Being Stealthy

What is 'Being Stealthy'?

Being stealthy is the art of utilising many different methods with the aim of not being detected by your enemy.

Why be stealthy?

First off, let me start by saying that stealth is not a guarantee that your performances will improve; being stealthy is just another approach to a CoD4 gaming style. The sacrifices you make to be stealthy put you at a serious disadvantage in certain circumstances, and only by understanding your strengths and weaknesses will you be able to succeed in online matches. Learning a new technique to be used in CoD4 (or any online game) can breathe new life into it and give you a new reason to keep playing. Plus, by understanding stealth, you’ll be more aware about how to protect yourself from anyone who uses it against you.

How to be stealthy

There are varying levels of stealthiness, and you may be surprised to learn that you have been using stealth to some degree all along!

Just being a little bit unpredictable – Especially in objective based games like Sabotage or Search and Destroy, your enemy will often leave ambushes, i.e. they will guard the bomb, waiting for you to come and collect it, where they will be ready for you. Therefore, you can get the drop on them by taking a different route; one that takes you away from the danger areas. The best way of guessing where the enemy is going to be is by paying attention to the UAV; if one of your teammates dies in an alleyway, then you should avoid going down there as well.
This approach works wonders in Domination games, allowing you to capture flags when the enemy is preoccupied with the rest of your team. You can be an LMG toting Rambo fanatic and still manage to be a little bit stealthy by doing this.

Adding a suppressor – With a suppressor attached, your shots will never show up on your enemy’s radar, but you will have to do without a red dot site or ACOG scope. Assault rifles generally are best used at medium range, so it is better to have a red dot site. SMGs, on the other hand, are lethal at close range, so aiming is rarely required. The Mini-Uzi in particular (a personal favourite of mine) has reduced recoil with a suppressor, making it even more deadly in close range combat.

The UAV jammer perk – This prevents you from showing on the enemy radar. Combine with a suppressor and you will never show up on his radar at all. In my opinion, you should never use UAV jammer without adding a suppressor to your weapon, unless you are sniping.

The full blown “ghost” class – A suppressed weapon, avoiding confronting the enemy head-on, the UAV jammer perk, and the Dead Silence perk means that you will never be heard, never show up on the radar, and never fall victim to a camper. If you cannot bear to part with “Steady Aim” then you should at least crouch when infiltrating buildings, or entering danger areas, this way your footsteps cannot be heard, but it lowers your movement speed.

The advantages/disadvantages of being stealthy

Of course, there is a trade off; your weapon does less damage, is less accurate, and you will be late to the party in most instances, but it will be easier for you to capture flags in Domination, plant/defuse the bomb in Search and Destroy, and if you run into an enemy, he will most likely be unprepared. Also, the tedious headshot challenges can be made easier by sneaking up on people who are not moving, and taking your time to line up a headshot. Also, if you have UAV jammer on, it usually takes 2 headshots to kill someone instead of just one with stopping power.
If you have Dead Silence on, your footsteps will be silenced, so it is easier to hear other people’s footsteps, helping you track them.
Don’t bother with the RPG perk, mainly because there are much better choices (see “Fun things to do and advanced techniques”), but also because if you select it, your character is fitted with massive rocket launchers strapped to his back, making it easier for you to be spotted when hiding in grass, or crouching behind objects.
You have to avoid being close to your teammates, because if they are not being stealthy, they can give your position away. My least favourite style of death is when the enemy comes looking for one of my noisy allies and runs into me instead. To counter this, you could help your teammate by watching his back; this way, he can continue engaging the enemy head on, and you can lay traps for the ones flanking him. Chasing after red dots on the radar is one of the most basic (and rewarding) tactics in CoD4, so you can take advantage of this to predict enemy movement.


