challenges in multiplayer can provide nearly endless entertainment and renewed challenge. It’s one thing to get high killstreaks and blast other players away with the best weapons and loadouts in the game, but there is entirely new layer of satisfaction that comes with schooling people online with a terrible loadout. Likewise, some playstyles may be objectively detrimental to one’s chances to win, but the benefit of being able to show off is a reward all its own.

call of duty modern warfare throwing knife kill shoot house

Knife Only

The knife only playstyle is frankly, ridiculous. Those who are seeking a tactical advantage should turn away now. However, the appeal of being “that guy” who keeps killing everyone with throwing knives and melee is undeniable. Some might call it one of the most toxic loadouts in CoD, but anyone who loses to someone committed to fighting with a severe handicap should not complain.

This loadout is so satisfying to play with because both throwing knife kills and melee attacks with he knife sidearm are one-hit kills. The downside, of course, being that the throwing knives are difficult to use accurately and the combat knife requires very close range. It is possible to get some very long-range kills with the COD: MW throwing knives, but it is extremely difficult.

It may be tough to get knife kills, but a specific loadout can make it a lot easier. Having the Restock and Shrapnel perks allows the player to carry extra knives, while regenerating a new throwing knife every 30 seconds. Regenerating is important because after throwing a knife, the only way to get it back is to run over and pick it up or wait for it to regenerate.  Running around in front of an enemy while looking for a tiny knife on the ground usually spells death. Getting on a close range map like the new Shoot House is the best bet for using only knives.

The first upgrade slot is up to choice, but the Double Time perk that provides some extra sprint and crouching speed can be very useful for staying mobile and closing the distance. The primary weapon slot most likely won’t be used if the player is going for knife only kills, but a ballistic shield will provide some back protection even if it isn’t currently equipped.

A similar loadout can be used for grenade kills, which can be slightly easier to obtain than knife kills.

Quick-scoping

Quick-scoping is a time-honored tradition in many FPS games. It is the technique of lining up a shot before aiming down sights, then quickly tapping the ADS button so that the player’s shot goes exactly into the middle of the screen, rather than a random spot within the hipfire radius. This is especially effective when paired with a sniper rifle at close range. The high damage of snipers in Modern Warfare is mitigated by wide hipfire radii, slow ADS times, and very high magnification sights that reduce field of vision. However, quickscoping allows the player to ignore most of these limitations by rapidly reducing the accuracy of the gun to a single point, then exiting quickly enough that the high zoom does not limit the player's vision.

Of course, this is very difficult with the slow aim-down-sights of the snipers in Call of Duty Modern Warfare, but a loadout can be built that reduces the ADS speed to a blistering snap. Once this is achieved, the game provides a reticle at the center of the screen even while sprinting, making lining up shots easy. There is no need to resort to the cheap tactic of taping the screen with a permanent reticle.

The loadout starts with the best sniper in the game, the AX-50. Once that gun is equipped, the following attachments all help reduce ADS times: the VLK 3.0X optic, 17.0" Factory barrel, Stippled Grip Tape rear grip, Singuard Arms Assassin stock, and the Tac Laser. Luckily, the AX-5- no longer has to compete with the 725 shotgun in long range.

RELATED: Call of Duty Modern Warfare: Was the 725 Shotgun Nerf Enough?

call of duty modern warfare we own the night

Extra Tips and Tricks

These loadouts put the user at a significant disadvantage. The best odds with these playstyles can be attained with a few simple tricks, however.

Firstly, hardcore mode makes every gun more lethal. A single headshot at any distance is a kill, and damage from any given bullet is increased. This can turn relatively weak guns like the 3-shot burst FAMAS into a one-tap machine. This mode opens up the game a lot more, and players will likely see a lot more weapons in use than the same old M4A1.

Likewise, night mode is a great asset for fancy kills. Because of Modern Warfare's slower pace, these sorts of tactics are a lot easier when the player can sneak up on their enemies in the dark. It is very easy to slip by unnoticed and close the distance for more challenging kills.

Lastly, trying out new loadouts is a lot easier in custom games. In a custom game, the player can use any gun and any attachment, even those they have not yet unlocked. This is a great way to test out loadouts and get a feel for what to try to go for next. When new Modern Warfare weapons are added, this is the best way to test them out.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

MORE: How Do Some Games Become More Than Just a Hobby?