When to be stealthy

The best modes to use stealth are Domination and Search and Destroy, and I would recommend the full ghost class for them. The best way to win in Domination is for your team to control two flags, and leave the enemy one; this way, they will respawn near their flag and you can predict where they are going to come through. If you control all three flags, the enemy will respawn at random points all over the map, meaning they can easily catch a flag or two before you can get there to stop them. Taking this into account, my Domination strategies change depending on the skill level of my teammates. If my team has managed to take control of two flags, I will focus all of my attention on defending one flag and preventing the enemy from taking it, usually the flag my team starts with. While the majority of the action takes place near the middle flag, members of the enemy team will sneak round and try to capture your other flag. One stealthy person is enough to fend off a whole team of flag catchers. Hide in the grass or in the shadows close to your flag, and then when they come for it, creep up to them and take them out silently. It’s usually the same players that come each time, so you should change your hiding place every now and then to keep the element of surprise. Also, don’t rely on the commentator to tell you when you are losing a flag, because for the few seconds as he makes an announcement (i.e. “Securing Bravo”, or “Losing Alpha”) he cannot make another announcement. In other words, if you start to capture a flag while an announcement is going off, the enemy team will not be informed of your activities. Beware though, because they can do this to you too. One sure-fire way of telling when you are losing a flag is that the symbol will flash (albeit rather dimly).
If your team is rubbish, and cannot control two flags, then you have to do your bit to get the enemy flags. Use the announcement technique I detailed above to wait until the best time to start capturing a flag. If no announcements are going off then there are a few techniques to help you capture it. Firstly, you can approach an enemy flag, plant some C4 around it, then run over it to initiate the announcement, and retreat to a safe distance. When the enemy team comes running in to butcher you, set it off and enjoy the fireworks (and possibly PSN hate-messages). If C4 is not your cup of tea, then claymores work just as well, as do more standard means of combat. Don’t forget to actually capture the flag after all this craziness is over and done with.
Search and Destroy is also an excellent game mode to employ stealth. When you are on the defending team, I would recommend that you defend a single target (like in Domination). There are two targets that you have to prevent the enemy from planting bombs on, and if you can hold them off one target by yourself, then you are doing half the work for your team that round. Most of the maps in CoD4 have targets that are more popular than others; for example, in Backlot, everyone always goes for target A, inside the construction site. The enemy team almost always rush to plant the bomb there, and likewise, your team rushes to defend it most of the time. Nevertheless, I say at least one person should be defending the less popular target, and that role is perfect for a stealthy boy. Read on to the next section to see my opinions on which target you should set your heart on defending.
When you are on the attacking team, the best position you can hope to be in is when you are behind the enemy. You’ve managed to slip past their line of defence and are ready to wreak havoc on them. Obviously, to do this you need to avoid the high-risk zones, i.e. places where grenades rain from the sky and snipers blow your head off before you even have time to think. Avoid picking up the bomb, take your time to advance into enemy territory, and let your Rambo teammates go first. Take notice of which parts of the map have been explored by your teammates to work out which parts of the map are likely to contain an opponent. When your teammates decide to plant the bomb, you should change your tactics and help them; lie in wait for the enemy to come and defuse it. When the bomb is planted, hide near to it and listen carefully; if someone tries to defuse it, the sound of a briefcase opening can be heard, at which point you can run in and finish him or her off.
Ground War, on the other hand, is not very kind to stealth users. There are just too many players, and they often move around in groups. Even in Domination mode, you are more likely to be spotted, and without Stopping Power you don’t stand much of a chance. That doesn’t mean you should abandon stealth completely though, just don’t bother with UAV Jammer if you intend to greatly assist your team.
Sabotage can be a good opportunity for stealth, but only if your teammates’ skill level is above average. While they focus on the objective (defending their target and planting the bomb), you can run around terrorizing the enemy. Camping is very popular in Sabotage, so you will come across lots of snipers. Beware though, if you are away from your target you will be unable to prevent the enemy from planting the bomb, and if your team’s defence fails, you will be at a disadvantage without Stopping Power.
The Hardcore modes remove the radar from your screen, meaning, amongst other things, that it is harder to catch out an enemy by hearing their footsteps. In regular modes, if you hear someone’s boots stomping around, you can quickly check the radar to see if it is just one of your teammates, or if an enemy is about to stick a knife in your back. Therefore, adopt a different third perk (I recommend Steady Aim) instead of Dead Silence. Also, all guns do increased damage, rendering Stopping Power almost useless, and making your UAV Jamming Sub-machine gun more lethal at all ranges.
Finally, whatever game mode you are in, lag will ruin any chance you have of success. You need to make sure all of your bullets hit their mark to take down an opponent, and if you suspect lag is hindering your accuracy, leave immediately.

Where to be stealthy

In modes like Domination, Sabotage, and Team Deathmatch, the two teams usually engage each other in a small area of the map. People stick together and fight over the objective, rarely travelling along any route except the most obvious one. Where the red dots appear on the radar, is where the action takes place. You can take advantage of this by taking the long route through the safe areas, and flanking the enemy. In Search and Destroy, however, teams split up and guard whole areas of the map, making it much more difficult to flank them near the beginnings of matches.
If you suspect an enemy is going to pass through an area and you feel like laying an ambush, hide in the grass or in the shadows and wait for them. You will get to know lots of nooks and crannies in your time, but if you are without cover, then just lie down on the ground and wait for the enemy to pass through. By lying down, you give the enemy a smaller target to aim at should they spot you before you can kill them. Generally though, simply hiding around a corner or behind a wall can be enough to gain the upper hand on an unsuspecting foe.

Hiding spots

When defending in Search and Destroy, hiding can be a valuable tactic (and good fun). By guarding a target, you are making it harder for the other team to plant the bomb, and by restraining yourself from charging at the enemy, you are more likely to still be standing towards the end of the match. These are just suggestions, please don’t feel like you have to use these in order to be stealthy, you can go on the attack if it fits your playing style.

Ambush – There is some grass surrounding target A that you can hide in, or behind some various items of cover here. You can reach A quickly so you could plant C4 on it. Beware though, the enemy may rush to B, and if your team does not meet them, they can

quickly plant the bomb and get the upper hand. If your team neglects B, then go to that instead.
Backlot – The attacking team usually ignores B but you can hide inside the house near it on the ground floor, occasionally peeking out to check it. One corner in particular is cast in deep shadow.

Bloc – The odds are in the defending team’s favour on this map, especially if you adopt this technique: quickly sprint to A, plant C4 under the target or on the ceiling, then run back to B and hide in the grass. If, when defending B, the enemy plants at A, set off your C4 for a guaranteed kill.

Bog – I hate this map, but you can defend target A easily enough by hiding behind the melon stands straight in front of you as you start the match. You can C4 trap it as well.

Countdown – Rush to B, and find a place in or around the hanger. There are plenty of spots available here, so take your pick. If the attacking team shows no interest in B, then keep pressing forward to the area where they started the match, and follow them around to A. They will not be expecting you to approach them from behind. If you can make it to A, there is an ideal hiding spot in the alleyway to the side of the hanger here.

Crash – This is my personal favourite hiding spot, its effectiveness of keeping you hidden can almost be considered cheating. When you start the match, target B is right in front of you, plant some C4 under it, then move to your right along the street. At the side of the car here is a flat, raised plant pot. Hop on it then lie down facing B, and position yourself where you can see through the grass to the rooftop in between the buildings on your right; you can’t shoot at it from this position, but if an opponent shows himself on the rooftop, you will gain an early warning that they might be trying to plant at B. If they do plant at B, wait until it is planted to blow your C4, then rush over to it for an easy defuse. More likely though, your team will get ripped to shreds at A, so make your way to A’s alternative entrance if you find yourself the last man standing.

Crossfire – Near target A there are some dumpsters, and in between them are two small metal bins. If you hide behind them, you can pop out and surprise the enemy when they plant the bomb.

District – Rush to target B, plant some C4 near the cars surrounding it, and then hide in the building to your right. Beware though; sometimes enemies also rush to B. You can hold them off for a second or two by throwing a grenade at the alleyway at the end of the street.
Downpour –I usually lie down in the grass in the soggy field near target A, which is a perfect place for a ninja defuse. You can put C4 on target B at the beginning of the round before you get to A.

Overgrown – At the start of the round, run through the riverbed and time your sprinting so you can avoid being sniped by the other team. Get to target B as quickly as possible, plant C4 under it, and then lie down in the grassy field next to it.

Pipeline – This is another map where the defending team usually has an advantage, in that they can reach both targets before the attacking team, making trap laying and getting into position much easier, therefore, there are many hiding spots on this map, but here are my favourites. Firstly, there is the grassy area outside the building with A in it. Beware though, snipers always aim down this side of the map in the early stages of the game, so you may want to plant C4 on B, then return to A when it is safer. If you want to defend target B more aggressively however, you may want to adopt a position closer to it. Inside a train carriage, in an alcove to the side of the walkway, under the walkway, etc. Take your pick.

Shipment –Search and Destroy on this map doesn’t come up in the regular playlists, only in team tactical or private matches, and hiding would be quite difficult anyhow. Stealth here is negated by the small size of the map.

Showdown – Not one of my favourite maps, I usually just hide behind a crate down the passageway in front of you at the start of the match. If the bomb is planted you can rush up the stairs and surprise the enemy. Not the best advice I know, but the lack of decent hiding spots here make a more aggressive approach usually more beneficial.

Strike – Rushing to A is a bit of a risk as the enemy can charge your team before you knew what hit you, but if you can make it without incident, there is a terrific spot at the side of the target here. Lie down in the grass next to the small wall, but let the enemy plant the bomb, because this is the best place for a ninja defuse in the whole game. If you feel like taking a more relaxed approach instead, there are lots of shadowy areas and alcoves to keep you hidden near target B.

Vacant – You start in the computer room near target B, and so have lots of time to plant your C4, find a decent spot, get settled, and watch your ally blips disappear from the radar as your team gets slaughtered by target A.

Wet Work – Unless you have a death wish, don’t go any further than target A (also known as no-man’s land), instead, reinforce your team’s defences by hanging around target B and preventing the enemy from fracturing your team.

I shouldn’t have to mention this but if a technique isn’t working, then change it and try something different.

How to counter stealth

If one or more members of the enemy team are using stealth against you, there’s not much you can do to specifically target them but you can make yourself less vulnerable. For example, running around like a madman is what they want you to do, so just take your time to press forward, check those corners, and be ready to start shooting unexpectedly. Also, if your team gains a UAV, press select to see how many players the enemy team has. If not all of them are showing up on the radar, then be on your guard – at least one of them is using UAV Jammer, and will probably use this opportunity to lure you into a trap.

Fun things to do

So you’ve managed to sneak up behind an unsuspecting foe, but what if you want to rub his face in it to make that mini-victory of yours that extra bit sweeter before you kill him, or maybe you just want to try something especially goofy for your own pleasure. If so, here are a few suggestions.

Tea Bagging – The gaming phenomenon that started out as an act of defiance against a downed enemy, and progressed into a widely acknowledged method of gameplay, with a highly advanced move book. Stealth tea-bagging is best done on a still living adversary in my opinion; because then you can kill him and let him view his humiliation in the killcam. Find an opponent lying down, and thrust your crotch onto the back of his head by crouching up and down on him.

Misery loves company – The premise is simple; hold onto a grenade for too long and take someone with you. Funniest when done in Search and Destroy when there is only one enemy left alive, but more than one of your team left.

Taunt a sniper – Sniper rifles are terrible in close quarters, so if you come across a sniper, you can take advantage of this by jumping up and down in front of him before killing him. Be careful not to take too long or else he could switch to his pistol.

Follow him around map – This one is easier to pull off because it doesn’t require your opponent to be stationary, just stick close to your foe like there is a Mars bar stuck to his butt. Best done in Search and Destroy when there are only a few enemy players left alive, to reduce the chance of an interfering randomer spoiling your fun.

Confusing flag catchers – This can be hilarious when it works, but unfortunately it rarely does. Hide near one of your team’s flags in Domination, then when an enemy comes in to capture it, run over to him and lie down next to him. This will halt the capture progress, so he will be sitting on your flag wondering why he can’t capture it. I once managed to keep someone occupied for a whole minute like this, until he eventually turned around and saw me.

Advanced techniques

Ninja defuse – Because there are no specific boundaries of what exactly constitutes a ninja defuse, I’m going to say that the definition is “To purposefully neglect engaging the enemy in order to be able to defuse the bomb without attracting attention”. The easiest way to pull off a ninja defuse is to wait behind the man planting the bomb, then start defusing it as soon as he is done. If you were to kill an enemy before defusing, you risk revealing your position. To protect yourself from ninja defuses, listen for the sound of a briefcase opening, or just take a look at the bomb straight after planting.

Beating killcam – If you are planning on hiding somewhere for an extended period of time, such as in Search and Destroy, don’t reveal your position by killing people as soon as you see them. In other words, follow your foe around for a while before killing them, thus not letting them see where you were hiding when they watch the killcam.

First perk – You can’t really go wrong with any first perk, but make sure you use whatever you choose to your advantage. I.E, if you choose 3 X Stun/Flash, use them before you die, dying without using them would be a complete waste, likewise, picking Bandolier in Search and Destroy would be a waste. Finally, don’t pick RPG X 2 if you are being stealthy, because the long tubes strapped to your back make you easier to spot, but mostly because it is crap.

C4 – I already mentioned that you can place C4 under most Search and Destroy targets to defend them, but it’s also worth mentioning that you can set up C4 to protect the bomb when you are attacking. When you hear that briefcase opening, double tap the square button for a quick detonation.

Easier challenges
Slasher – Get a three kill streak with the knife. UAV Jammer helps you get close to enemies.

Counter claymore and C4 – Plant a claymore or C4, then aim at it until someone walks past it, and shoot. Again, UAV Jammer helps, but to have a better chance of killing someone, play in a Hardcore mode, and the explosion will do more damage.

Multi-C4 – Kill 2 or more people with a single C4 pack. Easiest in Domination or Headquarters.

Flawless – Play a full-length match without dying. Just hide somewhere quiet with UAV Jammer until the match ends. You won’t gain any kudos from your teammates for doing this though.

Other games to apply stealth

Warhawk – Stealth is hardly a factor here. You show up on the radar no matter what, your name is clearly displayed for miles around, and your only means of engaging the enemy are loud and attention attracting. Save for the “Invisibility” flight pickup, stealth is practically non-existent.

Resistance 2 – Again, stealth is less of a factor in Resistance 2, but there are still some opportunities for the sneaky. Firstly, and most importantly, don’t sprint. Sprinting shows you up on the enemy’s radar, so don’t do it unless absolutely vital, or you want to attract attention to yourself. Also worthy of mention is the “Invisibility” beserk, which, like the name implies, renders you invisible for a short period of time, but you return to full visibility when you shoot, so it’s not that useful.

COD5 – A lot of the stealthy perks and styles of play can be carried over from CoD4 into WaW, but the maps are generally bigger than CoD4’s, so you could find yourself sitting in a bush the whole match waiting for someone to walk past you. Also, a pack of dogs released by the other team can sniff you out and attack you even while hidden.

MGO – Strangely enough for the godfather of stealth games, Metal Gear Online is very difficult for us sneaky players. Unless you get headshots, you have little to no chance of killing an adversary, especially with the horrible amounts of lag most games suffer from. CQC can be more profitable if you can manage to remain undetected for long enough, but it takes a long time to level up the skill. Stick to the single player, which is one of the best games on PS3 in my opinion.

Final Word

Successful stealth is dependant on a lot of things – luck, sharpness of enemy team, patience, but most important of all; lag. It’s a well known fact that Infinity Ward’s servers are amongst the worst in human history (Treyarch’s and Konami’s being close contenders), so don’t be surprised if you find yourself chasing a guy down, shoot him 20-30 times in the back just for him to turn around and kill you with one bullet. If you become a victim of lag, leave the game and find another one. Hopefully the strategies in this guide can be adapted for future games, after all, there will always be run and gun Rambo types playing, so there should always be a way of stalking them.